by Rain Oxford
“Three books on summoning your familiar. I really have no problem with students checking out whatever they want, but I keep telling them I have to have a record of it.”
I picked out five books that looked helpful and started walking back to the front, when my instincts suddenly made me stop. I was between two shelves, so I started checking the titles of the books around me.
All history books.
I decided to set the books on the table and return to get a better look at them. I only got two steps before my instincts warned me of danger. “Go away!” a loud, throaty, male voice shouted at the same instant the bookshelf collapsed on me. I instinctively drew physical strength from Rocky and stopped the shelf before it struck the shelf behind me and pushed it back into place. All of the books were dumped off the shelf, but that was better than a domino reenactment.
“Oh, goodness!” Ms. Sommerfeld said when I let go of the shelf. “What happened?”
“The shelf malfunctioned.”
She motioned with her hands and all of the books started floating and replacing themselves on the shelves. The only ones that didn’t move were the books on curses I had gathered.
“That’s convenient,” I said. I picked up the books. “I need to check these out.” She led me to her desk, where there was a massive record book. She wrote down the titles, my name, and the date.
I went to my office to unload the books, planning to return to the library. In my notebook, I wrote down what Leon had told me and what happened in the library. Then I went to breakfast. Since it was Sunday and I wasn’t the only teacher who liked to sleep in, the dining room wasn’t empty.
When the gray cat hopped onto my table again, I asked, “Do you need help?” Obviously, he didn’t answer, but he didn’t run, either. “If you hold still, I’ll read your mind. I’m not going to hurt you.”
This time, when I reached out with my power for his mind, he didn’t disappear. I sensed youth in him. “I’m not the one who needs help,” he said in my mind. I was surprised; few people knew how to communicate telepathically, and familiars who could were even rarer.
“Who needs help?” I asked back silently, not wanting other staff members to think I was crazy.
“My wizard.”
“Who is your wizard?”
“I don’t know. He called me accidentally, apparently, because he is fighting me. I can’t find him.”
“You’ve never met him before?”
“If I could, I would be able to find him now.”
“Do you have experience being a familiar? You don’t strike me as a simple cat.”
“My name is Dorian. I had a wizard before, but I wasn’t his familiar. The poor kid didn’t even know what he was until his uncle knocked on his door and explained it to him. I ended up hopping from house to house, looking for a place I felt I belonged. I always knew I was a familiar. Imagine my disgust to finally have been called, only to discover my wizard doesn’t want me.”
“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. If he accidentally called you, maybe someone else is keeping you away from him. I knew a girl who summoned an elemental that grew too powerful, thus not letting her call her familiar.”
He nodded. “You have a good point, wizard. I have met few as wise as you, and fewer who could talk to me. I have been talking to every wizard here, knowing mine will be able to hear me. If I couldn’t sense you were claimed, I would think you were my wizard.”
“Are you sure your wizard is here?”
“Yes. Every time he is put in danger, I can feel him close. I just can’t find him. Can you help me?”
“I will certainly try. I have a bit of a full schedule right now, but I will keep an eye out for any unclaimed wizard who needs help.”
“Thank you. What is your name?”
“Devon Sanders.”
Without another word, he vanished. I was almost done eating when I overheard an argument between two teachers regarding what they should do about three kids fighting. After that, I returned to my office to finish going through discipline notices and other paperwork.
I felt Darwin open the mental link between us. “On the curse front, I’ve got about two dozen curses. The type of curse that could do this would be either contagion magic or transference.”
“Transference?”
“Transferring the life-force, power, or the like from one person to another. For example, if a child died, his mother could transfer her life-force to him, theoretically. Also theoretically, it would bring him back, but the mother would lapse into an eternal coma until her body died. You could also theoretically transfer your soul to another body, which would be what you know as taking over that body, but I don’t think that matters to this case.”
“Great. Please tell me there’s an anti-curse.”
“Nope. We could start by killing the person who cursed them, but we don’t know what that is yet. I’ll keep looking, I just wanted to let you know.”
I closed the connection and reread the discipline notice I was on.
Student’s name: Patricia Reese
Teacher’s name: Judie Baumwirt
Date: Friday, August 26
What happened: Patricia fell asleep during class, sleep-walked to the front, wrote, “Go to Hell, you lying bitch!” on the board, and then went back to her seat. She was obviously faking it.
Disciplinary action: Dishwashing duty for a week.
I was about to put it with the others when it occurred to me that Patricia had no reason to do such a thing. It wasn’t something that would amuse her classmates, and if she was going to insult her teacher, I imagined she could come up with something better than that. She was a thirteen-year-old, so I could be wrong, but that just seemed strange to me.
I skimmed through other discipline notices and organized them by type. It took most of an hour, but I ended up with a stack of two dozen anger-related notices. That was almost two a day since school started, including weekends. Are kids normally this angry at a school? I don’t think there are this many at the university. Of course, normal adults could control their anger better.
