“Yes, but this is literally as far as you got last time,” I say, shooting him a knowing look. “Well, okay, so you made it inside the doorway.”
“True, true,” he nods. “On the upside, it still stands. No hellmouth or anything. And it is a pretty nice door.” His grin beams back at me and makes my heart flutter.
I shake my head, trying to chase away this anxiety and let his lighter mood take root. Yet it still sits there like a rock in the pit of my stomach. I want to reach out to him, touch his face, and tell him how I’m feeling, but…
“Come on,” I finally say, kicking open my door.
Wade follows after me, circling around the front of his car and reaching out to take my hand. I slide my palm against his and we walk through the sea of cars toward the massive structure. Our feet crunch against the snow glittering the ground, and I tug my coat in tighter.
“So, anything I should know? Best people to go to for help, or places to avoid when I don’t want to study?” Wade asks, nudging me in the shoulder.
“Well, for sure, the person to talk to is Ms. Cain for almost everything. She’s a strange duck, for sure, but she’ll know how to point you in the right direction. I swear, she’s a walking encyclopedia.”
“Good to know. Can you point her out when we get inside?” he says, his breath billowing out in clouds in the chill morning air. Even the tip of his nose has begun to turn pink.
“You can’t miss her. She’s the main admin. We have to go to her to first,” I say, reaching for the handle of the massive door.
“Cool. Makes things easy,” Wade says, grabbing hold of the door as it opens and shooing me through. He gives me a sideways glance and shakes his head. “That’s my job, woman.”
My lips curve upward and I step to the side, allowing people to go around us. “I know how to open a door, Angel.”
“I’m sure you do. That’s not the point,” Wade says, giving me a knowing look.
“Hey there, guys,” a familiar voice rings out.
I look up, surprised to see Cat bounding down the hallway and heading toward us. Her black hair is twisted into a bun on the top of her head and she’s dressed up like one of the head mistresses you’d see in Harry Potter or something. Regardless of all of that, she looks good. Like she’s finally gotten the rest she desperately needed so her body could heal after the car accident and everything that followed.
Trailing behind her is Colton, dressed in a grey suit and a tie that doesn’t exactly look uniform. Despite his obvious attempt at also dressing up, he remains ever the same when his gaze locks on the floor as he shuffles toward us.
When Cat reaches me, she wraps her arms around my neck and holds on tight. My eyes widen as I look at Wade, whose eyebrows rise into his hairline. I wrap my arms around her, returning her embrace.
“Cat, why are you here? You don’t need orientation. Besides, shouldn’t you still be in bed?” I ask, pulling back. “I thought the doctors were giving you a couple of weeks more before your system was back to normal?”
“I couldn’t spend another day in that room. I was about to climb the walls. Besides, Ms. Cain asked Colton and me to help with new student tours, so…here we are.” She beams, turning back to Colton. “What are you doing back there? Yeesh, you’re so awkward.”
Colton juts out his chin, but his lips slide into a sideways grin.
“Yeah, uh, sorry guys. Good to see you both,” he says, glancing between me and Wade before his gaze drops back to the floor.
My insides clench, and I bite my lip. I haven’t spoken to Colton since the day we resurrected Cat—and the day he kissed me. It’s just been too weird.
Clearing my throat, I step forward, sweeping my hand out to the side. “Guys, you remember my boyfriend, Wade, right?”
Cat grins broadly. “Yep, sure do. We didn’t get much time to chat, but I feel like I know everything about you. Autumn is absolutely enamored.”
Shooting her a sideways glance, I mutter under my breath, “Cat.”
She takes a step backward, shaking her head. “I, uh… I meant to say, I’m totally looking forward to getting to know you, Wade.” A big, cheesy grin erupts on her face and she raises her eyebrows. Then she shifts her gaze back to me like whatever she just said totally made up for the humiliation I feel coming my way.
I run my hand over my face.
