Part 7 (1/2)

'Yeah,' I said lamely, feeling more despondent than ever.

Vanya cleared her throat.

'Now listen. It may well be that the girl is attracted to Luca. But that doesn't matter. Attraction can be fleeting ...' She stroked her chin. 'It is very possible that she will transfer her attentions back to her childhood sweetheart. She just needs the right incentive.'

'Such as?' Soren said archly.

Vanya ignored his tone. 'Darling, surely you know the answer to that.'

I looked at them. There seemed to be a subtext here that I wasn't getting.

'I suggest we form a plan of our own,' Vanya went on thoughtfully. 'We need to be clever.'

Soren smiled sadly at me. 'Don't worry,' he said, touching my fingertips with his. 'It will be OK.'

His black eyes drew me in and the curve of his mouth sent a ripple of something through me. I kept my hand where it was, though I looked away from him, uncomfortably aware that his eyes were still on me.

'You have heard that the boy is back?' Vanya directed her words at Soren, though glanced quickly at me.

'Raphael?' Soren nodded. 'I heard, yes.' Was it my imagination or was he carefully not looking at me. 'Ready to take on the mantle of king one day.'

Vanya's nostrils flared. 'We'll see. Personally I have long felt that kid was odd. Ever since he was a child.' She pulled her glossy black hair into a loose bun at her neck. 'He killed a fox once, all because it broke into the palace grounds?'

Soren shuddered. 'I remember you telling me. Celeste hushed it all up, blamed it on a servant.'

'But I saw,' said Vanya. 'I saw him do it. It was the early hours of the morning, not yet light. He was so intent. His expression ...' She quivered theatrically. 'Pure ice.'

'People kill foxes all the time on Earth,' I said, frowning. 'It's actually a sport.'

Soren and Vanya turned, eyebrows raised.

'You mortals are a violent lot,' Soren said, with a hint of teasing. 'Indeed, it should be us that is afraid of you, little Miss Innocent.'

'Well I don't hunt foxes ...' I protested. 'And I admit, it's barbaric.'

Vanya shook her head. 'The point is, Raphael is a bad seed. I would admire him if I weren't rather fond of his great-mother.' She sniffed. 'His mother is useless, of course.'

'Dorcas?' I was interested. 'Where is she?'

'Away with the fairies ... literally.' Vanya's tone was dry. 'She has begun an odd sort of relations.h.i.+p with a gathering of beings in the Old Forest. n.o.body talks about it because it is frankly embarra.s.sing, but that's where she spends her time. Half mad with grief over Gabriel's death, or something like that.'

'So Raphael is more or less an orphan?' I said. 'Kind of alone in the world.' I must have looked pitying because I caught her scornful expression.

'Alone!' Vanya laughed. 'He is surrounded by love and devotion at the palace. Celeste dotes on him. Utterly blind to his true nature.' Her eyes widened at me. 'And I don't know why you're defending him. That boy tried to kill you, didn't he?'

'Yes. I know,' I said firmly, remembering with a shudder. 'And I'll never forget it. But I guess he went a bit mad. You'd have to be, to do something like he did.'

'You can say that again,' Vanya shrieked. 'Stark raving mad!'

'Vanya,' Soren said warningly, 'we're veering rather off topic here.'

'Yes, yes.' Vanya poured herself some more juice. She watched us for a moment before gracefully getting up from the table. 'I must go to my husband now,' she told us. 'Soren, you and Jane are welcome to stay here ... Though Valdar and I will spend much of tomorrow in our chamber.' She lit a candle, placed it in an elaborate silver candle-holder and swept out of the room.

'So, now you know. Vanya is not a threat.' Soren said softly, edging closer to me. 'Do you feel better?'

I shook my head. 'Not better. I'm not sure this is going to work, Soren. I-'

'Shhh.' He placed a finger on my lips. 'You're tired. I'll escort you home. Once you have slept properly, perhaps we can talk further.'

I nodded, wearily.

'This is your last chance, Jane,' Soren told me as he chivalrously helped me on with my jacket. 'Think carefully before you throw it away.'

CHAPTER NINE.

Soren held my sketch up to get a closer look. 'Not bad,' he said. 'But watch that your lines are not too heavy ...' He handed it back to me and moved on to the desk in front of me. I couldn't help notice the slink of his hips as he walked. There was nothing I could do about my Art teacher but put up with his constant criticism of my work, but did he have to be so good at acting?

'Now.' Soren was back at the front of the cla.s.s. 'Time is nearly running out for today. There is just time to remind all of you of your individual a.s.signments for this term. This is a chance for you to discover your natural mediums.' His eyes swept the room, alighting briefly on me, just as the bell rang.

'Thank you for your hard work,' he said solemnly. 'Ms Jonas, could you stay behind, please?'

I sat putting my pencils back in my bag, pausing to check my phone. A message from my mother.

LATE HOME TONIGHT AT DOT'S PARENTS' EVENING.

FOOD IN THE FRIDGE. MUM.

Snapping the phone shut, I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder, making my way slowly to Soren.

'Do you have to be so critical?' I said, crossing my arms over my chest. 'It's not good for my confidence.'

He flashed a handsome smile. 'I'm sorry, Ms Jonas, I was trying to avoid preferential treatment. I wouldn't want to embarra.s.s you.'

I shrugged, though for some reason I could feel myself getting hot in the face. 'There's preferential treatment and there's picking on a person,' I said sniffily.

'Oh, I'm sorry.' Soren shoved a notebook into his bag and took off his gla.s.ses. 'Perhaps I am overdoing it.'

'Do you even need gla.s.ses?' I asked, as he put them in an ancient-looking leather case.

'Nope.' Soren grinned. 'But I look good in them, yes?'

I rolled my eyes, colour creeping back into my cheeks.