Page 37 of Sigils & Spells

Val smiles. “Yes, you need to eat. Can’t have you fainting on us later.”

Yes, I’d hate to fall ill and have to miss the gathering she’s arranged for tonight. Reluctantly, I get up and follow her through to the dining room. It’s not that I don’t want to socialize with the other students. It’s just we don’t seem to have anything in common. None of them has gone out of their way to be friendly during the classes we have together. Of course, I haven’t exactly made an effort either.

When we get to the dining room, the others are already seated and tucking into what smells like the most amazing roast lamb. There’s only two spaces available and I’m not presumptuous enough to take the chair at the head of the table, so I sit next to Danny.

As I lean forward to help myself to some food, Danny takes my plate from me.

“Here, let me do that.”

“Oh, thank you.”

His unexpected display of good manners surprises me. I sit back as he loads my plate with meat, potatoes and some green veggies before setting it down in front of me.

“Wine?” he asks, holding up a bottle of Merlot.

“I’ll stick to water, thanks.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Urgh!” A groan comes from Lucy, who’s sitting opposite us. “Could you be any more of a suck up, Danny?”

“I’m just being nice.”

“Trying to ingratiate yourself, more like,” Yuliya says.

“Yeah, right, like you wouldn’t try to if you had the chance,” Alex spits at her.

Suddenly, the table erupts in an argument as people sling accusations about trying to win my favor. I have no idea what they’re talking about. There’s no advantage to be gained in being nice to me.

“Enough!” Val roars, instantly shutting everyone up.

I’ve never heard her raise her voice before, but I have to say, that was pretty impressive. The woman can command a room when she wants to. The rest of the meal passes without incident. There’s little conversation and after a while, I realize there’s a strange, nervous energy in the air. It’s like something is coming, but I don’t know what. I don’t like it. I need to get away from the others for a while.

“Please excuse me,” I say, pushing to my feet. “I’m not feeling great. I need to lie down.”

“Oh, no.” Val gets up to intercept me before I reach the door. “Should I ask Rowan to prepare you a tonic?”

I shake my head. “No, I’ll be fine after a little rest.”

“Very well. Take it easy this afternoon. We need you back with us tonight.”

Nodding, I head for my room. Since I don’t know the house well, and the corridors are a labyrinth, I take a wrong turn. Instead of finding the staircase to the upper floors of the house, I walk along a narrow corridor and end up outside the kitchen. Rowan and Rachel are inside, standing by the window. They’re huddled together, speaking in urgent tones. I draw back from the door before they see me.

“It’s painless, my dear,” Rowan insists. “It will be over so quickly, you won’t feel a thing.”

I frown, trying to work out what they’re talking about.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Rachel wails. “I can’t go through with it.”

“You know it’s too late for that, my dear. Fionn expects you to fulfil your promise.”

Fionn?Are they talking about the faerie king she and Val told me about earlier?

“But I don’t want to die!”

What the fuck? I edge a little closer to the door, taking care not to make a sound that will give away my presence in the corridor.

“Don’t think of it as dying, my dear. It’s a transition from one realm to another, that’s all. And remember, your sacrifice is for the greater good. Fionn will see to it that you get your reward.”

---