Gabriella Poole - Divided Souls (Darke Academy)

her relationship with Isabella. If nothing else, she wished she had her friend around to vent to.

To her relief though, it seemed Isabella had felt bad about lunchtime too. She greeted her roommate with a wide, apologetic smile as

Cassie shut their door and slumped on to her bed.

‘So. That was a little awkward earlier. I’m sorry, Cassie. I guess we just need to adapt to each other’s new lifestyles now, move onwards

and upwards, no?’

Cassie sighed. ‘Definitely.’

‘Well, to seal the meal once and for all, how about our girls’ night in? Smuggle in a bottle of champagne … And I’ll get caviar, smoked

salmon. Blinis! We can have a picnic. Listen to some music. I’ll give you all the gossip from the non-Few. How about it?’ Her eyes were

bright with mischief, but underlain with anxiety.

‘You’re on.’ Cassie felt her mood lift. ‘Blinis are my favourite! You can get some here?’

‘I can always get anything.’ Isabella squeezed her arm. ‘This will be good fun! Just you and me and my make-up case.’

Cassie’s heart sank, and not just at the thought of leaving her face to Isabella’s mercy. ‘Wait, but you don’t mean tonight though, right?’

‘Yes, tonight! No time like the present, Cassie Bell.’ Isabella grinned and began scrolling through her mobile phone contacts. ‘I’ll call my

father’s favourite hotel here, see if they can spare some supplies for their favourite client’s daughter.’

‘Oh, Isabella, I’m sorry.’ Cassie could hardly bring herself to say it. ‘I said I’d go to a … a Few party tonight.’

‘Again?’ Isabella couldn’t disguise her disappointment. ‘Where …?’

‘Another island. It’s between here and the Asian side. I’m really sorry, Isabella. We’ll take a rain check, though. Is that OK?’

‘Of course.’ There was something frosty about Isabella’s tone.

‘I mean, I’d invite you too, but …’

‘It’s Few Only.’

Cassie swallowed, feeling like dirt. ‘They made that pretty clear. Or I’d have asked you when I first heard, obviously.’

‘I understand. There are some times when the Few make the rest of us welcome, and others … well. I understand. I hope you have a

lovely time.’

Cassie couldn’t bear to hear that clipped tone in her friend’s voice. ‘Isabella, come on. I’m sure there’s other stuff you want to do with me

out of your hair for an evening. Then we can take the time to plan our night properly, make it really cool—’

‘Uh, yes.’ Quite abruptly, and to Cassie’s astonishment, her friend’s face had brightened, as though something had just occurred to her.

‘What am I saying? You’re right. Look, don’t be sorry, Cassie. I’m sorry! That was so graceless of me. You are to go and have a good time.’

‘Really?’ Cassie blinked with shock.

‘Really! It’s OK, I could … I could use some time to myself. Honestly, I mean it! Go and have fun.’

‘If you’re sure …’

‘Of course I am. Besides, a party means I can still work on that make-up of yours, no?’ Isabella grinned devilishly. ‘Let’s get you looking

your best!’

Speaking of which … Cassie almost didn’t dare ask. ‘Isabella, I—’

‘What? Oh, I know what it is. I know that look.’ Isabella’s smile became ever so slightly more forced.

‘You know I wouldn’t ask. It’s just—’

‘No, Cassie, of course, it’s OK. Of course you need to feed. Don’t worry. Really.’ Isabella couldn’t quite meet her eyes, she noticed. ‘I

insist. I told you, we want you looking your best.’

‘Thanks, Isabella. I appreciate it.’

Isabella took a deep breath and brightened again. ‘Besides, then you will have to submit to a makeover. Payback, yes?’

‘Yeah. Payback,’ Cassie mumbled, nodding but uncomfortable with the word. She owed her friend some of the control back after what

she put her through, it was true. ‘Isabella.’ Cassie hugged her friend. ‘You are a star. Incorrigible, but a star.’

CHAPTER TWELVE

The island had a different atmosphere to the Academy’s – it felt somehow more free-and-easy, less formal – but it had the same dusky-

scented beauty, and the small palace (Cassie had an inward giggle at the concept) shared the same splendid architecture and intricate

decoration. Cassie stood at a stone balustrade, one hand resting on the warm gilded wood of an arch, champagne cocktail in the other.

Across the silky pewter of the twilit Bosphorus she could see floodlit domes and minarets picked out against an indigo sky, and the cries of

muezzin were clearly audible in the evening air. The loveliness and strange loneliness of it made her heart ache in her chest like the broken

spirit of Estelle. Sometimes it was hard to tell which was which.

Behind her there was a hubbub of conversation, occasional squeals or guffaws, the bass throb of music. It was a good party, but it felt