Wade chuckles, turning from me to Cat. “The feeling is mutual. Autumn’s told me a lot about you both. I’m looking forward to being around more.” His eyes float to Colton, who glances up just in time to catch Wade’s discerning gaze. The tension between the two of them settles between us like a heavy fog.
Inhaling sharply, I take Wade’s hand and say, “Well, on that note, we better get moving. We have to go see Ms. Cain and get Wade to his orientation session. See you guys around?”
“Okay, catch ya around. If you end up in the Elemental Magic wing, stop by and say hi. It’s where we’ll be,” Cat says, spinning around on her heel as I drag Wade past them and down the hall.
“Sounds good. We’ll come find you,” I say, waving.
Cat waves back, but Colton grabs hold of her arm, dragging her down the hallway in the opposite direction. He leans closer, whispering something in her ear, and she glances back at us with a confused look.
Shaking it off, we walk through the open door to the admissions office and get in line. There are a lot more people here this semester, and a lot less panic going on in the halls. It’s a nice change. My spirits lift a little bit.
Maybe this semester will be different? Maybe I’ll finally get into a groove, learn more about my powers, and get to have my boyfriend by my side. Maybe…all of my worries are completely unfounded.
Leaning in to Wade, I whisper, “I promise you, I have only said good things to Cat.”
A soft chuckle escapes his lips. “I’m not worried about that.” He shifts to his other foot and itches his eyebrow. “I am, however, still concerned about her brother.”
I swallow hard. “Why?”
“I read people pretty well, and there’s something going on with him,” he says.
“Well, his twin sister recently died and came back,” I say under my breath. “I’m sure that messes with a person.”
Wade shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. I mean, maybe it’s some of it—but he’s not weird with her. He’s weird around you. Or maybe just me. Either way, it tells me he’s still got a thing for you. He hasn’t tried anything, has he?”
My eyes widen and my pulse skyrockets. This is hardly the time or place to explain everything that happened. “I uh, what do you—”
“Next,” Ms. Cain calls out in her bored drawl.
“I think she means us,” Wade says, leaning in and tilting his head toward the desk.
Surprised, I twist around him to have a look. Ms. Cain’s eyes blink slowly behind her thick-rimmed glasses, and she waves us forward.
“Oh, yeah. Hi. Hello, Ms. Cain. How have you been?” I sputter, trying to reign in my racing pulse.
She quirks a mousy-brown eyebrow over the top rim of her bold, black glasses.
I clear my throat. “This is Wade. Wade Hoffman. He’s a new student and taking part in the festivities today.”
“Festivities? Haven’t quite heard it put that way before. Are you trying to be humorous, Ms. Blackwood?” Ms. Cain says, narrowing her gaze.
I sit there for a moment, trying to decide if she’s messing with me, or if she’s serious. It’s so hard to tell.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Breathe—you’ll live longer,” she finally says, passing a packet of information over the granite countertop. “Mr. Hoffman, if I could get your ID and signature on the top form, I’d greatly appreciate it. It allows us to bill the card on file for tuition.”
Wade’s complexion pales and he licks his lower lip. “Uh, sure. Absolutely.” He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet and sliding his driver’s license across to her.
“Thank you,” she says in her slo
w lilt, taking the ID and running it through a tiny scanner on the side of her desk. “Should all hell not break loose, you’ll be taking pictures today for your student ID. Just in case, and until it’s ready, this will help me put a face to your name. Plus, if we need to hunt you down, it has your address on it.”
Wade glances my direction and tilts his head to the side. “Well, actually, this address will be changing soon. I’ll be getting an apartment here in town, so…”
Ms. Cain’s lips curve up into a creepy grimace of a smile. “Isn’t that lovely? Well, be sure to update me when this momentous occasion occurs, would you?” She hands his ID back without even blinking.
Wade nods, accepting the card and putting it back into his wallet. “Of course. You’ll be the first to know.”
“I’m sure,” Ms. Cain says, letting the sarcasm drip heavily from her lips.
