Glancing at Lizzie, Dean Owens worked to keep the annoyance off her face, her jaw muscles working as she chewed on the side of her lip.
“They were people involved with the school.Witches.That’s all the connection we’ve been able to make so far.They were not in the same classes and didn’t interact outside of school, at least according to people in their lives.But…” The dean straightened, pulling on her jacket to shove it back in place.“...that is why the school board is requesting Professor Harkert’s assistance.He is quite skilled as an alchemist at deducing things from the residue left on a crime scene.We take care of the matters in-house, and do not need the mortals finding out about our world because of some awful turn of events.”
“Was it one of them?”Lizzie didn’t look away from the dean as she asked, her attention utterly focused on the pale-skinned woman who looked admittedly much more frazzled than she had when she first led us to our room.
“A human?I should think not.”There was a nearly imperceptible twist to the dean’s shoulders, her eyes tracking over to Harkert for scarcely a second.“There are…injuries on the body that look to be consistent with some sort of magic.Now, ladies, we need to get going.Time is of the essence, and—”
“Let us come.My sister has incredible powers of perception, and I am quite skilled with alchemy.I should like to act as the professor’s second set of hands.”
There was an extended pause, the professors exchanging looks with each other, then zeroing in on me and Lizzie again.I didn’t falter, and of course, neither did she.We stood our ground, waiting for the dean to get this show on the road and lead us to where we were needed.
I’d never really thought of myself as the type of person to get involved with something like this, but there was a spark that lit up inside me at the prospect of seeing such an incredible use of alchemy in action.I’d been so obsessed with the subject for so long.This was my opportunity to learn, and by virtue, this was my chance to do some good with what I was able to do, and as corny as it might have sounded, I did want to help people.
Sure, I mostly wanted to survive my own life without getting myself into some mortifying situation that would leave me curled up in a ball on my bed, but beyond that, being a force for good sounded incredible.
“You want to be in there?T—Ms.Montgomery, what you’re going to see will be brutal and nothing someone shouldeverhave to deal with.You won’t be able to go back to the place where youdidn’tknow what a dead body looked like.”
I knew what Harkert was saying, and it made sense.I’d never particularly wanted to see something like that, but this girl had been killed, and whoever or whatever had done it was still out there, based on what the professor and dean were saying.It could happen again.
It could happen to Lizzie.
No, if there were something that I could do to protect her, protect campus, I’d do it.
“I understand, Professor.But I would feel worse if I knew that I could have done something to prevent more deaths and didn’t.I couldn’t live with myself.I’ve been studying the signatures that magic leaves behind on a person for years in my spare time.I know a great deal about what can go hidden unless revealed by an alchemical solution.Please.As someone familiar with your work, allow me to assist you.”
Harkert’s eyes flared wide, and he stared down at me like he was finally putting two and two together.
Oh, yeah.I know you.You don’t put your picture in the books, so I didn’t before, but you’rethatCaleb Harkert.I got into alchemy because of your work.
“Wait,” Lizzie pulled my shoulder so I’d look at her, “he’s that book guy?The collection you’ve been growing for the past few years?”I just nodded.“Well, shit.Small world, huh?”
“You need to do exactly as I say.”Harkert’s voice made me look at him, and I held his eye contact, unwavering.“Understood?”
A single nod.“Yes.”
“And I suppose Ms.Chamberlain is just going totag along?”Dean Owens shot Lizzie a look.
“Where she goes, I go.Plus, you said it yourself.You’ll take all the help you can, and I can read the body.”
“What?”The dean’s annoyed expression dropped into concerned surprise.
“Yeah, not a common trait, I guess.But I can…When my mom passed away.I’d seen…what happened when I touched her.”
“You’re a morrighan.I haven’t seen…” Dean Owens shook her head, marveling at Lizzie, and my stomach tightened.I didn’t like how she stared at her, an awe too close to jealousy.“...not in years.Well, this changes things.You will come, but as Professor Harkert said, there is no preparing you for what you are about to see.It will be gruesome.I cannot protect you both from that.”
“We get it.”Lizzie nodded as she scooped herself to face me, gesturing toward the door.“Time’s a’wasting.”
The dean cleared her throat, straightening her jacket again, and proceeded to the exit.“Right this way.”
Nine-Take A Peek Behind The Curtain & See What Cannot Be Unseen
Lizzie
DeanOwensledusto a room at the far end of a long hallway on the top level of the main building on campus.Harkert and Temps were behind me, chatting about some alchemy shit while I kept an eye on the dean.She’d gotten even more on edge when I mentioned being able to read the dead.
And that was saying something.
Ever since she’d walked into the classroom, I’d picked up so much tension in her aura that it felt like a rubber band ready to snap.It made sense to a degree, of course.I mean, there had been a murder of one of her students following the death of a professor, too.But her energy had been so frantic.Hell, it still was.Owens was blasting alarm bells like a damned neon sign, and it was giving me a headache.
