Gabriella Poole - Blood Ties (Darke Academy)

‘Jake, it wasn’t her.’ Cassie grabbed his arm as he tried to interrupt. ‘Listen to me. I know it wasn’t her. Katerina can’t have been at Coney

Island with you and Isabella last night.’

‘How can you be so sure?’ he demanded angrily.

‘Because she was at Carnegie Hall. I saw her.’

That shut him up. In fact, for a moment she thought it had given him a stroke. Jake’s eyes bulged disbelievingly as he tried to absorb her

words. Finally, he spoke.

‘Why didn’t you tell me last night?’ he demanded.

‘You didn’t give me a chance, remember?’ she snapped. ‘You had things to take care of – things that didn’t include your girlfriend,

obviously.’

Jake bridled. ‘Yeah, I had to get back to Coney Island in case Katerina was still there. Which I wouldn’t have had to do if you’d bothered

to mention that you’d seen her on the other side of New York.’

Cassie winced inwardly. Why couldn’t she keep her temper? Jake glanced in Isabella’s direction as she called over.

‘I’m just going inside for a sec, guys …’

He waved, and turned back to Cassie.

‘Look, I was going to tell you about Katerina,’ she said, getting her words in first. ‘I just needed to find the right time.’

‘So what happened? At Carnegie Hall? Did you talk to her?’

Cassie grimaced. ‘Sort of. But trust me – it was her.’

Jake chewed his lip anxiously. ‘I would have bet my life it was Katerina at Coney Island, but I guess I must have been imagining things.

Unless the Few can be in two places at once.’

Despite herself, Cassie laughed. ‘I don’t think so.’

Jake shook his head. ‘But then on the subway today, I was sure I was being followed again. Something’s up, Cassie. You and I, we’re in

this deep – me with Jess, and you with your … ritual. But Isabella doesn’t have to be involved.’

Cassie’s stomach lurched horribly. If only he knew … Jake didn’t seem to notice. ‘Promise me you won’t tell Isabella.’

‘Jake, I can’t do that.’

‘I have to make sure that Katerina can’t do it again, Cassie. I have to find her. I’ve gotta go.’

‘Go where?’

Cassie jumped as Isabella popped up at her side, shifting a huge shopping bag from one hand to the other. Jake twisted his face into an

exasperated grin and held his hands up apologetically.

‘Back to the Academy. I just had a phone call,’ Jake lied. ‘Chelnikov wants to see me. I kinda failed to hand in a couple of essays. I guess

I’ve just been a bit preoccupied.’

‘Your tutor wants to see you on a Saturday? Jake, that’s not fair!’

‘I know, but he insists. I have to go now . He means business, Isabella, I can’t say no. I’m in enough trouble with that guy already.’

‘He’s got no right.’ Isabella was pouting furiously.

‘He’s got my school career in his hands,’ pointed out Jake. ‘I gotta go. I’m really sorry, babe.’ He tried to smile, though he wouldn’t look

Cassie in the eye. ‘You’ll have a great time without me. Go on, spend your socks off.’

‘Sure.’ Isabella tilted her chin reluctantly to receive his kiss. ‘See you, Jake.’

Cassie’s brow creased, and she didn’t reply when he said goodbye to her. There were far too many lies floating about – something would

have to give eventually. Now on top of everything else she had to worry about Jake stepping up his pursuit of Katerina, now he knew she

was in the city …

‘Chelnikov!’ Isabella pouted. ‘Why does that … that drill sergeant need to see him on a weekend!’

‘I don’t know, but Jake wouldn’t go unless he really had to, would he?’ Cassie cringed, kicking herself for covering for him. She just

didn’t want to give Isabella another reason to worry.

Isabella shrugged resignedly and ran her hands through her mane of hair. ‘OK, you’re right. It’s not his fault. Oh, why was I so mean to

him?’

‘Beats me,’ Cassie said reluctantly.

Isabella linked her arm through her friend’s once more. ‘Well, I will make it up to him later,’ she said archly. ‘In the meantime, a trip around

Bloomingdale’s should raise my spirits.’

Maybe, thought Cassie darkly. Let’s hope it doesn’t raise mine …

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘That was fun!’ said Cassie.

She actually almost meant it – Isabella’s enthusiasm for shopping was infectious, and helped take Cassie’s mind off things, for a

moment at least. ‘I take it you’re suitably consoled?’

‘Ooof!’ came Isabella’s reply. She halted in the Academy’s atrium, right next to Achilles, and set down her collection of shopping bags.