At the opposite side of the hall, Roslyn stood at the top of a few stone steps that led to a raised dais. Her gown flowed past her feet, her fiery hair glowing in the light of the flame.
The eight of us stood side by side, the others who were seated turning their attention to Roslyn.
“Welcome, Initiates, to Veynara Hall,” she said. “My name is Roslyn Talonhart, and I will be helping oversee your initiation. Tonight, we will induct seventy-three new membersinto Nightfall’s ranks. After passing the tasks and proving themselves, they join us as we partake in this journey together.”
I hadn’t noticed it before, but Roslyn had an accent I didn’t recognize. She spoke formally, and the cadence of her voice was smooth and well-paced, like the way a high-born medieval lady might’ve spoken by over-enunciating.
I was warm. I glanced at Isabella. She gave me a quick grin. My eyes flicked to the fireplace. It wasn’t the heat, though. It was something else, but I couldn’t figure out what.
“This castle is over a thousand years old. It functions as it did when it was first built, by candle and firelight. You will see hearths burning constantly, and most of the light will be sourced from torches, hearths, and naturally from the windows. We do not use technological equipment here, with a strict preference for research being done in our vast libraries. You will find this serves all your academic needs. Nightfall also boasts hundreds of acres of greenhouses and farmlands, where agricultural experts locally source our food. You will find no better meal anywhere on Earth than the delectable meals our chefs create.
“Tonight,” Roslyn continued, “we celebrate your presence here at Nightfall with the other Initiates. You will be shown to your dormitory after the gathering. Tomorrow, you will attend four introductory sessions. These sessions will answer many of your questions and get you started here. Until then, relax and enjoy your evening. Thank you.”
Everyone seated began clapping and smiling our way. They rose from their seats, and many came over to congratulate us. A few shook my hand; others bowed deeply. Their voices were blurred together.
But I couldn’t pay attention to the present moment. It was as if something was nagging at me, calling to me, but from where?
Isabella grinned at a joke I missed and mingled with the other Initiates. I stuck close to her and tried to mimic herexpressions. I tried to keep up with the conversation, but my head was thrumming.
Then it hit me.
Cody.
Panic twisted my insides as I looked around for him, but I didn’t see his bright red hair anywhere.
“Hey,” I whispered to Isabella. “Where’s Cody?”
She looked at me, creased lines forming at her brow. “Who?”
I scowled. “Cody. The redhead who jumped first? We talked to him throughout the tasks?”
There was no hint of teasing in her body language.
“What are you talking about?” she whispered, sounding annoyed.
“Cody,” I whispered a little harshly, looking around the hall. “Where is he? I didn’t see him in the intake building, or when we came up to the castle.”
Isabella frowned and glanced at Riya. “There was no one named Cody, Anna. Maybe we should see if we can get you to the dorm early.”
Was she serious? I saw Skylar and brushed off Isabella’s hand as she reached for my forehead. She’d remember. She was sitting at a nearby table.
“Hey,” I said. “Have you seen Cody?”
Her eyes tightened with a nearly imperceptible flicker.
“Who?” she asked, her voice curious.
I groaned and began searching for Everson. Spotting him with a woman about his age with her hair pulled back into a tight bun, I darted between groups, but when I got there, he was ahead of me in a crowd. Everyone was filtering in and out, making it hard to keep track of him. I rushed out of the hall, looking for him through the crowd, and saw him on an upper floor. I made my way up the staircase, moving past the others, searching for him on the crowded balcony.
He was gone again.
Not seeing him anywhere, I searched blindly, turning down any corridor I could find, but it was no use.
This wasn’t right. Cody should’ve been here at the school with us.
I slumped against a stone pillar, sinking to the floor.
Breath ragged, I sat there, trying to piece together my fraying memories.
