Immortal Consequences(81)
“Wren Loughty,” Irene called out, sauntering toward Wren and Louise. She twirled a dagger between her fingers, the blade gleaming in the darkness. “I’m shocked. I would expect the others to lie, but you?” She pointed the edge of the blade toward Wren, a mocking smile on her lips. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”
Wren’s expression hardened. “If you have something to say, then say it.”
“Oh, don’t play dumb.” Irene chuckled. “This is clearly connected to the night of the…you know what.” She mouthed the last three words and pointed to Louise, who flinched under her gaze. “She cast the shadow magic. I know it.”
The others tensed as the words left her lips. Silas might have left them alone, but there was no telling who might be listening. Even speaking the words out loud felt like a risk.
“So—what do you want to do about it, Irene?” August jolted to his feet, crossing the distance between them. He loomed over Irene, staring down at her with defiance. “What’s your big plan? You want to threaten her? Force the information out of her?”
“We dip into Louise’s mind,” Irene replied without hesitation. “Scour her memories. Invade her consciousness until we find out what the hell is going on with her. If she’s harboring secrets…if she’s a Demien…we’ll know.”
Louise let out a strangled gasp, hugging her knees toward her chest.
Wren stood up protectively, hands clamped over the pew in front of her. “Absolutely not. That’s a complete invasion of privacy. Not to mention it could fry her mind. She could be in the infirmary for months.”
“I’m with Wren on this one,” Olivier muttered warily. “We can’t start prying her head open.”
“This isn’t the time for morals.” Irene chuckled dryly. “We’re dealing with things beyond our control. Beyond our capabilities. And if the newbie has some sort of useful information hovering around in that brain of hers, then we ought to know what it is.”
“She’s right,” Masika said, though she didn’t look thrilled about it, grimacing as she spoke. “If we don’t tell Silas the truth about what we saw…then we need to at least figure out more on our own. Because, though it pains me to admit it, this doesn’t feel like the end of our situation. It feels like—” She paused, as if faced with an internal snag, and then continued. “It feels like the beginning.”
Silence enveloped the room.
And then—
“I couldn’t control it.”
The group collectively flinched, aware that the four words they’d just heard had come from the one person who hadn’t spoken in nearly an hour.
“I could feel it,” Louise whispered, eyes welling with tears. “The shadow magic. It…it just sprang out of me. I saw that you all were in trouble and I…I was desperate.” Her teeth chattered as she struggled to get the words out. “I don’t know how I did it…but I swear I’m not part of the Demien Order. I promise.”
“Do you have any idea how you cast the shadow magic?” Wren asked softly, kneeling in front of her.
“None,” Louise muttered, voice cracking. “It was like…an involuntary reaction. I wanted to find a way to save you all—and then it just happened.”
“But how did you know we were in trouble?” asked Masika, stepping closer.
Louise flushed. “Well…I…I snuck out to try to watch the end of the second trial. I heard a rumor that the contestants were going to emerge near the gates, and I thought if I waited around, I might see who crossed through.”
“And then you saw us get attacked by the creature,” whispered Olivier.
She nodded. “I know I don’t know you all that well, but…Wren is my friend. And even though it might not be obvious, I know she cares about you all. I just wanted to find a way to help…to do the right thing.” Her voice broke off, a sob rattling deep within her chest.
Wren lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Louise. Something sharp and unwelcome twisted inside August. A strange mixture of jealousy and fear that made him want to sink into his skin and disappear.
“You did what you had to do to save us,” Wren whispered into Louise’s hair. “You did do the right thing.”
Irene released a disgruntled sigh. “All right, fine. Let’s just take her back to her room. I can’t take much more of these waterworks.”
Olivier placed a gentle hand on Louise’s shoulder. “We can take her. She’s staying at Litterman.”
“Wait,” Masika blurted out. “What about Silas? What do we tell him?”
The six of them stared at one another.
Louise cleared her throat. “I know I probably don’t have a say in this, but…I would prefer it if you didn’t say anything. At least not until we know more.”
Irene’s eyes narrowed. “And why’s that?”
“Because…I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Louise admitted in a whisper. “I know I shouldn’t be able to cast shadow magic—but I did. And Headmaster Silas is clearly obsessed with keeping Blackwood safe…with keeping order and balance. If he finds out that I’m actually capable of casting shadow magic, then…” Her voice trailed away, but August instantly understood what she was trying to say.