I had been frightened but Auntie had warned me this would happen. Those terrible creatures that had, for so long, been my bedtime stores had finally broken free and I was, although frightened, curious and excited to see them. I had spent so many years listening to her stories, soaking up every word but recently I had begun to feel as if they were nothing more than tales meant to entertain.

That night, I had been at Spence's Academy for Girls for about a month. I had remained mostly unnoticed, under Auntie's request. She had told me things were going to get dangerous and that I should do my best to keep myself safe. The news of my going to Spence had come as a surprise. Auntie was going on one her trips again and she didn't know when she'd be back.

"But I've never had to go to school before. Why can't I stay with Martha, like always?" I had whined over the entire course of breakfast.

"Lady Bennot," Auntie corrected me, "is in poor health again and doesn't need you running under foot. Besides, I'm unsure how long I'll be gone."

"Can't I come, just this once?" I was beginning to throw a tantrum, very unbefitting of a girl of sixteen.

"Impossible."

I knew that was end of it. I could have put up a better fight but there was no winning against Auntie, ever. Resigned to my fate I went up to pack, where I had more time to think.

It's not that I was surprised by Auntie planning a trip. She often went out on such trips, always coming back more exhausted and sadder than she had on the previous trip. She never told me what she was looking for but I knew it had something to do with the stories. What surprised me was the decision to send me to Spence. School was more permanent than just staying with a family friend. It made me nervous and made me wonder how long she expected to be gone. As much as I hated myself for it, I also wondered if she meant to abandon me. She would not be the first relative to do so and the thought troubled me far more than anything that could be awaiting me at Spence.