The Witch's Guardian (Caspian Academy Book 1)

by Anna Edwards

  Juniper’s eyes go wide at the mention of the woman she adores above anyone else. She flies at Taya this time and rips a chunk of blonde hair from my girlfriend’s head. They both exchange a few blows before the owner of the arcade appears.

  “Enough,” he says firmly, pulling the two warring girls apart with little effort.

  I’m impressed. He’s lucky Taya didn’t turn him into one of his own delicious shakes for just daring to touch her. I’ve seen enough, though. The lesson has been taught, and it’s time for me to inflict the final blow and make sure Juniper doesn’t bother me again.

  Pushing off from the pool table, I stride confidently over to where the owner is still trying desperately to keep the still spitting girls apart.

  “I saw everything,” I say in my most innocent of voices. “It was all her.” I point at Juniper. “She attacked my girlfriend.”

  “Liar,” Juniper screams and goes to take a swing at Taya again. “She started everything.”

  I pull Taya out of the owner’s arms and into mine. Tucking her into me and kissing her on the top of her head as a gesture of comfort. “It’s okay, I’ve got you now. She can’t hurt you anymore. We all know what a good girl you are.” I revert my attention back to the owner. “Juniper is new to Caspian. Maybe you should call our headmistress and let her know the trouble she’s been causing. You’ve been so good to us, allowing us a place to come and get some downtime away from our studies. I wouldn’t want to lose the accord between us all. Please. Juniper has been causing trouble ever since she came here. It’s about time she got punished for it.”

  The owner glances to where I’m cradling a now sobbing Taya.

  “She’s so mean. Why did she have to pick on me? I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just sitting over there, having a drink with my friends,” my girlfriend cries, the perfect actress for my plan.

  The friends who were flanking Taya when she attacked Juniper break down as well. “It was so shocking. We’ve never had anything like this happen in all the time we’ve been coming here. I think I’ll be too scared to come again knowing she could be here,” one of them sobs.

  My eyes narrow at Juniper. She goes to protest again but realises it’s futile. Instead, she shakes her head at me with a look on her face promising revenge. I smirk it off as Emmie comes to her friend’s defence.

  “No, enough!” The owner silences everyone with a bellow of frustration.

  “I can’t have people coming in here and causing trouble. This is a friendly place, and it will always remain so.” He grabs Juniper by the arm and starts to pull her away. “I’m taking you straight to your headmistress. I won’t have troublemakers like you in here.”

  Emmie follows along after the owner and her friend, still trying to protest Juniper's innocence, but my plan has worked. Our headmistress won’t stand for someone causing trouble outside the academy. It may not get her expelled, but it’ll get her grounded, which will keep her away from me for the foreseeable future. I won’t have to see her unless she’s in the same class, and she’s already been warned not to look my way if she is. I’m free of my nemesis and can continue with my plan to be the powerhouse of this year at Caspian.

  Pushing Taya away from where her tears are making my t-shirt wet, I kiss her again.

  “This place is boring now all the fun‘s over. What do you say we take it somewhere a bit more private and make our own entertainment?” I suggest.

  Taya’s tears instantly disappear. “I can’t think of anything better. I hope you’ve got some more of that elixir you made. It’s delicious and the buzz is amazing. Come on, girls, we’re out of here.”

  The assembled crowd part, allowing us to walk unhindered through the arcade and outside; the king and queen of Caspian. Our school. Our rules. No one can destroy us.

  “But Juniper didn’t start it, Mrs Donovan!” Emmie cries, frustration tinging her every word.

  I can see the indecision in our headteacher’s eyes. She wants to make an example of me, but she doesn’t want to endure a confrontation with my father for punishing me, and she’s also not unaware of the antics of Taya and her band of supermodels. Not much has changed it seems.

  “Now, Emmie, I can see you’re feeling very passionate, but you need to take a breath and calm down.”

  “She’s right,” I say turning to Emmie as she opens her mouth to argue.

