Initiation (24 page)

“Enough, Sally! Or I’ll have you removed as well,” Ten warned.

The four shifters looked disgusted as they were ushered out of the room.

Ten cleared his throat. “I’m going to ask the audience to leave now. Thank you for coming.”

Once they had dispersed, the eagle’s scent disappeared. I decided to go back to the dorms after the session was over to see if I could find her, or at least get a name.

“Okay.” Ten said. “Octavia, is Faustine ready and waiting?”

“Yes. She’s outside.”

“Bring her in.”

Faustine entered with Quinn. She trembled slightly when she saw the eleven council members. I squeezed her hand as she sat down between me and Quinn, who’d been given permission to stay.

Ten smiled at her, and she seemed to relax. “Faustine, welcome to Bonfire Academy. I hear you’re a good skier. Have you been out on our slopes, yet?”

“Yes! Twice, and it was awesome. I’m hoping to get on the ski team, but I don’t know. They’re unbelievable. Jagger said he thinks I’m good enough already, though.” She beamed.

“Wonderful! Is it okay if I ask you a few questions about what happened your first day here?” Ten maintained his happy expression.

“I guess.”

“In fact, why don’t you just tell us what happened, rather than me asking you questions. Would that be easier?”

Faustine shrugged and launched into the story. She’d obviously been thinking about it; the details flowed from her mouth seamlessly. She finished with, “That’s it, really. I just kind of ended up outside Cordelia’s room at the infirmary. I don’t know how.”

Ten nodded. “Interesting, and you shared the details so well. Thank you.”

Faustine smiled, pleased with herself, no doubt.

“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Ten asked gently.

Faustine hesitated, but then shook her head.

“Do you have any idea how you
disappeared
from the corridor?”

“No. I’ve already told everyone that. I have no idea.”

“Do you know how you suddenly reappeared outside Cordelia’s room at the infirmary?”

“No, I just said so.”

“Okay. Do you think you’d recognize the shifters who attacked you?”

She shrugged, staring at the floor. “Maybe. I might be able to tell by their smells. One of them went past me when I was waiting outside, just before I came in. The eagle. But I didn’t see her. She must have zoomed past. And it smells a bit of all five of them in here.”

“Interesting. So if we needed you to, you could do a smell test?”

“I guess.”

“Thanks, Faustine. That’s all for now. I may have to ask you to come back if I think of more questions.”

“That’s fine.”

“Thanks for coming. It was nice to meet you.”

Sally was on her feet as soon as Faustine left with Quinn. “She didn’t see anything. She wasn’t even there during the actual attack. Pfftt. And a smell test by a twelve-year-old girl? Oh please!”

“Unconventional, perhaps,” Ten agreed. “But she thinks she can place your clients at the scene, or will be able to after a smell test. Yes, a smell test. It is a legitimate paranormal method of identification. You know that. So, I’m ordering the tests now. Both for Faustine and Jagger. We will reconvene once I get the results, in a day or two. Dismissed!” He brought down his gavel.

I left with Octavia. Jagger was waiting for us outside, and strode along with us to the mentors’ lounge. The lounge was packed when we arrived, but we managed to grab a small table in the corner. We got some food and ate, silently as usual, before sitting back, ready to talk strategy.

“This is what I don’t get. Why me? Why did they attack
me
? It was totally unprovoked. Is there any way we can get them on the stand and ask them that?”

Octavia shook her head. “No, I can’t force them to testify against themselves. I can only cross-examine them if Sally puts them up, and I doubt she’ll do that. Now, if we could only find that eagle, I could put
her
up on the stand if we don’t charge her. Have her act as our witness. It is within my prosecutorial authority to cut her a deal and grant her immunity or a reduced sentence in exchange for her testimony.”

Yeah, right. I wasn’t about to agree to cutting that feathered monstrosity any deals. “Any idea why they attacked me? Or do you think they were after Faustine?”

Jagger shrugged. “Personally, I think it was totally random. They’re shifters. They were probably just bored.”

“Cordelia, I know I’ve asked you this before, but can you think of any connection between you and the shifters?” Octavia asked.

“No. But then I don’t know anything about them. Maybe they or their parents are at odds with my dad. I really don’t know. Where are they from, anyway?”

“I haven’t been able to find out. Their records are sealed.”

“Where?”

“No idea.”

“Do you think Frau Schmelder would release them?”

“No way,” Jagger interjected. “She protects our personal info with her life. Which I kinda like.”

“Okay, kids. I have to go. I have another case. I’ll get the smell tests set up and let you know when, Jagger. See you soon, Cordelia.” Octavia gathered her bag and sauntered off with a wave.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Jagger suggested.

I wasn’t in the mood. I needed a nap. And perhaps a couple of hours on the tennis court. “Maybe later?”

“Now.” His face was set in a determined frown. No point arguing with that.

“All right. Lead the way.”

