“That sounds like her.” Mom loved her books. “Her senior yearbook is available?”
“Yes.” He waved above me. “The yearbooks are on the third floor opposite the greenhouse—in the back corner.”
I nodded in thanks. I’d have to watch what I said around him.
I headed toward the wooden stairs, careful not to trip over the large vines weaving through them like the steps were in a jungle. The stone shelves were sprawling with vines and blooming purple and yellow flowers. Glass windows on the far side rose all three floors, like a looking glass into a magical library sanctuary.
I reached the top of the stairs and headed in the direction the librarian had indicated. The yearbooks were in a back corner, and I quickly found the one I wanted. Snatching it, I headed to the nearby table and began flipping through the pages. Midway through, my hand froze. A young version of my mom stood at a lab table, working on some kind of creation next to a young, handsome student with broad cheekbones and a narrow nose—her lab partner. I studied him a little longer, his features becoming decipherable.Headmaster John Sanders?
John hadn’t acted like he knew Mom, and in the photo, they were both smiling together. Which reminded me … I pulled out my phone—which John had annoyingly given to Viv and me after the rock creature incident in case we needed to contact him—and glanced at the time.
Shoot.
I had a meeting with him and was going to be late if I didn’t leave right away.
Good.
I could question him about being lab partners with Mom.
I grabbed the yearbook and headed down the stairs. The librarian didn’t say anything when I asked to check it out. Once it was, I shoved it in my backpack and left for John’s office. I knocked on the door before trying the handle, surprised to find it unlocked and the room empty of the headmaster. Aura briefly raised her furry little head from her curled ball on the desk, not caring about my intrusion.
After a short walk around his office, I went over to the chairs to sit but paused and stared at his desk. Now was my chance to find out if he was hiding anything.I rummaged through the papers on his stone desk and the little fox cracked an eye open but closed it midway through my digging. Nothing stuck out to me.
I began searching through the ebony wood drawers of his desk until I came to a bottom drawer that wouldn’t budge. It had a tungsten lock.
Smart choice, Headmaster.
If I was hiding a key, where would I keep it? I searched the open drawers again, checking for the obvious spots. Aura raised her head again, giving me a curious glance before stretching and coming to sit at the end of the desk. Sun glinted off her collar as she yawned.
“Don’t worry,” I reassured the little fox. “I’m not here to cause any harm to your master.” Aura tilted her head, the dangling oval charm catching my eye. “What do you have there?”
I held out my hand, and she sniffed it. Once I was sure she wouldn’t bite my finger, I ran my fingers through the white fur on the top of her head, slowly making my way to her chin, where the charm was. Upon further inspection, I realized there was arelease button on the charm and a faint tingle of magic radiating from it, only palpable when touched.
“I’m going to take your collar off, okay, girl?” I softened my voice as if I was talking to a kid. She only blinked at me, and I took that as my cue, slowly unclasping the collar. Once I almost had it off, she let out a little hiss, showing her teeth. I pulled my hands away, collar clutched in them.
Aura licked her paw and then went back to her corner, circling three times before lying down.
Okay, then.
I pressed the button and a small key folded out. Magic and mechanics working together at their finest. Holding my breath, I tried it on the drawer, a small thrill of triumph running through me when it clicked open. I went back over to Aura, testing her temperament by getting in her space before reaching around her neck with the collar. She didn’t move, only gave me narrowed side-eyes. I clasped it back on and went over to the drawer, opening it farther. I was running out of time.
An old phone rested on top of some papers in the corner. I picked it up and pressed a button. The screen lit, and it was still open to a message to a seven-digit number.
They’re coming.
The door to the office started to open and I dropped the phone in the drawer, closing it with my shin. I stood up straight as John walked in. He eyed me wearily, taking in my position behind his desk and then glancing at a sleeping Aura.
“Anything I can help you with?” He closed the door, clutching a cardboard box to his chest.
“You’re late,” I said, deflecting the attention off me and striding to the other side of the desk where I was supposed to be.
“Yes. I apologize.” He gestured with the box in his hand. “I had something to pick up. I see your sister has not arrived yet.”
“My sister?” I asked. “She’s joining us?”
“Yes. Viv—” The door to his office opened, cutting him off as she strode through.
“I was summoned by a guard?” Viv glanced from me to John. “I would like to make it known that a simple text goes a long way.”
