Gabriella Poole - Divided Souls (Darke Academy)

‘Isabella.’ Cassie sat down on the bed, clutching the fistfuls of bedspread to stop her hands shaking. ‘Yusuf’s dead.’

Isabella froze. ‘What? Cassie … how could you let me go on …? Oh my God. How?’

‘He was found …’ Cassie took a breath. ‘I mean, I found him. Down by the shore. Richard and me.’

‘But. That’s … that’s awful!’

‘You haven’t been out of the room this evening? Didn’t you hear all the commotion?’

‘No, I … I’ve been busy – homework …’

The silence between them was electric. Cassie narrowed her eyes, watching Isabella closely. But it seemed Isabella was no more going

to lower her gaze than she was. There was no way around it. She was just going to have to come right out and ask. She took a breath, and

closed her eyes briefly.

‘Isabella, has Jake been in touch with you? I need to know.’

The muscles of her friend’s face tightened, and she hesitated. ‘Why?’

‘Because he’s in Istanbul.’

She watched Isabella’s rigid face, desperate for some sign that it was a shock. That she hadn’t known. The girl could be pleased,

indignant, hysterical with delight, she didn’t care. Just so long as she hadn’t known …

But Isabella just stuffed the dress she had been pulling out back into its expensive-looking bag, before speaking again in a clipped tone.

‘What makes you think he’s in Istanbul?’

Cassie clenched her jaw. ‘Sir Alric had news. Jake’s been seen.’

‘Oh.’ Isabella turned away to check her reflection, quite unnecessarily, in the gilded mirror. Cassie could see worry and panic flicker into

her roommate’s eyes in the glinting surface.

‘Isabella!’ Cassie wanted to grab her, shake her. She stood up, clenching her fists. ‘Don’t you care about what’s happening around here?’

‘Of course!’ Isabella shouted, turning on her heel. ‘Of course I do. I’m so sorry about Yusuf, but I … I can’t do anything. What do you

expect me to do?’

‘If you’d seen him you wouldn’t be so cavalier,’ said Cassie bitterly. ‘He washed up on the beach. Richard and I found him. And …’ She

hesitated, staring at Isabella, desperate for any sign of the old friend who would have been bursting with concern for Cassie at this point.

But Isabella was like stone, impenetrable. ‘And he was hardly recognisable. He looked like … he looked like Keiko. Just like she did, after

that Knife went into her. Dried up. Mummified.’

‘He looked like Jake’s sister, you mean. After Jess was drained of all her life-force .’ Isabella’s tone had turned very cold.

‘Yes! Like Jess, then! Isabella, why are you being like this?’

‘I could ask you the same question.’ The Argentinian girl stood up abruptly and faced her. ‘What are you implying, Cassie? Jake has the

Knife, you know that as much as I do. But you seriously think he’s running round Istanbul murdering students? Oh, you know him really

well, don’t you!’

‘That’s not fair—’

‘Why not?’ snapped Isabella, eyes flashing. ‘It’s fairer than what you’re saying! Mikhail’s dead? Yusuf’s dead, he looks like that knife

killed him? Oh, and Jake just happens to be in Istanbul, which you only know because Sir Alric spies on him! My God, you’ve changed.’

Cassie gaped at her, unable to speak, but Isabella only glared, arms folded. At last she stuttered, ‘I’m sorry, Isabella, it’s just that I’m

worried about Ranjit. He’s the only one still missing …’

‘Oh, I see. And Jake thinks Ranjit killed his sister, so you’re accusing Jake, who used to be your friend, Cassie Bell, of killing him! How

could you?’

That did it. Her own rage raced back. ‘How could I? Jake would do anything to get back at Ranjit! Even though he hasn’t got a shred of

proof that Ranjit did anything to Jess! He’s so bloody prejudiced against anyone who’s Few, he’d—’

‘Oh, yes, the precious Few,’ sneered Isabella. ‘Your new friends. Such good new friends, you can’t be bothered with the old ones. Well,

you know what, Cassie? You’re welcome to them, and they’re welcome to you. It’s isn’t some spirit that’s changed you. You’ve done it all

by yourself!’

‘Isabella—’

‘Don’t even talk to me. I don’t want to hear it.’ Isabella grabbed her bag and a sweater, and stormed to the door. ‘I don’t want to be near

you right now.’

Cassie couldn’t watch her leave. She put her hands over her mouth, blinking back tears of shock and frustration, until the door slammed

with an apocalyptic crash. When Isabella’s footsteps had faded, she sank back on to the bed and stared in disbelief at her own mirrored

image.

Her heart was thundering, and she put a hand to her chest. That reminded her of Estelle, who, right on cue, chimed in.