The Coven's Secret

by Alicia Rades

  I gaped at her as I tore a wad of paper towel from the roll. "Because he's a jackass, Mom."

  Before I could blink, my mother huffed and snatched the paper towel from my hand. She looked as if she might slap me, though I knew she'd never lay a hand on me.

  "How dare you!?" she snapped, catching me off guard. "How dare you talk about your father like that. You know he can't control it."

  My breath grew hot. How could she keep telling herself that after all this time?

  "Of course he can, Mom," I shot back at her. "He tells you that so you'll excuse his behavior."

  "I do not excuse it," she argued.

  I sighed. Mom hadn't changed at all these past few months. She was still in denial, and no matter how much I tried to tell her otherwise or how much space I gave her, there was nothing I could do. I guess I thought that I could change her mind somehow. It was just another person's burden I carried. She was so deep in denial she didn't even know the burden was there.

  I took a deep breath and placed my hand on Mom's shoulder to get her to look at me. She sniffled and glanced up. "Mom… you know I'll always be here for you, right?"

  The crease between her eyebrows deepened. "No, Lucas, I don't. I haven't seen you in months, and then you show up here out of the blue just to insult your father? I don't want to hear it."

  I froze in place. My own mother didn't want me around? She preferred my sorry excuse of a dad to me? Tears brimmed Mom's eyes, and she placed a hand over her mouth so I wouldn't hear her sobs.

  "Hey, Mom," I said softly, reaching out for her.

  She shrugged me off. "It's just so hard to see you here, Lucas," she admitted. "I've already come to terms with the fact that my son is dead."

  My guts twisted. "I know, Mom. We've all dealt with Eric's death in different ways."

  Mom shook her head and placed her hand on the side of my face. "Not Eric, Lucas. You. The night we lost Eric, it was like... like we lost you, too."

  Every muscle in my body tensed. Her words were like a knife through my heart. Maybe I hadn't been lying to myself all this time.

  Maybe it was true that no one wanted me around anymore.

  Chapter 14

  Nadine

  Lucas Taylor was a jerk.

  I couldn't believe I fell for him. And yet, at the same time... I couldn't stop thinking about him. I flipped between the two moods so quickly it could give me whiplash.

  No, no. He's definitely a jerk.

  I tried to put him out of my mind in Demonology the following week.

  "Today, we move into our unit on demon deals," Professor Daniels announced. She was a middle-aged woman, with flowing brown hair and a beautiful Bengal cat that lounged on her desk during every lesson. "Before we begin, let me lead off with a warning. The one and only reason we cover this unit is to warn you of the dangers of making deals with demons. I will not be teaching you how to summon a demon, and I strongly advise you never do so. The consequences can be... dire."

  A shiver ran down my spine. Though I'd never seen a demon before, my mind brought up horrible images of creepy, black-eyed men—the spirits of those who followed evil gods. In my head, they were followed by demonic monsters. Professor Daniels had shown us drawings of some of the monsters, and I hoped to never encounter one in my life. They were terrible creatures created by the gods or mutated from magical creatures. There were canines that were nothing more than skin and bones, creatures with the skull of a deer for a head, and three-headed lions with black manes and golden eyes. She didn't have to tell me twice. I wouldn't be caught dead summoning one of those things.

  "As we all know, our history is rooted in the summoning of demons," Professor Daniels continued. "With demon blood in our ancestry, it is easier for Miriamic people to summon demons than it is to summon other spirits, as the demons are more willing to show up. That said, demons only appear when they can strike a deal that will benefit them."

  Someone spoke up from behind me, though I didn't see who. "But what about Santos? He helped Mother Miriam, even though there was nothing in it for him."

  Professor Daniels cocked an eyebrow. "Is that something you'd wish to risk? Demon deals always come with a price."

  I raised my hand. I was too curious not to get in the middle of the discussion. "What kind of price? Can you give an example?"

  Chloe shot me a scowl from across the room. What? I wasn't allowed to talk now? I ignored her.

