Gabriella Poole - Divided Souls (Darke Academy)

Or maybe, just maybe, she might have killed her. Cassie gave a violent shudder.

Coming back to herself, recognising the rugs and sconces and carvings of her own corridor, she shook Richard off gently. Breathing

deeply, she turned to face him.

‘Richard.’ She reached for both his hands and clasped them tightly between hers. ‘How do you stand it? Tell me.’

‘Stand what?’ The old familiar shutters were coming down all of a sudden, and the beginnings of a false grin twitched his mouth.

‘Stop that, Richard. Stop joking about it! You know what I mean: they treat you like a pet! I mean – sometimes they indulge you, and

sometimes it pleases their majesties to give you a bloody good kicking.’ Hearing the venom in her voice, she gulped hard, struggling to

control herself. Struggling not to see the world in scarlet …

Richard’s grin subsided and he studied her, very thoughtfully. ‘Well, does that bother you? How they treat me?’

‘Yes! It bloody does!’

The corners of his lips once again began to turn up, but this time it was genuine. ‘Good to know you care,’ he said, almost to himself.

The taut knot of rage dissolved on the spot, leaving her so weak she almost stumbled. Cassie sighed raggedly as he caught her arm.

‘Anyway, I think you know the answer to your own question, since we can’t all host a spirit as powerful as Estelle Azzedine’s.’ He

shrugged. ‘As for my poor little blighter … I don’t know how it’s lasted this long, to be honest. I don’t know who hosted it before me, but I

reckon it’s always played both sides against the middle. Always ducking out by the skin of its teeth, I imagine, while the rest of the Few tear

each other to sexily attractive shreds.’ Now it was his turn to exhale.

‘Sod that,’ she countered. ‘There’s at least one of us you can’t play.’

He smiled, and nodded. ‘Go on home.’ He placed his hand on the small of her back and edged her gently in the direction of her door. ‘You

need some rest.’

‘Thanks.’ She turned the handle, grinning weakly back at him. ‘I mean it, Richard. Thanks.’ But as she took a step inside, Cassie froze.

‘Oh my God …’ she breathed.

Richard was back at her side in an instant, staring around the room along with her.

All trace of Isabella had disappeared from the room. Her photos, her books, her iPod – everything was gone from her nightstand, and her

haphazard pile of make-up had been cleared from the dressing table. When Cassie ran to the wardrobe and flung it open, it was empty of

dresses and coats, jumpers and shoes – and so was the chest of drawers. Isabella’s schoolwork and her laptop had disappeared. Cassie

stood in the middle of their room, half expecting the whole world to disintegrate around her.

Richard was at Isabella’s made-up bed, lifting a smooth white envelope. ‘She left a note,’ he said. ‘I suppose that’s something.’

Cassie took it from him, ripping it open with her thumb. It took only a moment to scan her best friend’s untidy handwriting. She sat down

heavily on Isabella’s bed, and when Richard sat down next to her and put an arm round her shoulder, she didn’t shrug him off.

Cassie dropped the letter, and it floated to the floor. ‘She’s moved in with Alice. Just for a while, she says. To give her time to think.’ She

made a twisted face to stop herself bursting into tears. ‘It’s not for ever, apparently. It’s just for now .’

‘Blimey.’ Richard squeezed her. ‘It’s been pretty crap between you two, hasn’t it? But this is a bit of a shock.’

‘You could say that.’ Cassie rubbed her face with her sleeve.

‘Cassie. What happened between the two of you? Was it Jake?’

She nodded. ‘My fault. We kept the feeding from him. When he found out, he went into a rage, stormed off. I haven’t seen him since.

Obviously it’s all been really hard for Isabella to deal with.’

They sat together in silence as it sank in. At last Richard sighed, and rubbed the fingers of his free hand against his temple.

‘You haven’t seen him since?’

‘What?’

‘You said you haven’t seen him, Cassie. I heard your emphasis.’

‘Yeah.’ Her voice sounded very small. ‘That’s the trouble. Jake’s in Istanbul.’

Richard’s whole body froze; she could feel his muscles practically go into spasm. ‘He’s what? What would he be doing …?’

‘He’s in Istanbul. I haven’t seen him, but Darke knows it for sure. And I think—’

‘Whoa.’ Richard was still as tense as a drum. ‘You think Isabella’s seeing him?’

‘I’m pretty sure. And she’s keeping it quiet. And I don’t know why she’d do that unless …’

‘Oh, God almighty.’ Richard released her, put his head in his hands and ran his hands quickly through his hair. ‘Jessica, Ranjit, the Few,

revenge … it’s OK, Cassie, I’m getting there. I’m not as stupid as I make out.’