A Different Kind of Witch

by Carol A. Robi

¨The prefect..¨ Sophie began. “She has the key.”

  ¨Yes, Monica.¨

  ¨But how do we get it from her?¨

  ¨We steal it.¨

  Sophie rolled her eyes, though Boke couldn’t see them. Of course they’d have to steal the key. They couldn’t just walk up to the head girl and ask for her set of keys kindly.

  ¨But how?¨ Sophie asked instead.

  ¨I don’t know,¨ Boke confessed, sounding so young and lost that it pierced at Sophie’s heart.

  ¨We could steal from Monica, when she is sleeping..¨ Sophie began before immediately adding, ¨I know. Werecats have very good senses. She would hear us and wake up.¨

  They settled into silence again, the cold from the chilled floor seeping through their matching thin pyjamas, and Sophie’s feet began going numb. She shuffled a little to get her blood flowing again.

  ¨Not if we drug her,¨ Boke said suddenly.

  Sophie was about to argue about where they’d find drugs, but then remembered how skillful the Witch in her company was.

  ¨Do you know how to make such a potion?¨

  ¨Yes,¨ Boke answered.

  No surprise there, Sophie thought to herself. ¨It'd have to be completely odourless and tasteless..¨ Sophie said, stopping when she realised that Boke was nodding.

  ¨Of course. Werecats have beastly senses,¨ Boke said.

  ¨We also have to ensure perfect timing. She needs to be drugged right before she goes to sleep or in the privacy of her room, as a passed out head prefect would generate too much attention.¨

  ¨I know, and that is the difficult part in our plan.¨

  Sophie wanted to remind her how many difficult parts there were in their plan. Revealing a hidden room that required special magic sounded pretty difficult, considering Boke had been unable to break through a door because of some engravings in an ancient language.

  ¨I think I have an idea,¨ Sophie finally said. ¨You just brew the potion, and get it to me.¨

  ¨Alright..?¨

  ¨I need to know though how long it’ll take for the head girl to be knocked unconscious after drinking the potion.¨

  ¨How long would be good for you?¨ Boke asked.

  “Nice, a drug tailored to my personal preferences! At least one hour would be good, I think.¨

  ¨I’ll make the potion,¨ Boke confirmed.

  Chapter 15

  ¨Lola, can the other Werecats hear us at this distance?¨ Sophie asked. Lola looked back at her curiously for a moment, a slight twitch of amusement playing at the corner of her mouth.

  ¨Yes they can, even the Avalons, if they want to or concentrate hard enough. But wait until we round the next corner. The wind will be to our benefit there.¨

  Sophie nodded, as much as she could, considering her chest was rasping for air.

  It was P.E. and lovely Ms. Myra had decided that a few laps would do Sophie and Lola some good, and remind them to stop talking while she was giving instructions.

  ¨Now we can talk,¨ Lola said, slowing down her pace. She was already running much slower than she was comfortable with for Sophie’s sake, however it was still almost too fast for Sophie, especially after having done 800m already.

  ¨I need your help,¨ Sophie began. ¨I've decided to help someone with breaking into the admin corridor, but she needs Monica's keys to do so.¨

  ¨You can't be serious, Sophie! The head prefect?¨ Lola asked. For the first time since they’d met, Lola sounded almost scared.

  ¨I know it is a great favour to ask, but I have a plan. A good one, probably with no consequences, should it go well.¨

  ¨That does not sound too reassuring,¨ the she-puma argued, slowing down to almost a walking pace.

  ¨Where's your sense of adventure?¨ Sophie taunted.

  ¨Right beside my common sense, thank you!¨ Lola answered reproachfully. ¨What exactly do you want me to do?¨

  ¨She is your housemate. Chances of you meeting her and talking with her freely are higher than mine. I want you to introduce us. Tell her there is someone in your class interested in becoming a head-girl in the future, and that she wants to know what to do and how to carry herself.¨

  Lola chuckled. ¨This plan is even worse than I previously imagined!¨

  ¨It’ll work- listen! On an evening, ask her to meet me for a cup of tea or whatever. I plan on spiking her drink, and when she goes to sleep you could go to her room and steal her keys and give them to me. I’ll bring them back before she wakes up...¨

  ¨That's the worst plan I ever heard, Sophie! You can’t drug a Werecat. We can smell and taste every-¨

  ¨I know, super senses and all. But this is a very good potion-¨

  ¨How would you know how undetectable it is? You are just a Faery!¨ Sophie let the unintended insult in that statement pass. She was just a Faery after all.

