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The sun set over Willow Woods Academy as Angie and Kat snuck down the halls, dodging wisps at every turn.
“Shh,” Angie said as Kat knocked into one of the side tables in the corridor.
“Wisp,” Kat whispered as a white light floated past them. They fell back into the shadows, and Angie clasped Kat’s hand. When the corridor was dark once more, they both hurried past the doors to students’ rooms and down the side stairs. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be out if there’s a killer on the loose?”
“We’ll be fine!” Angie pulled Kat’s hand. “Somehow this all ties to you and your sister. That book...everything that’s happened this year is no coincidence,” she said darkly. “You could be in real danger, Kat. We need to find out who is behind it all, before they find you.”
Kat nodded, feeling a little dizzy, and followed Angie through the door at the bottom of the stairs. They walked down a winding corridor to the west wing, where the seniors took classes.
Angie pulled Kat over to a large chest and ducked behind it as two wisps floated past. “Okay,” Angie said, breathless. “Let’s go.”
Kat gazed wistfully for a second at the lockers as they traveled the corridors. The seniors’ corridors were much nicer than theirs, and they actually got to use lockers instead of carrying their bags around all day. The walls were covered with posters of the Willow Woods
Angie halted by a classroom, frozen. “Kat,” she whispered, slapping her arm. “There.”
Kat looked to the window that Angie was pointing at. Behind it, she could see another classroom, and in it were at least fifty wisps.
“That must be where the body is.”
Kat’s stomach sunk. “Oh my God.”
“What are you two doing down here?” Lara scolded behind them.
Angie ground her teeth. “More like what are you doing down here? I know the murderer usually goes back to the scene of the crime, but this quick?”
Kat’s eyes widened. “Ang! You can’t accuse Lara of—”
“Explain why she’s down here then.”
Lara rolled her eyes. “Perhaps the same thing you two are. I’m here to see what’s going on, but Kat, you shouldn’t be. It’s dangerous.”
Angie narrowed her eyes. “Do you know something?”
“Quick,” Kat said, pulling them both into the empty classroom just as Krauss rounded the corner with Mr. Jameson. They ducked behind the walls by the open door and listened as Krauss and Mr. Jameson stopped by the presumed-empty classroom.
“This means she got in here,” Krauss said, panicked. “The students aren’t safe. The same thing is happening as it did ten years ago, and with Lara Ash back—”
“You don’t think she’s behind it?” Mr. Jameson said.
“I think we need to explore every possibility. She was the one who helped head the attack on our school then, and now her best friend is back? Lara used Mona’s powers to come back to life, and now she’s back with her sister.”
He lowered his voice to a whisper. “You don’t think they could join powers again, do you?”
“Last time, Mona and Lara used a Dupree girl to join powers with Lara. It killed the poor girl in the process. Both families, the Ashes and Duprees have strong connections to the Blood Moon Coven.”
“Do they know they’re Mornais yet?”
Mistress Krauss shook her head. “No. I influenced the goblet to show them as a Sirenti and Ignita. If they knew they could wield all the elements and bring people back from the dead...I fear they would get curious. I had hoped that placing them into separate elemental groups would force them apart, but I was wrong.”
Mr. Jameson gulped. “So, Mona Fascinare is after them then? Let’s just hope that the Book of the Dead doesn’t fall into their hands.”
“I haven’t seen it in years. I buried it in the woods.”
“Good.”
They waited until Krauss’s and Jameson’s footsteps reached the end door before standing up. “You liar!” Kat exclaimed, pointing at Lara. “You said... So you were working with her this whole time? This Mona girl, your ex-best friend?”
“And you killed one of my relatives?” Angie asked, furious.
Lara sank to the floor, slumping against the wall and burying her head in her hands. “I’m not working with her now, but the rest is true.”
“Did you kill a teacher?” Angie asked, her face reddening.
“No.”
“Don’t listen to anything she says,” Kat shouted, unable to keep her rage in. “You knew our powers,” she said to Lara. “That’s why you came back. You wanted us to finish what you started.”
“No...I really didn’t. I hate myself for what I did.”
Kat scoffed. “You knew we were Mornais?”
Lara nodded. “I’d hoped I’d be wrong. Sometimes it doesn’t affect everyone in a family...”
“We should go,” Angie said, pulling Kat’s hand. “Come on. I hear voices.”
Kat turned, giving her sister one last look.
“Sorry for not telling you the truth, Kat, but I am on your side. I’m also sorry about doing this, but I can’t get caught here. Mona is coming after you, and if you remain here, she will succeed. This is the best thing for you right now.”
“What is?”
Lara disappeared using a cloaking spell that Kat and Angie hadn’t had the chance to learn yet, leaving her question unanswered...but not for long.
The window smashed to the other classroom, alerting everyone to intruders.
Panicked, Kat looked to Angie and grabbed her hand before wisps poured into the room, and the rest of the teachers ran down the corridor.