Taking her hand, I looked into her eyes, grateful that she had stuck by me all this time. As Helissa and James joined us, both looking a little sheepish, I shook myself, ready to learn the next step in being an agent. I still didn’t know if I could cope with this career, but while I was at the academy, I would try my hardest to give it a shot.
Making our way to the swimming pool, which was behind the rose garden in the academy grounds, we chatted and joked about everyday things. James looked a little uncomfortable as several students glanced in our direction, whispering amongst themselves. They had heard about James Seaton-Hinley’s unfortunate accident, although how much they knew was a mystery.
Ignoring our fellow students, we rushed past the heated swimming pool and into the building, ready to witness a real life interrogation.
“There you are!” Mrs Hinley snapped when we arrived. “In there!”
We followed her indication into an old boiler type room. The churning and clunking of mechanics that heated the pool made me squirm. I had seen many serial killer dramas that had ended badly in places like this.
“He’s down here,” Mrs Hinley hissed over the noise. “Remember, no talking.”
She marched fast, her heels echoing in the damp cold space. I wrung my hands in front of me as the man came into view. Frankie, Professor Seaton and Detective Rollings were sitting in three chairs. In front of them, the suspect was bound by magic rope, holding him firm.
“The students are here,” Mrs Hinley announced. “Please, do go on.”
The men didn’t even glance at us as we settled on an old wooden bench behind them. My stomach clenched when I looked at the nasty man who had tried to kidnap me. He had a bruise across his eye and flinched every now and then. His hands were tied in front of him, resting in his lap. The rope was glowing a light white, the energy pulsing off it.
“Brian, you asked us why we harbour such a treasure,” the professor said. “Which leads me to question what it is that makes the institute so interested in Alishia Jones?”
Brian. Such a bloody ordinary old fashioned English name for such an evil man. He should’ve been called Jaxon or Kediah or something unusual.
The man in question glanced at me, his eyes widening as if he’d just spotted a huge cream cake. The shudder that ran through every muscle in my body moved the bench. A hand came on my shoulder, squeezing gently. Izzy, my best friend since childhood. Her energy instantly calmed me, making me relax again.
“Her father took her as an ordinary Illusionist witch and made her into one of great power. We don’t know the exact details, but we’re obviously very interested. You should be, too,” Brain said to Frankie. “She could help you to stop killing your friends.”
I couldn’t see Frankie’s face, but the hairs on his neck stood up at the man’s words. Had it sunk in that what I had been trying to tell him was true?
“When you refer to we… who are you talking about?” The professor was very professional, his back straight and his voice in command.
A sizzle of ice cold ran over my arms as Brian looked at me, his eyes narrowing. “I won’t play dumb. You all know about the institute.”
“Indeed,” Frankie replied. “And who are the institute?”
“I’ll start playing dumb now.” The man bent his head to the side as he turned his head to look at the cop. “You’re a traitor, working with the humans.”
Clearing his throat, Frankie shifted in his seat. It was the first sign of discomfort he had shown. “Keep going, my friend, keep going. We’ll expose the harm you’ve caused to our own people.”
“Maybe you will, maybe you won’t.”
Getting up from his seat, Detective Rollings took two strides to the man, whipped out his gun and planted the barrel against his forehead. “Tell us who you’re working for. Now.”
I could barely see the man through the bulk of the detective, but his intake of breath was loud in the room. Part of me wanted to see the bastard’s brain splattered all over the hard concrete floor, but that wouldn’t help our investigation.
“I’m an underling, hardly worth the bullet,” Brian said, shrugging as the detective stepped away. “I don’t actually know anything.”
Gosh, the blonde haired man was a coward. That wasn’t something I expected from a powerful Illusionist witch working for the institute. Apparently, according to myth, those working for the nasty paranormals were extremely talented.
“Where do you get so much magic from?” I blurted, my cheeks heating when the teachers glared at me over their shoulders.
