“I got that much too,” I replied. We walked onto St. Peter street where there were a couple of tour groups huddled together.
“Ghost tours are probably going to begin in the next hour or so,” said Ulric, bemused.
“Oh?” I scanned the groups with curiosity. Spirits were still a rarity and took a lot of powerful witching magic to bring forth.
“They’re mostly lone witches using some sort of illusion spell to make it look like there are ghosts. The ones worth seeing would be the zombie ones at night.”
“Are they real?” I asked.
“There are rumours that a handful of coven-less witches and warlocks have powers in necromancy. From what I’ve heard, it’s done for tiny groups of human dark tourists who pay millions per tour. The witches and warlocks running them have to be covert how they stage such tours because if they got caught by the Supernatural Light Alliance, they’d be shut down. Probably go to some kind of supernatural prison in the immortal realm and never be seen here again.”
“I should think so,” I replied. Wow, I was ignorant about so much. Lorna and Babette had never even mentioned that ancient, magical practices like necromancy were being used for entertainment. Then again, they had always said that black and dark magic was virtually non-existent amongst all witches and that lone witches were the weakest of the lot. I couldn’t help but think about what else they’d withheld. We walked on further and the bars and restaurants were bustling. It was late afternoon and everywhere I looked, people were partying like the entire place was in the midst of a street festival. “Do you come out here often?” I asked.
“You guys have been doing your defense and combat training underground in the academy, right? We don’t do that, we do our physical education, outside the city, in fields and bayous. So, we come out a lot for that but as long as we report back to the academy for classes, they don’t care of we’re off premises between classes.”
“Lucky.”
“You’ve seen how we’re treated there. Even the entitlement of the first-year vamps – I’ll tell you, if we were all out in the wilderness, those preppy vampire brats wouldn’t last a day against a werewolf. No offense or anything but the profs running St. Erzsebet’s know that. And if they keep us cooped up all day, there will probably end up being a full-on massacre between us and them at some point. In fact, the school actively encourages us to leave the schoolgrounds during daytime, when there’s no class.”
“They do?”
“Of course, think about it. It’s when vampires are most vulnerable. For those of us that do stay during the day, there are strict rules. We aren’t allowed to go anywhere below ground. And of course, whenever there’s a full moon, we have to leave during that night because our werewolf powers are heightened.”
“When do werewolves sleep?” I asked, stifling another yawn.
“We don’t need much sleep. Our thing is more powernaps – you should try it sometime,” Ulric smiled. Our eyes met again and we both looked away quickly. I wondered what he actually thought of me. A conflicted witchpire as I’d been called.
“Where are we going?” I asked, seeing that we’d turned onto a different street a while ago. It embarrassed me as I became aware that I hadn’t even thought to ask where we’d meet Safi. Had Ulric had any ill-intentions my own foolishness would have made it laughably easy. But perhaps I’d been so happy to go wherever he took me because there was a tacit trust building between us. He made me feel at ease. Something that continually otherwise alluded me since I’d come to Bloodline Academy.
“Just through here. Your friend wanted to meet you just outside St. Louis cemetery number one.”
“Oh really, that’s odd. Isn’t it?” that sounded a little weird to me.
“And you call yourself a witch,” Ulric searched my eyes, for a hint that I was joking.
“No really, I don’t get it. I felt my cheeks grow hot.
“The voodoo queen – Marie Laveau is entombed here.”
“But I’m not that kind of a witch.”
“Fine, then I’m as stumped as you are,” Ulric admitted. We reached the gates of the cemetery and stood there for a few minutes. Ulric stood on guard as if he was expecting someone to have followed us and to spring forth at any time.
I’d been standing with my back to the cemetery and from out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed a brilliant white glow coming from inside. “Look,” I blurted, knowing it had to be Safi. Ulric turned around and just as he did, my best friend popped into existence right before our eyes.
“I’ll take my leave. But I won’t be far, I’ll keep an eye out to make sure you’re safe,” he said, looking to both of us.
“Thank you,” I said, getting the urge to fall against his broad chest and get wrapped in a hug. Instead, I stood there awkwardly until my attention was drawn to Safi, behind the gates as she thanked him, with a palpable tension.
“It’s good to finally see you,” she said, her usual cheeky smile playing across her face, making me acknowledge how much I’d missed her.
“Same. Although, you’re inside a gated cemetery, why?” I asked, coming up as close as I could to the iron bars.
“It’s nothing – just since you must be well on your way to becoming a full-fledged vampire, I didn’t want to get too close,” Safi laughed.
“Huh.”
“I’m messing with you, silly! You’re too easy! It’s because, look over there, do you see that?” she pointed to a tomb which thanks to Ulric, I deduced must have belonged to Marie Laveau, voodoo witch-extraordinaire. It had subtle silver swirls, revolving over and around it.
“Yes, but she wasn’t a Crystal Witch…how is that happening?”
“You’re right, she wasn’t. But no matter what kind of a witch she was, she was a damn good one. Even all these years after she’s gone, her magic is still very much here. Waiting to be used by other witches. I’ve done buried one of my crystals right by sweet Marie’s tomb. The potency of her magic is amplifying mine. It’s acting as a magical shield. No malevolent entities can get in here, I’m completely safe.”
