Villain School by Stephanie S. Sanders Page B

this.”
    No kidding. I don’t think
any
of the other school Masters would’ve let us get away with sneaking around the girls’ corridors. Did I mention Master Stiltskin wasn’t really very villain-ish? And that he actually seemed to
like
teaching kids?
    â€œWait. How did you get past all the traps?” I asked. I mean, let’s face it, Stiltskin wasn’t exactly in his prime.
    â€œGet past them?” he asked, looking confused. “I just used the switch to deactivate them.”
    â€œThere’s a switch?” Wolf asked.
    Beside him, Dodge pulled out the blueprint,examined it for a moment, then pointed at the paper and said, “Oh yeah!”
    When he saw our faces he added, “Oh. Sorry.”
    â€œOkay, boys. Off to bed now!” said Stiltskin.
    We thanked him and ran all the way back to our rooms, grateful to have gotten off so easily.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” I asked Dodge as soon as the door closed behind us. Wolf had gone back to his own room.
    â€œSorry, I didn’t see there was a switch until Stiltskin pointed it out,” he said, pulling off his boots.
    â€œNo, I mean before that.”
    â€œBefore?” he asked, changing into his pajamas. What? Villains can’t wear pajamas?
    â€œAll that poking around in Ileana’s room.” I put on my own PJs.
    â€œOh.” He looked away from me. “I just thought since we were there, I might as well snoop a little.”
    â€œAnd? Did you find anything?”
    â€œUm, just this,” he said, holding out a book and grinning.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I asked, taking the book from him. It was Ileana’s diary.
    â€œWicked!” I said. We flipped through and read a few pages. When we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer, we fell asleep.
    When I woke up, Dodge was gone. I figured I must’ve overslept again. Quickly, I dressed and dashed down to the cafeteria cave. Ileana was already there eating breakfast, and Wolf was in line getting his, but I didn’t see Dodge.
    â€œWell?” Ileana asked as Wolf and I sat down next to her.
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    The princess glared at me. She was wearing pink today and stuck out like a flamingo in a litter of cat-a-bats. Nobody would dare tease her, though. After she’d hexed a few bullies, most of the kids had learned Ileana was not a villain to mess with.
    â€œOh. I’m sorry for breaking into your room,” I said, shoving a big spoonful of Dreary-Os into my mouth.
    â€œI thought villains didn’t apologize,” Wolf said with a smile.
    â€œShut it.” I jabbed him with my elbow and grinned.
    â€œI wasn’t looking for an apology. I was looking for a certain stolen item. So?” asked Ileana.
    I sighed and reached into my cloak and handed Ileana her diary back. She looked surprised, took it, and said, “Where is it, Rune?”
    â€œWhere’s what?” I asked, confused.
    I started to think she was really mad at me or something. I exchanged glances with Wolf, but his earswere standing straight up and his doggy eyes were round and clueless.
    â€œYou
know
what!” she leaned forward, her blond curls falling over her shoulders as she poked me in the chest with her finger.
    â€œNo, I don’t!”
    â€œOh, I suppose it was just a coincidence that you broke into my room last night, and now Master Dreadthorn’s crystal just
happens
to be missing? It’s not funny, Rune!”
    Wolf and I exchanged another confused glance.
    â€œBut—but we didn’t take it!” I said.
    â€œThat’s right,” Wolf said. “You were talking to us the whole time we were there.”
    The princess narrowed her eyes at us.
    Wolf flinched away and began lapping noisily at his milk.
    I tried to look innocent. And even though I
was
innocent, I felt like I looked guilty. Then I realized trying to look
too
innocent might just make me look guiltier. I started