Only a certain Sparkle Princess will ever satisfy that feeling.
18
Iwake up with a massive cramp in my arm.
Possibly because the little girl is nestled tightly between me and Willow in my single bed.
Not the best night of sleep I’ve ever had, but no matter.
A quick look at my phone tells me it’s 6:30am.
Carefully, I edge off the mattress, trying not to wake the other two, then shake some blood into my dead limb. The girl shifts and curls into a tiny ball, her fist white-knuckled around Willow’s sleeve.
Stepping into the main basement, Ludo’s eyes immediately fly open.
“Hey," I whisper. “Just heading up to the loo.”
—I’ll keep watch here—
“Thanks.”
I navigate the dim foyer in the pre-dawn gray light, then head upstairs to attend to my business. After, I stop by Willow’s room, make a trayful of cocoas, then shove several of her granola bars in a pocket.
When I return, the shower is running, and the basement is filling with steam. I put down the mugs and hand out granola bars.
“I’m going to help her get clean,” my bestie whispers. “And encourage her to have a good lengthy pee down the drain at the same time. I realized the poor little mite must have been crossing her legs for hours!”
Gods, of course. I’m so thankful for her common sense.
It gives me an even deeper sense of certainty that the plan we came up with last night is the right one.
—I will go procure a commode—
“Thanks, Lu. Have you and River arranged a time to meet?” I ask Willow quietly.
Wills assured us her brother, River, would come to the rescue.
As a senior, he can leave the academy under certain circumstances. That’s how we’ll smuggle the child to Southernhampton. Though Mr. and Mrs. Bloomhower have no idea they’re about to become guardians to a traumatized kid.
“We’ll finesse the details at lunch break.”
Willow nods. “Ok, I’m taking our mite for a shower.”
I immediately dial into Alexis’s wavelength. —Hey, professor…you awake?—
—Yes…are you alright? Problem?—
—No, no. We’re fine…but can you work on an overnight pass for River? I think it will have to come from the dean, so I’ve no idea how you’re going to manage it—
I can almost feel a chuckle coming out of Alexis in my brain.
—That won’t be a problem—
Glad he’s so confident.
So until River can leave, we just have to keep the kid hidden.
—Morning, Tee. How’s everything at your end—
