Chapter 19 · Dropped Into Witch Academy at Midnight - Chapter 19: The Heart Under the School

The altar room smells like rust and old blood.

I'm still trying to catch my breath when Cassandra steps through the doorway, blade already drawn. Her eyes go straight to Vivienne, then to the carved stone in the center of the room. The thing's the size of a coffin, covered in symbols that make my head hurt if I look too long.

"Step away from it," Cassandra says. Her voice is flat. Cold.

Vivienne doesn't move. There's black blood drying on her sleeve from the spell she took for me two minutes ago. She's standing between me and the altar like she's been planning this the whole time.

Maybe she has.

"I can't do that," Vivienne says. Her tone's gentle. Apologetic, even. Like she's turning down tea.

Cassandra's grip tightens on the blade. "You know what she is."

"I know what you think she is."

"Mara—"

"My name," Vivienne interrupts, still calm, "is Vivienne."

The air in the room shifts. Gets heavier. I feel it in my chest, like something's pressing down on my ribs. The altar's doing it.