Oops, I was ordered not to say anything. Naughty Alishia.
Brian’s nose screwed up as he watched me, his gaze narrowing on my face. “I’d like to ask you the same question.”
“I bet you would,” I breathed, relieved that the institute didn’t know that electricity was my magic source.
As I smirked, his jaw clenched and his eyes widened, red flicking through them. The detective backed up as Frankie came forward, his gun also extended. Wait, the witch who had attacked me by the lake when the institute first came after me had seemed different somehow. His eyes had flashed red before his teeth extended. Were they cross-breeding witches with vampires?
Clenching my teeth as Brian yawned and sat back in his seat, I pushed the thought away. It wasn’t possible for two completely different types of paranormals to be merged into one. Not when one of them was dead and the other a magical being. The combination would make for a messed up supernatural creature. One I couldn’t even contemplate.
“I drain witches, the old fashioned way,” Brain declared, his gaze meeting Frankie’s. “Like my friend here. We’re very alike, you and I. Insignificant Illusionist witches, born without coven, destined to live a lonely existence.”
“Pfft.” Frankie snorted so loud, the whole room looked at him. “I’m nothing like you.”
A chill ran over me as I remembered the sorrow that had laced Frankie not that long ago. His friend had died because he’d allowed Frankie and others to drain too much magic from him. Frankie had blamed himself.
“You kill people for their magic,” I said loudly, getting to my feet when Mrs Hinley marched over, her glare radiating actual heat at me. “It must be ten people a day. Nothing like Frankie.”
“That’s enough.” Mrs Hinley swiped a hand over my mouth, her fingers dancing as her spell was cast.
Ah crap. My lips were sealed shut, unable to open. How could she place a silencing spell over me? That was mean.
“I do apologise, Professor,” she said on my behalf. “Please continue.”
Well, at least she wasn’t chucking me out. Instead, she looked at Dracian, who pulled me back to my seat, a disapproving growl running through his chest. What was he bothered about? I was the one who had my mouth glued shut, which was the worst feeling in the world.
“You say you’re an underling,” the professor went on, indicating that the detective and Frankie should return to their seats. “You must know your boss.”
Brian’s tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. “The institute has a top dog and his minions. There’s no other hierarchy. We just do as he says.”
“So, who is he?” Mrs Hinley spluttered, her cheeks puffing out.
Turning his gaze to the small woman, he smiled, almost flirtatiously. “Now, you could persuade me to tell you, if only I knew.”
“Oh, come on.” Frankie almost shouted as he became agitated. “You must know.”
“I don’t.” Shrugging, Brian winked at Mrs Hinley. “Are you married?”
Finally, the professor got to his feet. He was at the man in two strides, his long legs almost skimming the ground to reach him. Once there, he bent to stare into Brian’s eyes, his hands reaching down and clenching his arms.
A squeak left the man’s lips as they curled in pain. Professor Seaton was no longer playing nice. I even winced as a snap of bone resounded around the room and Brian cried out.
My lips relaxed, making me look at Mrs Hinle
y. She was concentrating so hard on her husband, she had dropped the silencing spell. Good, at least I could talk if I wanted to. Which I didn’t. I was having too much fun watching the evil man being tortured.
“Get off me!” Brian’s shout echoed over and over, making me feel lightheaded.
Shit, he was using his magic. Everyone must have realised because they jumped to their feet, ready to fight.
The professor flew back, crashing into the detective and the chairs behind him. They landed in a heap on the ground, the noise almost drowning out the weird keening that made me look at Brian. Could anyone else hear the high pitched strange sound that made my legs burst into motion, moving towards him?
“Alishia, no!” Dracian called.
Looking over my shoulder, I frowned. My friends were trying to pull their feet off the ground, but they were trapped. The witch had lulled us into a false sense of security, but his magic was slowly overpowering everyone.
“Professor?” I tried to get Seaton’s attention.
