The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin (Books of Unexpected Enlightenment Book 1) (42 page)

The scene shifted. Dr. Mordeau walked across the stone bridge that spanned the moat around the impressive edifice of Drake Hall. The solid granite dormitory had narrow windows, columns, odd square pillars that rose above the height of the roof, and a clock below its bell tower. Majestic stone lions flanked the wide stairs leading to the front door. One sat vigilant. The other lay sleeping, its paws crossed.

Dr. Mordeau entered the dorm, swept down a curving staircase, and strode through a brick hall to the common room. Dark blue drapes blocked the small high windows. A dark blue rug covered the floor. There were two fireplaces, though no fire burned, sturdy yet elegant leather and oak furniture, and bookshelves between the curtains. A few students sat in armchairs, studying.

Dr. Mordeau strode in, wand in hand, a bone-white length with a tip of polished jet. She swept it across the room without saying a word. The tip glowed with a purple light. The students in the room stopped moving. Their eyes took on a dull look. Two of them had the same milky eyes as Fuentes.

Dr. Mordeau instructed them, “Wait here quietly.”

They all waited.

The scene shimmered again.
The common room was now filled with children.
Rachel recognized Eunice and Cydney.
Magdalene Chase was the last to arrive. She clutched her porcelain doll, looking nervous.

Dr. Mordeau said in a commanding voice, “Listen carefully:
Ve Vargo Derenti.
”

The students straightened. Their eyes glazed over white, except for two of the students. One was an older blond boy with bloodshot eyes. When the Math tutor spoke the words that activated the geas, he laughed out loud, harshly. Mordeau looked at him fondly and smiled.

“It is time, then?” he asked.

She nodded. He drew a wand from his robes, also bone-white but with a blood-red tip, and stalked out of the common room.

The other student who did not immediately succumb was tiny Magdalene Chase. Her eyes clouded and unclouded repeatedly. She pressed her hand against her forehead and moaned softly. A trickle of blood began to run from her nose. Dr. Mordeau turned and glanced at her. The Math tutor rolled her eyes. Then she casually pointed her wand at the tiny girl. A jagged bolt of black fire shot from the jet tip, striking Magdalene. Her eyes unclouded, and she looked at the hole forming in her chest, shocked. Then, she collapsed, striking the floor face first.

Rachel screamed, pressing her fingers against her mouth in shock. Mr. Chanson laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

In the mirror,
the blond young man returned carrying a long ugly knife. He was smiling in an alarming manner.

Dr. Mordeau nodded at the gathered students. “Children, go forth and kill every student who does not carry a wand. I put the necessary spells into your gems. Merely paralyze the other thaumaturge students. We can use them. This I Com—”

The back door to the common room banged open. Vladimir Von Dread stepped into the common room. Behind him were William Locke and Gaius Valiant. All three held their wands ready.

The dean’s mouth narrowed, as if in disapproval. The nurse clucked in dismay, murmuring something about reprobates. Mr. Tuck and Mr. Gideon looked alarmed. Even Mr. Chanson frowned.

Rachel’s heart attempted to drill its way through the armor of her ribcage. Had Gaius lied to her about not knowing about the geas? Had he known what was happening all along? Was he a willing servant of Dr. Mordeau? The dean obviously thought so. But, if so, why did he and the other two boys look so grim and resolute, as if they were going to their deaths?

Dread raised his arm until the sapphire on the end of his wand pointed at Mordeau’s heart. Beside him, Gaius and William Locke leveled their wands at Mordeau as well. Dread’s voice rang out, calm yet as unbendable as iron. “Doctor, I cannot allow you to use my students in this manner. Release them immediately, or suffer my wrath!”

The rush of relief made Rachel lightheaded. Gaius was not Mordeau’s lackey. Good for him! Beside her, the dean’s moue of disapproval turned into a tiny smirk. Her left eyebrow arching up with wry amusement, Dean Moth murmured, “His students?”

Dr. Mordeau opened her mouth and screeched so loudly that it sounded like a roar. “Children! Kill them!”

Everyone began casting at once.

The scene shimmered again. It was still the common room in Drake Hall, but most of the students were standing like statues or lying face down on the floor. There were huge scars along the walls. One book case was ablaze. Gaius Valiant lay on his back, open-eyed and not breathing. William Locke lay on his face. He did not seem to be moving either.

