Paranormal Public - Elemental Rising Part 25

I opened my eyes and lifted my head, just enough to see the faces crowded around me. Even that little movement sent cascades of pain through my temples, but before I closed my eyes again I definitely saw Dove, an emaciated and frail Dove, glaring at me. He looked like wet, white paper stretched over bones, with blood red lips. Not a pretty view.

"What's he doing here?" I asked groggily.

Lisabelle answered me. "Being annoying?"

"Lisabelle," said Risper warningly.

"Ms. Verlans, I am an elder paranormal and I would appreciate it if you showed me some respect. On top of that I am still a Committee member," Dove rasped. I was seriously worried that the vampire was going to collapse right then and there.

Lisabelle gave a blinding smile. "Sorry, it's more important for me to be right than respectful."

Sip, who I saw with gladness was standing next to Lisabelle, flinched. "I don't think that she's saying you're wrong. . . ."

"She most certainly is," Dove sputtered. It started him on a coughing fit and he was forced to clamp his shaking hand over his mouth.

"Right, well, we'll go now," said Sip, clamping her fingers around Lisabelle's arm and pulling the taller girl away.

"That's a good idea," said Dove, his eyes boring into Lisabelle.

"No," said Risper. "Dove. I have this under control. Why don't I escort you back to Cruor?"

"NO," Dove cried. "I am still a Committee member here! And I will have my say. All three of you are confined to your respective houses," he said, waggling his finger at us and glaring. "I will not tolerate this disrespect. The number of rules you all have broken. . . . It must be some sort of record for a twenty-four-hour period."

"Thank you," said Lisabelle. Risper glared at his niece.

Dove took a sharp intake of breath, as if the number of our infractions seemed really stunning to him. I guess it kind of was, between my going to the force field to our visiting the Museum after hours.

Oops.

"They'll go to their dorms," said Risper rea.s.suringly. Something in his voice made me think he was actually adding, but not out loud: As long as you go to Cruor. Dove gave us one last glare, but he was too weak to resist Risper.

As he left he added, just for good measure, "And while you're at it I order you to stop fighting demons. I will not have it on campus."

"You know what amazes me?" said Lisabelle. Dove paused and Risper stared at her as if he was holding his breath.

"That Lightmares can do magic similar to what mages can do?" Sip asked hopefully.

"No."

"That fallen angels are the fastest type of paranormal?"

"No."

"That Professor Zervos is a big supporter of elementals?" Sip offered.

Dove looked like he was going to burst or faint or have a fit.

"Yeah, that's important too, actually," said Lisabelle, grinning mischievously. But she wouldn't be distracted. She enjoyed having us all on edge.

"No, that no matter how many times Charlotte is right and everyone else is wrong, people keep arguing with her." It was like a bomb had gone off. Dove lunched for Lisabelle, who easily dodged the ailing vampire. Before anymore damage could be done Risper dragged a fuming and spitting Dove away.

"We have to go too," said Lisabelle quietly. "I don't think he was kidding about being confined to Airlee."

"We could always sneak out," Sip said. "Not that I'm condoning rule-breaking, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do."

"You will do no such thing," said Risper from the doorway. He was glaring at the three of us like we were bugs that had made him angry. "You would think you all wanted to get into trouble."

Lisabelle was about to say something - probably awful - when Sip darted forward and clamped her hand over her friend's mouth. "Not. One. Word," Sip cautioned, her purple eyes blazing confidently in her pale face.

I sat up in bed, exhausted as I was. If this was going to be the last time I saw my friends for a while, I would at least try not to look like a piece of pale, limp string. There was still so much we didn't know.

"Figure it out, Charlotte," said Sip. "I think all the tools are there."

Lisabelle nodded her agreement before my two best friends followed Dove out of the room. To my surprise, Risper stayed behind, watching me carefully.

"Dacer had faith that you would figure out what's happening to the vampires," he commented. I wished I knew what was going on behind his eyes.

"He did," I agreed. "He was sure it was the masks and he was right."

"Are you going to prove it?" Risper asked. As usual, he gave nothing away behind his black eyes.

"Yes," I lifted my chin in defiance of Dove and anyone else who didn't believe in me.

