Was it already so late? One glance up at the clock was all it took to realize that I’d completely lost track of time. I had read through three-quarters of the inventory reports and seen no mention of either Sunset Pollen or Snapdragon Venom. It was possible that I’d find a report about them in the remaining folders, but I seriously doubted it.
“Your angel has adjoined the meeting for one hour,” Bella continued.
“He’s not my angel.”
Her brows lifted, but she didn’t tease me further. “This morning, university security barged into the lab to herd us all into the assembly hall. I came back to grab the book I forgot here.” She took the textbook lying on the tabletop.
“Are these the only labs in the university?” I asked Bella.
“These are the labs the students use.” Her mouth hardened with suspicion. “You’re not really here about Aurora and Morgana, are you?”
“That remains to be seen,” I said. “Have they been acting strangely?”
“You mean like crashing each other’s parties? Or sabotaging each other’s workspaces? They are two grown women fighting over resources, rituals, and perceived slights, Leda. Worse yet, they are sisters. They should be looking out for each other, not spending their days inventing new and horrible ways to stab each other in the back. And everyone is suffering because of it. I’d be glad the Legion had stepped in, if I weren’t sure you’re here for some other reason.” She gave me a loaded look.
“You’re right,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Did you hear about what happened at the Brick Palace a couple days ago?”
“Yeah, the building caught on fire. Nearly a hundred people died. How horrible.”
“They died before the fire. Someone rigged the cooling system to expel poison. We found traces of Sunset Pollen and Snapdragon Venom in the residue inside the building.”
“Those substances are only made at this university. That’s why you’re here. You think someone here poisoned those people.” Her gloved hand flitted to her mouth.
“As you said, both substances are only made here,” I said. “Do you know where they’re kept?”
“Morgana and the Chemistry professors have their own lab on the second floor. We’re not allowed in there, but everyone knows it’s where they keep the really interesting things, Sunset Pollen and Snapdragon Venom among them.”
It looked like I’d be sneaking into the second floor Chemistry lab after lunch.
“No, the entire second floor is protected by wards,” Bella said, guessing my thoughts. “It’s where all the restricted-access rooms are.”
So much for sneaking. I didn’t think I could bypass a ward made by a witch coven leader. Their magic was too strong.
“Leda,” Bella said quietly. “Why would witches kill all of those people?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “But we think whoever killed them might be working for demons.”
“Demons.” She hissed the word like it was a curse.
“Demons can grant supernaturals new and powerful magic. If a witch wanted a way to gain a power advantage over another witch, that is one way to do it.”
“By dealing with a demon?” Bella shook her head. “No, I can’t believe anyone here would do that.”
“You always see the good in people,” I said, smiling at her. “But everyone has their own inner demons, Bella. Some people just wear them closer to the surface.”
“That’s a very cynical attitude to have.”
“I need to play the cynic right now if I’m going to catch this murderer. You can help me.”
“How?” she asked.
“You can help me think this through. You’ve always been good at that.”
“Whatever you need.”
“So, if Morgana was the one who made the poison, if she did it to gain an edge over her sister, why would she use Sunset Pollen and Snapdragon Venom? What is special about those substances?” I asked her.
“Despite their misleading names, both poisons are made from animals, not plants. Morgana’s sister Aurora is the head of the Botany department. Morgana wouldn’t go to her sister’s people for poisons. They’d tell Aurora, Aurora would figure out why, and then the game would be up. Assuming Morgana is the one behind this,” she added hastily.
“Constantine Wildman is the head of Zoology,” I said. “What if he’s in on this too?”
“Then the university is in big trouble. If Morgana and Constantine are in on this together, the demons could easily infiltrate the entire school.”
“Have you seen any evidence of that?”
“No, but they wouldn’t openly flaunt it, would they? We have to figure out which witch is behind this.”
“Or which witches,” I added. “Does that mean you’ll help me?”
“Leda, you know you don’t even have to ask. I will always help you, whatever you need.”
The clocktower outside began to ring out a melody of bells and beats.
“The meal bells,” she said. “Lunch is starting in the restaurant.”
I linked my arm in hers. “How about you show me to the restaurant?”
I’d memorized the university blueprints Nero had given me, but I wasn’t going to miss a chance for some sisterly bonding. It had been far too long. We walked arm-in-arm to the restaurant in Building 1, chatting the whole way. Happiness tumbled with sorrow inside of me. My heart ached for those happy, golden days—the days when we’d all been together. We might catch a fleeting moment here and there, but those days would never truly come again.