The Nightmare Affair (19 page)

I gaped after her. Unease churned in the pit of my stomach, and I marched out of the bathroom, determined to demand answers.

She had disappeared into the crowd of masked people. I stood there for a couple of minutes, trying to distinguish one person from another. Then finally, I saw someone in a plague doctor mask and cape disappear through one of the doors on the other side of the ballroom. I pushed and stumbled my way through the crowd after her, feeling claustrophobic in the crush of people. I really hoped it was my mother I was following and not someone else wearing the same mask.

The door led into one of the less-used corridors on the backside of Vatticut. It was empty, but there were only two ways to go—to the right toward the front entrance or to the left into the tunnels. My gut told me left, and I hurried as fast as I could down the slope.

The farther in I went, the more I considered giving up the pursuit. Coming this way was a bad idea. It was dark down here. It was Samhain. That was enough to scare a braver soul than me. But then I heard footsteps ahead and curiosity spurred me onward. The sound of my own footsteps striking the stone floor was so loud the person was bound to hear it.

I hiked up the hem of my dress so I could kick off my shoes. I froze halfway through the motion, startled by the thump of heavier footsteps approaching behind me. I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. I raised my hand, ready to cast a dazing spell, but stopped when I saw who it was. Eli. Once again, he wasn’t wearing his mask.

“What are you doing?” I said, half-annoyed, half-relieved by his presence.

He came to a halt mere inches from me. “Following you.”

“
Why
?”

“It looked like you were onto something, and it’s not safe to be running around down here alone.”

“Do you have to be so
nosy
?” I looked back the way I’d been heading. “She’s probably long gone now.”

He stepped beside me, close enough I felt my dress move around my legs. “You’re following somebody? Is it about the dream?”

“No. Now go away. This—” The words died on my lips as the sound of someone screaming echoed down the tunnel toward us.

Eli and I glanced at each other, then we both broke into a run toward the sound. I kicked off my shoes as I went, worried I’d break an ankle sprinting on the uneven surface. Eli raced ahead of me, but I didn’t mind. I was glad not to be alone. The screaming continued, growing louder and more agonized by the second, filling me with terror. Images from the dream last night blazed in my brain. The scream was so high-pitched, so inhuman, surely it had to be some kind of creature, like a Minotaur.

As we came around a corner into a small chamber at the intersection of several tunnels, we spotted the source of those screams. It was a man.

He was on fire.

14

Dead End

For a few terrible seconds, I stood there, motionless, unable to think.

The person fell to his knees, writhing on the floor in a horror-movie parody of stop, drop, and roll.

“Do something!” Eli shouted, pulling off his coat and trying to get close enough to slap at the flames. But they were too high and strong.

I could only stare. This couldn’t be happening.

“
Do something!
” Eli shouted again. “Put it out! Magic up some water already.”

I blinked, my brain finally breaking through the terror. I raised my shaking hand, and said, “Hydro-rhe.”

Faint, blue sparks shot sluggishly out of my fingertips, the magic weak and insubstantial. What little water the spell produced only made the flames hiss and smoke.

What was wrong with me? This spell was simple.
It should be easy.

“Hydro-rhe!” I said, louder and harder this time. Faint streaks again. More hissing. The man’s screams were growing softer, his thrashing slower.

“Hydro-rhe! Hydro-rhe! Hydro-rhe!” Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t do it. I was just a pathetic excuse for magickind, incapable of a simple water spell. “Hydro-rhe … Hydro-rhe.” I fell to my knees saying it over and over again.

Eli knelt beside me and placed a hand on my arm. “Come on, Dusty. You can do this.”

A surge of power stirred inside me at his touch, like the kind I felt when I first entered someone’s dream.
“Hydro-rhe!”
I screamed, reaching out with both hands.

Brilliant blue sparks flew out from my fingertips and transformed into a shower of water as strong as a burst fire hydrant, putting the flames out in seconds.

It didn’t matter.

“Oh, God, Dusty. Don’t look.” Eli moved in front of me, shielding me with his body, but it was too late. I saw enough. I saw
everything
.

I even knew who it was—
had been
.

