“My aunt,” said Flora. “She’s a Sage. You might have heard of her … Regina Jackson.”
Sylvie’s eyes grew wide. “The one who wroteSoul Spells: Recipes to Cure and Comfort?”
“That’s her! I’m in my second year at Brindille, so I got lucky, Bass’s legacy policy didn’t affect me. Still, even with my famous aunt, there were some who made me feel like I didn’t belong.”
Sylvie’s ears perked up. “Like who?”
Flora chewed on her lower lip. “Belinda Bass for one.”
Sylvie frowned. “I saw her this morning. She seems to have a problem with everyone.”
“She has two sides,” said Flora. “One is mean, but the other is downright nasty. Trust me. You don’t want to get on her bad side. But there’s staff you need to watch out for too.”
“Really?” Sylvie took a deep breath and kept climbing.Only ten more steps.
“Ms. Honeycut, the librarian.” Flora lowered her voice. “This time of year, she gets extra grouchy. Ten years ago, she was cut from the American team two weeks before the Golden Whisk competition… . Rumor has it she couldn’t get one of her spells right.”
“That must’ve sucked,” said Sylvie.
Flora shrugged. “I suppose, but that sort of blow doesn’t have to leave you bitter forever.”
Before Sylvie could respond, the doors at the top of the steps swung open.
A fountain twice the size of those in the cafeteria sat in the entranceway, spewing grape soda. Pieces of blown sugar and sculpted chocolates moved around the room, like statues brought to life.
“Wow! This place would make the candymakers at FizzleFott’s jealous!” Sylvie eyed a large golden cage. A milk chocolate cockatoo fluttered and squawked as a white chocolate parrot moved onto its perch. Next to the cage, a vase of pulled sugar flowers continuously morphed from bud to blossom.
“Students’ showpieces,” Flora said.
“Students actually made these?” said Sylvie.
“Seniors.” Flora headed down a long hallway.
“They’re incredible.” Sylvie eyed a pastillage mask that kept winking at her.
“Some are better than others.” Flora glanced at a blown sugar tree with leaves the color of a pumpkin. “That one seems to think it’s fall.”
Sylvie carefully stepped around the colorful shards scattered across the floor. “Still pretty cool, if you ask me.”
Flora shrugged. “The library is this way.” She pointed to a passage on the right.
Sylvie followed her down the corridor and into a massive room.
Brindille’s library, also known as the Long Hall, stood two stories tall. Its panels of dark wood were now bathed in sunlight, illuminating rows of archways, stacked top to bottom with books. Sylvie strained her eyes, trying to see how far back they went. They seemed to never end.
“This way,” said Flora, heading toward the group of Pips gathered in the center of the room.
The scent of old books hung in the air. Sylvie inhaled deeply. Something about it always reminded her of vanilla.
Between the arches were long tables, several of which were now filled with hushed students. Along the walls, busts of serious-looking people punctuated the room.
Sylvie eyed the name inscribed on the nearest statue:BEBINNSMACK, FIRSTGUMOLOGIST.
Georgia glanced at Sylvie and brushed an imaginary crumb off her sleeve. Sylvie couldn’t help but notice she was wearing a new shirt. Drops of guilt pelted her in the chest. She’d been rightfully furious with Georgia. But ruining her blouse hadn’t been nice. Then again,it wasn’t my fault.Maybe she’d try to tell Georgia again?
Before Sylvie could contemplate things further, a neon flash caught her eye. Hanging from the arched ceiling above them was a rice paper scroll the size of a Times Square billboard. A message was splashed across it.
BREAKINGNEWS… TIDWICK’SEMPORIUM HAS BEEN ROBBED! SKULLCAP, VIPER’STHORN, VEILED LADY, AND AMETHYST DECEIVER MUSHROOMS ARE AMONG THE MISSING INGREDIENTS.
