Page 81 of The Demon's Spell

Nadine squeezed me close. “The Miriamic Coven will live on in those we save… so let’s save as many as we can.”

CHAPTER 10

NADINE

It snowed that night, covering our tracks to Monica’s grave. The priestesses would never know she was still alive. It gave me hope that we could save others like we saved her.

Lucas and I walked down the hall the following day, our steps appearing lighter than they had in weeks. Even Isa and Oliver seemed more at ease. I skimmed the latest article in The Shield, which had been printed and distributed this morning.

“This is really good,” I told Lucas. “I think it could really spark change around here.”

“Thanks,” he replied. “I mean, not that I have anything to thank you for.”

I read a passage under my breath. “We must be intentional in our approach to protect the coven, and consider the implications of reacting radically. There comes a point when boycotts morph into witch hunts, and innocents become ostracized, censored, discriminated against, and even executed without a fair trial. If we seek to censor those who oppose our own viewpoints, we destroy the structure that free speech is built upon, and we replace it with the foundation to censor ourselves, until we are all left speechless, and only a single voice remains.”

I held up the paper. “It sounds like the coven could really learn a thing or two from this Caesar Peppertrine guy.”

Lucas smirked when I mentioned his pseudonym. “Oh, yeah. That guy’s quite wise. More people should listen to him.”

I started laughing, but a voice inside the Lounge cut me off. “Caesar Peppertrine is a menace!”

Lucas and I stepped toward the doors and peered inside the Lounge. Onyx sat on one of the couches, holding a copy of The Shield. Gwen, Stacey, and Valerie loomed over her.

“Who does this guy think he is?” Gwen sneered. She yanked the paper out of Onyx’s hands and tore it in half. “He talks as if dangerous criminals should just be set free. Criminals should be silenced so the rest of us can live in peace. This whole article is anti-Miriamic. Don’t tell me you agree with him, Onyx. People like him are what’s wrong with the coven.”

“So you’ve read the article?” Onyx asked coldly. “Same as I was doing. There’s nothing wrong with staying informed.”

“Go read your garbage somewhere else,” Gwen snapped. She tossed the torn bits of paper into the air, and they fluttered to the ground.

“I’d rather read it anywhere but here anyway.” Onyx scoffed as she scooped up her cat and shoved her way past Gwen. She ducked out of the Lounge so fast, she didn’t notice us standing there. Her purple hair concealed her features, and I wasn’t sure she was all right.

“Come on,” I said, gesturing to Lucas.

We rushed down the hall behind Onyx, and our cats followed swiftly behind us. We turned the corner and found her standing near an ornate window. She gazed out over the yard, stroking her cat’s head.

“Onyx?” I took a step toward her.

She jumped, like she hadn’t heard us approach. She turned and bowed her head. “Priestess.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Fine,” she said. “I just wish I’d stop running into Gwen.”

“There must be something I can do to help,” I offered.

“You are helping,” Onyx said. “The coven needs people like you. I saw the way you stood up to the priestesses the day they arrested Professor Wykoff. Despite all their threats, you’re not afraid to stand up for what you believe in.” She looked toward Lucas. “Same goes for you, Caesar Peppertrine.”

Lucas hesitated. “I—I’m not—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” Onyx promised. “I figured it out myself. It’s an anagram for Reaper’s Apprentice. It’s one of your clues, isn’t it?”

She conjured a sheet of paper and unfurled it. It was tattered on the edges, and there were marks all over it, like she’d spent a lot of time studying it. She showed it to Lucas, and I saw it was the first article he wrote, the one with the code about our meeting that no one had deciphered. “I haven’t quite decoded the whole thing, but I figured out your pen name. It wasn’t difficult. You guys aren’t exactly quiet about what you think of the priestesses. I want to help. Where do I sign up?”

Onyx had been my lab partner when I’d been posing as an Alchemist my second semester. She’d helped us the night of the Burning. She’d set off a distraction so we could rescue the students who’d been captured. I trusted her and knew she’d be a great addition to the team.

“We were just on our way to get to work,” I told her. “Follow us.”

We led Onyx down a maze of hallways. We stepped through our ward, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the magic shimmering down the hallway.