New Haven

S.B.C ROYALS AND TRIALS

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Dawn, Clowe, and Dusk put their food trays away and headed to their lockers together. They were suddenly stopped by Caleb Benson. The hottie blondie twin brother of the red headed she Devil known as Kate.

“Hi Caleb,” Clowe said with a smile.

Caleb looked at Clowe and smiled, “Ah, Miss Clowe, if your voice were the only thing in the world I could hear, I would voluntarily rid myself of my other senses. Only if to better appreciate that which God himself has found favor enough in me to be able to hear.” Caleb answered.

“You’ve got to kidding me,” Dusk said leaning into Clowe who elbowed Dusk lightly in the side and blushed while looking at Caleb.

“What can I help you with Caleb,” Clowe said to him.

“I’m afraid I come as the bearer of bad news.”

“Really dude?”

Dusk stop it! Dawn thought to her sister who just rolled her eyes in response.

“I have a hearing summons for you. As freshmen president Clowe, you know it’s mandatory for you to attend.”

“Oh Okay! I’ll head over there as soon as I go to my locker okay. Was that it?” Clowe asked as Caleb shook his head.

“I’m also here for you two as well,” he said. He looked at Dusk and Dawn, “Dusk and Dawn Nightingale you are here by summoned to the Student Body Council for a disciplinary hearing.” Caleb said as he handed Dusk a pink piece of paper. He then left saying goodbye to Clowe without explaining much of anything else. Dawn took the paper out of Dusk’s hand and began reading it.

“This has to be about what happened on student orientation day with that red headed piece of…”

“Language!” Dusk smacked Dawn upside the head and snatched the piece of paper out of Dawn’s hands.

“Hey. Whatever.”

Clowe stared at the piece of paper in Dusk’s hands like it was the bubonic plague or something, “It’s your first day of school and you’re already being summoned to appear in front of the High Council. That’s really not good. Alec is the head of the High Council. He’s really tough on punishments. He once gave a kid a month of wood chopping just for littering,” she said looking worried.

“Wood chopping?” the girls asked in unison. Clowe nodded her head,

“That’s one the worst punishments here. Chopping wood is hard,” Clowe told Dusk and Dawn as she continued to look worried. The girls laughed as they noticed that Clowe had obviously always been one of those straight A’s honor students. Doing good deeds and helping out was a way of life for her. This was the first time Clowe had ever probably known someone who had been called in front of the High Council, as Caleb had called it, of the Student Body Council, and she looked petrified.

“It’s going to be alright Clowe” Dusk said trying to reassure her. The three of them headed down one of the main halls and stopped in front of a door. It had a sliver plaque reading “Student Body Council Hall” on it. Dusk knocked on the door, but heard nothing. Dawn rolled her eyes at her sister and pushed open the door,

“Hello” Dawn said aloud. Stepping inside, Dusk took a look around the large hall. It reminded her a little of a small courtroom with a teacher’s desk tucked in the corner of the hall. There were some major differences between this hall and a regular courtroom. Dusk saw that where there should have been a single chair for a judge, there were five separate chairs. Dusk also noticed that each chair in the judges’ area had a different set of designs on it. Then where there should have been a single jury box in the hall, there were two jury boxes, one jury box on either side of the courtroom. This place is kinda creepy. Dusk thought to herself.

“I hear that” Dawn responded.

“You hear what?” Clowe asked.

“Nothing” The girls said in sequence.

“Another inside joke”

“Yeah,” Dusk said “Don’t worry Clowe, you’ll catch on.” Clowe smiled at Dusk’s reassurance. The girls suddenly noticed that they were not alone in the creepy courthouse. Dusk was the first to notice that Kate Benson was there as well. Her brother Caleb stood in the courthouse next to his twin sister. He turned to look at Clowe who nodded her head to him just before Kate elbowed him hard in his side. Caleb smiled apologetically at Clowe as he sat down next to his sister. The expression on his face was one Dusk was all too familiar with. He was completely and utterly annoyed with his twin sister. Upon seeing Kate and Caleb on the other side of the hall Dawn sped passed Dusk, heading straight towards them like a bullet,

“Hey! What the hell? Didn’t you hear us knocking?” Dawn told Kate as she stared back at Dawn. “We knocked on the door a bunch of times. Why didn’t you open the door?”

“Do I look like your servant” Kate said through clenched teeth, “Plus you two aren’t supposed to be here. This is only for her.” Kate said pointing her perfectly manicured nail at Dusk.

