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"So, were you covered in golden light and sucked through so to keep ers were softly stroking ht, then it was like soa on?"

It was Jenna who answered "None Do you see anybody you remember?"

"I ran into Evan, the warlock I used to roo for you He, uh, wasn't too happy to see me" Archer winced a little as he raised a hand to his cheekbone It looked a little swol en, and a bruise was already forotten the various rumors about Archer after he left the school "People think you killed Elodie And tried to kill "

I wasn't sure if Archer was confused or pissed or some combination of the two, but he droppedto say was cut off as the front door of Hecate Hall slowly creaked open All heads swiveled toward it, and I swore I could hear footsteps co from inside I held o of ht, wearing the same suit she'd worn the day I'dthat was the saood ten years older than she had the last time I'd seen her, and her hands, as she spread the

Her royal blue skirt and jacket see on her bony frame, and there was some kind of dark stain on her silk blouse

Butof all, her dark blond hair, that hair that she always teased, threatened, or enchanted into ridiculously ornate updos, was now co down her back It fluttered around her head like spiderwebs

"Students of Hecate Hall," she said, her voice wavering like an old lady's "Welcome to a new semester"

CHAPTER 14

"Oh my God," Jenna murmured, just as I said, "Holy hell weasel," under my breath I won't repeat what Archer said

Someone in the crowd-I think it was Taylor-shouted, "But the school is closed Everyone was saying" Her voice trailed off, and one of the faeries piped up, her voice high and clear "You have no right to bring us here The Fae are no longer in all iance with the rest of Prodigium On behalf of the Seelie court, I demand you send us home" Ah That was Nausicaa She was the only one of the faeries that talked like she was rehearsing a play

Next to me, Jenna leaned in closer and said, "The Fae broke their all iance? Did you know that?" I shook lare No matter how feeble she seemed, she could still throw one heck of a dirty look "All iances and treaties have nohere at Hecate Hall Once you've been a student here, your all egiance is to the school Always" She gave a srined when you were sentenced here" I reme my name on the dotted line I suddenly wished I had of power of tio around, and tell her to read things first

"Now, I'm sure there are many questions," Mrs Casnoff continued in what had to be the understatement of the year "But for now, report to your rooht's assembly"

"This is crap!" someone shouted I rose up on tiptoes and saw a tall boy with reddish hair

"Evan," Archer murmured

The crowd sort of scooted away from the boy as he and Mrs Casnoff faced each other down

"I beg your pardon, Mr Butler?" Mrs Casnoff asked, and this time, she sounded a lot more like her old self and less like a frail old lady

"The Eye and the Brannicks have been killing us off, and the school freaking disappeared And nohat, we're all just supposed to start a new school year?"

No one hispering now In fact, everything had gone unnaturally quiet, I realized The wind had died, and there were no birds, no distant sound of the ocean It was like the island was holding its breath

"Enough," Mrs Casnoff said "As I said, the asse will answer all -"

"No!" Evan shouted, his voice echoing in the still air "I' foot in that place until you tell us what the hell is going on How did you get us here? Why is he here?" Evan jerked his thulanced in our direction Archer earing a bored expression, but the bruise on his cheek was darker against his suddenly paler skin

"Mr Butler," Mrs Casnoff snapped, drawing herself up taller "Stop it Now" Evan snorted "Screw this" The girl next to Evan, a witch whose naht was Michaela, put a hand on his ar to hi another year in so mansion, hidden away fro" With that, he shoved his way through the crowd, his feet kicking up a cloud of dust down the gravel driveway

"Evan" Mrs Casnoff's voice rang out, and this tier or irritation It al

But Evan didn't even turn around

"What the heck is he gonna do, swim to the mainland?" I muttered under my breath

By now, Evan had reached the thick wall of fog circling the house He hesitated, and I saw his shoulders go up and his hands clenched into fists at his side, like he was trying to psych himself up He raised a hand, and I saw a couple of sparks shoot froertips They died al sound, like a wet firecracker