Charm School (The Demon's Apprentice Book 4)

by Ben Reeder

  Our destination was just around the corner, Devilish Charms. It was a two story building with an open shop floor on the first story. Rings and amulets filled cases all through the shop, and judging from the number of people browsing, business was good. Desiree led us past the counter and up a set of stairs in the stockroom to an equally open upper floor. The front half was home to a kitchen that took up one corner, a dining table the stretched along the back wall and a sea of soft furs with islands of cushions taking up the front half of the room. A hanging chair draped in blue and purple cloth was in the corner to the left, and the front of the house was almost completely open. Thick panels were folded up in groups along the opening, with a railing of woven wood running about waist high across the front.

  The kitchen was busy, too. Three people moved back and forth between tasks that were as esoteric to me as magick was to most cowans. Two of them had to be Desiree’s parents. Her father was a taller, whipcord version of his daughter, his face narrower but with the same general shape, especially around the eyes, while her mother was a little shorter and possessed of the same nose and chin. The other woman, though, showed their demonic ancestry the most, with a pair of tiny black horns and all black eyes. Shortest of them all, she was also the prettiest. Her round face was lighting up the room with a smile that I figured I’d need sunblock for if I spent too long around her. Her body was round in all the right places, which on her, was pretty much every place. Her long, black hair had two streaks of gray running back from her temples, and there were laugh lines at her eyes and cheeks that only made her prettier.

  “Oh, sweetheart!” she cooed as soon as she saw Desiree. “It’s so good to have you home again.” She enveloped Desiree in a hug before she pulled back and held her at arm’s length for a moment. “Let me look at you, dear.”

  “Hi, Gram,” Desiree said, her own smile getting a few degrees brighter.

  “Oh, that school’s not so good for you. Just look at that aura. So many dark spots, little hurts. Oooh, but what’s this? Is that a bond?” The older woman laughed, then looked over at Hoshi, Kiya and me.

  “I’ve made some friends, yeah,” Desiree said to the empty space where her Gram had been. Suddenly, all three of us were caught up in a fierce hug from her Gram.

  “You… you three are good for her. Come, sit! Tell us all the things our little darling girl is too embarrassed to!” she said as she ushered us to the table.

  “Mom,” the other woman said. “You’re embarrassing her!”

  “Shush you,” Gram said. “That’s the point! But, let me at least get the pleasantries out of the way. I’m Gram. You must be Kiya, yes? So, you’re the pretty one, Hoshi. Oh, I forgot how beautiful you fox children are. Which means you,” she turned to me with narrowed eyes, “are the demon’s apprentice.”

  “Chance,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “My name is Chance.”

  “Feh,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Names are given. Titles are earned.” She put her hand on my chest, right over my heart. “Especially the ones we don’t like. Now, help me make my Desi blush. Tell me what she doesn’t want us to hear.”

  “Oh, you should have seen it in Conjuring last week,” Kiya said, evidently eager to get the first salvo in. “We were trying to weave light and turn it solid. So, everyone in class does theirs, and they mostly just scattered. Desiree did hers, and when she went to make it solid? Pure peanut butter! It was hilarious!”

  “And delicious!” Desiree chimed in.

  “Thing was, hers was the only one that actually turned into anything solid. She earned extra points for our house.”

  I listened as Hoshi, Kiya and even Desiree told stories about her time at the Academy so far, but my gaze was constantly pulled toward the window, because my thoughts were definitely not in that room. Somewhere along the way, her parents introduced themselves, and I remembered her father’s name was Paol, and her mother was Silk.

  “Your thoughts are still in that awful place,” her Gram said to me at one point. I looked up and realized it was just her, Desiree and me at the table. Hoshi and Kiya were being insufferably cute in the kitchen with Desiree’s parents, and the room had gotten quiet.

  “Yeah, sorry,” I said. “I’m being a terrible guest.”

  Again, the hand came up to wave my comment away, but the expression on her face was softer. “Tell me what’s eating up your attention.”

