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It didn’t make sense.
I didn’t see Nic around, so I headed to my locker to grab some books. My heightened sense of smell picked up on something odd. Someone had been meddling with my locker. I opened it, and out fell a bunch of flower petals. I touched one, and it magically fizzled away. Were the petals a magical illusion of some sort? They looked like the pale pink petals from a rose, or perhaps a camellia.
I peered inside the locker, and perched on top of a stack of books was a note folded in half. My name was written on the front.
Darya.
I stilled. This whole thing felt ominous. Something told me this wasn’t a love note from a secret admirer. Gingerly, I picked up the note and unfolded the paper.
Dear Darya,
You don’t know me, but I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Vasilios, and I have travelled a very, very long way to meet you. I’m the demon your mother has been tracking day and night because of the perceived threat to your safety, but I can assure you I mean you no harm. I would like the opportunity to prove that I am not a danger but instead an ally. There’s a lot I need to tell you, and I would be obliged if you would meet me at a time and place of your choosing so that I can have the opportunity to explain myself. I have imbued this paper with magic, so if you should decide to meet me, scribble down the time and place on this page, and I will receive the message.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Vasilios.
14.
I stared at the message for a long time, my mind racing. This had to be a trap … right? I certainly wasn’t foolish enough to think that he really meant me no harm, and meeting him was a terrible idea. I folded the note back over, slid it in my pocket, and hurried to Rebecca’s classroom. There were a few minutes left before her first class of the day, and I had just enough time to show her the note.
“We need to call Mum and Dad,” she said, pulling her phone from her bag.
“Good idea,” I agreed, folding my arms as I paced nervously in front of her desk.
Will you calm down? Your anxiety is giving me palpitations, Peter complained in my head.
Sorry.
What’s going on?
I got a note from Vasilios.
Who the hell is Vasilios?
He’s the demon. He wants to meet me.
I definitely felt a rumble of anger in his next statement. No fucking way.
Of course, no fucking way. I’m not an idiot. Rebecca’s on the phone to our parents now filling them in.
Where are you? Do you need me to come—
I was distracted when my mother suddenly appeared in front of me, her hand outstretched, “Let me see it.”
I clutched my chest. “A little warning before you teleport, please. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Darya, show me the note.” Her voice brooked no argument.
I dug in my pocket then handed it to her. Her pupils shrunk down to pins as she studied the paper and the magic it had been laced with. She held it in one hand while circling her other hand over the top of the note. A pale glow emerged, the classroom filling with the potency of my mother’s powers.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, shaking her head. “This magic is nothing like ours.”
“That’s because it’s not from here,” Rebecca put in. “It’s the magic of a completely different dimension.”
“Can it help you find him?” I asked hopefully.
Mum’s face fell. “The magic is so different from mine. It would be nearly impossible to untangle it.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
“Your father will be here in a minute. I’m not sure he’ll agree to it, but I think you should reply and confirm a meeting place.”
“What? No way! That’s far too reckless,” Rebecca argued.
“We’ll have members of the Guard with us,” Mum answered back. “They’ll be there to arrest this Vasilios person for organising Mr Williams’ murder and possibly the attack on Angela.”
At the mention of Angela, my determination solidified. I wanted to get this guy and punish him for what he did, and if that meant taking the risk of meeting him in person, then so be it.
“In the meantime, you need to get to class. I’ll let you know our plan of action later today.”
“Yes, my students should be arriving any minute,” Rebecca said. “You both should go.”
“What about the note?” I asked.
“I’ll keep it safe,” Mum replied, approaching me and pulling me into a hug. “Don’t worry, honey. Your father and I will take care of everything.”
I saw the faint worry lines around her eyes and wondered if she was putting on a brave face for my benefit. I wished she wouldn’t. I was old enough to handle reality.