  ¨You could try it, if you want. Tonight.¨ This seemed to reassure her.

  ¨Ok, but I have a suggestion for an alternate plan. Monica is in the music club, and she practices the piano every night between 8 and 9. How about I ask her if it's ok for you to meet her in her practice room. I could ask her to let me bring some tea. I’ll spike it, but only if I think it undetectable. I then stay with her to avoid someone coming in and finding her unconscious, while you and your mysterious friend run about your business. How long will she be knocked out?¨

  ¨I think the potion was made to knock her out for a whole night, but I could ask Bo.. her if it is possible to get one that will last for an hour.¨

  ¨You do that,¨ Lola said, pretending not to have caught her slip up.

  Sophie managed to catch Boke's eye on the way back to the school building, and hoped the Witch’s good intuition would alert her that Sophie needed to talk.

  It worked. Boke stopped, crouching down to tie her laces.

  Sophie was a little confused on what she ought to do, and instead continued walking with the rest of her classmates. But as they emerged from the woods separating the school and the sport fields, she decided it was safe to break away from the rest without too much suspicion.

  ¨Guys, I forgot something by the bleachers. I have to go back. Catch up with you later-¨

  ¨Wait,¨ Keira said jogging after her.

  Sophie was forced to stop and turn around.

  ¨I’ll come with you. What did you forget?¨

  Sophie unfolded her fist inside her pocket, depositing her key in it before turning fully to face her.

  ¨My key,¨ she answered, smiling reassuringly. ¨Go on, I’ll catch up with you.¨

  ¨Don't be silly, of course I’ll walk back with-¨

  ¨Keira, won't you show me how to use the printers in the library first? I really need to get that assignment printed and ready before I settle into the weekend mood,¨ Lola said right then.

  Sophie sent her a grateful look secretly.

  ¨Ummh..¨ Keira began, obviously torn on what to do.

  She is just the sweetest person ever! Sophie thought to herself impatiently.

  ¨Ok, Lola. Aimi couldn't you walk back with Sophie-¨

  ¨No don't be silly, Aimi. I’ll be back in a jiffy!¨ Sophie called over her shoulder, rushing away before anyone else could volunteer to escort her.

  Sophie found Boke exactly where she’d left her, and they both rushed to hide behind the bleachers, the sportshall blocking them from view of anyone coming down that path.

  ¨You needed to talk to me,¨ Boke stated in her uncanny manner.

  It still freaked Sophie out how she just seemed to know things.

  ¨Yes I did. I do. I need a different brew,¨ Sophie told her. ¨Lola will help me, but she wants to taste the sleeping potion herself, and also- she came up with an alternate plan that could be more effective.¨

  ¨What kind of potion do you need?¨ Boke asked directly, clearly trusting Sophie enough not to bother with the details of the new plans.

  That blind trust in her capabilities pleased Sophie, though it also put her under more pressure to carry out her part of the brea
k in flawlessly.

  ¨One with immediate effect, and to last an hour.¨

  Boke was quiet for a moment.

  ¨Ok,¨ she finally said slowly.

  ¨It means though that we only have one hour to break in and out. I doubt we’ll get another opportunity,¨ Sophie continued.

  ¨At what time are we breaking in?¨ Boke asked.

  Sophie frowned. Yet another hurdle.

  ¨Between 8 and 9pm,¨ Sophie answered.

  Now it was Boke’s turn to frown.

  ¨I know, not a very good time. There’ll be lots of people about.¨

  ¨It'll have to do,¨ Boke said quietly. ¨Maybe I could look into a .. What is the word?.. Like a cover.. Oh yes, a cloaking spell.¨

  ¨Can you make a cloaking spell?¨ Sophie asked impressed.

  ¨Yes,¨ was the short answer Sophie got. ¨But only if I must. I’d rather not, as you’d have to cast the cloaking spell on yourself too, and..¨

  “And?” Sophie asked.

  “Have you ever performed any spell?”

