by A. J. Macey
“Um, Angel? This is where Professor Callahan takes you? Why are we going into the woods?” His voice was still light, but he sounded confused.
“You’ll see,” I sang, pulling him along behind me. I remembered Tor mentioning not a lot of people used the cave, so I was hoping it would be a surprise for Drayce. We finished the walk in silence, the warm glow of the setting sun illuminating our path and giving the forest an extra vibe of peacefulness. It took me a moment to spot the entrance. Drayce gave a noise of surprise when I tugged him inside.
It was just as breathtaking as it was the first time I saw it if not more so. The setting sun reflected down into the room, giving the crystal light an even more vibrant hue. I turned toward Drayce, smiling to myself as he twirled in a circle, taking in all the sights.
“It’s amazing! I can feel the power. No wonder he brought you here. If you had latent powers, it would definitely bring them out!” he exclaimed, his hazel eyes dancing with his enthusiasm.
“I was completely mesmerized when I saw it for the first time,” I told him, eyeing the space once more, feeling like I was witnessing it for the first time all over again.
Drayce turned back to me, holding his hands out as he spoke. “I know you’re a Mixta, but I also know you feel the power coursing through this place. That power is inside of you too. It’s not just in those with affinities. This is why he brought you here—to bring that out.”
“I do feel it, but that doesn’t mean I can start summoning dragons or anything,” I teased, knowing what he was saying was true to some extent but still feeling shy about acknowledging it. I felt that building swell within my chest as he talked, knowing it was power and not just in my head.
“Don’t be cheeky, come here,” he ordered, holding both of his hands out for mine. The sparks that usually danced between us were practically fireworks at this point, and my eyes widened at the intense feeling.
“Do you feel that?” I asked, knowing very well he couldn’t miss it. “Is that your magic or this place?”
“I told you, my stubborn girl, that’s your magic too. Let it fill you to the point, you feel it in your bones all the way to your very soul. Believe in it, Angel, and use it,” he ordered, his eyes full of determination that fueled my own.
Without a real plan in place, I closed my eyes and let the new power course through me. It took a moment before I was actually able to handle the sensation, but when I did, it made me feel like anything was possible, that I was actually able to do it. So, I unleashed all the power that had built, pushing it out around me, letting it have a mind of its own. When the power inside of me had settled, I opened my eyes. The hazel irises that stared at me were filled with a spark of awe at what I’d accomplished.
“I told you, you could do it, Angel,” he murmured, leaning forward and pressing his lips lightly to mine. The kiss was short and sweet, but I felt the passion behind it.
Finally taking a moment to look around, I looked at what I had done. A thin veil of glittering shadows hung in the air while a slight mist of water was falling, giving the lights even more surfaces to dance off until the room took on an even more magical appearance. A soft bed of grass had sprouted at our feet, giving us a cushion for the crystal and stone floor. Apparently, I had activated all my new powers at once.
“Oh, my broomsticks,” I breathed out, looking back at him in shock, a surprised giggle bubbling out of me. “I fucking did it.”
“Yes, you did,” he agreed. This time when our eyes met, it was a look of mutual pride and understanding, knowing we each had power, even though I was a Mixta, and he was one of the major five. It just took the encouragement of someone who cared to bring it out of me. I couldn’t have taken my gaze from his if I tried. We were locked into the familiar feeling, the pull ramping up until it was overwhelming.
Drayce was the first to make a move, stepping forward and grabbing me around the waist, then spinning me around so my tutu flared around me and happy laughter filled the room. A moment later, his excitement died down, and a startled noise escaped him as he looked down. Confused, I looked down only to see we were floating a good four feet off the ground, too occupied with each other to notice it. This time, it was my turn to lose my cool, a girlish scream escaping me as I dove into his arms.
I told him I wanted to fly, but fuck this, I want my feet firmly on the ground.
“Is this what I think it is?” he questioned, holding me tightly.
