My jaw unhinged when a familiar blue-grey feathered cloak barged into the chamber. Magical white light poured from the chancellor as she attacked brothers with her staff.
“Why does that woman work a desk job?” Dani asked in awe.
The chancellor was clearly a skilled fighter, dispatching brothers left and right with a few swift moves of her staff.
“Well, don’t stand there gaping, child,” she called to me. “The battles rages on.”
Chancellor Tilkin wasn’t the only newcomer to the scene. I spotted the cropped hair of Hector, the de facto leader of the brotherhood. He stood in front of Bryn with his back to us. I gasped when I realized that he was slicing Bryn’s arms with a dagger. I continued fighting, painfully aware that Bryn’s life was on the line. I had to get to her before it was too late. As determined as I was to fight with confidence and power, right now, there was another way to save my friend.
All this time I’d viewed my invisibility as a weakness, when I should have seen it for the weapon it truly was. While it wasn’t a blade that could cut or kill, I could choose when to be seen. When to be noticed.
One blast of wind knocked back two brothers and I quickly pulled the air around me to cloak myself. I maneuvered through the fighting bodies, careful to stay out of reach of weapons or magical lights. The brothers were oblivious to my presence. They were too intent on defending themselves. I deftly maneuvered around them to reach the stone wall. There was no sign of Hector.
“Bryn, are you awake?” I asked.
She stirred and opened her eyes. “Mia, is that you?”
Relief rolled over me. “Yes, and I’m going to get you down from here, but we have to hurry. Can you walk?”
“Hope so,” Bryn murmured.
“You should not have come here.” Hector’s voice startled me.
I jerked to the side to see Hector cupping a copper bowl in his hands. I shuffled aside, unsure whether he could see me. His eyes didn’t follow.
Hector set the bowl on a low table beneath Bryn’s arm. I noticed a second bowl under her left arm. He was using them to collect the blood. I kept my back against the wall and slid further away. I wanted to get behind him.
“You’re too late to save her,” Hector said. He still sensed my presence, although he couldn’t see me.
I remained silent and called to my magic. The energy rose within me, eager to be unleashed. I couldn’t use powerful winds in here, not without the risk of hurting my friends. I needed something more focused. Slowly, I began to pull the air from his lungs.
“What are you doing?” Hector gasped.
He tried to reach for his wand, but fell to his knees. The dagger he’d been using to cut Bryn clattered to the floor, disrupting my concentration. Both my spells broke. I swiped the dagger from the ground before he could move. As Hector sucked in air, I whipped out my wand and took aim.
“Conglacior,” I said.
Hector froze and I quickly used the dagger to cut Bryn free. She slid to the ground and slumped forward before drawing herself to an upright position.
“I’ll be okay,” she said. She glanced at her bloody arms. “He’s going to be sorry for that.”
Hector rose to his feet, a menacing glint in his eyes. “Did you really think a simple freeze spell could incapacitate me for more than a few seconds?”
A few seconds were all I needed. “Conglacior,” I said again, and Hector froze.
I reached for the copper bowl and, the moment he broke through my spell, I was poised for action. He opened his mouth to spew his superiority complex at us again and I tipped the contents of the bowl into his mouth.
“You’re such a big fan of Moldark’s blood, why don’t you try a taste?” I said.
I only managed to get a few drops past his lips, but that was enough.
Bryn smiled. “You’re mine now, Hector. We’re going to have the best time.”
Hector began spitting wildly.
“Remember that wheel of time, Hector?” I said. “I think it just stopped turning.”
Hector made a garbled sound and spit again.
Bryn inclined her head. “Stop spitting, please. You’re getting blood on my shoes.”
Hector stopped spitting. His eyes widened when he realized the gravity of the situation.
“I always wanted a puppet named Hector,” Bryn said.
I gave her a doubtful look. “No one in the history of time has ever said that.”
“Bryn!” Gray scooped her off the ground and twirled her around.
I surveyed the chamber and noticed that the fighting had subsided. “I don’t think there are enough handcuffs in the AMF to arrest all these brothers.”
Bryn shrugged, unconcerned. “We’ll figure something out.”
I let the wardens handle the organization of the brothers who’d survived the battle. Bryn used Hector as a mouthpiece, issuing final orders to the Fraternal Order of Hermes. I performed several levitation spells to propel everyone out of the underground lair. When I broke the surface, I was shocked to see a dozen giants in a line in front of the salt flats. Together, their large bodies formed a blockade and they had dozens of brothers trapped in a golden net like the one that had held Declan. Elias Nilsson smiled when he saw me.
“Elias! What are you doing here?” I asked, gobsmacked.
He reached into his pocket and withdrew the ancient drinking horn. “Nick called me. Said you found my grandmother’s horn and that, if I wanted it, I had to come and get it.” He cast a quick glance at the werejaguar. “He encouraged me to bring a few friends along for the ride. Didn’t understand why until I got here.” He puffed out his chest and inhaled deeply. “Here I am thwarting a plan at Balor’s Basin. My grandmother would be proud.”
Professor Mayweather emerged from between two giants, holding Rudolph by his leash. “He’s been anxiously awaiting your return.”
