Free Darke Academy 4: Lost Spirits by Gabriella Poole

rescued her in the nick of time from an advancing trio of curious but disappointed classmates. They sat down on the bench she and Richard had vacated, muttering darkly.
    ‘You’re a gent, Richard. A gent with great timing.’ She slipped on her mask and lifted her weapon.
    ‘I may be a gentleman, but I’m still going to thrash you fifteen–nil,’ he told her equably.
    ‘In your dreams, Halton-Jones.’
    ‘Ha! I bet you haven’t practised all summer.’
    ‘Yeah, well they’re not big on fencing at Cranlake Crescent. It’s more of a concealed knife thing,’ she said with a wry laugh. ‘But we do know how to deal with public schoolboys.’ She drew her mask down, and thought yet again, Thank God for Richard.
    Not that she’d go any easier on him. She took up her position and saluted, glad for the distraction.
    ‘ En garde , posh boy!’
     
    Evening fell so swiftly here on the Equator. Cassie leaned on the windowsill in their quarters and gazed out at the indigo night, listening to the high chirruping chorus of tree frogs and cicadas, louder even than the ocean. She could make out a few students in the grounds below; talking, laughing, drinking; some of them stealing a kiss or three. She didn’t feel like joining them down there, even when she saw a small knot of her favourite Few members clustered at a table with some sneaky cocktails in the light of an elaborately carved lantern.
    Ayeesha and Cormac had been true to their word at lunchtime in the dining room, sitting at a table that accommodated only five, and glaring away anyone who dared come near Isabella. Cassie was beyond grateful, but she didn’t want to socialise tonight, even with them.
    There were many Few she liked, but for the most part their friendship suddenly didn’t seem to matter as much any more. Who knew if they’d even remain friends if she managed to accomplish her wish to get rid of Estelle? Cassie sighed. She was going to miss Isabella desperately.
    But she couldn’t deny it: now that the decision had been taken, her roommate seemed more at ease, far calmer. She was sitting at her desk, writing cards with a fancy calligraphy pen – must be to elderly relatives in Argentina or something, breaking the news that she was leaving her prestigious school. Feeling Cassie’s gaze on her, Isabella glanced up and smiled.
    ‘This is the worst part,’ she said, nodding at a card that was still resolutely blank inside. ‘Tato and Tata. They’ll be so disappointed. Tata’s brother was a graduate of the Academy himself.’ She sighed. ‘But she’ll understand, I think. At least the hard part’s over.’
    ‘You mean, telling Sir Alric? I thought you said he didn’t take it so badly?’
    ‘No. He was not nearly as scary as I expected. It was thinking about it that was the worst part; but he was really very understanding, Cassie. I suppose he knew he was never going to convince me otherwise.’
    ‘Hm. I’m sure you’re right.’ Given her own longing for Isabella to stay, even with all that had happened, Cassie had imagined Sir Alric would be more determined to try and cajole a last-minute change of heart. He wouldn’t be keen for a student to leave the Academy, especially under circumstances that could expose some of its darker underbelly … But in a way, Cassie thought his calm response was for the best. The decision had come too hard to Isabella and her friends for the headmaster to start giving her a hard time.
    An abrupt knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Cassie jumped.
    ‘Can you get that? I’m struggling with this card …’ Isabella chewed her pen and shoved her fingers through her hair.
    Cassie yanked the door open, and frowned as she saw who stood there.
    Speak of the devil .
    ‘Good evening, Cassie.’ Sir Alric’s face gave nothing away; he was as coolly charming as he always was on official business.
    She bit back a ‘ What do you want? ’ After all, if she was right about his intentions, then she wanted