Part 21 (1/2)

That gave Sigil pause.

Would you use it for ill?

I shrugged and then grinned. Sigils eyebrows rose higher on his large forehead.

Id use it on anyone who didnt treat my sister well, I a.s.sured him.

You dont have a sister, said Sigil.

Exactly, I said.

I spent a long time with Sigil. He taught me enough so that I thought I could get by. Wed find out during Tactical.

Chapter Twenty-Nine.

I was tossing and turning in my bed in Astra, unable to sleep. The room was dark, the way Keller had liked it. The curtains were drawn and any little lights that might have been s.h.i.+ning in the room were turned off. In the late spring months we had kept the windows open to let the summer breeze flow through the room, and I would often call a little more breeze than we would have had otherwise. But now, in the blanket of winter and without Keller, I had no use for either the darkness or the breeze. Sighing, I turned again and punched my pillow down.

The next day was our first Tactical, and I was worried. Whenever Id seen Daisy and Faci their heads had been together and theyd been deep in conversation, ignoring everything and everyone around them, which usually included Dobrov.

At the start of the semester wed all been appalled to see that the two darkness mages were still allowed at Public, especially given how Lisabelle was being vilified in the Tabble and by Caid. By this time I just accepted that the senior paranormals did not see the same threats we did. They hadnt been there time and again when the Nocturns had attacked. Facis father had been allowed to take responsibility for Princess Dirrs death, after all, leaving Faci free to kill again, and no senior paranormal seemed to think that was a problem.

Sometimes it occurred to me that it had been a bad idea to take over a room meant for a professor or dorm mother. My bed was so ma.s.sive I felt lost in it. Keller and I could have slept comfortably with a tempest, a lightmare, and three furryhairings between us, and not complained of a lack of s.p.a.ce. Now that I was alone I had the opposite complaint.

I turned one more time, only to pause at what I saw.

My door, which I always kept closed, had cracked. I knew because the air pattern in the room had changed, even though there had been no sound. I held my breath, debating whether to use my magic to make Dobrov leave again. He had a lot of nerve coming to Astra at all; I hadnt talked to him since that first night, and I didnt plan to.

Now wide awake, I waited to hear footsteps. When I didnt, I grew anxious. My door had been opened by someone I hadnt invited into Astra, and I couldnt just lie there, so as quietly as I could, I peaked over my shoulder to see who or what had intruded on my sleep.

There was nothing.

Frowning, I sat up. I could see the light pouring into the crack from the nightlight Lough kept on in the hall. I prefer to fight bad paranormals I can see, thank you very much, was what he had said when Sip complained.

Now I was puzzled, and more than a little alarmed. Demons were not usually stealthy or small, but whatever had opened the door seemed to be both. I was just lowering myself onto my back, my eyes still wide and staring, when something fast and white soared above me. I nearly cried out, then I realized who it was.

Bartholem landed on my bed without so much as a thud. He started to examine it, specifically the middle spot where there were lots of pillows, and then he proceeded to ignore me as he found a place to sleep.

Nice to see you, too, I said dryly. He twitched his whiskers, but that was the only sign he gave that he could hear me at all.

Shaking my head, I fell back on my pillows. Id reached a new low if I was talking to a cat, although I felt completely sure that Bartholem could understand me perfectly well.

Just make yourself comfortable, I said, waving my hand. Its not like this is my room and not yours or anything, or that Lough is taking care of you and not me.

I felt the blanket pull ever so slightly near my left shoulder and heard a gentle purring. And that was the only response I got.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Bartholems white form, now curled up between two of my pillows. For all my sarcasm, I was glad he was there. I didnt want to be alone.

I left the door ajar in case the cat wanted to leave the way he had come, and closed my eyes. I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard the swish of the door moving and felt the air pattern change once again.

Annoyed, I sat up. Look, we dont have room for a dog in bed as well, and we dont have one anyway, I said heatedly.

Sip was standing in the doorway, clutching a blanket. What about a werewolf? she asked quietly. I could just see her spiky hair and purple eyes in the dark.

Is everything okay? I asked, glad it was Sip and not a demon.

Sip nodded and came over to the bed. I see I wasnt the first to think of coming here for company, she said. Does Lough know?

At this Bartholem raised his head and I grinned. Lets keep it between us.

Sip climbed into the other side of the bed, careful not to disturb the cat.

Once she was snuggled into the pillows and blankets on the left side of the big bed I could barely see her.

Its so comfortable, she said. Shame on you for keeping it all to yourself.

For a long time I didnt, I said quietly.

Sip was silent for a minute. Im sorry, she said.

I nodded into my pillow.

I miss him too, said Sip. Not like you, of course, but I really liked Keller. He was the most kind and reliable fallen angel Id ever met, and thats saying something.

Kind and reliable were lovely qualities of Kellers, but they werent the qualities I missed most.

Do you think he thinks about me? I asked.

All the time, said Sip without hesitation. He didnt want to leave either.

No, I said, he didnt. But sometimes blood is stronger than loyalty.

I hope I never have to make that choice, whispered Sip.

Why would you? I asked.

I dont know, Sip said slowly. My parents worried about the influence Lisabelle had on me, whatever that means. I tell them they read too much of the bad part of the Tabble, but they dont really listen.

Im sure itll never come to that, I said.

Then we talked about Lisabelle long into the night. When she had visited Hyder and Helen Quest before Lancas coronation, Sips parents had been skeptical, but she had finally won them over until they had treated her almost as part of the family. Sip talked fondly of how her dad had grumbled that Lisabelle was alright for a darkness mage. It sounded a lot like how we usually talked about pixies.

We havent heard from Lisabelle, Sip whispered.