“Well we’re here, so deal with it,” Dawn said crossing her arms over her chest, “Anyways, not that it’s any of your business, but we both got that stupid summons thing.” Clowe lowered her eyes and hid little behind Dawn.

“What company you keep these days Clowe” Kate said picking on her, “How sad that you couldn’t find better friends.”

“O, leave her alone you hairy little she devil” Dawn said taking a step in front of Clowe. Kate’s face turned red with anger, “Why you…” Caleb let out a sigh and placed his hand on Kate’s shoulder. He seemed to be trying to stop her from causing any more trouble.

“You started all of this” Dawn said cutting her off, “Dusk and I shouldn’t even have to be here, because you’re the one who tripped her on purpose in the first place.” Dawn stated, “You could have permanently damaged her.” Dusk placed her hand on Dawn’s shoulder. Pulling her back a little, before her little sister made things worse. Dusk didn’t want to disagree with what Dawn was saying. They both knew that Dusk could have and would have been able to do more damage to Kate, then Kate could have ever done to her. She suddenly remembered what had happened that day in the cafeteria. She remembered how it had felt to hold Kate’s life in her hands. Dusk shivered at the memory.

“You are such a winnie…” Dawn said nearly yelling at Kate, snapping Dusk out of her inner monologue.

“Dawn, remember what we promised David,” Dusk whispered into Dawn’s ear.

“Yeah, yeah I know. Don’t get kicked out or its military school. I’m cooled.”

Clowe saw Caleb’s eyes flicker behind Kate, “Kate the High Council is coming” he told her. They all turned to see Ms. Haven walk into the courtroom from a door behind the judges’ podium. She was followed closely behind by Angel, April, and Holly. The girls were all wearing the same long coats that Dusk and Dawn had seen them wearing on stage during the orientation ceremony. The long coats were all black except for Angel’s coat which was pure white. It was the same one she had worn the first time Dusk and Dawn had met her. They all had on an arm band over the right arm of their long coats. To Dusk, they all looked semi militant. The only differences between them that Dusk could see was that their arms bands all happened to be different colors.

Ms. Haven stepped to the side as each student took their place in front of their respective throne like chairs, leaving the chair in the middle and the one to the right of it empty. Clowe pushed Dusk and Dawn to the table opposite to Kate and Caleb as Ms. Haven stepped down from the judge’s area. She stood next to the stage with a file in her hands.

Ms. Haven looked at the time on her watch, “Well, that’s very good. We’ll be starting in just a few moments so Clowe and Caleb if you could please take your places,” Ms. Haven said motioning to the jury tables, “You can wait for your turns to speak in the matter.” Dusk nodded to Clowe who nodded back as she took her place along side Caleb at the jury bench. “Where is the rest of your freshmen board Miss Sparrow?” Ms. Haven asked Clowe. Clowe sat down in the jury box on the left side of the courtroom hall.

“Um…” Clowe began as the doors of the courtroom swung open. Dean and another student, who Dusk and Dawn didn’t recognize, came running in. “They’re right here Ms. Haven.”

“I see,” Ms. Haven said as Dean joined Clowe and Caleb in the jury area. “Thank you for joining us.” Ms. Haven said as Dean and the other male student looked down at the floor as they passed Ms. Haven. Dawn smiled to Dean as he stood on the other side of Clowe.

I had completely spaced out on Dean being on the freshmen board. Dawn thought to Dusk. Dusk nodded slowly to her sister but did not turn to face her. She felt the skin of her cheeks suddenly heat up as the temperature of the courtroom rose slightly. Dusk took a look around to see if anyone else had noticed but no one seemed to. The atmosphere of the hall changed rapidly as Ms. Haven continued to talk to them as to why they were all there. Dusk wasn’t paying any attention to her. She had no idea what was happening.

Do you feel that?

What? I don’t feel anything. Ms. Haven’s talking, pay attention! Dawn chided her sister.

Come on Dawn. You’re the one that feels things. You don’t feel that? It feels like someone’s coming, right?

It feels like someone’s coming? Dawn thought sarcastically to Dusk. What are you smoking? And did you buy enough for two. Dusk rolled her eyes at her sister’s gutter mind. Dawn began to chuckle at her own joke.

“Is there something you would like to share Miss Nightingale,” Ms. Haven asked Dawn. Dawn shook her head and covered her smile with her hand. “Then I’ll continue.”

