Chapter 45

STEFANO.

I frown at Priestess Lilith, my pulse starting to quicken. "What do you mean primary suspect?"

"It's exactly what it is," she says, pouring herself a glass of brandy while smiling. "That girl Valeria Marcus is the only common denominator in all the cases. Your principal might continue to deny it, but the Black Coats are definitely going down that road."

No. That can't be... I know Valeria didn't do anything bad. She's not the one who should be convicted for everything.

I slide off the stool. "Thank you for your help, Priestess."

Her pale eyes gleam. "Anytime, Stefano. I will contact you as soon as I find a clue about the old Luna."

The only thing I can do is nod. Everything is hazy in my head now. Surely they're not thinking about arresting Valeria, right? If Professor Blossom is still putting up a fight to protect her, surely he knows that she's innocent. Maybe I can tell him what I know and work with him to get Valeria off the hook.

With that in mind, I get back into the carriage. The castle is not far now, but I just want it to go faster. I cast a mild speed spell on the horses pulling the carriage, and before I know it, I'm already back in the borders of the school.

I get out before the driver can say anything, running past the guards who all let me in. I run up the stairs, taking three steps at a time, until I reach the office of Professor Blossom.

The painting knows me well now, and all it does is swing open to let me in. I run inside without thinking, and there I find Professor Blossom taking a book from his shelf, wearing pajamas. He puts on his glasses and peers at me. "Mr. Stefano Thayer. I didn't expect you to be here so soon."

"I thought you needed my assistance, Professor," I say, swallowing hard. "I, uh... heard some stuff regarding the investigation. I have some information that you might be interested in."

Well, fuck. I didn't mean to go at it this directly, but what else can I do? What else can I say? I want this to be over with.

And that seems to pique his interest because he sits down behind his desk and motions me to take a seat. "What is it that you heard? And what is it that you wish to tell me?"

I take a deep breath. This may very well ruin me in his eyes, but Valeria has to come first. "I heard that the Black Coats are insisting that Valeria Marcus is the main suspect of the murders." I grip the armrests to keep my hands busy. "I don't believe this. I know her personally, and we have been very close. I can assure you that she's not a murderer--"

"I know quite well," he interjects wearily, rubbing his eyes. "But if the Black Coats don't expand their thinking, she will definitely be arrested. I have told them to keep looking, but it seems that they have met a dead end and there's no one else to look into--"

“Jake Damiani,” I say in a rush. “That’s who you should look into.”

Professor Blossom stares at me. “Pardon?”

“Jake,” I repeat, my forehead now getting covered in sweat. “He needs to be looked into.”

“And what is your basis for that accusation?” he thunders. “Do you know that Mr. Damiani is completely incapable of recognizing people at this point? Do you know how much grief his family is in already?”

“Sir, I didn’t mean to imply that he did it willingly,” I say in a placating tone. “What I meant to say was that this is all more elaborate that we thought and perhaps Jake is in the middle of it, not Valeria.”

He nearly melts in his seat. I can basically see him aging in real time. “I cannot believe this. What proof do you think you have?”

I open my mouth to tell him about the tunnels and everything, but then the door opens and in comes Eden. She stops in front of the door just as I turn around, then she lets out a frightened squeal and scampers away.

Professor Blossom seems to be utterly surprised that she’s there, but he gets to his feet and tries to go after her anyway. My first panicked thought is that she heard everything I said, but it just seems that she wanted to talk to the professor about something.

Perhaps about Jake.

Suddenly, guilt floods my chest. I know Jake and he’s my friend. What am I doing trying to put the blame on him?

“I need to go, Professor,” I mutter, and without waiting for his answer, I exit the office and head to the student government office.

* * *

The next day, I help the teachers do a headcount of every student who comes in using my data of the student body. And I find that, in every class, there are about three to five people who do not return.

Something about that is horribly depressing, but what bothers me the most is that the day has already passed, and I still haven’t seen Celeste, Auric, and Valeria come back.

I stand by the gates of the school, checking the list over and over even though I know that I would never miss the three of them. I keep my eyes peeled for every carriage that arrives, and yet I see no sign of them.

Mr. Gallagher must have noticed my anxiety, because he says, “Why don’t you go have a break, Mr. Thayer? You’ve been out here all day and you look like you need some rest.”

I don’t want to go, but I know that he’s right. When the three come back, I would see them anyway, so I head back to the student government headquarters to rest and maybe eat a bit.

However, there’s someone waiting for me outside the door.

It’s Eden.

“Hi,” she squeaks the moment she sees me. When I don’t say anything, she lowers her head and says, “I’m sorry about barging in yesterday. I didn’t know you were speaking to the professor...”

“No worries,” I interject, opening the door and motioning her to go inside and have a seat. I expect her to say she wants to leave because she already said her piece, but then she just makes herself comfortable. “Well, is that all you have to say?”

Eden shakes her head. “I also heard what you said. About Jake.”

My body goes cold. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply anything bad.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she says, her voice dipping lower as her eyes grow out of focus. “I don’t blame you for thinking it’s him. It’s all so weird, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I agree with her with a concerned frown. “Are you alright?”

She just marches on. “Things are changing so fast. So many things are happening. That’s why I had to see the professor.”

“Right.” I get up and watch her warily. “Is that why you’re here earlier than everyone else too?”

Eden is clearly zoning out now, but she still looks at me. “I never left. Staying here is the only way I can see Jake.”

Chills run down my spine. I shoot to my feet in fright. It’s almost like she’s possessed or going insane. I open my mouth to ask her what the hell she means, but then someone barges into the office.

It’s my secretary, Gregory, and his face is as white as paper. “Stefano,” he says, his eyes wide. “Someone has been arrested for the murder of Miss Sullivan.”