Page 24 of Monster's Pet

I flipped around, looking for someone suitable, and spotted Paige. I swam toward her, stopping a few feet away and waving to get her attention.

She looked like she wanted to swim away, but she waved uncertainly instead.

“Time down?” I asked in sign.

Her brow furrowed in confusion and she shrugged.

“More time down?” I tried again.

She finger-spelled, “One hour.”

I blew out a stream of bubbles in frustration. I had to wait a whole hour before I could check on Aiden?

“You more time down?” I asked her.

“Five minutes,” Paige finger-spelled.

“Look Aiden,” I finger-spelled his name, “problem help?”

Paige’s eyes widened. “Danger?” she signed.

I mimed an explosion and nodded.

“Yes,” she signed and swam toward the surface.

I blew out another stream of bubbles as I watched her.

I hope she actually does it.

We’ve barely talked since we got back from the holidays. I wonder whether she went home or stayed here.

Are the ley lines affecting her as much as everyone else?

I shivered a little in the cool water and started swimming in order to warm myself up. I waved at the students I passed, but most of them were on their way to the surface at the end of their hour.

I envied them and explored the bottom of the pool. There was a large portal on the wall at the lowest point of the deep end, with dolphins, sea horses, and other sea creatures carved into the frame. This was the portal we would be taking to get to Atlantis.

I bit my lip anxiously.

Would Aiden be coming with us?

At the end of my hour, I swam back up to Professor Puddlemoan. I barely noticed him checking my spellwork on my necklace, and when he told me I was free to go, I walked asquickly as I could on the slippery pool deck back to the change room.

I found Aiden in the library, his nose buried in a thick tome about a beast’s control over shifting. I sank into the seat beside him and put my hand on his arm.

“My enchanted bottle exploded,” he said glumly. “At least they’re letting me test again, due to the ley lines wreaking havoc on everyone’s magic. But nobody else is losing control like I am. What’s wrong with me?”

I had no answer for him. All I could do was give him a hug.

CHAPTER 7

After Charmsand Potions class that afternoon, I found Aiden and practically dragged him to Professor Akhtar’s class.

“He needs to know what’s going on with you,” I insisted.

“And what, exactly, is going on with me?” Aiden asked with a drawl.

“You know what I mean,” I said, brushing his words away with a hand like they were physical. “Maybe one of the students has had some luck discovering why the ley lines are missing, and the professor can help you.”

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