‘Come in.’
When she stepped into the room, the headmistress didn’t look thrilled to see her. Her glasses were shoved up on to her head, and she had a stack of papers in one hand.
‘I told you I’d call you when I was ready for you.’
‘I’m sorry, Isabelle.’ Allie leaned her head against the door frame as if resting it would make it stop hurting. ‘Sorry – I seem to be saying that a lot today. I just feel like I should be doing something. I feel like everything’s my fault and I want to, I don’t know, make it better.’
Isabelle pointed at a chair. ‘Sit.’ As Allie sat down, the headmistress studied her appraisingly. ‘Have you eaten today?’
Allie shook her head.
The headmistress’ eyes narrowed. ‘Yesterday?’
Too numb and tired to lie, Allie held up her empty hands.
‘I thought as much,’ Isabelle said. ‘You look awful. Stay here.’
Turning the kettle on as she passed, she walked out of the door.
Sitting still in the empty office, Allie stared into the distance as the kettle rumbled to life. As steam poured out in a curling cloud, she flipped through her mental list of options, her lips moving slightly, betraying the intensity of her concentration.
A rush of air stirred her hair as the door opened. Isabelle handed her a plate holding a cheese sandwich before turning to fill the two teacups. Allie nibbled at the edge – even though she was hungry, she didn’t feel like eating.
Isabelle handed her a cup of tea and then curled up in the deep chair next to hers.
For a while they sat in silence that could have been misconstrued as companionable. But Allie could sense the tension between them.
‘I’m afraid,’ the headmistress said, ‘that August Zelazny has demanded a tribunal be held to hear the case for expelling you. This will happen tomorrow.’
The news didn’t surprise Allie but it hurt nonetheless. It was entirely possible that, after everything she’d been through, Cimmeria would just throw her out like all the other schools.
‘OK.’ Her voice was dull. ‘I guess I deserve that.’
‘I’d like to say you don’t, but yes, you do.’ Isabelle’s voice was peevish, but when Allie sat staring glumly at her hands, she added, ‘Eat your sandwich.’
Allie took a dutiful bite, avoiding the headmistress’ eyes.
‘There’s something else,’ Isabelle said with a sigh. ‘And you’re not going to like it either.’
Allie swallowed hard. ‘What is it?’
The headmistress rubbed her eyes. ‘We need you to talk to Christopher again. When he next gets in touch with you, you’ll make a date and set a meeting point.’
‘And then you’ll … what? Grab him?’ Allie set her plate down with a clatter. ‘He has people on the inside, Isabelle. He knows everything about me. My grades. Who I’m dating …’ She slid down further in her chair. ‘If he knows that kind of stuff, he’ll know all about your plan. And he’ll use that against us.’
‘We will have two plans.’ Isabelle said the words so quietly Allie almost missed them. ‘One that we tell the staff and senior Night School students. And one that I tell you, Sylvain and a handful of people I trust.’
Allie covered her mouth with the fingers of one hand. ‘Do you know who it is, Isabelle? Who’s working for Nathaniel?’
Isabelle shook her head. The conversation seemed to be ageing her – she looked drawn. ‘I wish I did.’
‘It’s somebody high up, isn’t it?’ Allie said. ‘Somebody close to you.’
‘And to you,’ Isabelle said.
They stared at each other for a long second, the enormity of the situation reflecting back to Allie from Isabelle’s worried eyes. In the corner the kettle ticked as it cooled.
And that’s when Allie decided she didn’t care what Christopher said. She trusted Isabelle. She would side with Isabelle and fight with Isabelle against whatever it was he believed.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Christopher.’
The headmistress regarded her coolly.
‘I couldn’t, Isabelle.’ Allie knew she sounded desperate, but she needed her to understand. ‘I knew what you would do. I knew you’d set him up and grab him, and he’d know I turned him in. I couldn’t do that without talking to him first. I needed to hear what he had to say.’
‘And now?’ Isabelle’s voice was heavy.
‘Now …’ Allie clutched her cup again so tightly she was surprised it didn’t burst. ‘Now I know my brother is gone. I don’t recognise the person who’s replaced him. He’s changed. And I don’t want anything to do with him.’
Isabelle leaned towards her. ‘I care about you, Allie. But you must have faith in me. I know a lot about how Nathaniel works.’ She was close enough for Allie to see the green flecks in her light brown eyes. ‘And I am afraid if you don’t learn to trust me, one day you’re going to get hurt.’
After her meeting with Isabelle, and unable to find Carter anywhere, Allie fled to her room. Exhausted, she fell asleep, and didn’t wake up until it was nearly dinner time.
Just before seven, she was walking down the stairs towards the dining hall when she saw Sylvain walking a short distance ahead. For a split second, her heart leapt and she hurried her pace. Then she saw that he wasn’t alone – Nicole held his arm. Her long dark hair swung with each step and from time to time she glanced over at him, worry clouding her big dark eyes. As Allie watched, Sylvain fell slightly behind her. When Nicole turned to see why he’d slowed, her gaze met Allie’s. Leaning towards Sylvain, she whispered something – he turned to look at her and Allie felt a charge of electricity.