Page 39 of Plug and Drain

striding down the corridor, Molly at her heels hurrying to keep up.

“I know he was in your room with you,” Molly panted. “And I know I probably should have woken the Residential Advisor, but…”

But talking to people is too much to bear. At least Molly felt comfortable enough to come to her.

“It’s fine,” Susie said, half-running towards the stairwell.

She slowed to a stop as she reached the landing. The sight of the headmaster on the steps sent a shockwave through her. He lay sprawled, having clearly fallen head-first down the steps. Even unconscious, he looked dignified, as if he’d gracefully sunk to his knees before toppling over.

To see Arken fallen like this was distressing, but he was no less formidable in this state.

Susie carefully stepped past him, noticing the slow rise and fall of his chest. He was still alive…for now. Relief sparked in her chest, but it was immediately snuffed out at the sight of the grey tone of his skin. He did not look well.

This is why he bit me, she realised, her chest surging with pity. He was hungrier than I realised.

“Let’s get him up to the landing,” Susie instructed.

Molly didn’t reply.

“Molly? Can you help—?”

Susie glanced over her shoulder, only to realise that the wolf had disappeared. She heard the quiet telltale click of Molly’s door shutting.

“Guess it’s just me then,” she muttered, inching closer to where Arken lay with one foot still on the landing and the rest of him on the steps.

She had the distinct feeling that if she went too close, Arken might suddenly spring to life to bite her again. It was an irrational thought, but not unfounded. Her skin crawled at the thought of him leaping at her throat, but it was a risk she had to take—she didn’t like the twisted angle of his body, and it looked as though he was a hair’s breadth of movement away from sliding down the steps. Vampire or not, rolling down an entire flight could seriously injure him.

Susie grabbed one of Arken’s arms and tried to heave him up to the landing, but he was too heavy. She was stronger than a human, but there was apparently even more muscle than she’d counted on beneath his tailored suit. He was still wearing that ridiculous night robe too.

Focus.

“Thanks for the help, Molly,” she said, rubbing her face. Opting for a different tactic, she took hold of Arken’s feet and swung them around so they were perched on the steps below him. It wasn’t ideal, but at least he wasn’t in any danger of rolling down the steps now.

Her blood pulsed as she stared down at Arken, debating what to do. He needed help, but she was reluctant to leave him alone, especially with how shallow his breathing was.

“Could really use your help, Molly,” she sang under her breath, glancing down the deserted corridor, then up at the winding stairwell that led to the academy’s large foyer.

“Hello?” she called. “Is anyone up there? I need help!”

Her voice echoed uselessly, and there was no reply.

As Susie struggled with the indecision of what to do, a haunting silence alerted her senses. It was too quiet.

Her head snapped to look at Arken.

Has he stopped breathing?

“Headmaster Arken?” Susie crouched down and seized his shoulder, her heart pounding as she tried to shake him awake. “Arken!”

No response, and his head lolled lifelessly.

She lifted his chin. “Arken, wake up.”

He didn’t respond.

Shit, shit, shit.

Susie glanced around her, but there was no one there.