"Well, in that case, you should talk to Lealand," said Risper. "I think you will find what he has to say very interesting."

My ears perked up. Had he just suggested the same thing I'd been thinking, that Lealand knew something? Or maybe it was Trafton. Lisabelle never trusted anyone who was that friendly, and I seemed to be getting more and more like Lisabelle everyday. Besides, Lealand was obviously a pixie. He couldn't pa.s.s for undead, but Trafton probably could, with the right spells and planning.

"I'm confined to Astra," I pointed out.

Risper laughed softly. "First, there is no one here but you, and second, when has a mere thing like a rule stopped you?"

My breath hitched on a laugh. Was he suggesting I sneak out? I was pretty sure he was.

"Where's Lealand?" I asked boldly. Why waste time? I thought to myself.

"He's visiting Lough," said Risper softly. "Who is recovering just fine," he added when I started to react as if I was afraid my pale dream giver friend had died.

"But Ms. Rollins, you should know, we are fast running out of time. Dove was only on his feet through sheer force of will. He is stronger than granite, but anything can break with enough pressure. This has to be fixed, now. Or we will start to lose the vampires."

When I didn't reply he said, "Rest. When you have your strength back, go to Lough. Lealand is keeping vigil." With one curt nod he was gone.

I tried to stay awake, because I wanted to go to Lough immediately. But I knew I didn't have the energy, so I let myself sink into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Thirty-Five.

When I woke up again, daylight was pouring in. My mouth felt cakey and dry and my body acted like it wasn't used to movement. I checked my magic and found a deep pool of bluish white light inside me. My stores were filling again. I would be able to fight.

Throwing off the covers, I hurried to dress. What that really meant, under the circ.u.mstances, was that I hobbled around like an old woman who needed a hip replacement. I was that tired.

Once I'd thrown on jeans and a black fleece I went in search of food. It wouldn't do for me to have magic, but to be so hungry I couldn't concentrate. As I was leaving my room I found a note on the door. It read: Ms. Rollins, The school has been on lockdown since you, Ms. Quest, and Ms. Verlans went into the Museum of Masks three days ago. You will be happy to know that although the Tower has collapsed, the section that held the Museum was lowered to the ground. Crews have worked around the clock and the Museum is almost entirely intact. There is smoke damage, but even that seems - somehow - to have been kept to a minimum. The vampires are worsening. We had our first death last night. It is a terrible way to die, and others are soon to follow. Lough is still in the infirmary and Lealand visits him daily.

Risper I frowned at the note. How could the Museum be intact? How could it not have plummeted to the ground, even if it hadn't burned? After a moment's though I decided that the answer to that question wasn't as mysterious as it seemed, because there was surely enough raw magic on campus to have saved the Museum.

But that line of thinking only revealed another mystery, which was why the Museum hadn't been destroyed in the first place. If the whole point of the fire had been to destroy any evidence the masks might provide, or to destroy that note that had been dropped on the floor, the Museum should have been the first thing to burn. Instead it was the only thing that hadn't.

I shook my head, grabbing a bagel on my way out the door. I was now more confused than ever as I headed toward my confrontation with Lealand. I hoped Lough wouldn't mind what I was about to do in his hospital room.

I didn't have any trouble finding Lough.

"Hey," I said, grinning at my friend. He had a room to himself, just like I always did, and he was sitting up in bed, happily eating a m.u.f.fin. My initial a.s.sessment that he looked unharmed was not entirely accurate. His hand was bandaged halfway up his arm, and he explained that he had been severely burned. His bright smile made it all sound not so bad.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" he asked. "Everyone is confined to the dorms."

"I have special permission from Risper," I explained.

"That's what Lealand said, too," said Lough. He must have seen my reaction to his mention of Lealand, because he asked, "You looking for Lealand?"

"I'd like to talk to him about a thing or two," I said off-handedly.

"He usually spends a few hours over in the Museum, which is sitting on top of the bas.e.m.e.nt of the former Tower. He is helping clean everything up and trying to preserve the masks. Even though they didn't burn or plummet, they're now exposed to the elements and smoke damage. Some will be ruined. When he's done for the day over there, he usually heads back here."

