The Witch's Guardian (Caspian Academy Book 1)

by Anna Edwards

  “Teams are made up of five,” she retorts.

  “Hmm,” I look up at Lucas. “Anyone you trust?” he’s about to speak when Mrs Donovan beats him to it.

  “James.” She nods. “Yes, you can trust James. He’s my son.”

  My mouth drops open. “As in Seb’s best friend?”

  “One and the same.”

  “Okay, yeah, he can be in the team? But will he want to? I mean after…” I break off, not sure what else to say.

  “James is torn between believing Sebastian did have an underlying heart condition and thinking there’s something corrupt going on, and his finger is pointing at the council. Unfortunately for him, he is his mother’s son, and I haven’t trusted the council since your father took his place on it as King.”

  “So, he’ll be okay with it?”

  She nods. “I need to catch him up on all of this, but I have to say, I’m glad you came and talked to me. I wasn’t sure whether you were to be trusted, but now you’ve opened up to me, I know you are your mother’s daughter, and I thank the Superiors for that. Tell Jacobi he can come back to school tomorrow.”

  I breathe out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad we talked,” I tell her, feeling like a slight weight has been lifted. “By the way, my mum told me she’d been promised to my dad,” I say, and Mrs Donovan frowns.

  “Oh, I didn’t think she’d ever tell you about that. I assume she’s happy with him, but I wouldn’t know, because he stopped us talking to each other years ago. I’ll make sure to contact her today.”

  I shake my head sadly. “No, she’s not happy with him, and she’s annoyed he’s trying to get me to leave Caspian. She’s staying with me at Jacobi’s place and doing goodness knows what, trying to figure out the situation. She also told me I’m promised to another council member’s son.”

  Mrs Donovan taps her lips with her fingertip. “Michael Wilmot,” she muses.

  “Huh?” both Lucas and I reply.

  “Taya Wilmot’s older brother by two years.”

  “Oh, that guy’s a complete twat,” Lucas announces.

  “Yes, that’s who you’re promised to.” Mrs Donovan confirms.

  Fuck.

  “Welcome to the tournament.” King Ambrose stands on a stage before us in all his regal glory, addressing the students assembled in our school playing field. Many of them are looking up at him with awe.

  If only they knew the truth about the King’s nature, especially towards his own daughter. But it’s not him I’m watching, it’s the person standing next to him. The King’s newly appointed advisor, Michael Wilmot. The man Juniper is betrothed to. Over my dead body will the marriage take place. I won’t let it. Juniper is mine.

  Michael looks out from the stage and his eyes meet mine, his sparkle with the promise of mischief, whereas mine are probably glaring daggers. Juniper is next to me, watching her father with a look of contempt on her face, and I pull her close to me as a sign to Michael he’s going to have to fight to the death if he wants her.

  “Your first challenge will be a game of hide and seek. Two members from each team will be hidden, and the remaining members will have to follow clues to find them,” the King announces.

  My team of five consists of me, Juniper, Emmie, Lucas and James. Mrs Donovan was able to convince James to join us, so we can all work together to find out what is happening at Caspian and ultimately discover what caused the death of his best friend, Sebastian. It took a bit of persuasion to get him to work with me, but his mum assured him I was on his side and also another victim to what was happening. I never thought I would say this, but Mrs Donovan is actually an okay person, even if she is a headmistress.

  When the King finishes speaking, we huddle together as a team to decide who gets hidden.

  “I stay with Juniper at all times,” I inform the rest of my team. I’m not going to risk being apart from her while her father is here. I saw what happened the last time, when he beat her.

  “Agreed,” everyone instantly backs me up.

  “Emmie and I will be the ones to get hidden,” James volunteers. “We also get to stay together so I can protect her. Lucas, you assist Jacobi with Juniper.” He steps forwards and pulls Emmie to his side. Despite James’s recent absence from school, it’s clear he still cares for Emmie and doesn’t want her hurt.