Worry wormed its way into my chest after how Kye had responded, so staring directly at his Henley, I nodded slightly, unable to speak.
“So, you’re mine now, too?”
“Uh, yes…” I hedged, my anxiety making my voice come out in a squeak.
“That’s pretty cool,” he added, tilting his head to catch my eye. When I finally looked at him, his eyes were twinkling, and he was smiling. “Who else is part of our gang? Caspian and Torryn?”
“And Kye,” I murmured, but Drayce surprised me yet again and just nodded.
“Cool,” he stated simply. His voice was soft and didn’t hold anger or irritation, seemingly unfazed by the magnitude of the fact we were now connected for life.
His laid-back attitude slowly eased my panic, helping me enjoy the moment, making that physical urge flare, and I found myself leaning into him.
“Angel?” he asked softly as I pressed my forehead against his jaw.
“Yeah?” My voice was breathy, need slowly building the longer I felt his heated, sepia skin pressing against mine.
“I want you right now, and I know you’re feeling the same pull I am, but I want our first time to be when you want it, not the magic.”
I felt my heart clench, not from pain or rejection but from warmth and feeling cared for. Our feet slowly hit the floor as the moment deflated slightly, the pull still there, but the need slowing down a fraction.
“I understand,” I agreed, not wanting him to feel guilty for saying no. I respected that he chose to wait.
“I don’t want us to feel pressured to do something we aren’t ready for, and I’m not sure if this pull will stop until we get further away from each other. I’m going to head back to the dorms, so we can both clear our minds a bit. Send me a plane when you get back to campus?” he asked, looking vulnerable for the first time since I’d met him.
“Of course,” I nodded, shooing him away with a smile. He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. The passion was still strong behind it, but he pulled away far too soon. Before I could even open my eyes, he was gone, his footsteps echoing behind him. I lowered myself to the ground for a moment, giving him a head start and myself a moment to calm down.
Being in the cave alone brought my thoughts to Torryn. He’d been quiet since the hex, not quite his usual confident self. I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the miniscule disheveledness to him. Clearly, the effects were still an issue. Deciding it had been long enough, and my own worries were not as important, I gathered my bag and hurried off to find him. It’s time for us to talk about everything, face-to-face.
Once I got out of the cave, I hesitated. I had no clue where his room was, but if the energy levels he’d had during history class today were any indication, he had likely passed out in his office shortly after. Now that I had a destination, I hurried toward campus and through the building to his office.
Not bothering to knock, I turned the knob on his office door and slowly pushed it open. My suspicions were right. He was sprawled out on his couch, soft snores coming from his direction. With a soft chuckle, I walked over, sinking onto the sliver of couch that was free, running my hand gently over his cheek.
“Handsome, you with me?” I said softly, trying not to startle him too much. His eyes popped open, his gaze darting around before settling on my face.
“Aris?” he asked, blinking his eyes a few times before pulling himself up to sit.
“You alright? I noticed how rough you looked earlier and wanted to check on you.”
“I’m getting ther
e. That hex wasn’t fun,” he mumbled, taking a deep, shaky breath. “I need a week’s worth of sleep and a stiff drink.”
“I can’t help you there, but if you need me to grab you some food or something, I can handle that.” His eyes widened at my words and darted to his desk. I followed his gaze to the brownie container still sitting there, only one bite taken. “Hey! They couldn’t have been that bad,” I pouted, and his lips finally quirked up into a smile.
“Can you just recap for me? I feel like my brain is all muddled. What happened?” he asked, serious again.
“Well, uh…” I trailed off, unsure how to tell him he had bonded to a student for… life. Now seemed like a good time for a drink, so I walked over to his bookshelf and poked around until I saw the brown bottle hiding behind a stack of books. Pulling it out, I uncorked it and took a swig, handing it over with a grimace.
“Just spit it out, it can’t be that bad,” he urged, but his face told me he was bracing for the worst.
