“Due to this week’s unfortunate events, classes have been suspended until next week.” Is Delaney addressing the murders of three students as “unfortunate events”? I shake my head in disbelief. “Formalities demand we test you on practical, theory, and physical to rank you appropriately,” she adds.
Why is she speaking like I’ve already agreed to attend this horrible place? She has so little regard for me that she doesn’t even care to ask. Then again, I don’t know what I was expecting from someone who essentially refers to murder as an inconvenience.
She continues her one-sided conversation. “I’m inclined to think that you are not clueless about our world and your magic, given you had free access to Rhea’s personal library.”
I’ve read nearly every book in Nan’s library, some multiple times. I know what my magic can do, and more importantly, I know what it cannot do. It cannot bring my sister back. It won’t even let me speak to her ghost. So why would I want to explore it further? “I couldn’t make sense of most of the books,” I lie.
“May I give you some advice then, Miss Corvi?” Parrish says.
“Sure.”
“Gorhail has two principal rules for Mortemagi: If you are a whisperer, stay out of the Poisoned Stairwell unless you want to lose your mind. Ghosts cannot roam the halls of Gorhail because conduits will take them to the Underiver, but they flock to the Poisoned Stairwell.”
“And if I am a conduit?” I am not, but I’d still like to know.
“Then stay far away from the catacombs. A conduit’s cuff locks ghosts, leading them into the Underiver so they can then cross into the Underworld. The catacombs are filled with tens of thousands of ghosts—they all flock to the cuff at once, overloading the conduit with magic, killing them in the process.”
I nod, suddenly grateful I’m not a conduit. I don’t intend to go anywhere near the Poisoned Stairwell or the catacombs. In fact, I don’t intend to stay at Gorhail. Damn the Gods and their poisonous gifts. I will find another way to solve my sister’s murder.
Delaney’s eyebrow quirks. “See, Miss Corvi. We are here to help. In fact, I paired you with one of our finest Magisters to catch you up to speed.” She smiles empathetically. “You’ll thrive at Gorhail, Viola. It’s where you belong. Now, if you’ll forgive me, I have an audience to attend.Principal Grand Master Parrish, will you be joining us, given you called this audience?”
“In a moment, Overseer Delaney.” Priya’s tone is short. “Allow me to walk our newest addition to her room first.”
On that, Delaney retraces her steps louder than when she came in, the flasks on the shelves clinking when the double doors snap back after her.
Priya helps me up from the makeshift bed, and I stumble twice before gaining my footing. “Overseer Delaney is right about one thing. Gorhail is your rightful place.”
What about Olivia’s? Why are they all acting like Olivia didn’t just die under their watchful eyes? Is her life worthless because she was a nonmagi?
“I’m not staying,” I tell her.
“Yes, Delaney said you were meant to start at Osneau’s Postgraduate School of Botany.” Priya nods as she holds up most of my weight and helps me to the door. “You’ll enjoy Gorhail’s expansive gardens.”
How can she be talking about gardens while Olivia’s body rots in Albion, while the authorities write off her death as an accident, and while her murderer runs free?
I stop, and she halts with me. “Have you no regard for my wishes? Do you even realize what you’re forcing me into?” I raise my voice. “My sister was murdered, and you’re talking about gardens.”
Priya makes sure I can stand before she releases me. Then she lets out a long sigh. “Miss Corvi,” she says, looking straight into my eyes, “I understand the rage, but I can assure you that should you choose—and despite what Delaney infers, it remains your choice—to walk out of this institute, you’ll be dead before you bury your sister.”
I stare at her in shock.
“We have not ruled Olivia’s death as an accident or a murder yet, but the violent attack onyou, Miss Corvi, should be indication enough that a killer is after you.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“I am plainly stating facts.” She holds the door open, and for a moment, I just stare at her. Her calm is terrifying, her threats not empty. She’s right. If I leave Gorhail, I doubt the killer will miss twice. And if I’m dead, I won’t be able to prove that someone murdered my sister.
“All right. But I’m only going to stay until I find out what happened to Olivia.” The words are dry, because I’m trying to convince myself thatI can live with the magic I abhor, among the people who forgot about my sister the minute they learned she was a nonmagi.
She gives me a curt nod, ushering me out of the room.
We don’t speak for much of the walk. She is patient, matching my slow steps and offering to help me up the stairs as we walk deeper into what I realize is the House of Death.
“You knew my father?” I ask as the silence stretches.
“He was in the same year as my older sister.” She goes quiet for a moment. I glance at her and notice her eyes are teary. I don’t dare ask what happened, afraid that I might crack open a vault of familiar feelings I am not ready to face.
“My sister.” She sighs. “My sister disappeared a long time ago. I know what you’re going through, Viola. The grief never quite leaves, but you learn to grow new memories around it.”