  We tentatively agree on the plan just as King Ambrose and Michael reach us, along with Mrs Donovan.

  “Have you made a decision on who plays what part?” the King questions.

  “Yes, sir,” I appoint myself as the spokesperson for the group, making sure to keep Juniper behind me so she’s protected. “James and Emmie will be hidden and the rest of us will seek.”

  Michael’s lip curls up in a sadistic smirk, and he whispers into the King’s ear.

  “I agree,” King Ambrose declares. “I think another partnership would be better.”

  Before I can say anything, Juniper and Emmie disappear from the playing field.

  “No.” I step forwards, menace on my mind as I get in Michael’s face. “That is not the choice we made.”

  Lucas and James pull me back, but it’s a struggle.

  “It isn’t, but this one is more fun.” King Ambrose gets between us and hands me a sheet of paper. “You’re first clue.” He walks off with Mrs Donovan to the next team, but Michael stays behind.

  “Follow the clues wisely. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to Juniper, now would you?” Michael sneers. He’s in my face, and there’s nothing Lucas and James can do to stop him. “You dumped my sister for the woman I’m going to marry. You’re not going to keep her, though. Juniper Ambrose has been mine since birth, and I won’t let anyone else have her. You might as well crawl back to my sister with your tail between your legs. She’s the only one stupid enough to want a freak like you.”

  I clench my fist ready to send it flying into Michael’s face. I can feel the anger within me growing again. The spell from before still hasn’t fully left my body. I need to calm down. I think back to the little boy I cured from cancer and his face when he saw me watching him. I focus on the fact I did a good thing and saved him. I’m a Guardian, not a freak as Michael is implying. He shouldn’t even know what I am. My mind instantly clears. He’s made a mistake by revealing what he knows, and that gives me an advantage over him.

  I relax my fist and take a step backwards with a smug smirk on my face.

  “What does the clue say, Lucas?”

  Lucas reads out the clue, “Where the wind whistles softly around the mountains of the night, there is a place where a flower of the brightest purple grows. I haven’t got a clue. James, what do you think it means?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see James shrug his shoulders. I’m still staring down Michael, neither of us stepping back from our contest for superiority.

  “I know where it is. That clue is far too easy,” I say as I finally turn away from Michael, the need to find Juniper more urgent. I place a hand on both Lucas and James’s shoulders. “Hang tight. This might be a rough ride.”

  We disappear from the playing fields, and I take us up into the Mountains of Darkness. A place we’re not normally allowed to go. The mountains are in Scotland and are on land owned by the academy. They’re used for conducting magical experiments which need to be done somewhere more remote than the densely populated area of London where the school is situated.

  “Damn, this place is a little scary,” James says, looking out at the nothingness surrounding us.

  No plants except the purple flowers grow here. Everything is dead, and I don’t know whether it’s from the years of magical experiments being carried out here, or the fact, I swear, it’s the gateway to Tartus. The evilness of this place hits you as soon as you step foot on it. I can feel it already twisting its way into my body.

  “We need to find the flower and the next clue so we can get the hell out of this place,” I order.

  “Agreed.” Lucas’s eyes dart around like he expects the demons
of hell to jump out at any moment. “Any idea where this flower is?”

  I’m ashamed to admit I know exactly where the flower grows. “I once came to this place for a dare when I was in my junior year. It grows at the entrance to that cave up there,” I tell them, indicating where we need to go.

  “You came here for a dare?” James questions as we make the short journey to the mouth of the cave, being careful not to fall on the jagged rocks on the ground as we walk. “Who would get you to do such a thing?”

  I let out a wry laugh. “Juniper. She wanted the flower and didn’t believe I’d get it for her.”

  “Jesus, you were in love with her even then. How come it’s taken you two so long to get together?” James asks.

  “Life and Juniper’s father got in the way and threw so many ordeals at us.”

  “But you survived.” Lucas claps me on the back.

  “I wouldn’t say that, but we’re trying.”