“It’s … it’s…” I stuttered as my brain processed the sight of jeans and sandals, charred black.

“Mr. Ankil,” said Eli. “His hand is gone. Just like Rosemary.”

I scooted away, turned, and vomited. Eli stooped over me, holding my hair back from my face, his hands as gentle as my dad’s had been when I’d been sick as a kid.

“It’s all right,” he whispered, stroking my back.

By the time I finished, I heard the sound of more footsteps and someone calling my name. I looked up and saw Paul coming toward us down the main tunnel.

“Someone said they’d seen you…” The words died on his lips as he spotted Ankil’s body. He covered his nose and mouth to block out the stench. “What’s going on?”

Eli pointed at him. “Go get help.”

Paul hesitated a moment then took off at a run. I stayed where I was on the floor, not trusting my shaky legs to hold me up. Eli remained standing over me as if keeping guard. His eyes darted around the room, his body tense like he expected something to attack us.

When Paul finally returned, a bunch of people came with him, including Sheriff Brackenberry, Lady Elaine, and Mr. Marrow. I struggled to get up. Eli took me by the arm and helped me, still scanning the room. He didn’t let go as I swayed on my feet, but wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I leaned into his chest, grateful for the solid feel of him. I’d never felt more tired or sick in my whole life.

Across from us Lady Elaine knelt beside Ankil’s body then placed her hands on the charred skin of the arm with the missing hand. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she went into some kind of deep trance.

Paul came over and gave Eli a hard look before fixing his gaze on me. “Are you all right? I was worried when I couldn’t find you. Let me help.” He reached for my arm.

Eli pushed him off. “I’ve got her.”

Paul glowered, his hands curling into fists, but before he could do anything, Marrow and Brackenberry came over to us.

“What happened?” the sheriff asked. He was wearing a blue suit and pink waistcoat, his mask pushed up on top of his head.

“He was already on fire when we got here,” Eli said, his arm tightening around me. “We tried to put it out, but it was too late.”

I shook my head, unable to hold back tears. “It was my fault. I couldn’t do it.”

Paul wedged himself between me and Eli. From the corner of my eye I saw the dangerous look on Eli’s face. He raised one hand as if he meant to shove Paul off, but then he stepped back.

Paul slid his arm around me, and for a moment I wished it was still Eli, if only because he understood. He’d been there, too.

“It’s not your fault,” Paul said, kissing the top of my head.

Eli made a sound like a growl. “Of course it isn’t.”

“Did you see who did it?” asked Brackenberry.

Eli forced his arms to his sides, his muscles flexed and veins popping out. “No.”

Marrow looked between Eli and me, his expression stormy. “But why did you come down here? It’s too dangerous for students.”

Eli glanced at me, uncertain.

“I … uh…” My frantic mind searched for an explanation that didn’t involve my mother. I thought I’d been following her, but she couldn’t have done this. She wouldn’t.

“Dusty?” Marrow said.

I forced my eyes to his. “I … was following someone I thought looked suspicious, like maybe from a dream. Someone wearing one of those plague doctor masks.”

“I see,” said Brackenberry. He gazed around at the various tunnel openings. “They could be anywhere by now.”

“Can I take Dusty home, Mr. Marrow?” asked Paul. “She’s been through enough.”

Marrow glanced at the sheriff. “Is that all right with you?”

Brackenberry nodded, but he pointed at Eli. “As long as this one stays for a bit to answer questions.”

“Because that’s going to make such a difference,” Eli muttered.

“Come on,” Paul said, prodding me forward.

I let him guide me along without protest. I wanted nothing more than to get away from that terrible burnt smell clogging the corridor. I had a feeling a part of me might go on smelling it forever.

More people began to file into the corridor as we walked, several werewolf police and a couple of Magi Senators. I wondered what all of them were doing here. Magi and police didn’t normally attend high school dances. They must’ve suspected something would happen. Not that it had done any good.

My mother appeared in the corridor. I was afraid to look at her, but I couldn’t turn away. My eyes took in the sight of her outfit, the same suit and cape she’d been wearing before, the same mask now hung from her side. If she’d been down in this tunnel, if she’d been the one to murder Mr. Ankil, there was no evidence of it on her person that I could tell. But then, her magic wouldn’t leave evidence.