“That’s amazing!” I was relieved. She was a smart witch.
“But I won’t lie, I’ve been checking out every nook and cranny of this intriguing city, since you haven’t had me back in the academy and I’ve had to take to stalking your boyfriend,” Safi’s eyes widened as she searched my face for a touch of embarrassment. I was sure she found more than what she was looking for.
“He’s not my boyfriend! And, as I told you when we communicated, you really shouldn’t be doing that, it’s not safe. They almost caught you that day when you were in my room. And things seem to have changed between the S.L.A. and them even since I’ve come here. I think something’s brewing. I only came here to tell you to go back to the coven.” I’d been dying to tell her how grave things were. I sighed with relief now that I’d gotten it off my chest.
“Come inside, we need to catch up,” said Safi, totally brushing off what I’d just said.
“How? The gates are sealed.”
“Use your witching powers,” she threw back her luxurious curls, over one shoulder.
“You know I’m not good at that stuff,” I moaned.
“Then get good. Bloodline Academy is a dark place – like you said – and how ever much they might try and convince you that you’re a part of their family, you’re always going to be a Crystal Witch as well. Without developing your magic, you’re an accident waiting to happen. Man, I still can’t believe they let you come here in this state.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, now come on. I’m not coming out so you’re gonna have to find a way in.”
“Ugh, okay,” I focused on reappearing on Safi’s side. And felt like an idiot. Absolutely nothing happened.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to do what you do, so easily.”
“That’s because it’s my thing. Don’t try it if it doesn’t seem natural to you. Hell, Miss. L
orna can’t even do it.”
“Really?” I felt infinitely better. And, there was the little fact that Lorna had led us all to believe otherwise.
“Really. It’s not a reflection on your power as a witch, it’s just that we all have different talents. Some witches can do better compulsion than vampires, others can draw down the moon. Our coven bitch, Quinn, can strengthen and prolong the natural life force of living matter.”
“So maybe this isn’t my thing either?” I put one hand out and touched the gate.
“You know as well as I do that this is elementary witching and not core magical powers. Stop resisting your own inner witch.”
“I’m not!”
“You are, now do it.”
At times, I really loved and admired Safi’s persistence. This wasn’t one of those times. Instead of closing my eyes, I stared at the metal that ran along the edge of the cemetery and connected to my breath. I stood there, picturing the gate open. My left arm slowly began to tingle all the way down to my hand. It was a gentle sensation at first but quickly got more intense until I couldn’t help but look down to see what was causing it. My blooming shone more radiant than the rays of the sun beating down on us and though my arm felt very heavy, I was inclined to lift it and point. I felt a rush of energy as a silvery spark jumped off my finger and onto the gate. It opened where there wasn’t even a hinge. Astounded, I walked through, examining it. As soon as I was stood next to Safi, the metal bars adjusted themselves back like they’d never moved an inch.
“Congrats, Kat, you’ve just consciously controlled your magic!” said Safi beaming. She proceeded to grab me in a big hug and we stood there, just happy to be reunited and celebrating that I wasn’t a complete dud.
“You’ve got to tell me how you’ve managed to escape unnoticed from the coven, multiple times,” I said when we finally let go of each other.
“It’s a simple under the weather spell. I put in an appearance downstairs in the morning and look as sick as a dog. That’s been happening to me quite a lot since you left,” Safi laughed.
“But don’t they notice you’re gone?”
“Quinn and Nina go upstairs to check in on me in bed, I’ve let them know that I’ll be happy to let our High Priestesses know about their sneak-outs if they tattle on mine. And Lorna and Babette haven’t yet reduced themselves to checking in on me, so we’re good.”
“We are. Apart from that I wish they would spring you! It’s not safe,” I said, filling her in on the atmosphere at the academy, the Dark League and how Devin had practically given his blessing to his students to hunt out witches.
“My brother says something’s definitely up too but they haven’t been able to figure out what it is yet. Not as a bigger picture.”
“You really need to listen to me,” I tried again, getting hold of Safi’s shoulders and looking into her eyes that looked as mischievous as a cat’s.
“I agree, Bloodline Academy probably isn’t the best place for me given that something’s afoot. But thanks to the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, generously leaving behind so much of her magic after she crossed through the veil, think of this like a safe house,” Safi rolled her eyes to gesture all round. “Her brand of magic is actually filtering through one of our crystals as we speak and transmuting it into ours. As tempted as vamps would be by this, they can’t come near it without being severely weakened.” She looked so sure of herself.
“But our blood. Your blood…”
“Yes, yes, I know. That’s a different story. Like honey to the bee. But this flower’s guarded by – call it a magical bug zapper!”
“So why are you really here?”
“Why do you think?” asked Safi, getting serious. “For you. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you left.”
“You’re not the only one.”
“And this is all ridiculous. You can’t stay here. They’re using you.”
