Chaos Broken (7 page)

Crowhurst pulled me aside, nodding at the woman. ‘Why don't I ask her a few questions about this missing feline.'

‘Sure,' I said. I didn't relish facing Poulter alone, but Crowhurst had a way about him with women, so I left him to ooze his greasy charm.

Taking the stairs, I exited on the second floor and found a hallway with a long, sombre grey rug and potted plants dotting the walls. Stopping outside the last room on the right, I rapped my knuckles and waited. After no answer, I tried the doorhandle.

‘She's not there.'

I turned to see a young girl behind me. She had apricot-coloured hair tied in pigtails and solemn grey eyes, which were currently narrowed in suspicion.

‘Do you know where Lady Poulter is?' I asked.

‘Do you have a meeting?'

I blinked. ‘Do you?'

The girl cocked her head to the side, then stuck out her hand. ‘You must be Lora Blackgoat. I'm Sabine, Headmistress Poulter's assistant.'

After a slight hesitation, I took her hand. ‘Well met. How did you know my name?'

‘Lady Poulter was expecting you this morning.'

‘Running late, occupational hazard, I'm afraid. Is she around?'

Sabine nodded. ‘She usually spends lunch in the school greenhouse. I'll take you.'

‘Thanks.' I hesitated, then asked. ‘I don't suppose you know where her missing cat is?'

Sabine laughed as we walked back down the stairs, heading for the schoolyard. ‘Blinky is the worst tomcat. He's been gone a long time this adventure, but he'll be back soon enough.'

‘Any idea why Poulter would be worried this time?' I asked.

‘She misses him, I suppose. He has been gone extra long this time around.' Sabine shrugged. ‘You're probably wasting your time.'

I sighed. ‘Yeah. I know.'

The schoolyard was exactly as I remembered from my youth: a cramped rectangle of dirt with patchy tufts of tough, prickly grass. Kids sat in groups, eating and talking. A small crowd gathered around a marbles game in one corner and some girls were playing skip rope in another. Some of the kids ran by us, playing tag, their faces alight with laughter.

Sabine directed me towards the tall stone wall that hemmed in the back of the yard. A narrow door stood closed in one corner and a group of boys leaned against it. Sabine exhaled a nervous breath as we reached them.

‘Where you think you're going, teacher's pet?' asked one of the boys.

I hesitated, wondering if I was supposed to let her deal with school bullies, or if this was my cue to be the adult and yell at them about manners.

‘Get out of our way,' Sabine said, hands going on hips. ‘You lot aren't even supposed to be on school grounds. I'm going to tell the Headmistress.'

The boys exchanged uncertain looks. Then the narrow door swung open and a kid walked out, wrapping a long object in a hessian bag. He was smaller than his buddies, but his pale yellow eyes held a certain authority and the others snapped to attention.

‘Kalin,' Sabine gasped. ‘What are you doing here? You were told never to come here again.'

The kid shrugged the hessian bag onto his shoulder and didn't answer. An uneasy sensation rolled through me but I was at a loss for what to do. It didn't feel right to draw steel against a group of kids. I felt as if I'd been whisked back in time to when I was a chubby girl who always got picked on. With my white hair mistakenly marking me a Witch Hunter, the school children had been merciless. I'd learned to defend myself, both verbally and physically, but the memory still cast faint horror through me. Then I got over it.

‘Is Lady Poulter back there?' I asked him.

Kalin shrugged. ‘Didn't see her.'

‘Sure you didn't,' I said. ‘Now, how about you boys do the right thing and run along.'

Kalin's yellow eyes roamed up and down my body. ‘What do we have here? Bit of mutton dressed as lamb?'

‘Hey! Just how old do you think I am?'

‘Too old for school, that's for sure.'

‘I'm not too old for anything,' I said, then stopped when I realised I wasn't making sense. ‘Look, just get out of my way.'

‘This is Lora Blackgoat,' Sabine said. ‘She's a Runner working for Lady Poulter, so you better move.'

A muscle around each of Kalin's yellow eyes twitched. ‘I've heard of you. The Witch Hunter who isn't a Witch Hunter. Whatever does that old bitch need a Runner for?'

‘Missing cat,' I said. ‘You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?'

