Shadows Burning

(I'm here. Did you just change the background?

I'm going to pretend I was with you two the whole time because otherwise I don't know where I would be.)

Vinotri wondered who the strange man might be.Was he a professor she'd somehow never met? And why was he reasearching possession? Did he know something about Calixte?

(hello.

Yes, I did. Do you like it?

Okay, that's fine.)

Enya watched the man turn into a hallway and disappear from sight. she sped up hoping they wouldn't lose him, but when she got there, he was gone. she noticed a rusty door and struggled to listen through it. she thought she could make out a man's voice, but she wasn't sure. she turned to zoe expectantly. they could really use some trickery.

Zoe noticed Enya's glance and nodded. She began muttering as quietly as she could, summoning the trickery magic. When she was done, she was exhausted, but they could now hear perfectly everything that was inside the room.

"you have the books?' said a voice

"yes, sir." another answered "everything went smoothly.'

"and the girl?" growled the first voice

"she is under our control"

"the master will be pleased."

Zoe heard footsteps approaching the door and began to panic. But to her releif, they stopped right at the door. Zoe crept around a corner into the main hallway, and to look like a normal student walking down the hall. A minute later, two men came down the hall. One of them was the rainbow-coat guy, and the other...was their fighting teacher!

Vinotri stared at their teacher. She had always liked him, and she couldn't believe he would be involved in something like this. Suddenly, an idea came to her. Turning to Zoe and Enya, she whispered, "Calixte first acted funny during swordfighting practice! Do you suppose it might have been him who did it?"

when the two men had disappeared, enya turned to her friends.  "you're right." she breathed. "do you think that door's unlocked? we could try to steal those books"

Zoe grinned. "Yeah, I was thinking that too, Enya. Let's go see what we can find in that room."

Enya crept back around the corner and tried the door.  it wasn't locked.  slowly, she opened it.  the books were on a small table near the door. she grabbed them and left swiftly.  'lets co back to the cabin." she said, hoping they wouldn't encounter their fighting teacher on the way. 

They each stuffed a few of the books in their bag and hurried back. Zoe sighed when they were back in the cabin, flopping onto her bed.

"Do you think they want the books so that other people won't be able to stop them?" Vinotri asked. "It's not  like they need them to know how to do it, since they obviously can already."

Enya still felt tense.  "they won't be happy when they find the books gone." she said.  "we should pack up now, and leave tonight or tomorrow."

"Agreed." Said Zoe. "Let's tell the others and pack up. We should leave as soon as possible. I don't wo be anywhere near here when they discover that the books are missing. we can start readin now, and leave tonight. We can bring the books and read more along the way."

"okay.  i hope nariko gets here soon.  it will be hard traveling with her leg, but we can't wait until it gets better, and she'll never agree to stay behind."

"Maybe we could steal some medicine and stuff from the infirmary," Vinotri suggested.

(actually, i just realized that the nurse could probably heal a broken foot instantly with magic, so it's not really a problem.)

"Where on earth have you guys been?!" Nariko asked as she stumbled into the room. "You weren't at the library, not in any of the hallways, and most certainly not outside. I had no idea that you liked to sneak around at night." Nariko flopped down on the bed. "Anyway, what have you found? And what are those musty old books?"

"They're the books about possession from the library." Said Zoe. "But we have to leave right away. The person who checked out these books will be wanting them back."

"Okay. Did you see anyone in the library?"