Page 2 of Live To Tell

I narrow my eyes and swerve. “Who's Madison? A pupil from the academy?”

“A figment of Sienna's imagination caused by the magic,” says Mrs. Lorcan. “Mrs. Riverside delicately swept Sienna's mind last night while she rested, and there's no sign of a 'Madison' inside.”

The second-rate witch who teaches divination? Hardly conclusive. “No memories? Humans shouldn't touch valuable or potent witch artifacts and not expect consequences,” I say. “The tiara could hold strong energy imprints—images of the past to explain why Sienna would daub bloodied words on a mirror!”

“Energy imprints? Did psychometry spells work on the tiara?” she asks. “I'm sure you and Rowan would've tried already if you believe the item’s significant. You evidently do, since you’re making such a fuss.”

Over the last few days, my and Rowan’s attempts to locate an image of the tiara online or in a library book proved futile, as did identifying the couple in the photograph. Therefore, we need the item to continue our investigation—if I can't locate the tiara, I shall locate Sienna and ask what happened.

“If you won't give the tiara to me, then you should hand the item to Dorian to investigate further. This is a supernatural occurrence and a supernatural object.”

Her brow raises again. “Perhaps, but if the item were important to him, Dorian wouldn’t allow his daughter to use it as costume jewelry. The tiara will be held safe from interfering fingers until I decide what to do.”

“Interfering fingers may exist at the academy.”

“Yes, they do, Violet,” she says pointedly. “And that is why I have secured the item, and only I know where.”

Secured. Where's secure? Because if someone hid the tiara in a box beneath a human factory floor, it wasn't 'secure' before.

“Why do you get to decide what to do with the tiara?” I demand. “Why can’t I keep hold until my father retrieves it?”

“Because the item has caused injury in my academy. If your father has genuine concerns, he may contact me. However, word and images of the debacle have spread thanks to social media.” The woman’s face grows sourer.

I straighten. “Images? Of what? Bloodied words?”

“Everything, Violet,” she says through clenched teeth.

Hmm. A task for Rowan. Social media still makes no sense to me; he can search the quagmire for clues.

“Where did the item come from, Violet?” she asks.

“Don't bother trying to read my mind,” I tell her stiffly.

“Does the object have any connection to the murders?”

“I'm not permitted to share any information about the ongoing investigations with you or anybody else who isn't involved,” I inform her. “But I am sure Dorian won’t be happy if you interfere with the tiara.”

The woman's face sours, although as usual her skin doesn't crease. “And tell me, is your father extending his investigations to the academy?”

“Has he told you such?”

“Everybody apart from the humans accepts there's more to these murders, and I will not be impressed if my academy comes under scrutiny.”

My academy. “Are you seeking a replacement for Mr. Willis in order to share the burden of leadership?”

“Well, we all know that your father has the final word on who's employed at Thornwood.” Her voice is as displeased as her expression. “Perhaps someone could take the vacant position next semester. I can manage currently.”

“And I'm sure my father will keep a close eye on the academy in case you do need help,” I say casually.

She sucks on her teeth while I bite my lip hard to prevent myself from using the silence to pick through her thoughts—Mrs. Lorcan would sense the invasion, and I'd face more trouble.

This continued meeting is pointless. If the tiara isn’t here, I need to locate the item before somebody else does. Social media has a habit of spreading images far and wide—somebody will recognize the tiara and attempt to remove it from the wild.

What is Mrs. Lorcan hiding? Either she's worried about the reputation the incident will give her academy, or she knows something about the item's history.

“Just to confirm, you will not return the tiara to me?” I ask.

“No, Violet, I will not.”

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