by L. S. Emory
Aunt Linda started the car and drove out of the parking lot. “Were you being attacked?”
I shifted in my seat. This was a good start. I could work with this. “They were calling me names. And they have been all year. I just got tired of it. It was just a stupid prank. I didn’t deserve to be expelled for it.”
“Stupid,” Aunt Linda said, “just about sums it up. Do you realize how many other girls would give everything that they had in order to attend the Agnes Arcania School of Wizardry Mastery? Do you? And you just threw your chance away.”
So much for that good start. I stared out the window, looking at the green trees and grass on the side of the road. I just couldn’t look at her. I didn't need another one of Aunt Linda's lectures on what it meant to be a good and proper student. Those lectures had come at least once a week ever since I moved in. And the lectures never changed. They were all about how I was not fulfilling her expectations, and my obligations, as an upstanding member of the magic community.
“Headmaster Kard was very unhappy with your actions. It has been quite some time since he has had to expel a student due to the ‘three-strike’ policy. It does not look good for the school. The Board of Trustees established that policy years ago in order to sift out the students that did not have the temperament for magic, the discipline for the craft. It was not designed for someone like you. You know better. You were raised better than that.”
I had to admit that she was at least partly right. My parents, when they were alive, gave me all the love and support I needed, along with rules and boundaries that I knew that I needed. When I was growing up, I never understood the kids that were always fighting with their parents. It’s not that mine were perfect, but I somehow knew how lucky I was to have them. That didn’t matter now. They were not here anymore. But I still was.
“You are not alone to blame for this,” Aunt Linda said.
Finally. Maybe Aunt Linda did understand. “No, I’m not. Those girls should have just left me alone.” I was glad to see that Aunt Linda was starting to see the whole picture.
“I am not talking about those girls, although I do concede that their own actions were not in keeping with the Virtue and Character Code of the AASWM. And Headmaster Kard assured me that they will receive appropriate punishment for their part in all of this. What I am talking about is the blame that I carry in this situation.”
I was really surprised to hear her say that. It was uncharacteristic of Aunt Linda to accept blame for anything, especially when the blame could be placed on me. “What do you mean?” I asked.
Aunt Linda’s voice softened a bit. “As you know, I never had children of my own. When your parents died, I immediately wanted to take you in and have you come live with me. Not because I have any real skill in helping to raise a young adult, but because it was the right thing to do. You are, after all, my brother’s daughter. My own failings as your guardian may have contributed to your delinquency.”
I sat there and tried to take in what Aunt Linda was saying. All it did was confirm to me what I already knew: that not only did I not fit into my classes and my school, but I also did not fit into my home. Or, really, Aunt Linda’s home. I never felt like it was mine.
“Well, what's going to happen now?” I finally asked. I already had the school’s punishment, and now I wanted to know what Aunt Linda’s punishment would be. “Is there something that you want me to do to try to fix this? Should I write a letter begging for forgiveness, or make an appeal? Should I do some community service, or something like that?”
“I'm afraid those options are no longer available to you,” Aunt Linda responded. “Now we have to discuss... other avenues for your education.”
I honestly had no idea what she was talking about. Other avenues? What exactly did that mean? As far as I knew, a person got an education at a school. Was she talking about a different school? If so, that meant that I would have to move away. The other schools in the magic educational system were in other parts of the country. Even if I went to a human college or university, it meant that I would have to move to one of the human cities, away from the magic population of Arkdale, the city I had lived my entire life in. Maybe that was what Aunt Linda really wanted. She now had an excuse to get rid of me.
“Do you mean transfer to another school? I could try the Sniffer School of Wizards and Warlocks in New York,” I offered.
Aunt Linda glanced over at me disapprovingly. “No, that is not what I mean. And, for your information, the Sniffer School of Wizards and Warlocks is an all-male school, in the same way that AASWM is an all-female school.”
“Why exactly are the schools like that?”
“Because,” Aunt Linda answered, “Learning and developing your magic skills is a serious undertaking. You do not need any distractions.” She looked over at me, and then said, “And AASWM and SSWW are two of the original North American schools. It was part of a tradition. The newer schools are co-ed, and not limited by out of date thinking.”
“What about that place, the one that my parents used to tell me stories about when I was a kid? Heartshead, was that it? Could I go there?”
Aunt Linda turned and gave me a look like I had asked for a pet dragon to keep in my room. “Don’t be silly. Heartshead is just a bedtime story. We are dealing with reality.”
“Well, what did you mean when you said, ‘other avenues of education?’” I asked.
“Transferring to another school within the magic educational system is problematic given your record. They would require the same one year waiting period as AASWM is requiring. Even then, if you were admitted, it would only take one indiscretion for you to permanently lose eligibility to enter any magic school.”
I shook my head. “I still don’t understand. What other options are there?”
“Only one option,” Aunt Linda said.
“And that is?”
“To be taken in as an apprentice to a master wizard. To be trained one-on-one.”
