Page 4 of Dance With Death

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VIOLET

Dorian is threatening to blood magic me away from the academy, and alone, if I don't leave with him today. If my father attempts to forcibly remove me from Thornwood, I will fight him in order to stay. And if I'm able to resist his abilities, Dorian would reveal an edge of weakness not only to me, but to anybody who's aware that his daughter equals him in power.

I made a deal with my parents this morning: as soon as I'm sure Holly isn't in the vicinity of the academy or town, I will leave for Scotland. In my mind, that won't be necessary because I'll find Holly in this area soon.

And I will. There're many, many people on my suspect list who live in town and inside the academy, and until I've investigated them all, I'm remaining here.

The guys confirm that Mrs. Lorcan still hasn't announced Holly's disappearance. As Holly disappeared less than twenty-four hours ago, the headmistress refuses to even contact Holly's parents until she's a hundred percent sure that Holly isn't 'out having fun somewhere.' Yes, my roommate enjoys all manner of fun, but she isn’t one for unbridled hedonism that would prevent her returning to campus in a timely manner. Somebody took Holly.

Took her. Acid fills my mouth every time an image of somebody hurting Holly flashes across my mind. Did the abductor use mind magic or assault her? Did Holly know the person and leave willingly?

Grayson almost said the words I can't bear to think—Holly might be dead with a Blackwood rune carved into her chest to match past victims.

When I stepped outside of my room to speak to my parents and Mrs. Lorcan earlier, Marci accosted me halfway across campus demanding to know where Holly is. The witch isn't stupid. She knows the five of us were due to visit Scotland, and now Holly isn't here, and we haven't gone.

Marci left me with a dark look and the comment, “Holly would have to be seriously ill or injured to not contact me. I’m going to Mrs. Lorcan and reporting this.” Her point couldn’t be any clearer—Marci believes I’ve hurt Holly. She won’t be the only one; rumors will stoke the fire created by accusations against me in the past, and the flames will spread rapidly.

Holly hasn’t posted anything on social media for almost twenty-four hours, an eon for her. Thus, Rowan finding his way into Holly's accounts will significantly help on a number of levels.

"Holly’s laptop," I say curtly, then stride over to pick the small, silver item from Holly's desk. "Open it and look at her social communications."

Rowan takes hold. "Right. I can try."

"Try?" I pull a face. "Rowan, you never try. You always do."

“I’m not a professional hacker. I’d need to guess the password.”

“Failure is not an option.”

With a huff, Rowan rests the laptop on my desk and opens the lid, then sits in my chair. He repeatedly types into a password box, hitting the keys harder with each failed attempt. “I don’t know Holly well enough to guess her password.”

“Don’t laptop passwords have a clue set by the user in case they forget?” asks Leif.

“Yeah. Holly’s says: ‘hot pursuit.’" Rowan shakes his head. “Any idea?”

I snort. “Good grief. Yes.”

Rowan looks at me expectantly as Grayson wanders around Holly’s area of the room, inspecting items on her bed. Leif warily watches him, as if one of her pigs might come to life and attack against the privacy invasion.

“What is Chase’s full name?” I ask.

“Chase Haven,” Rowan replies. “Why? Do you want me to look into his family some more?”

“You haven’t already?” My mouth parts. “Why not?”

“I have! Just not the whole bloody family tree,” he retorts.

Leif clears his throat and arches his brows at our descent into bickering.

“Try Chase’s name. As the password,” I continue. “That’s what the clue means.”

Grayson splutters a laugh from across the room. He’s holding a plush pig, and the toy wearing a rainbow jacket looks strange in his slender hands. “’Hot pursuit’. Nice one, Holly.”

“Doesn’t work,” mutters Rowan.

“But it has to,” I say. “Try variations.”

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