“Like tracking?”
“Please consider my offer,” he said. “There’s less risk if we join you.”
But there’s more risk for Viv.
I wasn’t sure what else to say, so I simply walked out. I hadn’t been expecting him to practically open the front gate for me or tooffer his services. As a headmaster, he had a duty to protect the students. I was some mutt who happened to wander in later. But I couldn’t help feel the heavy emotion that had charged the air in his office, almost as if he did care about me.
He had a funny way of showing it if he did.
In less than thirty minutes, I had made it to the roof of the east dorms. It was late, but my sister was still waiting for me. I plopped down next to her and let my legs hang off the back as I stared off into the woods. She leaned over, resting her head on my shoulder. I leaned mine against hers. My hair was still damp from my shower and no doubt was making hers wet. The aroma of her lilac shampoo and familiar fresh rain scent caused my stomach to clench. This was going to be tough.
“What do we do now?” Viv asked.
“The academy is still the safest place.” I pulled away from her and straightened. “Vivian. There’s something I need you to promise me that you will do.”
“What is the promise?” Her eyes narrowed.
“I need you to promise first.” I swung a leg over the parapet so I could face her more easily.
“I can’t make a promise until I know what I’m promising.”
I sighed and continued, “I’m going to go home and see if there were any clues left behind. While—”
“I’m coming,” Viv stated. “I mean; I don’t really want to be where Mom died, but you are not going without me.”
“Please let me finish.” I looked at her, waiting for her confirmation. She nodded. “While I’m searching, I need you to stay here at the academy. The dark mage that had attacked—”
“No! I’m going with you.” At least letting me say a half a sentence more than I thought she would.
“Vivian!” My voice rose. “Please just let me finish and then we will discuss it. I want to hear how you feel and I want to know your desires, but I also need you to hear me out.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “I should have brought Oreos for this.”
I smiled at her and shook my head.Ishould have broughtherOreos. It might’ve helped persuade her.
“The dark mage was only after ether mages. It was after me—and Ender.”
“Ender?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “But that story is for another time. The dark mage didn’t know about Ender, but she knew about me. So if I leave, the rest of her clan shouldn’t be interested in the academy. While I’m gone, I can see if I can find any information on the dark mages. I need you here, safe, while I’m gone.”
“First of all, how will they know you left? Second, why would you think I would let you go alone?” Viv frowned.
I knew she wouldn’t like my plan, but I had an idea that might help her.
“I wouldn’t know, but the academy and our friends—including April—would be safer with your skills around.” I was playing on her feelings, and it was dirty. “Including you. Vivian—you would be safer. I have to go back to whereithappened. Even if I don’t find anything, I need to go home. I need some closure.”
“You know about April.” She glanced down at her hands, then back up at me. I nodded and she took a deep breath. “You’re my sister. I should be going with you, and I don’t want you going alone.”
“John offered to join both of us, along with a couple of guards. He asked me not to go alone.”
“The headmaster approved all of us going together?”
“Yes, but I’m unsure of him. It’ll be easier to move around alone. This is something I want to do by myself, and as my sister and best friend, I’m asking you not to go.” I grabbed her hand. “Please do this for me.”
She took another deep breath and stared off into the night. “If I say yes, do you promise me all the Oreos I can eat and a girls’ night?”
“What kind of girls’ night are we talking about?” I pulled back and arched an eyebrow. “A party with half the student body or all the cookies we can eat while binge watching a TV series or movies?”
