No. She wasn’t going to walk out. This was her chance to find out the secrets of the Few, but that wasn’t all. She was as good as this lot. Better. She wasn’t going to tug her forelock and scurry away like a scared mouse. Tightening her jaw, she looked across at Keiko, studying the girl as minutely and disdainfully as Keiko was inspecting her.
That crisp white shirt she was wearing, a stunning contrast to her blue-black hair: it was Chanel wasn’t it? Of course, for all Cassie knew it could be George At Asda – except that she recognised it as one Isabella had rejected only last week. Better not mention that to Keiko, then. Cassie’s rigid smile relaxed into a genuine, broad grin. She felt a lot better already.
‘Traditions change.’ Richard was beaming at her. He looked pleased and proud. ‘They evolve. Everything evolves. Even us.’ He gave a gurgling laugh.
‘I’m so thirsty,’ moaned Mikhail softly.
‘Look,’ said Cassie, glancing anxiously around the remaining Few and then back at Mikhail, ‘I know it’s none of my business, but are you all right?’
‘Fine,’ snapped Mikhail, febrile eyes burning.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake.’ Katerina snapped her fingers. At the back of the room, Hamid rose with a weary sigh and replaced the empty water bottle with a full one once more.
Cassie stared. ‘Look. He isn’t well.’
‘Now, that really is none of your business.’ Katerina gave her a tight formal smile. ‘Not until you are one of us.’
The sixth former Sara leaned forward, smiling intently. ‘And I think you have a really good chance of that, Cassie. I’m sure we can overcome … objections. She is very pretty, I think.’ She addressed that remark to the room in general, obviously not expecting an answer. ‘The Elders like that in a candidate.’
What has that got to do with anything, you crowd of shallow freaks? Cassie managed to bite back the question as Richard’s hand touched her shoulder lightly.
‘Pretty?’ mused Katerina. ‘I suppose so. She has unusual looks. True beauty, I think, requires a touch of cruelty. That seems to be missing.’
‘Good,’ muttered Cassie under her breath.
Richard shot her a warning look.
‘With the right … guidance, I think she could be lovely.’ Sara smiled again. Cassie was beginning to dislike those smiles. ‘Don’t you agree?’
Get me out of here! These Few weren’t just shallow, they were sinister. Maybe it was time to leave after all.
Richard clapped his hands together. ‘Anybody have any more questions?’
‘The most important one.’ Mikhail’s voice was faint. ‘The one we agreed was necessary.’
‘Of course.’ Katerina turned her glass in her fingers, watching the red wine swirl. ‘There is only one vacancy, and it is hotly desired by several students.’
‘Perry Hutton, for one,’ snapped Keiko. It was obvious who she wanted.
‘And Isabella Caruso,’ lilted Katerina. ‘Bella, bella Isabella.’
Yusuf’s voice was a hypnotic murmur. ‘So our question is …’
‘How would you feel …’ said Vassily.
‘About denying your dearest friend …’ said Sara.
Katerina’s lips curved in a gleaming smile: ‘… her heart’s desire.’
Silence fell as they watched her.
Cassie swallowed. Impeccable Katerina Svensson, she noticed with amusement, had tiny red wine stains in the creases of her lips. She wasn’t afraid of them, but they were right. What she was afraid of was hurting Isabella. What a clever question, and on it might hinge her future with the Few.
Did she want it that much? Even to discover the dark heart of the Academy? Did she want it enough to sacrifice Isabella’s friendship?
‘Thirsty,’ rasped Mikhail.
His throat jerked as he gulped down water. The others were treating him with mild pity, but little concern. What was their problem? Wasn’t he pretty enough when he was sick? Isabella was more beautiful than any of them, and cruelty didn’t come into it. Her beauty wasn’t all in her epidermis.
‘Well?’ snapped Katerina. ‘We’re waiting. Do you care about hurting your best friend? To the bone?’
The answer came to her suddenly, and it seemed blindingly obvious.
‘No.’ Cassie met each hard stare in turn. ‘No. Why would I?’
Vassily persisted. ‘Because she is your best friend, and you’re famously close? Just a notion we thought you might want to consider,’ he added sarcastically.
‘You’re a spoilt bunch of brats.’
‘Hey,’ interrupted Cormac, ‘who are you calling spoilt?’
Cassie ignored him. ‘You don’t know what it means to be at this school. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You’ve never known anything but privilege, have you? You’ve never been miserable or helpless.’
They had all stiffened. Even Ayeesha’s welcoming smile had faded. Mikhail looked as if he was about to get to his feet and come towards her, but Katerina had lifted a warning hand, and for now he was gripping the arms of his chair and staying where he was. The older ones – Sara, Vassily, Yusuf – had a strange look. Amusement? Curiosity?
Now, thought Cassie. Now was her chance to tell this lot what she thought of them and get out of here. What was she doing with these people? You so do not want to be here, Cassie …