But I didn’t say it, ashamed for even thinking it. I wanted the opposite for him—wanted him to be strong and capable. Why did magic have to be so complicated?
“All right,” I said. “But I wouldn’t even be in danger of being late if we weren’t wasting time arguing.”
He shooed at me. “Go on, my little red-haired Nancy Drew. Hurry up. Be careful.”
I grinned at him, and then turned and raced away, almost sprinting. I didn’t know how long Paul would wait for me.
Long enough, it seemed. He spotted me the moment I turned the corner into the hallway housing his locker. His eyes fixed on mine, his expression odd. He looked pleased to see me, but he was clearly trying to hide it. I slowed down, wanting to evaluate the situation.
Paul pulled his gaze off me, returning his attention to his locker. He started rummaging inside it. I approached him cautiously, my “Eli-instinct,” as I’d come to think of it, making me hyperaware of my surroundings. The hallway was crowded with other students, talking and switching out books. Nobody seemed to be paying any attention to me or the handsome boy with the shaved blond head.
Down at the end of the hallway, I spotted the red and black uniform of a Will Guard. I’d seen the big, gruff-looking dude before, but I had no idea of his name. I was just glad he wasn’t Captain Gargrave.
I stopped beside Paul’s locker and leaned against the one adjacent to it. “You wanted to see me?” I said, speaking low.
Paul nodded, not looking up. “Yes, but we can’t talk here.”
I frowned. “Why not?”
Paul turned his gaze to me for a second, and I saw how tense he was, like a bowstring pulled taut. “It’s not safe.”
I huffed and folded my arms, more afraid than I cared to admit but also annoyed by his clandestine behavior. I just wanted to know what was going on. Screw this runaround crap. “Don’t be so paranoid. It’s the middle of the day. We’re surrounded by people our age.”
“I’m serious.” Paul’s voice sounded close to a plea. “We have to be careful. Can you meet me after school in Coleville?”
My body temperature seemed to plummet ten degrees and gooseflesh erupted down my arms. I was starting to rethink convincing Eli to stay behind.
“You don’t have to come alone,” Paul said, the urgency in his voice giving way to something melancholy. “Bring Selene … or Eli, if you want. Whoever will make you feel safe being near me.”
I swallowed, guilt swelling in my chest for no good reason I could think of. Just the opposite. I had reason not to trust him. But why did I suddenly feel bad about it?
A smile twisted Paul’s lips. “Actually, bring them both. I’ve got a case for the Dream Team.”
“What?”
“Shhhhh.” Paul brushed a finger over his lip. “No details here. But everything later. I promise.”
I exhaled, both exhilarated and terrified at the same time. “Okay. We’ll come. But where?”
“My family crypt. Do you know it?”
I nodded. Of course I did. It was one of the largest structures in Coleville, and Rosemary Vanholt had been murdered less than twenty feet from its entrance. The connection there had never occurred to me before, but now that it did all the guilt I felt for not trusting Paul vanished in a second.
He must’ve sensed the change in my attitude, for he stiffened. “All right. Meet me there at seven tonight.” He swung his locker closed, gave me a final tentative smile, and then stalked away.
I watched him go, my feelings a big, jumbled mess inside me. I didn’t know it was possible for one person to feel so many contrary emotions at once. I decided it was a good thing he wanted the whole Dream Team to come tonight. Eli was right—being alone with Paul was dangerous.
For my sanity.
21
The Ghost and Rumpelstiltskin
My sanity remained a point of concern all through my next two classes and halfway through lunch. My forthcoming talk with Mr. Deverell filled me with the kind of dread usually reserved for public speaking and other forms of torture. The only distraction I had was telling Selene and Eli about our seven o’clock appointment with our latest client.
“You’ve got to be joking,” Eli said, grimacing.
“Nope.” I made a face. “I figured you’d be happy. Because the alternative is me going to meet him alone. After dark. In a cemetery.”
Eli grunted. “And you’re just crazy enough to do something that stupid.”
“You wouldn’t love me any other way.” I said it jokingly but the sudden shift in his expression, from mildly annoyed to dark and brooding, gave me pause.
Fortunately Selene stepped in. “Stupid or not, we’re definitely going.” The look on her face made it clear arguing wasn’t an option.
Not that any of us did. For me, seven couldn’t get here soon enough, not compared to how little I wanted to talk to Deverell.
Nevertheless, fifteen minutes before the end of lunch, I forced myself to get up and walk to the psionics classroom. I froze in the doorway, my gaze taking in the odd assortment of things scattered across the floor at the front of the room. Normally empty, the space now looked like a mini summer-camp obstacle course, minus the mud pit. Orange traffic cones, fluorescent batons, red playground balls, and big blue plastic cubes were scattered here and there with bright pink pieces of string connecting them.
Deciding today was going to be an interesting class, I turned my gaze toward the desk where Mr. Deverell sat reading a newspaper.