Page 37 of Her Feral Beasts

A male behind me lets out a rude snorting sound.

Notice of Detention for joint crime

Name (1): Aurelia Aquinas

Name (2): Minnie Devi

Crime: Disrespecting a member of staff

Punishment: Cleaning duty, left wing. Central building.

Lyle’s signature is beneath it in a professional cursive that looks like calligraphy done in a fountain pen.

A bastard through and through.

“When were we rude to a member of staff?” Minnie shrieks as if this is the worst thing to ever happen to her.

Sabrina starts laughing. “In the lecture hall when you two were whispering!”

I groan. “You’vegotto be kidding.”

“We take this seriously,” says Theresa sternly. “Now, follow me.”

Minnie and I grimace at each other as Sabrina and Stacey cackle on their way out. Connor and Raquel are more sombre about it but can’t help smiling anyway.

Theresa collects two mops and buckets on our way to the left wing while I stew on the idea that Lyle Pardalia is taking his revenge on me. This is beyond unfair, and I’ve just dragged my brand-new friend into it as well.

“Look,” says Minnie, waving her mop around like a flag. “We’ve done the wrong thing, now we make up for it and let’s never—”

We both abruptly halt because Theresa has led us to the scene of our detention.

There’s blood splatteredeverywherealong the corridor as if someone has actually been butchered right here. There’s a small clotted pool in the middle, with streak marks leading out in every direction as if there was a scuffle. And there’s also splatters all along both walls.

“Who died?” Minnie asks softly.

“No one,” Theresa says. “It was just a fight. Now get to work and I’ll be checking on you in half an hour.”

And then she just leaves us there.

I gulp at the blood and gently set my bucket down. Henry clucks softly in my ear, as if he knows this is a distressing situation. Gertie, sitting on Minnie’s shoulder, does the same.

And then, before our very eyes, some areas of blood on the floorboards start todissolve. No, not dissolve but—

“Is the woodabsorbingthe blood?” Minnie breathes.

I swear. “I think so, Min.”

After a minute of staring, the process seemed to stop, the rest of the crimson pool just sat there, congealed.

After exchanging a dark look, Minnie and I set to work mopping up the mess as best we can, wringing it out in the bucket and refilling it with clean, soapy water from the bathroom nearby. The two nimpins zoom around us, chirping in encouragement.

“Lia,” Minnie says slowly, turning off the sink tap. “It smells likedragon.”

My heart drops in my chest.

If one of my mates is dead, I would know, I’m sure. I slowly turn towards her. “Are you sure?”

She frowns at me. “Can’t you smell it?”

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