  All three of us stop when we see the flower we need, a stunning lotus blossom on the summit of a dying mountain in Scotland. It’s an odd sight. Next to it is a folded piece of paper. I reach down to get it but freeze when a growling sound comes from the back of the cave.

  “Please tell me that was someone’s stomach,” James queries with a quiver in his voice.

  “Not mine,” Lucas replies and backs away from the entrance to the cave, accompanied by James.

  I grab the sheet of paper and follow them as the growling gets louder. “You know this place reminds me of Tartus? Well, what guard’s Hell?”

  “Run,” Lucas orders.

  The three of us leap down the mountain and away from the cave as quickly as we can just as Cerberus jumps into view, its three dog heads snarling and growling their way towards us.

  “We’re going to die,” James screams, and he’s right.

  We’re no match for the speed and size of the dog, and I’m not close enough to the other two to teleport us out of here. I can save myself, but I won’t leave them behind. The huge dog catches up to us in an instant. I look back over my shoulder just as one of the heads opens its huge jaw and closes it over me. The other heads are doing the same to my friends, and I say goodbye to the world and shut my eyes as everything goes dark, but I don’t feel dead.

  Eventually, I take a peek out of the corner of one of my eyes. I’m still on the mountain in Scotland, holding the piece of paper with the clue, and James and Lucas are beside me, looking as equally confused as I am.

  “What the hell just happened?”

  I wave my hand and feel a strange magic in the air.

  “It was a test. The dog was never here. It was just a vision. I think someone’s making our hunt a little harder.”

  I barely finish my words when I’m bent over in agony as a painful vision spears its way into my head. It’s a vision of Juniper and Michael together, kissing passionately.

  “No,” I scream.

  Michael’s lips are on hers. It’s something I can never do because of the curse that’s been put on us.

  The vision disappears as quickly as it arrives, and I struggle to catch my breath.

  “You all right?” James questions.

  “We’re definitely being played with by the King and Michael. They can get to us anywhere. We have to find Juniper and Emmie, and quick. Just remember nothing we’re going to see is real. Don’t believe anything.” I struggle to get my words out through gasping breaths. I hand the note to James. “What’s next?”

  “In the depths of the place you believe safe will be the clue to give you hope,” James reads aloud.

  “Safe?” Lucas muses.

  “What do we believe is safe?” I try to think. I’ve recovered my breath, but the headache from the vision still remains.

  “Is there any place safe?” James puts the note in his pocket. “I used to believe Caspian Academy was my safe place, but I don’t know anymore. Too much has happened with Sebastian.”

  I shake my head. “No, he wouldn’t.”

  “What?”

  “They’re playing games with us. The dog, and the vision I just had of Juniper kissing Michael. Those aren’t about testing us, they’re about weakening us. Our challenge is different to everyone else’s. James, I think I know where the next clue’s going to be, but you’re going to have to be brave because it’s going to hurt.”

  “Where are we going?”

  I hold my hands out for James and Lucas to take them.

  “Sebastian’s room.”

  James freezes the second we land in the room, the sadness in his eyes immediately evident.

  “Lucas,” I nudge my friend, “you look for the clue, I need to speak to James.”

  “Will do.”

  I step towards James. “What do you want to know?”

  “What do you really think happened that day? Did he have an underlying medical condition?” James asks, staring at me.

  I shut my eyes and shake my head. “Sebastian had information that someone didn’t want me to know. The truth about what I really am. He was trying to help me, and I had to watch him die. I couldn’t save him. There was dark magic in this room. I can still feel it now. Something or someone killed him.” I kneel down at the spot where Sebastian reached out and took his last breath.

  “Who was it? What’s happening, Jacobi?” James kneels beside me.

  “I don’t have any proof, but I think it was the King.”

  Another vision slams into me out of nowhere, and I fall to the ground, screaming. This one is even more painful than the last. It’s a vision of Juniper and Michael getting married. She looks so happy, and they kiss again to seal the vows they’ve made to each other.

