The Curse Begins

by Abby James

  Merlin was right, Ms Lane was not herself. Never had I heard her speak out against any of faculty. If she didn’t agree with something she spoke quietly to the person in question, never did she gossip and bitch her thoughts to any who happened to be around.

  “It’s not hard really. It’s kind of interesting learning about other abilities.”

  “Yes, but when would you ever have a need to know any of these things. It’s as though the Dean expects you to use your gained knowledge.”

  And she’d never been so formal as to call McGilus Dean. Along with her intensive stare, this visit was giving me the creeps. Something I thought I would never feel with Ms Lane.

  She slid to the edge of her seat. “But that is only my opinion. And who am I to say how Darkwells should be run.”

  That was too weird a comment for me to respond.

  “Now, take my hands, dear. I wish to get a read on your emotional state and how you are copying with your workload.”

  “You once told me I leaked like a sieve.”

  Her smile faulted a fraction. “Yes you do, of course, but I wish to know more than what is on the surface.”

  Did she hope to pry into my ability. Maybe she’d become suspicious of all my extra curricula classes, but it was unlike Ms Lane to pry.

  I had no choice but to comply. I slid forward and placed my hands in her up turned palms. The moment I did her fingers clamped around mine. Her lips curled up into a sneer.

  “That was all too easy,” she breathed, sounding triumphant.

  “Your grip’s hurting,” I said, as a new force of energy made its way up my arm from our connection. The energy was vacant of impact, which meant there was nothing I could latch on to to use against her, but it felt black and greedy. This was not Ms Lane. I’d had Ms Lane’s ability in me before, and it didn’t feel like this.

  She launched to her feet, keeping a manacle grip on my hands. “And now, dear child, we shall finish what we started.”

  I pulled against her grip, but the force she used to keep me bound to her was beyond human. I pitched myself forward, falling to the floor, forcing her down with me.

  She grunted as she toppled down on top of me. Leering over me, she smirked again. Out of her mouth came the voice of another. “This will only end with me winning. If you try anything foolish your precious Ms Lane will suffer.” There was an obvious sneer beyond the lip curl on Ms Lane’s mouth.

  “Scullion?” I squeaked. How could this be?

  With a strength that was not her own, Ms Lane forced my hands together so they were easily gripped in one of her hands while she dove her other hand into the pocket of her long flowing skirt and pulled out a cylindrical device. She hurled it away. The moment the thing left her hand, it glowed an iridescent red light, which grew in brightness until the object vanished. With a sudden whoosh of light a wave of energy shot through the room. In place of the light was a vortex of kaleidoscoping color and swirls, funneling down to a point in the distance.

  What the hell?

  “Time for us to depart,” she laughed.

  I lashed out, thrashing around on the floor. Ms Lane and I were about equal height and weight, which should’ve made this a fair fight, but whatever Scullion had done to her increased her strength. Unfortunately he’d grown wise to my ability from our last meeting. Whatever juice he’d given her was not something I could take in to power my escape. What came from her was empty, a dark hatred filled with grasping greed and nothing more.

  “Stop it,” she hissed, bringing her face close to mine. “You are delaying the inevitable; that is, Ms Lane’s demise. The longer this energy stays within her body the quicker it eats away at her soul.”

  I froze. Holy shit. Was that true?

  “I can see it in your eyes. I can sense the question running from you through into her. You do not believe me. But do you dare deny it? Are you willing to risk your beloved teacher?”

  “You’re a cheat and a lier. How can I believe you?” I yelled at Ms Lane.

  All I got in return was a sinister smile. “You will end up through that portal, but whether Ms Lane is alive by the time you do so is up to you. I am draining her true essence as we speak. Her strength is kept alive by me and me alone.”

  Bastard. It was likely he was telling the truth.

  She chuckled. “Ahh, yes, I see you falter. You are afraid in case I am right.”

  Something moved to my right. I turned to see Merlin flittering across the room, heading straight for the portal. Ms Lane followed my eyes and on seeing where he was heading, launched herself off me and made a grab for the shright, yelling incomprehensibly as she did so.

  Merlin dodged out of her grasp and headed straight into the portal. In the center a bright white light glowed. It rushed down the tunnel and then exploded out into the room, throwing Ms Lane backward across the room.

  I shielded my eyes from the intensity of the glare, curling over into the fetal position.

  Once the light disappeared I uncurled, pulling my arm away and slowly turned over. The portal was gone and so was Merlin. I swiveled around to find Ms Lane in a crumpled heap against the far wall.

  About the Author

  Abby James is an incurable romantic and a great adventurer.

  Her list of loves is long. At the top is writing great romances, alongside reading great romances.

  She hates the mundane, so finds herself creating fantasy worlds and heroes that are larger than life and far from normal.

  Drop by my website