Lough glanced at the clock, and we both saw that it was only a couple of hours until dinner. "He should be here soon."

"I can wait," I drawled. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, excellent," said Lough. His hair was a total mess, but his eyes blazing happily. "I feel great." He took another big bite of m.u.f.fin.

"Thanks for saving us," I said, smiling and taking his hand. There were no words for how devastated I would have been without Lough.

His face darkened. "Lisabelle should be able to see now that dream givers aren't useless."

"Oh, I think she knows," I said quietly. "I don't think she really meant it in the first place, and she was really upset when she thought that something had happened to you. She helped me save you."

"I know, but only because you made her," said Lough bitterly.

"No," I corrected quickly. "It was her idea."

Lough's face showed real surprise. He had apparently been laboring under the delusion that Lisabelle would have left him at the top of the Tower to die.

"Really?" he asked, leaning forward excitedly. "She didn't want me to die?"

"Of course not," I scoffed. "How could you think that?"

Lough fell back against his pillows, grinning from ear to ear. "She didn't want me to die? It's all about little steps. That's progress."

I laughed and laughed.

We were interrupted by Lealand's entrance. He was closely followed by Trafton, and they made quite the contrast: the young, strong, greenish pixie and the surfer boy from Airlee. Both were dressed casually in winter jackets and jeans. Though some of the pixies were flamboyant and colorful, Lealand was not. He always seemed conscious that he was a leader and therefore had to set an example for everyone.

"Well, if it isn't the hero of Public," was Trafton's greeting.

"How are you feeling?" Lealand asked, concern plain on his face.

"I would feel better if the vampires weren't sick," I said icily. I had decided the best approach with Lealand was direct.

I saw Lough's face flash with surprise at my tone.

"So would we all," said Trafton, sitting down in one of the chairs next to Lough's bed.

I folded my arms across my chest and glared at Lealand. "Look," I said. "I've seen you go into the Museum when no one else was there. I even saw you there with Trafton. Care to explain that?"

Lealand raised his eyebrows and glanced at Lough, whose mouth was hanging open in shock.

"What exactly are you accusing me of?" he asked quietly. I had to remind myself to rein in my hostility. I knew that Lealand was dangerous; he had proven himself to be a very strong pixie. But I was prepared. He would tell me what, if anything, he knew, even if it meant giving up Trafton.

"Of using the Cruor masks against the vampires," I said flatly. "Or knowing who is."

The reaction I got was not the one I was expecting. Trafton basically keeled over with laughter. Lough guffawed, and Lealand, who was doing his best to keep a straight face, had to sit down. His breath came in fast and hard, like he was trying not to laugh. I stared from one to the other of them in bewilderment. Lealand had been my first suspect and Trafton my second, and they were both laughing at me as if I had just made the best joke in the world. I would have thought they were trying to throw me off, except that Lough was also laughing, and I trusted Lough as much as I trusted Lisabelle and Sip.

"What's so funny?" I demanded. I had seen him sneaking around numerous times, and Risper had told me to talk to him. What else could it be?

"You haven't figured it out?" Lough scoffed. "I thought for sure you or Lisabelle or Sip would figure it out. Amateurs."

"Figure WHAT out?" I cried. "What is going ON?"

"Who Lealand really is . . ." said Trafton. He was laughing so hard he was crying. "Now I know why elementals were always known as so formidable. Lealand, she almost took your head off!"

Lealand was grinning. Somehow, with that smile on his face, he looked different, a bit older.

"I mean, you have it right, there's something suspicious about Lealand. He is keeping a big secret, but it definitely isn't that he is the Mask Thief. I figured it out weeks ago and didn't like that they weren't telling anyone else."

"Who are you and what are you talking about?" I demanded, folding my arms over my chest and doing my best Lisabelle glare.

"My name is not really Lealand," said the pixie formerly known as Lealand. "It's Oliva."

I felt like someone had picked up one of the books from the library and clobbered me over the head with it. Oliva, why was that name familiar? Where. . . .

Oh.

"He's the other Committee member," said Lough gleefully. "I cannot wait to tell Sip I figured it out and she didn't. I would gloat to Lisabelle, but she would probably hit me."