Thanks for that Dusk.

Sorry sis, forget I said anything. Dusk mentally told Dawn as she began to concentrate on the feeling she had. It felt to her as if someone or something was coming. She was getting hotter and hotter and her heart started to race a little. Dusk tried not to be noticeable as she began glancing around the courtroom looking for whoever or whatever it was. After Ms. Haven had stopped speaking, Holly began to introduce the High Council. Suddenly she stopped when the doors behind the judge’s podium opened and Alec Heart walked in. He walked to the chair next the right of the middle chair and to the left of Holly. Dusk looked up at Alec. In an instant the paranoid senses of Dusk’s body stopped and fever vanished.

“Sorry I’m late,” he announced glancing towards Dusk and then he nodded at Holly, who smiled at him, “If you could all take your seats please. We’ll go right ahead and get started.” Alec motioned to everyone in the courtroom to sit. To the girls’ surprise, Ms. Haven didn’t take the middle seat but took her seat in the small desk beneath and to the side of the jury box.

Why isn’t Ms. Haven sitting in the middle seat? Dusk asked her sister.

How the hell should I know?

Language!

Oh, please. I think we have bigger problems to worry about right now then my language.

Yeah, you’re right. Sorry. The girls turned their attention back to Alec. He slipped on a red arm band over the left sleeve of his long cloak.

“First,” Alec said to everyone, “We are going to start off with introductions. Then we’ll go from there.” His voice seemed to warm Dusk’s very soul, “To my left we have Holly Eve,” He gestured to each of them before continuing, “To my right we have Angel Winters and April Showers.” Then he pointed to himself saying, “And I’m Alec Heart.”

“Is it just me or is there a theme to these names?” Dusk whispered to Dawn.

“Shh…”

Dusk found her eyes falling on Alec’s lips when he looked at her. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She looked away quickly as she felt her cheeks beginning to turn red. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was blushing. She then heard Dawn saying ‘caught ya’ in her head. “Let start, shall we” Alec said looking down at Dusk with a twitchy smile on his face, which surprised Dusk.

Angel handed Alec the file Ms. Haven had had in her hand just a few moments ago. He opened it and looked it over. He then passed the file to each of the other judges before passing the file to Clowe. Caleb, Dean, and the other boy looked at it from over Clowe’s shoulder. Alec waited until everyone had a chance to look over the file. Clowe walked the file over to Alec as he smiled down at her. He waited for her to walk back to the jury box. When he did speak again he addressed Kate first.

“It says here that Kate started the fight that occurred in the cafeteria during breakfast on the day of student orientation. Is this correct?” Alec asked Kate.

“No!” Kate shrieked standing up “That’s completely not how it happened. I was just standing there, in line, trying to get food when that new girl came and pushed me down.” Dawn got up and yelled at Kate.

“You are such a liar!” Alec raised his hand as Dawn started to debate with Kate, “Sit down Kate. The question was rhetorical. We already know that you started the fight. We have an entire cafeteria full of witnesses that will go on record saying that you started the fight. Besides, Kate, and I were there when the incident occurred, or did you forget?”

“I… no, I mean…”

“So please don’t insult this council by lying to us.” Alec told her. Dusk chastised herself as she noticed how super aware she was of Alec. So aware, even though Alec was talking to Kate, she was the one that had goose bumps going up and down her arms. With every glance Alec gave Dusk, her skin would heat up for just a moment. Just like when she had first felt him coming to the courtroom. It was weird as if he were actually some how touching her. She could feel his very breath on her skin. To Dusk, it felt like Alec was only inches in front of her, not several feet away.

What the hell is going on with me? Dusk thought rubbing her arms trying to ignore the goose bumps on them, “Why are we here?” she asked getting everyone’s attention. “I mean, if you saw what happened and already know who was responsible, then why exactly are we having a hearing?” Alec stared right at Dusk. She was surprised to see him smile for just a second before her heart took off like a race car making her feel uncomfortable.

“She’s right. I don’t understand why we’re here if everyone clearly saw that it was all Kate’s fault” Dawn said doing her best to look innocent and confused.

“We’re here to tell you the rules about picking fights Miss. Nightingale” Angel said in an even and authoritative tone.

“Even though we know Kate started it, you both caused a big food mess. The cafeteria ladies aren’t here to be your own personal clean up crew” April laughed softly, her facial expression and words seemed more like a self confession, which made Dawn smile.

