“Since we’re the only ones that seem to like this school,” Anadil groused, coming out of the mist, trailed by two black rats, the third one flagging, looking wan and half-dead.

“You might need another rat,” Sophie cracked, relieved her friends were acknowledging her again. She pressed her tattooed hand deeper into her pocket. “Listen, can we reconvene Book Club after lunch? I really need to talk to—wait a second. Did you say new students?”

Over Hester’s shoulder, Sophie saw two more shadows breaking through the fog: a teenage boy and girl she’d never seen before, both wearing Evil’s black uniforms and equally black scowls.

The boy resembled a malevolent penguin, with sickly pale skin, dark bulging eyes, sunken cheeks, and a hideous dome of black hair. He had scrawny thighs and calves, no muscle tone in his sticklike arms, and walked stiffly as if afraid something might fall out of his pants.

The girl was broad-shouldered and golden tan, with glimmering blue eyes, a small button nose, and long black hair that was so harshly black it didn’t look her natural hue—as if it’d been dyed in a hurry by someone who didn’t understand the careful calculations of proper coloring, most certainly a man. Still Sophie found her pretty overall and for a moment felt threatened, until she noticed the girl’s thuggish, swaggery walk, like a troll in search of something to club.

The new boy and new girl spotted Sophie and stopped short. Sophie saw their legs go shaky, their foreheads sweaty, and their mouths hold back huge smiles as if they wanted to hug her, touch her, or at least get an autograph.

“Uh . . . they’re big fans of your storybook,” Hester mumbled, glaring at the gaping strangers.

Good grief, that explains everything, Sophie sighed, suspicions melting away. She’d forgotten how famous her fairy tale was in the Woods. She must have adoring fans like these everywhere. For all she knew, thousands of obsessed admirers had tried to get into the school to be close to her and these were the first who succeeded.

“Well, the School Master said nothing of this to me,” Sophie sniffed, at once flattered and in no mood to interact with common groupies when there was a spy to catch. “Surely he’d have at least mentioned their names—”

“I’m Essa of Bloodbrook, Coldhearted Ever Killer, Sworn to Protect Evil,” the girl interjected, her voice high and thin, layered with the snootiest accent Sophie had ever heard. She clutched the boy’s hand. “And this is Edgar.”

“I can introduce myself thank you,” the boy growled at her in a low tone and turned to Sophie. “I’m Edgar of Bloodbrook, Coldhearted Ever Killer, Also Sworn to Protect Evil.”

Sophie peered at their joined hands. “Two Coldhearted Ever Killers . . . in love?”

The boy and girl looked at each other, as if prepared for every question but this one.

“Cousins. They’re cousins,” snapped Hester. “Part of Captain Hook’s family tree.”

Edgar instantly let go of Essa’s hand. “We don’t like to talk about it.”