Something Wicked

by Emma Dean

  Would she even be able to join any groups or clubs or teams?

  Herbology 303: Advanced Poisons. Shifter Studies 101: An Introduction. Advanced Latin and Intermediate Sumerian. Runes: Past and Present. History of Magic 101: The Beginning of Magic, Science of Magic 304: Interdimensional Physics, and last but not least Hunting 204: Swordsmanship for the Hunter.

  Eight goddamn classes to try and make up for starting a semester late. Most people took five and then a class or two in the summer. Some of the best classes were in the summer semesters when there were fewer students and specialties could really be focused on.

  Of course one had to add their name to a list and hope the professor had enough participants for their specialty.

  But Mika just wanted to make sure she graduated on time. She wanted to make sure that she could figure her damn life out before she had to leave, or decide if she wanted further training on a particular focus.

  She sighed and adjusted her grip on her suitcase. She should have put her coat on like Claire had suggested that morning. But she’d been scatterbrained more than normal the last few months.

  “Look, I’m really sorry about everything,” Ryan said gently. “What happened last fall with your coven, it couldn’t have been easy. So, if you need anything just let me know.”

  The massive wood doors to the university swung open as they approached and Mika nodded. “I appreciate that, Ryan. I think I can make my way from here.”

  He smiled down at her, but it was more subdued than when they first met. Mika tended to have that effect on people. “Can I give you my number? This place is massive. We could go the entire semester without seeing each other again, and I want to make sure you call me if you do ever need anything.” Ryan smiled wider then and gently chucked her chin. “Not that you would ever admit you needed anything.”

  Mika blinked and a flare of panic at his touch rose and then died. She handed over her phone without even thinking – something about him made her instinctually want to trust him. At the very least he was observant, and he didn’t push her into talking or…anything. Ryan was just there, offering his help without strings.

  Which was exactly why she didn’t trust him.

  Mika didn’t trust men the way she might have once, but having a teacher’s assistant as a friend who knew the school much better than she probably wouldn’t hurt. It was an alliance, nothing more.

  “Thank you,” she said, remembering her manners as he handed back her phone. “I appreciate the offer.”

  “Of course, Mee-kah Marshall,” he said, over-pronouncing her name as he backed away. “Anything for Claire’s sister.” Then he turned the corner and disappeared.

  And just like that her tiny bubble of good feeling was gone. She was just Claire’s sister and he was being a good friend.

  There was nothing about her that would make people remember her as just Mika. At least…nothing she was willing to show them.

  “Ms. Marshall?” A woman in a cute pantsuit walked out of one of the offices and beckoned her to follow. “I’ve got your class list, your list of books, and your dorm mate waiting to meet you. I was so sorry to hear about your mother. You have our deepest condolences. We’ve done everything we can to make this transition easier on you.”

  Only because she was a Marshall. Mika highly doubted they did this for every student with a tragedy in the family.

  Still, she followed the woman and grabbed the handle of her trunk. Mika could carry her own things despite everyone assuming she was incapable. It was just easier not to fight them when they offered.

  “Mika Marshall?” a loud, female voice practically screeched from inside the admissions office.

  She winced at the sound, but smoothed her features as she crossed into the brightly lit room. It still looked like a castle on the inside, but it had a bit of a homier feel – and it wasn’t freezing. Her fingers began to thaw as she found the source of that voice.

  “Is it true your ancestor was the first to discover gold in San Francisco?” the other witch asked.

  “Audrey! I’m sorry, Ms. Marshall. Audrey is a bit…outgoing.”

  This was going to be a nightmare.

  “Yes, that’s true,” Mika said. It was just easier to get this part out of the way. “Our family is very wealthy and has made many donations to the American branch of the University of Morgana.”

  Audrey inspected her closely, seeing more than Mika was comfortable with. “Cool. We’re dorm mates. I’ll help you get settled.”

  And that was that.

  Mika blinked again as she took the papers with her list of classes and books. Wonders never ceased.

  “Let’s get your shit into the room and then we can get your books,” Audrey said. “Need any help?”

  “Audrey! I’m so sorry, Ms. Marshall,” the admissions lady was saying. “I can find you another dorm…”

  “This is fine, thank you,” Mika said, interrupting the other woman. For the first time someone was giving her a choice and she wasn’t about to throw that away. “I would love some help, Audrey. But I can take my trunk.”

  The other girl didn’t smile. She just took the suitcase from Mika with narrowed eyes. She was perceptive.

  Mika would have to be careful around her.

  But she was also honest and straightforward. That was relieving.

  After what had happened with her brother and father – Mika didn’t feel like she could trust anyone anymore.

  “I said I was coming here three weeks ago! Why is everyone losing paperwork?” A familiar voice practically screamed from the other room. “I swear to fucking Christ if you’re doing this to keep me from attending I’m going to burn this place to the ground.”

  Mika craned her neck to try and see the other witch in the admissions cubicle. The university staff member helping her seemed flustered and…terrified.

  “Kenzie,” Selene’s familiar voice whispered. “Calm down, they’re not doing this on purpose.”

  “I just want to take one class so I can use the library. This shouldn’t be so hard,” Kenzie grumbled. “I need some air.”

