by Logan Jacobs
“No,” Akira spat, so I shrugged, sat down, and dug into my second plate of food.
When I finished eating, I bid them goodbye and stood from the table, with my book in my hand. I was so focused on reading the material, though, that I almost didn’t catch Morgana whispering to Akira on my way out of the banquet hall.
“If anyone has a copy, I bet Vanessa does,” the brunette said in a faint voice I had to strain to hear. “She’s the professor of Blood Magic. She has to have a copy of the Blood Pact spell, right?”
Fuck. I never thought of that, but it sounded logical. If it was true, though, I needed to break into her office. Now. Or maybe later tonight. I just couldn’t risk these other witches grabbing the last copy before me. They would use it to their own advantage and leave me out of it.
I quickly headed toward my bedroom with my book in my hands. When I stepped inside my room, I realized I desperately needed to take a bath. So, I quickly stripped off the stolen suit, placed my dagger on my desk, and as soon as I opened the bathroom door, the tub was already filled to the brim with hot water.
“Thanks, Cordelia,” I said aloud.
I knew she was probably watching me, even if she didn’t respond, but I smiled and shook my head to myself as I stepped into the relaxing water. Then I marinated in the hot bath for over an hour and scrubbed myself clean.
When I returned to my desk, I spent the rest of the afternoon studying my ass off. There was a lot I needed to prepare for Shadow class, and according to Theodora, Luna was one hell of a professor.
So, I studied until darkness fell and then closed the book and stretched my sore muscles. Now that it was nightfall, I knew what I had to do next.
I needed to retrieve and burn the final copy of the Blood Pact spell.
I paced back and forth in my room, unsure of how I was going to break into Vanessa’s office. I didn’t even know where it was, but I still had the skill of premonition to figure it out.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I quickly dressed in a clean shirt and pair of trousers before I slipped on my boots and cloak. Next, I grabbed my dagger off the desk and tucked it safely into my waistband.
Then I took in a long, deep breath before I swung the door open and headed quickly down the stairs.
I had no idea where I would begin, all I knew was I’d have to wander through the castle until I felt a magnetic connection pulling me toward one of the rooms, because premonition had its limits.
Even for me.
I quietly wandered through the corridors for about an hour, but I grew more and more impatient as time passed by, and I wondered if I was doing something wrong. The paintings continued to follow my every move as I walked down the hallways and past the empty rooms, and I finally came to a stop in the middle of a hallway.
“Where the hell is it?” I whispered to myself.
I couldn’t feel a damn thing, and I wanted to tear at the eyes of the paintings that continued to follow me as I walked down the barely lit corridors. Finally, I sensed a strong pull coming from down the hall. I followed the energy, and it led me down a series of passages and toward an arched opening.
I went through the door, and finally, I came across a wooden door with a wolf carved into the door and grinned to myself. The top of the door also had the same lettering her classroom had.
The feral she-wolf emerges at night, with only the moon to guide her way. Hide the lambs, the children, and the weak, because she will only leave blood and bone in her wake.
This had to be it.
I pulled out my dagger and fiddled with the lock for a good minute until I heard a click.
“Yes,” I muttered.
I gingerly pushed the door open, and inside was a small, dark office. There was a blood-red Persian carpet covering the slick, black wooden floor, and the walls were painted dark brown. Books took up the entire wall, and a small fireplace was aflame by her desk. Above her desk, there was a massive family portrait, and I spotted Vanessa, Theodora, and an older witch with white hair and the same piercing blue eyes.
I felt like the oldest witch was staring down at me, though, like she was judging my every move. I ignored the shiver that ran down my spine and started to look around the office. I had to be quick because I knew Vanessa could probably be back at any moment.
As I neared her book collection, my heart stopped when I heard a soft, familiar growl by the back of her desk. Then I slowly went around the desk and craned my neck to see Vanessa’s familiar Isobel curled up behind her chair. The wolf’s cold, light blue eyes stared at me for a long moment, and I thought she was going to start wildly barking at me, lunge at me, or anything, but instead, her eyes softened when they met mine.
She looked at me with imploring eyes, and I knew she wanted something to eat.
Perhaps she remembered the little treat I gave her back in the classroom.
“I’m sorry, girl,” I whispered. “I don’t have any more treats with me this time.”
Isobel looked disappointed but not angry as she laid her head back down in between her paws and slowly exhaled in disappointment.
I breathed a sigh of relief and continued to study the books. There were so many. They were all in different languages, and each one was thicker than the last. I used the ladder to climb up to the top and started to look through the entire wall. I started from the very top and slowly made my way down, and my fingers trailed along the spines until I reached the end of the bottom shelf.
If her copy of the Book of Survival was in here, then it wasn’t with the others.
“Shit,” I muttered.
I glanced at her desk, and I wondered if it was in there.
It was worth a try.
When I approached the massive mahogany desk, the wolf lifted her head and stared at me. Then she bared her teeth and snarled when I started to pull at the drawers.
Fuck.
“Please, girl,” I whispered, “don’t make a fuss. I promise I’ll be in and out of here in no time.”
