Page 25 of Shadow Seeking

The main drive from the road up to the campus was called Firefly Lane, which I found a little odd, given we didn’t have fireflies in the area.

As I came to the parking lot, I found an open spot in the visitor’s parking. As I turned off the engine, the silence settled around me, although it was the loudest silence I’d ever heard. Though there weren’t many sounds from the city or even the road here, the sound of energy racing through the campus crackled around me.

I stepped out of the car and looked around. A few students were outside, racing from one building to another, but the rain seemed to detour any outdoor activities. It was pouring and, though I seldom used an umbrella, I’d brought one, notknowing how far I’d have to walk. I slung my purse over my shoulder and headed toward the clocktower building.

McCarver Hall, as it was called, was four stories high, though the main floor seemed to begin two stories up given the steps leading up to the doors. The building might have a couple lower floors, but all I could see was red brick walls on the sides. The clocktower rose another two stories above the highest level. The huge clock was beautiful, and I wondered if it chimed on the hour. Given it was closing in on two PM—my appointment time—I’d probably find out.

I began to jog as the rain became a downpour that even the umbrella couldn’t withstand. A sudden gust caught it and pulled it inside out.

“Damn it,” I said, trying to put it right. By the time I had returned it back to its normal form and dashed up the two flights of steps to reach the door, I was soaked. I ducked in through the double doors and moved away from the entrance to give myself a shake, like a wet dog. I heard a snicker and glanced over to see a group of girls watching me. They looked to be in their early teens, but it was hard to tell these days.

“Hey, you three. Which way is the principal’s office?” I said. “I assume you know the way.”

They quieted down, but one—I assumed their leader—pointed down the hallway to the right. “Three doors down on the left,” she said.

“Thanks.” I waved to them and headed in the direction she pointed, hoping she wasn’t being a smart ass. But sure enough, the sign on the glass enclosed office read “Reception.”

I ducked in through the door to one side. “Is this where I can find the vice-principal?”

One of the women behind the counter gave me a warm smile. “Yes, actually, it is. You are?”

“Kyann Sarasan. I have a two o’clock with Philip Groveletter.”

“Oh, yes,” she said, consulting her appointment book. “Please take a seat and he’ll be with you in a moment.”

I took off my jacket, looking around for a place to hang it along with my umbrella.

“Oh, right over there,” she said, noticing my search. “I’m Ms. Falcon, by the way.”

“Thank you.” I hung up my jacket and my umbrella. “I didn’t want to drip all over your floor—” I paused as a loud chime echoed through the halls. “Is that the clocktower?”

“No, but it sounds when the clocktower does. You can’t hear the chimes from the tower in here,” she added.

I sat down and pulled out my phone. Two o’clock on the nose.

A moment later, she picked up the phone at a soft beep, then stood. “If you’ll follow me, please,” she said.

I followed her back through a maze of offices. We stopped in front of a large office that had a long glass window like the outer office. She rapped once, then opened the door.

“Ms. Sarasan to see you.”

“Show her in,” came the deep voice from within.

Ms. Falcon stepped back, ushering me through the door. Then, she closed it behind her as she headed back to her desk.

I found myself facing a man who looked much younger than I expected, though if he was a witch, chances were, he was older than me. He had short brown hair, was neat and trim, about five-ten, and he was wearing a non-descript gray suit. But he was tidy, and he had a pleasant smile on his face.

“Ms. Sarasan, won’t you have a seat?” he said. “Would you like some coffee?” He pointed to the coffee pot on a credenza beneath a window. From what I could see, the windowoverlooked the square, and I realized that we were in the left wing.

“I’ll never turn down caffeine,” I said. “One sugar and cream, please.”

He poured me a mug of coffee, added the sweetener and the cream, and handed me the mug. It had the school motto on it: Knowledge. Magic. Action.

I settled down in the chair across from his, and set my coffee on the desk, on the coaster he provided. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“I understand that Angela Hargrove has given you permission to gather her sister’s effects,” he said.

I nodded. “Yes and?—”

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