Fire Trap : A Young Adult Fantasy (Arcturus Academy Book 2) Page 20

  “Where is Basil?” Dr. Price asked as we arrived at the parking lot and she saw for herself that her vehicle was gone. She had a hand over her stomach like she felt ill.

  “I don’t know. I saw him leave the party with Secretary Goshawk and Professor Palmer, maybe a half hour ago.” My own stomach was in a twist of anxiety.

  Christy opened her handbag and pulled out her phone. Dialing the headmaster, she stood there with the cell glued to her ear, looking like she’d swallowed a bunch of tacks. A moment later she stabbed at the screen. “No answer.”

  “But his Land Rover is here.” I pointed at his Evoque.

  The sound of an engine coming down the academy’s drive drew us under the arch. We watched as a white Volkswagen Beetle rolled around the fountain, heading for the archway.

  Susan—who was alone—spotted us through the windscreen and came to a stop. We went to the driver’s side window as she rolled it down, letting the engine idle.

  Before we could ask Susan where Basil was, Gage and Alfred came out of the front doors of the academy and jogged toward us. Gage looked upset. Alfred looked serious.

  “He’s gone.” Gage clutched his cell phone in his hand, the knuckles white. “Left his rental tux on the bed but took everything else. There’s no note, and he’s not answering my calls.”

  Susan turned off her car and got out. “What’s happening?”

  “Ryan must have hotwired my vehicle. I have to call the police.” Dr. Price retrieved her cell, dialed and walked several feet away from us.

  Gage grew pale at the mention of the police. He covered his eyes with a hand momentarily, then he seemed to recover himself. “I’ll keep trying his phone.”

  He walked in the opposite direction from Christy, lifting his cell to his ear.

  “Where is Basil?” I asked Susan, heart thumping.

  Several scenarios whirled through my imagination like painted horses on a merry-go-round. Ryan had lured Basil away from the villa like he’d lured me. For what purpose, I had no idea, but it wouldn’t be good. Ryan had set a trap for the headmaster, maybe for agency secrets, or to get out of him what the secret room under his office was all about.

  Gage returned, still disappointed. “There must have been an emergency. He’ll come back.”

  “Susan, where’s Basil?” I grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake.

  She focused on my face. “I took him to his dad. His father passed away a few hours ago.”

  I stared at her, stricken.

  No one spoke until Susan patted my hands and I let go of her.

  “There was nothing to be done,” she said. “Basil and his father were very close. As you can imagine, he’s very upset and needs his privacy.”

  My legs felt weak. I stepped back and sank onto the edge of the fountain, before I could fall down. Ryan hadn’t lured Basil away. Some of the knots in my stomach loosened, but I put my face in my hands as I thought of the pain and grief Basil faced. I had lost a loved one in my young life—the grief was still a monster lurking just inside the shadows—but I’d never lost a parent. The thought of losing either of my parents made my sinuses tingle and brought a flutter of panic into my chest.

  The music of the now far-away party thumped along through the night. Christy muttered into her phone at a distance. Gage paced and chewed his lips. Susan and Alfred looked lost and helpless.

  And I, for all my fire-power and finely honed skills, was just as helpless and lost as the rest of them.

  THE END, BUT ONLY FOR NOW

  When a power struggle erupts between Arcturus Academy and Firethorne Collegiate, will the feisty teen have what it takes to keep her school from falling into the wrong hands? Click the Fire Games cover to continue the adventure!

  Come a little closer, my dear…

  Want to be kept updated on new releases, be the first to know about sneak peeks and ‘read by yours truly’ audio snippets? I’m no Judi Dench but I do try not to make too many swallowing sounds. I host the occasional sale and sometimes join themed multi-author promotions that are good fun. Join my newsletter at www.alknorrbooks.com or request access to my private VIP Reader Lounge on Facebook (don’t forget to answer the three questions to get in). I also have Instagram for those who are curious about the life of a traveling fantasy novelist. I tend to visit a lot of ancient places, there’s inspiration to be found there, doncha know. See you in them virtual hills!

  Love, Abby

  Also by A.L. Knorr

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 1

  Born of Water, Book 1

  Born of Fire, Book 2

  Born of Earth, Book 3

  Born of Æther, Book 4

  Born of Air, Book 5

  The Elementals, Book 6

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 2

  Salt & Stone (The Siren’s Curse 1)

  Salt & the Sovereign (The Siren’s Curse 2)

  Salt & the Sisters (The Siren’s Curse 3)

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 3

  Bones of the Witch (Earth Magic Rises 1)

  Ashes of the Wise (Earth Magic Rises 2)

  Heart of the Fae (Earth Magic Rises 3)

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 4

  Firecracker, (Arcturus Academy 1)

  Fire Trap, (Arcturus Academy 2)

  Fire Games (Arcturus Academy 3)

  Elemental Origins Spin Off Series:

  Rings of the Inconquo

  Born of Metal, (Rings of the Inconquo 1)

  Metal Guardian, (Rings of the Inconquo 2)

  Metal Angel, (Rings of the Inconquo 3)

  Elemental Origins Spin Off: The Returning Series (Mira’s Story, Completed Series)

  Returning, Book 1

  Falling, Book 2

  Surfacing, Book 3

  Elemental Novellas

  Pyro, A Fire Novella

  Heat, A Fire Novella

  The Kacy Chronicles (Completed Series)

  Descendant, Book 1

  Ascendant, Book 2

  Combatant, Book 3

  Transcendent, Book 4