I didn’t respond well to hearing that. I could feel a flood of anxiety rush through my mind, like someone opening a dam. “I don’t exactly like being called on in class, so I don’t think that the whole ‘one-on-one’ thing would work for me. That would be even worse. At least in class I could hide behind someone who is taller.” That was true. I liked being inconspicuous, I didn’t like the attention. I always worked better in the background of things. By myself. And not with anyone looking at me.
With a stern look in her eyes, Aunt Linda looked over to me again. “This is where our conversation becomes difficult. Headmaster Kard called me after he talked to you. It seems that Molly Castor’s parents are threatening to sue the school over what you did. They claimed that you were endangering the welfare of their daughter and creating an unsafe learning environment.”
“What?” I said, raising my voice. “That’s a load of…”
“Watch your language, young lady,” Aunt Linda warned, interrupting me. Even the smallest word that could be considered ‘improper’ was not tolerated by Aunt Linda. “And while I agree with your sentiments, it still presents a problem. Headmaster Kard is not as stalwart of a leader as one would hope for and is afraid of the consequences of a lawsuit. He wants to turn you over to the Wizarding Authority and get them involved in an official investigation.”
“Official investigation?” I asked. “What does that mean?”
“It means that there is a chance that you could have to stand trial before the Wizarding Authority decides to proceed. He is concerned that, given what occurred today, that you have enough magic skill to be dangerous.”
“That ridiculous!”
“I agree,” Aunt Linda said calmly. “But Headmaster Kard is very fond of the donations of Molly’s parents, as is the Board of Trustees. However, I was able to convince him that if I am able to place you with a master wizard, who can help you hone your skills, then you will not be a danger to anyone. If that can happen, then he will not proceed with filing an official grievance
with the Wizarding Authority. At least that is what he said.”
“So, either being someone’s apprentice, or possibly having to go before the Wizarding Authority?”
“That is correct. But at this point, it is not really a choice. We are going to have to find you a mentor.”
“Who?” I asked. If this was my only choice, I was going to need some time to prepare.
“We are on the way to one now. I am not sure you will be accepted. But this person owes me a favor, much like I now owe Headmaster Kard a favor,” Aunt Linda said, with a bit of disdain in her voice.
So much for having time to prepare.
“Where in the city does this person live? Is it on a bus route, like the AASWM? I mean, I don’t have a car,” I said, trying not to sound defiant. I knew that if Aunt Linda thought I was trying to rebel, that would just make things worse.
“We are going outside the city. About an hour or two away. I am not entirely sure how long it will take. It has been a long time since I’ve been there, so we’ll have to use the GPS. So, no, you will not be commuting. You will be living there. That is how an apprenticeship works.”
Just great, I thought. Just like when my parents died. I have no choice. Nowhere to go. No school. No future. I was ready for this day to be over.
I tried to be quiet during the drive. Too many thoughts were going through my head. I stared out the window as we left the city. There was nothing but pines trees on both sides of the road towering over us as we drove. Then the car began to slow down, as Aunt Linda turned on to a dirt road that went up through a tiny opening in the middle the trees. If we had not slowed down, I would not have even noticed the road. Now, this was starting to concern me.
“Why are we turning here? I thought we were going to someone’s house,” I said, sitting up in my seat.
“We are going to someone’s house. And this is the way,” Aunt Linda replied.
I looked down at the GPS. According to it, we had already arrived at our destination before we turned off.
“This thing says that we are already here,” I said.
“The GPS won’t take us directly to the house. The person that we are going to see is rather private, so the house’s location is protected by magic.”
I looked out the window again. I could barely see the road, which had turned from a dirt road into more of a path through a thick section of pine trees. This was starting to get really creepy. We made several more turns through the forest that we were now in. Who would live this far out in the woods? Any wizard that I knew of, especially those that had attained the higher levels of mastery, lived in the city. I had always heard that the only magic that was done out in places like this was illegal magic, totally unsanctioned by the Wizarding Authority. I knew that Aunt Linda wouldn’t be going to someone like that. That didn’t make sense. At least I hoped it didn’t.
A few minutes later, the path that we were on began slowly disappearing. Up ahead, I could see that the path reached an end, stopping in front of a huge rock formation. It looked like they were at the base of a mountain. I looked up, and it just went up and up, almost if it touched the sky.
“Umm, I think we might have taken a wrong turn,” I said, looking at Aunt Linda.
“No, my dear. This is exactly where we are supposed to be,” Aunt Linda said. “This, Annabeth, is the end of the line.” All of a sudden, she pressed the accelerator hard, speeding up.
If I wasn’t scared before, I was now. Every horror movie I’ve ever seen played in my mind. This is where the murder victim is taken out into the woods to be disposed of. “Slow down, Aunt Linda! We’re going to crash!” I yelled, as I wrapped my arms around my face and leaned back, bracing for the impact.
Chapter 3
“You can remove your hands from your face now.”
“Am I dead?” I asked. Obviously, since I was asking a question, I wasn't dead. I uncovered my face and looked up. We were still in the forest, but everything looked different. Less desolate, more green, more alive. I looked over and Aunt Linda had a smirk on her face. “What happened?” I asked.