  Then she was up and stalking toward the exit, right toward Mika.

  That red hair was a dead giveaway.

  Kenzie stopped short when she recognized Mika and they stared at each other for a moment.

  It felt like time slowed, dripping like sap from a maple tree in the dead of winter.

  Mika remembered years ago when her parents had agreed to let her play with Selene at the Kavanagh mansion…back when everyone had avoided that place like the plague thanks to the ‘abomination.’ Going and spending the night had been…eye-opening.

  What she’d seen and what she’d heard, well…no one should have to experience that. Not even her worst enemy should suffer what Kenzie had at the hands of her own family trying to ‘fix’ her.

  “I’m not sorry about calling them out,” Kenzie finally said to Mika, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

  But she did look a bit guilty. Mika didn’t blame her though.

  “Good,” Mika murmured. “They all deserved it.”

  “But your mother didn’t.”

  Audrey was a silent phantom next to her that Kenzie didn’t even bother looking at.

  “No,” Mika agreed. “She didn’t. But love isn’t kind.”

  Kenzie tilted her head at that, about to open her mouth when Selene came up to them with that slight smile on her face – it seemed plastered on ever since she’d become matriarch.

  If only Mika had been more powerful, maybe they would still be friends. She missed Selene.

  Looking down at the floor out of respect for the strongest witch in their coven, Mika knew that at least Selene would make a good High Priestess one day. “Matriarch Kavanagh. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  What she didn’t expect was the massive sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the Fates you’re here Mika. Will you help Kenzie when she’s on campus for classes?”

  Her grip tighten
ed on her trunk. Would Selene ask that of her if she knew?

  “You have my number, Matriarch.” Still she didn’t look up. Mika was a gnat in comparison to the power Selene could wield.

  “Mika,” Selene’s gentle voice nearly broke her cool composure. “I’m sorry about your mother.”

  She looked up then, ignoring the tears that always welled in her eyes when someone actually meant the words they spoke to try and console her. “So am I. Call me if you ever need anything, Kenzie…Selene.”

  Then Mika turned and walked out of the admissions office with a surprisingly silent Audrey on her heels. The trunk was heavy but she barely felt it as she blindly walked away – anywhere but in that room with witches she knew and respected and had so much history with, who reminded her of everything that had happened.

  If the future High Priestess of Bay Coven would take a void witch, would she take in Mika?

  3

  The dorm room was nicer than Mika expected. It was larger than her bedroom back home and they both had a full-sized bed instead of a twin. But she had to say, her favorite part was the massive bay windows with the plush velvet window seating.

  Silvery light filtered in and she looked up at the sky. It looked like it might snow again.

  The walls were made of stone and the wood to reinforce and insulate spoke to Mika. The aesthetic was perfect for this place, for her mood. Dark and mysterious – a place to learn about herself, because if she didn’t, people could die.

  “I’ve already claimed the bed by the door. I hope that’s all right,” Audrey said, setting Mika’s suitcase on the bare mattress. “Even if it’s not, I’m not switching.”

  At least she was honest.

  “Some guys came last week and replaced the mattress. Were they yours?”

  Mika turned around and studied her new bed. “Yeah, my sister Claire arranged it.” On top of all the preparations for their mother’s funeral and grieving…Mika had done everything she could to help. Between the funeral, the requirements for the university, and keeping their grandmother alive, she had never felt more exhausted in her life than she had last week.

  “The things money can do,” Audrey said with a shake of her head. “I’m here on a scholarship. I was born into a middle class human family who doesn’t believe in magic, so…” Audrey shrugged like it was no big deal, but they both knew it was.

  Mika knew money made everything easier so she wouldn’t bother trying to say something reassuring. “Then I guess whenever we go out it’s my treat.” It was all she could say or do really.

  Audrey’s smile finally came back at that. “Sounds good to me. Does that mean we’re going to be friends?”

  “Obviously.” Mika opened her trunk and grabbed the brand new sheets on top. Being friends with the person who lived in the same room as her was smart – but she wondered if eventually Audrey would get tired of her once she realized just how boring Mika was.

  “What’s your specialty?” Audrey asked, flopping onto her own bed, looking up at the twinkling lights that framed her headboard.

  And this was the part she’d been dreading. “I don’t have a specialty. I’m undeclared.”

  The sheets fit perfectly of course – a deep sapphire blue so dark it looked almost black. Her sister had made sure they matched the school colors. That was so like Claire.

  Audrey frowned. “Weird. I didn’t know that was allowed. Are you just not sure what you want to focus on?”

  “No, I just don’t have a specialty.”

  Liar.

  Mika ignored that whispery voice inside and took out the silver duvet, pillows, and the matching pillowcases. If Mary Poppins had owned a trunk this would be it.

  “Really? Usually the old clans have really powerful witches.”

  “I know.” There, the bed was made.

  There were two armoires next to each other. Mika crossed the room and considered ordering a rug for the wood floor. Her armoire was empty other than a few basics her sister had probably arranged for her as well.

  “So does that mean you’re not very powerful?”

  Audrey sure didn’t have any issues with confrontation.

