Page 53 of Dance With Death

Mrs. Lorcan’s words strike at a worse possibility. What if the full moon story is true and somebody orchestrates a witch or vampire attack against a human on campus? Because that would pour a tanker full of fuel on the fire ignited by Wesley’s death.

18

VIOLET

The clouds we stood beneath when speaking to Marci burst, so the guys are even less enthusiastic to join my trip to the crime scene. The light rain threatens to become a downpour; if we don’t check where the wolf attacked Holly soon, evidence may get washed away. There may be footprints to follow, which could disappear into a muddy puddle.

Rowan and Leif covered themselves in hooded jackets; Grayson wears his hoodless leather jacket as usual, and I’m perfectly happy for my dress and cardigan to get wet.

We walk the trodden pathway from the academy fence and into the woods in the opposite direction to the stones where we met Marci, following multiple tire tracks from the ambulance and police cars. They end at the closest point they could reach between the pathway and the clearing, several minutes’ walk away from the scene—precious time in their quest to aid Holly.

The guys relax—slightly—when nobody else is exploring the police-taped area for clues, and I blithely inform them that the rain helps because humans dislike getting wet. Someone raked muddying dirt to cover the blood, and the large stone I saw besides the dead shifter is no longer around. The drizzling rain grows harder, which could cause the predicted issues.

I stand in the exact location as the moment I first discovered Holly, cross my arms, and survey the scene. The place looks different in the cloudy daylight, aiding me in disengaging from the horrors I saw last night.

Be the Violet that Holly needs. Find answers.

“The police would’ve taken any items, Violet,” says Rowan, yet again. “They would’ve come here at daybreak and combed the place.”

“Yes. And if we find nothing, we visit the police station and locate the items discovered and taken by authorities,” I say, and Rowan sucks in a breath. “Is that a problem? I’ve promised not to visit the morgue again, haven’t I?”

“A morgue visit would be pointless anyway. The elders will take the body as soon as they’re told about him,” says Leif. He zips his army-green jacket tighter, and pulls the hood down to obscure his face, hiding from more than the rain.

“I’d like to search for any residual magic in the vicinity.” I march to the nearest trunk and touch the rough bark. “Not only runes, but discarded spell items. Lingering energy. Rowan, please check the trunks.”

“Why? Can Rowan talk to trees?” asks Grayson and snickers.

Rowan shoves him. “At least I’m useful.”

“I have sharper senses,” he retorts. “I’m more likely to spot anything on the ground than you.”

“Which direction did the other shifter run in?” interrupts Leif. I point. “Okay. So, towards town, but at shifter speed they’d be long gone before authorities arrived.”

“Precisely, or the second shifter would be in custody,” I say, wiping rain from a cheek.

“Shifters aren’t supposed to visit town currently,” says Rowan. “That means someone may’ve noticed one hanging around the place. He or she wouldn’t stay in wolf form the whole time.”

“Thus, we visit the establishments that teens frequent in the evenings, and question those who were in town yesterday.” I crouch to examine the base of the tree, pushing into the small bush, but find nothing but thorns.

“Interesting alibi you gave, Rowan,” comments Grayson. “Is that true?”

Rowan balks. “Seriously? No. Violet and I both met Marci in the woods; you know that.”

“And Marci will back you up?” Grayson frowns. “Why? She doesn’t like you, Violet.”

“The brooches,” I say. “And I believe Marci isn’t involved in any nefarious plots at the academy.”

Grayson wanders to a fallen log and sits. “That’s a sudden conclusion.”

“Not really. If Marci were part of a plan to eradicate humans from the student body, she would not sell items to ‘protect’ them. Rather, Marci would do the opposite and scare the humans,” I say. “She dislikes them.”

“Then why aren’t other witches targeting students?” asks Leif.

“They could be, but not doing anything obvious,” I reply.

“Apart from killing, kidnapping, and attacking?” Grayson snorts.

“Not every event centers around the academy,” I inform him. “The issue with the Sawyers, for instance. Wesley’s death may be unconnected—don’t forget the theory that Rory mistook Wesley for Kai on the night he killed him.”

---