Page 305 of Sigils & Spells

“But it’s fun. It keeps me busy and, most importantly, out of Roark’s grand designs of vampire matchmaking.”

“Is he still doing that? How does a Master vampire have the time?”

Cynthia’s nose crinkled. “He never quits. It’s all for the good of the family. Blah, blah, blah. I’m trying to convince Mari to come back. It’s been a few months since the attack.”

Merryn paused. “Wait. Was she the girl that got mauled outside the Copper Kettle a while back?”

“Yup, and now that she’s sort of dating Roark’s bestie, he’s fuming and has relaxed with pawning her off on pimply faced assholes like Jared.”

Merryn paused, a frown spreading across her face. “You mean that guy from Vampire Studies?”

“Unfortunately,” Cynthia replied, her lips curling up into a wicked smile. “Word has it she left him tied up with a pair of her panties in the garden.”

“Oh my God. I wish I could have seen that.”

“You’d have to actually go someplace that isn’t work or school.”

“Did you go?”

“I did.”

“Did you see anything?”

“No. I was too busy talking with the girls and missed it. But, damn, that would have been funny.”

“Yeah.” Merryn followed Cynthia into the hall. The last class of the day was over almost an hour ago and the hallways were a ghost town. Most students would be in Salem proper, getting ready for the Halloween festivities. Except her.

“Are you going down to the Psychic Fair?”

“Naw. I thought I’d head over to the library before I go to Broomstix. Well, after I grab my notes anyway.”

“You have to work tonight?”

Merryn shook her head. “I wasn’t supposed to, but Bridget left me a message to drop by before I went home.”

Cynthia brightened. “Maybe she got in some of those cool new witch hats.”

“Leave it to a vampire to say that. I’ll tell her you’re in the market for one. See you later.”

“Ha ha owl girl. Be careful going home.”

“You too.”

Rolling her eyes, Merryn shuffled down the dark hallway, relieved that most of the other students had gone their own way. Built in an old castle, the school was a labyrinthine maze of corridors and classrooms. October was the only time of year it was ever this deserted as most of the students preferred to stay in their paranormal comfort zone and away from the human population. Mostly.

It was forbidden to cross the line and reveal any part of their world to humans. The repercussions were drilled into them since day one in grade school. Which is why Merryn was confused as to the source of the murders.

“Damn it.” Merryn clutched at the pile of spell books perched in her arms and not for the first time that night wished she’d thought to buy a heartier back pack. The strap broke about a third of the way into her day and by the time she reached her potions class, she was wishing she’d paid more attention in Magical Phrases and Incantations. If she had, she might have been able to fix the thing and she wouldn’t be struggling to keep her shit from coming apart all over the hallway.

“Great job, klutz.” She muttered to herself as she knelt down and stuffed a chart of elemental correlations back inside what was left of the bag. Merryn cinched it shut and grumbled, snapping her mouth shut when she heard the scuffle of hard soled shoes just ahead.

“It doesn’t make sense. What reason would there be for the markings to be there?” Professor Wexler hissed to an unseen person in a long dark cloak. “We have to go to the Protectorate with this at once.”

“No.” The voice boomed through the abandoned corridor. “I want more tests. Inconclusive information will bring every paranormal house down on us like a pack of jackals. We must use caution.”

Their voices drifted away and Merryn swallowed, thankful they hadn’t seen her in the shadowy hall. One step in the opposite direction and would have exposed her. To be found wandering the corridor without a good reason after hours wouldn’t get her in good graces with Professor Wexler. Not at all.

Merryn got to her feet, scurrying to the door of the classroom. She flew inside and shut the door behind her, locking it instantly. The lab was deserted, stainless steel tables covered in white sheets just where the class left them. Which one were they looking at?

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