Secret Lives (7 page)

‘I wasn’t—’ He shrugged and smiled a strange, bitter smile. ‘Well, if you’re so perfectly self-sufficient, I won’t waste my time worrying about you.’

In disbelief, Cassie watched him stride off across the lawn. He didn’t so much as glance back, the stuck-up tosser. He could go screw himself. ’Cos obviously no one else would ever be good enough.

Cassie slumped down against the trunk of the tree, still staring after him.

She’d never met such a horse’s arse in her life.

And she fancied him like crazy.

CHAPTER EIGHT

C
assie’s eyes snapped open. Must have been a nightmare. Rubbing her arms, she stared at the stirring curtains and listened to the moonlit silence. She had lain awake until well past midnight, cringing inwardly about Richard. So the hard and streetwise Cassie Bell had fallen for a bit of chinless charm? Pathetic.

Not that he was actually chinless. Hell of a handsome, really. But all of it skin-deep. And there was a good chance that the rest of these rich brats were the same. So she should stop letting Ranjit creep into her brain the way he did.

She was sure he had been part of the nightmare that had just woken her, though she couldn’t remember the details. It had dissolved as she woke, but she could still sense a pair of night-eyes branded on the inside of her eyelids. And silence was always so ominous coming out of a nightmare, though she could hear the echo of an imagined whisper.

No. That wasn’t an echo, and she hadn’t imagined it. That really was a whisper. Cassie swung her legs off the bed and held herself still.

Soft footfalls. Even softer voices.

As usual, Isabella was sleeping like a sedated baby. Cassie almost wanted to shake her awake, but she resisted the temptation. She could stay in bed herself. She
should
stay in bed. What she ought to do now was pull the soft bedclothes over her head, blot out those whispering voices and go back to sleep. What she really, really ought to do was mind her own business …

Uh-huh.

Isabella’s long cashmere cardigan was slung over a chair. Dragging it round her shoulders, Cassie pulled open the door. It was still October, and though it wasn’t cold she shivered as she stepped cautiously into the corridor. Jake again? This time she’d confront him. This time she’d find out what he was up to.

It wasn’t Jake.

Cassie pressed herself against the wall. Two girls were walking silently towards the west wing, and she’d know one of those silhouettes anywhere: small and perfectly formed, with a black razored haircut. Keiko.

The girl with her was a little taller, and fair-haired. It took Cassie a moment to recognise her, since her hair was usually bound up in a chic knot: Alice, Keiko’s roommate. As the light from a wall sconce fell on the pair, Cassie saw that Keiko’s fingers were locked round Alice’s wrist. She wasn’t dragging Alice, exactly, but Alice didn’t seem too thrilled to be going along with her.

Cassie frowned.

‘Keiko.’ Alice’s whisper drifted back through the silent corridor. ‘I don’t like this.’ She jerked Keiko to a halt.

Keiko turned to face her roommate, watching her silently for a moment. Cassie shrank further into the wall.

‘I told you before,’ murmured Keiko silkily. ‘It’s a request from the Few. You can’t say no. Come on, Alice. What could possibly happen?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t— What happened last time? I mean, I don’t remember.’

Keiko tightened her fingers on Alice’s wrist and tugged her on. ‘That’s because you had too much to drink. Believe me, you had a great time.’

‘I did?’

‘Of course. Do come on, it’s a privilege. Late-night drinks in the Few’s common room? There are girls in this school who’d kill for the chance you’re getting.’

‘Yeah? So why me?’

‘You’re lucky to have me as a roommate, that’s all.’ Keiko gave her a smile that Cassie didn’t like one bit, even at a distance. But Alice seemed reassured.

‘Well, don’t let me drink too much this time, all right?’

‘OK, I’ll try not to, either.’ Keiko’s tone became more insistent. ‘What do you remember, anyway? From last time.’

‘Just being there. Lots of talking. Having a drink. Not much after that.’ Alice shrugged and almost giggled. ‘I didn’t realise I’d drunk so much.’

‘I’ll look after you.’ Squeezing her arm, Keiko smiled. ‘Don’t worry about that.’

Letting her roommate go, Keiko turned to carry on as if she didn’t care whether Alice came with her or not. Alice hesitated only for a moment, then scuttled after her.

Following them, Cassie stayed well back. There was no way she wanted Keiko to spot her, and she knew where they were going. Keiko padded purposefully to the west-wing staircase, then led Alice up to the third floor and into the corridor where the blank-eyed busts stood guard like watchful ghosts.