  “There have been these attacks,” I started.

  “I know. Skip to the juicy stuff.”

  I glanced to Desiree, who nodded. “Okay, so the school is warded, and I’ve figured out how to defend against their new attacks. But with all of the students scattered to the four winds today…”

  “You won’t be able to save anyone if something happens,” Gram said.

  “You make it sound like I’m doing this for my ego or something.”

  “Did you offer to show the Sentinels how you protected your friend?”

  “Um, no, I didn’t even think of it.” Suddenly, the chair I was in felt less comfortable, and I had to fight to keep from squirming in my seat.

  “Did you think to ward the school with your special spell?”

  “It doesn’t work like that,” I said. “I’d have to cast…and close… one huge circle. I can barely handle a thirty-foot circle, and that’s only if it’s permanently inscribed.”

  “Then the world is safe from one boy’s ego for today,” she said with a wicked grin. “But think, too, about what this means for the person casting these hexes. You say this is new magick for them?”

  “Yeah,” I said slowly. “My mentor and I think they’re experimenting…and all the attacks came from close to the school…”

  “Which means…” she prompted.

  “That they can’t hit anyone unless they’re close to them or they’ve marked them, so if they did try to attack someone this weekend, we’d know where, and eventually, who, they were.”

  “So, perhaps there will be no attacks today, and you can enjoy your time with friends. And tomorrow, with everyone back at the school, plus parents and mentors…it would not be wise to attempt anything then. So now, rest, have fun, eat well. Your tasks will be waiting for you when you return.” She patted my hand and got to her feet.

  “She meddles,” Desiree said with an affectionate smile. “She says it’s what grandmothers do.”

  “She’s good at it,” I said. “I hardly noticed. And, I do feel a little better.” She grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen. About an hour later, the random bits and pieces had coalesced into a casserole that tasted like a cross between beef stroganoff and French onion soup.

  We left near sundown with full bellies and for me, a little lighter spirit. The carriage took us in through the same side gate we’d been shunted through on registration day. Private carriages were waved through ahead of us, but we were stopped by the Sentinels and ordered out at the gate.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as the carriage was searched.

  “Wands,” the stone faced Sentinel answered. I handed mine over and watched as the Sentinels examined it closely using a flat plane of blue energy held between his fingertips. All of our wands and talismans were inspected and returned, then the lead Sentinel pulled a circular brass frame out that held a series of quartz and blue and white stones. At a distance, I couldn’t be sure, but I was pretty sure the blue and white stones were sodalite. When Jane Dearborn’s face shimmered into view in the center of the frame, I was sure that was what it was. They spoke briefly, then the Sentinel came over to us.

  “The rest of you can go,” he said. “Fortunato, come with me.” Junkyard hopped down with me and we watched my three friends stare back at us as the carriage pulled out of sight. As soon as they turned the corner, I was hustled into the guard shack, and the other Sentinel produced a gray cloak from under the counter.

  “Um, guys, what’s going on?” I asked as the second Sentinel slipped out the door.

  “I’m Sentinel Graves,”
the first one said as he shook the cloak out and handed it to me. “Put the cloak on and follow me. Keep quiet and don’t do anything to give your position away. You’ll have to send the dog back to your room or something.”

  “Wait a minute,” I said. “Am I in some kind of trouble or something? Because this doesn’t exactly feel like I’m under arrest, but it sure as hell isn’t normal.”

  “It’s for your protection, kid. Dearborn doesn’t want anyone to know where you’re going or what’s going on with you. Your dog is the only one on campus, so it will look strange if I’m seen with it.” His tone was even, but I could tell by how he cut his words short that he wasn’t happy about me stalling. I fished the bit of broken CD out of my pocket.

  “I’ve got this,” I said as I tucked the charm into the knot of the yellow bandana around his neck. “Follow him. Iam vides me, tu nescis modo,” I whispered to activate the spell on it. Junkyard shimmered out of sight, and I stood up. As small as he was, it could cloak him pretty effectively. With a flourish, I slid the cloak over my shoulders and pulled the hood up.