Stark terror gripped Rachel, squeezing the breath from her lungs. Gaius lay motionless on the floor, dead. She had just chosen to make him her most favorite person. Now he would die.

He could not die! Not if she could help it!

Dread sat on the ground, breathing heavily, his back to a bookcase that was not on fire. Deep gashes slashed his body. Where his right arm should have been, he grasped a stump. Dr. Mordeau stood over him, her wand pointed straight between his eyes.

He spoke very calmly, his voice deep and resounding. “Victory is yours. Now you must slay me, for, otherwise, I will destroy you.”
Though her stomach churned, Rachel could not help admiring Dread’s resolve.

In the mirror,
Dr. Mordeau nodded curtly. “It is a shame, really.”

Black flame erupted from her wand.

The mirror went dark.

Rachel grabbed the dean’s arm, her voice trembling. “The last vision took a couple of minutes to happen. We can still save them, right? Please!”

“Roland, guard the way to the common room in Drake!” the dean ordered, shooting Rachel a severe frown. A blur and a blast of wind, and Mr. Chanson was gone.

Relief washed over Rachel a second time. She let go of the dean’s arm. Mr. Chanson would save Gaius. He would make sure everything was all right.

The dean continued, “Archimedes, I need you to go to the City. Bring back James Darling and Scarlett MacDannan. Of all the Agents, Darling is the one most likely to not be geased. I don’t want to send you, as I fear it will be dangerous—that’s where Miss Hunt got into trouble—but we need to break these geases. We cannot do this ourselves. Darling knows how. Be careful.”

Mr. Gideon gave the dean a slight, wry grin, “If I come back without Darling and MacDannan, shoot first, ask questions later.”

The dean nodded. The True History tutor departed at a run.

“I’ll go with him.” Mr. Tuck headed after him.

The dean shook her head. “No, Hieronymus. With Fuentes down, we have only Sanders, Stone, and Scott. Maverick Badger is off campus, picking up his wife, and Coal Moth is not back yet from summer vacation. I want you to gather the students who are in the Brotherhood of the White Hart. Pull them from their classes and put them on guard duty.”

The Brotherhood of the White Hart! Rachel had heard whispers of the secret society devoted to protecting the World of the Wise. She knew little of the Brotherhood. Her parents were members, but they did not speak of it. She did know the story of the White Hart—how two brothers went in different directions hunting the legendary beast. They left their daggers in a birch tree. When one dagger rusted red as blood, the owner of the other knew his brother was in danger and went to save him. The heraldry of the Brotherhood of the White Hart was two daggers protruding from a tree, one whole, one rusted.

Mr. Tuck nodded. “I will collect them. There are five at the moment, right? Crispin Fisher’s daughter, Marta, Agravaine Stormhenge, John Darling, and the orange-haired lass, Debussy. I can never remember who the fifth is.”

A tiny thrill passed through Rachel at the mention of John Darling’s name. She frowned, suddenly feeling oddly disloyal to another boy.

“It’s Romanov, the crown prince,” said the dean. Nastasia started.

“Ivan. Of course.” Mr. Tuck nodded and departed. The dean and the nurse stepped over by the unconscious Fuentes and whispered together.

“What are they saying?” Rachel asked Sigfried.

“Who cares!” Sigfried hissed back. “This is our chance. Nastasia, show Valerie the man who came looking for her.”

The princess straightened and nodded, looking wan but lovely nonetheless. She laid her hand on the mirror again. An image of the false agent appeared, smiling blandly as he held out the white box that had contained the scarab brooch. The image looked something like him. It was wavy and unfocused; however, and so many details were wrong. Seeing the discrepancies made Rachel feel slightly nauseous.

Valerie’s eyes grew big. “But…that’s Mortimer Egg! He’s a desk clerk. The guy who signs you in at the Wisecraft building.”

Nastasia removed her hand from the mirror.

“There’s a boy in our class named Mortimer Egg,” Rachel said. “Is this his father?”

“Why would a desk clerk want to kill you?” Joy asked. “Why would a desk clerk want to kill anyone?”

“Perps come in all forms,” Valerie assured her.

The princess frowned slightly and glanced over at the dean. “How negligent of the school to employ a Math tutor who is wicked.”

“At least we know now,” Rachel said fiercely. “Can you imagine what would have happened if Valerie had not tried to remember and forced Mordeau’s hand? She could have continued her evil all year. Instead, we found her out in the first five days!”