  Professor Daniels hesitated, then cleared her throat. "An extreme example might be making a deal for more magic. This kind of deal would require..."

  She hesitated and got a faraway look in her eye. "Well, it'd require a soul."

  My muscles tensed. There was something deep and dark in her tone that suggested such a thing was worse than giving up your own soul. Almost like... like you'd have to kill to make the deal.

  Who could do such a vile thing like that?

  Headmistress Verla called me into her office that afternoon. She stood from her desk and straightened her blazer when I walked in. Odin purred from his spot on her desk. “Nadine, I’m so glad we finally get to prepare for your Evoking Ceremony. Have a seat.”

  She gestured to a chair across from her. My hands shook as I sat. I shouldn’t have been so nervous, but I was. My Evoking Ceremony would determine my magic and where I fit in within the coven. I couldn’t mess this up.

  Headmistress Verla rounded her desk and leaned against the corner, placing her hands in her lap. “I’m sorry we had to cancel our previous lesson. How are things going here at school?”

  I relaxed a little as she spoke in a casual tone. “They’re fine. My history class is a lot to take in, but I’m really enjoying all the others.”

  The corners of her lips turned into a frown. “Is that something I can help with? I could set you up with a tutor.”

  “No,” I said quickly, though I appreciated the kind gesture.

  “Let’s get started then.” She returned to her seat behind her desk and stroked Odin’s fur. He closed his eyes and swished his tail, enjoying the gentle massage. “Let’s begin with any questions you have. It’ll help me get a feel for what we need to cover.”

  Headmistress Verla spoke to me like I was her equal. I should’ve felt better about it, but it put me on edge. Did I perhaps remind her too much of my mother?

  I didn’t want to think about my mom, so I pushed the thought out of my mind.

  “What exactly happens during an Evoking Ceremony?” I asked.

  Headmistress Verla gave a bright smile, like she was happy to answer the question. “It’s quite simple, really. You’ll lie on the ground in a circle of five candles—one to represent each of the Casts. Another witch will perform the ceremony by repeating an incantation.”

  “Who will that be?” I asked. “You?”

  She gave a slight nod. “If you want it to be, but you can ask anyone you choose, as long as they’ve already been through their ceremony. Your grandmother, for instance, would be a perfect example.”

  I let out a deep breath. I’d really like for Grammy to be there with me. “Can other people be there, or just the one witch?”

  “You can invite anyone,” she answered. “Some witches throw huge parties for their ceremonies, while others prefer to keep it strictly to family and friends.”

  I was already forming a list in my mind of who I wanted to be there, but the list pretty much stopped at Grammy, Talia, and Grant. Lucas’s face flashed through my mind for a second, then I remembered that I was mad at him.

  I shifted in my chair. “What happens after the incantation is spoken?”

  “You will fall into a trance,” Verla explained. “This trance is so deep you won’t even realize you’re in it.”

  “Then how can I prepare?” I balked. Nerves ignited deep within my belly. How could I pass the test if I didn’t know I was being tested?

  Verla held up a hand to calm me down. “Not to fear, Nadine. If your heart is in the right place, you will pass.”

>   I swallowed. What if my heart wasn’t in the right place? I didn’t even know what that meant.

  “What if…?” I trailed off. I had so many questions I didn’t even know which one to start with. Verla raised a curious eyebrow, and I knotted my hands in my lap. “What if I decide not to do it?”

  Verla frowned. “Why wouldn’t you go through with your Evoking Ceremony, Nadine?”

  Because I’m scared. I don’t want to fail. I can’t let Grammy down.

  Instead, I just shrugged.

  “If you don’t go through with this, you won’t receive your powers,” Verla stated.

  “Is my birthday my only chance?” I asked.

  Verla pressed her lips together and nodded regrettably. “It’s the one and only night the veil lifts for you and allows you to contact Mother Miriam. Contacting her on any other night would be nigh on impossible.”

  A knot formed in my chest. Usually I wasn’t so afraid to take chances, but this was different. This was terrifying.