  Graves reached out and took the clasp between his thumb and forefinger. “Furtim,” he said and the world went hazy around me. Without another word, he took off at a brisk jog, and I had no choice but to follow him. He led us past the side of the school and around the back of the last building, then kept going through the sparse woods behind the campus until he emerged near an old stone building that was wider on top than on bottom. Once the blockhouse was visible, he angled toward it, slowing to a stop at the door and holding it open for a split second longer than he needed to. I slipped past him and took a step to the side like Dr. C had taught me while he let the door close behind us.

  As my eyes adjusted to the dimmer interior, I began to make out details. The room was long and broad, with a set of four tables in the middle. Low bunk beds were set against the wall, most of them apparently in use, with benches set beneath high windows around the walls. A wide fireplace dominated the wall to my left, taking up a section that looked like a primitive kitchen. Off to the right, a steep staircase led to the upper floor. Sentinel Dearborn looked up from her plate at the table as I pulled the cloak off.

  “Told you he’d keep up with you,” she said.

  “Well, shit,” Graves said the moment he saw me. He reached into his pocket and handed her a bill, then shook his head and headed for the fireplace.

  “What was that about?” I asked her as she approached.

  “I ordered him to set a hard pace when he brought you back,” she said. “After Blue Hole, I knew you’d be able to keep up.” I nodded, recalling the frantic mile and half run through the woods, trying to beat a dozen Sentinels back to a borrowed car.

  “And he didn’t believe you?” I asked.

  “Well, I might have left out the part about Blue Hole. Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. There’s been a new development.”

  “What’s happened?”

  “I think I should just show you, first. Come on.” She went to the stairs, leading me up to the second story. Single beds with desks and dressers lined the walls, with a pair of large tables in the middle and a curtained off area with the metal bottom of a tub showing beneath it. A smaller pot-bellied stove was set near the end of one of the tables. The table closer to me was covered with a heavily pinned map but what grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let it go was the lumpy sheet draped across the second one. A trio of sprites hovered in one corner of the room, and as I looked, Ren swooped down to land near me.

  “You didn’t do this, did you?” he asked, his voice tight.

  “Do what?” I asked. For an answer, Dearborn pulled the sheet away from the far table, and I nearly lost my lunch. Three sprite bodies were lined up on the table. The only way I could be sure they were sprites was by the wings, though. Their small skulls were completely deformed and their upper bodies maimed almost as badly, as if someone had grabbed them and squeezed until bones broke. I staggered and gagged, fighting to keep my stomach from revolting.

  “I told you he wouldn’t have done this,” I heard Ren say as I held myself up against the nearer table. I’d seen death before. Powers knew I’d even handed out a little. I’d seen some pretty horrendous things, like my first mentor’s body ripped into bloody chunks. But seeing these tiny bodies so badly mangled…it was like the aftermath of someone abusing a puppy or a kitten. Sprites were among the most inoffensive of the fae I’d ever run across, and seeing them killed so violently hit me harder than I expected. The sound of cloth moving reached my ears over the sound of my own retching, and I finally managed to get my stomach under control again.

  “They went missing the night of the last attack,” Dearborn said. “So you were either a suspect, or you’re in danger yourself.”

  “Why am I still under suspicion here?” I asked. “Hell, I not only helped defend the last victim, I just about led you straight to the real perps.”

  “You were also the one who said there might be more than one person involved,” Dearborn countered. “And as far as we’re concerned, it’s a damn good working theory.”

  I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Yep, that’s me. Too clever for my own good,” I said.

  “You’re also the next logical victim.”

  “Assuming I’m not actually involved.”

  “Assuming that, yes. This would be the best time to strike at you.”

  “About that,” I said. Everyone in the room stopped and looked at me. “One, so far, they’ve shown that their range is shit. It’s new magick, so it only makes sense.”

  “Are you sure it’s something new for them?” another one of the Sentinels asked.

