“No. We’re going to find her.” I look across the hall at Maxon. Celeste is on his lap again, running her long nails up and down his back. He’s staring out the window, looking miserable. I’m not sure if it’s because of his fiancée, or because of all the missing students.
“I think I know where she is—or might be.” I squeeze my eyes closed, mind racing. There are spells to find specific demons, but I don’t know this demon’s name, only where it last was in the human realm.
Could it still be there?
Professor Dal warned us that demons eventually flock to events like accidents, where there is an initial high number of casualties, followed by others slowly dying off. The scene was still grim when we left. Not all who were transported to the hospital are going to make it.
Did the Reaper Army move in after us and do a sweep of the place?
I don’t have time to waste thinking about it. Kaia’s life is in danger, and I have to act now.
“Cass,” I say, and look at my friend. “Stay with her. Follow her to class and don’t let her out of your sight.”
“What are you going to do?” Cass asks.
“I’m going to talk to Professor Messor.”
Cass nods and reaches for my hand. “Be careful, Addy.”
“I will. I need to go now. Kaia doesn’t have much time.” I refuse to consider the fact that she might already be dead—Maxon had told me it took time for demons to devour reapers, so I had to cling to the hope that she was still alive. I thrust my books at Gertrude and take off, running out of the mess hall. I accidentally bump into a group of Magi in my haste, but don’t slow.
“Sorry!” I call as I keep running, boots clicking on the polished stone floor. There’s another group of younger students, all going to lunch together. I skid to a stop and slowly cut through them, impatiently dodging around student after student.
Every second counts and my heart lurches in my chest. Kaia is going to be okay. I will get to her in time. I have to believe it.
“Addy!” Maxon’s voice rings out from behind me. I don’t stop, only slow, as I start down a flight of stairs. “Addy, wait up.”
“I don’t have time,” I yell over my shoulder, and keep going. Maxon leaps down the stairs, landing gracefully at the bottom.
“Stop.” He moves in front of me and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Gertrude said he heard something about Kaia having gone missing and then you ran out of there. What’s going on?”
“It has her, Max,” I say, and push forward. He doesn’t try to stop me.
“Who? The Red Skull?”
“It has to. I know it killed Blaze. I just know it. And I’m willing to bet my scythe on it that it killed Terrence and your roommate too.”
“I believe you.” Maxon picks up the pace, running along with me. “Where are you going?”
“To talk to Professor Messor. She’ll know what to do.”
We run the rest of the way there, speeding by startled students, and don’t stop until we’re right outside her door. She’s in her office, and it sounds like she’s having a meeting with someone. I don’t wait. Don’t knock. I twist the knob and throw the door open.
A middle-aged couple sits in front of Professor Messor’s desk. They turn, wide-eyed, to look at who just blew into the office.
“Excuse me, Ms. Blake.” Professor Messor stands, eyes flashing. “I am in the middle of a meeting.”
“This can’t wait,” I pant, and glance at the couple. The man is dressed in fancy silver and black robes. His brown hair is cut short, and he has military pins on the breast of the vest he has on under his cloak. The woman has silver-blonde hair and is shockingly gorgeous. She’s also wearing silver and black robes but has twice as many pins as the man.
The man looks behind me and his brows pinch together. “Maxon,” he says, almost sounding surprised. He quickly gets to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?” The man looks from Maxon to me and back again.
I swallow hard, not caring if Professor Messor doesn’t want these people to know.
“Another student has gone missing.”
The woman gasps. “It isn’t Celeste, is it?”
“No, ma’am,” Maxon answers right away, and it hits me that these are Celeste’s parents. “I was just with her.”