  Fair enough, Sophie thought to herself.

  ¨But.. say I successfully do the spell-” Sophie had doubts too on her capabilities. “Will we be completely invisible?¨

  ¨Yes, to the eye. But our scents.. and we can be heard.¨

  ¨That’s alright,¨ Sophie told her. ¨We just have to be very quick and as quiet as we can.¨

  ¨And- I cannot cloak an opening door.¨

  “Why can't anything just be easy?” Sophie complained to no one in particular.

  ¨Maybe it's better I go alone, just incase I get caught. I don't want to get you in more trouble than necessary...¨

  ¨Nonsense!¨ Sophie cut in. ¨I want to go in. I am not scared of a little detention. And anyway, we’ve agreed that we’ll have to be as fast and as quiet as we can.¨

  ¨Thank you again, Sophie,¨ Boke said quietly. ¨I’ll get you the potion before dinner time. I could place it under our favourite statue.¨ Sophie chuckled at this.

  Had Boke just made a joke!

  Sophie found Lola on her second helping already when she finally set her tray of food down. After sitting, she wrapped her hand around the first vial of sleeping potion Boke had made in her pocket, and slipped it quietly into Lola's blazer pocket. She wasn’t worried about Lola being unsatisfied with the vial's contents though, for Sophie had come to trust Boke in her abilities at her craft.

  Just as Boke said, the second potion filled vial was waiting for Sophie behind Mr. Andersen after dinner. Sophie quickly grabbed it, then went off in search of her roommates.

  The next morning found Sophie still playing spy. Lola cut in line behind her, and while telling her something about the beautiful sunrise that morning, something Sophie found instantly suspect as Lola didn’t strike her as one to muse over sunrises, Sophie felt her slip something into her blazer’s pocket.

  Sophie waited until she was back in her dorm apartment, and as Keira was in the bathroom, she took out Lola’s note.

  Works like a charm! We are on tonight.

  Sophie now had to find a way to give Lola the new potion, and alert Boke that the plan was set for tonight.

  Being a Saturday, there was no telling where the two girls could be, and she wasn’t about to start asking around, in case it arose suspicion.

  They next met at lunch time, and by then Sophie was nearly mad with nerves and apprehension. She had a note ready for Boke, but now didn’t know how to deliver it to her, especially with Markus sitting between them. Sophie regretted that first night when she switched their places.

  Boke saved her the trouble, for while Sophie was standing in line with her tray, she felt something flutter in her blazer. She immediately panicked that someone had touched her vial or taken her notes as a prank, but looking behind her, the seniors there could be least interested in her business.

  She stuck her hand in the suspect blazer, but inside it was a third note. How was that possible?

  She couldn’t contain her curiosity, and as soon as she sat down, she pulled up the note from her pocket, and keeping her hand under the table, she read it

  Nod if it is tonight, then I’ll wait for you from 8pm behind our favourite statue. Come with the key.

  Sophie waited until she was almost at the table before nodding in her direction. Markus arrived right then and nodded back. Boke hid a smile, and that was confirmation enough that she’d gotten Sophie’s message.

  When Lola arrived at the table with her tray, Sophie slipped the second vial from Boke into her blazer’s pocket as they ate. Then she smiled. All this clandestine work was quite exciting. Maybe she should look forward to a future as a spy!

  The day could not have crawled any slower. Sophie was so tense that even Keira noticed, and suggested a couple of times that should drink one of the herbal teas her mother had packed for her. But Sophie refused and thanked her. She knew of those teas. Her mother had made them for her over the years- sweet, soothing, and also very relaxing. Too relaxing, that once Sophie spilt the secret that it was she that had broken into Ms. Sherwood’s office and let free a box full of spiders in her office as a prank.

  Her mother’s teas always managed to relax someone so much, that one felt as though they could trust everyone around them, and that nothing they do or have previously done before had any consequences. Now that she knew Keira's mom and her mom were sisters, their relaxing teas could very well be made of the same ingredients. And the last thing Sophie wanted was to spill Boke's secret.

  She manage to calm herself by playing tennis with Klaus that afternoon. Klaus was a good opponent, and soon all Sophie could think about was the ball heading her way.

