“At least for a few days, I’ll get a feel for the sisters. If it seems safe then I’ll leave a mark on the roof, a smiley face by the door.”
Arachne nodded. “I’ll have to accept that. But, I can’t take down the wards.”
“That’s fine,” Eva said. “Don’t worry about any of the furniture or my master’s area. Books and especially my spare dagger, but anything else easily movable. I don’t know any good hiding spots that are out of the elements though. I’d rather not have my books damaged.”
“Leave that to me.” Arachne let Eva go. “Eva,” she said, “I will be back, soon. I’ll know if something goes wrong.”
“I’ll be careful. Don’t get seen on your way back. I’m almost worried someone saw us arrive.”
“Who do you take me for?” Arachne chastised with a wide grin, though her heart didn’t seem to be in it.
If Arachne even had a heart. Something to ask another time.
The spider quickly clambered to the roof of a building in the alley and vanished from Eva’s sight.
With Arachne gone, Eva headed back to the dorms. It didn’t seem like a good idea to step straight through her window. They might have put up detectors for magical transportation.
Instead, Eva walked right up to the front door, looking her best like she was supposed to be there.
The nun glared at Eva as she approached. “Stop,” she said. “I haven’t seen you before, who are you?”
The smile vanished off of Eva’s face. “My name is Eva. I reside in dorm three-thirteen.”
“Explain your absence for the past several days.”
Eva glared at the white clothed nun. She wasn’t sure if she should risk lying. On the other hand, telling her that most of the time was spent in the company of demons would probably not go over well. “I was in the company of a guardian following the Halloween debacle. Zoe Baxter was aware if you need to confirm that.”
Hopefully the instructor would come up with a better lie and be able to sell it.
The nun glared back and studied Eva. She whipped out a cell phone and tapped the screen a few times. “Your full name?”
“Eva.”
The woman typed on her cellphone once again before glaring back at Eva. “Your
Eva grit her teeth. She knew she should have just stepped straight into her room. “I gave the fullest name I ever give.”
The nun’s glare intensified. Her free hand slowly inched around to her back.
Eva narrowed her eyes and mirrored the action, planting her hand on the hilt of her dagger beneath her coat. Her blood magic would be drastically slower than whatever the nun had planned, but hopefully a quick step behind the nun would buy time. Arachne wasn’t around, but she shouldn’t have a problem escaping at the very least.
A gloved hand clasped the shoulder of the white-robed nun.
The nun jumped half a foot in the air, whipping around to face her assailant.
The sudden movements almost made Eva jump into her attack. She managed to maintain her composure. Her arms dropped to their sides.
A nun wearing the more traditional black habit glanced between Eva and the nun. She narrowed her brown eyes at her comrade. “What’s going on here, Sister Mable?”
Her voice was soft, almost melodic. Yet the nun wilted under its tune.
Before the nun could respond, Eva decided to get her side of the story across first. “Your lunatic Sister was about to attack me for refusing to state my name. Not that she has any right to ask or deny me entry to my dorm room in the first place.”
“Is this true, Sister Mable?”
The nun glanced down at her feet under the harsh tone of Sister Cross. Almost as if she was slapped by the voice. “I asked for her full name, she refused. Under the scriptures of Saint–”
Sister Cross held up a gloved hand, stopping the cowed nun’s voice. “We’re here for the protection of the children, not to slaughter them ourselves. Consider yourself relieved. Return to your quarters and reflect on your actions.”
“Yes, Sister Cross.”
As the newly named Sister Mable made a hasty retreat, Sister Cross turned her narrowed gaze over Eva. “Do you have a death wish, my girl?”
Eva crossed her arms. Only now did she realize how hard her heart was beating. She could feel it beneath her coat. With a deep breath, Eva glared back at the nun. “How was I supposed to know your nutty order thinks attacking children is a good idea.”
If the nun took any offense to the insult against her sisters, she didn’t show it. A soft smile touched her face instead. “While that is a valid point and Sister Mable will be receiving a lecture, she would likely have merely incapacitated you until another authority could be contacted.” Her smile remained on her face, but it hardened somewhat. “You were going to attack her back. Escalating matters would only end in tragedy.”
