Summer had woven a garland round Rosewood, the blooming flowers filling the air with heady scent. Walking alone to the library, Lottie watched as the shadows of lone clouds glided over the path.
She paused outside the library, marvelling at the curved white building, cream and yellow flowers like lace spiralling up its bones. She put on her best smile, finding it came easier to her here, her favourite place in the school. No one could suspect she was here to do anything other than study. This was something she had to handle on her own, especially given how everyone had been at the meeting.
People stared at her as she stepped inside, but she was starting to get used to the irritable whispering that followed her everywhere. The midday sun shone through the stained-glass rose at the top of the library, which drowned the books in a coral glow. House emblems hung above the office alcove and it was underneath them, in a booth, away from any snooping eyes, that Lottie chose to do what she’d been dreading the most.
With Ellie at fencing and Jamie on a run with Raphael, Lottie was alone, and neither of them would have to know the extent of how much she wasn’t taking a break. It was her job as a Portman to shoulder such burdens; it wasn’t something she could put away at a moment’s notice.
Carefully she pulled out two history books and a textbook, laying them on the table. Nestled in the history book was the envelope – the cursed object Haru had given her that she still hadn’t opened. She wished more than anything she could contact Sayuri, that they could do this together, but she had to do this on her own. It was the only way to protect everyone.
Slipping her finger under the glued-down surface of the envelope, she imagined Claude’s tongue sliding along the paper, and all she could see was the forked tongue of a snake. As soon as it ripped open, she could smell it: spiced wine, rich and intoxicating, wafted up like perfume from the scented paper inside.
She shook the contents out on to the table: an A5 oblong of thick black card coated with a glossy finish. In the centre of the card elegant gilt lettering shimmered when she moved it in the light.
To my charming young niece
Lottie paused immediately at the condescending language; Ellie would have torn it up right then and there.
Although I have delighted in our little games these past two years, there comes a time when those in charge must decide when too much fun has been had, and, though it delights me to see my own niece play along and solve each puzzle, our next game is one of a far more serious nature.
It is my understanding that you are, like me, a lover of folklore, so, while I give you a chance to put right what has been wronged, I gift you these clues to set you on the right path.
Sometimes stories wield power greater than we know.
This is your first clue.
The whole letter made Lottie feel … icky, the kind of childish disgust usually reserved for bad smells and gross pranks. With shaking hands, Lottie turned the card to find a carefully drawn illustration depicting a golden stag wearing a crown. The image melted in the light, the ink disappearing and reappearing. And then it vanished completely, a shadow falling over the paper.
‘A curious alternative to invisible ink,’ a bird-like voice chirped from behind her.
Shoving everything inside the textbook, Lottie slammed it shut, turning so fast she nearly fell off her chair. ‘Binah!’ she gasped, clutching her chest as if her heart might jump out of it. ‘How many times have I told you not to sneak up like that?’
Binah wasn’t much taller than her, even with Lottie sitting down, but her black ringlets were carefully arranged in a topknot that gave the illusion of height.
‘My apologies,’ she said, removing her glasses to wipe them on the edge of her tank top. ‘You just seemed so engrossed; I was curious.’ A wry smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, and Lottie knew she’d seen more than she was supposed to.
Lottie let out a short breath and grabbed Binah’s arm, pulling her into the booth. ‘You can’t tell anyone, Binah. This is serious.’
‘My lips are sealed; this is just between me and the royal trio.’
Lottie squirmed awkwardly, an embarrassed blush creeping over her, giving her away.
‘Oh!’ Binah held her finger up, eyes going wide, and Lottie could practically see the light bulb turning on above her head. ‘They don’t know, and that’s why you were acting so strange during the meeting, because you do have more info.’
‘I’m not keeping it from them … I can’t – I-I have to keep it secret to protect everyone or –’ Before Lottie could stop herself, tears were pricking her eyes, threatening to spill over. If Binah knew then she’d be in danger, and she couldn’t put anyone else at risk.
‘Whoa, whoa, it’s OK!’ Binah’s voice was soothing like warm milk and honey, and she carefully placed a hand over Lottie’s. ‘Whatever this is, you shouldn’t be shouldering it on your own. Let me help.’
‘You don’t understand – he said if I told anyone about this, the school would be in danger, all of you would be in danger.’
‘Who said this?’
Lottie could feel Haru and Claude right behind her, their hands holding her back.
‘Lottie,’ Binah prompted, and when she looked up those dark brown eyes reminded her of the great oak tree in the Rose Wood, firm and sure, offering comfort to all who sought it. ‘I promise I’ll keep the secret safe. We can face this together.’
And, just like that, the curse was lifted.
‘Haru.’ She whispered his name, looking around to make sure no one was listening. ‘He’s part of Leviathan, and –’
The noise Binah made was halfway between a squeak and a splutter. ‘Of course,’ she breathed. ‘That’s why everything started happening when he arrived … And the way he looks at Jamie … Oh dear, oh dear.’
Lottie nodded, shuddering at the thought that Haru was looking at Jamie in any sort of way. ‘He blackmailed me on Monday.’ She swallowed hard, shaking off the last traces of the treacherous phantom hands on her shoulders. ‘He gave me a list of rules I have to follow if I want to keep everyone safe, and by telling you I’ve already broken one.’
Binah was perfectly still, and Lottie thought of an old grandfather clock, the cogs all working away under her calm demeanour, putting everything into place.
‘He gave me this letter, it’s, uh …’ Lottie hesitated again, still feeling gross. ‘It’s from Claude.’
‘Oh me, oh my,’ Binah said simply, her eyes somehow even wider.
‘Yeah. I have to write a response. It seems like some kind of riddle or puzzle.’
Binah lifted her head, glasses glinting, and for a second it looked as if she were drooling. She licked her lips. ‘A puzzle, you say?’
It was such a completely ridiculous and yet entirely normal response for Binah that Lottie couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter that spilled out of her mouth, and once it started it wouldn’t stop, each hiccup making her feel lighter.
‘Hey, it’s not my fault I’m an enigmaholic.’ Binah’s voice cracked with laughter.
‘Is that even a word?’
‘No, but it should be.’
Lottie wiped her eyes, trying to hold back more giggles, until she finally let out a long sigh, opening up the book again to find the cursed ‘gift’ from Claude.
‘We’re having a secret meeting tomorrow – Ellie, Saskia, Anastacia and me – but they have no idea of this terrible bomb I’m going to have to drop on them. You should come. I could use some help figuring out how to tell them about Haru’s rules.’
‘Hmm,’ Binah mused, not hiding any of her doubt. ‘You need to tell them about this letter from Claude eventually too, especially Ellie. You know that, right?’
Waving off the question, Lottie located the card. ‘What I need to do is write a reply.’
‘We’ll do it together,’ Binah said.
When Lottie looked down at the black card, she saw it had got scuffed from being roughly hidden away, leaving it looking less regal and more feeble. It looked defeatable.
‘Yeah, OK,’ she said. ‘Just us two.’
