by Sarina Dorie
Vega crossed her arms. She eyed his pants, the only other part of him visible. “I see you now.” She pointed her wand at him. “What are you doing outside my room?”
I squirmed against the wall, trying to free myself.
“I was walking Miss Lawrence back to her room. As I said, she was with Miss Kimura earlier,” Derrick said. “And then I escorted Miss Lawrence to Mr. Khaba’s office.”
A smile twitched the corners of Vega’s lips. “Oh, was someone in trouble?”
“Lots of trouble.” Derrick laughed.
Vega laughed along with him. She stepped toward Derrick, her gaze resting on his full lips. “You look familiar. Have I seen you before somewhere?”
“Probably. But I doubt you would notice me.”
The evil look in her eyes was replaced by something else I wasn’t used to seeing in Vega. Curiosity? Interest? “I have a feeling I wouldn’t forget you.”
He laughed, sounding nervous. I had a bad feeling she might try to test him like she had once done to me.
She lifted her chin. “Do I scare you?”
“Well, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, maybe ‘scared’ isn’t the right word.”
Her nostrils flared. Surely she could smell the fear on him like a wolf about to close in on the prey. She was about to go in for some below-the-belt magical punch. I wiggled against my invisible bonds. I had to save Derrick from her evil clutches.
“Maybe ‘intimidated’ is more accurate.” Derrick flashed a sheepish smile. “I’ve always been kind of a dunce around beautiful women. I say stupid things.” He grimaced. “And the fact that you’re beautiful and an incredible teacher, and you’re one of the most skilled Celestors at Womby’s—”
“Stop.” She backed away, blushing. “Flattery will get you … everywhere.”
“Uh-oh.” Derrick laughed. “I better be careful.”
OMG. My boyfriend was flirting with my wicked roomie. My face grew hot. I was not jealous. He was just doing this to save himself from getting cursed.
“How tall are you?” She smoothed the curve of her bob away from her cheek. “We don’t have many male teachers at this school past six foot. It makes dating difficult for a woman such as myself.”
Barf!
“There’s Mr. Thatch,” I said. “And Pinky the Sasquatch.”
“Thatch is a fucktard. And I wouldn’t screw that mangy furball if my life depended on it.”
Derrick cleared his throat. “Miss Bloodmire, according to the school rules—”
“Call me Vega.”
“Dating is not allowed between coworkers. As one of Mr. Khaba’s employees, one of the school’s disciplinarians, I wouldn’t want to break any rules and be a poor role model for others.”
“You can discipline me any time.” She winked at him.
“And speaking of naughty girls, let’s get Clarissa—err—Miss Lawrence to bed before she causes any more trouble tonight.”
Her smile faded as she followed the turn of his chin toward me. “Ugh, are you still here?”
“I wouldn’t be if you would release me from your spell,” I said.
“Right.” She waved a hand in the air. The invisible coils holding me in place faded.
I walked into the room, hesitating when I realized Vega wasn’t following me inside.
Derrick shifted the fabric back over his face, obscuring his features. A sliver of neck remained.
“Do you like coffins?” Vega asked.
Derrick’s voice came out muffled against the knit fabric. “Good night, ladies.”
I gathered up my pajamas from a drawer.
Vega closed the door, a contented smile on her face. “I call dibs on the invisible man.”
“What?” I stood.
She opened her wardrobe, snatched up a nightie from where she’d left it folded on top of her rows of shoes and swished past me to the dressing screen in the corner.
“You heard me,” she said. “He’s mine.”
The white paper of the screen was decorated with Japanese-style cherry trees ending in blossoms of red. From far away, the screen always looked beautiful. You couldn’t tell until up close the red was the blood of impaled birds and insects.
I fought the mixture of rising emotions in me. I should have been relieved Vega hadn’t tortured me into telling her I had been with Derrick. I wanted to count my blessings that she hadn’t done anything to Derrick—that he had disarmed her with his charm. Even so, jealousy spiked through me when I thought about him flirting with her.
