Night School

The other three stayed where they were in silence. After about five minutes, Sylvain reappeared and gestured for them to follow.

In the same formation they’d adopted on the stairs, they ran to a door hidden in the shadows. He motioned for them to wait as he slipped through the door, then he returned again and nodded at Carter.

They followed him up a flight of stairs and through a door so small they had to duck to get through it. Once outside, they stood in a line with their backs against the school wall. Carter’s arm stretched out across Allie protectively, holding her still.

The night was cool and damp – clouds covered the moon. Allie could see nothing at first, but gradually her eyes adjusted.

It reminded her of the night that she and Carter had followed Isabelle to her meeting with Nathaniel. Uneasy, she looked off to the treeline, black on the horizon.

Is somebody there now, watching us the way we watched them?

Carter tugged her hand: they were on the move. They ran around the west wing to the back of the school building, past the terrace lawn and towards the walled garden. Stones cut into Allie’s feet but she ignored the pain. Just before they would have reached the garden gate, Sylvain turned off the path and disappeared. One at a time they followed him.

The grotto he led them to was so well hidden behind trees and thick foliage that Allie had never noticed it before.

She couldn’t fully make out its features in the heavy darkness, but she could feel that it was made of stone and wood, and she could just make out a statue of a nude, graceful woman dancing in the middle.

Communicating only through hand gestures, Carter, Sylvain and Jules again formed a protective shield in front of Allie, looking back towards the school. Allie tried to be as still as the statue behind her.

For a long time nothing happened. Allie had counted one hundred and thirty-seven breaths when she saw Jules gesture at a tiny point of light in the distance. Allie narrowed her eyes to try and focus on it.

Within seconds there was another. And another.

Then there were half a dozen of them moving so smoothly that they seemed to float. And they were getting closer.

Allie stood between Jules and Carter trying to get a better look.

‘What are they?’ she breathed.

It was Sylvain who replied. ‘Nathaniel.’

Allie’s breath caught in her throat. ‘What are we going to do?’

‘Wait,’ Jules said.

It took five minutes for the points of light to become lighted torches. And they were close enough that Allie could see the shadowy shapes holding them when she heard Isabelle’s voice ring out.

‘Nathaniel! Stop this. It’s not too late.’

‘I know it’s not too late.’ That familiar disdainful voice chilled Allie’s blood. ‘That is why we’re here.’

‘Leave this school alone,’ Isabelle said. ‘No matter what you do, you will never have Cimmeria.’

‘You sound so certain,’ he said. ‘But then you were always arrogant.’

‘Lucinda doesn’t want this, Nathaniel.’ Her voice held a warning. ‘You go against her wishes at your peril.’

‘If that’s true then where is she?’ he scoffed. ‘I don’t see her rushing here to protect you.’

As they argued, something in the air caught Allie’s attention. A change in temperature? Or was it … smell?

What is that?

Her hand shot out and she grabbed Carter’s arm urgently. ‘Smoke. I smell smoke.’

Sniffing the air, Sylvain turned to Carter and for the first time she saw alarm on his face.

‘There!’ Jules pointed to the boys’ dormitory wing. Smoke poured from a second-floor window and flames danced behind the glass.

‘Oh my God,’ Allie whispered.

‘Jules, stay with Allie,’ Sylvain said. ‘Carter, come with me.’

Before following him, Carter grabbed Allie by the shoulders.

‘Stay here.’ It was dark, but she could see fear in his eyes.

Wordlessly she nodded, reaching up to grip his hand in hers so tightly it hurt.

And then he was gone.

Now alone, Allie and Jules stood side-by-side watching the school.

Isabelle’s voice had lost none of its confidence. ‘Is that your plan, Nathaniel? To destroy what you cannot take by lying? By cheating? By demanding? I always knew you were petulant, but this act will destroy you. Not Cimmeria.’

He laughed. ‘Your arrogance shouldn’t surprise me, Isabelle. But, please do not insult me. I’m smarter than that.’

A light on the top floor of the west wing caught Allie’s eye. Touching Jules’ shoulder she pointed. It flickered in a window.

‘The girls’ dorm,’ Jules whispered, staring at it.

‘What should we do?’ Allie asked.

‘Sylvain and Carter will take care of it,’ Jules whispered.

But time stretched on and nothing happened. The flames in the girls’ wing seemed to take confidence and grew quickly. The smell of smoke was strong now.

‘Jules, we have to do something,’ Allie said urgently.

‘I promised Sylvain …’ Jules said, but Allie could hear the worry in her voice.