“Even though you’re new Miss. Nightingale I believe the rules are the same here as they are in other schools.” Ms. Haven stated looking straight at Dawn, “Not that you paid any attention to those rules either, but at this school, I can assure you we do.”

“We have already decided on your punishment.” Angel said cutting off Ms. Haven, “All three of you, not just Kate, will take on the punishment of this court.”

“No way,” Dusk said. The High Council all looked down at Dusk surprised. “Why should we share equal treatment in the punishment if we’re not equally at fault?”

“Because even though Kate started it,” Angel began.

“Dawn was the one who went all WWF smack down in the cafeteria,” April continued trying to keep a straight face.

“And we were all there to see you” Holly pointed to Dusk, “Finish the fight.” Holly finished, a small smile creeping up at the edge of her mouth.

“In the future please come to us before taking a situation like this into your own hands.” Angel said smiling at Dawn who nodded. Dusk in the other hand was fascinated by Angel’s long white hair and light blue eyes, it made her look, just like her name sake an Angel.

“But Kate you, on the other hand, are not a new student here. You have been told repeatedly, over and over again…” Holly said.

“Repeatedly means over and over again,” April laughed as she told Holly who just smiled at her like a person smiles at a child who points out the obvious.

“Thanks, April. Like I was saying, you have been told about your attitude problem several times,” Holly sighed “This council feels that you are now out of excuses.”

Alec straightened himself in his seat, “If no one has any more to say.”

“Well…” Clowe began to say before Alec glared down at her, “I’m good, never mind.”

“Please rise to receive this courts’ decision.” Alec said as Kate stood arms crossed. Caleb stood and walked over to where Kate was standing as Dawn and Dusk exchanged nervous glances as they stood up. “Kate Benson. Your punishment will be to chop the wood of the black willow tree in the courtyard behind dorm building number four…” Alec began.

“No!” Kate pleaded and started crying into her brother’s shoulder. She was acting like she was being sent to the guillotine to get her head chopped off. Alec continued as if Kate hadn’t said anything at all.

“You will start chopping immediately at the end of classes and will only stop for dinner. Afterwards you will continue to chop until a half an hour before lights out for the rest of this week. That is to say you will be chopping wood for five days.”

‘What a princess’ thought Dawn, She’s actually crying because she has to chop wood. What? She’s afraid she’s gonna break a nail.

Yeah I know she’s ridiculous. Dusk agreed.

“Dusk and Dawn you will chop wood alongside Kate starting tomorrow and will continue till Friday. Okay, this concludes this hearing. I thank everyone for their time and we are adjourned,” Alec said to them. Alec then got up from his chair and walked up to Dusk handing her a pink slip that explained their punishment. Dusk extended her hand to grab the list from him. Their fingers brushed each other sending Dusk a strong feeling of heat and wanting. She quickly took the list from him and looked over it trying not to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he affected her. Alec silently smiled and walked towards Kate and whispered something in her ear. Dusk didn’t know what he was saying to her and didn’t care as she headed for the door to meet up with Clowe, Dean and Dawn, who were already ahead of her.

She couldn’t help but think that Alec had gone easy on Kate, because they were dating each other. It pissed her off a little. Could I just be jealous? Dusk thought to herself for a moment, nah. Dusk hated the fact that she could be jealous of Kate. Hated that there may be a possibility she liked Alec and hated how she reacted to him every time he was around her. What irked her more was the fact that he was Kate’s. The girl making Dusk’s new school experience miserable. She stopped by the door as she saw Dawn looking at something behind her and glanced back. The chair in the middle of the judge’s podium had never been sat in the entire time they had their hearing. Someone was missing from the five seats on the stage as Dusk stared at the cherry maple black empty throne looking chair. The other throne chairs the high council sat on had weird designs on them too. Dusk’s attention was suddenly drawn toward the unusual wording surrounding the boarder of the throne like chairs. She knew she had seen words like that before, she just couldn’t remember where. Dawn on another hand stood gazing at the throne like a puzzle she needed to solve. Dean waved goodbye to the girls in the background as Dusk still stood gazing at the judges chairs. That is until Kate started walking towards them and nudged Dusk as she passed by.

“You okay?” Dawn asked looking at Dusk as Kate reached the door, “Ass,” Dawn mumbled.

“I’m fine” Dusk said loud enough for Kate to hear it, “It was a weak nudge anyways.”

