Read Online A Faerie's Secret (Creepy Hollow Book 4) by Rachel Morgan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rachel Morgan
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that.”
“Stay out of this, admin girl,” Saskia says, sending a venomous glare Gemma’s way.
Gemma turns to me, shaking her head slowly, probably trying to communicate that I don’t have to do this. But if it’s nothing more than a silly initiation for first years, then it can’t be that difficult. And if everyone else did it, I want to do it too. I bite my lip, then say to Saskia, “Tell me more about this initiation.”
Gemma groans and walks away as a slow smile creeps onto Saskia’s lips. “Come to the old Guild ruins tomorrow night at nine.” She leans closer. “If you think you can handle it.”
CHAPTER
SEVEN
It’s sixteen minutes to nine the next night when Mom knocks on my bedroom door and asks if she can come in. A quick wave at my closet brings my robe sailing through the air. I pull the blue fabric swiftly over my clothes before opening the door. I give Mom a sleepy smile.
“All settled in?” she asks.
“Yes, I think so.” I moved my things back home yesterday afternoon after Olive dismissed me with an annoyed “I thought I told you not to embarrass me. Get out of my sight now.” I spent last night and this evening unpacking my belongings. This place doesn’t feel like home, though. It’s hotter and smaller and creakier than our place in Woodsinger Grove, which is the only home I’ve ever known. Thanks to Mom and her paranoia, we’ll never live there again.
“Well, it’s nice to have you back,” Mom says with a smile. She wanders past me and brushes her hand over the pencils on my desk. “How were your first two days? You haven’t said much so far.”
“Oh, you know, I’m just tired from all the busyness.” I pull back my bed covers and climb into bed. “But it’s been good. Great to finally be there as a real trainee.” I haven’t told her about my disappointments: disinterested mentor, unfriendly classmates, and failed Fish Bowl experience.
“And … you feel safe there?”
“Of course. It’s probably the safest place to be outside of the Seelie Court.” After the Destruction and Lord Draven’s reign, the new Guild Council made sure no one would ever break through the Guild’s magical protection again.
“That’s good,” Mom says, leaning against my desk chair. “You might not be safe here at home, but at least most of your time will be spent at the Guild now.”
I don’t point out that a lot of my time will be spent outside of the Guild on assignments. Instead, I say, “We’re fine here, Mom. After all the protective charms Dad got for this place, it’s probably as secure as the Guild.”
“Yes, well, let’s hope so. He certainly paid a lot for some of those charms.” The dazed look I’ve become familiar with over the years crosses Mom’s face before she shakes her head and turns away. She turns in a full circle, then pulls the chair out and sits.
Sometimes I wonder if my mother is just a little bit crazy.
“I should probably get to sleep,” I say, adding in a yawn for good measure. “I need to be up early. Looks like most trainees eat breakfast at the Guild, so I was planning to join them if … you don’t mind?”
Mom nods as she stands. She tucks a wisp of pale yellow hair behind her ear. “That’s fine.” I can imagine what she’s thinking. That I’ll be safer eating breakfast at the Guild than eating breakfast at home, or something silly like that.
She kisses my forehead—which makes me feel far younger than I am—and leaves. The door creaks shut behind her. I rest my head on a pillow and listen to her footsteps as she descends the stairs. When I can no longer hear her, I sit up. The enchanted clock hanging above my desk tells me I’ve got nine minutes until I need to be at the old Guild ruins. I painted the clock myself while I was at Ellinhart Academy. It’s an abstract mishmash of numbers, but I bought a charm that superimposes the time in shining gold digits over the painting.
I remove my robe to reveal
“Stay out of this, admin girl,” Saskia says, sending a venomous glare Gemma’s way.
Gemma turns to me, shaking her head slowly, probably trying to communicate that I don’t have to do this. But if it’s nothing more than a silly initiation for first years, then it can’t be that difficult. And if everyone else did it, I want to do it too. I bite my lip, then say to Saskia, “Tell me more about this initiation.”
Gemma groans and walks away as a slow smile creeps onto Saskia’s lips. “Come to the old Guild ruins tomorrow night at nine.” She leans closer. “If you think you can handle it.”
CHAPTER
SEVEN
It’s sixteen minutes to nine the next night when Mom knocks on my bedroom door and asks if she can come in. A quick wave at my closet brings my robe sailing through the air. I pull the blue fabric swiftly over my clothes before opening the door. I give Mom a sleepy smile.
“All settled in?” she asks.
“Yes, I think so.” I moved my things back home yesterday afternoon after Olive dismissed me with an annoyed “I thought I told you not to embarrass me. Get out of my sight now.” I spent last night and this evening unpacking my belongings. This place doesn’t feel like home, though. It’s hotter and smaller and creakier than our place in Woodsinger Grove, which is the only home I’ve ever known. Thanks to Mom and her paranoia, we’ll never live there again.
“Well, it’s nice to have you back,” Mom says with a smile. She wanders past me and brushes her hand over the pencils on my desk. “How were your first two days? You haven’t said much so far.”
“Oh, you know, I’m just tired from all the busyness.” I pull back my bed covers and climb into bed. “But it’s been good. Great to finally be there as a real trainee.” I haven’t told her about my disappointments: disinterested mentor, unfriendly classmates, and failed Fish Bowl experience.
“And … you feel safe there?”
“Of course. It’s probably the safest place to be outside of the Seelie Court.” After the Destruction and Lord Draven’s reign, the new Guild Council made sure no one would ever break through the Guild’s magical protection again.
“That’s good,” Mom says, leaning against my desk chair. “You might not be safe here at home, but at least most of your time will be spent at the Guild now.”
I don’t point out that a lot of my time will be spent outside of the Guild on assignments. Instead, I say, “We’re fine here, Mom. After all the protective charms Dad got for this place, it’s probably as secure as the Guild.”
“Yes, well, let’s hope so. He certainly paid a lot for some of those charms.” The dazed look I’ve become familiar with over the years crosses Mom’s face before she shakes her head and turns away. She turns in a full circle, then pulls the chair out and sits.
Sometimes I wonder if my mother is just a little bit crazy.
“I should probably get to sleep,” I say, adding in a yawn for good measure. “I need to be up early. Looks like most trainees eat breakfast at the Guild, so I was planning to join them if … you don’t mind?”
Mom nods as she stands. She tucks a wisp of pale yellow hair behind her ear. “That’s fine.” I can imagine what she’s thinking. That I’ll be safer eating breakfast at the Guild than eating breakfast at home, or something silly like that.
She kisses my forehead—which makes me feel far younger than I am—and leaves. The door creaks shut behind her. I rest my head on a pillow and listen to her footsteps as she descends the stairs. When I can no longer hear her, I sit up. The enchanted clock hanging above my desk tells me I’ve got nine minutes until I need to be at the old Guild ruins. I painted the clock myself while I was at Ellinhart Academy. It’s an abstract mishmash of numbers, but I bought a charm that superimposes the time in shining gold digits over the painting.
I remove my robe to reveal
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