  “I’ve worked the other side of this,” I said. “This is new magick for anyone. Souls are only supposed to be able to be given by a binding ritual. The whole thing works like promises. You can’t make one for someone else. There are a few creatures that can ‘steal’ a soul, but there’s never been a spell or a ritual for it.”

  “Until now,” Dearborn corrected.

  “And we’re still not sure of what happens after. But, second, I’m their biggest asset whether I’m on their side or not. No matter what happens, I’m the first person people are going to look at. It makes no sense for them to get rid of me. Besides, tomorrow, all the most powerful wizards and masters on the east coast are going to be on campus visiting their little darlings. Pretty much the worst time ever to launch an attack.” I took a step back from the table and looked at them, daring them to find fault with my logic.

  “You’re still not leaving the blockhouse until dawn,” Dearborn said after a few moments. “Make yourself comfortable.” Damn. Logic trumped by authority. Should’ve seen that coming from an adult.

  Chapter 11

  ~ Only by the Strength of Men can a woman’s wicked ways be mended. ~ Rev. Bill Horton, Pentatite minister.

  When the transit field faded, I had a pleasant surprise and an unpleasant one waiting for me. The pleasant surprise bounded through the gate, bounced into my arms and kissed me like she hadn’t seen me in a month and a half. I kissed her back just as hungrily. Shade had never felt so good in my arms as she did just then, but I also knew I said that a lot. Her warm body pressed against mine made monkey brain wake up and grunt about too many layers of clothing between us. Even if she was just in a pink tank top and jeans, there was not enough skin touching.

  “Enough of the kissy face crap,” the unpleasant surprise grumbled as he walked past us. So of course we stopped right away…a few seconds later.

  “Damn it’s good to see you,” I told Shade when we came up for air. Her eyes were smoldering and green when she opened them, a sure sign her wolf was stirring.

  “God, I missed your kiss,” she breathed. She tilted her head back and bared her throat. My teeth found the pale flesh of her neck and she let out a gasp that became a long sigh. “And I missed that.”

  “You two coming, or are you just going to mount her right here?” Sinbad asked. We turned t
o face him, neither of us feeling a bit of guilt. He wore his usual, a black jacket and a motorcycle t-shirt with jeans and black boots. His white hair and flaring moustache were as thick as ever, if anything, he’d let his hair grow a little.

  “Who says he was going to mount me?” Shade said with a wink as we caught up to him.

  “Personally, I don’t care,” Sinbad said with an amused sounding grunt. “You can go at it any way you want, but we got business to take care of first.”

  “Hey, uh, not that I’m not thrilled to see you, babe, but where are my mom and sister?”

  “On Draeden’s jet, with Corwyn,” Sinbad answered. “Draeden wanted to come out and see how things were going.”

  “Damn it,” I said. “He’s going to think I owe him now.”

  “It can wait,” Shade said as her nostrils flared. “I think our business just came to us.” Her eyes darted left and right, and I saw the two large men heading our way. Both had amber eyes, and I could see the more pronounced canines as their lips peeled back. Around us, people were scattering. A woman emerged from the thinning crowd to my right, her yellowed eyes on me.

  “Don’t let them see submission,” Sinbad said softly. “Remember, pup, it’s all about display with us. But you show ‘em you mean business, boy. They can take it.”

  I nodded and stepped forward, palming my wand as I did. Off to one side, I could see one reach a hand forward to grab Sinbad. He slapped it away and his left hand flashed forward to punch him in the throat. Shade closed with hers, and I blinked to bring my aura sight into play.

  To most Weres, the average human is soft, squishy and good with ketchup. We don’t even make good chew toys, and we’re certainly not much of a threat. But add magick, and the whole equation changes. In my aura sight, I watched as the line of red extended toward me, the approaching Were’s intent broadcast by her aura. The split second her hand moved, I put my wand up and said “Obex!” Instantly, a telekinetic shield formed in front of me. Her fingers crumpled against it, and I dropped it in favor of my favorite use of the telekinesis spell.