Page 61 of Live To Tell

Julius agrees to sit down and tell us everything, which Rowan informs me I should be grateful for considering my lack of compassion. To me, the natural progress in the investigation should lead to Whitegrove and the Circle.

He speaks to Rowan and arranges a rendezvous for all of us in the attics inside Pendle House, which as a witch and teacher he has access to. The precariousness of attached balconies have caused trouble in the past and the attics are out of bounds—death risks aren’t welcome within the academy.

Naturally, students ignore this and use the attics for various social activities, usually secret gatherings. The room also appears to be an old classroom, used as storage space. Wooden chairs are stacked three high in a row against a wall daubed with runes. A row of desks are also stacked, in pairs to block the way onto the balcony, one upturned and resting on the top of another with legs poking into the air as an extra barrier.

Without a word, I walk over to the runes and examine each one. Who knows? There’s likely other covens than Marci’s at the academy, and those covens could hide their dubious activities here. But they’re simple runes to enhance learning. I examine every inch of the bare floorboards—nothing. Dust covers most of the room, but the only disturbances are where some have sat on the table edges or scuffed the floor with shoes.

A tall mahogany cupboard matching those in other classrooms is unlocked, and I pull open the two doors to peek inside.

Empty shelves.

Julius watches as he stands by the large bay window that looks out onto the narrow balcony which runs the length of this part of the academy. Through dirt-smeared glass, I can see the woods at the edge of the grounds.

He usually wears a tie and a fully buttoned shirt, but today he’s more casual and in cargo pants rather than his black trousers. Julius is popular amongst some students, probably because he’s one of the few male teachers who ‘look less than a hundred years old’ in Holly’s words. The bothersome students he mentioned?

Rowan lifts a chair from the stack, and then another, before sitting on one. Leif pulls out, another leaving me to sit between them.

Julius frowns when he sees Leif. “I only expected the two of you,” he says and rests against the wall to the left of the window.

“We work together,” I announce. “There’s usually a fourth but we felt you’d be outnumbered and intimidated.”

“Holly?”

“Grayson,” I reply.

“The hemia who attacked the witch, and she ended up in the hospital?” he asks in horror.

I sigh. “As if he’s the only hemia student who ever accidentally injured another.”

Julius appears to contemplate something and I fidget at his silence. “Thank you for not speaking to Dorian about me. Have you spoken to anyone else about this… investigation?” asks Julius. “Holly? You’re close.”

So far, I’ve kept our activities hidden from Holly. I’m in two minds—I’ll upset Holly if I exclude her, but I still want her to watch over activities within the academy. I am increasingly concerned about my connection to a feeble human and the risk to Holly’s life, especially if there may be spies in the academy linked to the witches and murders.

“No. But if we’re discussing closeness to others, how intimate is your relationship with Mrs. Eldridge? Because that raises questions why the staff member responsible for confiscating or ‘keeping safe’ artifacts is involved with you. How much does she know about your investigations and your sister?”

He blinks at me. “That’s rather personal. My relationship with Mrs. Eldridge is casual,” he says. “And not relevant.”

“She isn’t relevant?” I frown. “That’s unkind.”

He looks away, at the runes on the wall. “Andrea’s a useful person to know.”

“You’re using her to help with your investigations? In my experience, people don’t appreciate being ‘used’,” I say and tuck hair behind an ear. “Or thinking they are.”

“Yes, well, I haven’t spent years of my life focused on solving my sister’s disappearance to let opportunities go.”

“Or murder,” I say.

“Pardon?” he asks.

“Your sister’s disappearance or murder.” Rowan pushes at my ankle with the toe of his shoe and gives me ‘the look’. “Possible murder. She has been missing a long time.”

I pull a notepad and pen from my bag and watch Julius expectantly.

“What are you doing?” he asks curtly.

“Violet makes notes,” explains Rowan.

“No way.” Julius folds his arms. “If she does, I’m saying nothing.”

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