“That slimy piece of junk,” Cordelia curses, and I quickly shush her before she can continue.

“Right, right, the great Dorian Mannes, most intelligent student to ever graduate from the Royal Academy,” the fake Price says. “That’s right, I almost forgot. You’re friends with Natasha Broffenberg.”

“I saved her once, and she gave me a present in return. She’s very reserved.” Dorian made himself out to be much closer to Teacher Broffenberg when he was teaching me.

“So you don’t know where she could be?”

There’s silence, and I can feel the pressure from Cordelia rising. Then, he faintly replies, “She could be anywhere.”

“So you don’t know either.”

“Prince, you should know something else. The demons all look toward one direction at noon.” A subject change. Is he avoiding talking about her?

“What direction is that?”

“Toward the southwest. I’m not particularly sure what they are facing.”

“Southwest… that’s in the direction of this school.”

“We have yet to confirm what they are looking at.”

“Strange,” the fake Price mutters. “Is that the reason the demon appeared on campus? But then what about that man Jakos?”

“Jakos? What does he have to do with this?”

“You know him?”

Without missing a beat, Dorian replies, “I’ve just heard about him from Lethos. We in the research department are very well connected, you see.”

I find I can breathe a bit easier, and I glance up at Cordelia to find her eyes brows have unfurrowed.

“He took a demon with him and fled, and the demon appeared on the school campus.”

“What of the students?”

“What do you mean? We have kept information from spreading. The students will not remember this incident soon enough.”

“You’re going to erase their memories? How? Last time you attempted that, look at what happened.”

“Last time was a different matter!” There’s the sound of glass shattering again. This man really loves to break things.

“Oh, so then what about that girl? She’s one of the students too. I doubt you will be able to erase her memories properly, after you failed the first time.”

There’s silence. “Then what, do I reveal the existence of the demons?”

“We are at the last stage. Even if we reveal them now, it will be too late for the authorities to make proper preparations, especially with how many of our own spies are planted.”

“Okay. We will do that.” They go on to talk about their plans, and I look up at Cordelia when the sound from the gem fades.

“Cordelia?” I say tentatively.

She’s silent as she glares at the gem before moving her gaze to me. “In the end, is Dorian Mannes good or bad? He’s protecting Jakos’ identity, but he’s working with these people.”

“Do you think he could be a third party stirring up trouble?”

“If he is, then he and Jakos might be working together.”

“I doubt that.” After all, if they were working together, something would have happened in the novel. My thoughts wander as I think about what the fake Price said. Then my eyes widen and I look at Cordelia.

“What?” she says, cocking her head to one side.

I open and close my mouth a few times before I can finally, slowly enunciate, “That snake! The fake Price is the man from the cellar.”