“Dusk I’ll see you in class” Alec told her as he whisked by them with Angel speaking to him in what Dusk thought sounded like Spanish.

Man can that accent of his make a girl melt.

You got that right girl. Dawn thought then looked at Dusk.

Can you stay out of my head?

Not my fault you broadcast wider than Verizon. Dawn laughed out loud as Clowe looked at her strangely. Dawn pulled Dusk and Clowe quickly out of the room, but not before noticing that Ms. Haven was still glaring at them with a seriously intense pist off expression.

Geez, is fighting really that frowned upon? Dawn thought.

What did he mean see you in class? Dusk looked at Dawn questionably.

“I am so glad that this is all over with. I thought I was going to have a heart attack in there or at least have some kind of a panic attack,” Clowe said smiling at the girls.

“Really Clowe? I thought that went pretty good actually,” Dusk said.

“You weren’t worried?”

“Oh, I was only worried that we were going to get kicked out school. That would have sucked since it was so hard to find a school that would accept us. On top of that we would have had to explain all this to David,” Dawn said.

“David?” Clowe asked.

“Yeah, David is our dad. We call him by his Christian name,” Dusk explained.

“Like I was saying, David, Dad or whatever, would be super pissed if he found out we got into a fight our first day. Am I right Dusk?” Dawn said.

“Well would you really call orientation the first day?”

“Dusk!”

“Of course he would be pissed. We did promise him that we wouldn’t get kicked out of school before we graduate,” Dusk agreed.

“But he will find out eventually guys” Clowe told them.

“Why does he have to find out?” the girls said in unison.

“Parent’s are notified of everything now and days. They can even go on the school website and enter in the pin number they were given at parent orientation. They’re able to get everything you did today. It’s updated daily. They can e-mail your teachers too.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The girls said as they stood in shock, mouths gaping at Clowe.

“And even if they don’t already know, Parent’s Day is coming up.” The girls looked at Clowe completely confused. Then Dawn smacked Dusk in the shoulder.

“Oh, it’s like back to school night,” Dawn told her as Dusk nodded in understanding. Dusk then punched Dawn in shoulder and laughed. “To hard!” Dawn yelled rubbing her shoulder.

“Well, this period is almost over and the bells about to ring, so what do you guys’ want to do?” Clowe asked.

“We have chopping duties”

“That’s not until after class” Dawn explained as the bell rang. Students started heading to their next classes. The girls walked to their next class together when Dusk stopped as they all turned the corner.

“Guys I’m not going to class today” Dusk said as Alec came walking down the hall and turned into the classroom she was supposed to be going to. She stared at Alec through the glass window of the classroom finally understanding what he had meant by, ‘See you in class’.

“You can’t ditch class Dusk. You just got detention” Clowe said.

“Fine with me” Dawn said interrupting Clowe, “Ditching is always healthy for the soul.”

Clowe looked back and forth from the classroom to the girls, “Its okay Clowe you don’t have to come along. We completely understand.” Dusk said.

Clowe smiled hesitantly, “Like Dawn said sometimes it’s healthy to ditch” she said.

“Are you sure? “Dusk asked, “It’s really okay Clowe” but Clowe just nodded and started walking towards the dorm building nervously. Back in the dorm rooms Dawn looked over the pink slip on her bed. Clowe sat next to her desk listening to Dawn begin to rant.

“Chopping wood” Dawn said looking down at the pink slip in her hand, “Are they kidding me? This is one of the most stupidest punishment I’ve ever heard of.”

“You were apart of the biggest fight I have ever seen Dawn,” Clowe said adjusting her glasses.

“Really… Oh Clowe you need to get out more.” Dusk said smiling at her friend.

“Alec was unusually easy on the punishment, even if you are new to the school. I wonder why he was so nice to you guys. He only gave you one week of detention,” Clowe said looking straight at them.

“I know why he was so nice to us.” Dawn smiled at Dusk, “Do you have any ideas why Alec was so nice to us sis?”

“Shut up,” Dawn stuck out her tongue at her sister as Dusk climbed up on top of the room’s only bookcase, which was becoming her favorite spot. She looked out the high window. Right then, Holly walked in throwing her long coat on the bed before throwing herself on top of it.

“Some times being on the student body council is really hard,” she mumbled staring at the ceiling. She then turned to look at the girls. Dusk knew what she was trying to say and what she wanted from her.