  “But…”

  “No.” I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have reacted.” I turn to Mrs Donovan. “I’ll accept whatever punishment you see fit to impart, headmistress.”

  What I don’t say is I’m secretly hoping she will expel me, then I can get back to my mum. But I know she won’t. My dad’s wrath is never something to be taken lightly.

  “Emmie, please go to class. I want to speak to Miss Ambrose for a moment.”

  Emmie looks at me, and my eyes plead with her to listen and go back to class. The only privilege having the King as my father affords me is getting out of situations like this, and whilst Mrs Donovan is fair, Emmie wouldn’t have the same privilege. I don’t want her pushing the headmistress’s patience.

  With a sigh Emmie leaves, slamming the door behind her.

  “Seems I’ve upset Miss Draven.” Mrs Donovan says with what sounds like a little sadness in her voice.

  “She’ll be fine,” I reply. “I guess she feels a little vexed. I can’t condone my behaviour, Mrs Donovan, but Emmie is right, Taya started the altercation.”

  “Sit down. Juniper,” she invites, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. I take a seat and wait to hear what she wants to say to me.

  “Your mum was one of my best friends in school, did you know that?”

  My gaze jumps from the edge of the wooden desk I was studying to meet her eyes. “I didn’t know that.” I swallow my emotion down.

  A smile plays on her lips as her eyes wander behind me in obvious wonderment at her own memories.

  She nods. “Yes, we were so close. Lived in the same flat, spent our holidays together, double dated. Best friends.”

  “What happened?” The rasp of my voice betrays me as I try to hold in my emotions.

  “Your father.” She stands at the same time she speaks, her tone is sharp, and I can hear the hurt in her voice even though she tries to mask it with anger.

  I can’t ask any more questions, though, as she seems to make a decision, and walking over to her window, she turns her back on me. “I’m aware, Miss Ambrose, of exactly who your father is, and so I will not expel you this time.” She turns back towards me, raising a single eyebrow and challenging me. She’s obviously expecting some kind of argument. When she doesn’t get anything from me, she returns to staring out the window. “However, if something like this happens again, I won’t be so lenient. Two weeks of community clean-up to be done around the school. The hours will be six to seven am and seven to eight pm. Mr Taylor will instruct you, and I expect you to follow his direction to the letter.” She turns to face me again. “Am I understood?”

  I nod, “Yes, Mrs Donovan.”

  “You may go,” she dismisses me.

  As I walk toward supernatural history class, I mull over the conversation. Mrs Donovan was my mum’s best friend. She was reminiscing, and it was clear she loved her and misses her. It was also clear she blames my dad, and so, by proxy, me.

  This is going to make for a great school year.

  I’ve never had a problem with waking early. In fact, I find early morning to be the most peaceful time of the day. Most people are still sleeping, but the animals are early risers and if you listen closely, you can hear them calling to each other, saying ‘good morning’. When I walk into school at five fifty am, I’m ready for my first community clean-up session, and I’ve already been awake for over an hour.

  “Hey, Mr Taylor,” I call, walking around the eerily empty building and finding him digging into a huge garage which I’ve never noticed before.

  “Ah, Juniper, nice to see you so bright and early. We’re just waiti
ng for one other, and then we can get started.”

  I nod, watching him pull out litter picking sticks. I guess I know what this morning will entail. Turning round, he looks over my shoulder.

  “Here he is.”

  I dread looking, my heart is vibrating in my chest, and I’m pretty sure anyone near me can feel it. I heave out a sigh of relief at seeing Lucas, but my body quickly locks when I realise he’s one of Jacobi’s best friends. Wherever I go, I can’t get away from Jacobi Ashdown.

  “Right, both of you, grab one of these and one of these,” Mr Taylor says, holding up a litter picking stick and a bright yellow vest. “Bin bags are over there.” He points towards the garage. “Go, find rubbish.” His arms wave outward as though this is the most interesting and exciting assignment we could have been given. Suddenly, his hands move to his hips. “And no magic.” I huff out a sigh of resignation and collect the prescribed items.