Wade shoots a wide-eyed gaze in my direction. I shrug in return.
She is who she is. You get used to her style eventually.
He turns back to the stack of papers, flipping through the first few pages.
“You just need to sign the top one, Mr. Hoffman. The rest are just copies of what I’ve already emailed to you,” Ms. Cain says, leaning to the side to view the line behind us.
“Right, okay,” he says, swallowing hard. His lips press into a thin line and he signs his name on the line, as asked. Dropping the pen, he slides the stack of papers back to her.
“Just the top one is mine, dear,” she says, handing the other back and grabbing a few more papers she had off to the side. “Here’s your orientation packet. Take it to the Auditorium Hall. Everything starts in there. This day is fairly open. Once you perform the Witching Stick ceremony, you’re free to roam the school and grounds in whatever fashion you deem necessary. I’m sure Ms. Blackwood here can show you around,” she says, eyeing me. I smile in return and she flits her bored gaze back to Wade. “Welcome to Windhaven Academy, Mr. Hoffman. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
Wade grabs the packet of papers and holds it to his chest. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” she says without a hint of a smile. “Next.”
Looping my arm through his, we leave the admissions office and head back out into the hallway.
Wade’s silence fills the space and I turn to him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. For sure. It’s just… I sure as hell hope my inheritance covers the tuition. This has an awful lot of zeroes,” he says, making a face.
My insides twist and I can’t help but sympathize with him. I’d been saving for ages to go to the U, simply because I couldn’t afford to go straight into it from high school like everyone else. There was no way Mom was going to let me take out student loans, either. She’d have a conniption and go on a tirade about how student loans are put in place, so we start out our lives stuck under the thumb of Big Brother.
“I still have some money in my savings. We’ll figure it out. If I have to get a job to help—” I begin.
“In no way are you helping me to pay for my tuition. Nuh-uh, that’s a deal breaker,” he says, shaking his head.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Waving a hand in front of him, he cuts me off. “Let’s not worry about any of the real-world stuff right now. I’m in a friggin’ magical school. Now’s the time to sit back and enjoy it. I wanna see what the fuss is about, while I revel in the fact that I’m also here with the most beautiful woman in the whole world. Deal?”
I narrow my gaze.
“Deal,” I say, hugging his arm closer. “Let’s go see what this Witching Stick ceremony is all about.”
Wade beams back at me and I lead the way to the auditorium. The seats are nearly filled already and I’m surprised at the sheer number of new students coming in, especially since this is just the second semester. It’s not even the start of a new year.
When I began, I was off in my own world, focusing on so many of my own inner struggles that I never really looked around. I barely registered the sheer awesomeness of abilities coming from the others around me. Now, as someone who isn’t worried about fitting in, or wondering about my powers, I guess I can breathe a bit. It’s fascinating to see the questions painted across the faces of nearly everyone here. Their anxiety and excitement are palpable.
The two of us maneuver into one of the only two-seat spots left, which are off as far to the left of the stage as humanly possible.
Wade leans in close. “How do you think this thing goes? I mean, do you think the whole Sorting Hat thing was taken from this? God, I hope not.”
My eyes widen and I hold back a laugh. “Wouldn’t that be something? I guess, stranger things…”
“Right, we are definitely in the Upside Down,” Wade nods.
“Not what I meant. I literally meant stranger things have happened.”
His eyebrows lift upward and he laughs. “Oh, right. Habit.”
“It’s one of the many reasons I love you,” I say, smiling.
He turns back to me, looking me over intensely. His silver irises get consumed by his pupils, but as he opens his mouth to speak, a hush falls across the crowd and his lips pinch tight. We both turn to face the stage just as a plume of purple fire dies back from the entrance of a woman in a purple pinstripe suit. Her wild, curly black and purple hair flows around her and she holds her arms out wide, palms up. A tiny smirk branches out across her face and she steps up to the microphone.