I scratched the hellhound behind each ear. “Well done, Rudolph.”
The hellhound panted happily.
“Where are all the brothers we brought up from underground?” I asked.
An unfamiliar red-haired woman stepped forward. “Nora Kensington, Keeper of the North at your service. We took the liberty of arresting as many brothers as we could manage and escorting them from the scene.”
Of course. I’d totally forgotten about the AMF agents that Nick had called. “Thanks for the help,” I said. “We really appreciate it.”
“My keepers are coming back for the rest,” Nora said. “We weren’t prepared for the number of brothers here.”
“You weren’t alone,” Dani said. She winced and I figured she was starting to become aware of her injuries now that the adrenaline was fading.
“Looks like some of you are in dire need of a healer,” Peter said. “Half druid at your service.”
“Start with Bryn,” I said. “Mine can wait.”
“So can mine,” Dani said, not to be outdone.
Peter arched an eyebrow. “You think I’m going to make the love of my life wait for my healing touch? Did the Furies drive you mad, too?”
Professor Mayweather elbowed him out of the way. “I can heal. Who needs help?”
Between the herbologist and the half druid, our wounds were quickly addressed and healed.
“What about this underground complex?” Professor Langley. “We cannot allow it to remain as it is. That will only encourage future attempts.”
Cerys rolled up her sleeves. “I can take care of that.”
Nora eyed her closely. “You’re an earth witch?”
Callan gave his girlfriend an admiring glance. “Remember the name Cerys Davies. Best earth witch you’ll ever meet.”
“She’ll make a fine Enforcer of the East,” the chancellor added with a note of pride.
Nora gestured to the salt flats. “Feel free to work your magic, Miss Davies. The AMF would be pleased to know this place can never be used again. We had no idea of its existence.”
Cerys stepped forward and
faced the hexagonal honeycomb shapes. She extended her arms, palms facing down, and I sensed the power building. Yellow light glowed around her hands and the ground shook. Each hexagon began to fade until there was nothing but solid ground as far as the eye could see. Cerys began to tremble and I worried that she was overexerting herself, but I believed in my friend. Cerys could handle it, just like I could handle my role as an air witch. It was time for us to embrace our talents—both the women and witches we were—and take ownership of our strengths.
Cerys’s body shook and Callan reached an arm toward her. I gently moved it back to his side.
“Let her be,” I said quietly.
When the final hexagon was gone, Cerys’s arms dropped to her side and she smiled proudly.
“Amazing work,” I said.
The petite blond turned to me. “We all did amazing work today.”
I surveyed the group to thank the Furies for their help, but they’d disappeared without a goodbye. Elias then bid us farewell and left the basin with his friends, satisfied that the threat was now extinguished.
Bryn sniffed the air. “I must be hallucinating. I think I smell Hazel’s cookies.”
Gray pulled a bag from his pocket. “They may have gotten a bit crushed in the fight.”
“Doesn’t change the taste,” Bryn said, and tore open the bag.
“I can’t believe you wrangled the Furies and the giants,” Declan said. He drew me close and kissed the top of my head. “You’re a one-witch band of awesome.”
“Agreed. Miss Holmes, you should be very proud of yourself,” Professor Langley said.
I stared at him, slack-jawed. “My name,” I said. “You said my actual name.”
He frowned. “Well, naturally. You’ve been at the academy for four years. Do you think I don’t know your name by now? What sort of wizard do you take me for?”
“To be fair, Nick called the giants,” I said.
Nick swaggered forward. “And do you think Elias came just for his horn? I told him you were in trouble and we needed his help.”
“It’s smart to ask for help when you need it,” I said. “A very wise witch taught me that.”
Chancellor Tilkin gave me a knowing look. “A very wise witch, indeed.”
“I call dibs on the teleportation cloak,” Bryn said.
“One cannot simply call dibs on my family heirloom,” the chancellor admonished her. “Besides, I would think you’d prefer to return to the academy with Warden Mappleworth.”
Bryn shrugged. “I figured he could squeeze in. That cloak is like a Tardis. There’s more room in there than you’d think.”
Peter high-fived her. “Yes, a Dr. Who reference! You will always be my Terrene touchstone, Morrow.”
Callan seemed put out. “I know what a Tardis is.”
Peter clapped him on the back. “Dude, we can still hang. It’s cool.”
“Are we sure this is really over?” Bryn asked. “There are no more secret messages from my father to bring him back?”
“Every member of the Fraternal Order of Hermes who wasn’t killed or arrested today will be apprehended by an agent,” Warden Armitage said.
“And every scrap of evidence that hasn’t already been collected will be retrieved,” Nick added. “There will be no chance of anyone resurrecting the Shadow Sorcerer ever again.”
“Or kidnapping you for your blood,” Gray said. The vampire planted a firm kiss on Bryn’s lips.
“I have to admit, it was pretty unpleasant,” Bryn said. “Some of those guys had the worst breath. I swear they ate nothing except garlic bagels.”
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I blurted. It was hard enough to imagine a life apart from my friends, but a life where Bryn no longer existed…I shuddered. That prospect was much, much worse.
