Free Secret Lives by Gabriella Poole Page B

tightened her fingers on Alice’s wrist and tugged her on. ‘That’s because you had too much to drink. Believe me, you had a great time.’
    ‘I did?’
    ‘Of course. Do come on, it’s a privilege. Late-night drinks in the Few’s common room? There are girls in this school who’d kill for the chance you’re getting.’
    ‘Yeah? So why me?’
    ‘You’re lucky to have me as a roommate, that’s all.’ Keiko gave her a smile that Cassie didn’t like one bit, even at a distance. But Alice seemed reassured.
    ‘Well, don’t let me drink too much this time, all right?’
    ‘OK, I’ll try not to, either.’ Keiko’s tone became more insistent. ‘What do you remember, anyway? From last time.’
    ‘Just being there. Lots of talking. Having a drink. Not much after that.’ Alice shrugged and almost giggled. ‘I didn’t realise I’d drunk so much.’
    ‘I’ll look after you.’ Squeezing her arm, Keiko smiled. ‘Don’t worry about that.’
    Letting her roommate go, Keiko turned to carry on as if she didn’t care whether Alice came with her or not. Alice hesitated only for a moment, then scuttled after her.
    Following them, Cassie stayed well back. There was no way she wanted Keiko to spot her, and she knew where they were going. Keiko padded purposefully to the west-wing staircase, then led Alice up to the third floor and into the corridor where the blank-eyed busts stood guard like watchful ghosts.
    Cassie edged towards the archway, risking a glance round the corner. At the end of the corridor, the shadows deepened, but a line of greenish light showed at the bottom of the door. Keiko didn’t knock. She turned the handle and drew Alice after her into the common room.
    Cassie exhaled with relief. What now? She couldn’t just stand there till they came back out. On the other hand, if she crept back to bed she wouldn’t sleep anyway. This was her only chance to investigate, and she was damned if she was passing it up. Go on, Cassie . Clenching her fists, she made herself put one foot in front of the other. And again. Come on . She could hear the muted clink of crystal now, and soft murmuring voices. It hardly sounded like a wild midnight party, but the door was thick, the sounds muffled. She had to get closer.
    A flash at the corner of her eye almost made her cry out. In the darkness of those deeper recesses by the door, something had moved.
    Cassie froze. As her eyes adjusted, she could make it out. A figure, a human figure.
    Jake Johnson. Of course.
    The light had glanced off his watch and, as she made herself creep towards him, she saw his fingers clasped over his wrist to hide it. He’d realised.
    Raising her eyes, she met his. He was expressionless, but the tiny jerk of his head was clear enough. Bugger off and go back to bed …
    Then something distracted him, and he retreated into the alcove.
    Footsteps. She heard them too. And there was no way out of here.
    The footfalls were on the landing now. She couldn’t slip out of the corridor without being seen. She could run to Jake, slip in and hide with him. But then Cassie thought about his eerily purposeful nocturnal prowling. Did she want to be with him in the silent dark, afraid of discovery, completely at his mercy?
    No, she decided. Digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands, taking a deep scared breath, Cassie spun on her heel.
    At the entrance to the corridor, a man came to an abrupt halt. She’d only ever seen his portrait – and that didn’t do him justice, she decided. His steel-grey eyes were fixed on her, the only light in a face of stone. He couldn’t really have been seven feet tall, but that was the impression he gave. Hairs prickled on her neck as if responding to an electric field of power.
    Sir Alric Darke smiled. ‘Cassie Bell.’
    She smiled back, the brightest and dumbest smile she could manage. ‘That’s right. Hi.’ She flapped the fingers of one hand in a feeble greeting.
    ‘You seem to be lost, and it’s very