by LJ Swallow
Sofia shakes her head. “I’m wary.”
“Why?”
“Amelia’s magic is already weak.” Amelia stiffens. “I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. You need to keep your reserves to use for your own magic development.”
Her shoulders droop. “I know.”
“Perhaps in the future,” suggests Theodora.
I feel for Amelia and her struggles and hate that the two professors are spelling out her weakness like this.
“Then how do we practice this new ability of Maeve’s?” Theodora asks Sofia.
Sofia shakes her head. “Her control over the car driver's mind seems triggered by an emotional reaction. This reaction will need working on until Maeve can deliberately use the power. I think we have a long way to go before Maeve gains control over either ability.”
Theodora straightens. “Professor Whitlock could help.”
“Tobias?” asks Sofia in surprise.
“He has the greatest skill in influencing people’s minds. Perhaps Tobias could teach Maeve how to focus this power.”
I snort to myself at the irony. Me, the girl who argued with Tobias about the morality of mind control, needs to visit him for extra tuition. The magic I disagreed with using is now as important to me as divination.
Tobias will love this.
Sofia’s doubt rears its head again. “A vampire teaching a witch?”
Theodora arches a shaped brow. “He teaches witches already.”
“At a deeper level, I mean.”
Their discussion continues but my thoughts have drifted elsewhere. A deeper level. With Tobias. Private lessons.
Oh, hell.
Chapter Twenty
MAEVE
Jamie wasn’t around yesterday evening, so we never had a chance to tell him what happened in town. He isn’t around at breakfast either, and when I text him, Jamie replies he’s in the library. I joke with Amelia that his studying obsession has reached new heights, but his constant burying himself in assignments and study concerns me. I reply with a text suggesting we meet in the library for a proper debrief. That way we can update Ash and Jamie on the crazy events that happened to me and Amelia yesterday.
I’m keen to chat to him first, since Jamie would have the greatest knowledge of witch history, and might be able to locate books containing information about those with mind-control abilities. I find him sitting at the small desk in the quiet corner he favours, with his laptop and text books around him, but they’re closed. He stares at the desk, face stern. Why isn't he studying?
“Hey, Jamie.”
Jamie looks up and smiles, but he’s hesitant as he moves to look behind me. “Are the others coming?”
“Soon. Amelia went to find Ash. I wanted to catch up with you first because you weren’t around last night. Is everything okay?”
He twists the pen around in his hand. “Are you? I heard something happened to you in town yesterday.”
“Wow, new travels fast.”
He smiles. “From Sofia, about half an hour ago. I saw her leaving the library as I came in this morning, and she asked me if you were okay after the incident yesterday. I didn’t understand what she meant. Told me to ask you. So?”
I wrinkle my nose. “I did try to find you yesterday evening, but we couldn’t. Amelia’s disappointed because she wanted to show you her dress.” I nudge him but his grave face doesn’t crack.
Jamie listens intently as I tell him the story, and doodles on a notepad. He blinks up at me as I finish. “Holy crap. I’m with Sofia—I’ve never heard of that type of witch before. Not one with both powers, anyway.”
“But this could be good for your situation, right?” He dips his head again. “No?”
“Yeah, I guess.” His fringe sweeps forward, covering his eyes.
I told Jamie and Amelia all the details about Marie's condition and how she reached the unhinged stage. I didn't want to tell Jamie, and his response at the time the reason why I almost didn’t: he doesn't want me to help if using my magic to save him would have an effect on me.
“Theodora suggested private lessons with Tobias, huh?” he asks.
I frown at his subject change. “Yes. Like I have private tuition with Sofia.”
“Sure. Exactly the same,” he says with a laugh.
I huff. What is it about him not trusting Tobias? “Do you think you could find books with more information about my powers?”
“If any exist, Maeve. I’ve studied most witch history.”
“Are there any books in the witches' sanctum you haven’t read? Maybe there's something written in one of those?”