  Verla eyed me, and her features softened. “Nadine, what’s wrong? Perhaps I can ease some of your worry.”

  My eyes locked on her cat so I wouldn’t have to meet her gaze. I took a moment to breathe, then forced the confession out. “What if… what if I don’t have the power to be part of the coven?”

  Verla furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

  I forced down the lump in my throat as my anxiety reached the surface. “Well, I’m only half witch. My mom was a witch, and my dad was a human, right? So what if I don’t have enough power to pass Mother Miriam’s test?”

  Amusement crossed Verla’s features for a moment before settling into a sympathetic expression. “I assure you, Nadine, Mother Miriam doesn’t work that way. As long as you have her blood running through your veins, she will accept you as any other. When a witch has a child with a human, their children have the same potential as the parent. You can be just as strong of an Alchemist as your mother, Nadine.”

  “You think I’ll get Alchemy?” I asked.

  “It runs in your family,” she stated. “Mother Miriam almost always assigns families to the same Cast, as the coven is very family-oriented. In some instances, she may assign you a different Cast if she sees fit, but it’s quite rare.”

  “What about if the parents are from different Casts?” I questioned. “Can you end up in two?”

  Verla shook her head. “No. There’s never been a witch or warlock assigned to more than one Cast. Mother Miriam will pick the one that’s the best fit for you regardless.”

  “So, what do I have to do to become an Alchemist?” I asked.

  “I’d like to run you through a few scenarios,” Verla said. “Of course, we can’t predict what scenarios Mother Miriam will put you in, but we can—”

  Screeeech!

  My heart leapt into my throat as Odin jumped to his feet and let out a terrifying meow that sounded more like a scream. His back arched, and his hair stood on end. Verla gasped as Odin jumped off the desk and tore across the room like he was being chased. He ran around in circles, crying out like he was in pain. My stomach bottomed out as I watched the creature sprint from one end of the room to the other. A chill ran down my spine as he yowled.

  Before I could really process what was happening, Odin’s head slammed into the wall, and he slumped to the ground.

  “Good Goddess!” Verla cried. She leapt out of her chair and rushed over to Odin’s limp form. She cradled him in her arms.

  Meanwhile, I was still trying to process what had happened. It was like he’d been possessed or something.

  I cautiously stood and draped my bag over my shoulder. “Is he okay?”

  Headmistress Verla kept her head down, and she stroked Odin’s black fur. She shook him, but he didn’t move. “I—I have no idea what happened.”

  She lifted her gaze to mine, and her features were so heartbreaking it made me want to cry. “I’m sorry, Nadine, but I’ve got to get Odin to the infirmary. We’ll have to reschedule again.”

  “Don’t apologize,” I said, my heart still hammering. “Go take care of your cat!”

  Headmistress Verla hurried out of the room with Odin cradled in her arms. I slumped out of the office behind her, thinking how strange and out of the blue that all was.

  And then it hit me. Maybe it wasn’t so random after all.

  Curling my hands into fists, I headed down the hall in the opposite direction that Headmistress Verla had gone. When I passed by the Lounge, I spotted the Lucky Three inside. They were sitting in the coveted chairs around the biggest TV. Chloe had her feet up on the coffee table and was inspecting her nails.

  “It’s been two weeks since my last manicure,” she complained. “I totally need a new one.”

  “Let me see,” Camille offered, holding out her hand.

  My nostrils flared as I stomped into the Lounge toward them. “It was you, wasn’t it?” I growled.

  Chloe turned from Camille and looked up at me with utter disgust. “What are you going on about?”

  A few people in a nearby seating area looked our way, but I didn’t care.

  I crossed my arms. “What was it this time? Some poison slipped into Odin’s food bowl this morning? A curse one of your friends cast on him?”

  Chloe rolled her eyes and stood so that she was a mere step away from me. “I seriously don’t know what you mean.”

  I narrowed my gaze at her. “I know you had help. You don’t have magic of your own yet.”

