Conspiracies (Mercedes Lackey) - By Mercedes Lackey Page 0,106

tea,” she was saying firmly, as Ms. Groves shoved open the Refectory doors.

“That’s seven,” she said into a handheld radio she was carrying. “Hastings, Spears, Templeton, White, Lake, Hallows, and Shae.”

The radio cracked. “Roger that. Get them to their rooms. We’re still searching.”

Addie was already getting Noreen to her feet. Spirit did the same for Sharon, then Muirin. “We heard, Ms. Groves,” Burke said as he took Sharon’s elbow, then put his arm around her. “You don’t mind if Loch and I take them to their rooms—”

“Go, go, go—” Ms. Groves said impatiently. “Rules are temporarily suspended. In fact, if you all want to huddle in the same room, I authorize it, just as long as we know where you are. Do you?”

They looked at each other. “Yes, please,” said Muirin in a small voice.

“Mine’s closest,” said Addie.

“All seven going to Lake’s room,” Ms. Groves barked into her radio as they passed her.

It took a lot longer than Spirit liked, shepherding Sharon and Noreen along. “I have a bad feeling this isn’t over,” she told the others quietly, when they finally got into the hall on the girls’ floor.

“Yeah,” Burke replied, his eyes going everywhere, as if he was looking for danger. Probably he was. Finally, they got into Addie’s room, which was supernaturally neat. Addie closed the door, then the curtains, and lit a candle. And a good thing, too, because fifteen minutes later, the power went out again, and the fear descended.

Sharon and Noreen wailed for a moment then passed out on the bed.

Addie put the candle on the floor; the rest of them huddled over that candle like a campfire, staring at it as if it was their salvation—

Which it was. Somehow, with that light there, the fear wasn’t able to get hold of them as thoroughly. They were able to think. It was Loch who began to recite this time. Recite, and then sing, hoarsely. And it was the filthiest song Spirit had ever heard in her life. The lyrics were so rude, and so funny, and so shocking, that her surprise even overcame the terror. She had no idea that Loch—proper, gentlemanly Loch—knew anything like that! She started to giggle.

Then when Loch finished the song, Addie started one—about some poor bricklayer having a really, really bad day.

Then, when she was done, Muirin started croaking out dirty limericks. They were much, much worse than Loch’s song.

Burke was bright crimson. So was Addie, and even Muirin herself. Spirit had a pretty good idea that she was just as red—and she had no notion of what she could contribute, but after Muirin had recited about a dozen, suddenly the power came back up and the terror vanished again.

This time there was a knock on the door less than a minute after the lights came back on. It was Doc Mac and a couple of the Breakthrough people. They collected Sharon and Noreen and left without saying a word, leaving the five of them sitting on the floor with the candle still burning.

It was very quiet. “Do you think it’s over now?” Muirin asked, in a small voice.

“Usually these things happen in odd numbers,” Addie said, staring at the candle flame intently. “I don’t know. I don’t know if there’s going to be a third wave and Doctor Ambrosius will manage to repel it. I—just don’t know.” She frowned with concentration. “Who’s feeling brave enough to get up and get into one of my dresser drawers?”

Loch coughed. “I am,” he said, before anyone else could answer.

“Left hand side, third down, behind the thermal shirts,” Addie said. “There’s a big rectangular box, it fits all across the drawer. I took advantage of the new rules. Get it and bring it here.”

Loch did so, coming back with a box that looked expensive largely because, though it might have been cardboard, it was like no cardboard that Spirit had ever seen before. Glass-smooth, a deep, dark metallic brown, the word Lavendula was written in gold script across the top. Loch carried it as if it weighed ten pounds. He put it down next to the candle. Addie slid the top off. Inside were stacked squares wrapped in gold foil. Addie took one and unwrapped it.

“Chocolate?” Burke said doubtfully. “Did you body-swap with Muirin?”

“Ninety percent cacao dark chocolate infused with chamomile and lavender,” Addie replied, a little grimly. “Best way to calm down that I know of short of liquor, and I don’t have any booze. I found them in France and told