The Academy For The Aces: BOOK 1 OF THE ACE SERIES

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

As Andrew tightened his grasp on the mischievous Onion, Faith moved swiftly to open the door. However, their attempt at discretion was foiled when they were met with the unexpected presence of Madame Lavigne herself. With the missing page from the Book of Arden hastily concealed behind her back, Faith faced the headmistress, her heart racing.

Madame Lavigne's raised eyebrow spoke volumes, a silent inquiry demanding an explanation for their presence in the East Wing at such an hour. Her voice, tinged with a mix of curiosity and stern authority, sliced through the tension that hung in the air.

"Prince Andrew, Faith," she began, her tone a blend of mild amusement and mild reprimand, "is stealing leprechauns your new hobby, and what, may I ask, are you doing in the East Wing? I thought I made it very clear that you're not supposed to be here."

"Prince Andrew, Faith," she began, her tone a blend of mild amusement and mild reprimand, "is stealing leprechauns your new hobby, and what, may I ask, are you doing in the East Wing? I thought I made it very clear that you're not supposed to be here."

Faith's quick thinking kicked in as she concocted a plausible lie on the spot. She cleared her throat and replied with feigned innocence, "Well, Madame Lavigne, we happened to see Onion passing by, so we thought we'd follow him and, um, Andrew here just really wanted to give Onion a hug and thank him for his hard work."

Andrew, caught off guard by the lie, managed to recover and joined in, patting Onion lovingly as if to emphasize the point. His awkward grin was evidence of his discomfort in weaving the tale, but they had to keep up the charade.

However, Madame Lavigne's expression remained unconvinced. Before she could further question their dubious explanation, a voice rang out, calling her name. The sudden interruption caused Madame Lavigne's head to snap in the direction of the voice. Her gaze then slowly shifted back to Andrew, who was now sporting a mixture of anger, fear, and confusion on his face. In a voice laced with a myriad of emotions, he uttered a single word, "Grandfather."

Madame Lavigne's composure seemed to falter for a moment upon hearing that word. Her gaze held a flicker of surprise before she quickly regained her authoritative demeanor. "You two need to leave," she stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Andrew's frustration was palpable as he pressed further, his voice tense. "Madame Lavigne, what is he doing here?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Madame Lavigne's lips tightened as she took a deep breath, visibly collecting herself. "I will explain," she said, her tone measured, "but I need you two to leave, now." The urgency in her voice was evident, and it was clear that whatever was happening involved matters beyond their current understanding.

At that moment, Faith instantly knew that Madame Lavigne was not the enemy. She gently gripped Andrew's forearm and leaned in to whisper, "Let's go." Andrew's reluctance was palpable, but he eventually nodded, Onion still squirming in his hand.

As they moved to leave, Andrew turned to Faith, a determined look in his eyes. "I need you to hold my arm," he said, his voice low and urgent. Faith raised an eyebrow skeptically, her curiosity evident as she questioned, "What are you going to do?"

Andrew's gaze met hers, his expression was resolute. "Trust me," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance. Faith hesitated for a moment before nodding, deciding to put her trust in him. She took a firm hold of his arm, bracing herself for whatever was about to happen.

Suddenly, the world around them seemed to blur and twist, colors swirling in a disorienting whirlwind. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a completely different setting – their dorm room. The sudden transition left Faith momentarily stunned, her grip on Andrew's arm tightening reflexively. As the dizziness subsided, she looked around in astonishment, her heart racing at the inexplicable feat they had just experienced.

Onion managed to wriggle out of Andrew's grasp, smoothing out his rumpled attire. He fidgeted nervously, his high-pitched voice quivering as he stammered, "I don't know anything, children, I'm just a laboratory mishap." Slowly, he attempted to inch backward toward the door, a hint of panic in his eyes. However, Andrew swiftly intercepted him, a firm grip on his tiny form.

With a serious expression, Andrew leaned in closer to the leprechaun. "Madame Lavigne or the King of Arden," he asked, his tone indicating a hint of urgency. Onion blinked in confusion, clearly taken aback by the question. Andrew's brows furrowed as he clarified, his voice unwavering, "Whom do you work for?"

Onion let out a nervous chuckle, though his unease was palpable. The atmosphere shifted abruptly as Andrew's voice took on an authoritative edge. "Speak, beast," he commanded his words carrying an alarming weight. Faith's gaze shifted between Onion and Andrew, a mixture of fear and bewilderment in her eyes. She watched in astonishment as Onion's demeanor changed almost instantly, and his voice quivered as he responded, "Yes, sir." The unexpected transformation left Faith momentarily speechless, her heart racing at the sudden shift in the situation.

Onion's voice trembled as he spilled his confession. "I'm an informant for King Dorian," he admitted, his words coming in a hurried tumble. He began to count on his tiny fingers, "It's probably been... one, two, three, four. Four years!" His gaze shifted between Andrew and Faith, his demeanor a mix of apprehension and resignation.

Andrew's stern expression deepened as he demanded clarification, his voice cutting through the air. "What do you mean, four years?"

Onion's response came in a rush, his words laden with a sense of weighty revelation. "Four years since I've been working at the academy, that is," he explained. "He placed me here to be his eyes and ears."

Faith's eyes widened in realization, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. "So, it's you?" she exclaimed a mix of surprise and accusation in her voice. "You've been watching us?"

Onion's grin took on a sinister quality, an unsettling expression that seemed at odds with his diminutive size. "Ah-ah-ah," he taunted, his tone dripping with mischief. And in a flash, he disappeared without a trace, leaving behind an eerie sense of presence and an air of uncertainty that hung in the room.