“I’ve been through the same thing myself,” I said, as pain suddenly welled up inside, “and I’m sure they are, but you know something? They took me in.” The tears I’d held back for so long, came to the surface and made their way thickly down my cheeks. Safi tried to hug me but I stepped away. She might have been my best friend and as much as I loved her, I didn’t want her pity. Or anyone else’s. “And you know what the crazy thing is?”
“What?” asked Safi, visibly hurt.
“As dark and twisted as they might be, as warped as their sense of right and wrong might be, they honour and seek to develop the part of me that carries their bloodline. What did Lorna and Babette do? They willingly turned their back on all of me for a part of me that didn’t mesh with their idea of what a witch should be. I am the first hybrid student at St. Erzesbet’s in the school’s history and do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because of all species, the vampires were broad-minded enough to make an exception based on that one part of me that they value. That one part that has yet to even show itself. Our coven did nothing to help me stay and develop the witch within. The only part I’ve ever known. I was discarded by my adoptive parents, for being born a certain way.”
“I know, you’re right. They’re assholes. But whether they like it or not, here you are. And your magic’s really starting to come forth. You need to practice so that you can harness it and use it,” said Safi. “I’ll come back to see you,” she said, looking past me. I turned and realized that Ulric was walking towards the gates, from the other side of the street.
“Okay but promise me you’ll stay in the cemetery, if you do?” I said feeling a little better as I tuned in and sensed how strong the magic all around us was.
“Scout’s honor. Just call on me and I’ll come as soon as I can get away. And let me know if anything interesting happens with him,” Safi looked to Ulric who was thankfully still too far to hear her. Or maybe he’d heard everything as his species was known for their heightened senses.
“Shut it,” I cringed. “Anyway, I didn’t think you saw romantic potential in werewolves,” I whispered, leaning in, to minimize my own chances of being heard.
“He seems nothing like the others. and, it’s pretty obvious that he has feelings for you.”
“No, it isn’t!” I batted at Safi’s shoulder.
“Then why is he doing all this?”
“I don’t know! But it’s not the reason you’re thinking.” It’s probably because he was forced to take part in bringing me to the academy, entirely against my free will. He probably feels guilty, I thought. We hugged and I walked to the metal gates, dreading that Ulric would also get a show of what a lame witch looks like, trying to summon her equally lame and elusive magic.
“Did you scale these gates?” asked Ulric, eyeing the metal bars up and down, making a whistling noise. “For a non-shifter, that’s impressive – and that too, in a skirt like that!”
“No, she used her magic!” replied Safi, proudly in the background. Now, I was convinced Ulric had heard what we’d both said, self-consciously tugging at my skirt.
How the hell would I get out without making an idiot of myself? My fingers began to tingle first this time and the silver glow crept up my arm and then back down until there was a single point of light concentrated at my index finger. I pointed and the metal rods that held the gated structure together, parted. I walled through like a wild animal that had managed to let itself out of a cage and as soon as I was through, the magic evaporated, restoring the iron gate to its original form.
“That is impressive!” said Ulric, his eyes flickered and I caught their warmth. It was the first time, I’d seen him looking happy, carefree even.
“Any witch worth her salt could do that,” I said rubbing my arm, trying to soften the glow that persisted.
“Doesn’t make it any less special. Do you want to stream back? Sun’s starting to set.”
“I can’t. It still hasn’t come to me,” I said, as my exhilaration about my newly discovered magic, that I should have been able to summo
n many years before this point anyway, dampened.
“No worries, I’m sure it’s all part of a process.”
“Wait, do werewolves stream too?” I asked. We left the large cemetery behind us as we walked onto St. Louis street.
“We do go as fast as vampires but we do it in a very different way. On a full moon, we’re faster than them.” Ulric gently brushed against me as we stopped to cross to the other side of the street.
“Will you get into trouble for hanging out with me?” I asked on impulse, completely ignoring how my blooming radiated magic in response to him being so close.
“With who?” Ulric looked into my eyes with a gentle smile. I couldn’t help but think about what kind of a wolf Ulric must have shifted into.
“The professors, your alpha, everyone, I guess?” We continued walking and I spotted the luminescence of the waxing moon that now hung in the sky, along with the setting sun. I felt drawn to both.
“It’s not something I really thought about before promising your friend I’d help you meet her.” Maybe that was it. It was probably Safi he was attracted to. And who wouldn’t be, the girl was ten shades of gorgeous.
“Safi’s amazing. She’s basically perfect,” I blabbered.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Ulric said as we walked.
“Thanks. So, I saw some of your packmates earlier when I was making my way out to go see Safi with you, some girls. They definitely didn’t like me.”
“Did one of them have dark hair and gray eyes?”
“Yes,” I said recalling that that was the one who’d angrily mumbled something about me.
“Yeah, that’s Winnie. She’s my sister. She’s also very likely going to be my alpha, Kane’s, mate once we are done with the whole school thing.”
“Oh, that’s great,” I said. Not that I was relieved or anything that Winnie and Ulric definitely weren’t destined for each other.
Magic Within: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Novel (Bloodline Academy Book 1) Page 11
