Page 78 of Class Studies
My eyes widened. “Nurse Norah?”
Alice smiled and nodded. My head spun. Alice and Nurse Norah were the only two teachers in this place I trusted. Both had gone out of their way to help me. Why were they friends with Abe?
“Why are you working here?” I tried to keep my voice friendly, but my question came out harsher than intended.
Alice raised an eyebrow and shooed me out. “Aren’t you full of questions today?” She locked the door with a click. “I killed my controlling, child-molesting husband, funnily enough, using one of Bernadette’s potions. Though I didn’t know it at the time.”
I blinked, searching my memory for any sign of her husband. Other than wearing his hoodie, he’d been a ghost. A literal ghost. “You gave me your dead husband’s hoodie?” My jaw dropped. “The one you murdered?”
My stomach twisted. I lived in that hoodie, taken comfort in it.
Alice smiled sadly, her hands fluttering in front of her. “He wasn’t using it, and he wasn’t wearing it when I killed him.”
I might have turned green.
“My attachment to it wasn’t healthy.” Alice pressed her hand to her heart. “It felt good to give it to someone who needed it.” She ducked her head. “Just like people, items aren’t their past. You helped me turn something bad into something good, thank you.”
My queasiness eased. I liked her concept, but I still slept virtually naked in that thing! My need to replace it vanished.
Alice brightened. “I told you not to worry when your advisor destroyed it. I’m not even sure why I kept it with me.” She brushed my cheek. “He manipulated me to a point where I couldn’t do anything. I caught him abusing kids and never said anything until I was pregnant with my own. Having a child growing inside me gave me the strength to stand up to him.”
Alice paused and put a hand on my shoulder. “This next bit’s a little dark. Do you still want to hear it?”
I nodded.
“I cut up his body and mailed the pieces to his partners.” Alice grinned awkwardly. “That’s the bit that landed me in here. It was part pregnancy hormones but also my way of taking control. Those bastards all worked together, and if I hadn’t ended up here, I would’ve gone after all of them.”
I knew exactly how she felt, and I threw my arms around the librarian. “You don’t have to explain.”
Alice’s voice wavered as she hugged me back. “They’re all in jail. My mom’s raising my daughter. Because of Beryl, I get to see her every weekend.” Alice wrinkled her nose. “She’s a bit young to know what she’s looking at on a video chat. But she knows my voice. I can see her little eyes light up when I sing to her.” Alice smiled. “I’ve got two years left on my sentence. I was honestly lucky they needed a librarian. This is much better than rotting in jail or being hooked up to a power station.”
I gave her another squeeze before letting our moment go.
With a small step back, I asked. “I’ve heard about those a few times now. What is a power station?”
Alice got us walking down the stairs. “Exactly what it sounds like. I mean, you’re not literally hooked up, but you use your magic to power runes and potions for the masses. It’s a mind-numbing job, one I hope to never do. But, it’s the only job a lot of Rimmed Mages can get, and magical prisons don’t even pay you when you end up in one.”
“Right,” I said, as she dashed my hopes of the power station having anything to do with magic and technology mixing. “What time is it?”
Alice stopped at the bottom of the stairs and fished out her phone. “Just after ten.”
I bounced, my stomach fluttering with nerves. “I need to go.”
Alice frowned.
I threw my arms around her again. “Thank you for sharing.” I lowered my voice. “My master controlled my life too, and my relationship with his memory is complicated.” I squeezed her. “I think I would’ve kept the hoodie. I get it.” I released her and stepped toward the door. “I’m glad it’s gone now, though, sorry not sorry.”
I shuddered, thankful I didn’t know it’s past when I used it.
Alice hugged me back. “Don’t be sorry. Thanks for the hug. Take care of yourself now.”
I released her, bobbing my head as I raced for the Alchemy Lab.
Chapter 15
The peace and connection my moment with Alice brought me vanished as I ran through the halls. I slowed, realizing my mad sprint would appear on the security feeds. After taking a few extra turns, I popped into one of the lounges as if looking for Roisin. After fake-looking a few more times, I slumped my shoulders in defeat and prayed my little show made my actions look more normal. Now I’d done it, it felt rather pointless.
By the time I walked into Abe’s domain, hummingbirds beat their wings in my stomach, and sweat broke out on my palms.