Gabriella Poole - Blood Ties (Darke Academy)

‘I don’t know what this is. I’ve never heard of it.’

Sir Alric Darke’s back was turned to them. For several silent minutes now he had been staring out of the glass walls of his penthouse on

to the glittering lights of Manhattan and the blackness that was Central Park.

Cassie shivered. She could hardly believe she’d run into that absorbing darkness without a thought. The hunger was growing again; she

could feel it. It had gnawed at her insides since she’d run in a blind panic from Carnegie Hall. The spirit was awake and it was ravenous.

And that was one more thing she didn’t need, because she’d been just as sure as Ranjit that Sir Alric could explain what had happened at

Carnegie Hall.

No such luck.

‘You say you picked Sara up?’

‘Not – not physically.’ Her voice trembled, and she cleared her throat. ‘But yes, I picked her up. Some kind of force. Outside me, but it felt

like I was controlling it.’

‘This is baffling. And it worries me a great deal.’

‘It worries you?’ She tried to laugh.

‘Sir Alric,’ Ranjit broke in. ‘If you can’t explain what’s happened, no one can. There must be something. Something you’ve forgotten,

something from the past.’

‘I’m touched by your faith in me, Ranjit.’ Sir Alric sounded unusually bitter. ‘But no. I’ve never heard of any such thing. I’d remember,

believe me.’

Ranjit squeezed Cassie’s shoulders in an attempt to reassure her. ‘Are you sure that the joining ritual has never been broken before?’

Sir Alric gazed out on the city again. ‘No. No, Ranjit, it hasn’t. And you’re right, it’s the only thing that’s different about Cassie: her

interrupted ritual.’

‘Some of the spirit was shut out,’ said Cassie quietly. ‘Some of Estelle. She talks about being out in a void.’

Sir Alric spun sharply on his heel. ‘She talks to you? You hear her voice?’

‘Yes.’ Cassie’s shoulders sagged.

‘That shouldn’t happen,’ he muttered, rubbing his forehead. ‘That shouldn’t happen.’

‘She wants to be let in. Like you told me at the end of last term. You said she wouldn’t stop until she joined with me fully.’

Sir Alric stayed silent but nodded slowly, his brows knitted.

‘What’s happening to me?’ Cassie’s voice took on an air of desperation.

Sir Alric’s eyes met hers. ‘I don’t know.’

Gently easing from Ranjit’s hold, Cassie rose to her feet. ‘You’re hardly filling me with confidence here.’

‘I’m sorry. There are some people I can ask and some ancient texts I can consult, but for now, Cassandra, I can’t give you any firm

answers.’

‘Oh, brilliant.’ She folded her arms.

‘Part of the spirit you think of as Estelle was shut out of you. She’s divided, so perhaps your power is divided, too.’ He shook his head

despairingly. ‘It’s the only explanation I have, Cassandra. When we join with our spirits, the power that they provide goes inside us,

becomes part of us. But your spirit is not fully joined with your body, so perhaps you can project some of your power beyond yourself. I’m

not sure.’

Resting a shoulder against the glass, Cassie too gazed out at the sparkling grid of the city streets. Then she straightened, brightening

suddenly.

‘Then … hang on a minute. If part of the power is outside, maybe I can get it all out?’ She turned to face Sir Alric, excited. ‘Get rid of it and

get rid of Estelle!’

Deep inside her she thought she heard a whimper of fear, a whine of protest, but she ignored it.

Ranjit stood up now, his jaw tense. ‘Is that what you want, Cassie? Truly?’

‘Of course! Wouldn’t you?’

He didn’t answer, only held her gaze. For a moment they regarded one another silently.

‘Cassandra,’ said Sir Alric finally breaking the silence. ‘You have to be extremely careful. We don’t know what you’re capable of.

Whatever this power is, it appears to be very dangerous. What’s more, your spirit absolutely will not want to leave you. Without your body,

it will be lost in the void for ever. Believe me, it will hold on to you at all costs. Who knows what Estelle might do if she believes she’s

threatened? Until we know more about your power, you absolutely must not provoke her.’

‘And how exactly do I avoid provoking her?’ Cassie glared at them both. ‘She’s got a mind of her own, let me tell you.’

‘You can start by controlling your emotions,’ Sir Alric snapped sharply. ‘It was your fury that sparked the spirit’s power tonight. Do not let

that happen again.’

‘Oh, sure, no worries,’ she growled sarcastically. ‘Piece of piss.’