  It doesn’t take long to get lost in my own world, picking up litter is boring but not having to think about my actions does bring a sense of peace.

  “So, you didn’t get expelled then?” Lucas mutters, walking up to me.

  I roll my eyes, not that he can see me as my back’s to him. I was hoping we could avoid each other.

  “I guess,” I reply limply.

  We work side by side for a few minutes, and the longer he stays next to me the more anxious and annoyed I become.

  “Did you want something, Lucas?” I snap, turning to face him.

  He rubs the back of his neck, glances down at his shoes before his eyes meet mine again. Then, shrugging he replies, “We’re both here and will be for some time, I assume. I just thought we could you know…” His words trail off.

  “What?” I ask, raising my hands in question. “Are you suggesting we could be friends?” I roll my eyes. “I’m sure your lord and master, Jacobi, would be thrilled about that.”

  He frowns. “I’m friends with Jacobi-“

  “Best friends,” I cut him off.

  “Good friends. We don’t really use the term best friends,” he smirks and it annoys me so I turn away and continue collecting litter.

  How does this school become so messy when most of the students and all of the teachers can use magic? You’d think at the very least they would put their rubbish in the bin.

  “Okay, okay,” his apologetic tone has me turning around again, “I’m sorry. Yes, Cobi and I are close friends, and I know there is a weird thing with you and him, but I’m not sure what it is between you two, and to be honest,” he grins, “I don’t want to know. I’m my own person, and if Cobi wants to remain my friend, he won’t complain when I become yours.”

  He winks, and I have no idea whether he’s being real or this is all a ruse. I want to use magic, to find out if he’s being honest, but we’re forbidden to use magic on other students or teachers for emotional or controlling purposes. Even my dad couldn’t save me if I did that. Plus, not everyone is capable of that kind of magic, and I don’t want people knowing I am. Still, I don’t want to turn down a potential new friend, not when he hasn’t actually done anything unkind to me…well, not yet.

  “I guess we’ll be spending a bit of time with each other over the next couple of weeks, and it can’t hurt to have someone else on my side,” I say smiling at him.

  Chatting with Lucas makes the remainder of the hour pass quickly, and as I walk towards my first class of the day, hoping to get some extra study in before the others arrive, I feel cautiously happy.

  “I see you’re still here.” The happiness vanishes the moment those words come out of that mouth.

  “Jacobi, I’m heading to class. Let me pass,” I order. My voice doesn’t waiver, yet I know he’ll still ignore me.

  He places his hand against the wall with his arm stretched across the front of my body, effectively stopping me leaving, and as it’s still early, we’re the only people here. I knew I shouldn’t have walked around the back of the building near the running track, but honestly, I didn’t think anyone else would be around.

  “I thought Mrs Donovan had more balls.” He tuts, and his gaze runs the length of my body. “You smell like rubbish.”

  “Have you finished behaving like a six year old, Jacobi?” I berate him, and his eyes flare.

  It does something to me, something it shouldn’t, and all at once I’m angry with myself.

  “I didn’t want you to come back,” he whispers, his warm minty breath ghosting across my face.

  I tilt my head up slightly, and our faces are only inches apart. “If it makes you feel any better, I would rather be in Tartus right now,” I reply and weirdly a flare of pain flashes in his eyes.

  “Maybe you could do with being institutionalised, Juni,” he says, daring me to reply with his eyes and knowing there was a time, when we were young, when I was always Juni to him.

  “Don’t you call me Juni,” I hiss at him, and suddenly he grabs the back of my head, hard, and tightens his grip in my hair. It’s painful, as is the kiss he slams down on my lips, and the pain and regretful pleasure it brings war within me.

  Just as quickly as he initiated it, his lips leave mine.

  “I hate you, Juniper. I always have.” With that parting shot, he walks away while pain reverberates in my head from the hold he had on my hair, and it also reverberates in my heart. I’m not sure where that pain comes from, though.