“Don’t worry about it Halls’ we’re cool.” Dusk said smiling at her. Holly smiled and popped off her bed as she gave Dawn a hug before climbing to the top of the bookcase joining Dusk as she sat. She gave Dusk a huge bear hug.

“Thanks I was afraid we wouldn’t be friends anymore,” Holly whispered as she pulled back.

Dusk shook her head, “Being punished out of stupidity isn’t going to stop us from being friends Holly, so just chill its fine.”

Holly smiled and then gasped looking around the room, “Wow! You all look so small down there. The room looks so big from up here. Now I know why you like climbing the bookcase.” Holly happily said swinging her legs back and forth. “Hey! Why aren’t you guys in class right now?” she asked looking down from the top of the bookcase at all of them.

“We all needed a moment to ourselves” Dusk said

“Well, we should go checkout where we’re going to be chopping wood” Dawn said waving the paper back and forth “Let’s go, coming Clowe?”

“Uh, yeah, ok what about you Holly?” Clowe asked nervously.

“No thanks. I have something I have to do before dinner you guys go on ahead.” She said to Clowe. Dusk helped Holly jump off the bookcase. Holly waved at them as she waited for the girls and Clowe to be out of sight then closed the door behind her. They walked down the stairs heading out towards the courtyard behind their dorm building where the black tree was located.

Holly turned around and looked up at the window as Alec climbed through it and landed softly inside the dorm room, “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Holly said to him.

“Of course I’m sure. This is the surest and quickest way to find out once and for all whether or not these girls are like us or if their norms.” Alec walked over to Dusk’s bed and sat down. He stared down at her purple bed sheets and wondered to himself if purple was perhaps her favorite color. Holly looked at Alec looking down at Dusk’s bed. She began to rock back on her heels slowly, her head full of thoughts. Alec could see that Holly was trying desperately to say something to him, but seemed at a loss for words.

“What is it Holly?”

“Oh, nothing. Forget I mentioned it.”

“You haven’t mentioned it yet Holls, so out with it. What did you want to say?” Holly looked at Alec still questioning whether or not to ask whatever it was that was on her mind.

“Well… um…I wanted to ask… When it comes to Dusk, nah, forget it. Seriously, forget I asked about it.”

Alec yelled at Holly. She was so startled by Alec’s sudden and uncharacteristic outburst her words came fumbling out of her mouth at lightning speed.

“It’s just I’ve noticed you’ve been watching Dusk a little closely. A little too closely some have been saying. We’ve all kind of noticed that Dusk looks sort of like a…”

“Stop Holly”

“…And with what she did to Kate in the cafeteria…”

“I said stop,” Alec said suddenly standing very close to Holly’s face. Holly looked Alec straight in the eyes and stood her ground.

“You and I both know there’s only one thing that can do that to our kind Alec,” he shook his head trying to block out Holly’s words.

“Ms. Haven would never allow one of their kind attend this school. If Dusk was…”

“She let your brother go to this school,” Holly pointed out, “We all remember how that turned out. Your brother who should have been at Rupert Ivan Prep from the beginning, but because he was a ‘Heart’ Ms. Haven allowed him to come here and then he…”

“Don’t go there Holly. It’s been a long day. Plus with my brother all the bells and whistles went off.” Alec stepped away from Holly and sat back down on Dusk’s bed. “I know exactly what Dusk looks like, but she doesn’t feel like that. No alarms have gone off no matter what happened in the cafeteria. I also know that after what happened with my brother, Ms. Haven would never let another one of them into our school. That’s exactly why I need to know what Dusk… I mean…” Alec took in a deep breath as Holly tried to hide her concern from him. “I need to know what the Nightingale twins are.” Holly stared at Alec for a long time. Not at all convinced of his motives, “The tree will give us that answer. You know as well as I do that none of our kind can touch that tree or be around it for long without it affecting us. At least this way I’ll know for sure.”

“Really” Holly asked, “That’s the only reason you’re doing this ‘test’. You want to find out for sure that they’re norms or one of us. It has absolutely nothing to do with fact you’ve been stalking Dusk Nightingale since the first time you saw her at the beach.” Alec glared at Holly.

“No, and I have only been watching both of them to make sure they really belong here, with us, at this school.”

“And if she doesn’t,” Holly asked.

“If she doesn’t belong, then we’ll get rid of her.” Alec said with no hesitation. He stood up from Dusk’s bed and turned away from Holly, going out the way he came in.