Page 95 of House of Ruin
A wave of laughter went around the class. Professor Fallo smiled. But before the professor could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.
“I’m sorry, Professor Fallo, but I’m afraid we have to interrupt your lecture,” Miss Belthrove said, her usually happy face uncomfortably tense.
Every hair at the back of Alecto’s neck stood when the Dean’s secretary walked through the door, Detective Vin and two more cops in her wake.
When Detective Vin’s gaze snapped to Blaze, a small smirk curling his lips, Alecto realized they were fucked.
“What’s going on here?” Professor Fallo asked.
“I’m sorry for the interruption, Professor,” Detective Vin said, but he didn’t sound even one ounce sorry. “Mister Leveau, I’m going to ask you to come with me.”
Alecto straightened her back, looking at Blaze, who still lounged in his chair. His face didn’t reveal any emotion as he stared at the detective.
“What’s this about, Detective?” Val asked. “You have no right to barge in here and take one of my members without a reason.”
With a satisfied, smug look, Detective Vin slipped a hand in the inner pocket of his suit jacket and fished out a piece of paper. He held it in the air for Val to see and said, “I have every right and a reason, Miss Lang. Because Mr. Leveau is under arrest for three murders.”
Alecto remembered the events that followed Detective Vin interrupting the lecture through a cloud of fog.
The classroom was stunned into silence as Blaze rose to his feet and let Detective Vin and two cops escort him out. Val and the rest of the Inner Circle followed them through the campus, Detective Vin making a show out of the whole thing.
Now they were at the Darly Police Station, sitting in the reception as they waited for their parents. And their lawyers. Blaze was held in a cell.
It was hard for Alecto to admit it, but she found herself worried about him. She wished she could see Blaze, to make sure he was where Detective Vin said he was. And that he was alright.
“This is fucking bullshit, right?” Andro asked. His knee was bouncing so hard, it was shaking the whole bench they sat on. “He didn’t do it. How can they claim he did?”
“It’s going to be fine. I’m sure,” Jolene said, smiling. But her smile was weak, nervous.
“Shut the fuck up,” Val snapped, her voice low. Her eyes followed every cop who came in and out through the door that led to the cells. “And stop bouncing your knee and looking so nervous.”
Alecto patted Andro’s knee, offering him what she hoped was an assuring smile. The bouncing didn’t stop. A moment later, all their guardians spilled through the double doors of the Darly Police Station.
“I want to talk to that detective. Now,” Rufus boomed, heading straight for the reception. The witch sitting behind the desk rose from her seat, bracing herself for the storm.
“This will be reported to the governor,” Galliermo said, his face hard as a stone. “I’m going to make sure whoever is involved in this arrest gets fired.”
Alatar placed a hand on Galliermo’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper something into his ear. Whatever Alecto’s father told him worked because Galliermo straightened his back and backed away from the reception.
“Tell the chief of police that Octavia Weir is here, and she wants to talk to him. He’s going to make it happen if he wants to keep Darly Police Station and its poor management out of the next issue ofAvalon State Reporter,” Octavia told the young witch. Her manner was softer than Galliermo’s or Rufus’s, yet she still looked as threatening as any of them.
When the girl disappeared behind the door leading to the back of the police station, the alumni finally noticed the students sitting at the reception.
“Did you speak with anyone?” Rufus asked. “Did they ask you anything without lawyers present?”
Andro shook his head.
“They took Blaze into the cell, and we weren’t able to go in and see him,” Val said. “They also didn’t tell us anything about the arrest or on what grounds Blaze was arrested.”
Right then the receptionist came back. She exchanged words with Octavia, who nodded and turned to the others.
“The chief of police is ready to see us,” Octavia said. She didn’t even spare a glance towards either of them, following the receptionist through the back door.
Without any explanation, the rest of their parents followed. Even Reverie and Lyra, who at least were nice enough to acknowledge their circle. Lyra even offered an encouraging smile to Alecto before disappearing behind closed doors.
“I thought they’re gonna give us something,” Jolene said, frowning. “Anything, really. How long will we have to sit here unable to know what the fuck is going on?”
Val narrowed her eyes at the door. “Not much longer. Follow me.”