  “Jacobi?” James is shaking me, a look of terror on his face.

  “I’ve got the clue.” I’m vaguely aware of Lucas shouting out.

  “We need to get out of here.” James leans down and pulls me up from the floor. He opens the door to the room, and with Lucas’s help, I feel myself being dragged outside. My head instantly starts to clear.

  “You okay?” James asks.

  “Yes, I think so. I might need a couple of pain killers before this day is out, though,” I reply, rubbing at my temples.

  “What are you seeing?” James questions.

  “You don’t want to know.” I shake my head, still trying to dispel the residue of the vision.

  “If my best friend was killed, then whatever is haunting and attacking you has made me a part of it too. I need to know what you saw, please.” His plea is so honest and raw it nearly breaks me.

  “The visions are of Michael and Juniper marrying. But the worst part is he’s kissing her on the lips, something she and I can’t do.”

  “Why can’t you kiss on the lips?”

  “Because if we do, I change into a Guardian, the giver of life or death. An ancient creature. Sebastian’s grandfather was one too. You asked me earlier what’s kept Juniper and me apart for so long. Well, now you know. Do you still want to be involved in solving this mess? I don’t even know if it’s possible.”

  James and I both fall silent, staring at each other.

  “Hey,” Lucas interrupts, “we can’t do this now. We have to find Emmie and Juniper. I don’t understand this last clue.”

  I take the piece of paper from him and read aloud what’s written there. “This won’t be the bed she lies in for much longer.” I drop the paper to the floor and allow my head to flop into my hands. “They’re at my house.”

  In my bed.

  We join hands and teleport into my bedroom. Juniper and Emmie are lying on the bed in a daze. I reach out and touch Juniper, and she comes to life again. James does the same with Emmie.

  “You found us.” She looks around the room in confusion. “I’m in your room.”

  I nod and pull her into my arms, grateful to have her back at my side after all the visions. “I’m afraid this was all another game being played by your father. By having you put in here, he’s demonstrating he can reach the places
we think are safe. Juniper, I don’t think we’re safe from him anywhere now.”

  The air cackles with intensity and King Ambrose, Michael Wilmot, and Mrs Donovan appear.

  “Congratulations. You followed the clues really well and are the first team to finish. It puts your team at the top of the leader board,” the King addresses us with a snide smirk on his face. “Come, Michael, our work here for the day is done. I have more important things to do than participate in childish games. I’ll be back for you, Juniper. Enjoy your last few days of freedom,” the King turns to face me directly, “because after that, the visions you’ve been seeing, Jacobi, will be coming true.”

  The King and Michael disappear, leaving Mrs Donovan behind this time. I bring Juniper even closer to me.

  “What does he mean by visions?” Juniper questions.

  “Jacobi has been seeing visions in his head of you kissing and marrying Michael while we’ve been searching for you,” James explains.

  His mother collapses down on a chair, and he goes over and wraps his arms around her.

  “I feared something like this would happen. I’ve feared it since your mother first met your father. He’s too controlling, and there’s no chance you can beat him. It will cost all of you your lives, and I can’t lose anyone else.” Mrs Donovan wipes away a tear from her eye. It’s hard seeing her break. She’s known King Ambrose’s rule and dominance for so much longer than we have. It destroyed her relationship with Juniper’s mother, her best friend. “Juniper, you have to submit to your father’s rule like everyone else, it’s the only way, unless you and Jacobi marry tonight. But know if you do, your father will strip you of any power you have and throw you out of our world forever.”

  “Marry?” I question in shock.

  I’m only eighteen, but if I have to marry Juniper to save her, I will. I love her with all my heart, so we’ll only be bringing forwards an inevitability for us.

  Juniper shakes her head. “We can’t. I don’t want it to be this way. I want to marry Jacobi after a lavish proposal and with a big party. I don’t want to be forced into anything. Why is this happening?”