The Chain (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #3)(37)

“They are no ordinary teenagers, sister,” replied the Head quickly.

Just then, the sound of feet pounding the flagstones sent a surge of panic through the crouched figure of Alex. His head snapped in the direction of the sound, and he waited for a figure to emerge from the shadows, but whoever they were, they didn’t come up the corridor. Instead, Alex caught sight of the back of their head as they disappeared down another intersection, where they were swallowed up by the shadows.

Heart hammering, Alex turned back to the keyhole to see what the Head had to say about him and his friends.

“That’s ludicrous!” he heard Alypia cry, though he had missed the subject of her disbelief.

“I assure you, it is not—they are all very talented. Some of the finest students I have seen,” remarked the Head. “They have Aamir with them too.”

Alex froze.

“Who?” Alypia’s eyes narrowed in curiosity.

“Professor Nagi.”

Turning to see the Headmistress’s reaction, Alex watched as her eyes began to glitter with something like surprise. Her mouth moved as she uttered something softly in the Head’s direction, but Alex couldn’t make it out. Hurriedly, he pressed his ear to the keyhole, but he was too late to hear what she had said. Still, her curious expression held some wonder in it that refreshed Alex’s suspicions about his former friend. Had there been familiarity in her eyes, or had he imagined it?

“I’m afraid I have neither seen nor heard anything of these students. On that count, I can’t help you—though I will be certain to return them, should they show up.” Alypia smiled with a cold beauty. “Let’s hope they haven’t snuck back through to Spellshadow and taken over the place while you have been wasting time with me.”

Alex cursed silently, realizing that might have been a good idea. Glancing back at the hallway, he wondered if there was any way that might still be possible, only to be called back to the keyhole by two words that made his blood run cold. His name.

“I don’t think you understand the urgency, sister,” insisted the Head. “We need to find Alex Webber.”

“He can’t be that talented. You should adjust your focus toward new students—these ones will find their way back once they’re sick of running. Hunger is very persuasive, you know.” She grinned icily.

Her brother shook his head. “You don’t understand… Alex is not like the others. There is something special about him—something which might bring an end to all of our troubles, sister.”

Alypia lifted her chin haughtily. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t realize at first, but there is something different about him. I think we can use it—if we could just find him, I’m sure we could,” he stated firmly.

Alex wasn’t sure whether Alypia was irked or intrigued, as a confusion of thought passed across her stunningly beautiful face. She seemed to want to make another comment about her brother’s ineptitude, as the same cold, derisive look flashed for a moment in her eyes, but she held her tongue, clearly thinking better of it. There was more to it than the Head was letting on, and Alex could tell Alypia knew that. For some reason, the Head was only drip-feeding her information. Alex guessed it might be so the Head could have some credit for once: if he could do something tremendous, Alypia wouldn’t be able to scorn him anymore.

As much as Alex found it hard to wrap his head around the idea that the two were siblings, they certainly acted like siblings. The power plays, the dirty looks, the taunting, the jeering—it reeked of familial ties.

Watching intently, he could see Alypia’s mind working quickly as she assessed what her brother was telling her and what he was keeping from her. At no point did Alex hear the word ‘Spellbreaker,’ but that didn’t mean the Headmistress hadn’t guessed. There was a curiosity in her eyes at the mention of this new, special boy, but Alex clung to the reference of him ending all their troubles. It wasn’t the first time he had heard himself pointed out as ‘different’ from the others, but he still wasn’t sure why, specifically, they needed him and his alternative powers. The only thing he knew for certain was that it couldn’t be for anything good. Nothing between Spellbreakers and mages ever was, based on the history books he had read.

“As I said, I will return them if I find them. Rest assured, I will keep an eye out, though with this much time gone by, I imagine they will be deep in a forest somewhere, scavenging. They will come out when they are hungry enough and tired enough—rats always do,” Alypia purred with a glinting smile.

“You’re certain they’re not here?” asked the Head, gesturing around at the general expanse of Stillwater House.

Alypia’s eyes narrowed. “Nobody could have gotten within the walls of this school without me knowing.”

Alex felt uneasy as he heard the words fall from Alypia’s lips. If that was the case, then how had they managed it? He didn’t have much time to dwell on it as he saw Alypia rise from her seat.

“You’re sure?” pressed the Head.

“You may go, little brother,” she whispered, a threat lingering beneath the command. “Don’t worry, I will send the promised guards to help you. Let us both hope you can keep things in better order once they have dealt with your mess.”

She stalked toward the door, casting a shadow over the keyhole.