She draped her black dress over the side of the screen.
“No,” I said, surprising myself with my vehemence. “You can’t have him.”
Vega could take up the shelves and crowd her homicidal furniture onto my side of the room if she wanted, but she was not going to get my boyfriend.
Vega snickered. “Don’t try to fight me for him. We both know I’d win. Besides, he’s out of your league.”
I undressed on the outside of the screen. There was never any telling how long she would hog it.
“No, he isn’t,” I said. “He’s perfectly my league.”
“He probably doesn’t think so. In any case, he has that innocent boy next door charm that would be delightful to corrupt. I doubt he has any idea how hot he is.”
“How do you know he’s hot? Most of him was invisible.”
“I saw what counts.”
What was that? His mouth and his pants? “I’m sure D—Invismo can make up his own mind about who he wants.”
“Let’s be logical. What would he want with someone like you? You don’t even look like you’ve hit puberty. Except for your hair. Nice look, by the way. Did you hear gray is the new black? It adds years to your face.”
Sometimes I didn’t know who was worse, Vega Bloodmire or the Raven Queen. The Raven Court was out there, somewhere far away, trying to make my life miserable. Vega was right here in my room torturing me daily.
The following morning, I had difficulty forcing myself out of bed—no surprise. Now that I had a boyfriend to spend time with, I had stayed up too late and was now paying for it. I rolled over and closed my eyes, dozing off again until Vega slammed our door on the way to the bathroom.
Rubbing my eyes, I forced myself up.
I did a double take in the mirror as I brushed my hair. I’d seen women with gray and silver hair, but this wasn’t either. It was the same charcoal as Thatch’s pants, an almost black. If only I’d brought more hair dye with me from my mom’s house. I didn’t want to wait for her to send me some in the mail, and I doubted they sold hot pink at Brooms, Magic Carpets, and More or at Potions Emporium in Lachlan Falls.
In the cafeteria, students’ heads turned as I passed. Jeb sat at the staff table. I was glad to see Thatch wasn’t present, but then he rarely showed up for breakfast or lunch unless we were short-staffed. I would swear he got out of all the unpleasant duties.
Jeb stood when he saw me, his jaw dropping. He clutched at his chest, and I thought he might have a heart attack.
“It’s her!” Jasper Jang, the theater and music teacher stumbled out of his seat.
I looked around, confused. “Who?”
No one answered.
“Good morning, Jeb,” I said. “Is everything … all right?”
“Miss … Lawrence?” His face was pale. “Is that you?”
“Yeah.” I looked down self-consciously. “It’s the hair, isn’t it? I look like I’m twice my age.” I hated it when Vega was right. I hoped that was the only thing she was right about. Doubt niggled at my mind; Derrick might be out of my league. He might get tired of me.
I pushed that thought away. He had loved me all these years. He wasn’t going to suddenly stop. If Thatch and Gertrude Periwinkle could still love each other after so many years and have a happy ending, why couldn’t I?
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t have been comparing my happy ending with Derrick to th
e evil lovebirds.
Jeb yanked on his mustache so hard he looked like he might pull off the lip attached to it. “It ain’t that, it’s just… .”
Jasper laughed nervously, sounding like a hyena on crack. “What did you do to yourself?”
I tried to consider the best explanation. “It was a magical hair-dyeing accident.” That was close enough to the truth.
“You look like … your mother,” Jeb said.
“Oh.” That was what this was about? My biological mother had black hair and creamy skin. I suppose my freckles at least saved me from looking completely like her.
Students kept staring and pointing. Jackie Frost and Puck walked into the cafeteria from under one of the arches closer to us. Puck’s eyes went wide with fear.
For the briefest of moments, a thrill of excitement ignited guilty pleasure in me. People were afraid of me. I’d never had that effect on anyone before. I felt powerful, like the kind of teacher no one messed with. Staff wouldn’t dare make snide comments to me or talk about me like I wasn’t there at meetings if they feared me.
