Bones and Ashes by Gemma Holden Read Free Book Online

Matherson, recently deceased. All enquiries were to be directed to them.
    Her cousin, Aren, had been disinherited from the family. He now had to work to earn a living. It was strange his firm had been chosen to deal with the case. The solicitors only dealt with the living dead. All their clients were either zombies or ghosts. James Matherson had died violently; it was possible he hadn’t crossed over. He could be a ghost. Raiden wouldn’t have to worry about the fact she couldn’t summon him back if he was already here. If he was a ghost, then she could speak to him. He could tell her what had happened that night.
    The bell began to ring. Cassade got up to go to class. “Are you coming?”
    “I’ll meet you in the hall,” Raiden said.
    She hurried to her bedroom. She sat down at her dressing table and pulled off the heavy black cloth from her mirror. “Aren Feralis,” she said. At first nothing happened, then gradually her reflection faded away and the surface turned grey. Aren must have his mirror covered. She couldn’t contact him that way. She picked up her quill pen and quickly scribbled a note to Aren, saying she needed to see him. She rushed back to the sitting room, where Peters was still clearing away the dishes from breakfast.
    “Take this to Aren.” He nodded and disappeared through the wall. She wanted to summon Tobin and have him take her to see her cousin, but Aren had been disinherited; she wasn’t meant to have anything more to do with him. If her grandmother found out she had been to see him, she would be furious. Besides, he might not know anything more than what the newspaper had said. The bell rang again. Reluctantly, Raiden left the room and headed down the stairs. She was going to be late for her first lesson.
     
    ****
     
    The hall seemed larger in the daylight. The tables had been pushed against the wall and laid out with foils, épées and sabres. The fireplaces were unlit as always. Raiden rubbed her cold hands together. There were twenty girls in her class. They were spread out around the hall, standing in their groups of friends. Cassade stood alone, a foil in her hand, practising her lunges. Heather was talking with Bryony and Marigold. Blaize stood with Glacia and another girl. Her name was Gale Aeris and she was an air witch. Raiden hadn’t seen her at dinner last night; she must have arrived later. Her blonde hair moved around her shoulders, stirred by an invisible wind.
    They all hushed down as the door at the far end of the hall opened and Mrs Lynch strode in. “Good morning, girls.” Mrs Lynch wore a skirt and white blouse. She marched to the centre of the room, where she stood inspecting them. Satisfied, she nodded. “We will be working with the foils today. You know what to do. Get into pairs.”
    They started to put on the heavy protective coats and face masks. Raiden approached Mrs Lynch. “Mrs Lynch…”
    “What is it, Miss Feralis?”
    “I wanted to speak you about the body I found. I wondered if you had done anything about him yet.”
    “He was taken away by the authorities this morning.”
    “Will they find out who he is? He might have a family. They might be looking for him.”
    “That is no longer your concern. In future you will not bring any more dead bodies to school.”
    “Yes, Mrs Lynch,” Raiden said.
    “I understand you’re going to see the Duchess this afternoon. I don’t think there’s any need to inform her about this incident. The corpse is with the police now.”
    “I understand.” She was relieved she wouldn’t have to explain to her grandmother about the corpse.
    Mrs Lynch strode away. Cassade handed her a foil. Raiden put on her face mask and took up her position opposite her friend. They began sparring slowly. They were both cold and stiff. They took it in turns to attack while the other defended. Raiden saw an opening and lunged. Cassade failed to block her and Raiden scored a hit.
    “Very good, Miss Feralis,” Mrs Lynch called as