As if in answer, another howl sounded, louder this time.
I shot to my feet. Nothing was moving in the nearby grass, but still—something was off. Dangerous. I spun to return to the school, and made it three steps when another sound stopped me dead in my tracks.
Was that . . . a scream?The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I was sure it had been, and even worse, it was very close.
Not a second later, the scream sounded again and ended in a sob.
Someone’s hurt. I can’t just leave them with . . . whatever is out here.
I sprinted in the sound’s direction, my eyes scanning the long grasses on the banks of the lake that brushed my legs. Dark woods hung ominously on one side. I’d gone about halfway around the lake, spotting no one, before I heard moaning. The sound was coming from my direct right—in the forest.
I sucked in a breath and moved toward the trees. I’d nearly broken out of the long grass and into the tree line when I saw a flash of red at eye level. The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared, but that didn’t subdue my fear.
Had that been a wraith? Was the strange shift I’d sensed earlier demonic energy?All my instincts screamed to sprint back to the school, but then a hand shot out in front of me and flailed like a fish pulled from the river.
A shriek ripped from my throat as I leapt back.
Someone gurgled.
No. No. No.I knew that noise from film sound effects, and it never ended well in the movies. And even though every cell in my body begged me not to look, to go get help, I couldn’t.
Heart pounding, I took a few steps toward the arm, now still.
Tabitha Goode lay just inside the tree line, blood covering her throat and her body all the way down to her hips. Her neck was twisted, and her black hair splayed out behind her.
My hand flew to my mouth. “Tabitha!” I fell upon her, trying to find a pulse in the mess of blood and torn flesh.
There was nothing.
Chapter Twelve
Iburst through the doors of Spellcasters and ran right into Diana. A flashlight flew from her hand, making me jump. Headmistress Wake was right behind her daughter. Professor de Spina too, his black hair slicked back and gray eyes blazing. Their mouths dropped open at the sight of me.
“Odette Dane!” Headmistress Wake scolded. “What is the meaning of this?!”
My lips trembled.
“T—T—Tabitha,” I stuttered finally. “I found her body. By the lake. I tried to revive her, but . . . I couldn’t.” I pointed in the general direction where Tabitha’s body lay growing cold.
Diana’s eyes widened. “Her body? Do you mean—?”
I nodded. “Dead . . . I’m pretty sure.”
Diana whipped around. “Mother!”
Headmistress Wake nodded. “Odette remain here. Diana, you stay with her.”
“But, Mother!”
“No buts. Professor de Spina and I will return.”
It was only once the headmistress and Demonology professor were gone that I realized shivers wracked my body. I took a step into the warmth of the academy, and Diana’s attention snapped to me.
“Where are you going?”
“Just away from the door. I’m cold,” I answered, rubbing my hands against the thick fabric of my robe. Wetness covered them, and I looked down to find my sunshine yellow robe covered in blood. “Oh—oh my God.”
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “What were you doing out there?”
