Initiation (30 page)

We followed Professor Bern to the test labs and into the same suite as the last time. Henri was already there, waiting in the chamber.

Faustine seemed totally at ease, waving cheerily at Henri, who looked a bit surprised.

“Go and make yourself comfortable,” Professor Bern instructed, pointing to the chamber. “Cordelia, you can come and sit in front of the third monitor. Same deal as the last time–absolutely no talking or interference.”

I sat down and watched Henri get Faustine ready. Then, he came back out and sat down between Professor Bern and me. We put on our night-vision goggles, and the show started.

Once the lights were off and Faustine appeared to be asleep, the screen in front of me changed from a blank blue to exactly the same scene as the last time– the uber-boring beach image. Yawn. Were we going to have to sit there yet again just to watch Faustine get up and kick around imaginary sand? That was if she wasn’t so bored that she decided to lie on the beach and enjoy the sunrays for an hour. I couldn’t help yawning and resting my chin on my palms. I might have a little nap as well.

Faustine stretched back in her chair and extended her legs, wriggling her toes. Then, she just sat there, like the last time. She’d apparently decided to sleep through her hour on the beach–lazy demon. The static image on the screen was more fun to watch than she was. At least I could pretend that I was away from here and on a beach myself.

After a while, I noticed something on the very edge of the screen–probably just a smudge, so I tried wiping it away. It wouldn’t disappear. Instead, the dark shape seemed to move further and further into the image. I squinted to get a better look at it, noticing that Faustine sat upright in her chair.

I looked back down at my screen, pulling my goggles off my eyes. That was better. The image looked much sharper, and the shape was starting to look more and more like a spider crawling on the sand.

Faustine stood up, looking terrified. She got up on her chair, keeping her eyes locked on the ground–presumably where she saw the tarantula. That was a strange reaction to a spider, especially for a demon. I’d had a pet tarantula, named Sparky, when I was younger, about five-ish. It was a fairly popular pet amongst the demon kids I used to hang with that age. I guess Faustine wasn’t used to them.

I wondered for a second if she was even seeing the same thing. Her mind could have translated that tarantula into anything. Maybe a rat or something.

She started screaming, “Spider! Help!” She shrieked those words again and again. So much for my theory.

I started to get up, but Henri’s death glare sent me straight back into my chair. So I clenched my teeth and watched as Faustine totally lost it. She yelled, cried, and even started hyperventilating. Her fingers fused. It occurred to me that perhaps that was the reason for the test, to find out what would trigger her transformation. I watched her intently as she became more and more worked up, tears pouring down her face. I waited for her to transform into that enormous demon I had seen in the cafeteria.

Then, right in front of our eyes, she vanished.

“Huh?” Henri spluttered. “What happened? Where did she go?” He scrambled out of his chair, tipping it over, and rushed into the chamber. Professor Bern and I were right behind him. We walked around the chamber, searching for Faustine, but she was gone. Just like in the corridor when the shifters had attacked.

Sweat beaded on Henri’s forehead, and Professor Bern’s severe ballerina bun had come undone as she ran her fingers through her hair, making some weird moaning sounds.

She threw her hands up, looking as though she were in utter despair. “What just happened?” Then she looked at Henri and wagged her finger accusingly. “A spell? You dared throw a spell?”

Henri opened his eyes wide and shook his head furiously. “No, madam. I promise you, I didn’t.” Terror laced his voice. He stepped back, shrinking with fear.

Professor Bern threw me a look, narrowing her eyes, but then she quickly shook her head, obviously dismissing the possibility that I might have had the power to make someone disappear.

“Henri, come here and look me in the eye. Now.”

He went over to her, slumping as if he were going to be sick. She glared intimidatingly into his eyes.

“Professor Bern,” I interrupted. “This has happened before.”

She swung around to face me, stepping back from Henri, who immediately relaxed his shoulders.

“The disappearing thing,” I explained. “In fact, she even told you about it. Kinda. Remember how Faustine said she had blackouts from time to time at home, and how she would always wake up back in her bedroom after them?”

“Yes. How is that relevant to our current situation?”

“Well, I think she
disappears
every time she transforms.”

“Hmm…” Professor Bern rubbed her chin.

I hadn’t noticed the bristles on it before. Gross.

“I can’t remember ever coming across this phenomenon before. Never.” The professor scratched the back of her neck. “Where would she disappear to? Surely not back to her home.”

“To my room, probably. I think she considers it her home in some way, here at the Academy.”

“Cordelia, what makes you think that? That she’d somehow magically appear in your room after she transformed right here in front of us?”

“Because it’s happened before.” I walked toward the door. “Let’s go check.”

Professor Bern and Henri followed me to my room in silence. I let us in and, as expected, Faustine was wrapped in a blanket, fast asleep in my bed.

The professor peered down at her. “There has to be some kind of magic associated with Faustine’s disappearance, and if you didn’t cast a spell, who did?” she whispered, glaring at the cowering Henri again.

