Chapter 348: The Star Club
Before I could take even one step Charlotte had her hand on my arm and pulled me back.
"Just where do you think you're going?" Her voice had taken on the soft growl of her were side. Only then did I realize she'd been through as much as I had today. Left her pack behind, forced to follow me around, she must have been just as frustrated as I felt.
"The secret society thing, remember?" She'd been there, overheard, I was sure of it. "The Star Club. It's for witches." Okay, I was guessing, filling in blanks. "And if Darin is involved, it can't be good." Again, guessing. But from the troubled look on Charlotte's face, she felt the same way I did.
"We'll see where they go," Charlotte said, releasing my arm. "But that's all."
Whatever. "Come on, we'll lose them."
I wished I had time to stow my backpack, but instead was forced to lug it along, the weight bouncing on my back as Charlotte and I jogged across the Yard and toward Widener Library. I caught sight of the boys passing through between the main building and the smaller side libraries on their way to the street. We reached the busy Massachusetts Avenue just as the pair disappeared down a side street, Holyoke.
I dodged across with Charlotte at my back, slowing as we reached Holyoke. I was just in time, hidden in a patch of shadow, to see my friends climb a narrow set of stairs to a dark painted door and ring the bell. The door opened and the two stepped inside, the portal thudding solidly shut behind them.
I stood there for a long time, looking up at the tall, narrow building sandwiched in between two others of brick.
"Planning to knock?" Charlotte's soft whisper still held humor, but her amusement was as dark as the night sky.
"Likely." I found myself hesitating further. It was tempting to go check the place out, but a few things held me back. I didn't feel any kind of thrall on Simon or Rupe, so Darin wasn't breaking any witch laws. And if he was willing to let two normals into his Club, who was I to say things were hinky? For all I knew, Darin was just planning some prank against them. Or making them do stupid stuff like I'd heard about fraternities. Just because Darin was a creepy jerk with girl issues didn't mean he was planning to hurt my friends.
This really wasn't any of my business. Why then did I feel so nervous?
"Let's go," I said. With no excuse to check in on Simon and Rupe, and unable to interfere with other witches, I had no other choice. "But we'll keep an eye on the Star Club. And my friends."
The return to my dorm felt like a retreat. I hated backing down.
At least my room was empty when I returned. Or mostly. A pile of silver fur with burning amber eyes lay on my pillow, pink nose shiny in the light when I turned it on.
Just the sight of Sassafras sitting there, waiting for me, made tears rise in my eyes. I hurried forward, falling onto the bed to bury my face in his fur, feel the roughness of his tongue on my cheek as he purred in my ear, whole body vibrating with it.
"I've chosen to stay with you for a time," he said softly. "It's quieter here. Not as much Council running about."
"What about Meems?" I wanted to be selfish, but the thought of my little sister all alone broke my heart.
"She has friends over all the time," he said. "Noisy little things, chattering into the night. I could use the rest."
I hugged him, scratching his cheeks, his ears while he rolled over on his back to let me rub his tummy.
"Thanks," I whispered, a single tear falling to sparkle on his fur.
"I missed you too," he said. "And I know how hard this is. How lonely. I don't want you to feel like we've all abandoned you."
I stroked the teardrop from his silky coat. "You're the best, Sass."
He flipped over and head-butted my cheek. "I know," he said. "Now, don't you have some homework or some such to attend to? You're disturbing my nap."
It was so hard not to squeal and squeeze him as punishment, but I resisted.
Barely.
***
