by Nissa Leder
My foot taps against the ground. As much as he deserves a dramatic exit, hearing him out won’t hurt. “Okay, fine.”
Kaz refills his cup and then leads me away from the bonfire toward the forest on the other side of the grassy field.
I’m about to ask him if he changed his mind and this time is luring me somewhere to murder me like I’d joked on our date, but I don’t. I wouldn’t want to seem too flirty and desperate.
A few stone picnic tables sit near the edge of the grass. Kaz and I sit side-by-side on one, resting our feet on the bench as we face the bonfire.
“It looks a lot smaller from here,” I say. “I didn’t realize this field was so big.”
“It’s used for school football games.” Kaz leans forward and rests his elbow on his knee.
“Football?”
“Well, the Sorcery version of it, at least. We play against the other three American academies.”
“Football like the Giants?”
“Well, I would have said the 49ers, but yep. Just add in some magic and change up the rules a little.” Kaz tilts his head toward me and laughs. “You thinking of trying out?”
“Girls can play?”
“About a quarter of our team is female,” Kaz says. “I guess magic is a good equalizer.”
The answer to me going anywhere near a football field is a resounding no. Sports aren’t my thing.
“Interesting, but no football tryouts are in my future.” I take a long drink of my Alchemy Brew. “I thought you brought me out here to explain, not stall.”
“Right.” Kaz sits up and tilts his body toward mine. “First I need to apologize. Our date was a ton of fun, and I had every intention of asking you out again…” His gaze drops. “But when your brother asked me not to, I had to respect his wishes.”
“What was his reasoning?”
“I…” Kaz stares at the bonfire. “Early on last year, I started dating a girl named Tessa. She was a year ahead of me, and taught me a lot about the magical world I’d known nothing about. Things got serious pretty fast, at least for me. But halfway through second semester, she broke it off. A week after she dumped me, I learned she’d been seeing another guy behind my back the entire time.”
“I’m sorry.” Sometimes I really wish I’d learn to stick a sock in my mouth. I shouldn’t have been so rude earlier.
“Breaking up with Tessa hit me pretty hard. My high school relationship ended with me being cheated on too. Three years together and then I caught her with my best friend.” He shrugs with a half-smile. “But it’s okay. Your brother was there this time to kick my ass if I moped too much.”
“Sounds like Beck.” Despite our differences, I’ve always felt super lucky to have him as an older brother. Maybe that’s why his sudden interference with Kaz hurt so much.
“I really did have a fun time on our date, but if dating his little sis makes Beck uncomfortable, then I guess we’re just going to be a one date wonder.”
“Better than a one date catastrophe.” I chuckle. “I’ve definitely had a few of those.”
“I should have talked to you right away. I owed you that.”
The light of the moon reflects off his gorgeous blue eyes, and the desire to lean in and kiss him fills me. “It’s okay. We can at least be friends, right? Or does Beck have a monopoly on your friendship?” I mean for it to sound funny, but it comes across sarcastic.
“Being friends would be nice.”
Nice. If that isn’t a lackluster response, I don’t know what is. But Kaz is a good guy. One who takes his friendships seriously.
Which makes Beck’s interference even harder to swallow.
Something floats in the air next to my face, pulling my attention away from Kaz.
A small fairy with light pink skin and lavender hair hovers as she eyes me curiously. Two more, both with green-tinted skin and orange hair join her.
This close, I can see the intricate swirl designs on their wings that shimmer like opal.
“They say fairies bring good luck,” Kaz says.
The lavender-haired one flies closer and lifts a strand of my hair. She turns to the others and says something in a language I can’t understand, but from her tone something has her entertained.
“After betting all my magic, I’ll take all the luck I can get.” I smile at them.
A loud howl echoes through the forest behind us. The fairies exchange worried glances before darting back into the cover of the trees.
My pulse quickens and pounds in my head. “What was that?”
“Probably just an Ordinary wolf.” Kaz hand curls into a fist.
“Probably?”
“The forests on this island are filled with Ordinary animals and magical creatures. The magical ones aren’t supposed to cross into academy grounds, but the Ordinary ones don’t follow the same rules, so we better head back.”
Kaz places his hand on my back as we scoot off the table.
From everything I’ve seen so far, he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve met. Maybe the nicest guy. Leave it to my luck for any romantic future with him to be off-limits.
“Thanks for hearing me out,” Kaz says as we walk back toward the bonfire.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we can at least be friends. I still want to see where your third key leads to.”
As we near the bonfire, Beck notices us.
When we get to him, he says, “There you are, Kaz. And I see you found my little sister.”
“I better go find Olivia and Micah before they think I got lost.” I excuse myself with a nod to Kaz and then Beck.
I’ve never had a close guy friend before. At least not one I didn’t hook up with now and again.
College is about trying new things, right?
Who knows, maybe not dating Kaz will work out for the best.
Ten
The rest of my weekend flies by way too fast.
I waste four hours of my Saturday on our first group practice, which ends up being a lot of listening to Elaine list everything we need to learn by the end of the semester and why it will be important.
