“Who else do we have?” Flora taps her foot impatiently.
“How about Tara? Her roommate will be in the infirmary all semester because that illegal spell she cast went awry.”
“Any other options?” I ask. “I do not make a good guinea pig.”
Flora runs a hand through her salt-and-pepper hair and exhales. “Miri, who do we have left?”
I pat the quill in my pocket—I need someone who won’t judge my thieving. “I don’t mean to pry, Headmistress, but I saw a paper on your desk about a girl named Kayla needing a new roommate. What about her?”
“Oh God, not that one,” Miri mutters.
“Her picture was on the file, and she didn’t look like someone who would turn me into a toad.”
Flora fiddles with the large brooch on her tailored dress and stares at me doubtfully. “You should know that her last roommate went missing under mysterious conditions. We’ve found no trace of her.”
“Allegedly went missing.” Kayla appears from behind a clock. “She was half wolf and had a nasty temper. I’m sure she’ll turn up eventually.” Kayla looks at me. “Who’s this?”
“Gillian Cobbler, our newest student,” Flora introduces me. Kayla and I shake hands. Again. “She’s in need of a roommate, and for some strange reason, she’s requested you.” Flora turns to Miri. “We have almost a hundred students and there’s no one else? Kayla is still on probation for making it snow in the library last month.”
“It looked so pretty,” Kayla says with a sigh.
Flora does not look amused. “You were using magic, which you know is forbidden unless it’s part of a class assignment.”
“Right!” Kayla’s eyes soften. “I’m really sorry about that. Won’t happen again.” She pauses. “So now can I have Gilly as a roommate?”
Flora makes a noise resembling a growl.
“Headmistress?” Miri interrupts. “I’m getting called to the castle by Rose.”
Oh wow! Rose is Sleeping Beauty. Not that I care about that sort of thing.
“When you’re through, please meet me in my office,” Flora tells her.
“Yes, Headmistress,” Miri says. “Be good, girls.” With that, she’s gone.
Flora doesn’t linger either. “Well, if you’re sure …” I nod. “Okay, Kayla can show you to the dormitory and give you a tour on the way.”
“Yes, Headmistress,” Kayla says. We wait for Flora to walk away. “That was brilliant! I was trying to think of a way to make us roomies.”
The hair on my arms stands up. “Shh! What if Miri hears you?”
“Please!” Kayla’s wings stop fluttering. “If Miri got called to the castle, she is at the castle.” Kayla links her arm through mine, and I start to rise. “We have time before dinner to get you unpacked. Let me show you the school first.”
“Let’s walk,” I insist. “I’ve never flown before. I’m sure it will make me dizzy.”
Kayla looks disappointed. “Fine.”
Drip. Click. Snap.
“What was that?” The grand foyer is completely empty except for us.
Kayla shrugs. “Beats me. Could be a Pegasus. They’re not supposed to fly by the castle. One nicked a turret last week. Everyone else is at after-school activities.”
Drip. Click. Snap.
Kayla flies toward the large front doors, and I quickly follow. When we reach the doors, she looks up. In one fast movement, she pulls off her belt and flicks it in the air at the chandelier. The fancy light fixture sways.
“Aaah! Kayla, cut it out!”
I jump. There’s a boy up there, standing on the crystal chandelier! He has slightly curly blond hair and is wearing a uniform—a navy sweater vest over a white shirt with khaki pants—but his boots are muddy. He’s stepping on priceless crystals with cruddy boots? Is he insane?
“Jax! What are you doing up there?” Kayla whispers heatedly.
“I’m cleaning the crystal for Flora,” Jax says and rolls his eyes. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m making a break for it.”
Kayla applauds. “Yay! This time I know you can do it.”
I shade my eyes from the light bursting through the stained-glass window next to the chandelier Jax is perched on. “Busting out? Why?” I ask Kayla. “I thought you said this place was cool.”
Jax laughs loudly and looks at me. I feel slightly stunned. I’ve never seen violet eyes before. “FTRS was fun for a while, but strange things have started happening and I don’t want to be here when something bad goes down.”
Strange things? What kind of strange things? Why does Kayla suddenly look pale?
“He’s exaggerating,” Kayla tells me, but she doesn’t sound convincing.
Drip. Whatever Jax is holding is leaking. Kayla and I move out of the way so we don’t get wet. “Grease,” Jax explains to me. “It lubes the window.” He swings the chandelier, and as it nears the window, he uses a fork to try to pry the window open. “A few more tries and I’ll have it.”
“Then what are you going to do, genius?” I ask. “You’re two stories up.”