Page 10 of The Cursed Fae

My question fell on an empty room.

Chapter three

This is Starting to Feel like a “Me” Problem

Morgan and Astrid stopped by on their way to the dining hall to pick me up for breakfast. They were both subdued, but Astrid chatted with me while we walked. Morgan stared at the ground, lost in her thoughts. The three of us ate pancakes with Fern and Belle. Well, not Morgan. She stabbed the fluffy discs with her fork and dripped syrup all over the table without ever taking a bite.

“It's the campus summit today. She's not looking forward to it,” Astrid whispered when Morgan excused herself to use the bathroom.

Chancellor Keene had announced the morning assembly via school-wide messaging before I woke. I assumed he called the summit to tell the school how Missy died. Well, his version would be the official one. I still hadn't processed that Missy herself told me she was murdered—but I wasn't ready to tell anyone about it, either.

“She and Missy were close, huh?” I asked, even though I was certain of the answer.

That fact was obvious in retrospect, and it was embarrassing I took so long to put the puzzle pieces together. From the moment I said my room number, Morgan's attitude had changed. And while many people were crying over Missy, Morgan's pain was genuine and deep-rooted.

“You could say that,” Belle interjected.

“Were you guys friends with her, too?” I asked, at the risk of sounding like a gossip.

“I knew her,” Astrid said. “Not well. She could be cool sometimes. Missy was always nice when she came to visit Morgan.”

Belle nodded in agreement. “Same. Other than Morgan, Missy mostly spent time with the chancellor's kids, Tina and her twin brother.”

“Wait,” I interjected. “Tina has a brother here?”

Astrid's eyebrows raised, though she quickly recovered. “You haven't met Lazlo?”

The bell rang, ending my opportunity to learn more about the girls whose room I called home. Morgan met us outside the auditorium for the summit, and the five of us sat together near the back. Nana Essie stood on stage with Chancellor Keene, neither of them looking happy. My great-grandmother waved and smiled when she saw me.

Although he towered over my great-grandmother, the chancellor appeared young and small beside Nana. He still had defined muscles, while Nana was little more than skin and bones, but she commanded respect.

When I looked at my great-grandmother, I saw strength. I felt power. It was both new and unsurprising.

“Good morning,” Chancellor Keene said, his expression grave. “I trust you all know why we are here.” He paused for dramatic effect. “One of your classmates has passed.”

A quiet murmur ran through the crowded auditorium.

“I have been working tirelessly with both the local fae and the human authorities,” Chancellor Keene continued, raising his volume to quiet the surrounding chatter.

Nana pursed her lips, making it obvious she wished the chancellor would stay out of the investigation.

“Yesterday morning, we located Melissa Derringer's body in Gemini Forest.”

This time, the murmurs were much louder. All around me, people started whispering. One row ahead, two girls hugged and began crying. Beside me, a shudder ran through Morgan. She let out a little gasp, but swallowed the sob that followed. I wanted to offer her comfort, but I wasn't good in these situations. Astrid reached over me and took Morgan's hand in hers, squeezing hard.

“During our investigation we learned that depletion runs in the family.” Chancellor Keene spoke over the whispers. “And Ms. Derringer is half-caster.”

This incited louder chatter among the students. I heard the shock in their voices. No one knew about Missy's condition. One of the teary-eyed girls in front of me whispered to her friend. “How did she hide it so well?”

Even Astrid couldn't believe her ears. She leaned over me to ask Morgan, “Did you know?”

Morgan's jaw tightened. She kept her gaze forward, refusing to answer the question. In my peripheral vision, I saw a guy leap from his seat at the end of our row. Without thinking, I turned. Archer. Anger laced his handsome features as he stalked toward the exit.

“The Derringers were aware of their daughter's condition. They informed us she received occasional infusions of magic. It is our conclusion that Melissa Derringer was using more magic than usual. Because her condition was so mild, she didn't realize that she would need more frequent infusions. She died of accidental magical depletion,” concluded the chancellor.

The crowd went wild, and not in a good way. Well, except for the fact that the noise masked Morgan's outburst. She jumped to her feet and exclaimed, “That's bullshit!”

Then she stomped from the auditorium.

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