Helpless

Chapter Nine: Lockdown | Part 6

Benn was not there, but the headmistress and Professor Dexerro were.

And they were staring at a sigil floating above Benn’s bed.

Thirtyx’s already agitated stomach flipped. He recognized the sigil as a Mark of Ryedaan, a sign soldiers typically left on battlefields to indicate their safety before their regiment moved on. 

Benn had been safe when he left this, but he wasn’t on campus now and likely wouldn’t return anytime soon.

The headmistress whirled to face Thirtyx. “Venmagalion! Do you know anything about this?”

He could surmise quite a bit—that the twins had received different instructions than last time and had teleported to the palace or the Peace Garden or some other secure place. But thankfully, he didn’t know. “No, ma’am. I just got back from the library.”

“When did you see him last?”

“After dinner. He— he had Sigraexil training.”

“He wasn’t in the gymnasium.” Azirenne squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her temples. “Was Miss Grimmary with you after dinner as well?”

“Yes. I think she was headed back to her room. Is… she not accounted for either?”

Dexerro turned away from the Mark of Ryedaan. “There’s a Mark in her room as well.”

Thirtyx nodded slowly, letting himself absorb the delicate nature of the situation. He couldn’t reveal how much he knew, but if the staff flew into a panic, it didn’t bode well for anyone—and certainly not for him. “I don’t know where they are, but I doubt they would have left the Marks if they were in danger,” he tried. “Maybe they have other instructions from the palace about what to do in a situation like this.”

“When they are in my school, they will follow my instructions,” Azirenne snapped. “I need to essence-trace this to ensure Mr. Grimmary is the one who cast it. The threat could be inside already.”

Professor Dexerro shook his head. “Even if it traces back to Mr. Grimmary, he could have been coerced or entranced. And I just heard from Thendgard about the east wing. It’s been secured—no sign of either twin.”

The headmistress turned back to Thirtyx with an eerie steadiness. “Venmagalion, Devinsmeade, if you know anything about their whereabouts, now would be the time to tell us.”

Seerla still hadn’t let go of Thirtyx’s arm. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I was with Thirtyx in the library. I just wanted to make sure he got back safely.”

“Well, you’ve done your job.” The headmistress’s tone was unusually sharp. The dread that had ebbed out of Thirtyx’s veins returned in full force. “You should return to your room so we can secure the third floor. Venmagalion is safe now.”

Seerla narrowed her eyes an almost imperceptible amount and tilted her head a fraction of a degree. “Is he, Headmistress?”

So Seerla felt it too—the sudden undertone of malice that now permeated the air. Thirtyx’s heart pounded. What did she want from him, and how exactly did she intend to get it? She couldn’t torture him, could she? When Grimmary found out—

Grimmary was a bit preoccupied with his own business right now, wasn’t he?

Azirenne drew herself up to her full height. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Miss Devinsmeade, but I will do what is necessary to find the prince and princess, and you will return to your room at once.”

“I don’t know where they are, I swear,” Thirtyx said. He felt guilty for the helpless way he looked at Seerla. What did he expect her to do—fight the headmistress? 

Azirenne stepped closer, and it took every ounce of Thirtyx’s willpower not to back away. She leaned down so her eyes were level with his. Purple sparks alighted in them.

“Devinsmeade, back to your room. Now!” Dexerro snapped.

“No! What are you doing to—”

The end of her sentence grew muffled and distant. His sight clouded. Could he feel Seerla’s grip on his arm anymore? Mental interference. A screening of his surface thoughts. He tried to use his panic to center himself. He knew how to fight this. He—

The headmistress withdrew from his mind, and he gasped in a breath of mingled relief and shock. 

“He’s hiding something. We need to find out what.” Azirenne grabbed Thirtyx’s arm roughly and dragged him toward the door.

“No! Let him go!” Seerla cried.

“Devinsmeade, if you do not return to your room now, I’ll have Professor Dexerro escort you, and you will be suspended.”

“Headmistress, this isn’t right! You can’t just—”

“One more word, and I will revoke your qualifications for your Competency exam.”

At Seerla’s silence, the briefest wave of relief broke through Thirtyx’s terror. There was nothing she could do. She could throw away her entire future in his defense, and it wouldn’t even slow Azirenne down.

After a pause to ensure Seerla’s compliance the headmistress resumed her dragging. Whatever was coming wouldn’t be pleasant.

And whatever it was, Thirtyx would have to face it alone.