They came up empty-handed, no surprise.
I run my brush through my hair once more and then stash it inside my chest. Then I quickly slip on my boots and grab my books and my cloak, tying it as I walk down the stairs.
“You’re late.” Maxon looks at the clock in the Proeliator common room.
“Breakfast hasn’t been served yet,” I counter. The buddy system is still in place, but we’re free to walk to breakfast on our own today instead of being escorted. We got the “all clear” from the Reaper Army days ago, but Professor Messor has been extra cautious.
“It will be once we get there.”
“Yeah, it’ll be perfect timing. I hate waiting for my food.”
Maxon snorts. “After you,” he says with a wave of his hand, and I step forward, going down the stairs. A few of the younger students are on their way down and fall in step with us, talking the entire way to the mess hall. We spent all of Sunday stuck in the house common room, and I got to know a lot of the students in other years.
“I’ll find you after breakfast,” Max grumbles when we step into the mess hall. I don’t have to ask why. Celeste is standing by her table, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Max will be sitting with her today, trying to keep the peace in their relationship, if you can even call it that.
Kaia and Gertrude saved me a seat anyway, and I fill up on blueberry pancakes and maple bacon. I hang out at the table once everyone else is done, waiting for Max. Celeste is taking her sweet time eating, and I know she’s doing it on purpose.
I flick my eyes up and see her get up, moving to Maxon’s lap. He’s too good for her. Way too fucking good.
Sighing, I reach into my bag and pull out my demonology book. The army didn’t find any signs of foul play, but I’m still not convinced something sinister isn’t wandering the halls of Reaper Academy.
I flip back to chapter three and start to reread everything all over again. I’m a page in when Cass pops up through the table.
“We need to talk.” She’s inches from my face and the energy coming off of her causes my hair to stand up from the charge she’s emanating.
“Are you breaking up with me?” I try to act offended, but when Cass doesn’t shoot a joke or a one-liner right back at me, I know this is serious. “What’s going on?”
She looks around and shakes her head. My table is empty, but the mess hall isn’t. “I can’t tell you around everyone else.”
“Okay, um…” I trail off and look around. I can’t leave the mess hall without Max, and Celeste is now basically force-feeding him blueberries, one at a time. “Follow me.” I gather up my stuff and move over by the large fireplace. I hold my hands up to the flames, acting as if I’m cold. Though really, the table nearest the fireplace is usually left empty because it gets so damn hot in here with this large fire going.
“I was lurking again,” Cass starts, and sits on ground right next to the hearth. Anyone with a body would be burned from being that close to the flames.
“And?” I ask, knowing that “lurking” means trying to listen in on conversations.
“Professor Hottie was talking to the headmistress. He said he found something in one of Blaze’s journals that makes him think he might have attempted to access a portal and go to the human realm to fight a demon.”
“Oh my God. So maybe he’s—”
Cass shakes her head. “No, they went to the human realm and cast the same spell. It didn’t show any inkling that he was still alive.”
I let my eyes fall shut and Cass pats my shoulder. Her hand makes contact for half a second and then slides right through me. Now I really do need to move closer to the fire.
“And Professor Dal seemed super confused and startled by Blaze sneaking off. He said he knew he wasn’t ready to face demons just yet.”
I jerk my head up. “Wait. Back up. You’re sure you heard him say that?”
Cass nods. “I saw him too. Professor Messor’s windows are rather reflective, if you haven’t noticed. I can peer in from the hall and see who’s sitting by her desk.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I rush out. Blaze had told me that Professor Dal had taken him to the human realm several times. Something isn’t adding up here, and I need to go and find Professor Dal. What I’ll say when I see him is a different story, but I have time to figure it out.
Only, I don’t.
Maxon beckons me over, waving madly. I think something is wrong until I get over by him and Celeste, who looks even more annoyed than usual.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Didn’t you hear?”