“No, but I do have a book from there that I want to show you.” He pulls his rucksack from under the table. "I found something to help me.”
Jamie opens his bag and shows me the contents, looking at the narrow space between the bookshelves as if someone might charge in while he’s showing me a drug haul.
I look in confusion at an old book with loose pages peeking out. The black leather is embossed with a crest I don’t recognise. "Is that a spell book from the witches' sanctum?”
"Yes." He pulls out the leather-bound grimoire.
I'm not au fait with all the academy rules yet, but secret books locked away in witches' sanctums must be out of bounds. “You’re not allowed to take books out of there, Jamie. You shouldn't have this.” I trace a finger around the crest, which depicts a moon and thorns and shines in embossed silver.
"I need to borrow this particular grimoire. There’s a spell to help me—us—in here."
"We’ll work this out, without spells. Especially now I have a new skill to work on.” I smile encouragingly, although I have my doubts. “If I see the whole event, I’ll be able to stop whatever happens to you by controlling someone’s mind.”
“No. Your aunt explained what would happen if you kept interfering, and I refuse to make you sick. This is my issue, Maeve. I need something more to defend myself with. I refuse to rely on others."
“Why take the book from the sanctum and then hide it? Didn't you ask Sofia or Professor Kendal if you could borrow the book?”
Jamie runs his tongue along his teeth. "They'd say no even if they knew, because books like this contain dangerous spells we're not allowed to learn."
"Are you intending to use dangerous magic?” I whisper in horror.
"No." He's firm. "I'm not interested in using harmful spells. I doubt I’m advanced enough, even if I wanted to.”
I rub my temples. "Jamie. Someone will know the book is missing."
He grips the book. “I’m the only one who knows the Blackwood grimoire is hidden in the academy.”
“Why? What’s wrong with the book?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why is it hidden?” I narrow my eyes when he looks away. “Jamie?”
“Because the magic is powerful, I told you. But I’m not stupid like Matt was. I’ll use one spell and then return the book.”
Jamie doesn't take risks. He avoids trouble and toes the line—Theodora’s star pupil and the ideal student. Why would he do this?
He strokes the top of the book and closes his eyes, before taking a deep breath. "Can you feel anything from the book's history?" I ask him.
"More than I'd like to. That's why I’ll be careful which spell I'd use."
Someone snatches the book from Jamie’s hands. “What the fuck?” Amelia stands over us, Ash behind. Her face reddens as she stares down at the book cover. “What the actual fuck?”
I gape at Amelia’s outburst. I swear this small, angry whirlwind of a girl is about to attack Jamie.
“Amelia,” he begins.
“No!” She slams the book on the table. “Why do you have the Blackwood grimoire? How do you have this?”
“Amelia, shush, we’re in the library,” I say.
“You have a short memory, you bloody idiot,” she whispers to Jamie in a harsh voice as anger trembles through her. “After all the lecturing you gave Matt. After what this book d
id to him.”
“My situation is different.”
“Bullshit.”
I’ve heard stories about Matt and the illegal magic that landed him in the Ravenhold institute. What I didn’t know until recently is the magic stopped being a choice for him. He used a powerful spell book that turned his desire to excel at magic into an addiction. Then the magic unleashed in a frightening way that cost him his place at the academy.
This book.
The red-faced, furious Amelia is unrecognisable, and I understand why. The girl beside me pictures losing her best friend the way she lost her boyfriend.
“How long have you had this?” she snaps, her whole body shaking.
“Since yesterday. I’m not Matt, Amelia. I only need the book for another day, and I’ll return the grimoire to where I found it.”
Amelia tenses further. “Matt told me that exact thing several times, Jamie, and the book took hold of him. Please, please don’t cast any Blackwood spells.”
"All I’ll do is copy out the spell we need." We. "Don't all look at me like that. We need to find ways to protect ourselves and not rely on the academy.”
