Halfway there I realized it was a stupid plan and a little on the desperate side, but it was too late to turn back. Besides, the substitute teacher we’d been stuck with for history since our old teacher Mr. Marrow had turned out to be a power-hungry murderer, wasn’t much concerned with tardiness. Mrs. Rosencrantz was a hamadryad and well past ancient. With her treelike patience, she spent most of the class dozing while we were supposed to read from the text.

I marched through the door into the administration main office intent on asking the secretary about Eli, but when I arrived, the reception desk sat deserted. The only sign of life came from the large plant in the corner behind the desk. I had no idea what it was—biology was a junior-level class at Arkwell—but it was definitely of the magical variety. Its leaves kept rustling in random spurts, and the multiple yellow flowers perched on the tops of its stems had turned toward me when I entered the room, their dark centers like large eyes watching me. Thank goodness it didn’t have vines; otherwise I would be worried it might reach out and grab me. No plant should show so much interest in a person.

I ignored the creepy feeling crawling over my spine and peered down the hallway behind the desk that led to the principal’s office as well as to a couple of conference rooms. I thought I heard the sound of voices down there. Deciding that a quick peek wouldn’t be too big a risk, I slipped past the desk and tiptoed down the hallway.

A familiar, gruff voice froze me in my tracks as I reached the door to the first conference room on the right. I stopped just outside it and listened as Sheriff Brackenberry said, “So you claim that Britney left your little”—there was the sound of paper ruffling—“Terra Tribe, the Society for the Betterment of Nature, meeting at nine P.M., and that you two were the last ones there.”

Brackenberry stopped speaking. I strained my ears to hear the person answer, but it must’ve been a nod or a head shake for the sheriff continued, “And you don’t know where she went and you never saw her after that.” Another pause. “And you went straight back to your dorm.” A third pause.

Brackenberry let out a doubtful sigh. “Well then, as it stands now you were the last person to see her before she was attacked. I’m not saying that you were involved, but if you remember something, I would encourage you to report it at once. You can find me at this number.”

There was another sound of sliding paper.

“You’re free to go.”

Gulping in panic, I turned, dashed down the hallway and back around to the reception desk. I leaned my arms on top of the desk and lowered my gaze, trying to appear nonchalant. My heart pounded so hard in my chest I was certain everyone in a two-mile radius could hear it. The plant rustled its leaves, letting me know it had seen me. I hoped it couldn’t talk as well.

I didn’t look up at the sound of approaching footsteps until the person was almost next to me. When I did I saw it was Oliver Cork. I smiled at him, trying to appear friendly but worried I looked mostly guilty. Why were the police interrogating him? Did that mean they hadn’t fingered Eli for the attack? And what the hell was the Terra Tribe?

When I spotted Sheriff Brackenberry scowling at me from behind Oliver, the questions stopped midstream and the smile vanished from my face.

“What are you doing here?” Brackenberry said, hands on his belt.

“I … um…” I glanced over my shoulder, stalling until Oliver had left. I turned back to the sheriff. “I just wanted to know if Eli was still here.”

Brackenberry frowned, not buying it.

I willed the guilt out of my expression. Coming to find out about Eli was the reason I came. The eavesdropping about Britney was just an unintentional bonus.

“Eli’s not here anymore.”

“Oh.” I began to twist my fingers through the strands of my hair hanging down over my shoulder. “Did he go back to class?”

The sheriff shook his head. “They’ve taken him over to Lyonshold for the rest of the day. The Magi Senate is very interested in learning how an ordinary suddenly started casting spells.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of this news. On the one hand, it meant they hadn’t yet found Eli guilty of anything to do with Britney. On the other, a trip to the magickind capital city to be interrogated by the Magi Senate spelled big trouble.

“Oh, okay.” I took a step back from the desk, preparing to leave.

“Not so fast,” said Brackenberry. “We planned on waiting until this afternoon, but since you’re here.” He waved at me to follow as he headed back down the hallway and reentered the conference room.

I walked in behind him, each footstep heavier than the last. Brackenberry motioned for me to sit while he pulled a cell phone off the clip on his belt and slid his finger over the touch screen, opening it. The cell must’ve been brand-new because it didn’t give him any trouble as he dialed.

I glanced around the room, taking in the long, glass-topped table and the dozen matching high-backed chairs upholstered in a bright pattern of blue and yellow roses intermixed with sprites—tiny winged creatures with humanoid bodies and chameleon-like skin. A folder sat opened on top of the desk, and I wondered if it was the case file on Britney. I leaned in for a better look, but Brackenberry flipped it closed.

A moment later he said into the receiver, “It’s me. Destiny Everhart is in the administration office right now … she was asking about Eli … yes, I know. Are you on campus yet? I figure it would be better if she heard the news from us. I’m sure some of the senators’ kids already know.” He nodded his head a couple of times. “Uh-huh. Right. See you in a minute.”