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He shrugged. “I can hide in my invisi-bag if I have to—I’ve done it before.”
I had to admit that was a neat solution to the problem.
“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll stand here in the food line doorway and wait for you then.”
“Thanks. One roasted chicken dinner coming up.” He grinned at me and then glided off silently into the darkness behind the steam tables. Clearly he knew exactly what he was doing.
I went back to stand in the doorway and looked alertly around the cavernous darkness of the Dining Hall as I waited for him. I didn’t expect any trouble. Avery’s nonchalant attitude towards raiding the kitchen made it feel like just a normal part of life at Nocturne Academy.
I didn’t even feel bad about stealing because, really, was it stealing? Wasn’t my scholarship supposed to cover room and board? And shouldn’t I be getting something better than fish and fruit salad casserole covered with a thick, greasy blanket of orange cheese? I was pretty sure even prisons didn’t serve such nasty food—an elite Magic Academy ought to do better than a correctional institution.
I nodded to myself. Put that way, the pilfering seemed positively justified.
As I mused, I kept my eyes trained on the wide entrance to the Dining Hall on the far side of the room. It was the only way either in or out of the area—that I could see, anyway. So I was pretty sure if someone was going to come check on the kitchens, that would be where they would come from.
Which was why I was so surprised when a heavy hand fell on my shoulder from behind and a voice said in my ear,
“Now what do you think you’re doing in my kitchen this time of night, Missy?”
28
I must have jumped a mile—at least it felt like I did. I turned quickly around and saw a plump, elderly cafeteria lady frowning at me. She was still wearing an apron and a hairnet and her eyes looked like sharp little raisins pushed into her doughy face.
“Oh, I…” I put a hand to my mouth and doubled over, coughing. When I straightened up, I wiped at my nose and sniffed loudly. “I’m sorry,” I told her, hoping I sounded convincing. “I’m new here and I was looking for the Healer’s office. I…” I sniffed again. “I think I’m getting a cold. Can you show me the way?”
She looked at me suspiciously but I faked another coughing fit and looked as miserable as I possibly could.
At last, she nodded. “Well…I haven’t seen you around for long, that much is true, anyway. Come on—I’ll point you in the right direction.”
She led the way out of the Dining Hall entrance and I had no choice but to follow her.
“It’s that way,” she said, pointing down the stone hallway. “Take a left and go all the way down—it’ll be on your right. If you reach the South Tower you’ve gone too far.” She gave me a stern look. “Now get. And mind I don’t catch you poking around my kitchens again at night!”
“No, ma’am,” I said humbly and sniffed. “Thank you.”
She made a brisk shooing gesture and I had no choice but to start off down the hallway, just as though I was really headed towards the Healer. I could feel her little raisin eyes watching me the whole way until I finally turned the corner and breathed a sigh of relief.
Whew—that had been close! I just hoped that Avery had heard me and had time to hide himself in his bag. But I had a feeling he would be fine one way or another. He was smooth enough to sweet-talk his way out of trouble, even if she caught him red-handed—a talent which I myself, unfortunately, did not possess.
Wonder how long I’ll have to stay here before I can go back? I thought, glancing around the shadowy dimness of the large stone corridor. The evening before I had been too tired to notice, but it was actually really spooky down here at night.
There were a few windows cut into the stone hallway but they were small and didn’t let in much moonlight or starlight. Every shadow seemed to have a shadow of its own and the slightest sound echoed endlessly.
I went a little further, wondering if maybe Griffin was sneaking out again tonight. I wasn’t very far from the short hallway where I’d met him the night before, I didn’t think. Should I look for it? Should I try to find him?
The key around my neck jumped at the thought. I wondered if it was really Griffin that it wanted or if it was just drawn to the thick black padlock at his throat. What would happen if we put them together? If I put my key into his lock?
The key quivered again, eagerly. But somehow the thought sent a chill down my spine. Though I didn’t know why, the idea felt dangerous to me—extremely so.