  Mika finally stopped what she was doing and turned to face her dorm mate. This girl looked about her age, maybe a little younger. But it was the cold calculation in her eyes that impressed Mika. She was smart and tough as nails. Did she play the loud, outgoing schoolgirl to throw people off?

  Without a word she grabbed the papers from her desk that contained everything she needed to start at the University of Morgana. Mika handed those over to Audrey and went back to setting up the armoire. No mini fridge, she would have to keep any snacks and drinks in the shared kitchen.

  “Wow, I had no idea someone could score this low on the practical exam. Or this high on the theory. You’re a weirdo,” Audrey said with a laugh.

  “You’ve no idea,” Mika murmured. She slammed her armoire shut and grabbed her coat and warmer gloves. “I’ll put my clothes away later. Would you like to come with me to buy my books?”

  Audrey was still reading through Mika’s papers, but she got to her feet and nodded. “Looks like we have some classes together. That’s fortunate I guess. How the hell did you get into a hunter class?”

  “I tested into it.” Mika slipped on her elbow-length leather gloves with a sheepskin interior over the ones she already wore and then put on her wool pea coat that just brushed the tops of her boots. “Witches are traditionally physically weak. The Marshall matriarchs have always insisted that we train as hunters in tandem with our specialties. I assume it has something to do with our Wild West beginnings.”

  Audrey finally looked up and handed over the papers. “I see why you took mostly theory classes this year. And they’re all so varied. But hey, you have hunting to fall back on if you need to right?”

  Mika took the papers and studied the silvery crest at the top. It was a miracle she was here at all. She assumed there were two reasons they accepted her despite her test scores. The first being her family, and the second being the strange way her magic nearly disappeared three years ago.

  Her grandmother wasn’t in any condition to speak to the school, and Mika doubted Claire even really remembered. She suspected Takahashi had spoken to someone, maybe in hopes they would help uncover whatever her block was.

  “I’m not as strong as a natural born hunter,” Mika finally said. “But yeah, it’s something.”

  Audrey had never taken off her coat. She grinned and stuck her hands in her pockets. “Would you like to walk around a bit first before we grab those doorstoppers?”

  She had all day to explore the campus. Mika figured she should before having to deal with finding her classes and keeping up with the homework. This was supposed to be the best five years of her life after all.

  Might as well maximize on it.

  “Yeah, show me around,” Mika said. “Show me everything Morgana has to offer.”

  “Well, we do have one of the best battle magic dodgeball teams in the world,” Audrey said. “Tryouts for the Morgana Marauders are next week.”

  Mika’s heart fluttered at that. So, she hadn’t missed them. “Really?”

  Who was she kidding? There was no way she could try out.

  “Yeah,” Audrey went on. “I’m going to try out, but I never had the opportunity to study battle magic so it’s been a crash course since last summer.” Audrey led her down the main hall to the large staircase. The outside walls were just glass so they could see the campus grounds and the forest beyond.

  The common room on the bottom floor was empty, but it looked cozy. There were multiple fireplaces and overstuffed couches and chairs. Study tables were on one side and through another door she could see their dorm’s kitchen.

  Oleander House was bought and paid for by the Marshall clan almost a hundred years ago. And the dormitory was just as lovely as all the brochures stated. Fitting name, she supposed. The women in her family had always been obsessed with poisonous flower
s and plants.

  Mika pushed open the great big oak door and sighed when she realized she’d forgotten her scarf. Living in the frozen north was going to take some getting used to. The air was biting and cold and the snow on the ground crunched.

  “Have you seen the Morgana stadium for battle magic dodgeball?” Audrey asked as they headed down one of the stone paths.

  “I haven’t.” Mika wondered if she would ever get the guts to try out. Just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach, a strange flutter in her belly and a shaking in her hands. Having that many people watching her – waiting for her to fail…

  It would be for the best if she didn’t.

  “Let’s go there first while it’s still light outside,” Audrey suggested. “It gets darker here faster than you think it would in the winter. You blink and all of a sudden it’s pitch black.”

  Mika glanced sideways at her dorm mate and considered her. She was smart. And clearly gifted at something or she wouldn’t be here on a scholarship. She was interested in battle magic dodgeball – the most dangerous witch sport in existence. Which meant she was an adrenaline junkie, or in it for the glory.

  Audrey was one of those naturally gorgeous girls. She had this thick brown hair that seemed red in the sunlight, and these full pink lips that looked like what people would take pictures of to their plastic surgeons.

  Her eyes were blue, but not cold like Mika’s. They were bright and clear with this ring of green that really set off her freckles. Audrey was shorter than most witches, but not by much. They were actually almost the same exact height.

  Absolutely gorgeous.

  Mika would have to see what she would do with that beauty over the semester. People like Audrey…either they used it to get what they wanted, or they used it to get as many boys as they possibly could – a boyfriend stealer.

  Or maybe she was just one of those rare few who were just glad she wasn’t ugly.

  “I can train you,” Mika said softly, looking around to make sure no one could overhear them.

  “In battle magic?” Audrey asked, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Your practical is shit, no offense. I wouldn’t think you could do battle magic.”