Ash breaks his silence and gestures at Amelia. “Listen to Amelia. Look what happened when Matt used a powerful spell. He almost burnt the academy down and was expelled."
"I don't want to lose you too, Jamie," she says meekly.
"Or get hurt," I add.
He shakes his fringe from his eyes. "We agreed, no more secrets, so I’m telling you all my plans. You can help me or not. I'm doing this either way. I'm not summoning anything or creating spells to kill. Nobody will discover what I’m doing because it's not a big deal."
If that were true, why is the book locked away in a room only accessed by witches with a key?
“Of course, it’s a big deal, Jamie,” Amelia protests. “Give the book to me now. I should bloody burn the thing.”
Jamie holds up the book, but his fingers grip tight. The book's edges are singed. “Somebody already tried that. This is Blackwood—nothing destroys their magic easily, which is exactly why I’ve chosen this book.”
Amelia’s trembling intensifies and tears spring to her eyes. “Jamie. Think about Ravenhold.”
“I’m going to the cottage this afternoon. You can come with me or not, your choice.” He reaches out to Amelia with his other hand, but she snatches it back. “I’ll give you the book after I perform the spell. I don’t want to keep hold of the book, anyway.”
Chapter Twenty-One
MAEVE
I've no choice.
Jamie can't do this alone.
Amelia comes with me to the cottage, but Ash refuses. He has practice today and agrees to meet us afterwards, but the real reason is he doesn’t want to show an ounce of support
The cottage is snug and warm, like last time we were here, but the atmosphere charged differently this time. We find Jamie in the kitchen, book open on a square table, with a bowl and candles either side. His small rucksack he uses to carry books between classes is set on the floor.
He looks up and breaks into a wide smile. "Great. I'd hoped somebody would be here."
"We had no choice," says Amelia stiffly. "Which spell did you choose?"
He scratches his nose before pulling out a folder and the grimoire. This could be one for an academy project—blue with space to slip printed paper inside. Instead, the folder contains vellum he's written on.
“This one.”
He reaches inside the bag again and pulls out a small bottle and a jar that looks as if it contains herbs or spices. Amelia immediately takes hold. She opens the bottle and sniffs.
"Viridium? Where did you find this?"
"Professor Turlington's supplies."
"Jamie! We don't use viridium in anything until final year—all students need a license."
He glowers. "Not all students might die soon."
She stares back thin-lipped before setting the bottle down and taking the jar. As she pokes at the contents, her annoyed look doesn't change. "Good thing we're here if you're stupid enough to mix viridium with goldbane."
I look between them. "Is this dangerous?"
"Yes," she says.
"If in the wrong hands," protest Jamie.
"Like a Lower Sixth student?" Amelia looks at him pointedly.
He ignores her. "I've been through the book, and there's a spell similar to the one we tried in the sanctum a few days ago, Maeve, but this protection lasts longer."
“How much longer?" I ask.
“As long as I carry this."
He pulls a silver pendant attached to a leather cord from his pocket. A symbol similar to a pentagram is carved in black in the centre, and smaller black symbols overlay the points.
"No!" Amelia snatches the pendant from him. "You told me you wouldn't touch dangerous magic."
"Give me that back," he demands.
I look between them. "What is it?"
"This is one of the Blackwood family pendants," Amelia explains. "The family are powerful witches who were ostracised from witch society over a hundred years ago. Few people know what the family did, but everybody is frightened of their magic."
As she speaks, she waves the necklace around.
"No, this is just an heirloom from before the Trials," he protests. "Other witches have used Blackwood charms. Don't be ridiculous."
"Me?" she retorts. "You're the one about to hex yourself."
"This is not a hex. It's a spell."
"Wait a minute? Jamie is about to curse himself?" I stare at him. "Why?"
Jamie succeeds in snatching back the pendant. "I am not. This spell is for protection. If somebody tries to harm me, whatever damage they intend will reflect back and injure them instead."
