Chapter Fourteen
“What are you talking about?” Bryn counted out loud and then leaned forward. “A sixth book. Why would someone break into my room and leave a book for us?”
“Good question.”
Before her induction into the fine art of almost being blown up several times over, Bryn might have reached for the book. “Should we call someone to come look at it?”
Valmont stood and peered down at the tome. “If someone wanted to blow up your dorm, I doubt they’d go through the trouble of creating an exact replica to match a set of books you already had. Books no one was supposed to know were in your possession.”
He was right. “Miss Enid, you, Clint, and Ivy were the only people who knew about the books.”
“Miss Enid must’ve told the librarian in Dragon’s Bluff who the books were for,” Valmont said. “Maybe there was something in this book the librarian didn’t want to risk falling into the wrong hands.” He reached for the new book. As he flipped open the cover the phone rang, startling them both.
Heart racing, Bryn grabbed the phone. “Hello?”
“They aren’t here.” Zavien’s worry came through the phone line loud and clear. “I checked both their rooms. No luck.”
“Crap. Now what?”
“There’s a chance they realized they were out too late and holed up somewhere.”
That would be the best-case scenario. “If they were arrested, what would happen to them?”
“Incarceration overnight without food and water, to start.”
“To start?”
“If the Directorate finds their behavior suspicious, they could be questioned and kept longer. Use your connections. Call your grandmother and tell her you’re worried about them, because you were studying late, and you can’t reach them. She should be able to find out where they are.”
“Okay….thanks for helping.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Bryn.”
What did she say to that? Of course he meant as a friend, but it was still awkward. “Thanks. I’ll let you know if I figure anything out.”
Bryn hung up.
“No luck?” Valmont asked.
She shook her head. “Time to call out the big guns.”
She dialed her grandmother’s number and Rindy, the all-knowing phone operator, answered on the second ring. “Sinclair estates, how can I help you?”
“Rindy, this is Bryn. May I speak to my grandmother?”
“One moment, please.” The line went silent. Unease built up under Bryn’s skin with every passing minute.
“Bryn? Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?”
“I’m fine, but my friends might not be. I was hoping you could help.”
“Which friends?”
Did it matter? Shouldn’t her grandmother help, no matter what? “I was studying with my friends Clint and Ivy about an hour ago. Time got away from us. Valmont and I flew back to my room. I’m afraid Clint and Ivy may not have made it back before curfew. I called their rooms, but they aren’t there.”
“You must be more careful. Sinclairs abide by all Directorate-sanctioned laws.”
Hello…this was about her friends. “I promise I’ll pay closer attention to the time. Can you check on my friends, please?”
“I’ll see what I can do without directly mentioning their names. If your grandfather found out you were associated with anyone who has been arrested, he would be most unhappy.”
Like he wasn’t a freaking ray of sunshine already. “Thank you. I’ll be waiting by my phone.”
After hanging up, Bryn filled Valmont in on what her grandmother had said.
“Well,” Valmont picked up the sixth book, “there isn’t much we can do until she calls. We might as well read.”
They sat on the couch.
“Why don’t I read out loud? You can close your eyes and listen.”
“Thank you.” She leaned back and waited.
Bluffstone was a village like any other village. There was a bakery, a blacksmith, and even a small bookstore. The people were happy until one day a dragon named Bain came to town and demanded they hand over all their gold.
Bryn opened her eyes. “That’s different.”
Valmont nodded and scanned down the page. “It says this dragon was unlike any others the villagers had dealt with. Bain was consumed with desire for gold and treasure to the point of insanity.” He read a few more pages. “The gist of the story is the dragon associated with the village tried to reason with Bain. In the end, the knights of the village and their lead dragon killed him.”
Bryn tried to make sense of the story. “Do you think dragons can literally go insane with greed, or is that a parable?”
“I don’t know.”
The shrill sound of the phone made Bryn jump. She answered, hoping for the best.
“Bryn,” her grandmother spoke in a solemn voice, “two black dragons were arrested for being out after curfew, a male and a female. Since it’s their first offense, they are being held overnight without food or water. They’ll be released in the morning.”
“Held where?” Bryn asked.
The dial tone was her answer. She hung up. Smoke shot from her nostrils. Clint and Ivy were arrested because of her. Guilt pressed down on her like a giant invisible hand.
