Page 91 of Validus Vale Academy 1
“Yep, but the professor came in on his white horse and made out I was laying one of those magical scavenger hunts that freshmen do. They happily seemed to believe that. Don’t particularly want to be a replacement body for whatever shit they’re up to.” He winces as the last words leave his lips.
I stare at Drakeward for a long moment, trying to read his expression, wondering if there’s anything he’snottelling us. I don’t trust the kopeileva-prick one bit. But all I see is anger and fear. Not for himself, I’m guessing, but for those missing friends of his.
“So scary people are talking about missing bodies at the building site,” Bloomhower says, “and you are missing two people.”
“Three,” Theo interjects. “And yes, it has to be connected, but first things first. We go down the tunnel that Ludo mentioned and see what’s under the laundry rooms.”
I suspect that the energy Maximus encountered will also be present at the building site, but accessing the site through the tunnels might be easier than gaining direct entry.
“The big guy and I will go and check it out,” I reply, nodding at Ludo.
“I’m going too,” Drakeward says. “The duds can stay here.”
Ludo’s eyes narrow, a dangerous glint in their depths. If Cosmo Drakeward isn’t careful, he’s going to find himself on the endof the janitor's meaty fists sometime soon. And I, for one, won't interfere.
Duncan clears his throat. “Um, I’m OK with that, actually. Especially as I still don’t know what the heck is going on.”
“I’ll catch you up later,” Bloomhower says, patting the boy on the arm. “We’ll stay and keep Theo company.”
Theo frowns first at her friend and then at me. “I don’t think so. Willow and Duncan should stay, but I’m going with you.”
“No, Theo. We don’t know what we’ll find, and it’s probably dangerous,” I tell her, trying to lay down the law but already knowing I’m failing by the stubborn jut of her chin.
“I’m going,” she snaps, standing up.
“Whatever,” drawls Drakeward, also pushing himself to his feet. “Can we just get on with it? Anything is better than rotting in this hovel. Why are you even sleeping down here, dud?”
“Because I don’t have a trust fund the size of Texas and came here on a scholarship,” she snipes back, grabbing her phone. “Are we doing this or what?”
“Who do we call for help if you don’t come back?” Willow asks, her brow creased with worry. “What if you all become just more people missing from Validus Vale?”
That’s a good question. “In the unlikely event of our non-reappearance, I think the answer is…” Hell. WhodoI trust with this? I wrack my brain and come up empty-handed. “The answer is, I don’t know.”
Drakeward’s phone beeps, and his gaze sharpens as he reads the screen. “My PI hacked into Singleton-Smith’s onboard camera system, but there’s no audio, just visuals. After we left, Dean Crankshawe and Singleton-Smith went back inside the compound. They stayed for another thirty minutes. When Singleton-Smith came out, one of the guards was carrying a metal case, which he put in the back of the Cybertruck. The GPShas him now on Interstate 27, probably headed back to the city. And I asked her to ID the scar-faced man.”
Drakeward’s PI is very useful. “Can your investigator be an emergency contact?” I ask him. I don’t want to have his help, but it might be the answer.
He narrows his eyes, then rattles off a quick text. “Striker will track my phone until she hears back from me.” Then the Elite snatches Duncan’s phone out of the boy's grip. After a few seconds, he throws it back. “And she now has the dud’s details, and will contact him if I go offline. Does that suffice for everyone? Christ, what a load of pussies.”
Theo ignores the insult and gives her friends a determined smile. “Thank you for being ground support, guys. Now,” she pokes me in the arm, “it's time to go. Lead the way, Ludo.”
I meet Ludo’s gaze, and he nods, a silent agreement passing between us to keep her safe.
“Good luck, and be careful,” Willow says, hugging Theo. “Take a sweater.”
“Yes, moooom,” she laughs in return, but does grab a sweatshirt from the hat stand.
Ludo heads deeper into the basement, and Theo, Drakeward, and I follow, past dusty shelves, forgotten boxes, and piles of discarded furniture. At the far end, he slides back a sheet of metal, revealing the dark maw of a passageway. Theo places her hand on his arm; I watch as her lips curve into a smile. "Secret passageway?" she says, then laughs at whatever he replies to her—but I’m not laughing. Has Ludo had access to her bedroom without her knowledge? The idea makes me wary.
Though if I’m honest, I sense no malice whatsoever from the big man. Just unwavering loyalty to her.
Ludo pulls a flashlight from his pocket as Theo slips through the entrance. It’s easy for my pocket-sized pulu, but Ludo,Drakeward, and I don’t have that kind of maneuverability. No, we have to do an awkward, sideways crab walk into the oppressive darkness.
The atmosphere is so thick and deadened that when Theo relays Ludo’s instructions, her words are strangely muted, and I can’t hear a single echo. “He says it’s slippery, so be careful.” I use my flashlight app, and in the beam, see Theo standing on tiptoe, pulling Ludo’s head down to whisper in his ear.
“Is she doing the fucking facilities dude as well?” Drakeward grunts from behind me, making my fists ball. Unfortunately, space is tight, so instead of a right hook, I opt for a sharp elbow jab to his ribs. Not waiting for his reaction, I pick up my pace. Theo and Ludo are already disappearing into the inky blackness.
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