Sacrifices by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

Author:Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, fantasy, Young Adult, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
Publisher: Tor
Published: 2013-04-02T07:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

“Now we can talk without being disturbed,” Ms. Groves said, closing the door behind them.

Ms. Groves’s room—rooms—were up on the third floor. Unlike Spirit’s bedroom, it was divided into two separate rooms, a bedroom and a sitting room, with a door between. The furniture was the same style as in Spirit’s sitting room, but there were more and different pieces—Ms. Groves’s sitting room was filled with bookcases and books, and there were pictures on the walls. Photos, mostly: some of kids in Oakhurst uniforms, some of Ms. Groves herself in what looked like exotic foreign places.

“Tea, Miss White?” Ms. Groves asked matter-of-factly. “I find it loosens the tongue.” Without waiting for a reply, she walked into the other room, returning with an electric kettle. A few moments more, and she was setting a cup on the table beside Spirit.

“Perhaps you’re still upset by your experience in Radial yesterday,” Ms. Groves said, though not as if she actually believed it.

For a moment Spirit froze. Ms. Groves—acerbic, demanding Ms. Groves, her History of Magic teacher—wanted to know why Spirit was upset. Wanted her to explain—just the way Ms. Smith always did, going on at everyone in Math Class to “share” their fears and nightmares until half the class ended up in tears—or vanishing.

She shouldn’t. It was insane to think even for an instant of trusting Ms. Groves. She’d been a teacher here at Oakhurst for years—and she was still here, when nearly all the other teachers had vanished, replaced by Shadow Knights.

But the need to confide in her—the sense it was something right to do—was almost overwhelming. It should have terrified her (no one knew what School Ms. Groves belonged to, only that she was a Mage), but it didn’t. The feeling was more like the rush of power she’d felt at the library. It was strong, compelling—but it felt right.

“It’s not that,” Spirit said. “Well, it is. But it’s more—everything!”

The words came tumbling out of her as if she was confiding in someone she trusted … as much as she’d trusted Mom. Or Dad. She found herself telling Ms. Groves that Addie was leaving, Muirin was making unwise (dangerous) choices, Loch was giving up, Burke was trusting the wrong people. It’s odd, she thought while she was talking. Ms. Groves has always been snarky and strict and gave us extra homework if we even blinked in class, and Ms. Smith is always telling us we can talk to her and saying it’s all right to be scared and everything, but I’d rather talk to Ms. Groves.…

“—and they know about the—about the bad people who are here, and people keep dying—or vanishing—and—”

Ms. Groves set her teacup down and drew a quick shape in the air. Spirit felt a sensation like her ears popping from overpressure and broke off, blinking at Ms. Groves in surprise.

“… and you’re afraid that when the Day of Reckoning comes—as it will—you won’t be able to cope with it all by yourself, aren’t you?” Ms. Groves said calmly.

Now Spirit found herself gaping in astonishment, too stunned to be scared.

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