Storm and Stone

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Book: Storm and Stone by Joss Stirling Read Free Book Online
Authors: Joss Stirling
Tags: General, Juvenile Fiction, Love & Romance
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a graph wriggling its way across the grid. Was Joe doing a biology experiment in his room? Perhaps Kieran wasn’t the only one who was eccentric.
    She looked back at Joe. ‘Was Kieran OK?’
    Joe grimaced. ‘Not really.’
    Raven squeezed her hands together. ‘Look, that’s my fault. He wasn’t ill in class. I pushed him too far in Dance. Embarrassed him, I guess.’
    Glancing down the corridor, Joe took her arm and gently led her into the room. ‘That wasn’t your fault. And it was me who pissed him off, not you.’
    ‘How do you figure that? I was the one who shouted at him for screwing up his first dance move. Tell him I’m sorry, will you?’
    ‘I will. When he comes back.’
    ‘How long’s he been gone?’
    ‘Six hours.’
    ‘What!’
    ‘Kieran doesn’t often lose his temper but, when he does, it’s a while before he calms down and this was a big deal for him. I’ve never known him get anything wrong ever. I was about to go look for him.’
    ‘Can I help? I kinda feel responsible.’
    ‘Sure. I think he went outside.’ Joe grabbed a flashlight from his bag. He picked up an apple from a bowl on the table, rolled it down his forearm and flipped it from his elbow to catch it. ‘He’s missed supper so he’ll be hungry. Brain like his takes lots of calories.’
    Raven zipped up her hoodie. ‘He’s extremely clever, isn’t he?’
    ‘The most intelligent guy I know.’
    ‘So why’s he doing Dance and other arts subjects rather than advanced Maths and Science? They seem more his thing.’
    Joe closed the door behind them. ‘Because he’s already taken his A levels in them. Our godfather wanted him to broaden his focus before going to uni and he’s the one signing the cheques.’
    They jogged down the stairs to the nearest exit. ‘Hate to break it to you but he doesn’t seem very comfortable with that choice.’
    ‘Yeah, you’re right. I had hoped it would be good experience for him but I’m not so sure now.’
    Even with Joe and the flashlight for company, the garden was a spooky place after dark. The clipped hedges cast moon shadows across the path, making the familiar strange. A musty odour of old leaves stirred underfoot seemed more intense at the night, reminding Raven unhelpfully of mouldering graveyards. The castle itself had turned into something sinister—lighted windows gouging holes in the black walls, crenellations pressed against the sky. Its history of war, plague, and murder crept out from where it had been hiding all day under bright notice boards and learning goals. Raven shivered, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.
    ‘Any idea where he would have gone? Has he got a favourite place already?’
    ‘I’m not sure if he’s been out and about much. Your guess will be as good as mine.’
    ‘What about ringing him?’
    ‘Already have. His phone is switched off.’
    ‘OK, then we do it the old-fashioned way.’ She cupped her hands around her mouth. ‘Kieran! Where are you?’ She paused. No reply.
    Joe shouted his friend’s name. Nothing.
    ‘Do you think he’s gone “out” out? Out of school, I mean?’ Raven rubbed her arms, feeling the chill.
    ‘Anything is possible with him. But let’s look around here first. We’ll do the normal search pattern. Quarter the grounds and take each section in turn. Start at twelve o’clock.’ Joe pointed straight ahead with the torch and gestured a ninety degree sweep.
    Raven was amused by his military language. ‘Normal search pattern? You do a lot of this, then?’
    ‘Boy scout training.’ His explanation seemed a little too quick.
    ‘Can’t see you as a boy scout somehow. I thought you grew up in a dysfunctional family.’
    ‘So the scouts were my salvation.’
    ‘Are you joking?’
    ‘Could be.’
    In his own way, Joe was as annoyingly elusive as his roommate. He said more but she came away with very little, and there was nothing she disliked more than people hiding the truth from her.
    They stepped

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