  And so she was very surprised to hear the dinner warning bell. Had three hours just flown by so fast?

  ¨You are a good opponent, Sophie, and a good loser,¨ Klaus mocked as they jogged back to the main building.

  “Shut up,” she said, playfully shoving him away. She was grateful to Klaus, the game had helped, for she now felt more at ease, and even managed to be chatty over dinner.

  Lola seemed just as relaxed, and Boke too appeared as calm as she normally was.

  ¨Guys, I wanted to invite the whole class to hang out tonight,¨ Markus started suddenly.

  Oh no!

  ¨That's a great idea!” Aimi exclaimed excitedly.

  ¨Yeah! Do you think the mixed com has been booked?¨ Ali asked, another Werecat boy in their class.

  ¨It’s always booked on Saturdays. How about we just meet at the lobby?¨

  ¨No!¨ Sophie exclaimed almost too hurriedly at the boy beside me. ¨How about our homeroom? We’ll have more privacy there?¨ She suggested more calmly.

  Markus made a face.

  ¨I'd hate to go to class on the weekend too, but Sophie is right. The homeroom is more private,¨ Lola said, expertly weighing in when Sophie needed it. Again.

  ¨Yeah, I think the homeroom is a good idea too,¨ Klaus put in. ¨I am so tired of hearing the word newbie, and that is what they’ll keep calling us, should we choose to hang out at the open lobby.¨ At this statement, everyone was convinced. They all hated being called newbies.

  ¨Who’s coming, by show of hands?¨ Markus asked.

  Sophie debated on whether to raise her hand or not, but finally decided that she’d get fewer questions if she just raised it.

  ¨I have to Skype home at eight though,¨ she lied.

  ¨I was thinking of taking another run at about seven thirty or eight. I’ll be there soon after though,¨ Lola lied too, sounding very convincing.

  ¨I could come with you,¨ another Werecat boy spoke up.

  “I’d rather you didn’t, Liu. You can’t keep up with me!” Lola turned him down blandly, not even seeming apologetic.

  Boke was the only one that didn’t put her hand up, but no one seemed to notice but the boy sitting beside her.

  ¨You should come too,¨ Markus suggested so quietly, that only those paying attention, and Avalons and Werecats of course, could hear him- if they cho
ose to listen, which they did not.

  Boke shook her head in answer.

  ¨Why not? You are part of the class,¨ the young Avalon argued silently.

  ¨I have other things to do,¨ was all Boke said, before rising from the table with her empty plate and walking away.

  Chapter 16

  It took her all to maintain a mantra of calmness after dinner. Sophie grabbed a long soothing shower, singing at the top of her voice along to a sensational British boy band that she was currently obsessed with, so as not to give her mind a moment’s rest to obsess about tonight.

  She slipped out of her dorm apartment at ten minutes to eight.

  ¨I’m off to the computer lab, see you at the class party,¨ she called with a wave. ¨I have to skype my parents, and it might take a while. I’ll be there as soon as I can.¨

  Sophie counted backwards from 1000 as she left her dorm apartment, concentrating hard enough so as not to let her mind wonder and speculate on all things that could go wrong that night.

  Fear was her enemy in this school filled with predatory beings blessed with superhuman senses. And as fear came from her mind, she figured the busier her mind was, the less likely she was to go into a panic, and the more regular her heartbeat would remain, meaning the less attention she’d attract from all Werecats and Avalons in this building- matrons, guards or students. Any sort of attention tonight would be a nuisance.

  ¨Eight hundred and fifty nine..¨

  Someone grabbed her arm suddenly. Sophie would have screamed right then if Lola hadn’t clamped her hand hard over Sophie’s mouth and nose, making it impossible for her to scream, or breathe.

  Lola didn’t say anything, only pressed a set of heavy keys onto Sophie’s palm, and then took off again.

  That hadn’t gone according to plan, but she wasn’t going to complain when she had in her hands Monica’s set of keys. Lola was supposed to have met Sophie in the music hallway and given her the keys, not out here where anyone could have witnessed it. But when Sophie looked around, she realised that the few students about were all occupied with something or other, not paying her any thought.

  Move, or attract attention, she told herself, and then her feet began obeying her command. She forced herself into a normal walking pace down the large hallways and back to the main stairway.