But the fourth face was one she knew all too well. Palely lovely, cold as the Arctic but glowing with beauty. An ice queen, a Hitchcock blonde. Perfect in every way – except for the scar slashed across her left cheek.
Cassie felt Ranjit’s fingers tighten questioningly on her hand, but she was too frozen with shock to respond. Only when applause erupted to signify the interval did she snap out of it. The explosion of noise shattered her trance of horror and she turned to him with desperation.
‘Katerina. Katerina’s here!’
Ranjit frowned, but he didn’t question her. He turned at her nod and stared in the direction of the opposite box. When Katerina lifted a delicate hand in a mocking little wave, he didn’t react, but Cassie saw his eyes light with familiar fire. It was that swirling dark glow she’d seen before, like molten lava. It had been frightening the first time she’d seen it. This time it was strangely reassuring.
‘I’m really sorry, Cassie.’ Ranjit’s voice was cool and deadly. ‘I had no idea she was in New York.’
‘It doesn’t matter. Really.’ Her heart was thrashing, at odds with her words. Katerina was in New York. Her mind flew to Jake. He had been hunting her all around the globe. What would he do if he found out she was here, in his home town? Within his reach … Ranjit’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
‘I had ordered champagne for the interval in the Members’ Bar,’ he said. ‘But if you’d rather we stayed here …’
Cassie shook her head violently. ‘I’m not about to let her spoil a lovely evening. We’ll avoid them.’
He squeezed her hand. ‘We’ll certainly try. Come on.’
They should have been able to stay well out of the way of Katerina and her friends, but despite the swelling crowds heading downstairs, Katerina was clearly determined not to stay out of theirs. Ranjit had just poured two frosty flutes of champagne in the Members’ Bar when the blonde girl emerged from the smattering of well-heeled patrons, her friends flanking her like some kind of praetorian guard.
‘Well, ding-dong Bell,’ she drawled, giving Cassie a disdainful once-over. ‘If it isn’t the scholarship girl.’
‘That’s enough, Katerina.’ Ranjit’s voice was low and even, but there was a distinct undercurrent of threat to it.
‘I quite agree. It’s more than enough. For this lowlife to remain at the Academy while I was expelled is simply … Oh dear, how shall we put it?’
‘A crime,’ murmured Sara.
‘That’s kind, dear Sara, but crime can be fun and sophisticated.’ Katerina gave a thin-lipped smile as the other three girls chuckled. ‘There must be another word.’
‘A disgrace,’ suggested the brunette at Sara’s side.
Cassie took a gulp of her champagne. The icy coolness hit her tongue and throat and rebounded straight to her head, but she didn’t feel drunk: only cold and fierce. It felt good. Ranjit’s arm was around her waist, at once protective and warning, but she didn’t feel the need for his support. She took another swig from her glass, emptying it.
‘Heavens, this isn’t Sheffield town centre.’ Sara’s English accent was cut-crystal. ‘We’re not here to binge drink and vomit, Miss Bell.’
Katerina was still tapping her jaw gently with a finger. Cassie watched her face, fascinated by that scar. She remembered putting it there, back in that dark tunnel as she made her escape from the twisted Few ritual beneath the Arc de Triomphe. For the first time she was actively glad. Yes, that had been a good moment. In fact she’d like to do it again. Right now.
But Katerina was speaking again, distracting her.
‘Hmm, I’m still trying to think of the appropriate term. Disgrace just doesn’t begin to describe what happened last term. Sir Alric has plummeted in the estimation of many people. Such a decline in standards.’
‘Leave here, Katerina.’ Ranjit was absolutely still, but his voice was heavy with menace.
‘Ah! I know the word,’ said Sara, ignoring him. ‘Let’s see: a noble spirit inside something so unworthy. A mismatch. A freak. It should never have happened, Katerina darling, just like your expulsion. It’s an … abomination.’
All four girls sighed out their satisfaction.
‘Yes,’ smirked Katerina. ‘That’s it precisely. An abomination.’
WHAT DID SHE CALL US?
The stem of Cassie’s champagne flute snapped in her hand. She heard a strange growl, but it seemed to come from far away – or perhaps somewhere deep inside her. Her eyes burned hot, so hot, and everything had gone red, as though she was looking at the world through a scarlet filter. She registered the shock on Ranjit’s face, and knew he was staring at her.
She could see the glow of the girls’ spirits too, shining from their chests. They were all strong, particularly Katerina’s, but she found she didn’t care. Her own aura of power shrouded her, invisible but irresistible – and Cassie suddenly knew she could do anything she liked with this power, using nothing more than the force of her mind. She was entirely still. She didn’t move a muscle.
And she lifted Sara’s body clear into the air.
The girl took a breath and screamed. Her legs kicked the air, arms flailing in hopeless resistance, abject terror on her face.
Cassie enjoyed that. It was like feeding: the buzz, the thrill that went through her. She could almost taste Sara’s fear in the air. It tasted good. So good.