Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1) (19 page)

I told them the story in one breath, relieved to finally have the chance to talk to someone about it. Keeping quiet had been driving me mad.

“Who else was on the hike?” Claudia’s first question caught me off guard.

“Um, me and my flatmates, and a bunch of people I didn’t know,” I said. “I couldn’t tell you all their names.”

“It’s too big a coincidence,” said Leo, who looked unsettled.

Cyrus nodded. “I’d say the beast had to be waiting to ambush you. We can’t rule out the possibility it was meant for someone else, of course, but―”

“Was anyone acting suspiciously?” asked Claudia.

“Not that I saw. I wasn’t really paying attention. I―” I broke off. “Something else weird happened last week. I think someone broke into my room, the day of the first meeting.”

“Someone broke into your room?” said Leo.

“Yeah, when I came back that night, my window was open, and there were black fingerprints on the windowsill. But nothing was missing. I checked.”

“That seems suspicious,” said Claudia. “Whoever they were, they clearly didn’t care whether you noticed they’d broken in or not. Can you think of anyone it could have been?”

“No,” I said. “I don’t understand why someone would, if not to steal anything. And I thought the windows were burglar-proof.’

“They are,” said Claudia. “Someone must have broken in using magic.”

“Which means there’s another magic-user around,” said Cyrus. “Are you sure you have no ideas? What about your other flatmates?”

“Well, Pete’s a total pervert,” I said, “but I can’t see him as a magic-user. He spends all his time stalking Danielle and drinking himself into an early grave, anyway. And Terrence… well, he’s a weirdo; I don’t know that much about him. He’s really unfriendly, stays in his room most of the time.”

“I’ll investigate him,” said Claudia decisively.

“I don’t think―”

She cut me off. “So, what’s the plan for tonight, then?”

“Tonight?” said Cyrus, looking blank.

“We’re planning another trip to the library,” said Claudia. “This time we’re going to find out more about Ash’s ancestors. You in?”

Cyrus rolled his eyes. “You might have mentioned it to me before.”

“None of us have seen you all week. We figured you were up to something top-secret.”

“I’ve been working on my dissertation.”

Claudia rolled her eyes back at him. “God forbid we keep Cyrus from his First.”

“You lot might want to think about actually doing some work this year,” said Cyrus. “Second year’s a bitch. Just saying.” But he said this in a light tone. “Anyway, I guess I’m obliged to come along tonight, if just to keep you lot in line. Howard, we don’t want any more accidents, do we?”

“It slipped out of my hand,” said Howard defensively. In the middle of the conversation, he’d started playing a racing game, whilst Berenice finished filing her nails and joined him. I doubted that they had heard a word I’d said. I couldn’t decide if it was because being attacked by shadow-beasts was too commonplace in their book to warrant attention, or if they just didn’t like me.

On cue, Berenice rolled her eyes. “Why are we even bothering with this? Surely if the demons are after Ash, then if we get involved, it’ll put us all in danger, too. What’s she to us?”

The latter, then.

“If the Venantium get involved, it could affect us anyway,” said Cyrus. “To have a connection to the Darkworld and be unaware of it is almost unheard of. She must have sorcerer blood, and it’s better for her sake―for your sake, Ash―that we find out how before the Venantium do.”

“Yeah,” said Leo. “Ash is one of us. She deserves to know the truth, and she needs our help to get to it. If you don’t want to come, no one’s forcing you.”

I blinked, both surprised and bolstered by this show of support.

“Howard?” said Berenice. “Are you getting involved with this ridiculous break-in?”

“Sure, why not?” said Howard. “I’ve wanted to get my hands on that book for a while, anyway.”

“Seriously? Why?”

“That’s my business.”

Berenice looked affronted, but she tossed her hair defiantly. “You’re all idiots. I’m surprised at you, Cyrus.”

“I’m
not
surprised Miss Princess doesn’t want to cooperate,” said Leo.

“What’re
you
getting out of it?” said Berenice.

Leo shrugged. “I dunno, it’s just something to do.”

“
Seriously.
” Berenice glared at me, like she blamed me for everything.

“Well, anyway,” said Cyrus. “If we’re going to do this, then we need a plan.”

The plan was simple. We were all going to go to Blackstone at different times in order to avoid drawing any kind of attention, and then meet up at the Coach and Horses at around eight. Then it was a small matter of breaking into an out-of-bounds magical library.

So much for simplicity.

I couldn’t help feeling I’d be responsible if anything went wrong; everyone else was taking the risk for my sake, after all. But I had the feeling that certain members of the group would have gone ahead with it with or without me; they seemed glad of an excuse to make trouble for the Venantium.

Just after seven, I grabbed my coat and, steeling myself, left my room.

“Ash? Where’re you going?”

Shit.
What was David doing in the corridor again?

“Um, Gaming Society social. In town.”

