Night School: Legacy

‘Thank you.’ Frustrated by her own inability to say what she meant, or even to know what she meant, she held her hands up helplessly.

For a brief second his battered gaze held hers. Then his swollen lips tried to curve upwards.

‘Any time.’


The sound of footsteps and voices in the hallway woke Allie late the next morning. For a brief moment she didn’t know where she was and she sat up in a panic.

She was in her own room, her own bed.

After watching Sylvain make his way to the infirmary last night, she’d trudged up to her room and tumbled into bed, stopping only long enough to strip off her dirty clothes and pull on a T-shirt. She’d been sure she’d never fall asleep, but exhaustion had taken over so quickly she hadn’t even dreamed about Christopher.

Christopher.

Now bright sunlight flooded the room, and she pushed her tangled hair out of her eyes so she could see the alarm clock.

Nine o’clock.

Jumping to her feet, she grabbed a towel and hurried down to the bathroom, not even seeing the girls she passed in their uniforms, who glanced at her curiously.

After rushing through a shower, she threw on a clean uniform and clattered down the stairs; a worry headache had already begun to throb. She had to know what had happened while she slept. Had Sylvain been expelled? Had they found Christopher or Gabe?

And Carter … At the thought she skidded to a stop.

She had to find Carter before he learned what had happened last night. Either way he was going to be so angry when he found out she’d gone with Sylvain.

Her stomach contorted and she grabbed it with one hand. When was the last time she’d actually eaten? Not yesterday. Maybe the day before?

Isabelle’s office was her first stop, but it was empty, the lights turned off. The common room was busy, but nobody she recognised was there.

She was halfway to the library when she spotted Jules walking towards her.

‘Hey, Jules, do you know where Carter …’ she started, but her voice trailed off when she saw the anger in her eyes.

‘Allie, what the hell were you thinking?’

‘I—’ she tried, but Jules cut her off.

‘I’ve just been given a vicious bollocking by Isabelle. She says you sneaked out last night and met your brother and Gabe,’ Jules hissed, looking around to make sure nobody was listening. ‘All the senior Night School students have been called into a strategy meeting about what to do next. Frankly, I can’t believe you haven’t been expelled yet.’

The injustice sent heat rising to Allie’s face.

Met Gabe? MET Gabe? I tried to kill Gabe …

‘After all that happened last term, how could you?’ Jules continued, clearly furious. ‘How could you invite Nathaniel’s people here?’

Allie tried not rise to the bait. There were things she needed to know and getting angry wouldn’t help.

‘I know you’re angry, Jules, but, first, has Sylvain been expelled?’ she asked crisply.

‘Not yet,’ Jules said gracelessly.

Allie ignored the last comment. ‘Is he OK? Have you seen him?’

‘He’s a mess, but he’s alive,’ Jules said. ‘No thanks to you and your brother.’

Closing her eyes, Allie allowed herself a moment of relief. Then she squared her shoulders and faced the prefect.

‘I’m sorry you got in trouble because of me. I would never put Cimmeria in danger knowingly. I didn’t invite Christopher – he just came. And, yes, I wanted to see my brother. I had to know …’ Her breath caught and she paused. ‘I just had to.’

Jules did not seem placated. ‘Sometimes it seems like all you do is put Cimmeria in danger, Allie. Everything was fine until you came here. And, maybe it’s unfair of me to say this, but sometimes I really wish …’ Allie flinched, and Jules stopped, biting her lip. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t …’

‘No. Don’t apologise.’ Allie said, straightening her spine. ‘I deserve that. You know, I am trying …’ But her voice trailed off. What was the point? Nothing she said would make things different. ‘I’m just … sorry.’

As she said the last words she was already walking away; her ribs felt tight around her lungs, and she had the awful sense that everything had gone horribly wrong.


If Sylvain was fine and hadn’t been expelled then there was one thing Allie needed to do before finding Isabelle and facing whatever happened next. She needed to talk to Carter.

As she walked down the wide hallway through crowds of chatting students, relaxing on a Saturday morning, her steps were slow and reluctant. If Jules knew what had happened, then Carter probably did, too. He knew she’d kept Christopher’s letter a secret from him, and shared it with someone he hated. That she’d lied to him.

He’ll never forgive me, she thought. And why should he? I’m a liar. Like everyone else in my family …