“What happened? What happened was that we went through an illusionary barrier. As I told you the person that we're going to see is very protective.”
“Well, you could have told me that before we went through it,” I said. At least then my heart would not have dropped into my stomach with the thought of impending death.
“Hmm. Well then, that wouldn't have been much fun for me would it?” Aunt Linda replied.
Great, I thought to myself. Aunt Linda has jokes. I hoped that it was entertaining for her.
Aunt Linda slowed the car down. Up ahead I could see the road starting to become less and less visible. A few seconds later, I saw what looked like a small rundown shack, where the road seemed to end. But there didn't seem to be much of anything else.
“Here we are,” Aunt Linda said. “It looks no different than the way I remember it.”
“This is it?” I asked. There was no way that this could be our final destination. It didn't even look like anybody lived there. It looked like it had been abandoned for years. That wasn't making me feel any better about my future. “Are you sure? I'm guessing that nobody’s home.” There weren't any cars in the front, and there weren't even any lights on.
“Oh, this is this is it,” Aunt Linda replied as she slowed the car down. “Now before we go in, there a few things I need you to understand. First, I will do all the talking. You will stand there and remain silent, and try not to make any... sudden moves.”
“What do you mean don't make any sudden moves? Are we going to the zoo? Are you worried about an animal attacking me?”
“As I said, the person that we're going to be speaking to is rather reclusive. He's not a person who entertains visitors very often. Now, may I continue without being interrupted again?”
“Sure, sorry.” I guess I should have just sat there and waited for whatever might happen. Trying not to make any moves, of course. “Wait! You said he. So, the person we're going to see is a guy?
Aunt Linda let out a sigh. “Yes, it is a man that we are going to see.”
“How do you know him?” I asked.
“He is an old... acquaintance,” Aunt Linda said, rather cryptically.
“What does that mean?” I wanted to know.
“Annabeth, we do not have time for all of these questions.”
“Okay, okay,” I replied. When Aunt Linda use that tone of voice I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere anyway, so I might as well just be quiet.
“Second,” Aunt Linda continued, “you must realize that this is the only choice that we have at this point. If I can convince him to take you on, it will mean that you won't have to worry about the potential legal consequences of your actions today, and that you might, and I stress this again, might have a future in the magic world.”
I nodded my head this time rather than saying anything.
“And finally, do not touch anything.”
I nodded again. I wasn’t sure what exactly she was scared of me touching. The shack didn’t look like it had much in it.
“Very well,” Aunt Linda replied as she opened the door and began to get out.
“Aren't you going to drive all the way up to it? Why are we stopping way back here?”
“We are stopping way back here, because we do not want to appear as if we are sneaking up on anybody. Surprises out here are not very welcome.”
Then I started to get really creeped out. But, since it didn't appear like I had any choices left, as Aunt Linda pointed out, I got out of the car and followed her. We were parked pretty far away from the shack, so it would take a couple of minutes to walk all the way there.
All of a sudden I heard a sound. Actually I heard a lot of sounds. Unfriendly sounds. I stopped, and slowly turned around. Then I saw where the sounds were coming from.
“Um, Aunt Linda, I think you should turn around,” I said as my heart started to beat a little faster.
&
nbsp; She turned around and saw exactly what I saw, which was three very large dogs standing behind us. Not friendly dogs like you find at the pet store. They were more like the kind of dog that would kill a person and snack on their bones afterward. I could hear the guttural growls that were coming from their mouths.
“Tsk, tsk, pay them no mind,” Aunt Linda said.
At that point, I kind of thought that Aunt Linda wasn’t fully aware of what these dogs were. “I think they might be guard dogs. And maybe we should try to get back to the car before we get mauled to death?” I suggested.
Aunt Linda took me by the hand and pulled me forward, still walking towards the shack. “You're going to have to start learning, Annabeth. Those dogs are not real. They are illusions, just like the illusion that hides this place from the rest of the forest.”
Uh huh, I thought, as the dogs began barking at us. I'm going to die.
“Do you not believe me, child?” Aunt Linda said as she looked at me. “Just turn around look at them again.”
I didn't want to turn around look at them again. At least if they attacked while I was looking forward, it would be more of a surprise when they ripped my head off. I was taking momentary comfort in that.
“Go ahead now, turn around and look,” Aunt Linda commanded me.
I slowly turned around and look behind me, with my eyes partly closed. The dogs disappeared in a puff of smoke. They were gone. The dogs weren't there anymore.
“I swear child, you're going to have to start believing me when I say things. That's always been your problem, that you just don't listen. Now come along, let's go in,” she said, pointing to the shack.
“Shouldn't we knock or something? You did call ahead didn't you?”
Aunt Linda looked at me with her angry eyebrows. “No, we do not need to knock. Our presence is already known. And no, I did not call ahead. This isn't someone you call ahead to. It's better for us to just show up.”
