“Due to some safety concerns, the Quadricentennial opening ceremony has been canceled,” said Drutten. “You are all required to remain here for your security as we conduct a sweep of the school grounds.”
That got everyone talking over one another, confused questions and displeased shouts rising all around them in a cacophony of languages. Drutten lifted a hand to call for silence again. “Some of you might have heard of or witnessed firsthand the strange…apparitionssighted in Cadence early this morning.”
Apparitions? What in the Tides’ name was he on about…
Drutten cleared his throat. “We believe this to be the work of a highly dangerous and unstable Eclipse-born known as Freyia Lündt, a Reanimator who escaped from the Institute sometime last night.”
Baz’s stomach dropped as Drutten continued: “The fugitive is believed to be in the vicinity of Cadence, if those reanimatedcorpses roaming the streets are any indication. Now, rest assured, that matter has been taken care of, but Freyia Lündt poses an imminent threat so long as she remains out of the Institute’s custody. She evaded the Unhallowed Seal after Collapsing nearly a decade ago, and the horrors she has committed since are unspeakable. We believe she escaped to join a movement of fellow Shadow-cursed—that is, Collapsed Eclipse-born like her whose magic hasn’t been sealed—who have been gathering around Elegy and plan to use their dark, twisted magic to sow terror among us.”
Horrified murmurs rose in the crowd. Baz couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Freyia must have given awayeverythingthat Jae had been doing in Threnody. She’d betrayed her own people to the very Regulators she’d been running away from for a decade.
It was only a matter of time now before Jae was caught—and their entire plan would come fluttering down like a flimsy tower of cards.
Drutten gripped the podium in his beefy hands and swept a solemn look over the gathered students, drawing their attention as he waited for silence. “I share this information with you not to sow fear but because it is a matter of public safety and concern.” He took an intentional pause, letting the tension build. “It’s no secret that the tides have been acting up of late, affecting not only our ecosystems but our magic as well. This, combined with the uprising of these dangerous Shadow-cursed, indicates that there is some larger force at work.” Drutten stood a bit taller, clasping his hands behind his back. “We believe the root of the problem lies in the appearance of a Tidecaller in our midst.”
Baz’s pulse beat so loudly it drowned out the gasps of surprise around him.
Drutten held up a hand again, somehow able to quiet the bewildered crowd. “A student of Aldryn College known as Emory Ainsleif lost her life to an apparent drowning a few months ago. Shewas a Healer of House New Moon, but recent information has led us to understand this was alie. Dean Fulton has kindly provided us with evidence of a selenograph test that indicates Ms. Ainsleif’s blood contained Eclipse magic. Multiple witnesses have come forth to confirm this and testify to the kind of dangerous magic Ms. Ainsleif dealt in. And though Ms. Ainsleif is presumed to be dead, we believe the Reanimator and her accomplices are looking to resurrect her. Because Emory Ainsleif is a Tidecaller. The Shadow reborn.”
The world tilted beneath Baz’s feet. This couldn’t be happening. Who within the Selenic Order had spilled the truth of Emory’s magic? It had to be Artem, though he wasn’t here among the Regulators, from what Baz could tell. Likely out hunting down the Reanimator and these supposed accomplices of hers. Baz thought of Jae and Kai. If the Regulators believed the Reanimator had help from Eclipse-born allies, those two—as well as Baz’s father—would be at the top of their list. He could only hope they were far from here by now, on a train back to Harebell Cove.
But then… if the Regulators were aware of the nature of Emory’s magic, it wouldn’t be long before they headed to the lighthouse to question her father.
Where they would find Jae and Kai and Baz’s own father hiding from the law.
He had to get out of here, had to warn them.
It was only then that he noticed the furtive glances a few students were throwing him. Whispers ofTimespinnerandEclipse-bornreached his ears. Panic shot through him, especially as Drutten continued with his speech.
“Rest assured, all the necessary measures will be taken against these Eclipse-born. The college campus is being combed through to ensure your safety. Once we have finished this initial sweep, you will all be asked to return to your respective dorms. We willbe making the rounds to ask questions. Ifanyonehas information regarding Ms. Ainsleif and these Eclipse-born rebels, it is in your best interest to tell us.”
Then, almost gleefully, he added: “All Eclipse-born students and staff, whether from Aldryn or another school delegation that has arrived here today, will be subjected to a Memorist’s interrogation, so as to verify that they are not hiding any pertinent information regarding the Tidecaller.”
This wasillegal. It was like they’d gone back in time to when Eclipse-born were so feared that they were subjected to these kinds of humiliations on a daily basis.
Drutten’s eyes found Baz’s in the crowd, and the bastardsmirked. He knew he’d won. A Memorist would crawl into Baz’s mind and find all the secrets Drutten had been trying to draw out of him these past few months.
It was over.
“We’ll start with that one,” Drutten said, pointing to Baz. “A close friend of Ms. Ainsleif’s, were you not, Mr. Brysden? Seize him.”
Two Regulators were on him before Baz could think to move. Damper cuffs gleamed in the light as they held them up to his wrists, looking to prevent him from using his magic.
The floor suddenly exploded, blasting back the Regulators and sending Baz to his knees.
15KAI
THEY WERE HALFWAY TO THEtrain station when the streets of Cadence descended into chaos as people fled from the pale whitethingsroaming around, yelling about ghosts. Except Kai knew they were no ghosts.
Jae stared in horror at the two corpselike, vacant-eyed creatures ambling down the street. “What in the name of the Tides…”
The sound of an engine cut off the rest of their sentence as a motorcycle blew past them, then came to a screeching halt. Vera jumped off and bounded toward them, face as white as the two monstrosities she kept eyeing.
“So, uh, bad news,” she said. “The Reanimator escaped from the Institute.”
“What?” Jae exclaimed.
“All I know is Artem Orlov was the one in charge of transferring her sometime before dawn. I saw him come in—with Virgil, which I thought was odd. She must have escaped while theywere transferring her.” Vera motioned to the reanimated corpses. “Clearly, she’s been busy.”