Furthermore, it wasn’t the only incident in that classroom; it was the same room where Lindsey and Oliver were fighting, and Ms. Baumwirt was the same teacher who sent Kita to me.
I went to her classroom and wasn’t surprised to see that Ms. Baumwirt was gone. The door was locked, but when I tried to unlock it with magic, I got an electrical shock, instead. I knocked, received no answer, and turned away. Before I could leave, someone knocked back. I frowned at the door for a moment before reaching for the knob and turning it again. It was unlocked. I went inside.
It was a regular classroom, sans any personal touches. There weren’t pictures or decorations of any kind, and the student desks were in perfectly straight rows. It was a little creepy with only the setting sun through the windows providing light.
The instant I closed the door behind me, I was no longer alone. Now there was a man sitting on the teacher’s desk. He was tall and thin, wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans. His dark hair was combed back, making his thin, angular face more pronounced.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Who am I? Many, you’re in my house. Who are you?”
“I’m the vise principal, Devon Sanders. Or deputy headmaster. Whatever. Have you been making students fight?”
“Fight? Nah, man. I’ve been making them stand up for themselves.”
“You’re getting them in trouble and breaking up friendships.”
“How can you see me?” he asked.
“I see dead people… apparently. It’s a long story and I’m not sure I get it. So, who are you?”
“My names Jack Michaels. I was a teacher here. This was my classroom.” Something about him felt familiar, and something else about him felt fake.
“Why are you messing with the students?”
“I’m not. Not on purpose, anyway. When Judie’s around, I get pissed, and then so do the kids
.”
“What about Patricia?”
“Who?”
“You made her walk up to the board and write on it.”
He laughed. “That was just me havin’ some fun.”
“You got her in trouble.”
“Well, Judie is a lying bitch.”
“What’s the problem?”
“That ain’t your business.”
“Weird things have been happening all over the school since the kids got here and three of them are comatose. Do you know why?”
“Why would I know?”
“Are there a lot of ghosts here?” It would explain why some of the kids were talking to themselves, as well as a fair number of strange things that had been happening.
“I hear them, but I don’t hang out with them.”
“So you don’t know if any ghosts are out to put students in comas?”
“No, I don’t. Why don’t you ask ‘em?”
“You and a nurse are the only ones I’ve seen here. Like I said, I’m still learning how this works.” I needed to talk to Dr. Martin about it. “Stop messing with the students. You’re not helping them.”
He scoffed. “I can’t help them feelin’ my anger.”
* * *
I went to Dr. Martin. He and Rhonda were discussing curses that fit the situation. “There’s been no change,” Dr. Martin said.
“There has been for me. I’m not okay with the fact that I see dead people,” I said. “Um… no offense, Ms. Brown.”
She smiled.
“It isn’t fun being a necromancer,” Dr. Martin said.
“I’m not a necromancer. I am just a wizard.”
“When you got the key, you took otherworld power inside you.”
“You know about that?”
“I sensed it in you the minute you took the key. I sensed it in Vincent, Logan, and Keigan, too, because they have keys to the tower, but in you, it flourished.”
“Why?”
“Because you can use it for good, I believe. Or maybe because there is the right amount of darkness in you. Or because your magic is better balance. Or maybe you’re just unlucky.”
“I don’t get it.”
“The tower and keys were created by beings far more powerful than paranormals— even more powerful than Dothra wizards.”
“I was told they were gods.”
“To us, they are gods. They appear as they choose to. They tell their story as they choose to. I know them as creatures of unimaginable magic.”
“So we don’t know what the keys do exactly or why they do it,” I surmised.
“Correct.”
“Well, I don’t want to see ghosts, so how do I get rid of it? I already got rid of the key.”
“What’s so wrong with seeing us?” Rhonda asked.
“It’s weird even for the paranormal world, and I already surpass weird with my mind control, visions, and instincts.”
“Yet you accepted that. They were still there when you couldn’t see them.”
“I guess ignorance is bliss, then. Maybe I can get rid of it.”
“I suggest you try to accept it,” Dr. Martin said. “As much as it is a hassle for me, I wouldn’t get rid of it if I could. I can help people… when wizards from my world aren’t trying to eat me. You should also be aware that the stronger your necromancy becomes, the more Dothra wizards will be able to sense it in you, and they like killing necromancers to take our power.”
“That’s a terrible way to convince me to accept this.”
“You should be aware of the consequences. If you fight it, it will get to the point where you don’t see or hear ghosts. This may take a few decades, but it does happen. I’m just informing you that you can help people with it. Besides, if you try it and something happens, you’d have more motive to fight it.”
“I will think about it. In the meantime, there is a ghost in Ms. Baumwirt’s classroom, calling himself Jack Michaels. He’s been causing problems and getting kids in trouble. Can you deal with him?”