“Well, we have no idea who hexed you since no gossip has spread or anything. You lost some of your inhibitions, it seemed and ended up in my room. I called for the other guys I knew would help, and they came over. We restrained you because you were being a bit… handsy.” His eyes widened at that, and he opened and closed his mouth like he couldn’t figure out what to say. “Then we, uh, bonded, which means, uh, you’restuckwithmeforlife,” I finished, rushing the words together, then snatching back the bottle for another swig of encouragement.
“Bonded?” he hedged like he couldn’t quite grasp the concept. I stood in front of him awkwardly, not sure what to do other than take another drink. He eyed me as I took a swig, snatching the bottle the moment I pulled it from my lips. “That’s enough for you.”
“Well?” I finally blurted out, wanting to face the freak-out now rather than later. “You’re stuck with me for life, so are you telling me how you feel about it, or are you going to make me wait because of those elemental powers? Yeah, that’s because of that bond. I somehow magically tied myself to another witch and boom, elemental powers.”
“So, Caspian and I are both tied to you?” he asked slowly. I could practically see the gears turning as he thought it over.
“And Drayce and Kye… and I’m assuming Xan if the magic that dances between us means anything like it did for all of you,” I said, gritting my teeth as everything kept pouring out of my mouth.
“What the fuck,” he mumbled, blinking his eyes rapidly as if it would make all of this go away.
I started pacing, unable to stay still in all this tension.
“I swear I didn’t ask for this crazy shit, but it seems to be following me. Am I being tested? Or punished for something? I can’t take this! I feel like everyone is just going to keep getting mad at me. How the hell am I going to handle being connected to all of them?” I hissed the statements under my breath, not meaning for him to overhear as I worked myself into a panic.
“Uh, Gorgeous? Why are you floating?” Torryn’s voice cut through the haze of panic overtaking me, and my eyes snapped down to the ground, which was further down than I anticipated.
“Gah! I hate heights,” I whined, stomping my foot down on the invisible cloud under me.
“Okay. First, come here,” he commanded firmly, standing up and coming over to me. He reached up and grabbed my waist, bringing me back to solid ground. With a hand on either side of my face, he forced me to still and look up at him.
“I’m not mad, I’ve felt it too. Panicked because you’re my student? Yes. Panicked about spending the rest of my life with someone as gorgeous, smart, and sassy as you? No. There was a reason we were all brought together, and until we figure that out, we have to figure out how to make this work. It will be fine,” he reassured me.
He looked down at me softly, moving toward me like he couldn’t believe I was here, in front of him. The moment didn’t last long before he smirked and pulled me to him, pressing his lips to mine. My worries melted away as his lips moved against mine, butterflies dancing in my stomach as he pulled me even closer. When he pulled away, he wavered slightly on his feet.
“No more of this, mister!” I chastised, guiding him back to the couch and settling him down on the fluffy cushions. He smiled softly at me as I spread the blanket over him and kissed his forehead. “You get some rest. I’m going to go grab some food and bring it back for you,” I promised, slipping from the room.
The halls were empty since dinner was long over, and everyone had moved out of the building. My footsteps echoed off the stone walls as I hurried down to the dining hall. An uneasy feeling settled over me, encouraging me to walk faster, my eyes darting from side-to-side.
The feeling only grew as I moved further through the halls until a soft peal of laughter broke the silence. My heart pounded in my chest as I stopped in my tracks, my head swiveling side-to-side as I searched for anything out of the ordinary. Shake it off, Aris, it’s probably nothing.
Shadows started to dance on the wall around me, panic swelling up as they grew, closing in on me. A door nearby opened as someone came into the building, their timing impeccable. The shadows hissed and receded as someone ran off down the opposite hall. What the hell?
“What are you doing, Mixta weirdo?” Esmerelda’s voice cut into my freak-out.
“Who just hangs out in the dark halls?” Tasha sneered, scoffing at the weird expression I was sure had taken over my face.
