Fire Trap : A Young Adult Fantasy (Arcturus Academy Book 2) by A.L. Knorr

Author:A.L. Knorr [Knorr, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intellectually Promiscuous Press
Published: 2020-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

Unprecedented

Gage was helping me remake my bed with dryer-warm linens when the sound of tires skidding on gravel had us flying to the window. Basil’s compact SUV—a Range Rover Epoque—came to a halt on the driveway.

“He’s early,” I murmured. It wasn’t yet noon.

Basil’s window lowered as Dr. Price emerged from the academy lobby and jogged to the vehicle. The headmaster peered out from behind the steering wheel.

“She looks truly freaked.” Gage stood at my back, arms wrapping around me. His breath wafted past my cheek.

I agreed. A brief but tense conversation ensued, then Dr. Price stepped back. Basil continued on through the archway and vanished from sight while Christy returned to the front entrance of the manor.

“Come on.” I patted the back of Gage’s hand. “Let’s get April.”

Funky music emanated from behind April as she answered the door. She’d taken her hair down and it hung in fat, stylish curls. Her brown eyes were outlined with new liner, black this time, and her lashes had been fattened with mascara. Her eyebrows were thinner and sleeker and the skin around them red and rash-y. The pink gloss had been replaced by a plum-colored matte lipstick.

“What’s the matter with your eyebrows?” Gage blurted. “You look like an Angry Bird.”

Her expression fell.

I put a little pressure on his foot.

“Sorry,” he added hastily.

Aside from the ravaged landscape of her upper eyelids, she looked quite glamorous.

“You look amazing,” I told her, wondering if she was trying on a new identity to go along with her new, lower body temperature.

She brightened and went to her closet where she rooted through her clothing. Retrieving a thick wool cardigan and scarf, she wormed her way into the sweater and then looped the scarf around her neck three times. “I got a little overzealous with the tweezers but I wanted to look good in case this is the day my life has changed forever. Brrr.” She gave a visible shiver and rubbed her arms as she snuggled her chin down into her scarf. “I never noticed before but this villa is freezing. Fat lot of good all the fireplaces do.”

Gage and I shared a look of dismay as April grabbed her room key and locked her bedroom door.

“Did you talk to your parents?” I asked as we headed down the corridor to Basil’s office.

“I tried but they didn’t answer. It’s still early. They sometimes turn their ringer off overnight. I’ll try again later.”

As we emerged on the landing, I glanced back and noticed a couple of first-years following us. By the time we arrived at Basil’s office, we had six students whose presence near us could not be a coincidence.

“Oh, is there a lineup?” April asked as we stopped in the small waiting area.

Tomio shifted in his seat and Cecily lowered the book she’d been hiding behind. She had the decency to blush.

“No.” Tomio cleared his throat. “We just wanted to be here for you, April.”

“As support,” Lora said from her perch on the stairs. Lexi nodded her agreement from the step below Lora, eyeballing April like she expected her to sprout fangs.

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