He was untangling himself from the detective and the chairs. Frankie and Mrs Hinley both started across the room to Brian. I fought the urge to walk, trying to keep my legs from taking another step.
Brian kept his gaze on me, his lips moving in a silent chant. His hand came up without him looking away, sending Frankie flying into the wall. The policeman grunted loudly as his head smacked against the brick and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. When he landed in a heap, my heart jumped into my throat, pounding hard. He was either knocked out or dead. I hoped it was the former, although I also needed him to wake up. Now.
“Stop!” I said under my breath, willing Brian quietly. “You don’t have to do this.” My voice grew stronger as I repeated myself. “You don’t have to do this!”
His eyes turned red as he threw back his head and laughed. “I do have to do this. He wants me to bring you in alive.”
A flurry of activity came to the right side of my vision. A hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back. A crash of metal against concrete made me look at Brian. His legs were in the air, his seat tipped over, as the professor grabbled him on the floor.
“You will tell the truth!” he shouted into his ear.
Blinking, I watched as a bottle of liquid fell out of the professor’s jacket pocket. He was trying to grab it, but he couldn’t reach it as Brian struggled against him.
I couldn’t let the professor become overpowered, I had to help him. Ripping my arm away from whoever held me back, – A quick glance confirmed that it was Dracian, who was struggling to move again – I rushed across the room. Brian was attempting to wrench free, his arms pulling the vine cord that bound him, stretching it to try and get it to break.
“Here!” I grabbed up the small bottle and unplugged it, ready to give it to Seaton.
The professor was struggling to keep the man down, his arms straining. “Down his throat, quick.”
Kneeling, I came face to face with my enemy. He glared at me, his jaw clenched tight and his eyes bright red.
“You’re evil,” I muttered, taking his jaw in my hand.
He snapped at me, his head twisting to try and bite my fingers. I imagined his mouth wide open, saw the image in my mind. My magic poured through my fingers which were pressed into the joint of his jaw. Slowly – oh, how he fought – his mouth opened wide. A groan came up his throat as I quickly deposited the truth serum onto his tongue. He spluttered, almost choking.
“You bitch!” he shouted when I let go and backed off.
An arm appeared from nowhere, a rock clasped in the hand. It descended onto Brian’s head, the impact knocking him unconscious instantly.
“That man is going to have terrible concussion,” Dracian said, dropping the rock on the floor.
“Or he’ll be dead.” My words were met with a frown as Seaton reached up and checked his pulse.
Clambering off him with a nod of the head, Seaton breathed hard. “He’s alive. For now. He won’t be under for long, he’s a powerful man. He must have drained ten men to have this strength.”
“How did you keep him tied up for so long?”
Now that I was near him, I could feel the magic pulse from his energy. It was a confusing mixture of magical imprints, confirming what the professor had said about him draining multiple witches.
“Just think,” Mrs Hinley muttered as she helped me to my feet. “If we hadn’t caught Damian, he would’ve turned into this man.”
The professor got to his feet and brushed a hand through his hair. “To answer your question,” he said to me. “He’s been playing along. I could feel it. He wanted to disarm us so he could get to you.”
I understood instantly. There had been times in the past, especially with my foster parents, when I’d held back my power to get the upper hand. Oh, how it was to be an Illusionist witch.
A cough from Frankie reminded me that the man was still in the room. The girls were fussing over him, making sure he was okay. Apart from a bloody skull, he wasn’t harmed. Getting to his feet, he patted the girls’ shoulders and thanked them, asking them if he could escort them back to the academy building.
“Yes, it’s time you all left,” the professor said, waving James over.
Our friend had stayed on the bench, staring at the scene in front of him. I wasn’t surprised. The fight had probably reminded him of his own traumatic ordeal.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have let him come,” Mrs Hinley said, gripping the boy’s arm when he joined us.
“I’m fine,” he muttered, shaking her off as he looked past her at Brian, who was now stirring.