Cassie edged towards the archway, risking a glance round the corner. At the end of the corridor, the shadows deepened, but a line of greenish light showed at the bottom of the door. Keiko didn’t knock. She turned the handle and drew Alice after her into the common room.

Cassie exhaled with relief. What now? She couldn’t just stand there till they came back out. On the other hand, if she crept back to bed she wouldn’t sleep anyway. This was her only chance to investigate, and she was damned if she was passing it up.
Go on, Cassie
. Clenching her fists, she made herself put one foot in front of the other. And again.
Come on
. She could hear the muted clink of crystal now, and soft murmuring voices. It hardly sounded like a wild midnight party, but the door was thick, the sounds muffled. She had to get closer.

A flash at the corner of her eye almost made her cry out. In the darkness of those deeper recesses by the door, something had moved.

Cassie froze. As her eyes adjusted, she could make it out. A figure, a human figure.

Jake Johnson. Of course.

The light had glanced off his watch and, as she made herself creep towards him, she saw his fingers clasped over his wrist to hide it. He’d realised.

Raising her eyes, she met his. He was expressionless, but the tiny jerk of his head was clear enough.
Bugger off
and go back to bed
…

Then something distracted him, and he retreated into the alcove.

Footsteps. She heard them too. And there was no way out of here.

The footfalls were on the landing now. She couldn’t slip out of the corridor without being seen. She could run to Jake, slip in and hide with him. But then Cassie thought about his eerily purposeful nocturnal prowling. Did she want to be with him in the silent dark, afraid of discovery, completely at his mercy?

No, she decided. Digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands, taking a deep scared breath, Cassie spun on her heel.

At the entrance to the corridor, a man came to an abrupt halt. She’d only ever seen his portrait – and that didn’t do him justice, she decided. His steel-grey eyes were fixed on her, the only light in a face of stone. He couldn’t really have been seven feet tall, but that was the impression he gave. Hairs prickled on her neck as if responding to an electric field of power.

Sir Alric Darke smiled. ‘Cassie Bell.’

She smiled back, the brightest and dumbest smile she could manage. ‘That’s right. Hi.’ She flapped the fingers of one hand in a feeble greeting.

‘You seem to be lost, and it’s very late. May I help you?’

Nerve-janglingly aware of Jake behind her, Cassie stepped closer to Sir Alric. His eyes flickered past her.

She stepped in front of him, determined to keep his attention. ‘Could you, please? No sense of direction, me.’

He gave a gentle laugh. ‘It’s rather a big place, isn’t it? I’ll find someone to escort you back. I’m Alric Darke, by the way.’

‘I know. Yes. I mean,’ Cassie cleared her throat, keeping her smile in place, ‘I’ve seen your picture.’

His hand clasped her elbow and he guided her to the door of the common room. He seemed kind, but there was that force field around him, of command and potential threat. As they passed the hidden Jake, Cassie kept her gaze fixed on the door, scared of giving him away.

Sir Alric swung open the door, and drew Cassie into the room.

The light was muted, but the common room seemed as elegant as the rest of the Academy. She had an impression of dark-red leather armchairs, baroque lamps, elaborate panelling and paintings rich with colour. She glimpsed people she knew, too: Katerina, Keiko, a Russian sixth former from her fencing class. Richard seemed surprised to see her. There were others, too, from the beautiful Few, but no Ranjit.

And there was Alice on an upright gilded chair, a silver cup in her hands, rigid and stupefied.

‘Keiko.’ Sir Alric’s voice was calm, but icy with menace.

The Japanese girl swung round, face paler than usual.

‘What is Alice doing here?’

‘She … that is, I—’

‘Roommates’, he hissed, ‘should be respected.’

‘I was only—’

‘And I should be informed of all late-night meetings. Should I not?’

Meekly she said, ‘Of course, Sir Alric. I’m sorry.’

Much as Cassie disliked Keiko, Sir Alric seemed to be overreacting big time to a midnight feast. His fingers on her arm were like steel.

‘Katerina.’ He spoke silkily. ‘Clear up in here. When I return in ten minutes, I want everyone gone. You, at least, should know better. Keiko: come with us, please. Cassie is lost. You will show her the way back.’

Keiko stood up from her place beside Alice, giving Cassie a glance of the utmost loathing which melted into a sweet smile for Sir Alric. ‘Of course.’

Cassie expected Sir Alric to leave her to Keiko’s tender mercies, but he followed them out, stopping to close the door. Cassie snatched a glance into Jake’s alcove. It was empty. He’d obviously made good his escape while they’d been inside the common room.

‘Cassie, please wait for us at the end of the corridor. Keiko, you can stay here for a moment.’