“I’ll see. I think it’s more important to save these children, but I will talk to him as soon as I get a few minutes free. Take this in case you need it.” A potion floated off the shelf and into my hand.
“What is it?”
“It will calm anyone who is uncontrollably angry.”
“Thanks. Let me know if there are any changes. Darwin hasn’t found anything yet.”
I returned to my office and looked through the books on curses, finding very little information on sleep curses. In fact, the only ones related to sleep I found in the books were curses intended to keep the victim awake. There was one that would make the victim stop breathing if he fell asleep, one that would give the victims horrible nightmares, and one that would simply not let them fall asleep.
* * *
I was surprised when darkness spread across the room. My instinct didn’t warn me of danger, and when I released my power, I sensed Hunt’s blocked mind. He appeared out of the darkness. “It is time for another lesson,” he said.
“I thought that was really a night thing.”
“I am busy tonight, so if you are not currently being eaten by a monster or fighting a mortal enemy, we should get started.”
I got the impression he was under a lot of pressure and I should take advantage of the opportunity. “Alright. I’m ready.” I set down my pen.
“This time is going to be a little different. I want you to put yourself in a calm state of mind and remain there while I try to instigate an emotional response.”
“In other words, you’re going to goad me?”
“Yes.”
“And this should teach me to control my reactions?”
“Yes. Or, it should at least reveal your weaknesses if that is the case.”
I settled myself on the couch, closed my eyes, and tried to relax.
Before I was ready, he said, “The chance of Vincent being your father is extremely slim.”
I didn’t bother to open my eyes. “I know.”
“I could make him take a paternity test.”
“No thanks. I am better off not knowing.”
“Are you dating my daughter?”
“We’re working on it.”
“Good. You will do better than Rosin. He was extremely possessive and was liable to attack any man Remington even mentioned the name of.”
“He would never hurt her.”
“Neither would you, and you would focus on making her happy rather than making her yours.”
“I bet he’s hating on you right now,” I said.
“He wants to kill both of us right this second. What about Astrid? Are you dating her as well?”
That pissed me off. “Of course not. Astrid was my childhood friend. I love her, but it’s not romantic.”
“Are you sure?”
“Are you trying to goad me or grill me? Just ask me questions if you’re worried about your daughter.” I felt a sharp sting from the chain as my magic tried to control him.
“I am not worried about her. Remington Hunt is the toughest woman I know. If you broke her heart, there wouldn’t be enough left of you to send to me for punishment. Your concentration is broken.”
I sighed. He was right. I was irritated, and if I wasn’t wearing the chain, I would have used my magic on him unintentionally. “I’ll get better.”
“Of course you will. That is the point of these lessons.”
* * *
When my hunger drove me to the dining room, I found Darwin and Henry sitting at the usual table with Scott, Addie, and Amelia. I got my food and joined them.
“It’s not okay to blow up his house because he won’t give you the passcode,” Addie told Darwin.
“He didn’t come up with the program himself, so he doesn’t have the right to keep me from using it.”
“Did you and Marcus break up?” I asked.
“It’s just a little spat,” Amelia said. “They get into one every month or so.”
; “Any improvement with the kids?”
“No. Any knew info on the research?”
“Not anything useful to this case. If you could do a strip search of their---”
“I will send you to the dungeon,” I interrupted.
“There’s no dungeon here. I’ve checked,” he said easily. Amelia blushed. “Focus. This is extremely powerful magic, and such always leaves a mark. It’s most likely going to be on their skin, but it could be internal, in which case, we may never get an answer. Another possibility is that their rooms might contain something. Have you checked their rooms?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. Henry and I will go with you. Henry can smell for blood and I can tell you if anything is a clue.”
“And we’re just supposed to stay at home with the kids and cook your dinner?” Addison asked.
“Well, I need you to watch Scott, but you don’t have to cook,” Henry said, not taking the bait.
“I want to do the room search,” Scott said.
“When you’re older,” Henry answered.
“We’ll start with Patience’s and Kat’s room, since they’re both in a coma. I also have something I need to tell you and Henry.”
Chapter 8
After a quick stop at my office to get Patience’s and Kat’s bedroom number, we went to the West. Mrs. Konwerski was there, but she didn’t bother us, so we made our way to the girls’ room. The room was half the size of mine, with a set of bunk beds, two writing desks, two dressers, and a full-length mirror on the back of the door. The walls were covered in posters of people and movies. The bedclothes were all pink. The writing desks were covered in makeup, cosmetic products, acne creams, and hair accessories. There were clothes everywhere.
“Damn,” Darwin said. “And you guys thought I was messy.”
“You are.” We got to work searching for anything strange. I found three books on summoning a familiar, which all had a library stamp on the inside cover. That explained who took the library books without telling Ms. Sommerfeld, but those potatoes were too small to worry about. I skimmed through them, making sure there weren’t any secret messages in them, and found them to be legitimate.
