When Zelie approached the Slytherin table, she had almost hoped that she wouldn’t find Cali there, and would instead see her sitting at the Hufflepuff table making some new friends. But alas, her wishes went unanswered. Calira Shacklevolt was found sitting on the right of the Slytherin Queen, laughing and jeering as usual. Zelie quickly grabbed her sister’s shoulder, making Cali turn around suddenly with her wand pointed at Zelie’s throat. When she saw who it was, however, Cali’s face broke into a sickly sweet smile and she lowered her wand. “Well, if it isn’t Zelie darling! What brings you here, baby sister?”

Zelie gritted her teeth, trying to resist the urge to smack Cali across the face. “We need to talk. Alone,” she added with a glance at the rest of the table. Cali’s lips formed a pout, but she got up and followed Zelie to a small dark corner near the large Great Hall doors. She turned to her sister, golden eyes aflame. “Jace is gone,” Zelie breathed. 

Cali’s expression didn’t change. “Uh huh. And why should I care?”

Zelie closed her eyes for a heartbeat. “Because I love him, and now he’s gone and I need your help to get him back.” She looked up at her sister, hoping and praying to whoever was listening that her sister would agree to help get Jace back from wherever he had disappeared to. “You owe it to me after you tried to brainwash me,” Zelie added with no small amount of bitterness.

Cali made quite the show of weighing Zelie’s request. With one hand on her hip and the other on her chin in mock consideration, she made Zelie wait for her answer. After what felt like hours, Cali finally responded. “Mm, no. Not happening.”

Zelie snarled, her control beginning to fray. “What do you mean ‘not happening?’ You’re just going to leave him to die?”

Cali laughed. “Of course I am! What did Jace ever do for me? He turned me away, humiliated me, and for what? Spite? No, Zelie darling, I won’t be helping you get your precious Jace back. He’s your boyfriend, after all, not mine.” Cali made to walk away, but her little sister grabbed her shoulder to keep her from turning away. Zelie didn’t give Cali time to say anything before she smacked Cali straight across the face. Cali looked down at her sister, startled. “What did you just do to me?”

Zelie’s face was a mask of cold fury. “You’re a monster, Calira Shacklevolt. That was only a fraction of what you deserve.” And with that, she stalked back to the Ravenclaw table, leaving her sister clutching her cheek in pain. 

Ever since Jace had disappeared, Zelie had become a mess. She had quite the temper and was never as friendly or bright. She was often late to class and never slept well, either. 

Zelie sat down at the Ravenclaw table, watching her sister go over to the Slytherin table and tattle on her. Zelie smirked when the Slytherin Queen only laughed at Cali’s whining, along with the rest of the snakes. 

However, Zelie frowned when Jinx stood up and made her way to where the Ravenclaw was sitting. “Zelie,” Jinx greeted her politely. “We need to talk.” Zelie frowned but decided to hear what the Slytherin Queen had to say. 

They left the Great Hall and ducked into a small corridor. Zelie crossed her arms, turning to Jinx. “I have a proposition,” Jinx began. “But before I say anything, you will swear to secrecy. What is said between us stays between us.”

Zel arched a brow, but shook Jinx’s outstretched hand. “Deal.”

Jinx nodded. “Good.” She drew in a long breath. “Jace was not the only one who went missing. My-another girl also disappeared a few weeks ago. I have reason to believe they were taken by the same ‘thing’. And I would like to assist you in getting them both back.”

Zelie’s eyes were bright and a small smile graced her features. “Thank you,” she breathed; she didn’t dare express the immense gratitude she was feeling any more than that. “Who was it that went missing?”

Jinx sighed. “A girl named Charlotte Parker.”

Zelie nodded; Charlotte was a Gryffindor student that she had encountered a few times. “Do you have a plan?” Zelie asked.

Jinx grinned. “Yes, and the best part is that there is no one else involved.” Zelie chuckled and Jinx explained her idea. 

“That’s genius,” Zelie replied after a while. “And you know where they are?”

Jinx nodded. “I found one of Charlotte’s possessions and used it to trace a ‘signal’ of sorts back to its owner.”

Zelie smiled. “Thank you so much, Jinx. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Jinx shrugged. “Thank me when we get them back.”