“Ah, right. I was just wondering if you wanted to come to the bar with some of my mates, but if you’re busy, then that’s cool.”

“I won’t be out late; I’ll come join you then,” I said, even though I didn’t know when we’d be back.

“Well, have fun.”

“Bye,” I said.

This had better be worth it,
I thought as I waited for Claudia outside. Once again, rain poured down, forming puddles around the student village and dripping from roofs. I was beginning to think a dark rain cloud hovered permanently over the university, underneath the demon-proof shield.

“Hey.” Claudia snuck up beside me without my noticing. “You ready?”

“Not really,” I admitted.

“Well, you’d better get used to it. We rarely plan ahead. I don’t think Howard has any notion of what a
plan
is.”

I thought of his temper tantrum the week before. “Is he likely to make trouble?”

“Cyrus’ll keep him under control. Besides, he won’t hurt anyone with Berenice there.”

“Berenice? I thought she wasn’t coming.”

“She can’t stay out of stuff like this. Plus, she won’t let Howard go on his own.”

“Are those two like, together, then?” I said, thinking of her flirtatious behaviour earlier.

“Howard and Berenice? No, but they did have a one-night stand a few months ago, and she hasn’t been able to leave him alone since. He doesn’t seem that arsed about her, unless he’s pissed. Then they’re all over each other; it’s revolting. But I don’t think the guy’s capable of understanding the meaning of a relationship. He’s kinda self-absorbed. Mind you, so’s she, so, in theory, they’re the perfect match.”

“Why do you hang out with him? I mean, he threw an Xbox controller at Leo’s head!”

“Howard gets into fights at least once a week; we’re used to it.”

“Jesus. You’d think he’d have been arrested by now.” I hesitated. “
Has
he?”

“No,” said Claudia. “Well, there have been a couple of close calls. He’s made a lot of enemies in the Venantium, anyway, but he’s learnt his lesson about picking fights with the
venators
, thankfully. Well, most of the time.”

Good to know!” I said. “Is there any reason Berenice seems to hate me so much?”

“She hates everyone apart from Howard. Sorry she was such a bitch to you. I’ll get Howard to have a word, maybe she’ll listen.”

“So she just comes to meetings because of him?”

“Basically, yeah. But she hates the Venantium, too, even more than she hates demons. Sometimes I think she hates everything.”

“And have the shadow-beasts ever gone after
her?”

I thought of her pristine make-up and carefully straightened hair. I couldn’t picture her getting into fights with shadow-beasts. Though her acid tongue was enough of a weapon in itself.

“They’ve targeted all of us at one time or another. She’s not really a fighter, but she can throw a punch if she’s pissed.”

The woods were eerie rafter dark, the moonlight throwing menacing tree-shadows on the ground. Even following the path, it was difficult to tell if we were going the right way. Tree trunks suddenly loomed up out of the shadows, and roots snaked underfoot to trip us up. I concentrated on the Darkworld, trying to summon a small light to my hand, but the feeble spark kept going out. Clearly, this was something else I needed to work at.

Blackstone at night turned into a maze of dark streets winding between shadowy buildings. I began to see Cara’s point when she had said it looked like a horror movie set. One of those strange, giant black birds swooped overhead as we approached the Coach and Horses.

“What
are
those?” I asked Claudia. “I keep seeing them everywhere.”

“They’re the Venantium’s harpies.” She pushed open the door, and we stepped over the threshold into warmth. “They send one as a warning before they turn up somewhere.”

“Harpies?”

“They’re the one thing we
really
don’t want to run into tonight.”

“
There
you are,” said a snide voice. Berenice waited for us just inside the Coach and Horses; evidently, she’d decided to come after all.

“Nice to see you, too,” I said. I was nervous, and her tone made me irritable.

“Whatever,” said Berenice. “Let’s get this over with. Oi, Howard! Get over here.”

“Draw attention to yourself, why don’t you?” said Howard, as he came stomping up behind us. I could picture
him
making mincemeat of shadow-beasts. Volatile temper aside, he was built like a tank and had to duck to fit under the roof beams. “C’mon, Leo.”

“Let me finish my drink!” said Leo.

“Is Cyrus here?” said Claudia.

“I’m here,” said a voice behind Howard.

Leo downed the rest of his pint in one. “Let’s go.”

“Why’re you so eager all of a sudden?” muttered Berenice. “You’ve been saying for the last hour you’d rather stay in the pub.”

“That guy over there’s looking at us,” he whispered.

I turned round, and my heart somehow sank and flipped at the same time. It was David.

“That’s my flatmate,” I whispered. “I told him I was at the Gaming Society social.”

“Anyone bring a Nintendo DS?” said Leo.

“I think we should leave,” I said. “Before he comes over.”

“Good thinking,” said Claudia. “Let’s go.”