‘What are you going to do now?’ Allie gestured at the books on the table. ‘This is a lot of reading, by the way.’
He looked down at the books as if he’d just noticed them.
‘Well, to be honest, I was thinking of taking my A levels. After I left home, I kind of missed out a year of lessons. So I’ve been studying, a bit.’ He gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘Finding out how thick I am.’
Allie tried not to appear as surprised as she was. She’d never thought about what running away meant to her brother’s life. She’d been focused on how it had impacted her and her parents. But, of course, he’d missed his last two years of school, and had never taken his exams.
‘That’s really great,’ she said, meaning it. ‘Are you thinking of going to university?’
‘Maybe,’ he said, a bit shyly. ‘I’d like to, if I can get through this stuff. I kind of want the chance to find out what it’s like to be you guys.’ He gestured at the vast library, where rows of bookcases soared to the ceiling. ‘To study some place like this.’
Somehow, this was flattering. Before he’d run away, Allie had always looked up to Christopher. He was everything she’d wanted to be.
Now maybe she could help him.
‘If Nathaniel doesn’t do something crazy,’ she said, ‘maybe you could stay and study for a while. Until you take your exams. I could ask Isabelle, if you’d like.’
The hope in his eyes broke her heart.
‘I’d really like that,’ he said. ‘The thing is, I’m not really sure where to go from here.’
She couldn’t suppress a grin.
‘Don’t worry,’ she assured him. ‘None of us are.’
That night, Nathaniel called.
The students were gathered in the common room, when Isabelle summoned Allie and Carter to her office. When they walked in, Raj, Zelazny and Dom were already there.
‘Nathaniel is insisting on coming here, tomorrow night,’ Isabelle said. She looked preternaturally calm – as if she’d ordered herself to be unafraid. ‘I tried to get him to give us a week so we could get everything in order, but he refused. He threatened to send the bailiffs to evict us if I didn’t.’ She paused. ‘The publicity from such an eviction would be devastating to anything we might want to do with the school in the future. He knows I can’t allow that.’ She glanced at Raj. ‘So he’s making his move.’
‘Yes, he is.’ Raj’s expression was dark. ‘We’re not ready.’
She held up her hands. ‘We’ll have to get ready.’
‘How could he send the bailiffs?’ Allie asked, looking around the room.
It was Zelazny who explained. ‘Technically, Orion has ownership of the school. Nathaniel now has control of Orion. So we are trespassing.’
Allie glanced over at Carter. He looked as worried as she felt.
Nathaniel must suspect they were planning something.
‘Do you think word got back to him somehow?’ Allie asked. ‘Someone Julian talked with?’
‘It’s possible,’ Isabelle said. ‘We need to move quickly now.’ She turned to her security chief. ‘Raj, I know there’s not enough time. But do all you can.’
He nodded. ‘I’ll bring in some extra guys, secure the grounds. We’ll be as ready as possible.’
She turned to Zelazny. ‘August, I’ll need your help to prepare the staff and students.’
‘Whatever you need, Isabelle.’ He spoke with uncharacteristic gentleness.
They all knew this was the beginning of the end, one way or another.
Isabelle turned to the students. ‘Allie, you will need to prepare with me, as you’ll be meeting with Nathaniel directly.’
Allie nodded. Her mouth had gone so dry, she didn’t trust herself to speak.
‘Carter.’ The headmistress gave him a sad smile. ‘I want you to stay as far away from Nathaniel as you can. All of this could be a ruse to try and get you back.’
He didn’t argue, even though Allie knew he’d hate that. He wouldn’t want her to be in danger if he wasn’t there, too.
‘We have a lot to do and very little time.’ Isabelle looked around the room. ‘We’d better get started.’
Nobody got much sleep that night.
Word spread quickly among the students about what was happening.
Senior Night School students spent much of the night working with Raj, Eloise and Zelazny, concocting an elaborate security plan.
Allie tumbled into bed with her uniform still on at half three, and was up again just after six to start again. Everyone looked as tired as she felt. But nobody talked about stopping.
There was an overwhelming sense throughout the school that this would be the end – one way or another. When Nathaniel left that night, either he would have Cimmeria, or they would.
It was a fight for everything.