I was the daughter of the wickedest witch of all time.
I bet Puck regretted making me redo report cards now. If Gertrude Periwinkle saw me like this, she’d think twice about blackmailing me or playing malicious tricks on me. I smiled.
It was Imani, her brow furrowed as she stared at me that reminded me I didn’t want to be feared. I didn’t want people to think I would fall into the footsteps of a woman who had killed others and worked for the Raven Court.
The last person I wanted to look like was Alouette Loraline. I offered Jeb an apologetic smile. “Sorry, about that. I didn’t mean to give anyone a fright. I don’t suppose you’d be up for restoring my hair to the way it was?”
Jeb sat down. His faced relaxed into a relieved smile. “It would be my pleasure, darlin’.” He didn’t even get out his wand. He waved his hand in front of me. Sparkles shimmered and flashed before my eyes. The air tasted sweet and salty, cool and starry.
Jasper Jang’s eyebrows rose.
“Is it as bright as it was before?” I asked.
“It’s brighter,” Jasper Jang said.
“Cool.” That was good enough for me. “Thank you!”
Jeb excused himself as I gathered breakfast. Students continued to point.
Imani ran up to me while I was eating. “I love your new hair, Miss Lawrence. It’s perfect for second semester.” She ran off before I could respond.
Uh-oh. Now what color was my hair?
I should have focused on work because it was a Monday. Ignoring my better judgment, I slipped off during my prep period, hoping to visit Derrick. When I peeked into his room, I found a note sprawled across his sketchpad:
Went to Lachlan Falls for a new pair of pants. You’ll see me later. Actually, you won’t see me! LOL
I hoped that meant he would find me at lunch or after school. In his mirror I found my hair had been turned auburn, not pink. It had been years since I’d seen my natural red hair. It made me look like Pippi Longstocking. The sight resurrected every carrot and ginger joke I had endured in my childhood.
This was not how I wanted people to see me. Maybe Josie could help me. Unfortunately, she was busy teaching.
I considered asking Vega for help with my hair, but I didn’t want to end up bald. As I prepped lessons in my room, I kept thinking about my hair. Derrick had never seen me as a redhead. What if he thought I looked like a dork?
Maybe I could solve my hair problem myself. I still had time. I went to the library. The card catalogue was not my friend—nor was Miss Periwinkle. She was unlikely to help me. Fortunately, I found Maddy, Imani, Greenie, and Hailey doing research for a school project.
“Can anyone help me with the card catalogue? I need to find a spell for hair dye.”
Hailey’s eyes went wide as she took in my new—old—color. Apparently she hadn’t been at breakfast.
“Why? That is a great color. Is that natural?” Greenie asked.
Hailey rolled her eyes. “You don’t ask women that question. It’s rude. It’s like asking if you’re naturally ugly.”
“Shut up!” Greenie said.
“No, you shut up.”
Maddy stood. “I can help you with the card catalogue. Miss P showed me, and I’ve been helping students find books.” She glanced at a table where Silas Lupi, one of the teachers, sat. “Although some people insist on only letting Miss P show them.” She rolled her eyes.
Maddy helped me find a book on minor glamours and showed me where it was on the shelf. “Do you want me to check it out to you?” she asked.
I hesitated. I had never been able to check out books before without Miss Periwinkle intercepting me and telling me every book I wanted was off-limits for one reason or another. I glanced at Silas Lupi and lowered my voice. “Sure. There’s something else I’d like you to help me get.”
“Love potions?” she asked with a smile. “Those books are always checked out.”
“No. I need to find out about … the Raven Queen.”
Her eyes went wide.
“Is that a restricted subject?” I asked. “Since she’s the enemy of pretty much all Witchkin, I thought it might be a good idea to read up—”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I saw her mark on you—back when the King of the Pacific wanted to see who you belonged to—when you and Mr. Thatch saved me.”
“I don’t belong to her,” I said a little louder than I intended.
