‘I want to go.’ Zoe spoke through a mouth full of cheese, and Allie looked at her dubiously.
‘Are you allowed? It’s senior students only.’
Zoe glared at her. ‘I may be small, but I’m as senior as you are.’
‘It’s true,’ Jo interceded. ‘Zoe can definitely come.’ She turned to Allie. ‘Look, why don’t we all go together?’
‘I don’t want to go at all.’ Allie sank back against the counter glumly. ‘Isabelle’s making me.’
‘It won’t be so bad,’ Jo said. ‘We can be each other’s dates.’ ‘No kissing,’ Allie said.
‘Holding hands?’ Jo’s voice was hopeful.
‘Deal.’
‘Am I wearing enough layers?’
Standing in the hallway by the back door, Jo was swathed in a pale pink pashmina, heavy white boots, a quilted jacket and thermal leggings, It was nearly nine o’clock and they were heading out to the party but she seemed more prepared for a Swiss ski slope than a hill in England.
‘I think you might survive,’ Allie said dryly, buttoning her pea coat. She wore her uniform skirt with two layers of tights and her red Doc Marten boots, which reached all the way to her knees.
Eyeing Allie’s boots, Jo said, ‘Are those insulated? Your feet will get cold.’
‘I don’t care.’ Allie knotted her scarf. ‘I’m donating my toes to science.’
‘Hey, wait up!’
Allie glanced back to see Zoe hurrying down the hall, pulling on her coat. A bright blue bobble hat perched on her head.
‘Come on,’ Allie said. ‘We’re holding hands on the way up and later we’re going to make out.’
‘You said no kissing,’ Jo reminded her as she opened the door.
‘I meant no tongues.’
Outside the night was dark and clear; a nearly full moon illuminated the path ahead of them so thoroughly that until they passed into the woods at the base of the hill they didn’t need a torch.
Walking single file, they followed a nearly overgrown footpath that wound steeply upwards from behind the walled garden.
Allie could see her breath hanging in the air in the moonlight. She didn’t want to go to this party but she had to admit it was nice to be out doing something that wasn’t work or Night School.
‘I’ve never been up there,’ she said, pointing up ahead of them. ‘Is it cool?’
‘It’s supposed to be haunted,’ Zoe said.
‘Everything’s supposed to be haunted,’ Jo scoffed.
‘Yeah, but this is really supposed to be haunted.’ Zoe seemed to find the idea of ghosts both amusing and absurd. ‘Apparently some lord lived there who was Catholic. He was tortured brutally by Henry VIII and executed.’
‘So does he haunt the tower?’ Allie asked.
‘No. His wife was totally pissed off after Henry had her husband chopped up, so she started supporting the rebels. They say she allowed them to hide around here – maybe even in the old house that used to be where the school is now.’ As Zoe talked, their pace slowed. ‘Finally, Henry’s soldiers came to get her too. But she wouldn’t give up. She and all of her supporters fought them off for days. Eventually, though, the soldiers killed all of them except her. She fought like a wildcat – they say she killed at least five men – but there were too many of them. They cornered her in her bedroom at the top of the tower.’ She pointed up the hill where the shadowy outline of the old stone building could just be seen, leering down at them like a vulture. ‘When they got her sword away from her, they used it to flay her skin off a little at a time while she was still alive.’ She whispered the last line. ‘They took her eyes last.’
‘That is so unnecessarily grim,’ Jo murmured.
‘Nobody has ever lived in the castle since then. They say you can see her on moonlit nights, walking on the top of the tower looking out for Henry’s soldiers. Which is super creepy because there is no top of the tower any more.’ Zoe had lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘So she must just be floating there …’
‘Hi, guys.’
Lucas’ voice came from nowhere and they all screamed. ‘Jesus.’ He turned on his torch, blinding them. ‘What the hell is the matter?’
‘Zoe was just telling us a horrible story.’ Jo sounded defensive.
‘Oh.’ He grinned at Zoe. ‘Did you tell them about the Floating Lady?’
She smiled back. ‘Totally.’
He high-fived her. ‘Awesome. I love that story. Scary as hell.’
‘They fell for it completely,’ Zoe said, with satisfaction.
‘Where is everyone?’ Shining her light in a circle, Allie saw trees and little else.
‘We’re not there yet,’ Jo said.
Up ahead, Allie heard the faint sound of laughter carried down on the breeze.
‘Is the fire going yet?’ Jo asked as they began walking again.
‘They were lighting it when I left.’ He looked uncomfortable.
‘I came back to look for Rachel. Have you seen her?’
‘She’s not coming,’ Allie said, puzzled. ‘Didn’t she tell you?’
‘Yeah.’ His hands shoved deep in his pockets, he kicked a pebble until it rolled down the hill. ‘I was hoping she’d change her mind.’
‘Sit with us,’ Zoe said. ‘We’re going to kiss with tongues.’