“Welcome everyone, to your Witching Stick ceremony. My name is Marva Arlo, but you probably remember me as the disembodied name on your admissions letter,” she says, quirking an eyebrow and giving a knowing look as she casts her gaze out over the sea of people. “I’m Windhaven Academy’s Director of Admission and I’m here to properly introduce you to the world of the supernatural and magic.”
Leaning in, I whisper, “I have never seen this woman before now.”
“This is probably her only gig. Then she goes back to sitting behind a desk,” Wade snickers. “Makes sense as to why she had to make such a big entrance.”
I cover my face, holding back a laugh. He’s probably right. It’s the most theatrical thing I’ve seen take place in the past five months.
“So let me explain to all of you hopefuls on how this day works. The mere fact you are sitting in your seat means you have already been vetted as carrying supernatural qualities. Some of you were gifted from the day you were born; others may not even know what your gifts are quite yet. Each of us run on a supernatural spectrum, so to speak. Our job at Windhaven Academy is to help you develop at your current level and then quickly advance you into your area of magical expertise,” she continues, crossing her arms behind her back and walking across the stage. “Should you be more advanced upon entry, you will be happy to know, your lessons will help you level up further. If you are a magical newbie, on the other hand…” she stops, raising her left hand, palm up to the air, “…then our lessons will start out in the basics as we test you for your innate abilities. Every classroom is warded with enchantments that detect who you are and your level of advancement. This helps to provide your instructor with the ability to teach you where you are at. At this point you might be thinking, ‘This sounds great, Marva, but what does this mean?’”
The director stops pacing across the stage to look out over the audience again. Not a single one of us moves; instead, we’re all thoroughly engrossed in her words. Even me.
“It means that while you might be in the same classroom with your peers, the lessons they are receiving may be vastly different from the one you are receiving. Does this make sense?”
Chatter breaks out over the audience and I turn to Wade. “Did I just hear what I think I heard?”
Wade’s face is wide with surprise and he shrugs. “Heck if I know. What did you hear?”
“That each student is actually getting a different lesson at the same time during the same class?”
“Yup, that’s what I got, too.” He nods.
&
nbsp; “Holy shit. How did I not realize this before now?” I say, my mouth gaping open.
“Er, probably because you didn’t get to have this orientation?” Wade says.
Shaking my head, I turn back to the stage. I think back to all the lessons from last year and how many times I felt like I must be falling so far behind because I didn’t know what powers I had—if any. And yet, the whole time, my lessons were individualized to each of us?
Mind officially blown.
“So, the way today works is not like anything you have read in books. Yes, Potter fans, I’m looking at you…” she says, her voice trailing off as she narrows her gaze. “Instead, you will be granted access to each and every room of this facility, including the outer grounds. We encourage your participation today, and quite honestly, everyday, because the more you explore, the more information we gather about your gifts. The better then, we can tailor the experience here for you. This even includes the people you are naturally drawn to. We have found over and over again, the supernatural beings we are in close proximity with have a direct correlation to the advancement of our own gifts. They offer a certain aspect that is dynamic to our own special qualities. So, pay attention to those you are drawn to. They are more than just friends; they are your energetic family. Their gifts will become a part of you in ways you cannot even begin to comprehend.”
I turn to Wade, placing a hand on his knee and giving it a squeeze. My smile falters when I see the look on his face.
“What is it?” I ask, tugging my eyebrows in.
“I really don’t think you should be hanging out with Colton anymore,” he says.
Chapter 3
Where Do I Sign?
Everything’s been a jumbled-up cluster since the Witching Stick.
Despite a decent afternoon wandering the campus, I haven’t pressed Wade about his declaration to avoid Colton. Mostly because I don’t want the awkwardness surrounding it to make things worse. And in all honesty, I don’t think Wade’s completely wrong. Colton does put out a strange vibe, and I don’t want to give either of them the wrong impression. Plus, the further away we get from the kiss, the harder it is for me to bring it up.
The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 Page 26