Bryn disentangled herself from Gray and put her arms around me. “Thank you, Mia. I wouldn’t be standing here now if it weren’t for you.”
Cerys and Dani joined our hug. We pressed our four heads together and the tears that had been building finally began to spill. I didn’t bother to hide it.
“It’s okay to cry,” Bryn said, wiping away tears of her own. “If you didn’t feel anything after all this, I’d be worried you were a secret psychopath.”
“The only psychopath around here is the one who didn’t get resurrected today,” Dani said.
“Tough break, old man,” Bryn said to the ground below.
Cerys sniffed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Come on, witches. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Eighteen
A Spellslingers Academy of Magic graduation was no small affair. We assembled in our formal cloaks in the Great Hall and endured the pomp and circumstance. Bryn, Cerys, Dani, and I sat together in the first row. We’d each received a special medal of honor from the academy. Officially, the medal was given in recognition of service above and beyond the curriculum requirements, but we all knew it was for our role in thwarting Moldark’s resurrection.
As with most formal ceremonies, this one was long and I spent a good portion of it daydreaming about my future. Unsurprisingly, each of us had been granted our places in the four respective quadrants. You didn’t prevent the return of one of the most evil sorcerers in history and find yourself behind a desk tracking data.
I clapped wildly as Cerys’s name was called to receive her diploma. Despite an improved relationship with her family, Cerys decided to give the Eastern Quadrant a try and Callan planned to accompany her. He’d requested a transfer from the League and would be moving as soon as arrangements could be made.
Dani was next. The fire witch was excited to head to the Southern Quadrant to start life as a Sentry of the South. They’d offered Peter’s mother a place in their new home, but she declined. She told them she wanted them to start their new lives together as adults, and that she’d be happy to restrict herself to visits over the holidays.
When it was my turn, I crossed the stage with my head held high and a bright smile. I’d earned this moment and I’d earned my place as a Keeper of the North. A surge of pride threatened to overwhelm me. I’d never felt more fully myself. No awkwardness or discomfort. It was as though I’d finally let Mia Holmes bask in the warm glow of the sun and acknowledged that she belonged there, too. Yet there could be no shine without shadow. It was a natural part of existence and, this year, I’d learned to embrace both.
We cheered when it was Bryn’s turn to receive her diploma. I had no doubt she’d make the history books as a Warden of the West. The criminals in this quadrant didn’t stand a chance. I heard Gray’s sharp whistles behind me as Bryn waved to the audience before returning to her seat.
The ceremony concluded, and we maneuvered through the crowd of friends and families. I glimpsed Declan across the room, talking to my parents, and my heart soared. My parents intended to stay through dinner but planned to leave before the real festivities kicked off this evening. I couldn’t wait for Declan to see me dressed up. The last time he’d seen me in glamour mode was the night we’d met at Nonesuch, at the Vampire Alliance event. It was time to wow him all over again.
Chancellor Tilkin intercepted me on my way to see him. “My dear Amelia Holmes, you have come such a long way in four years,” she said. The chancellor looked resplendent in a white cloak with feathered trim that highlighted her white-blond hair.
“Thank you,” I said. “That’s the highest of compliments coming from you.”
“There isn’t an instructor at this academy that isn’t amazed by what you’ve accomplished,” the chancellor continued. “You truly came into your own this year, child.” She paused. “I suppose I shouldn’t call you that anymore.” Her gaze slid to my friends. “You are children no more.”
“Arguably, we weren’t children when we got here four years ago,” I said good-naturedly.
“Oh, but you were,” the chancellor said. “Children with such great potential. And here you all are, having reached it and then some. I couldn’t be more proud.”
<
br /> “I’m going to miss this place,” I said. My chest tightened with unexpressed emotions.
“I believe your parents are waiting to congratulate you,” the chancellor said. “A pity your brother couldn’t be here to celebrate.”
My brother cancelled at the last minute because he was in the midst of a secret mission and couldn’t get away. I didn’t mind, though. Today was my day, not that he could have eclipsed if he wanted to. Like the chancellor said, I’d come into my own this year and reached my full potential. Not every pupil could make such a claim. Some failed their exams. Some weren’t assigned the quadrant or class they’d requested. My friends and I were lucky.
No. Not lucky. That wasn’t fair to us to call it luck. We’d worked hard for this achievement. We’d bled and risked our lives for this achievement—for the chance to do it all over again, day in and day out, as part of our jobs to protect and serve the paranormal community.
Strong arms grabbed my waist and lifted me into the air. “Congratulations, Keeper Holmes. Well deserved.”
As my feet slid back to the floor, I stole a kiss on the way down. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Declan grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I pressed my hands flat against his dress shirt. “I’m a little disappointed that you’re not wearing your brown coat.”
“I can wear it to the gala, if you like.”
“I don’t mind what you wear as long as you’re with me.”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Sounds like a challenge.”
“Come on, Mia, I’m starving,” Bryn said, appearing beside me. “Graduation makes me hungry.”
The rest of us burst into laughter.
“Yes, it’s graduation’s fault,” