‘Such as?’
Ranjit sighed. ‘The Few respect power – it’s how we define ourselves. And I’m strong, Cassie. One of the strongest of the Few at the Academy. I make people nervous – or jealous.’
With a smile, Cassie reached up and ran her fingers through his jet-black hair. ‘You’re telling me,’ she said. He gave a quiet laugh. ‘How do they know you’re so powerful anyway? How can they tell?’
Ranjit looked at her quizzically. ‘Don’t you see it?’ he asked.
Cassie shrugged. ‘Nope.’
‘Try. Look at the others now. Let yourself sense their strength.’
Trying not to be too obvious, Cassie shifted in her seat so she could see the rest of the room. ‘What do I do?’
‘Just relax. Open your mind and it’ll happen.’
Feeling intensely awkward, Cassie stared at her classmates. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, she began to discern a glow that seemed to come from within each of them. A ball of light that hovered around where their heart would be. ‘They’re beautiful,’ she breathed.
‘It’s the Few spirits,’ whispered Ranjit into her ear. ‘The brighter the light, the stronger the spirit.’
Some of the lights glowed softly, others burned more powerfully. Cormac’s light was low and steady, but Ayeesha’s was as bright as a spotlight. The Bajan girl had to be seriously powerful. Casting her eyes over the rest of the room, Cassie could suddenly see that the group divisions were almost all to do with power.
Yusuf, his spirit almost as bright as Ayeesha’s, was surrounded by a trio of less powerful Few, as if they were relying on him for patronage and protection. In the far corner, a group of much weaker lights had gathered together, almost like they were seeking safety in numbers. Richard was among them, and Cassie was surprised to see that the English boy’s spirit was little more than a candle flame. Odd, she had always figured him for a big player among the Few …
‘Now look at me,’ murmured Ranjit, and his velvety tones brought Cassie’s attention back to him. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw his dazzling spirit. It blazed from his chest like a fallen star, eclipsing all others in the room.
Or almost all.
Glancing down, Cassie saw for the first time the glow from her own body – as bright as Ranjit’s, it seemed, but different. Rather than being concentrated in her chest, her own light seemed somehow diffuse. As she reached out to touch his face, she could see an aura surrounding her arm, like a halo. Shaking her head, she let the vision fade.
‘I’m different,’ she said quietly.
Ranjit took her hand. ‘You’re perfect.’
Cassie felt her heart skip a beat. She smiled back at him shyly. ‘If you say so.’
‘So now you’ve seen them as they truly are,’ grinned Ranjit. ‘Maybe it would be good to get to know some of them better. There are actually some decent people among the Few, y’know.’
She leaned forward and skimmed his lips mischievously with her own. Something about his gaze was like a magnet; she couldn’t seem to keep her hands off him.
‘I know there are,’ she whispered pointedly.
‘Well, if you change your mind on that, at least you’re a little fond of the indecent ones too.’
‘Huh?’ Cassie frowned.
Ranjit nodded towards Richard, now lounging alone on a corner sofa flicking through a copy of the National Enquirer.
‘What do you mean, I’m fond of him?’ She pulled back a little, bristling.
‘Well, he never stopped flirting with you from August to December—’
‘Oh, and that’s my fault, is it?’
Ranjit stiffened, his eyes suddenly narrowing. ‘No, but you’ve hardly taken your eyes off him since we came in.’
Does he think we don’t want him? We do! Cassandra, you must convince him!
Cassie froze at the reappearance of the all-too-familiar voice inside her mind. Beside her, Ranjit’s hand slipped out from behind her neck as he turned to face her. ‘Come on, Cassie. It’s pretty obvious he’s interested in you. And you did like him. I barely had a look-in last term, until you—’
‘Huh!’ she interrupted, incredulous. ‘I liked him fine, till he tricked me into hosting some goddamn demon.’
And we thank him for that, my dear!
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to ignore Estelle’s interjections. The old bag had been quiet since the nightmare, why was she back now?
Ranjit’s eyes flashed. ‘Demon? Is that what you think? What does that make me, then?’
‘Ranjit, why are you being like this?’ Cassie hissed, turning her body to square up to him more fully. He glowered back for a moment, then, with a deep breath, his look softened. He reached over and touched her knee.
‘I’m sorry, Cassie. I didn’t mean to …’ Ranjit lowered his voice. ‘Look, I’m sorry. Maybe now’s not the time to talk about it.’
Cassie slewed her gaze left and right. Sure enough, a few of the smirks had returned now that she and Ranjit had raised their voices to each other. Taking a deep breath of her own, she slid her arm hesitantly back through Ranjit’s.
‘OK … What if I just forgive you, then?’
‘Great. What if I just don’t mention Richard Halton-Jones again?’
‘Even better.’ Cassie gave him a slow grin. Setting her jaw, she decided to put the whole episode behind her. ‘Anyway … what’s happening today in the world of the Few?’