Page 82 of Rogue Witch

She scowls. “I didn’t instigate the hanging. The students who were pulling the ropes are the murderers.”

“Witnesses say you ordered the students holding the ropes to hang Chelsea and Robert.”

She jumps to her feet and narrows her eyes on me. “Is your witness Leilah Crowe?”

“We have several witnesses,” I say. “Ariel.” I take four steps to where she stands, grasp her shoulders, and ease her onto the edge of her bed. I squat so that I’m eye level with her and say, “A student is dead. You aren’t the only person responsible, but you did play a major role in his death.” Fear flickers in her eyes, but I know that fear is for herself, and no one else. “You won’t be staying at The Academy.”

“You can’t kick me out. My father won’t let you.”

“Do you really want to stay here when your fellow students know of your part in Robert’s death?”

“Do they know of Leilah Crowe’s part?” she hisses. “She made the ground open up and swallow us.”

I nod. “Yes, she told us about that. As did other witnesses.”

“Jonas, you mean,” she retorts. “He’s her puppet. He would say anything she told him to say.”

“I understand you had him tied up and led him by a rope,” I say.

“That was just so that he wouldn’t run away. He’s a danger to himself. Leilah had the ground swallow us. She tried to kill all of us. Is she being expelled?”

“That is a good question,” a male voice says.

I rise as Ariel’s father and mother enter the room with Kane close behind. Mrs. Littleton pushes past him and rushes to Ariel.

Ariel jumps to her feet and throws herself into her mother’s arms. “I didn’t do anything wrong, Mom. Honest, I didn’t.”

Mrs. Littleton strokes Ariel’s hair. “I know. It’s all right. We’re here now.”

I nod to Kane, who returns to his post in the hallway.

Mr. Littleton crosses to his wife and daughter. “How dare you interrogate her without us present?”

“We didn’t interrogate her, Mr. Littleton.” Domini steps closer and extends a hand. “I’m Headmaster Ed Domini.”

The man ignores him and locks eyes with me. “We’re taking Ariel home.”

“Good,” I say. “But please be aware that you will be hearing from the Grand Witch about the next steps.”

“Next steps?” Kathryn Littleton says, and looks at her husband. “Philip.”

He motions her and Ariel forward. “Come on. We’re going home.”

Arm wrapped around her daughter, Kathryn walks with Ariel from the room.

Philip Littleton says to me, “Where is Olympia? I want to speak with her.”

“She is indisposed at the moment,” Domini says before I can reply.

I resist the urge to tell him to shut up and say, “Philip, we have two dozen witnesses who attest to Ariel’s actions.” He opens his mouth to reply, but I cut him off, “She instigated two hangings. We’re lucky the other girl was saved. But a boy died, and Ariel threatened and terrorize other students.”

His mouth twists in anger. “Is the person who saved the girl Leilah Crowe—daughter of Miriam Crowe? You can’t possibly take the word of the granddaughter of a witch who killed herself practicing Shadow magic over the daughter of upstanding Margiddians.”

“We not only can, but we do,” Domini says with more force than I’ve seen him exhibit. “Mr. Littleton, Leilah Crowe is by far not the only witness to your daughter’s crimes.”

“Crimes?” Philip blurts. “These are children who were taken in a Reaping.” His gaze swings back onto me. “You remember what a Reaping is, don’t you, Bordeaux?”

“Yes,” I reply. “I remember. I also remember the Shadow War where some Margiddians preyed on other Margiddians. Being infected by Shadows is not an excuse for cruelty—or murder.”