Garrett barely says a word the whole time. Van has no issues sharing his opinion that she’s taking it all way too far. And Natalia takes on the role of mediator between the two.
I keep quiet unless directly spoken to. When Elaine asks if I’m willing to do whatever it takes to fully prepare for the end of the semester group exam, I just nod, which is enough for her.
Sunday is a lazy day. I sleep in, go straight to lunch, then spend most of the day texting Zane and watching random videos on my phone.
So far, neither of us has given in and lost the bet. I’m sure most people would think I’m crazy to take his word, but I know Zane well enough to know that if he sleeps with someone, he’ll own up to it. And he knows I will too.
When I wake up Monday, the warm scent of coffee fills the room.
I sit up in bed and see Olivia pouring herself a cup. She’s already dressed in her uniform, with her hair twisted into long pigtail braids.
“When did we get a coffee maker?” I ask, my voice still raspy from a heavy night of sleep.
“I brought it from home when we moved in, but I just took it out of a box in the closet this morning. Want a cup?”
“Um, double-yes.” My equilibrium wavers as I get out of bed. Despite spending most of the day in bed yesterday, my limbs feel heavy.
“Cream?”
“And sugar, if you have it.” I bring my hands together in mock-prayer.
Olivia hands me a mug bearing the words “namaste in bed,” which is filled with golden-colored coffee.
“Glorious caffeine,” I say as I take it. “Thank you.”
I sip the drink as I get ready for the day, fighting occasional waves of dizziness, then hurry and make it to Potions and Herbs just in time.
The caffeine gives me a small energy boost, but it doesn’t help the ache that’s settled in my muscles. As hard as I try, I keep zoning out as Professor Ab
bey explains the potion we’re going to make this week.
Bianca kicks my foot underneath the desk. “Pay attention. The last thing I need is you screwing me up by throwing in the wrong ingredient.”
“I am paying attention,” I snap, even though I know it isn’t totally true. I’m trying to pay attention, but the pounding growing in my temples is drowning out Professor Abbey’s voice.
I tilt my body away from Bianca and face ahead, which keeps her off my back for the rest of class.
When class is dismissed, I linger in my seat until Bianca is out of the room.
As I stand up, my legs shake, and I put my hand on the desk for support.
“You look like you’re coming down with the Sorcerer Flu,” Professor Abbey says from across the room.
She searches through one of her desk drawers then walks toward me with a small cardboard box in her hand. “Here are some herbal tea bags that will help soften your symptoms, dear.”
I take the box from her. “Thank you.”
I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s probably nothing more than a minor cold.
In Combat, Thornburn teaches us the skill of knife throwing. Targets are set up across the gym, and we’re split into groups of three to practice. I’m paired with two guys who I’ve never talked to, neither of which seem to care much about today’s lesson.
Neither do I, honestly. My first try doesn’t even reach the target. Despite its small size, the knife feels heavier than I expected. On my second attempt, I hit the board, but with the handle, so it drops to the ground.
After the little effort it took to toss the knife, my lungs burn.
As much as I don’t want to, I find Thornburn and ask him if I can be dismissed early. I’m expecting some lecture about toughening up, but when turns, he takes one look at me and says, “You don’t look well. You better get some rest.”
In high school, skipping class was nothing out of the ordinary for me. My grades were decent enough, so I never saw the harm in missing a day now and again. But here at Wicklow, I’m already behind everyone else. I don’t need to make things harder on myself. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to settle for mediocre.
But by the time I get back to my room, I’m so out of breath, I have to lie down. I doze off quickly, and when I wake up, I’ve already missed Incantations and lunch.
I decide I have no choice but to miss Defensive Spells too and use the extra time to make the tea Professor Abbey gave me. After only a few drinks, my symptoms improve. By the time I’m done, I feel mostly normal.
I’ve already missed more of today than I want, but I still have time to make it to Magical History.
Not even a minute after I sit down, Professor Simons begins her lecture. As always, her long silver hair, bright against her dark skin, is pulled into a long braid.
“We’ve spent the first two weeks learning about the first Sorcerers to settle in the New World, and how they used magic to create a world both separate and entwined with the Ordinaries.” Her hands move as she talks and walks back and forth across the front of the room. “We’ll continue from where we left off in time on Friday next week, but first we must make a quick detour.”
I lean forward, set my elbow on the desk, and prop my chin up with my palm.
Professor Simons continues, “It wasn’t long after the Sorcery Government was created that some disagreed with its mission to create harmony with the Ordinaries. Some thought we should isolate ourselves. Others thought we should rule everyone in the new country, even those without magic.
“Dark Sorcery has been around longer than history books, and as time has passed, it has only grown stronger. That is why Protectors are so important to our world. The Dark Sorcerers have the magic they’re born with, just like those of us here in this room, but they also have other powerful sources to pull from. Evil sources.”
One of the guys I recognize from on the ship raises his hand. Like me, he didn’t have access to his magic until the ride to Wicklow.
“Yes?” Professor Simons calls on him.
“What do you mean ‘evil sources?’” he asks.
