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Dariya could not get out of bed the nextShe looked pale and her limbs trembled when she tried to sit up "Katiya, I am so cold!" she said

The as still closed A pale lass frantically

Elena rolled her eyes as she cracked theto let the insect fly away "Must you always co dressed "Hurry, Katerina! I&039; on the bed and taking my cousin&039;s hand "Can you ask Madame Orbel ani to come and see Dariya? She is ill"

"What a shaht away" When she had left, I looked e, and her breathing see with me? My stomach-oh, the cra!"

"Hush, Mada her cold hand betweendoll &039;s I saw a cold light wrapping around her It was growing steadily brighter and stronger I was terrified for her "The headmistress will send for a doctor" My cousin&039;s eyes rolled back in her head, and she slipped into unconsciousness

"Dariya!" I shouted, shaking her Her eyes opened briefly With a ain "Dariya!"

"What is this nonsense?" Mada room at once, or you will be punished"

"Madame, Dariya is ill!" I stood up so she could see for herself "You must call the doctor!"

Madao downstairs immediately I will deal with her It is not your concern" I didn&039;t think I&039;d ever hated anyone more than I hated Mada, but I did not dare argue with her I sed hard and squeezed my cousin&039;s pale, limp hand "I promise I will be back, Dariya"

I ran downstairs and found Mada breakfast with Madaenievna?" I asked

I saw confusion in their eyes "Dariya?"

I gripped the chair in front of me Of course Elena had not told them

"She passed out!" I explained "She&039;s extre of stomach pains Madame Metcherskey would not allowterrible will happen to her!"

Madame Tomilov stood up immediately "Madame Orbel ani, send for the doctor Katerina Alexandrovna, take me to your cousin" The head unconscious in her bed, and had her moved to a separate room, quarantined from the rest of us Dr Gall itzin arrived and I was shooed into the hall "She could be contagious," the doctor said "Keep all the other students away froue that both Elena and I had breathed the sa, but Madame To rabbed Elena in the hallway on her way to algebra "What did you do to her?"

Elena&039;s eyes greide and innocent "Moi?"

"Whatever spells you&039;re trying to cast on me with your brother&039;s hair, whatever hateful spell you&039;re casting on Dariya, you&039;re going to stop is" Elena shook her head sadly "Perhaps you feel unwel too Do you have a fever?" She reached up to touch irls in the hallwaya deliberate effort to ignore us Out of the corner of

at us nervously

Lowering my voice, I said, "I will not let you hurt Dariya or any of the other students here"

Elena rolled her eyes She had noticed the teacher&039;s attention as well

"Enough of your foolishness, Katerina You areme late for class" She turned and disappeared into her classroom

I needed to see for myself what Elena was up to I sneaked back upstairs to our dormitory, the chilly hallway now empty I searched under Elena&039;s cot for proof that she orking darkunder her bed, nor under her pillow, nor in her unlocked storage trunk Nothing but the wrapped lock of her brother&039;s hair and a single tarot card: the King of Swords It matched the Queen of Swords that had been sent toto cast on lad that I&039;d burned the queen card But there was no evidence here of spells against Dariya

I headed to the sickroom and peeked inside Madame Tomilov was bent over Dariya&039;s bed, her hand onwas slow but even The headmistress looked up and frohen she saw me "Go to class, Katerina Alexandrovna There has been no change in her status"

Sighing, I went back downstairs and hurried tobefore everyone in the school knew of Dariya&039;s , Aurora De the lunch hour, two of the servants fell ill I tried to return to the sickroom to check on Dariya, but Madame Metcherskey would not excusehour as I practiced my scales on the harp With a rebel ious, and possibly devious, impulse, I played the chords as loud as I could If I had to play the harp, I would ers were bleeding by the time the class was over and I could finally leave and visit the sickroo as still as death in her bed, but her cold light had not

changed The bright swirls wrapped around her like a snohite cocoon

Beside her, Mada a book She looked up and se, ht a candle for your cousin?"

I shook my head sadly "I wanted to see her first" I picked up Dariya&039;s cold hand She was still breathing, but it was very shallow "What did the doctor say?"