Seaton leapt forward, grabbed Brian’s head between his hands and recited a Latin incantation, rending the man immobile. I recognised the spell from Mrs Hinley’s class, even recalled the words.
Yay, I was actually learning something.
“What do the institute want?” The professor glared into Brian’s wide eyes, his whole body shaking as he held tight.
The man’s lips started to move but nothing came out. He was trying hard to cast a counter spell. Luckily, Seaton was too strong.
Coming forward, James placed a hand on the man’s forehead, his fingers digging deep. “Tell my father what he wants to know!”
Brian blinked over and over, rolling his eyes as he tried to wrench his head free. He couldn’t though. The two men overpowered him completely. Eventually, he opened his mouth in a creepy groan and then spoke loud and clear, for us all to hear.
“The institute is going to attack the academy. In two days’ time, they will come for you all, just so they can have her.”
Chapter Seven
The ringing of my phone jolted me out of a deep sleep. Dracian’s grunt alerted me to his presence as his arm moved, knocking me off his chest.
“It’s Devon,” he muttered groggily, handing me the phone.
Forcing my eyelids to open, I blinked as her name flashed on the screen. It was only seven in the morning, who rang people this early?
“Hello?”
My reply was met with a snort. “Oh, the days when I would lie in bed all day, chatting to Kingsley.”
“Kingsley?” My confusion was met with laughter.
“My familiar rat. Well,” she almost sang, “not my actual familiar. I never used him that way, but he’s my best friend.”
“That’s nice for you,” I said, watching Dracian tug on his jeans.
James had taken Helissa on their first date last night, so we’d agreed to allow them space. It had been awkward sleeping in the same bed at first, but once his arms came around me, I had fallen into a deep slumber.
“I need to see you and Dracian before you start class. Meet me in the library in ten.”
The phone hung up, leaving me starting at the screen. Did the agent seriously think I was going to rush around to meet her, two hours before class even began?
“We better get ready.” Throwing my jacket on the bed, Dracian went over to the sink.
Watching his muscular bare
back as he brushed his teeth, I couldn’t help the shudder that ran through me. My limbs were clumsy as I dressed, trying to stay a little discreet in case he turned around quickly. Not that it would matter, I had stayed well dressed for the night, but still… this was new territory for me. Sleeping in the same bed as a man I had feelings for was the next step up from teen hood. We hadn’t had sex as soon as we got the chance. I wanted a real connection. Real sex.
“What do you think she wants?” Dracian asked when he’d finished.
Handing me a spelled toothbrush, he gestured for me to use the sink. I didn’t answer as I rushed over and cleaned up, cringing at the bags under my eyes when I looked in the mirror. No girl liked to look like she had two black eyes right after she woke up. I couldn’t even disguise it with a spell, considering the spell would drain my magic all day.
“I’m hoping she’s found information about our parents.” It had been a while since we’d heard from the agent from the Hunted Witch Agency, but my gut flipped at the thought that she might have new evidence.
“We’d better hurry, then!”
Brushing my fingers through my hair, I grabbed my jacket and swung it on, patting my pocket in reassurance. As long as I had my trusty zapper, I felt safe. Although, that wasn’t exactly something to rely on, considering it was a material object. However, I would guard it with my life, always.
“Did you want to fill up?”
After the interrogation of Brian, we had been ordered to always stay on academy grounds, no matter what. The professor had also set up a meeting with police headquarters to discuss the upcoming supposed attack. Brian was placed under arrest and hidden deep within the justice system.
Pausing as I reached for my inducer, I became a little shy at the idea of giving myself magic in front of him.
He obviously sensed my unease, because he came closer and nodded at my jacket pocket. He knew exactly where I kept my precious. Hopefully, he would never tell anyone else.
“I haven’t seen it properly yet,” he muttered, taking my hand and smiling down at me. “My kickass girlfriend hasn’t even shown her boyfriend her cool trick.” As soon as the word trick left his mouth, he frowned. “Talent…” He corrected. “I meant talent.”
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