We strolled over to the playing fields and toward the stands. The weather was perfect, cold but not freezing, and the sun shone brightly, the rays reflecting off the peaks in the background. The grass was freshly trimmed and the perfect shade of green. It was like being in a postcard.

Jagger didn’t seem in a talking mode, so we strolled silently. I enjoyed every step. It was a relief not to talk, just to simply enjoy breathing in the fresh air. And the electricity between us as we walked along kept me from thinking. It was all I could do to keep from reaching over and touching his fingers.

I kept reminding myself that he had a girlfriend. And I had Quinn. However, I didn’t have the same moral constraints as a human. I wondered if faeries did.

Jagger reached for my hand, sending shivers through my body. He pulled me down on the grass with him. I trembled in anticipation and closed my eyes, waiting for his kiss.

He gently tucked my hair behind my ear. “Cordelia.” Then, he lay down on the grass.

I opened my eyes and looked down on him. He gazed into my eyes, intense and hungry.

“What’s holding you back?” I whispered.

He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled my face close to his. “Nothing.” He parted my lips with his, and I gave in to the dizzying sensation of complete helplessness mixed with heady excitement.

Later, as I rested my head on his chest, I felt totally happy and safe.

“We should probably try to get hold of the shifter files. Don’t you think?” Jagger drawled lazily. “At least Tad’s, since he seems to be the main instigator.”

“How? I want to if there’s a way, but Octavia doesn’t even know where they are. Plus, maybe we should concentrate on finding the unedited digital pix from the cafeteria fight first. If we can identify the eagle, then we could beat some answers out of her.”

Jagger chuckled. “Beat? You are so demon. Wonder what our kids will turn out like?”

“Whoa! Getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren’t you? I’m still dating Quinn, you know. And I’m guessing you’re still with Jewel?” I couldn’t keep the resentment from my voice.

“You sound angry… even jealous. Is that possible?”

“Are you not the least bit jealous of Quinn and me?” I asked, hurt.

“Um… no. We’re synched to each other. I need you to dump him, of course. But I realize that you want to let him down gently. You are very undemonic in that sense. Kinda cute.”

“Oh, let’s talk about something else.” I sat up. “Did your brother get here, yet?”

“Yeah. He showed up yesterday. Apparently, Spencer Darley brought him. Very odd.”

“Spencer Darley? Darley? Who’s that?” Where had I heard that name?

“I guess your dad doesn’t discuss his work with you?”

“No, not really. To be honest, I haven’t taken much interest.”

“Spencer Darley is the global leader of the Wanderers. The top man. I can’t imagine why he’d bring Ryker to school.”

That was a bit strange, seeing that Ryker was a faery. Then again, we didn’t know what his mom was yet. So I guessed he could be a hybrid. I didn’t know a lot about Wanderers, apart from the fact that they were time travelers who journeyed through time and dimensions, which sounded cool. “Maybe his mom’s a Wanderer. I guess he would be pretty unique if he’s a faery-Wanderer hybrid. Have you spoken to him yet?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. No, I haven’t had a chance to catch up with him. I’ve been too busy keeping you out of trouble. I’m hoping to talk to him at dinner tonight. I’d love for you to come with.”

“Sure, but don’t you need some brother bonding time or whatever?”

“I’m pretty sure that he still doesn’t know that he has a brother here. If he did, I think The Smelt would have included me at his welcome meeting. So I’m going to play it by ear. I’d like for you to come and keep it casual.”

“I would love to. He sounds interesting. Do you know which group he’s in?”

“Yeah. He’s in Tabitha’s group. The rest of his group are faeries.”

“Okay. How about we meet up after dinner to see if we can find the original surveillance videos?”

“You don’t give up, do you?” Jagger laughed.

“No. Do you?”

He stared at me, his eyes serious. “Not when it matters.”

“Same here. So, what do you say? Do you think you can help me find the shifter files, and maybe even the videos? Although I know you think that there wasn’t a motive behind the shifter attack, I want to know for sure. If there was, I’m dealing with a bigger issue. We need the files and the videos. I have no idea where they are, but The Smelt will know. I could get the info from her again.” The very thought made me feel ill.

Jagger squeezed my hand. “I can’t do it tonight. But we’ll do it soon. Tomorrow? The ski team has practice all night. Faustine’s coming, so I thought you might wanna join, too. Where is she, anyway?”

“In history class. She’s with her group. I’m supposed to pick her up at dinner.”

“Dinner? I’m guessing they’re not going to the– Watch out, Cordelia!” Jagger pushed me down and rolled me under him, as something flapped over us.

I caught the sight of eagle wings as I peered out from under him. My fingers fused, and I transformed, throwing Jagger off of me. I ran after the bird, jumping up in the air to try to prod it with my fingers. It kept pecking me and then flying back out of reach.

“Jump on my back, Cordelia!” Jagger shouted.

I did, and we were airborne, chasing the eagle all over campus, and then out into the mountains. I hung on to Jagger with one arm and waved the other one around, trying to get at the bird. The eagle kept zigzagging, taking occasional pecks at us.