Page 96 of Echoes of the Banshee

“Let me give you my number, call me if something happens.”

Like what?

He leaves without another word after I put his number in my phone. I send him a quick text:

This is Mavrik.

The shadow guy.

Seems most honest.

The shadows have run out of patience and start tugging me again.

“Fine.”

We head across campus and I stop in front of the girls spiritborne dorm. They don’t like that, they tug me again. I sneak in behind a girl, blending into the shadows.

“I don’t know which dorm is hers,” I tell them like they care. They move with confidence and it takes all my concentration to remain invisible. We stop at the top of a side stairs and I see Zair and the goblin leaving.

The shadows jerk me again.

“We’re here already.”

Yank.

“You want me to sit in front of the door? I won’t be invisible there.”

Yank.

These things are seriously obsessed. I’m sure it has nothing to do with me. I stand in front of the door like a creep. This isn’t going to help my reputation at all.

They’re still not happy. They’re going under the door and keep wrapping around the handle.

“It’s locked,” I attempt to reason with them.

It clicks. What the hell? I had no idea they could do that. The door opens slowly.

Guess we’re going full on creep.

I step inside and shut the door behind me, locking it again. She’s sleeping fully dressed as the shadows wrap around her, like they’re making sure she’s safe. I lean against the door and slide down. Unsure how I got into this situation. My head rests against it as I close my eyes, I trust that if anything happens the shadows will wake me.

***

Crunch.

My eyes fly open and I scan the room. Shit.

Thea is sitting on her bed, eating an apple and watching me.

I’m so busted.

She takes another bite, each crunch audible as she chews.

“How are you feeling?” I ask like this is completely normal.

“Weak,” she replies.

“Do you have any protein, it will help.”