Amelia sucks in a breath. "You can't use Blackwood magic. Do you want to join Matt at Ravenhold? Because if you're caught using illegal spells, that's what will happen."
"Matt wasn't expelled just for using Blackwood magic. He'd done a lot of other things wrong, Amelia."
She glares at him. "But this is a slippery slope, Jamie. If you don't hand the book over, I'm telling somebody."
Scowling, Jamie gathers together the other spell ingredients and holds his arms around them. "Don't judge me, Amelia. Is your life under threat? No. But if it were, I bet you'd do whatever it took to protect yourself."
"Jamie. Don't do this." Her voice switches from anger to pleading. "Don't curse yourself with magic that attaches to your soul. You don't know what this could do to you."
Jamie grips the pendant tightly in his palm. "This could save my life."
"Whoa. What?" I interrupt. "Okay. I agree with Amelia. Stop this."
"No."
"Jamie, please." I sit and place a hand over his where he grips the pendant. "This isn't like you."
"How do you know what I'm like? You've known me weeks."
I withdraw my hand as his words sting. "Wow. Okay."
He drags his other hand through his hair. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude, but I hate that you're both making decision about my life. My body. What does this matter if I won't hurt anybody else?"
"Then I hope you fail." Amelia drags out a wooden kitchen chair and sits. "I wish I was spirit-attuned so I could influence the magic energy in the room and stop you.”
The sun shines on the cottage today, but the atmosphere is unpleasant. If only I knew how to use my mind control on Jamie.
The warmth in the room becomes stifling as I scramble to keep up with what's happening.
Jamie shakes his sleeve out as he carefully mixes the herbs and tincture into the bowl. I watch with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as he holds the pendant above, takes the parchment, and speaks the words.
His eyes shine, the secret witch code spoken with intensity, and fear trickles down my spine as if someone dropped ice into my shirt. Amelia's pale and tense, coiled ready to step in.
She closes her eyes in despair as he finishes the incantation, and I'm wary about watching as
he drops the pendant inside. Purple sparks spit from the bowl, and a sickly smell fills the room as they do. Jamie hastily tears the scroll and sets the pieces alight before dropping them into the bowl. The green sparks switch to flames which roar upwards, and my face heats as if I'm standing by the bonfire again.
Amelia swears and holds her head in her hands as the flames fizzle out, and I'm transfixed as he pulls the pendant from the bowl. The silver shines brightly with a tinge of purple. The leather is intact, and Jamie ties it around his neck, fingers shaking as he does.
"Do you feel any different?" I whisper.
Jamie hides the pendant beneath his T-shirt and touches. "Calmer."
"For now," mutters Amelia. “If you cast any more spells from this book, I’m going to intervene, Jamie."
But how? Even though she threatened to, Amelia can’t tell Theodora and risk the consequences for Jamie. This is something we need to deal with—and that means taking the book away
Jamie stands and points at his face. “Prove this works."
"What?" she asks.
"Slap me. I know you want to."
She grits her teeth. "Don't tempt me."
"No," he urges. "I want to see if you feel the slap instead."
Amelia snaps her head back. "Are you serious?"
He shrugs and turns to me. "Maeve?"
I widen my eyes. "Me? I won't hit you."
"Ask Ash. I'm sure he will." Amelia holds her hand out. "Give me that bloody book before you get any stupid ideas about other spells and corrupt yourself completely."
"I have not corrupted myself." Jamie allows her to take the book and gathers up the other items. He tips the ash from the bowl into a small plastic bag. How nice that he tidies up after himself when he performs dangerous magic.
The front door to the cottage bangs closed and I rush into the lounge. Through the window, I spot Amelia sprinting across the academy grounds with her bag over one shoulder, gripping hard. Jamie joins me in looking out.
"I guess she really wanted to take that book from me." He chuckles.
"I don't think it's funny. Amelia is worried about you. We both are."
