Alchemy, Book Two of the Mercian Trilogy by K. J. Wignall Read Free Book Online

main stairs and slipping quietly along the corridors, trying not to think about the sleeping world he was moving through. He counted along the doors on the section of the third floor that formed that outer wall – he’d reckoned on it being the fifth door along – and sure enough there was the blue tinge showing along the bottom of it.
    He stood for a moment, listening through the heavy silence, then gently opened the door and stepped inside. Neither of the boys stirred, but still he waited, listening to the rhythm of their breaths, desperately trying not to think about the life in them and the scent of blood that seemed to fill the room.
    They were asleep. Will stepped carefully over to the desk and slid open the drawer, removing the book that sat inside. Either Marcus trusted his room-mate entirely or his only concern was that the boy didn’t see him writing in it.
    Will took the book and leafed through the first few pages which were blank. He turned the pages quicker, then flicked through them, increasingly puzzled by the sea of white before him. None of it had been written on. It was definitely the same book and yet it was empty.
    He traced his fingers across one of the pages, feeling for the indentations which might have been left by apen, but there was nothing. He didn’t understand it. He put the book back on the desk, open, and stared down at two dazzlingly blank white pages.
    He had seen Marcus writing in it. He’d even seen him reach the end of a page and turn over, but there was nothing here – it could only be something of Wyndham’s design. And it was clear now why Marcus might not want his friend to see him about his work.
    Will heard a noise and glanced across at Marcus’s bed, staring in confusion for a second at the crumpled shape of the duvet before realising Marcus was no longer beneath it. He turned quickly, surprised that he hadn’t heard the boy getting up.
    Marcus was standing behind him, quite calm, staring straight ahead as if through the top of Will’s chest. Involuntarily, Will stepped backwards, pushing the drawer closed in the process – too much noise – but then stopped himself, the shock subsiding. And it subsided further with the realisation that Marcus was not awake. He stood quite still, his eyes staring ahead with an odd, cold patience, as if he was simply waiting for Will to move.
    Will stepped to one side and Marcus approached the desk. Without looking down, he closed the book and placed it back in the drawer. Once the drawer was shutagain, Marcus turned and crossed the room, climbing into bed and resuming the same position with his face to the wall.
    Had he been sleepwalking or was even this some control of Wyndham’s? And what was the sorcery of this book – some form of communication? Will wondered if Marcus had been using the book in some way to relay a general report or something more specific, the attack by the crows perhaps.
    He looked at the boy sleeping peacefully, and though Will couldn’t think why, he was desperate for Marcus to be no more than a spy. Will thought back to his behaviour that night by the river and it made him want to leave Marcus Jenkins unharmed, though he’d kill him without a second thought if he believed he was actively part of a scheme to hurt Eloise.
    It was something Will would have to find out one way or another, but for now he retreated, moving silently back into the corridor, closing the door behind him. He moved quickly, back down the stairs and then to the side door. Only as he was about to open it did he hesitate, sensing something behind him.
    He turned and looked along the corridor that led off through the ground floor of the school. He’d heard nothing, could see nothing, but for a moment, he’d sensed there was someone there. There was no one therenow, but had someone seen him come in, had the same person waited for him to leave? Will took a few steps along the corridor, but there was still no movement, no scent.
    Perhaps he