With one vicious glance at Cassie, Keiko hung back. Embarrassed, and even a little sorry for her, Cassie walked away.

Maybe Sir Alric didn’t realise how good her hearing was, honed sharp from spying on Jilly Beaton. Cassie was sure he didn’t mean her to overhear the bollocking he was giving Keiko, ten metres away. His voice was soft, but homicidal.

‘
Sharing is forbidden!
’

‘
I know, Sir Alric, but
—’

‘
Consider this your last warning, Keiko. There are good
reasons you are assigned a roommate. Understand?
’

‘
Yes, Sir Alric. I understand
.’

Without another word he turned on his heel and strode to Cassie’s side, Keiko trailing sulkily behind him.

‘I’m sorry I haven’t made a point of meeting you before now, Cassie.’ Sir Alric’s voice was no longer ferocious and chilly: it was lovely, she thought. Resonant like music. ‘I find myself constantly tied up in administrative matters.’

‘Oh yeah, don’t worry.You’re a big improvement on Jilly Beaton.’ She blushed. ‘In Cranlake Crescent, I mean. Where I was before.’

Behind them, Keiko was silent, though Cassie could feel her contempt oozing over her like tar.

‘Of course,’ said Sir Alric after a heavy pause. ‘This must be quite a culture shock for you, but I believe you are fitting in very well. I hear good things from your teachers, and from the Few. We are delighted to have you here at the Darke Academy, Cassie, delighted.’

‘Um,’ she muttered awkwardly, ‘great. Thanks.’

‘And are you happy here?’

He had turned his head, and she felt obliged to look up at him. He really was an amazing man. Must be knocking sixty, but still good-looking, and his charisma could blast you into the middle of next week.

She smiled. ‘Yes. Oh, it’s … amazing. Yes, of course I love it.’ Funnily enough, she realised, that was absolutely true.

‘Good. That’s good.’ He nodded. ‘Is there anything that concerns you? Any … worries?’

Cassie shrugged, averting her eyes. ‘Um. No. Should there be?’ Stupid remark, she thought, giving herself a mental kick.

But Sir Alric either didn’t hear it, or pretended that he hadn’t. ‘I’m glad. I do encourage students to come to me with any problems, no matter how trivial. You will remember that, Cassie, won’t you?’ He gave her another smile, so radiant and infectious she could only return it. ‘Some students find me a little … unapproachable. Somewhat remote. That’s my fault, of course, but I don’t want you to feel that way. Feel free to come to my office at any time, Cassie – if you have questions, if you need to ask for help or advice. That’s why I’m here.’

They’d come to the bottom of the west-wing staircase now, and he steered her along the corridor. Keiko still hadn’t spoken, but her silence was a furious one. She was simmering, but it was impossible to tell if Sir Alric had noticed. Cassie was glad he was between them. She felt safer with him there, so her heart plummeted when they emerged into the grand entrance hall and Sir Alric halted.

‘Keiko will show you back to your room.’

‘Oh, I don’t need … I’m fine now, I can manage on my own.’

He tutted and laughed. ‘I’d worry. That sense of direction of yours! Please, Cassie, let Keiko take you back.’

‘But … OK.’ Cassie glanced at Keiko, but the girl was glaring into space.

‘I’m glad to have met you at last. You’re going to be an asset to the Academy, I know that. You fit in here as if you were born to it.’ He took her hand. ‘Take care, Cassie.’ His voice chilled. ‘Keiko. My office. First thing tomorrow.’

Keiko was silent till his footsteps had faded. Then Cassie heard her murmur, so soft she wasn’t even sure if Keiko was talking to her, ‘Do you know who all the statues are?’

Was she actually trying to be chatty? Taken aback, Cassie shook her head. ‘Achilles?’ she said doubtfully. ‘And I recognised Leda and the Swan in the courtyard.’

Keiko made a contemptuous face. ‘The Swan is Zeus in disguise, doing as he likes with a mere mortal.’

‘I know that,’ said Cassie, irritated at the patronising tone. ‘And that one’s Hermes, right?’

‘Yes.’ Keiko, uninterested in Hermes, turned to a stag that was rearing in motionless terror, marble hounds tearing at its haunches. A beautifully sculpted woman looked on, disdainful.

There was a chill in the air, thought Cassie. ‘So who’s that?’

‘Artemis. The hunting goddess,’ said Keiko, sounding amused. ‘The stag is Actaeon, a hunter who dared to spy on her as she bathed. Artemis turned him into a stag as a punishment. And then his own hounds tore him to pieces.’

The silence was thick with menace. No, Keiko definitely wasn’t trying to be friendly.