“Magic is in every living thing, but not all creatures are able to wield it. Dark Sorcerers use the magic that Ordinaries and animals can’t access. Using the magic isn’t the problem, though. It’s how they access it. To steal the magic from a Non-Sorcerer creature, a Sorcerer must kill it. The power they steal is only temporary, which means there is no end to their killing.”
I’m not sure what I expected, but that wasn’t it. Murder can earn Sorcerers more power?
“That is why Protectors are so important, and why the council developed this year’s trial.” Professor Simons passes out a worksheet to everyone. “This has definitions of important terms that will be relevant to this week’s lesson. Spend the rest of class reading through it, then keep it to study. There will be an exam at the end of the week.”
As I’m browsing the paper, the throbbing returns to my temples. Soon, sweat coats my forehead, and my uniform sticks to my skin. By the time class is over, my muscles ache again.
With only one class left, I consider going straight back to my room to make another cup of tea and rest. But today is the first day of actual dueling, and I don’t want to miss out. Only three pairs are supposed to duel, so more than likely, all I’ll have to do is sit there and watch.
When I enter the classroom, Elaine and Bianca are sitting in their usual spots next to each other in the front row.
Bianca whispers something to Elaine, which earns a laugh.
I ignore them and sit in the back row, hoping to be as invisible as possible. The walk here has me winded, so I focus on taking deep breaths.
Professor Lamberg begins class by walking to the front with a large bowl in his hands. “I’ve put everyone’s names in here, and I’ll draw two at a time for each duel.”
Van from my trial group and another guy are called first. They walk to the front of the class, which has been cleared to allow room for their duel.
“You’re only allowed to use the three offensive spells you’ve learned in Incantations or the three defensive spells you learned in Defensive Spells,” Professor Lamberg says. “When I press the buzzer, you can begin. If I press it again, you must stop immediately or you’ll automatically be disqualified. Got it?”
The guys nod.
Professor Lamberg raises the buzzer in front of his face and squeezes it.
Their duel doesn’t last long. The other guy blocks Van’s first attack of fire magic, but completely misses his second. It strikes him right in the chest and he falls back hard on the ground.
Professor Lamberg draws another pair, this time a guy and a girl. Their battle lasts only a smidge longer. The girl blocks three attacks, knocking her off balance. As the guy glances to his friend and gloats, she throws a gust of wind at him, sending him staggering backward out of bounds for an automatic loss.
Even just sitting here is difficult, and I regret coming to class at all. My mouth is as dry as cotton, and my skin is burning up.
As Professor Lamberg calls the final pair for the day, I wipe the sweat dripping into my eyes.
When I look to the front to see whose turn it is, I notice everyone staring at me.
“Come on up, Wren,” Professor Lamberg says.
Well, crap.
I stand up and walk as straight as I can, despite the spinning room around me.
As I’m about to apologize and say I’m not feeling well, I see Bianca up front, staring at me with her hand on her hip.
She’s my opponent?
Today just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?
All I need to do is keep it together long enough to get in one good strike. Then I can return to my room and stay in bed for the rest of the day.
When I make it to the front, Bianca and I stare at each other from opposite ends of the classroom.
“Everyone ready?” Professor Lamberg asks
“Yep,” Bianca says.
�
�Uh huh,” I say, even though I’m anything but.
He mentioned we have three spells to learn from, but I only know two. Professor Belrose must have taught us something new today. Fire or wind. Those are my only choices.
And then in Defensive Spells, we’ve learned how to defend those spells, but whatever the third offensive spell is, I have no clue how to block it.
The buzzer blares and I stand there, uncertain what to do.
Bianca creates fire and tosses it at me.
The word cataract pops into my head. I pull from my magic within, and a cascading waterfall drops from a few feet above me and drowns the flames headed for my face.
That wasn’t so bad.
Ardeat ignis, I say in my mind, and a flame burns in my palm.
I toss it at Bianca as hard as I can as another fireball appears in her hand. She throws it at mine, and the two collide with a loud crash. Sparks fly through the air, dying before they hit the ground.
“Impressive, you two,” Professor Lamberg says.
Creating the fireball wiped my energy. I waver to the right as the room spins faster than before. Nausea washes over me and my stomach burns.
I focus on Bianca, praying I can steady myself without falling over.
The room slows. A smirk spreads across Bianca’s face as a small blue orb appears in her hand. She hesitates long enough for me to see the sparks bouncing inside an invisible shell.
Electricity.
As she lifts her arm, I panic. Creating a waterfall defense will only make it worse.
My heart rate accelerates as she turns her body and chucks it straight toward me.
The only thing I can think of is the wind redirecting defensive spell.
I think the words ventum torquent, but nothing happens. My magic feels too far away to access. I leap to the right, but I’m too late. The spell hits me straight in the shoulder, sending an electric current through my nerves and dropping me straight to the ground.
Gasps echo through the room. When I try to sit up, darkness clouds my vision. My eyelids grow heavy. As much as I want to move, I’m too tired.
Sleepiness fills me, and within seconds, I succumb to it.