“No, I get it. You want to be prepared for when you have to face her. Miss P suggested I do the same thing about the King of the Pacific. She even loaned me a restricted book on Fae so I could read the chapter about merpeople and sirens.”
“It sounds like your apprenticeship in the library is going well,” I said.
“Yeah, I love it here. It’s my second-favorite place—after your room of course. Did you see Mr. Puck just changed my schedule? I’m in your seventh-period class again!”
“I’m in your class too,” Hailey said from across the room. “Puck paired me with Maddy as her buddy.”
Maybe I hadn’t been as quiet as I thought. Great. Silas Lupi continued reading his book. He didn’t glare at me for wanting to know about the Raven Queen.
Imani poked Hailey with a book. “Shush. This is the library.”
The door to Miss Periwinkle’s office creaked open. Her hair was damp under her witch hat like she’d just finished showering. That was possible considering the hall to her room was through her office. She didn’t live in the dormitories like the rest of the teachers, and she had her own bathroom. Though I thought she preferred Thatch’s.
Silas Lupi stood and rushed over. “Miss Periwinkle, how lovely to see you! What a coincidence seeing you here!”
Right. Like she was going to buy that line. She was a librarian. This was the library.
“I have an important bibliographic question for you,” he said.
She smiled coyly. “Do you? Is it related to the question you asked me yesterday?”
He chuckled.
I was almost positive he taught a class this period. Had he left his students to come down here and flirt? That was pretty irresponsible. I would never do that. I would only use my prep period for flirting with Derrick.
Miss Periwinkle’s office door opened again. Thatch strode out. His shoulder-length hair was also damp. Had he just gotten out of the shower too? They’d probably been showering together. Ick.
Thatch’s smile brightened when he saw me. “Miss Lawrence, what are you doing here? You aren’t going to try to sneak off with any of our restricted books, I trust.” He spoke jovially as if he might be teasing me.
Miss Periwinkle glared at me.
I held up my hands before his girlfriend shot lasers out of her eyes at me. “For the record, I’ve never stolen any books from this library or any other ones.” Sure, I had fines when I kept the books too long
, but I always returned the books.
Silas Lupi cleared his throat. “As I was saying, I’m looking for this rare book that I was hoping you might help me locate… .”
Thatch circled around the counter. “You look different, Miss Lawrence. You changed your hair, didn’t you?”
Greenie and Imani whispered something I couldn’t hear.
“He didn’t ask if it was natural,” Hailey said from across the room.
I flashed a great big fake smile. I hated my hair.
Thatch nodded to Hailey. “I don’t have to ask if that’s Miss Lawrence’s natural color. I’ve seen her with this color before.”
“When?” Miss Periwinkle asked, her voice shrill.
I scooted farther back.
“About that book—” Silas said.
I wondered where Silas Lupi’s wife was. Did she know he was spending his day in the library drooling over the librarian? Or did she think he was in his classroom?
Maddy looked from Miss Periwinkle to Thatch. I was pretty sure she got what was going on between Mr. Oblivious and Miss Possessive Girlfriend.
Thatch shrugged. “Years ago. I’ve known Clarissa forever.”
“Clarissa,” Gertrude Periwinkle repeated.
“Miss Lawrence,” he corrected.
Miss Periwinkle’s smile remained in place, but the barbs in her voice prickled the air like porcupine quills. “You didn’t tell me you two knew each other before she was hired on. I thought we didn’t have any secrets, Felix.”
“About those books,” I said to Maddy. “Maybe later when the library isn’t as busy.”
After making a beeline out of the library, I went back to my classroom to finish my lessons. At lunch I went to Josie’s classroom to talk to her about my hair. The moment I stepped in and saw who was there, I backed on out. Pro Ro sat in one of the student chairs, his belly hanging over the desk attached to it. I had never thought of him as being rotund, but his cheeks were round, and his beard hid the shape of his face. His loose kaftan shirt camouflaged his physique.
