Night School: Legacy

‘So does he haunt the tower?’ Allie asked.

‘No. His wife was totally pissed off after Henry had her husband chopped up, so she started supporting the rebels. They say she allowed them to hide around here – maybe even in the old house that used to be where the school is now.’ As Zoe talked, their pace slowed. ‘Finally, Henry’s soldiers came to get her too. But she wouldn’t give up. She and all of her supporters fought them off for days. Eventually, though, the soldiers killed all of them except her. She fought like a wildcat – they say she killed at least five men – but there were too many of them. They cornered her in her bedroom at the top of the tower.’ She pointed up the hill where the shadowy outline of the old stone building could just be seen, leering down at them like a vulture. ‘When they got her sword away from her, they used it to flay her skin off a little at a time while she was still alive.’ She whispered the last line. ‘They took her eyes last.’

‘That is so unnecessarily grim,’ Jo murmured.

‘Nobody has ever lived in the castle since then. They say you can see her on moonlit nights, walking on the top of the tower looking out for Henry’s soldiers. Which is super creepy because there is no top of the tower any more.’ Zoe had lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘So she must just be floating there …’

‘Hi, guys.’

Lucas’ voice came from nowhere and they all screamed. ‘Jesus.’ He turned on his torch, blinding them. ‘What the hell is the matter?’

‘Zoe was just telling us a horrible story.’ Jo sounded defensive.

‘Oh.’ He grinned at Zoe. ‘Did you tell them about the Floating Lady?’

She smiled back. ‘Totally.’

He high-fived her. ‘Awesome. I love that story. Scary as hell.’

‘They fell for it completely,’ Zoe said, with satisfaction.

‘Where is everyone?’ Shining her light in a circle, Allie saw trees and little else.

‘We’re not there yet,’ Jo said.

Up ahead, Allie heard the faint sound of laughter carried down on the breeze.

‘Is the fire going yet?’ Jo asked as they began walking again.

‘They were lighting it when I left.’ He looked uncomfortable.

‘I came back to look for Rachel. Have you seen her?’

‘She’s not coming,’ Allie said, puzzled. ‘Didn’t she tell you?’

‘Yeah.’ His hands shoved deep in his pockets, he kicked a pebble until it rolled down the hill. ‘I was hoping she’d change her mind.’

‘Sit with us,’ Zoe said. ‘We’re going to kiss with tongues.’

He blinked. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Without tongues, Zoe,’ Jo corrected her primly.

‘Well,’ Allie said as they headed up the hill, ‘tongues are optional.’


The slope lessened as they neared the top of hill, and Allie could just make out the old tower. The sweet smell of woodsmoke filled the air, and she could hear voices laughing and shouting.

The tight invisible string of nervousness Zoe’s story had strung around them loosened now as they headed across the stony hilltop to the castle.

Lucas led them to a spot where fallen stones had made natural steps up to the top of the old castle wall. At the top, it was about three feet thick, and for a moment they all stood in a row, looking out over the other side where a giant bonfire blazed. Students sat around it like a coven, talking and laughing.

As they walked up to the group, Katie bounded over to Allie. ‘Hey, you made it.’ She wore a ski jacket and white cashmere hat. ‘Welcome. There are drinks passing around and marshmallows, of course.’ Her smile was disarming. ‘Come on over.’

As she hurried back to the fire, Allie dropped behind to whisper to Jo. ‘Katie’s broken. Fix her.’

‘When did she stop hating you?’ Jo looked as baffled as she felt. ‘Why didn’t I get the memo?’

‘I don’t like that girl,’ Zoe said before spotting somebody she knew and running off.

As they reached the fireside, Allie instinctively glanced around for Carter but didn’t see him. As her eyes swept the crowd they alighted on Sylvain. Aside from a few marks, his face had largely returned to normal. The bruise across his throat had taken the longest to heal. He sat with Nicole, who looked glamorous in a long black coat and earmuffs. Seeing them together made Allie’s chest hurt – they seemed perfect together. And now she wasn’t perfect with anyone. When Nicole saw her looking at them across the flames, she waved a champagne bottle at her and smiled.

Allie held up her hand in a tentative wave.

Jo pulled her to the front where the fire was warmest and they sat on a large flat stone that had once been part of the castle structure. Zoe joined them and they watched as someone nearby held a long thin stick into the fire. When the marshmallow on the end toasted, the air began to smell of candy. Allie breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of camping trips and childhood.

‘Want,’ she said, in a piteous voice.

‘Lucas,’ Jo called over authoritatively.