‘Lose her precious kitty, did she?' Kalin's lips parted in a nasty smile, exposing alarmingly grey teeth. I suddenly noticed flecks of blood on his chin and neck, and registered that he didn't quite fit the bill for impressive shaving nicks. Kalin saw something in my face and his smile widened. My fingers fumbled at my belt, but then my arms were grabbed and twisted. Too late, I realised one of Kalin's goons had snuck around behind me.

‘Son of a —' I struggled, but the hold just tightened. I couldn't believe I was about to get into a fight. It was like the ghost of school past come back to haunt me.

‘You shouldn't get involved in things that don't concern you, Runner.' Kalin adjusted the bag on his shoulder.

‘Look kid…I'm pretty sure I'm already destined to spend eternity in the Pit. Doesn't bother me if I add beating up children to my sins.'

Kalin grinned at one of his friends. ‘Give her some school spirit, why don't you.'

The big guy approached me, fists curling. Sabine grabbed at his arms.

‘You leave her alone,' she cried.

The guy gave her a shove and Sabine sprawled back into the dirt.

‘Real tough guy,' I snarled. ‘Beating up little girls.'

The one holding me yanked my arm up harder and I dropped my cane with a pained shout, right as a fist slammed into my stomach. Then I was free and I sank to the ground, trying to catch my breath. Boots entered my vision and someone crouched down beside me.

‘I have no idea what he sees in you,' Kalin whispered. ‘The old man must be blind.'

Then the boots were gone. After a moment, I could breathe again and didn't resist when hands helped me up.

‘Are you alright?' Sabine asked, dusting me off. ‘He's not even supposed to be here. He was expelled a few months ago.'

A glance at the schoolyard showed me all the other kids were watching us, fear etched clearly on their young faces. Sabine picked up my cane and handed it to me as I concentrated on taking short, painful breaths. She moved to open the narrow door.

‘Stop.' A finely honed sense of something wrong made me stumble in front of her, sucking in a few more mouthfuls of air. Shoving the door open, I found a small courtyard full of neat vegetable gardens and a greenhouse at the end. Sabine marched by me, jaw set.

‘Let's tell Lady Poulter, and she'll give him what for. Probably get the City Watch involved this time.'

My hand shot out, pulling Sabine to a halt. ‘Wait here.'

Ignoring her questioning look, I hurried towards the greenhouse, dread building. The door was ajar and I hit it with my shoulder, sword half-drawn as I charged inside.

The smell of blood hit me, but the double-take was more from the sight of Poulter lying in a pool of blood, gaping wound in her chest. Keeping clear of the blood, I pressed fingers against Poulter's throat. Nothing.

Sighing, I straightened. Under the blood, I saw a Calling Circle had been painted around her, stark white against the rough wooden floor, symbols etched into the outside. I tried to interpret them and made out some random numbers, but they were mostly obscured by blood. A scream erupted from behind me and I whirled around to see Sabine standing there, eyes wide with shock as she stared at Poulter's body.

‘Go,' I snapped at her. ‘Go and get help now.'

She didn't move, so I pulled her from the gruesome sight, marching her towards the narrow exit door.

Sabine tried to pull free. ‘We have to help her.'

‘You can't help the dead,' I told her roughly. ‘We've got to move. It's not safe here.'

‘Why not?' Sabine's face crumpled and tears filled her eyes. She didn't resist as I pushed her back into the schoolyard, watching carefully for Kalin or one of his buddies.

‘Did Kalin do this?' she sobbed

I pushed her in the direction of the administration building. ‘I'd bet on it.'

‘How are you doing?'

Crowhurst handed me a flask and I took it gratefully. Sabine and I sat with our backs against the yard wall, watching as City Watch officials scoured the glasshouse and courtyard for any evidence the killer might have left behind.

I took a sip and choked. ‘What's in that?'

‘Dandelion tea,' Crowhurst said. ‘Nice and sweet. Good for shock.'

‘Are you
insane
?' I spluttered, thrusting the flask back at him. ‘I need liquor, not fucking flower tea. You're worse than Orella with your herbs.'

‘What you need are your wits about you.' Crowhurst offered the flask to Sabine, but she shook her head. Her face was pale and she hadn't said a word since the City Watch had arrived. Crowhurst pocketed the flask. ‘I'm going to find someone who can tell us if we can leave.'

