Page 95 of An Arcane Education
“Okay…”
“As I’m sure you deduced, I’m half Fae, which means I inherited a lot of Fae traits. One of those is the inability to lie.”
My brow furrows as I think back on all the previous conversations we’ve had.
“I can misdirect, and I can pretty cleverly avoid questions, but straight-out lying is impossible for me. It’s one of the rather infuriating traits I’ve inherited.” He laughs bitterly. “My heritage is also why my magic is different from yours. Anyway, I did transfer to Arcadia to get away from my family name, but I also came because I suspected something suspicious was going on here.”
“What kind of something?”
“I'm not entirely sure yet. But there are whispers among the board members, rumors that they're considering shutting down the academy. Nobody will tell me why, and my father either doesn't know or won't say. So, I came here to investigate. My ‘research’ that I’ve been referring to is really just a cover for what I’m really investigating.”
My mind races, connecting dots. “Do you think themushrooms might be linked to your investigations? Is that why you’ve been so obsessed with them?”
“I think they might be, but it’s difficult to know. I was curious if they were connected to whatever’s causing the board’s concern, considering I’m suspicious they may be influenced by dark magic, but I’m still missing so many pieces. I don’t know how anything ties in yet.”
“And things with Dr. Aldrich?”
“I believe the Chancellor is aware of why the board is trying to shut the academy down and is fighting against it. From everything I’ve heard, she and her daughter are very close, and I thought I might be able to charm the information out of her. Not one of my better ideas,” he admits with clear regret. “I also knew who Charles and Melinda were when you first told me about the letter, but I have reason to believe they’re working behind the scenes with the Chancellor. I was worried you’d seek them out if you learned they were your grandparents, and I let my fear of you getting harmed cloud my judgment.”
I take his hand and squeeze it tightly. “Well, now that I know, I’ll do everything I can to help you, as long as it doesn’t involve watching you flirt with other women anymore,” I tease.
“Deal. Although, I worry that the Chancellor knowing my identity now will raise some red flags and make the endeavor much harder than I initially thought.”
Between our chaotic classes as finals week approaches, it takes two days for all of us to gather enough evidence tobe certain about what happened to Mitchell that night in the forest. Two days of piecing together statements from other students, potential motives of our suspect, and timelines.
AJ is the one who provides the final piece. When I finally work up the courage to tell him what had happened with my expulsion hearing and what we suspect—that his brother was murdered by Clarissa—he goes very still before he explodes in rage.
“She was acting weird that night at the ball,” he seethes. “She was way friendlier than normal and kept encouraging Mitchell to drink more and more, almost forcing it on him, before she dragged him out to leave. It was weird though, because he had told me earlier that week that they’d been fighting nonstop because she was stressed about making sure she kept her top spot in the class, and he had the gall to make a joke about taking it from her.”
“Do you think she’d be callous enough to kill him?” I ask gently.
“I don't know, maybe, but if she did this, if she took my brother from me and then tried to frame you for it…” he trails off, burning with rage at the very thought.
“We’re trying to prove it,” I assure him. “And if she did it, she’ll face consequences.”
We bring everything to Alaric that evening, who spreads the evidence across his dining room table. We have written witness statements, timeline reconstructions, and a copy of the toxicology report showing hemlock in Mitchell's system.
“This is solid,” he says after reviewing it all. “But weneed to be smart about how we present it. I’d bet anything that the Chancellor will try to protect Clarissa since she's been defending her from the start.”
“Why would she care so much about protecting her?” I ask.
“Clarissa's parents are influential and major donors to the academy. They’re the kind of people the Chancellor can't afford to alienate.” Alaric's expression is grim. “Which is why we need to go around her.”
He uses one of the payphones in the staff housing area to call his father, explaining the situation and emphasizing that the Chancellor can't be informed until the last possible moment. His father listens, asks a handful of questions, and then agrees to arrange another hearing.
The second hearing happens three days later, and unlike my expulsion hearing, this one is kept secret until the last moment. Clarissa is summoned to the conference room from class with no explanation, and her confusion is evident as she enters the conference room to find the full board seated before her.
The Chancellor is there too, and the flash of surprise on her face when she sees Clarissa tells me she wasn't informed about the details of this meeting either.
“What's going on?” Clarissa asks, maintaining her politeness for now.
“Miss Alder, you've been called to answer questions regarding the death of Mitchell Langley,” Mr. Escher states.
The color drains from her face. “I already gave a statement. I told you, Vivian Harver?—”
“We have new evidence,” he interrupts. “Evidence that contradicts your previous testimony.”
What follows is beautifully methodical and devastating. Alaric presents the timeline, showing that Clarissa had the opportunity to poison Mitchell. AJ provides testimony about their relationship troubles and Clarissa’s strange behavior the night of the ball. I re-explain the hostility she'd shown me from day one, establishing her motive to frame me.
