Page 58 of Shadow Caster
“He’s gone. His family sent for him. Rumor has it his mother wasn’t entirely faithful, and Oberon isn’t a Hyde by blood. It’s super rare for a Hyde not to get the mark, so I guess that’s what tipped them off. In fact.” She frowned in thought. “I can’t recall a Hyde who’s been sent to the Academy that hasn’t ended up with the mark. They didn’t all take up the shadow knight mantle back then, of course, but they got marked.”
“Yeah, no conscription back then.”
“Yeah.”
We fell into silence again, but then the shrill ring of a bell had us both jumping, and a voice filled the room. My gaze shot up to the speaker fitted high up on the wall. An old Tannoy system.
“All students, please return to your dorm rooms immediately,” Brunner said. “All students, please return to your dorm rooms immediately. This is not a drill.”
I headed for the door, and Minnie made to follow me out.
I gently pushed her back into her room. “No, stay here. You heard what Brunner said. I’ll see you later if possible. If not, I’ll catch you at lunch tomorrow.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but Brunner’s voice blasted through the Tannoy again. “All students, head back to your dorm rooms immediately, this is not a drill.”
“Urgh. Fine. Be careful,” she said.
I nodded and headed out into the dimly lit corridors.
* * *
Ten first-yearsand thirty second-years were squished together in the lounge, which felt way too small. Lloyd and his troop had congregated by the kitchenette; the rest of the second-years had claimed the available seating, leaving us newbies clustered by the door.
Larkin slipped between us, tail switching, eyes scanning each face. Finally, he leapt onto the table and stood, legs shoulder-width apart and arms crossed over his chest. He was dressed in a maroon velvet waistcoat, cream shirt, and black cargo pants today. It was an odd combination, but he made it work with his undaunting confidence.
“All accounted for,” he said. “Two troops are at the barracks. Good. Good. You’re probably wondering why the urgency? Another student went missing an hour ago. However, I received word ten minutes ago that he’s been found safe and sound and is now in the med bay.”
The room erupted with variations of the same question—was this the same as the Lottie incident?
“Hush!” He held up his hands for quiet. “Yes. Yes. Memory loss. Yes, they are investigating, and even though no one asked, yes there is now a two a.m. curfew for all cadets, shadow and Nightwatch. Unless you are on barracks duty, you will be in your dorms by two a.m., no exceptions.”
“What about the boy?” someone asked. “What’s doing this?”
“Not our problem.” Master Hyde entered the room, bringing his citrus fresh scent with him.
Do not inhale too deeply. Too late. Shit, he smelled good.
“Our focus must remain on the mist,” Hyde said. “Newbies, you need to focus on preparing for your first trial.” His gaze skimmed my face before moving on. “Leave the investigation of these incidents to the administration.”
“They think it might be a virus,” Harmon blurted out.
All eyes were on him now.
He shrugged. “Fomorian.”
Larkin frowned. “Who told you that?”
“Madam Mariana mentioned it to Justice and me earlier.”
Hyde looked from me to Harmon. I tried to catch his eye, but his gaze slipped away.
“An Otherworld virus.” Larkin tapped his chin with a claw. “Ingenious.”
“Bullshit.”
I looked to the back of the room at the speaker.
Carlo shrugged. “If they wanted to take us out, they’d target the shadow cadets first. Make us sick and stop us patrolling. Why target Nightwatch cadets?”