‘Good idea,' I said wearily. I turned to Sabine. ‘Do you need to send a message to your parents? They must be frantic.'

Sabine pulled one of her pigtails. ‘I live at the orphanage. Nobody's waiting for me.'

‘Oh.' I clammed up, feeling bad.

‘Who would do such a thing to Lady Poulter?' Sabine whispered. ‘Do you think Kalin did?'

‘I don't know,' I answered. My thoughts flew back to our confrontation with Kalin and the object he'd had in his hessian bag. Long enough to be a bladed weapon.

‘Lora?'

At the familiar voice, I struggled to my feet with a grin. Despite being middle-aged, his flaxen hair starting to streak silver, Caleb Haskett had the fresh face of a young man. The last time our paths had crossed, he'd tried to manipulate me into dancing to a madman's tune. Of course, once I figured out he'd been blackmailed with the lives of his family, it was hard to maintain a grudge.

‘How have you been?' Caleb asked with a smile.

‘The usual. What are you doing in this neck of the woods? Your beat is in High Town, isn't it?'

‘Yes, still serving at the Piccano Square station. But I was in the area when the message came in. This is your old school, isn't it?'

‘Sure was.'

‘Just how you remembered it?'

‘I guess.' My eyes skittered over to the greenhouse. ‘With a few exceptions.'

We both fell silent, the seriousness of the situation weighing heavily between us.

‘You look tired,' I said finally.

‘I've been working on a law degree,' Caleb said. ‘Don't want to be stuck being a Captain of the City Watch for the rest of my life.'

I gave an impressed whistle. ‘Law, hey?'

‘In theory I'll be finished in one more year. Should be worth it if I can get a position on the judicial board.' Caleb gave me a tired smile. ‘That'd be something, right? Me being a judge. Maybe I could make some real changes, instead of just cleaning up the blood and chasing down killers.'

‘That would be something,' I said. ‘And it's always nice to have friends in high places.' I helped Sabine up and she shook her legs about, trying to get the blood flowing. ‘If it's okay with you I'd like to go home, and I think Sabine is exhausted as well.'

Caleb turned to Sabine, noting her eyes, swollen from crying. ‘Sounds like a sensible idea. We have both your statements. I'll get a constable to escort Sabine back to the orphanage.' He gestured to a uniformed man, who gently led Sabine away.

I watched her leave, then met Caleb's eyes. ‘Do you remember being that young?'

He gave a subdued chuckle. ‘Not really.'

Crowhurst strolled over. ‘I'm told we need to speak to the Captain in attendance before we leave.' His eyes fell on the stripes on Caleb's shoulders. ‘Which would no doubt be this dashing gentleman.'

‘I'll just need a few more moments with Lady Blackgoat,' Caleb said.

‘Fine.' Crowhurst sighed and walked off, retrieving the flask from his pocket and taking a swing of the filth he'd tried to inflict on me. I ran a tongue over my teeth, still able to taste the sweetness of the herbs.

Caleb pulled out a notebook from his jacket and flipped through the pages. ‘I've gone through my constable's notes on what you saw. Are you sure there's nothing more you can tell me?'

‘I gave a description of the little shit who I think did it. That's about all I got.' Regret made my voice catch. Poulter may have not been my favourite person, but she was a piece of my past and the attack felt almost personal.

Caleb consulted his notes. ‘Kalin?'

‘And his merry bunch of delinquents.'

‘The constable's notes said that the girl, Sabine, and yourself were attacked?'

‘Just a punch to the guts.' I patted my stomach and felt it wobble. ‘But you know me. Abs of steel.'

The corner of Caleb's mouth twitched, but he fortunately didn't question the integrity of my abdominal muscles. ‘You didn't see any weapons on him?'

‘I think he was concealing something, a sword maybe. I didn't get a good look.'

Caleb nodded. ‘Well, I've already got people out looking for him and his friends.'

My eyes dragged back to the greenhouse. A depressed grey winter sky loomed over us and a chill settled in my bones as the shadows around us grew a fraction longer. ‘Where are the Grigori? Someone was obviously trying to invoke some sort of darkcraft spell.'

Caleb's eyes widened innocently. ‘Technically, no darkcraft was actually used. Therefore, technically, it's not within the Grigori's jurisdiction.'