The sky over Blackthorn Academy was heavy with the threat of rain, gray clouds swirling low as the wind swept through the ancient stone buildings. Maya hurried across the courtyard, her bag slung over one shoulder, the hidden parchment tucked safely inside.
Last night had been a near disaster. The hidden passage in the library, the glowing lantern, and the rumbling that followed—they had barely escaped before the walls seemed ready to cave in. Despite her exhaustion, Maya had hardly slept. The lantern’s faint, otherworldly glow was burned into her mind, and the warning etched in Alexander’s parchment replayed endlessly in her thoughts.
“Beware the cost when it’s revealed.”
She had no doubt now: the Whisper Society wasn’t just a school legend. It was real, and it was dangerous.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Maya!”
She turned to see Lila Darrow approaching, her blonde hair perfectly styled despite the wind. Lila’s presence was like a slap to Maya’s already frayed nerves.
“Lila,” Maya said cautiously, stopping in her tracks.
Lila slowed to a stop a few feet away, her expression unreadable. For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them palpable.
“We need to talk,” Lila said finally, her tone firm.
Maya hesitated. The last time Lila had approached her, it had been to deliver a cryptic warning: “The Whisper Society doesn’t take kindly to outsiders poking their noses where they don’t belong.”
“Talk about what?” Maya asked, her voice guarded.
Lila glanced around, her blue eyes scanning the courtyard. When she was satisfied they weren’t being overheard, she stepped closer.
“Not here,” Lila said quietly. “Meet me in the music room after lunch.”
Before Maya could respond, Lila turned and walked away, her posture rigid.
Maya frowned, watching her go. She didn’t trust Lila, but her sudden urgency piqued Maya’s curiosity.
“What now?”
Maya turned to find Elliot leaning against a nearby tree, his arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips.
“Were you spying on me?” Maya asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Technically, I was spying on her,” Elliot said, nodding toward Lila. “But you’re way more interesting.”
Maya sighed, adjusting her bag. “She wants to meet after lunch.”
Elliot raised an eyebrow. “And you’re going to go?”
“Of course,” Maya said. “If she knows something about the Society, I need to hear it.”
“And if it’s a trap?”
Maya hesitated. She hadn’t considered that possibility, but it wasn’t out of the question. “Then I’ll deal with it.”
Elliot sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But I’m coming with you.”
Maya shook her head. “She said to meet her alone. If she sees you, she might clam up.”
Elliot frowned but didn’t argue. “At least take this.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, sleek pocketknife.
Maya raised an eyebrow. “Where do you keep getting these things?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to,” Elliot said, smirking.
Maya took the knife, tucking it into her pocket. “Thanks. I’ll be fine.”
Elliot didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “Be careful, Detective.”
The music room was tucked away in a quiet corner of the campus, its heavy wooden doors muffling the faint sound of a piano coming from within. Maya hesitated outside, her hand resting on the door handle.
She had no idea what to expect from Lila—or whether she could trust her at all. But if Lila had information about the Whisper Society, Maya couldn’t afford to ignore it.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.
Lila was sitting at the grand piano, her fingers idly playing a soft, haunting melody. She looked up as Maya entered, her expression unreadable.
“You came,” Lila said, her tone neutral.
“Of course,” Maya said, closing the door behind her. “You said we needed to talk.”
Lila gestured to a nearby chair. “Sit.”
Maya hesitated before taking a seat, her bag resting on her lap. Lila stopped playing, her hands resting lightly on the keys as she turned to face Maya.
“I need to know how much you’ve uncovered,” Lila said, her voice steady but laced with tension.
Maya’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you care?”
Lila sighed, leaning back on the bench. “Because you’re in over your head. The Whisper Society doesn’t just play games, Maya. They destroy people.”
“You seem to know a lot about them,” Maya said.
“I should,” Lila said bitterly. “My family has been part of the Society for generations. My father, my grandfather… It’s a legacy I was born into, whether I wanted it or not.”
Maya’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected Lila to admit something so damning so freely.
“Then why are you telling me this?” Maya asked.
Lila’s expression softened, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features. “Because I know what they’re capable of. I’ve seen what they’ve done to people who cross them. And if you keep digging, you’ll end up like Alexander Greaves—or worse.”
The mention of Alexander’s name sent a chill down Maya’s spine. “What do you know about him?”
Lila hesitated, her gaze dropping to the piano keys. “Alexander was brilliant. He was top of his class, destined for greatness. But he couldn’t let things go. He started asking questions, poking into the Society’s secrets. And then, one day… he was gone.”
Maya’s grip tightened on her bag. “You’re saying they killed him?”
Lila nodded. “They made it look like an accident, but everyone knew the truth. The Society protects its secrets at all costs. That’s why I’m telling you to stop. Whatever you think you’re going to find, it’s not worth it.”
Maya stared at her, a mix of anger and determination rising in her chest. “If you really believe that, why are you helping me?”
Lila’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Because someone has to. And because… you remind me of him.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning.
Before Maya could respond, the door to the music room creaked open, and a voice called out.
“Lila?”
Maya and Lila both froze as a tall, broad-shouldered boy stepped inside. He had dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and his expression darkened when he saw Maya.
“What’s going on here?” he demanded, his gaze flicking between them.
“Nothing, Nate,” Lila said quickly, standing.
Nate Calloway. Maya recognized him instantly. He was one of the school’s golden boys—a star athlete and a known troublemaker, with a reputation for getting away with just about anything.
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” Nate said, his eyes narrowing at Maya. “You shouldn’t be talking to her.”
Lila stepped between them, her posture tense. “Leave it, Nate.”
Nate’s jaw tightened, but he backed off, his gaze still locked on Maya. “If I were you, I’d watch my step. This place has a way of swallowing people whole.”
With that, he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him.
Maya exhaled, her heart pounding. “Who was that?”
“My cousin,” Lila said, her tone clipped. “And someone who doesn’t trust you.”
Maya frowned. “Why not?”
“Because he’s loyal to the Society,” Lila said. “And if he thinks you’re a threat, he won’t hesitate to act.”
Maya stood, her bag slung over her shoulder. “Then I guess I’ll have to be careful.”
Lila grabbed her arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “Maya, I’m serious. Stop while you still can. Once the Society marks you as an enemy, there’s no going back.”
Maya pulled free, her eyes blazing with determination. “If you really want to help me, tell me everything you know. Otherwise, stay out of my way.”
Lila hesitated, her gaze searching Maya’s face. Then, with a resigned sigh, she stepped back.
“Be careful,” Lila said softly.
Maya nodded, turning and walking out of the music room. Her mind raced as she replayed the conversation.
Lila had given her more questions than answers, but one thing was clear: the Whisper Society was more dangerous than she’d imagined.
And now, they were watching her every move.