Gabriella Poole - Divided Souls (Darke Academy)

religious past of the museum.’

‘Did you ever feel like a primary school kid?’ murmured Cassie as they headed off obediently.

Isabella giggled. ‘Sir Alric didn’t look too happy to find a class here. Probably wanted a peaceful afternoon!’

Yeah, thought Cassie, glancing over her shoulder to see that Sir Alric had taken his leave of Mr Haswell and was striding towards the

mausoleums. Maybe that’s all he wanted. A bit of peace? Somehow she didn’t think so, but Cassie didn’t care. Whatever was going on with

Sir Alric, and Ranjit too, she wasn’t getting involved. Not any more.

As far as she could in the Darke Academy, she was going to get through this term as a normal student.

Don’t put yourself down, my dear. We’re anything but normal .

Cassie smiled wryly. Estelle was right. But she was definitely done with secrets and lies, and wasn’t going to let curiosity get the better of

her. She’d leave that to some other kitty …

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘Thank God that’s over.’ Isabella flung herself backwards on to her bed. ‘I have never known such a terrible first week. How many maths

classes can a girl stand? And as for chemistry! Chelnikov, he hates me!’

‘No, he doesn’t.’ Cassie dumped a pile of books on her desk. ‘He kind of likes his lab equipment intact, but he doesn’t hate you …’

‘It was an accident!’ insisted Isabella, tossing her hair out of her face and sitting up straight. ‘Ugh, let us forget the whole catastrophe.

Alice suggested we go and try out 360 Istanbul? We can get all the Yusuf gossip from the other side, yes?’

‘You’re on!’ Cassie said, grinning. At least Isabella was proposing doing something fun. But then Cassie’s face fell. She’d forgotten …

‘Damn it. I’m really sorry, I can’t. Sorry, Isabella. I already promised Ayeesha.’

‘Promised Ayeesha what?’ Isabella frowned.

Cassie felt her cheekbones burn. ‘That I’d go to the common room tonight. They’re having drinks. Some kind of Few celebration of the

start of term.’ Her voice trailed off.

Isabella paused for a moment, unable to hide her disappointment.

‘Oh, right.’

‘Come on, Isabella. It’s just a couple of drinks. It’s not like they’re going to swallow me up.’ Cassie bit her lip. ‘Listen, maybe I could come

and meet you guys afterwards. Or … I suppose there’s no reason I can’t cancel?’

Isabella smiled, though it seemed a little forced. ‘No, Cassie, no. This is important for you. You have to socialise, get to know them as well.

Really, don’t worry. It’s OK.’

Cassie felt even worse, now that Isabella was being so sweet about it. ‘I don’t know …’

‘You’re to go to your drinks. Really. I’ll tell you all about the restaurant later.’ She gave Cassie a sly grin. ‘It’s very beautiful, though,

apparently. Views right across the city and the sea, I hear …’

‘Don’t,’ groaned Cassie. ‘I’d rather be coming with you guys, honest.’

‘Next time, then.’ Isabella jumped up and began rummaging through her wardrobe. ‘Now let me see. For such a special place I should

dress up. Maybe the Hussein Chalayan …?’

‘Stop it!’ Cassie flopped on to her bed, wishing heartily that she’d never accepted Ayeesha’s invitation, that she was going out on the

town with her best friend and Alice instead. Then she jumped as she felt her phone vibrate.

Cassie tugged it out of her jeans pocket and peered at the caller ID. Shocked, she snatched a quick glance at Isabella. The girl was still in

a trance of indecision, holding a dress against herself and frowning into the mirror.

Ranjit Singh, said the display.

‘Now what the hell do you want?’ Cassie murmured at the phone. She took a deep shaky breath, and then deliberately slid the phone

back into her pocket. No way. Not when she was already feeling so bad about letting Isabella down. Not when she was so nervous about

her visit to the common room, which was, oh yes, just the sort of occasion on which Ranjit would have found a way to let her down.

She left the phone to continue vibrating, and gave a sigh of relief when it finally stopped.

* * *

She lasted remarkably well, Cassie told herself later. Showed amazing restraint, all things considered. It was a whole hour before she

finally gave in and responded to that insistent bleep of the voicemail message. Even then it was only after Estelle’s insistence that she

should prepare herself in case Ranjit had something planned when she got to the drinks.

Closing the door of their room, pausing in the corridor, she shut her eyes and sighed. Of course she had to listen. Get it over with. She

wouldn’t ever relax for her imminent common room ordeal otherwise …

Flipping the phone open before she could change her mind, she punched in the number and pressed the phone to her ear.