“No, no, it’s not that.” She wrings her hands, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. “I decided to do some exploring, since the school is unusually empty, and while I was floating around I overheard something.”
“What?” I ask, a feeling of foreboding creeping over me.
“That boy…the one they said ran away after going into town?”
I drop the shopping bags on the ground. “What about him?”
“It’s all a lie. He never went into town.”
13
My blood runs cold. “What?”
“It was the headmistress talking to Professor Balbina. She’s the head of the Magi house, and they were going over records or something and there’s no indication that he ever left the academy.”
“But he’s missing.”
Cass nods. “Another professor joined them and said she modified the lost soul spell to try to locate a lost reaper and there were no signs of him. It’s like he vanished. And they said him running away didn’t make sense either. He would have gone home to his family instead of running away. They asked around at the brothel, and nobody had seen him there either.”
“Maxon was at that brothel today,” I say, the wheels in my head turning furiously as I sink onto the bed. “We thought maybe he was just screwing around behind Celeste’s back, but now I’m wondering if maybe it had something to do with Terrence. Maybe he knew they were covering it up and wanted to check it out for himself.”
“But why would they cover it up?” Cass shakes her head, ponytail bobbing. “And why would Maxon take it upon himself to investigate? He’s a student—it’s not his responsibility.”
“Yeah, but Maxon’s not exactly a stickler for following the rules, is he?” I ask. “He went into the human world on his own just so he could try to rack up some more house points. Maybe Terrence was a friend of his, and he just couldn’t let this go. And I can’t blame him either,” I add fiercely. “If something happened to this kid, who’s to say it won’t happen to another?”
Cass, having been murdered herself, chews on her lip. “What are you gonna do?”
“What can I do?” My mind whirls. I just got here. Finally found a place where I belong. I have friends. Going and telling everyone the professors are hiding a potential kidnapping or murder from us because my ghost friend—who shouldn’t even be here—was snooping, wouldn’t go over well.
“Maxon told me that demons have tried to get into the reaper realm before. What if one got in?” I shoot up. “I heard him talking to Celeste earlier and it sounded like he didn’t think the kid just up and left either. I should talk to him, see if I can find out what he knows.”
Cass nods. “Good idea. But show me what you got first.”
I stare at her. “There might be a demon on the loose and you want to see what I bought today?”
“I do.”
I let out a snort of laughter. “Fine, but only because I’m not sure where Maxon is to go looking.” I dump out the shopping bags. I want to change out of my uniform anyway, and putting on a pair of soft black leggings feels so good. I pull on a loose red sweater with the Reaper Academy crest on the front and slip my arms back through my cloak.
“Come with me?” I ask Cass once my clothes are put away.
“I was planning on it anyway.”
* * *
“Hey.”I wave to Neve and Nova as I pass them in the library on my search for Maxon. He wasn’t in the Proeliator common room, the mess hall getting something to snack on, or the other three common rooms I looked in.
I decide to check the library next, thinking maybe he’s catching up on his homework. He’s not in there, but Neve and Nova are, their heads bent together as they pour over a textbook.
“Hey, Addy!” Neve springs up from her chair the moment she notices me, beaming. “How are you? Doing better with your spellcraft?”
“Much better.” I grin—the twins have been very helpful. “I’m looking for Maxon, have you seen him?”
“He’s probably outside doing a drill for Captura.”
“Oh, right.” I vaguely remember him talking about it with the reapers at the tavern. “I’ll check outside. Thanks.”
A group of third-year Magi cut me off as I’m walking out of the library. Cass purposely ghosts right through them and I shake my head, trying not to laugh as they squeal and shiver with revulsion. She might be slightly petty, but I do appreciate the way she looks out for me.