  My entire body tingles from the kiss with Juniper. I can still feel her on my lips. I was stupid. Why did I do it? I knew the consequences. She’s only been here a short while, and she’s already under my skin. I can feel the darkness within me, taking over the man I truly am. Why am I letting this happen?

  I quickly make my way back to my bedroom and lock the door behind me. The pain in my head is almost blinding, but when I look in the mirror, I can just about make out the swirls of blue veins cascading outward from my lips. What has she done to me? The witch has me under her spell, and I couldn’t break free even if I tried.

  I want to scratch my lips off. I want to tug all my hair out. I can’t bear what is happening to me. I collapse on the ground breathing heavily. My entire being is changing. Why does she do this to me? Why can’t I be normal and not something feared, just because of one girl?

  I’m gasping for breath, and as the blue veins spread over my body, they drown me in their power. I lose my sight, my vision going to a place where only magic exists. It’s a drug, a powerful intoxicant, and I can no longer stop it from taking over my entire body. Juniper is my drug. She transforms me like no one else in this world. One kiss from her, and I’m a different person. Tomorrow I’ll feel hungover and sleep all day, but at the moment, all I can do is allow myself to become what she makes me. When I find out who linked us, I’ll kill them. No wizard or witch should be controlled by another in this way.

  The transformation completes, and I stand up and stare in the mirror again. I don’t recognize the person before me. Juniper isn’t aware of what she does to me, but it’s why I despise her. So many incidents have occurred between us in the past, but it always comes back to this. She makes me a truly magical being. Looking towards the window, I flick my wrist and the glass in the frame disintegrates. Rising up, I float in the air before surging out into the sky and away from Caspian Academy. I don’t know where I’m going. My soul is guiding me; for evil or good, I don’t know. It’s fate’s decree now.

  Over fields, I float, shielded from the human eye by my magic. I can feel I’m getting closer to my target. Will it be for good or evil this time? I don’t remember their faces the next day. Whatever judgement I give to those I visit is wiped from my memory. Eventually, I land in a field close to a house in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know where I am, but I can sense Juniper all around me. She’s been here…her heart is here.

  Please, let this be for good.

  Easily pushing my body through the locked door of the house, I make my way up to the room where I sense my target is waiting. Her shallow breaths sound out
in the cavernous room.

  Juniper. Again, she’s all over this place, her smell, her very soul. I wish I could see where I am, but everything is blurred. My vision has been taken, and I’m being guided by the person I’ve been sent to find.

  Her breathing becomes more laboured, and I fear the worse. She’s dying. I’m here to take her from the world. An overwhelming need to fight against what is happening hits me. Who is the person lying here in front of me? Who is she to Juniper? I don’t know who she is, but I do know losing her will devastate Juniper.

  Reaching out I lay a hand on her body, over the blankets. She won’t feel me. My targets have no idea I’m ever there. Memories from her life flash through my head, and I feel myself swaying in the air as I watch them. A child with her parents. Happiness and laughter everywhere. Then it changes. The father disappears, and it’s only the mother and daughter. There’s a sadness about them. The daughter grows. I watch as she turns into a young woman. A woman I recognise, Juniper, and I know instantly the person I’m here for is her mother.

  I try to fight the spell, but I can’t once I’m under. I can’t stop it until my task is complete. I can’t do this. No matter how much I despise Juniper, I don’t want to devastate her in this way. I’m not a monster even if I look like one right now. What cruel fate has bound us together, forcing me to do this? I’ve taken lives before when Juniper has changed me, but I’ve always believed it was only those who deserved to die for the crimes they’ve committed. Not her mother, though. There’s no crime evident here unless someone has changed the rules and love has become one.

  I will my body to stop, to change back to its regular form: the bully, the worshipped prince of Caspian Academy. I want to be him. I don’t want to be this thing. Why the hell did I kiss Juniper? I knew this would happen. My head pounds, and I manage to pull myself away and flatten my body against the wall behind me. I’m fighting hard. Screaming internally.