Part 34 (1/2)
Asher said, ”There's no time Get dressed Both of you”
Lia said, ”Why? What's up?” But Asher had left We looked at each other and did as he told us I slipped intopants and her fire-red racing jacket ”Just in case,” she said
We collided with the other olves, who headed from the dormitories, out into one of the hallways Locke, Leander and Liesel were directing the, loud noises
”Where do you two think you're going?” said Locke He snapped his fingers at us, getting our attention
Lia said, ”We have carte blanche, remember?”
That put him in his place
Locke soured at once ”I don't think Gaven meant” he said
But Lia and I went on without hi, the Tea on?” I shouted at Lia, as racing ahead
Pretty soon we found out exactly as going on We turned a corner and a huge ruckus greeted our eyes Veruschka Ravenseal was standing there in her traveling robes She looked like she was ready to depart Gaven and Ballard were also there, as were the Heads of Houses Coven and Harcort And so were the twins and the Lenoir Maria ith Pier Alexander Pier Alexander suessed Maria could interpret ”Look who's here,” he said ”Two Wiccan Initiates What fun” Soested Pier Alexander was above it all He wasn't the only one Maria see in an aain, which h ”Does so on?” said Lia
”Yes, yes, I would like to know that, too,” said Mariska Coven Her hair was aeveryay Mine must've not looked any better I put my hood up Ballard looked at Lia and I, but left it for Gaven to explain
”Pendderwenn is dead,” he said The air seee noise and caate”
”Who found the body?” asked Maria Lenoir, cutting through Gaven's explanation
”I did,” said Ballard He looked at her, waiting for her to respond She didn't Just smiled
”We think the rooms should be searchedand this traitorfound Yes”
”Yes,” said the other twin to his brother I had never heard them speak before It was almost a hiss Veruschka had her hand up to her throat
”Absolutely not,” said Fanishwar Harcort
Maria looked at her
”The reed upon Reold eyes with her blue ones
”We could read their minds,” said the twins They had delicate voices, al to each other We weren't involved By their, I took it the twins ree,” said Maria at once
”I won't allow it,” said Gaven The twins looked at hiht back Gaven wasn't the type to be intimidated by anyone Not even by them Even if they were from the Master House
It was a moment before I saw the half-open door and realized who must be behind it Julius Pendderwenn Dead
”I” I said
”You wanted to say so, Halsey?” said Gaven to me
”Maybe if we checkedthe body,” I whispered, ”it would tell us ho killed him Pendderwenn” I said My voice constricted; I could barely talk
”There is no need We have already performed that search,” said one of the twins He held up three hairs They were short, black, fine
”Whatever it was, tore hirin ”Are you sure we can't just peek?” she said to Gaven
”None of ood on that score As for any further molestation of our minds” He looked at Lia and me ”I won't allow it,” he said ”Not unless you wish to upset me” He said it more delicately than even the twins
”No,” said Maria ”I don't wish to do that”
”Then good,” said Gaven ”I suggest we continue to patrol the halls And the delegates inform your Houses to prepare for departure”
Veruschka looked at me
”Unacceptable,” said one of the twins ”Let us use the red eyes I realized the effect was a trick oftime, the twins
”I don't think you heard me,” said Gaven, and stood forward I noticed, as he spoke, Ballard break off from Gaven, and circle to a position on the other side of the invisible circle they werearound the twins Lia did also Maria sled inIf you draw a line between us, we ht just step across it,” said one of the twins, and smiled I looked at his evil face, which seemed to come alive As he said it, his brother s They gave me the heebs
Gaven neither flinched nor attacked But stood his ground
”Only so like you would threaten so broadly,” he said ”I want you out ofis over Is that understood?”
”When we say it is,” said the twins ”But you are right We will go”
”And Pendderwenn?” said Veruschka She looked through the open door Now that it was time to draw lines, to pick sides, so to speak, it was clear who she was siding with She was siding with the twins They were from the Master House, after allsomewhere she wished to be
”A Wiccan of no measurable import, and or skill,” said the twins ”Why someone would wish to murder him is a mystery to us”
”He was a nuive Pendderwenn House to a third You know, a fledged Wiccan Elder,” I said
”They?” said Maria Lenoir
”Pendderwenn House is extinct,” said Veruschka Ravenseal, cutting me off She turned her hardened expression upon me ”Julius was the last of that House There are no iven a proper burial, of course?” she said, turning to Gaven
”Of course,” said Gaven ”We are very near our gravesite”
Via Appia Antica, he must've meantor the Columbarium I didn't know
”I should think so,” said Maria ”We are standing in it Are you two satisfied?” she said to the twins
”This ue at once Oh, and here are your hairs”
The twin holding theround Looking at his brother, he said, ”They almost look like cat hairs, don't they? What do you say, Il Gatto?”
They left, but not before Gaven said ”I want your things gone fro, but whatever it was, I didn't hear it I was too busy looking at Ballard He see at , he tapped Gaven on the shoulder, who nodded, listening to what Ballard had to say