Magic? Well, if that was the result of a spell, it probably wasn’t Henri’s doing. It had been going on for some time, so it was most likely someone from Faustine’s past, from her life in New York.

“Professor Bern, her best friend in New York is a witch. Could this have something to do with her?”

The professor’s face turned contemplative. “What do you know about this witch?”

“Nothing really. She has an odd name–Neave.”

“Yes, I remember Faustine mentioning that name. It’s unusual, but very pretty. She didn’t tell you anything else about Neave?”

“No, but she might have told Martha.”

“Who’s…? Wait. You don’t mean that chatty demon princess from Dallas?”

“Yes, her. Faustine’s good friends with her. They may have shared some stuff about home.”

“Okay. Call her and tell her to meet me at my office in an hour. Now, how do we awaken Faustine? Or do we let her sleep it off?”

“We let her sleep it off for a bit the last time this happened.”

“We?”

“Well, Quinn and Jagger were here.”

“Care to tell me exactly how and when she transformed? I don’t have a record of it.”

“Do you want me to call Martha first?” I asked, stalling.

“Yes.” She turned to Henri. “I need you to find Frau Schmelder and get permission for us to contact King Sebastian and Lady Annabel, so we can get some more information about this witch friend.”

Henri nodded, looking relieved that he was able to leave. I got on the phone and left a message for Martha. I noticed Faustine stirring, so I went over to my bed and positioned myself so that I would be the first person Faustine would see when she opened her eyes. I didn’t want her to freak seeing the professor staring down at her.

“Cordelia.” Faustine’s hungry eyes locked on mine.

Darn. I had forgotten she woke up famished from her episodes. I got out my cell and called Quinn, who didn’t pick up. My finger hovered over Jagger’s number. I didn’t want to see him, but he’d understand the situation. I glanced at Faustine again. She needed to be fed immediately, or who knew how she’d respond. I called him, my stomach in knots.

“Cordelia?” He sounded surprised.

“Faustine transformed. She needs food.”

“All right. Be there in a few.” He hung up.

“Food’s on the way,” I assured Faustine. As she threw off the covers, I noticed that her clothes were intact. So, she hadn’t transformed fully, but had been yanked out of the situation as soon as it had started. And somehow, she’d managed to revert the process and not transform. Very handy, especially since she changed so much and ripped her clothes in the transformation process.

She smiled gratefully and closed her eyes.

I turned to Professor Bern with my finger over my lips, and ushered her to the door. Once we were outside, I whispered, “I think it might be best if Faustine only sees me for now. I don’t want her to get upset.”

Professor Bern hesitated. “You’ve been through this with her before?”

“Yes, and I know exactly what to do. I’ll come down to your office with Martha if you want, to update you.”

“Okay, remember that Frau Schmelder wants to see you as well.” She picked up her purse and left.

I had totally forgotten about The Smelt. She would have to wait. Jagger showed up as I turned to go back inside. “Wow, that was fast. Did you manage to get some food?”

He held up a couple of containers as I let him into my room. I opened them, noticing that he’d brought enough for me as well. I ignored that. A piece of steak wasn’t going to make me forget his vamp lip lock. I avoided meeting his eyes as I tore off a piece of the meat and wafted it under Faustine’s nose. She stirred and stuck out her tongue. Ugh. We’d really have to work on that. “Wake up, Faustine. Sit up.”

She opened her eyes, and struggled to a sitting position, following my hand as I lifted the meat higher and higher away from her face.

“Give her a break, Cordelia. This is hardly the time to teach her table manners, of which I’m sure she’s not lacking. Just give her the meat.”

Fuck him. Manners? What did he know about manners? Fickle faery. I persisted and had Faustine sitting up and eating like Lady Annabel’s daughter. We demon princesses had to act royal. That was what my mom always said anyway.

“Cordelia, can I have a word with you while Faustine’s eating?”

I wasn’t really in the mood, but didn’t want to act out in front of Faustine, so I stepped into the hallway with him again.

He put his hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off, making sure not to meet his eyes.

“What’s up with you?” he asked.

“Nothing! I’m busy right now. Faustine needs me. Thanks for bringing the food.” I turned to go back inside.

He didn’t go away, as I’d hoped he would. Instead, he followed me back in. I figured I might as well put him to work, seeing that he had nothing better to do. “Jagger, have you got time to watch Faustine this–”

“Oh, I’m fine now. I don’t need babysitting,” Faustine interrupted. “What happened anyway?”

Jagger spoke before I could answer. “Actually, I’m supposed to be skiing right now. The rest of the team, including Quinn, is already on the slopes.”

That explained why Quinn hadn’t picked up his cell.

“Why don’t you come with me, Faustine?” Jagger invited.

“Can I? That would be awesome. Are you coming, Cordelia?”

“No. Frau Schmelder wants to see me. I better go see what’s up with that.”

“Really?” Jagger mused. “Do you know what it’s about?”