I pulled my gaze away from her, close to vomiting again.

“Are you all right, Destiny?” Moira stepped in front of us, blocking the way.

“I’m fine.”

Her brow furrowed. “You don’t look it. What have you been doing? What did I tell you about not getting involved in this? It’s
dangerous
.”

Oh yeah? What have
you
been doing, Mom?

“I’m sorry, Ms. Everhart,” said Paul, “but I’m supposed to get her back to her dorm.”

“The hell you are,” said Moira, her eyes sparkling with outrage. “You take her to the infirmary. Look at her feet. She can barely walk.”

A flush colored Paul’s cheeks, and we both glanced down. My feet were covered in filth and no small amount of blood. For a moment I worried that it wasn’t my blood but Mr. Ankil’s. Then I realized how sore the soles of my feet were and guessed I’d cut them on the rough floor.

“And she’s in shock,” Moira said.

For once Mom and I agreed on something. Everything felt numb, even my brain.

“I’ll take her there now.” Paul stooped and picked me up.

“Don’t.” I tried to wriggle free, but he tightened his grip.

“Be careful,” said Moira. “And don’t fight, Destiny. For once in your life, please don’t be difficult.”

I didn’t say anything, but I stopped struggling. I was so sleepy and disoriented. The world spun around me, and I closed my eyes as Paul strode off, carrying me in his arms like a child. I rested my head against his shoulder and told myself the moment I could hear him breathing hard I would insist he put me down.

But he didn’t breathe hard, not once. When we arrived in the infirmary, the duty nurse directed Paul to one of the patient rooms. The moment my head touched the pillow the nurse cast a sleeping spell. I felt the magic pool over me like warm, soothing water. It dragged me under in a moment, and I went with it, wishing the oblivion it brought would last forever.

15

Warrant

But it didn’t last forever.

When I woke, it wasn’t even morning yet. My eyes felt like iron weights in my skull as I forced them open and looked around. Darkness filled the single window beside the infirmary bed I lay in, and the light in the corridor beyond my room was dim. I could see a nurse’s station through the door, but it was empty for the moment.

If only my room were empty, too. But no such luck. My mother sat in the chair beneath the window. For a second I didn’t think she knew I was awake, and I closed my eyes.

“Don’t bother,” Mom said. “I know you’re awake, because I woke you.”

I opened my eyes and shot her a glare. My head pounded. “What do you want?”

Moira stood and approached the bed. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want the duty nurse to hear us.”

I pursed my lips. “Of course not. Because I’m supposed to still be asleep, aren’t I?”

Mom folded her arms. “You will be again once I’ve said what I need to say.”

I clamped my mouth shut, holding back a smartass remark. I wanted her to get on with it and leave me alone already. Horrible, vivid images of Mr. Ankil’s death crowded my mind. I tried to force them away, but it was impossible. Only the sleeping spell would be able to do that.

“I’m only going to tell you this once, Destiny,” Moira said, leaning over me as if to emphasize how serious she was. “You are to stay as far away from these murders as humanly, magically, entirely possible.” She waved a finger back and forth in front of my face. “No more tailing suspicious people, no more investigating, no more anything besides your dream-seer duties. I would even have you stop doing that if I had any say in it. Do I make myself clear?”

I sat up, anger and fear pulsing through my body, blood rushing in my ears. I didn’t trust her reasons for ordering me out of it.
As if she can order me
. Ignoring a sudden wave of dizziness, I said, “What were you doing at the dance, Mom?”

“I told you. It’s my business, not yours.”

I shook my head, the motion sending bright starbursts across my vision. “Then you can forget it. You can’t stop me from investigating.”

Moira exhaled, the sound a hiss. “Do you have any idea how dangerous the situation is? The killer’s not doing this for the fun of it. And what he’s after is—” She broke off as if realizing she was about to spill something important.

I took a deep breath and tried to make my voice civil. “No, I don’t know what the killer is after, because no one will tell me anything. But maybe if I
did
know, I’d have an easier time keeping out of harm’s way.”