“Come on, I just want to grab my textbook from my locker. We have better things to do than hang out with this sorry excuse for a witch,” Amber bit out, pulling them with her, each one bumping me on the shoulder as they passed. I took it with a smile on my face, knowing they had saved me from something far worse than bullying.
I ran into the pantry at top speed, grabbing Torryn whatever I could stuff in my arms, along with an energy drink and water before running back through the halls. I burst into his classroom, slamming the door behind me when I came face-to-face with a cloaked figure. It had to be a student since its stature was just barely bigger than mine. The items in my hands dropped all at once, clattering to the floor. I tried to see who was under the shadow of the cloak while bringing my magic forward so I could defend myself if needed.
“Aris?” Torryn’s voice drifted out as his office door opened. The next moment, I was shoved aside as the figure hurried from the room, knocking me to the floor. Torryn rushed forward, but his energy was still depleted, making him pant before he even reached me.
“It’s alright, Tor. I’m fine,” I said wearily, gathering up the supplies I had dropped, urging him back to his office. I lined up the supplies on the desk before turning to him to see how he was.
“You’re staying here tonight,” he said firmly, directing me to the couch as he locked the door and started a fire. I kicked off my shoes, settling beside him when he joined me on the couch. I knew there would be an impending investigation tomorrow when he had enough energy to process what had happened, but for now, I tried to hide how freaked out I was.
Now if I can just shake off the creepy feeling hanging over me.
September 17th
Tuesday Morning
Aris
I felt refreshed the next morning as I changed. After getting up early enough to avoid prying eyes and leaving a still-sleeping Tor a note, I headed back to my room. The weather was a bit chilly this morning, the crisp Fall air blowing through the leaves that had started to change colors in the last few days, so when I got to my tower room and started changing, I decided to forgo my usual skirt in exchange for a pair of mint-colored skinny jeans and a black and white polka-dotted sweater. Thanks to the storm late last night, the ground was covered in puddles and mud, and while I knew I could keep myself dry, I didn’t want to risk getting my pink Converse dirty, so I put on a pair of boots, the tops folded outward, showing off the cute skull patterned fabric that lined the inside.
“Where did I put that?” I mumbled, shuffling through my bag in search for one of my noteboo
ks. It wasn’t one of any importance, just a list of random facts I wanted to remember for my classes just in case, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find it in my bag or room. “Did I leave it somewhere?” Groaning, I gave up, knowing it was probably lost forever now because it wasn’t anywhere I would have normally put it.
As I made my way to Mixta Basics, I ignored the stares I was getting from my fellow witches, their eyes falling on my bright pastel pants. Thankfully, I didn’t run into any of my bullies, and by the time I reached my desk, my mood had picked up even more, and I forgot about my misplaced notes. The teacher came into the room with an extravagant whoosh that made me want to roll my eyes. So dramatic.
“Alright, class,” she started cheerfully, her arms waving wildly as she talked. “Since it’s Tuesday, we will be working on our practical exercises to see if we’ve made any progress!”
I ground my teeth in irritation. The rest of my classes were awesome, and I was actually learning a lot of stuff, like how to brew very basic potions or how to take care of different types of animals. But this class? I wanted to scream every time I had it. Unfortunately, that was every day of the week, save for Wednesdays when I had my progress tests. We either went over some of the most basic information on Mixtas and powers or did our ‘practical work’ from our learning plan. Pssh, learning plan my cauldron. It was a shitty set of exercises that attempted to stuff us into one of the major five affinities even though it was impossible. There was nothing wrong with us just because we had powers that weren’t within society’s stupid classifications.
Not wanting to cause an issue, I spent the hour going through my exercises, taking care not to let any of my new elemental abilities show. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t want to show that I did, in fact, make progress, but something deep in my gut urged it would be a bad idea. Half of me also didn’t want to make it worse for the other Mixtas—like if I could do it, they could too. Wing of bat! The witches in charge don’t need any more reason to make us feel less than.
