Page 6 of Rogue Witch

Cromwell takes three more steps into the room—in an effort to put distance between him and the Grand Witch, I suspect—and says, “The list of students taken in the Reaping has been uploaded into the system. You may access the data any time. We escorted the remaining students to their rooms and ordered them to stay there for the night, as well as informed them there is a general curfew of six p.m., until further notice. Professors and teachers are patrolling the halls to enforce the curfew.”

“Make sure the students know we’re available, if they need us,” Raith says.

Cromwell nods. “Already done. Several students had mates taken. Two had siblings taken. We have teachers with them now. Faculty members are calling parents and loved ones of the missing to explain the situation.”

My chest tightens. Those parents and loved ones won’t sleep for the next week.

“What of Kiersten Simms?” Olympia asks.

A smidgen of relief appears on Cromwell’s face. “She’s doing well. Her father died when she was young, but her mother lives in New Jersey. We’ve sent a car to bring her here. Juan Hernandez refuses to leave her side.”

“From what Ethan said, the young man deserves a medal,” Olympia says.

As if called by the Grand Witch, Ethan steps into view in the hallway behind Cromwell and hurries past him into the room. “I’ve ordered Watchmen to patrol the site of the virtual games where the students were taken,” Ethan says.

Cromwell frowns. “The students can’t possibly return before next week.”

“Thank you, Cromwell,” Domini says.

Cromwell hesitates and looks at Raith, who gives a slight nod. Cromwell angles his head toward Olympia and says, “Grand Witch.”

She looks up from the tables and nods acknowledgement, then returns her attention to the tablet.

He sweeps his gaze across the room, says “Gentlemen,” then leaves.

Ethan closes the door behind him, and Olympia returns to her seat beside Raith, as her assistant quietly leaves.

When the door clicks shut, Seton narrows his eyes on Olympia. “You said no one could get hurt in your virtual world. How could you have been so wrong?”

His anger is palpable. Seven years ago, Seton and Leilah were close. Her sudden loss clearly has him reeling.

The fire cracks and a wave of heat ruffles the sleeve of Olympia’s robe. Her cool eyes lock onto the man. “Perhaps the arrival of the Reaping disrupted the laws of our virtual world.”

Seton throws his hands into the air. “The Grand Witch of the North has no answer.”

Headmaster Domini opens his mouth, but Olympia’s reply could freeze rain on an August day, “Careful, Child. I understand your worry, but I do not tolerate disrespect.”

“I assume no one considered the possibility that a Reaping might take place while we were in the virtual world—magical world,” Carter says.

Olympia lifts a brow. “Even I cannot predict a Reaping.” She looks to Raith. “I want to be kept apprised of the investigation into how our magic failed in the virtual world.”

“You do realize that Leilah Crowe was taken in the Reaping, along with her would-be killer?” Seton says.

“Chelsea Nightlow,” the Grand Witch says.

Seton leaps to his feet. “You know Chelsea tried to kill Leilah with that lightning bolt?”

“I just watched the video feed leading up to the students’ disappearance,” Olympia replies.

I keep my expression neutral. If she watched the video feed, that means she saw Raith tear apart the dragon that Leilah conjured. What will Olympia make of that?

“We can do nothing,” Olympia says. “Ms. Crowe is a powerful witch. She can take care of herself.”

“We didn’t ask for the War Games to take place in a virtual magical world,” Seton mutters.

“Enough,” Raith snaps. “Grand Witch, I suggest you notify the Council of Kispu to investigate what went wrong in the virtual world. This is your creation. The workings of a magical world are beyond our abilities to decipher.”

“That is a drastic measure,” Domini says.