“Thanks to Valerie,” Siggy gave his girlfriend a big grin.

She leaned her head against his shoulder.

“I hope these first five days are not an indication of what the rest of the year’ll be like.” Valerie tried to smile but fear warred with humor on her pale face. “Not sure that even I, intrepid reporter girl and amateur rock hound that I am, can keep up with this breakneck pace.”

“Fear not, Milady,” Sigfried vowed. “It will be my pleasure to rescue you every Friday!”

That made Valerie smile.

The dean crossed to where they stood, her face severe. “I am going to see that Dr. Mordeau is apprehended. I want you children to wait here. Do you understand me? Stay here!” She turned on her heel and set off for the door at a brisk pace.

Rachel ran after her. “Please! Let us come, too. Let us help.”

The dean turned on her, scowling. “You can help by staying here. Out of harm’s way.”

Rachel shuffled back to where the others stood. Her heart hammered with fear for Gaius.

She hated being stuck here, unable to help. Then she straightened. Being stuck here could not keep her from figuring things out. The puzzle pieces that made up their current situation began whirling through her mind, approaching each other, looking for bits that snapped together.

Frowning thoughtfully, she asked, “Does anyone know who the blond boy with the bloodshot eyes was? The one with the huge knife?”

Lucky spoke up from where he was wrapped around both Sigfried and Valerie, his head resting on Siggy’s shoulder. “That’s Mordeau’s kid. The one who she lets pet people.”

“Eww!” cried Joy.

“Does anyone know his name?” Rachel asked.

The princess touched the mirror. The boy appeared again, grinning his disturbing grin.

Joy tapped the edge of the mirror. “I know him. He’s Jonah Strega.”

“Oh,” Rachel whispered. “Oh, no.”

“Why?” The others looked at her.

“Because Evil Rumor Monger #1 told me that he saw Jonah Strega talking to Valerie, but Valerie did not remember.”

“Wait,” Siggy’s voice had gone oddly tight. “That guy Strega talked to my girlfriend? Did he do anything more than…” But his voice trailed off, because Valerie was holding her head and making a soft, horrible keening noise.

“I…I did speak to him. Or at least I decided to go talk to that boy. But what happened after that…I don’t remember.”

Sigfried pulled out his Bowie knife and stabbed the image of the blond boy in the mirror. The shiny blade making a
klunk-slick
noise as it slid across the glass.

“I’ve found him. He is heading across the commons for the building with the moat and the lions.” Siggy’s hand rested on his chest, where Rachel knew the amulet hung.

“That’s Drake Hall,” said Rachel. “I think he lives there.”

Siggy’s voice was unusually calm. “Lucky? Any reason he should live?”

The dragon growled, “So we can hear him scream?”

“Okay, we’ll keep him alive for…” Sigfried faltered, his eyes bulging. “Oh no! I can see Mordeau! She’s got her snake around her shoulders, and it’s made her invisible, too! She just walked right by Dean Moth. The dean did not see her. Do you know that Mordeau’s robes have steam coming off them in the sunlight?”

“That’s probably why her classroom has curtains.” Valerie murmured. “Um…I’m not feeling so well. I think…I am going to lie down.” She stumbled back to her assigned bed, blood trickling down her lip again. Siggy went with her, with Lucky flying beside them, butting Valerie encouragingly with his snout.

Rachel asked, “Where is Mordeau going?”

“She is heading for Drake Hall,” Siggy called back.

“No!” cried Rachel.

All her fears for Gaius assailed her again. Her heart was beating so hard that she feared it would burst from her chest and fly off to help him without her.

“Do not worry. Mr. Chanson is there,” Nastasia assured them.

“But…Mr. Chanson couldn’t see the snake!” Rachel cried. “He won’t be able to see Dr. Mordeau, either. She’ll walk right up and kill him!” Her heart ached for the handsome athletics tutor. Turning to Siggy, she said, “Quick! Send Lucky! Warn him!”

Running to the open window, she put her hand out and cried, “
Varenga
, Vroomie!” It was a long shot, but she had left the window to her room open for just this purpose. According to what she had read about the cantrip—assuming no one had closed the window—theoretically, this could work.

Halfway to the door, Sigfried paused and turned to Nastasia. “Confirm the order, Princess. Also, your knight requests permission to accompany Lucky to his fate. One familiar cannot hold off an experienced Sorceress.”