Roe

“Do you mean the connection to the campus that Ever told us about?” Dawn asked. “That’s the connection that broke?”

“Exactly,” said Professor Lal. “Ever told you about that?”

“I had asked some of Leila’s friends on campus whether they knew where she was, and they didn’t remember her,” Edie said. “So Ever explained how it works. It wasn’t really as much information as I hoped, though.” She sighed. “I guess we know more now. She isn’t dead or injured. But why would she go to Faerie? Did… did someone make her go there?”

Dawn started to say something, but Edie beat her to it. She crossed her arms and took a step forward, glaring at Professor Lal. “Why not?” she demanded.

Professor Lal shook her head, not in the least intimidated or abashed by Edie’s anger. “It is not a thing that can be done.”

“I’m sure you can stop us if you want to,” said Corrie. “But at least explain to us why first.”

“I intend to,” said the professor. With a tiny movement of her head, she was now looking fiercely at the little old faerie lady. “And you go back in. You are not to show yourself to students.”

Corrie led them to the hall where the magic professors’ offices were. It was dark, with no light showing through any of the doors. They must have all gone home, or wherever it was the faeries went at night. They walked to the end of the hall, and Corrie knocked confidently on the door.

“Are you sure she’s there?” Edie asked softly.

“She’s always been there before,” Dawn said. “Even when all the other magic professors are gone. I think she lives there.”

“Was that it?” Dawn asked with surprise. “I thought that a blood oath would have to involve his blood, at least.”

Ever shook her head, wrinkling her nose. “Why would I want to deal with his blood? Bleah. Mine will keep him bound well enough. You can let him go, Corrie.” She waved her hand in the air as though letting it dry; no more blood was dripping from the wound.

Corrie didn’t let go of Celao’s arm. She was frowning. “That didn’t seem complete enough to me. What if he tells someone else who could tell Belara and Feloc?”

“But who could have done that?” Dawn asked. “Is there anyone, other than the court faeries?”

Ever looked up at Tom again. “I don’t think so. I mean, there are probably those who could… but that doesn’t mean they would.”

“The thing to me,” said Tom from his tree, “is that her tree is still here and alive. Who has the power and the finesse to overcome a dryad but keep her tree intact?”

“Would she have to be awake or alive for the protection to still be there?” Dawn asked. “I mean, Professor Lal said that the spells on Edie would only have broken down if either Leila did it on purpose or something happened to her, so if something happened to her to make other spells end, wouldn’t the tree spell work the same way?”

Ever shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure. I don’t know much about dryads, really. Tom, do you know?”

“That’s right,” said Naomi to Dawn. “You had to explain to me who Ever was all over again. I still don’t have any memories of you ever living on campus or appearing human,” she added, turning to Ever.

“We were just talking about that,” said Corrie. “So… I guess forgetting about her doesn’t necessarily mean she’s been kidnapped like Annie was, right? But everyone else we know who was forgotten about was with the court faeries—so does that mean she’s with them?”

“No,” said Edie. She swallowed visibly. “They’re not the only ones. People forgot about Marlin, too.”

When they arrived back at Leila’s tree, no one else was there, so Dawn, Rico, and Roe sat down to wait. Tom, on the other hand, amused himself by climbing trees around the area. However, when he decided to try to climb Leila’s tree, he fell out. He turned it into a somersault and landed on his feet with a triumphant grin, but Dawn knew better.

She climbed to her feet and reached out to touch the tree cautiously. “Did she throw you out? Do you think that means she’s there and awake?”

Tom spun on his heel and blew a raspberry at the tree. “Did any of you try climbing it?”

Dawn decided to take Rico and Roe back onto campus for the trip to a different part of the woods. “I think it’s safer to be on campus than in the woods,” she explained. “And I think it’s a straighter walk. The campus is sort of oval-shaped, and we’re on the side, but Tom is on the top.”

“Do you think it’s safe to be walking on the grass?” Roe asked as they stepped out onto campus.

Dawn sighed and shook her head. “Probably not, but I doubt it’s any more dangerous than the trees. And it’s not like they don’t already know we exist.”

“So who would know where Leila is?” Edie asked, trying to conceal her rising panic. “Does she have any friends among the court faeries? I’m sure she’s never mentioned any…”

Ever shook her head. “Not that I’ve ever seen. As far as I know, she doesn’t have any friends at all. She’s kind of like me.” She grinned. “She likes playing with the humans more than spending time with the faeries.”

Edie felt as though she’d been struck in the stomach. She took a half-step back. “Her human friends—the other theater lesbians. I hadn’t even thought of them. Maybe they’ve seen her.”