Finding the magic users isn’t hard. Even without the goth modifications to their standard uniforms, I would have known it was those girls from a mile away. They’re all older, probably juniors and seniors if I had to guess. Stars, was I ever that young? I avoid their group, making my way over to the younger girls who are all sitting closest to the entrance of the school. Every year, the girls will move out a table until, like the girls tainted with smutty magic, they will be on the outside ring of tables, farthest from the teachers’ prying eyes and ears.
“Hey.” I blow out a breath, not having to pretend too much that I’m a little winded from my long walk. I swear my lungs have shrunk by half. This kid takes up a lot of real estate. Most of the girls chirp back with ‘hi’ and ‘hello,’ but a few are a little more shy and just stare at me.
I notice Grim keeps his distance, only staying close enough to hear us, but not encroaching. Calix takes over the lead spot next to me, while Gunnar steps to the side. His face is twisted up as if he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself when he’s not scowling.
“Mind if I take a seat?” I plop my butt down on the hard cement bench without waiting for a reply.
“Do you have a kid you’re sending here?” an inquisitive little girl with a brunette bob asks.
“I don’t know. Do you girls like it here?” I regret the question the moment it’s out of my mouth.
The same little girl shrugs. “It’s better than home,” she answers casually, the way only children seem to master.
Gunnar clears his throat. Hell, if I don’t get him out of here soon, there is going to be a whole hell of a lot of orphans, or I’m going to have to open up my own boarding school. Who knew the brute had such a soft spot for kids?
“Can I tell you a secret?” I mock whisper. Every little girl at the table leans in and holds their breath. There’s nothing more valuable than a secret in a place like this. “I went here when I was a little girl.”
“You did?” a blonde with a chubby little nose inquires.
I nod and purse my lips. “I just wanted to see the old place.” I don’t want to offend them and say I wouldn’t send my kid here, but I don’t want them to think of me as the kind of mom who would leave her kid here either. “It still looks the same.” I make a point to look around. “Do the older girls still sneak out and have parties in the woods?”
A few heads nod quickly. “Madalyn said she saw a boy!” the brunette who looks to be about eight confesses.
I bring my hand up and cover my mouth in pretend outrage for her. “No!”
“Uh-huh, they are going to get in soooo much trouble.” She shakes her head as if she’s so much smarter than the older girls.
I snicker but cover it by clearing my throat and nodding. “Boys are dumb anyway.”
“You have three with you,” the littlest one informs me on a whisper, as if I’d forgotten.
“Yes, but these boys are special. They’re very nice to me and take good care of me.”
“Are they your boyfriends?” another asks.
I bring my finger up to my lips to indicate I’ve got another secret for them to keep. “All three.” I raise my brows and smirk.
“I want three boyfriends to take care of me when I leave here,” the littlest one chirps.
“You have to make sure they’re special boys, like mine,” I caution. She nods knowingly and gets a far off look in her eyes. I bet she might just do it. “Thanks for sharing your table, ladies. I have to get going.”
“Bye,” they chorus and wave. Their heads are already close together, whispering, before I’m even gone.
Once we’re out of earshot, I say, “We don’t need to stick around. I know which girls are messing with magic, they won’t be hard to find tonight.”
* * *
After a too-short nap,we’re back at the school. This time we don’t bother with the gate house. Gunnar parks the car up the road at a nearby convenience store, and we hoof it the rest of the way. My feet are actually tired from all the walking I’ve done today, but I’m not letting Grim blink me to the school, so sore feet it is.
The old worn trail through the surrounding woods is still here, proving that the girls are still being girls, just like I was, and sneaking out regularly. Grim is leading the way, while Gunnar brings up the rear of our group. As soon as we’re close enough, I feel the brush of dirty magic against my skin, so I grab the back of Grim’s shirt to stop him. I don’t want any of us wandering into a trap left by the witch. Which reminds me, Aeson is going to be pissed when she finds out we came here tonight without her, but she’s busy with some big job she won’t tell me about until the mark is dead. “Watch for a snare,” I whisper. My gut is screaming at me that we’re walking into a trap.
Instead of heading toward the dorms, I urge Grim down a path to the right. It’s the clearing most of the girls would hang out in when they weren’t brave enough to actually leave the school grounds. We’re only a few feet from the clearing when I hear muffled cries.
My heart slams against my ribs. Could he be here right now? Pushing even closer with a little more urgency, I hiss when I get a glimpse beyond the trees. There’s a small group of girls, maybe five, all dressed in black cloaks that look like they came from a Halloween store, forming a rough circle.
Inside the circle on the ground, tied up with bright yellow rope you might find in a gym for climbing, is the little brunette from this morning. Her hair is a mess from thrashing about on the dirty soil, and her face is tear streaked, but her eyes are angry as she fights her restraints. There’s a wide silver band of tape covering her mouth, which explains how they’re keeping her so quiet.
As I move to step forward, a hand snaps out and holds me back. I feel Gunnar’s heavy breaths against the side of my head as he speaks softly into my ear. “Wait.”
