The Breaker (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #2)(72)

The students nodded, though there was fear among the hope.

“Learn as much as you can about attack and defense. Knowledge is power. Ask for help from the teachers you think you can trust,” Alex said, knowing he didn’t need to spell out their names. The only ones Alex was certain of being trustworthy were Lintz and Gaze. The other two, he couldn’t be sure whose side they’d be on, when the time came. “Go! Prepare yourselves!” he commanded.

The mob split apart at Alex’s final instruction. Alex watched as his fellow students retreated, hopeful that they might have a chance. They had the numbers, and, if everyone studied hard, maybe they would have enough power to overcome the Head.

“The shield is breaking,” called Jari, his voice panicked. “I don’t know how much longer it can hold!”

Alex turned and walked cautiously over to Aamir. The barrier sputtered, and thin slits had appeared in the anti-magical fabric of the cell, tearing the energy apart piece by piece. Alex poured an extra layer of glittering power into the barrier, repairing some of the shield’s gaps, but he knew it wasn’t a permanent solution.

Suddenly, an idea came to him. He couldn’t believe he was even contemplating it, but it seemed to be the only way, with what little time they had at their disposal. What he was about to suggest saddened him deeply, twisting at his heart, but he was convinced that in this moment, it was the only solution.

“I know a place,” he said miserably, not daring to look his friends in the eye, “where Aamir will be safe.”





Chapter 27





Alex led the way. Behind him followed Natalie and Jari with Aamir between them, his hands tied with the coiled ropes, glittering with black and silver from the anti-magic Alex had fed through the interwoven threads. Around his mouth glowed a golden gag Natalie had conjured to keep him silent; Alex’s anti-magic would only have burned.

The hallways were empty, the students using the rest of their evening to do as Alex had instructed: ransacking the library, dueling in empty chambers, building weapons in the mechanics lab, and strengthening their skills. Some had even taken to the grounds, as far from corridors and prying eyes as possible.

“Alex?” said Jari as they helped Aamir along.

Alex turned over his shoulder. “What is it?”

“About back there,” Jari muttered sheepishly, “with the others.”

“What about it?” Alex shrugged, feigning ignorance.

“I feel like I need to apologize,” he explained, shifting Aamir’s weight slightly. There was discomfort in the boy’s voice.

Natalie nodded. “Me too.”

“It’s fine,” said Alex quickly.

“No, we left you out, and I’m sorry—I want to explain.” Jari seemed sad, imploring Alex to listen. “I wasn’t myself, with him gone,” he murmured, nodding at Aamir. “I needed to fix this, and I didn’t think you could help. I thought you were weak. I didn’t know you were capable of what you are clearly capable of. I left you out without thinking, and I didn’t bother to ask if you were up to it or even how you were doing. I was consumed by this. I was self-centered, and it was wrong. When you came into the cellar that day and caught us, you made me feel guilty about what we were doing in secret, and I got defensive. I reacted badly, and I should never have done that—I’m sorry. We should never have left you out of it or let it get as bad as it did.”

Alex glanced at Jari, trying to gauge the blond-haired boy’s sincerity. There was a deep look of regret creasing his brow, and his eyes glistened as he returned Alex’s gaze.

“I thought your powers needed protecting, when what they really needed was nurturing and for us to understand your strength,” chipped in Natalie with a remorseful expression. “Now that we’ve seen them, we know how stupid we have been. I never stopped to ask, and neither did Jari, and we’re sorry for that.”

“I didn’t exactly help matters. I know I kept the havens from you,” said Alex, shoving his hands into his pockets as awkwardness stilted his speech. “I know you must have thought you couldn’t trust me. I’m sorry for that,” he added, sighing heavily as he felt a prickle of guilt in his heart.

“We trust you,” murmured Natalie.

“Of course we trust you—you’re our friend. I behaved badly. I overreacted and let other things cloud my judgment… I’m sorry.” Jari nodded, mirroring Alex’s awkwardness.

“I appreciate it,” said Alex quietly, feeling the ties of their fractured relationship coming together again. “Anything else I should know about? The student uprising, perhaps?” he added, with the beginnings of an irreverent smile playing upon his lips.

“The Uprising was just an extension of the training you saw. We aren’t keeping anything else from you, we promise,” Jari replied swiftly, looking to Alex with encouragement. There was something earnest in his friend’s behavior that Alex sensed was genuine—a very real sorrow for what had passed between them all.

Alex wanted to believe them, wanted to know their apologies were sincere, and he hoped time would reveal them to be honest. It felt a touch hypocritical, knowing his own secrets bubbled just beneath the surface, but there would be time for his apologies and his truths later. He would come clean. Silently, he promised himself he would, soon.