Isobel closed her mouth and then tilted her head, and I couldn’t say for sure, but a part of me was convinced she understood me.
“Deal?” I grinned.
The wolf whined and then went back to sleep as if I wasn’t even there, and I smiled as I continued to rummage through Vanessa’s desk. I was surprised she didn’t lock her drawers, but I supposed she never expected someone to break into the office in the first place.
The woman had so many goddamn drawers in her desk, but there was only one more left, and I sighed as I put my fingers on the handle.
If the book wasn’t in here, that meant the other witches had found it first, and I was fucked.
Moment of truth.
I inhaled sharply and yanked the door open, and a moment later, my breath shuddered past my chapped lips.
There, below me, was the final copy of the Book of Survival.
I smirked to myself as I reached down and pulled it out. Then I flipped to the correct page and tore out the Blood Pact ritual.
“Found you.” I smiled.
I placed the book back where it belonged and closed the drawer. I then headed to the fireplace and crumpled up the page. There was no need to reread it, now that I had it all ingrained in my memory, so I tossed the paper into the lit fireplace and watched as it burned into a black crisp.
I’d done it. I’d found the last and only remaining copy of the ritual. Now, there were no more copies of the page left. I’d destroyed all evidence of the pact. The only way those witches would ever succeed now was with my help, and I couldn’t wait until they came crawling and begging for my aid.
I swiftly left the office with a skip in my step. So far, things were working out in my favor, but I still had to keep my guard up. Things might have been going well so far, but who knew what other obstacles I’d have to face before the final and deadly exam.
Only time would tell.
Chapter 14
Today was the start of our next class, and I was both mentally and phy
sically ready to take on the next set of challenges. I couldn’t wait to dive into Shadow magic.
It seemed like a vast and exciting subject, so I was pretty excited, especially after I spent several hours studying the textbook. I liked that I wasn’t going into this class blindfolded. Thanks to the headmistress, I had time to prepare myself by reading the introduction and the history of the course.
According to the book, the skill of Shadow had been used to teleport, to conjure up minions, and also to control light. As a preschooler, I would learn how to teleport from short distances and would also learn to invoke a shadow minion, who would temporarily do my bidding.
I was ready to learn a new set of skills, and even though each passing class meant we were coming closer to the final exam, part of me didn’t care. I was eager to learn more about all the skills I could acquire as I advanced. I knew I was growing more power-hungry with each quiz, but I enjoyed every fucking second of it.
I couldn’t even imagine what laid ahead in the next semester. If I was powerful now … who knew what I could do after I passed the exam.
But then I remembered I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. Before I got too cocky, I should take it one fucking step at a time.
So, I shot out of bed and quickly got dressed in my standard uniform. Then I grabbed my book and dagger before heading down to the classroom corridor. There were only a few witches in the hallway this morning since it was still relatively early, and they continued to stare at me with as much intensity as the paintings hanging up on the dark walls.
No matter where I went, eyes followed me, but I was used to it by now. After weeks of unanswered questions, learning new skills, and fighting for my life through unconventional quizzes, stares and glares from other women barely fazed me. In fact, sometimes I enjoyed it.
So, I smiled to myself and walked past the Blood Magic and Premonition classrooms.
The third door was closed, and I experienced a strange, alluring force pulling me into the classroom before I even turned the knob. When I stepped inside, I was surprised to see this room looked quite different from the other rooms. Vastly different, in fact.
“Holy shit,” I whispered to myself.
This room was incredible. It was like I was walking into a living dream. A dark, mysterious, and foreboding dream.
The walls were painted a dark navy blue that reminded me of a clear night sky, and the floor was made of gleaming white marble. It shone so brightly I caught a glimpse of my reflection when I glanced down, and when I looked back up to study the rest of the room, I noticed a long row of portraits hung above the professor’s desk. All the witches in these paintings were beautiful women with white-blonde hair and piercing lavender colored eyes. Clearly, this was the same family of witches, since all the women shared the same buttoned nose and cat-shaped eyes, and those gorgeous light-colored eyes followed my every move as I explored the classroom.
“Don’t mind me, ladies,” I said aloud as I walked around the empty room and wove through the desks.
Above me, there was a small, crescent moon window. It was too high up to actually see through the glass, but it did cast a slight glow of pale sunlight through the room. Today must have been slightly sunny because the room was relatively bright.
When I looked up at the ceiling, I marveled at the artwork. Clouds and glittering stars were painted across the ceiling, and a long, silver chandelier dangled high above me. The longer I stared at the ceiling, the more it seemed like the clouds were actually moving.
“Admiring my artwork?” a soothing, dreamlike voice echoed from the doorway.
When I looked down, I caught a pair of lavender eyes staring right through me, and my mouth hung open in awe because I was staring at one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.
She had long, snow-white hair that tumbled across her creamy white shoulders and down to her small, cinched waist. Her purple eyes glittered, and she had the most gigantic pupils I’d ever seen. It made her look like a living doll. Her cheeks were rosy red, and her lips were painted a dusty mauve. She was wearing a long black, off the shoulder robe, and when she smiled at me, I felt as if I was in a deep trance.
