Fairy Bad Day(46)

“I helped you get some books; it wasn’t like I fought the darkhel or anything,” he said, his voice almost sounding gruff as a flash of annoyance went racing across his face. There it was again. Emma frowned, but before she could figure out why his mood had suddenly changed, the look had gone and he shot her a rueful smile. “Besides, Jones. I told you it makes me nervous when you act too nice.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she promised as a reluctant smile hovered around her mouth, but before Emma could say anything else, Professor Meyers clapped again for everyone’s attention.

“Okay, that’s it for the week. Don’t forget homework due on Monday. Oh, and try not to celebrate too much this weekend during Induction. Especially on Sunday afternoon at that student party that we don’t know anything about.” Professor Meyers winked, and most of the class started to laugh. However, Emma ignored them as she realized the simulation teacher was gathering up her bag and getting ready to leave. She put her hand into her pocket and let her fingers curl around the pendant before she hurried over to the teacher.

“Emma, that was another great test. Not only was your hand/eye coordination up but your strength has increased by thirty percent. Have you changed your gym workout?”

Emma shook her head. Between exploding food courts and invisible fairies, she hadn’t set foot in the gym for over a week.

“Hmm.” Professor Meyers chewed the tip of her pen for a moment. “Well, maybe it’s the change in routine?”

“I guess.” Emma shrugged as she carefully pulled the pendant out of her pocket. “Actually, I wanted to ask you about something else.”

“Of course. My virtual door is always open.” The teacher grinned. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you’ve ever seen anything like this? My mom gave it to me and I was curious to find out if it had some sort of power?”

Professor Meyers instantly pulled her glasses onto her nose and studied the pendant for several moments before shaking her dark hair. “Sorry. The crystal itself looks fairly regular but I don’t recognize the engravings around the edge. Why don’t you try Professor Yemin, since he specializes in enchanted objects?”

“I actually did try him but he wasn’t in his office and apparently no one has seen him today.” Emma sighed; Professor Meyers was the third teacher to suggest him.

“Really?” Professor Meyers wrinkled her nose. “That’s strange. Bob . . . I mean Professor Yemin never misses our Friday-afternoon staff meetings. He really likes the Oreos.”

Emma smiled politely. “Well, thanks anyway,” she said as she put the crystal back into her pocket and hid her disappointment. She hurried to get changed.

A few hours and another detention session later, Emma found herself at the library, where Loni and Tyler were waiting for her. They’d told Curtis about their meeting as well, but he had to go to some special training session with the one of the gym instructors.

“So?” Loni demanded as they hurried across the quad. It was only five thirty in the afternoon but it was almost dark. “Did you find out anything about the pendant?”

“No.” Emma let out a frustrated sigh. “And Professor Yemin, who is apparently the only one who might know what it is, hasn’t been in today. This is just driving me crazy. I know this pendant links my mom to the darkhel but I don’t know how. And if I don’t find out soon I think my head is going to explode.”

“Well, that would be a shame,” a voice suddenly said. Emma turned around as Curtis swung his way toward them with a grin on his face. How he had managed to sneak up on them, she had no idea. Though suddenly she imagined just how lethal he could be tracking dragons when he wasn’t encumbered by his crutches.

“Hey,” she said, some of her frustration instantly leaving her. “This is a nice surprise. I thought you had a gym session this afternoon.”

“I did.” He nodded before he frowned. “But on the way back I bumped into your dad down by the bottom parking lot.”

“My dad’s here at Burtonwood?” Now Emma was most definitely distracted; although her dad used to do some of the computer work for the Academy a long time ago, he wasn’t a frequent visitor anymore. In fact, before his trip to give her the pendant and the news of Olivia’s pregnancy, Emma couldn’t remember the last time he had visited. Especially not late on a Friday afternoon. “Are you sure it’s him?”

“I only met him last night,” Curtis reminded her as he turned and nodded for her to follow him. “Anyway, you’d better hurry because he said it was urgent.”

Emma felt the blood drain from her face as she turned and started to sprint toward the parking lot. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good news.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN





Emma hurried over to where her father was waiting by his late-model Volvo. The parking lot was next to the second practice field. People weren’t allowed to come and go as they pleased at Burtonwood, but induction weekend was an exception, and the visitors’ parking lot was already half filled with parents who had arrived for tonight’s dinner. Down on the practice field itself she noticed several groups of students scattered around giving combat demonstrations to interested parents under the glow of the large spotlights that dotted the area.