Cassie realised again how much quieter he was now, how much more thoughtful. Clearly a near-death experience had given him cause to reassess an awful lot.
Any gossip Cassie could provide them covered only the last few days, but Isabella was as hungry for it as Cassie was for the feeding they swiftly got out of the way. She was grateful once more for Jake’s volte-face regarding her feeding on his girlfriend.
Jake, of course, knew little or nothing about what had happened lately at the school either, so by the time they’d relaxed after the feeding session, and Cassie was on her third Coke and finally beginning to run dry of stories, she was surprised by how many hours had passed.
She glanced at her watch. ‘Whoa. I’d better get back soon. It’d be really embarrassing if they did send out a search party,’ she said with a laugh. ‘And we don’t want anyone spotting you two.’
‘I suppose,’ agreed Isabella regretfully. ‘Oh, you’ll have to come back again tomorrow, Cassie. This is like old times!’
Yes, Cassie thought happily. Yes, it really was.
‘I will,’ she said. ‘It was easy enough to get away unnoticed tonight. It shouldn’t be a problem. God, it’s so good to see you both!’
‘One for the road?’ Jake tilted an eyebrow, grinning, as he proffered the plate of brownies that she’d already overindulged in. ‘Sir Alric knows a good chef when he employs one!’
‘I swear I couldn’t eat another bite.’ Cassie patted her stomach happily, then leaned forward, biting her lip. ‘I do have something to tell you both, though.’
There didn’t seem a better moment, after all. Jake and Isabella quietened, watching her expectantly.
‘I’ve got news. I think you’ll like it,’ Cassie continued.
‘Go on.’ Isabella’s eyes were alight with curiosity.
Cassie took a breath. ‘I’m going to split from Estelle.’
Isabella and Jake could only stare at her for a moment, then at each other.
‘You what?’ said Jake. ‘But … how?’
‘I’ve found out how to do it. That’s … that’s what all that business with Ranjit was about, last term. He’d found out how it could be done, with the Few artefacts.’
They were unexpectedly shocked and silent. Cassie raised her eyebrows.
‘But look what happened to Ranjit,’ said Jake quietly. ‘Cassie, isn’t it dangerous?’
‘That was different.’ She flapped a hand dismissively. ‘I told you, the Curse is spent. And that was what affected him – not the Pendant itself.’
‘So you really do believe it’s possible? And you won’t get hurt?’ Jake still looked concerned.
‘I do. It’ll be perfectly safe,’ Cassie said, hoping she sounded one hundred per cent certain even if she had a tiny seed of doubt.
Isabella reached out and clasped Cassie’s arm. ‘But that’s wonderful! Are you really sure?’
Cassie nodded. ‘I’m sure. I can’t do it till I have all the things I need, and that’s the next problem, but … yes, it can be done.’
‘Cassie – you know what this means to us.’ Jake hugged Isabella. ‘This is great news. Fantastic!’
‘And what are the “things you need”?’ asked Isabella eagerly. ‘Can we help?’
‘Not really, no. That’s where it gets tricky.’ Cassie made a rueful face, then stood up and paced the room in the flickering firelight. ‘Tricky, but not impossible. I’m going to do it.’
‘So … come on, spill,’ said Jake. ‘What is it?’
‘Well … you remember the Urn? The one that Ranjit got away with?’ Cassie smiled weakly and spread her hands. ‘That’s what I need. If I can lay my hands on that, Sir Alric has agreed to use the Knife and the Pendant to cut the connection between me and Estelle.’
‘And you won’t be Few any more?’ Isabella looked awed. ‘But, Cassie, the things you can do, your prospects … Don’t you mind about all that?’
She shrugged lightly. ‘Only a little. Honestly? I’ll have a couple of regrets, but not many. And I want myself back. Myself and my friends, like we used to be. That’s what matters most to me. And … and it’s the only way Ranjit and I can be together. I’m OK with it. I’ve made my decision and it’s final.’
Isabella abandoned her place by Jake to rush to Cassie’s side and hug her hard. ‘Cassie,’ she mumbled. ‘This is wonderful. But … do you know where Ranjit is? Have you heard anything?’
Cassie pushed Isabella’s hair out of her face and hugged her back. ‘Well, not yet. But I will find him,’ she said determinedly.
Isabella let go and allowed Jake to get in a hug as well. ‘Good luck, Cassie,’ he said, squeezing her hard. ‘We’re here for you, you know that, right?’
‘Yeah,’ Cassie replied. ‘Yeah, I do …’
CHAPTER TEN
In the wake of Cassie’s news, there was no stopping Isabella from raiding Sir Alric’s fridge and opening a bottle of champagne. More than ever, Cassie felt that this was the right thing to do – even if Jake had looked a little doubtful at the mention of Ranjit.
‘OK, so I get that you need to find Ranjit to get the Urn,’ he said after they’d made a toast. ‘But are you sure he’ll help you, now that he’s seen his attempt to separate you and Estelle backfire? I mean, he could have changed his mind. He is Few after all, and—’