“Not good news?” Valmont asked.
“They’ll be released in the morning.” Fire banked in Bryn’s gut. Sparks shot from her nostrils.
“They wanted to help,” Valmont reminded her. “And like us, they should have kept better track of time. But they’ll be all right.”
“I hate this.” She punched Zavien’s number into the phone and explained what she’d learned.
“Promise me you’ll be more careful from now on,” Zavien said.
She didn’t owe him any promises about anything, but she didn’t say that. Instead, she kept it short. “I will. Good night.”
…
First thing in the morning, Bryn called Ivy. No one answered. She went to breakfast and scarfed down waffles, made two carryout containers, and hurried to the Black dragon’s dorm. She found Zavien standing outside Ivy’s door, holding similar Styrofoam boxes.
“Looks like we both had the same idea,” Zavien said. “But they aren’t back yet.”
“Did you try Clint’s room?” Valmont asked.
Zavien nodded.
“Now what?” Bryn didn’t know what to do.
“Go to class,” Zavien said. “I’ll let you know when they’re back.”
“No.” Bryn leaned against the wall. “I’m waiting here until I see they’re all right. And before you say it, I know I’m being immature. Deal with it.”
Instead of yelling, Zavien’s mouth turned up in the lopsided grin that used to make her heart flutter. “Now, there’s the Bryn I remember.”
Valmont cleared his throat. “We should go to class. Mr. Stanton might know what’s going on.”
“You’re right.” She set the boxes of food by the door. “Let them know I stopped by.”
Valmont placed his hand on her lower back as they walked down the hall. Once they’d exited the building, she waited for him to say something. He was uncharacteristically quiet.
“Instead of stewing about it, why don’t you say whatever is on your mind before we go into class,” Bryn said as they walked across campus.
“I don’t like how familiar he is with you.”
Bryn sighed, reached over, and laced her fingers through his. “You don’t have to worry about me having feelings for him anymore.”
“I know, but does he still have feelings for you?”
That was an interesting question. “Even if he did, it doesn’t matter because I don’t have any for him.” She squeezed his hand, hoping to emphasize the point.
“Good to know.”
They entered the science building and made their way to Mr. Stanton’s classroom. A new seating chart decorated the board. Clint and Ivy’s names weren’t on it. Fear jolted through Bryn’s veins.
“Don’t panic,” Valmont said. “They could have the day off classes.”
That was the best-case scenario. She approached Mr. Stanton’s desk and waited for him to acknowledge her.
After scribbling his name on the bottom of a few reports, he glanced up. “Yes?”
“Do you have any information about Clint and Ivy?”
He gave a slow nod and went back to signing his name on the paperwork. “They will return to classes after lunch.”
What did that mean?
“Please take your seat, Bryn. And if you want to help your friends, don’t ask any more questions.”
What the hell? Mr. Stanton was one of the good guys, so why was he warning her away? He had to have a good reason. “Thank you, sir.”
…
By the time lunch rolled around, Bryn felt like she was about to crawl out of her skin with impatience. “Should we go to the dining hall for carryout and take it to Ivy’s room?”
They crossed the threshold into the building and Valmont pointed at their usual table. “No, because they’re here.”
Bryn started to run, but Valmont grabbed her arm. “Low profile, remember?”
She settled for speed-walking, sliding into the seat next to Ivy and tackle hugging her friend. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Clint asked as he shoved half a dozen fries into his mouth.
Bryn pulled back from Ivy and noticed the annoyed expression on her friend’s face. Ivy laughed, but it sounded forced. “What happened last night wasn’t your fault. We’re old enough to pay attention to the time.”
“For Valentine’s Day, Clint, maybe you should buy Ivy a watch,” Valmont joked.
Okay. If he could play along, she could, too. “We should get our food.”
“I’ll go up with you,” Ivy said. “I forgot ketchup for my fries.”
Okay. What could she say in the food line that she couldn’t say in front of Clint?
Bryn grabbed a plate and filled it with chicken tenders and fries.
Ivy followed along behind her. “I need to copy the notes I missed from Mr. Stanton’s class. Can I come by before dinner?”
Since when did Ivy need to ask permission to come over? “Sure.”
“Good.” Ivy glanced around. “Have you ever had one of those days where you felt like everyone was watching and waiting for you to do something stupid?”