  Chloe faked a frown and spoke in a mocking tone. “Oh, dear. Didn’t you know I don’t need magic to get my way?”

  “Screw you,” I growled. I wanted to rip her hair out, but with two other girls behind her, I didn’t think it’d get me anywhere. “You can mess with me all you want, but you don’t get to touch other people—or their cats.”

  Chloe chuckled, but her laughter instantly died as she stepped forward. She was so close that our noses almost touched. “You don’t make the rules.”

  “Oh yeah?” I growled. “We’ll see about that.”

  I turned on my heel and stomped away from her, fuming.

  Chloe’s laughter echoed through the room. “You can’t touch me, Nadine. But have fun trying.”

  Oh, bitch. I will.

  I didn’t really know where I was going, until I passed through the Main Foyer and saw Talia. She clutched her books tightly to her chest with one hand. She held the other out in the direction of a very tall, very handsome warlock. He must’ve been a senior, but she looked up at him with dreamy eyes like he was a god. He had dark hair that fell into his eyes and a strong jawline. He traced his finger over her hand as she giggled.

  “And this line here means you’ve got a hot date coming up,” he teased. “On Friday night. With me.”

  Talia snickered. “Well, the palm doesn’t lie. I guess I can’t say no.”

  I furrowed my brow as I approached. “What’s going on?”

  Talia finally tore her gaze from the guy. “Oh, Nadine. This is Cody. He was just…”

  “I was just enjoying Talia’s company,” he said slowly, deliberately. He didn’t take his eyes off her when he spoke. She practically drooled.

  “That’s great, but I kind of need you right now, Tal,” I said.

  Talia’s face fell when she noticed my tight expression. “Yeah, sure. I’ll see you later, Cody.”

  “See you.” He winked at her and walked away.

  Talia turned to me. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong with me?” I balked. “Who is that guy? What about Grant?”

  Talia shrugged. “I can’t wait around for him forever. Cody asked me out, and I said yes.”

  I frowned. That was too bad. I was rooting for her and Grant.

  “Never mind that,” she said. “What’s up with you?”

  “Chloe,” I scoffed, like that explained everything. I looped my arm through hers. “We need to gather the girls. It’s time to raise some hell.”

  “Are you sure this
is safe, Amy?” Mandy asked as the four of us gathered around a cauldron in one of the Alchemy labs.

  “Totally,” Amy assured us. She pulled her dark hair into a ponytail. “Though that depends on your definition of safe.”

  Mandy was sitting on one of the tables, swinging her feet beneath her and tapping the table top with her long, manicured fingernails. She blew a bubble with her gum, and the pop sounded throughout the empty room. “What’s your definition?”

  Amy chewed her lower lip. “Well, it’s not going to hurt Chloe, but it will give her some serious nightmares.”

  I picking up various ingredients Amy had signed out from the supply closet and began reading their labels. My guts twisted as I thought about what we were going to do to her. I mean, Chloe deserved it, but was it worth it to stoop to her level? She’d done the same thing when she asked Amy to help her brew a revenge potion.

  My hesitation passed quickly, as I reminded myself that getting back at Chloe was the only way to stop her from sabotaging my lessons. If I didn’t ruin this bitch, I wasn’t going to make it through my Evoking Ceremony.

  “How does it work?” I asked.

  “Once it’s brewed, we’ll sprinkle the potion in front of her dorm room door,” Amy explained. “When she crosses the line, it will trigger night terrors.”

  Talia rubbed her hands together and smiled mischievously. “How long does this stuff last?”

  Amy pressed her lips together in thought. “A few weeks, maybe?”

  “Perfect,” I said. “Let’s make it real potent. I want to scare her panties off.”

  “Ew. No,” Mandy joked. “Let’s keep those on. I’ve heard horror stories from Ryan.”

  Talia chuckled. “Do you think this is good enough payback? Or should we like, make her hair fall out?”

  “In patches,” I added.

  “Or boils,” Mandy teased. “She could cover up the bald spots with a wig. Let’s give her something she can’t hide.”