Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter thirty-nine. house of eclipse

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            The eclipse is within the hour. I spent the entire time to the boys' changing room, where we would hang the stuffed bird with a net, staring at it warily in Fabian's arms, remarking more than once how creeped out I was. Fabian just told me to be quiet and not to draw any attention to ourselves.

            Like two teenagers who should be in school carrying something with a red cloth over it  to the boys' changing room isn't gonna draw any attention.

            But we get to the spot without a problem, which is when I take out the bird's net from my bag as Fabian uncovers Corbierre. I hold the net open so Fabian can put Corbierre in the net and hang him up. "Now all we have to do is wait for Victor," Fabian comments, but I can't tell if he's talking to me or to the bird. 'Cause he's looking at the bird. "He's not going to be attending this little ceremony, and neither are Mr. Sweet or Ms. Denby."

            "Are you talking to Corbierre?" I question.

            Fabian glances at me briefly. "Shut up."

            I shake my head, setting our second note on top of Corbierre's head. It's fifteen minutes 'til 11:30, which is the time we left on the ransom note we left on Victor's desk. I wonder if he's found it yet, but either way, all we can do now is wait.

            Fabian and I leave the changing room, rushing across the hall to a supply closet, leaving the door ajar so we can see when Victor comes to save his beloved stuffed bird. I lean against the wall next to the door, looking out, sighing lightly as I mess with the objects around my neck. My charm, Lily's engagement ring, and Nina's locket. I've been wearing the locket since we got it from my room last night to go down to the antechamber and I haven't taken it off.

            "A lot's changed, hasn't it?" Fabian remarks quietly. I glance over at him. "You're messing with Nina's locket."

            I shrug, adjusting my footing. "Things were simpler the first year. Which is something I can't believe I'm saying. Remember our official Sibuna induction? Amber took something important to each of us so we could sacrifice it in a fire. She took my best pen. I'm pretty sure I replaced it with a trick pen Alfie gave to me."

            He chuckles. "You did, I remember. Amber took my signed copy of The Solar System is Your Friend." That, I definitely remember thinking was weird he had that. "And she had a photograph of herself to sacrifice."

            "What was that stuffed animal's name she took from Nina? Marian or something?"

            "Murrell," Fabian corrects. "It was Murrell. She didn't want to give it up so she took her lucky keychain and burned it instead."

            "Right, Murrell," I say. "Oh, remember when Amber planted one on Alfie to make Mick jealous? Not Sibuna, but that was, like, the first shocking thing that happened that year."