What followed was the most fun I'd ever had in a class. Ever. Maryanne was nothing if not blunt, to the point and full of snarky sarcastic goodness, a fact which colored her teaching to the extent she had the entire student body in the palm of her well-manicured hands.I was still giggling as I gathered my things to leave when the door swung open, not really wanting to go. For the first time all day I was one of the other students, with no one staring or whispering or treating me like I was different. Maryanne actually waved at me on the way out, but not to single me out. Just to say goodbye.Awesome.The only tarnish to the moment was the matching grins from the Dumont brothers as they brushed their way past me, but it was easy enough to forget about them after the great class I'd just sat through.Not so much for Charlotte, though. She snarled in her Eastern-European language at them, body tense and anger radiating. I found myself grinning and poking her in the side to which she
The moment I entered the lecture theater, my eyes settled on the Dumont brothers. Great, was I destined to spend every damned class with the pair of irritating fleas? Clearly that was the case. The only thing I could do at this point was ignore them.As my gaze drifted over the gathering students, I caught sight of another familiar face. The half-smile and wave I began froze in place as Sashenka's eyes flickered away from me. She slunk down in her seat a little, not looking my way at all, though I knew she'd seen me. Lovely, just lovely. Whatever I'd done to make her hate me wasn't going away. And since she obviously didn't want me around, I'd have to do something about our little living arrangement. As much as I hated the thought of defeat, of having to ask Mom to change my roommate, there was no way I was spending the entire year with someone who didn't want me around.Since Sashenka would prefer I didn't sit with her or even acknowledge I knew her, I slid into a lower row closer t
Okay, so all of that "I can do it on my own, I'm amazing" crap? Yeah, well, that all went out the window the moment I looked into Liam's eyes. My throat tightened instantly as I grasped his hand and found myself beaming at him."Hey, Liam," I whispered back, body vibrating with the sudden surge of joy I felt at seeing him again. "Not much."Yes, it had only been a day or so since we parted ways, but for some reason it felt like forever. It was only then I understood how much I relied on my Gatekeeper friend, how much his friendship meant to me. Liam was my rock, my utterly loyal and unjudgmental rock who didn't care what I did or how I looked or acted. He loved me anyway.I wanted to hug him, to squeal in happiness and hang onto him, but the teacher, Walden Bradford, was glaring so I was forced to sit back and face the front of the room, though it was impossible to wipe the grin from my face and there was no way I was letting Liam's hand go.He didn't fight me so I figured he was a
I had no choice. I had to go to my room eventually. With Charlotte ever my silent bodyguard, I drifted across the Yard toward the dorm, walking slower and slower with each step as dread tried to keep me from finishing the trip."Miss Hayle." I turned, grateful for the distraction, to face a smiling young man in a crisp black uniform. I recognized him, though couldn't place from where. It wasn't until he handed me a sheet of paper the same color as his outfit, reddish curls as round as his cheeks, that I made the connection."You're her page." One of them. I knew him from the trial. He'd stood with Maurice-now Mom's secretary-and a second page."Vincent." He winked at me. I found myself grinning even though he might have been fourteen, but was clearly flirting. "We never actually met, coven leader."I took the paper from him. "I guess we didn't," I said. "I was too busy trying to save Mom."He bobbed a nod. "Leadership looks great on you." Another wink. Really? Smart ass. But at le
Maurice brought out a large book, flipped it open, one finger poised over a black sheet. "Shall we schedule dinners on Sundays from now on, Council Leader? For efficiency's sake."Mom almost flinched, but nodded. "Yes, thank you.""Six pm, shall we?" He wrote quickly, magic flowing from his finger to the page as he decided my once-a-week culinary fate for the rest of the year in his stupid appointment book. "Now then," Maurice snapped the book shut, turning to face Mom with a no-nonsense look on his face, "we have business, Council Leader."Mom rose, set aside her black napkin. "Yes, of course." She paused, eyes meeting mine. I let her see how angry I was, saw her own frustration rise. "Good night, Sydlynn.""Yeah," I shot back as she turned away, "nice to see you too, Mom."She left without another word, Maurice hurrying her out as Vincent rushed forward and began to clear the table with brief surges of air magic winging the plates and cutlery out from under us.I threw down my
Before I could take even one step Charlotte had her hand on my arm and pulled me back."Just where do you think you're going?" Her voice had taken on the soft growl of her were side. Only then did I realize she'd been through as much as I had today. Left her pack behind, forced to follow me around, she must have been just as frustrated as I felt."The secret society thing, remember?" She'd been there, overheard, I was sure of it. "The Star Club. It's for witches." Okay, I was guessing, filling in blanks. "And if Darin is involved, it can't be good." Again, guessing. But from the troubled look on Charlotte's face, she felt the same way I did."We'll see where they go," Charlotte said, releasing my arm. "But that's all."Whatever. "Come on, we'll lose them."I wished I had time to stow my backpack, but instead was forced to lug it along, the weight bouncing on my back as Charlotte and I jogged across the Yard and toward Widener Library. I caught sight of the boys passing through bet
One thing about not being alone anymore, it convinced me I needed to do something about Sashenka. After a brief discussion with Sassafras, it was apparent I wouldn't get anywhere if I didn't know why she hated me in the first place."Grow a spine," he said with his personal brand of subtlety. "If you want to know something, ask already."Okay then. The moment the door creaked open, Sashenka's nervous face peeking through, I was ready for her."We need to talk." She flinched at my words, but entered, head down, book bag falling to the floor at her feet with a thud as she pushed the door shut behind her."I know," she whispered. "I'm sorry.""For not liking me?" I shrugged, going for couldn't-care-less casual. "Whatever. But won't room with you if you can't even be civil."Sashenka's eyes flew wide and she opened her mouth to speak, a few consonants stuttering out, but I cut her off."I have no idea what I did to piss you off," I said, "and frankly, at this point, I don't really c
It was my first visit to the campus café and I had to admit I felt pretty nervous, even with Sashenka beside me and Charlotte guarding my back. The place was packed with other students, mostly freshmen from the excited looks on their faces. I almost backed out when the stares and whispers started all over again, but by then a small group of girls were waving and smiling at us and Sashenka had a firm grip on my hand, pulling me toward them, Charlotte standing off to one side and doing her best to look like a statue."Syd," my roommate gushed, "these are the girls. Girls, meet Sydlynn Hayle."They stared a little, but were still smiling. The one on the right of the table with the curly dark hair and the palest skin I'd ever seen, offered her hand."Josie Ambrose," she said. "Hensley family. Nice to meet you."That broke the ice. All at once I was introduced to Nicci Mortimer (dirty blonde hair and a hand full of freckles on her cheeks), Donalda Pierce (tall and skinny, all elbows and