“Yeah,” I breathed. “It’s magnificent--”
“Well, thank you, Cole.” The woman nodded. “But flattery will not guarantee you a pass in this class. You’re going to have to truly push yourself and exceed the limit. Shadow is an extremely challenging and unpredictable course.”
“I understand,” I replied. “I have been working my ass off to get to where I am, so I’m not walking into this lesson thinking it’s going to be a piece of fucking cake.”
“Oh, I know.” She blinked those alluring lavender eyes. “Vanessa has told me all about you and how you’ve progressed. Word travels fast around here, which I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“Well, I hope she’s said good things,” I joked.
“It honestly depends on the day,” the white-haired woman laughed. “But mark my words, I will not be taking it easy on you just because you’re not from our world.”
“Trust me.” I grinned. “I’ve known I’d have to work harder than most since day one.”
“Good,” she said. “I’m Professor Luna, by the way, but you will only address me as Professor, understood?”
“Yes, Professor,” I answered. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Take a seat,” she instructed.
Luna gracefully turned around and headed back to her desk to take a seat as well. Then she stared hard at me as I took a seat by the front and opened my book.
I briefly wondered what she was thinking since whenever I glanced up, she was still staring at me with those large, lavender eyes and long, black lashes.
After a few minutes, I heard small footsteps approaching the doorway, and shortly after Vesta walked up to the threshold. Then she paused there, with her short skirt and tight white top, and I could tell she was entranced by the classroom as well. Her full lips parted in awe as she glanced around curiously, but when her eyes met mine, she quickly averted her silver gaze and looked down at the floor. Then she brought her book up to her chest and promptly sat down in the back of the classroom.
“Good morning, Vesta,” Luna said in a sing-song voice. “Are manners not in order today?”
“Oh.” Vesta blushed a dark plum color. “Apologies. Good morning, Professor. I’m sorry. I'm a bit tired from the last quiz.”
Luna shook her beautiful head and looked mildly disappointed.
“Vesta, Vesta, Vesta,” she said as she clucked her tongue. “No excuses, young lady. I need you sharp and focused. Don’t you want to live to see the next semester?”
She made life and death seem like it was such a common thing.
“Yes, Professor,” Vesta murmured with her eyes lowered. “Again, I apologize.”
Luna clicked her tongue again and looked back to a small book that was open on her desk.
I turned around to see what the hell was wrong with Vesta, but she only glared daggers at me.
“What?” she snapped in my direction.
“Nothing.” I shrugged. “What the hell is your problem?”
She was acting more spiteful and distant than usual.
“None of your concern,” the lavender-skinned witch sneered. “Just leave me alone.”
“With pleasure,” I said as I turned around and focused on my book again.
As the minutes ticked by, the other witches slowly started to pool into the classroom, and the last one to come in was Faye. She was wearing her usual black and white uniform, but her skirt seemed shorter than usual, and her white knee socks were missing. Her white crisp blouse had three buttons undone, and her red hair was pulled up into two high ponytails.
When she caught my eyes, she scowled and tossed back her long, red hair.
“Please take your seat, Faye,” Luna demanded. “There is no time to waste.”
“Right, of course, Professor,” the redhead muttered, but she shot me a glare before
she sat down in the last empty seat next to me and opened her book.
“Looks like I’m stuck with you,” she sneered under her breath.
“And good morning to you, too.” I smirked.
She snorted and then tossed back her long hair in a dramatic swoop.
“Hey, Cole,” she whispered, “will you do me a favor?”
“Sure, what is it?” I asked, and I had to admit, I was curious.
“Please don’t speak to me unless you have to,” Faye hissed, and her green eyes were practically poisonous.
“Yeah, sure, no problem.” I shrugged. “So long as you do me the same favor.”
“Why would I even talk to you?” she spat.
“You tell me, you’re doing it right now.” I smirked.
Faye opened her mouth to say something but then clamped it shut when she realized she was in a losing argument.
“Devil’s damn it,” she murmured under her breath.
I chuckled as she huffed and stared down at her book, and I knew she was just pretending to read to avoid eye contact with me.
Then Luna stood up and snapped her fingers to grab our attention.
“Class,” the white-haired woman began with her hands raised, “welcome to your first Shadow class. Today, we will be focusing on using shadows to teleport from point A to point B. We will also be studying the creation of minions. In a few days, you’ll take a quiz to ensure you have learned the basics. If you have failed to learn them, you’ll probably die.”
She snapped her fingers again, but this time, a group of seven men appeared at the front of the classroom. They were all chained to each other by the ankles, they all wore faded, gray, and torn up uniforms, and they all smelled of piss and vomit.
Their scent overpowered the smell of burning candles, and Faye covered her mouth and nose as she suppressed a gag.
“Now, everyone, please watch me closely,” Luna instructed.
The professor approached one of the chained slaves as gracefully as a swan. He was an older man with a scruffy white beard and small, brown bloodshot eyes, and he was so thin that I could see his rib cage poking through his gaunt and sallow skin.
