Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 10

An alarm clock going off drags me from sleep the next morning. I sit up to throw back the covers and rush to get dressed while Tessa silences the alarm. After pulling on a fresh uniform and tucking my schedule into my skirt pocket, I step over to Tessa's jewelry box to retrieve the necklace my mother had given me, only to stop once I've opened the lid.

It was gone.

Surely I must have tucked it under something, I think to myself as I paw through the contents of her jewelry box.

"Everything okay?" Tessa suddenly mumbles from behind me.

I glance over to see that she's jumped down from her bunk as she sleepily rubs at her eyes. Her hair still unkempt and sticking out around her head as she squints at me. 

"I can't find my necklace," I say.

"What?" Tessa abruptly drops her hands away from her face as she fixes me with a stare.

"My necklace," I repeat as my stomach twists at the loss of the trinket.

"I know a finding spell, give me a minute," Tessa says as she steps past me and puts a hand to her temple.

She reaches out her other hand and hovers it over the jewelry box as she closes her eyes. I can feel a light hum around the box as a few pieces of jewelry flicker and glow. After several moments, she shakes her head in disappointment.

"I'm not sensing anything, whoever took it may have warded it so it can't be found," Tessa murmurs as she drops her hand, "I'm sorry, I can't get through it, I don't know how."

"It's okay, it's not your fault that it was stolen," I mutter as I rub a palm across my forehead. "I'm going to head for the dining hall."

"Can you get me scrambled eggs? The best food is served early," Tessa sighs as she pouts her lip and her eyes take on a dreamy look.

"Of course."

"Great! I'll meet you down there," she says as she spins on her heel and heads for our en-suite bathroom.

I reach up and touch the place where the necklace would be before I pull on my dress heels and head for the door. Astrid is still curled up under the covers of her black quilt, which has a lime-green sigil printed on it. She doesn't stir as I walk past her and open the door.

I step back in surprise when I see that Indigo is standing on the other side, her hand raised and curled into a fist like she had the intent of knocking on the door.

"Where's your necklace?" Indigo asks immediately, her eyes focusing on the spot where it would be.

"Uh, I forgot to put it on," I mumble.

I hadn't seen her at dinner last night and she hadn't replied to any of my texts. Normal people would be worried, witches? Not really. With the prank that was pulled on me yesterday, some sort of meeting may have taken place between her and my parents. 

Does she even know?

Come to think of it, I couldn't remember if she had even been at the tournament. 

But I have no idea how I can break it to her that the necklace has been stolen. 

"Well, go put it on," she says, her voice slightly sharper than before.

"Okay, sorry," I mutter. 

I step back into the room and let the door fall shut behind me. I brace my back against the door as I put my head in my hands. 

Don't panic, think, you'll think of something. 

Tessa glances up at me from where she's exiting the bathroom that is connected to the room. Her brows furrow as she takes in the fact that I'm barring the door with my back.