Part 23 (1/2)

I shook my head. Theres more to it than that, I whispered. There has to be.

Sip looked skeptical, but she didnt argue with me. Instead, she changed the subject.

Im shocked that Darrow came to help you, she said. Hes not even on your team.

It helps cross-paranormal relations, I said dryly. You should at least be glad of that.

I was still frustrated that Sip didnt seem to care about the Key, but I in a way I understood. She had a lot on her plate with her thesis work, to say nothing of our regular course work, her public writing, and her involvement in the Sign of Six.

I grabbed another piece of pie and stood up. I need to get back to Astra, I said. I wanted to keep looking for more pictures of the elemental royal family.

Sip and Lough were too deep in an argument about the ancient nutb.u.t.ter ritual of 1010 to notice me leaving, so I just shook my head and took off. They had been bickering a lot lately, and I was getting tired of it, even if it was a relatively harmless way for them to blow off steam.

I walked across a dark campus, pulling my jacket more closely around my body. Just as I neared Astra, a dark figure stepped in front of me. At first I thought it was more Nocturns coming to do me harm, but I quickly realized that the strong-looking man standing before me was someone else.

President Caid, I greeted him, trying to be polite instead of doing what I wanted to do, which would have been to yell furiously about Lisabelle and how he was failing the paranormals.

Charlotte, he said, smiling as if we were old friends. How are you?

Im good, I said, glancing around. None of his usual protective paranormals were anywhere to be seen.

Mind if I walk you to Astra? Caid asked.

Of course not, I said, swallowing hard. We were close enough so that I really didnt need a chaperone, so obviously Caid had something to say.

Your display today in Tactical was impressive, he said, then looked up at the stars. Its such a beautiful night.

Thanks, I said slowly, ignoring the non sequitur. I had to think quickly.

Thats one of the many things Tactical is trying to teach, isnt it? said Caid. To think quickly in the face of an attack.

I guess, I said. I thought it was to help promote cross-paranormal relations.

Caid smiled. That too, of course. We must work together and strive for common goals. You understand, right?

No, I didnt understand at all. I had no idea what he was getting at.

We need to support each other, Caid continued, his voice rising.

Funny, I said. I could have said that to you before you threw me under the Tabble bus.

My dear girl, said Caid, looking hurt, I would never do such a thing.

I raised my eyebrows at him. Oh? I said. I thought thats exactly what you did.

No, no, no, he rushed. I wanted the other paranormals to see what they were up against and to properly understand why. You completely misunderstood my words.

I was pretty sure I hadnt misunderstood at all, but I didnt respond.

Professor Dacer says youre a smart girl, he continued. I want you to know that I would never want you to turn yourself over to the demons, he said. I couldnt even think of it.

Thats not what you said, I retorted. Publicly.

Oh, you know how public personas must go, said Caid, shrugging. The paranormals would be lost without you.

We were at the door to Astra now and I turned around to stare at Caid. The man was playing a dangerous game in which he thought he could win on all sides But there was no way that could happen.

Thanks for the chat, I said. I really appreciate it. Im going to get going now.

Charlotte, said Caid, holding out his hand, I must urge you to be careful nonetheless. There are many who do wish you harm, and it would be awful to see anything happen to you. I do so want the decision about the demons to be yours alone.

I turned around and stalked into Astra, leaving President Caid and his suggestion that I now not turn myself over to the demons outside. Now when I didnt do it he could say I was stubborn, when privately it looked like he supported me.

I watched until I was sure he was gone. I still had a little time before we were supposed to be in for the night, and I knew exactly where I was going to spend it.

I grabbed a hat, pulled it low over my forehead, and hurried to Dacers house. He usually kept strange hours, if for no other reason than that as a vampire he was awake when most of the rest of campus was sleeping. I saw a light on in his kitchen and knocked. There was a pause, a noise that I was sure was a voice uttering a curse, and then his door opened.

Dacers downtime wardrobe was almost as flamboyant as the clothing he wore for cla.s.ses. He smiled brightly at me before grabbing the ma.s.sive daisy that was hanging out of the top of his hat and moving it to the side, echoing the way students move a ta.s.sel from one side to of their caps to the other at high school graduations. He was dressed all in green, except that his s.h.i.+rt was covered in flowers of many colors. His cotton pants looked like a loose version of bellbottoms.

Charlotte, he beamed, wonderful to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?

I had worked myself into an angry frenzy on the way over and I plunged right in, ignoring his pleasant greeting. I just got a visit from your friend Caid, I said, hurrying past him. For some reason I didnt want to be seen talking to him on the doorstep.

I paced around Dacers living room, spilling out all my anger and worry in a rush of words. The bottom line with Dacer was that I was desperate to understand what he was in relation to Caid and why he took the presidents side.

Dacer sat placidly, for all the world as if nothing whatsoever was wrong.

Charlotte, he said. Caid is a good president in peacetime. He cares about the fringe paranormals, at least he used to. He understands that we have to help each other, but hes scared now. Hes doing his best, but hes in the unfortunate position of his best not being good enough.

You can say that again, I muttered darkly.

Dacer nodded. Go this weekend and strengthen the Power of Five. When you get back, work on your studies. This semester will be over before you know it.

Professor Dacer, I said, what is the Key of Light?

Dacer sat back and frowned. Yes, that was a particularly interesting wrench Olive threw into the works, wasnt it? The Key of Light will unlock, or lock, any door on campus. It used to be in Cynthia Malles possession.

I choked. And Oliva wants us to find it?

Dacer nodded. He wants it to be found. Hes failed in his own attempts, so now hes enlisted the help of students.

How does he know she didnt take it with her when she fled?

Its cant be removed from campus, said Dacer grimly. She would have had to leave it here.

Will you get in trouble for telling me that much? I asked, suddenly realizing that Dacers telling me the key used to belong to Cynthia Malle was a ma.s.sive clue as to where it might be.