“Just most of my waking hours.”
“Glad you understand.” Ivy didn’t make eye contact with Bryn as she squirted ketchup into a little paper cup that looked like a bucket for a mouse.
For the rest of her afternoon classes, Bryn did her best to make casual small talk with her friends in order to keep up the charade that nothing was wrong. What had the Directorate done to make Ivy not want to share? Terrible ideas flitted through her head—from brainwashing to lobotomies. Once classes ended, she had a hard time not running to her room.
Ivy showed up on Bryn’s terrace minutes after Bryn made it inside.
Where was Clint?
Once inside, Ivy said, “I think someone stole my boyfriend and replaced him with a pod.”
“Okay.” Bryn pointed toward the living room. “This sounds like a conversation we should have sitting down.”
Valmont closed and locked the window, and they reconvened on the couch in the living room.
“I know this sounds crazy, but that’s not my Clint.”
Bryn opened her mouth to speak, but Valmont beat her to it. “Why don’t you start at the beginning? Tell us what happened last night ”
“We never made it out of the library. Someone was following us, so we acted like we were trying to find someplace to be alone. Clint pulled me down an aisle and kissed me. We didn’t even hear the guard sneak up on us. One minute we were kissing, and the next minute someone grabbed me and declared I was under arrest for breaking curfew. Clint told him we’d lost track of time. The guard didn’t care.”
Ivy rubbed at the red marks on her wrists. “He handcuffed us with those plastic zip ties and marched us up to the top floor of the library where—surprise—some of the Directorate members keep offices.”
“I didn’t know that,” Bryn said.
“It gets better,” Ivy said. “Ferrin Westgate was behind door number one.”
“Aw, crap.” Bryn did not like where this was going.
“Yeah, not who we wanted to see. He lectured us about breaking Directorate law and told us we were getting off easy this time. No real jail. They’d just lock us in study cubicles overnight.”
The guard separated us and shoved me into one of those tiny rooms. There wasn’t a light or a chair or anything. Just a concrete floor. I used an emissary to see. I tried knocking on the walls to see if Clint would knock back, but I never heard anything. This morning a different guard let us out and told us to go clean up and then head to lunch.”
“And that’s when you noticed Clint was different?” Bryn asked.
Ivy nodded. “He didn’t hug me. He didn’t even hold my hand. Didn’t ask how I was doing. Nothing. It was like he didn’t care about me. He kept talking about how irresponsible we’d been and how it wouldn’t happen again.”
Valmont frowned. “Yeah, that doesn’t sound like Clint.”
“He walked me back to my room and kissed me on the cheek like I was his freaking cousin.” Ivy created a small ball of lightning in her hand, which crackled and sent out forked tongues. “I have no idea what’s going on. I can’t shake this feeling I’m being watched. And I really want to zap someone.”
Ivy let the ball of lightning flare up, doubling in size before she extinguished it. “So… thoughts?”
“Besides, what the hell? No.” Bryn’s mind raced. “We need someone on the inside who can give us some information. Since Mr. Stanton already told me to stop asking questions, who does that leave?”
“You could call your grandmother,” Valmont said. “She knows how the Directorate operates.”
“True. And I don’t have a better idea. Ivy?”
“Call her.”
Bryn dialed and told her grandmother she was worried about her friend’s strange behavior.
“I’m sure you’re worried about nothing,” her grandmother said. “Why don’t you call Jaxon and spend some time with him this evening. He always makes you feel so much better.”
Had her grandmother turned into a pod, too? Or was she saying they couldn’t talk about this over the phone?”
“You know what would make me feel better? Cherry pie from Suzettes. I wonder if they deliver.”
“Pie sounds wonderful. Why don’t we have dessert in your room this evening. I’ll have the driver stop by Suzettes for carryout.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
“I’ll see you in an hour, Bryn.”
Valmont walked over to the bookshelf and grabbed all six copies of Days of Knights. “I’ll put these in my room.”
Ivy glanced at the books. “Wait a minute. Weren’t there five books?”
Bryn nodded. “There was an extra one when we came back last night. It has stories of dragons who went insane with greed and lust for power. It’s different than the other ones.”
“Definitely not a book the Directorate would want us to read.” Ivy stood. “I’m guessing we’ll tell your grandmother the same story we told the guard.”
“That’s my plan,” Bryn said.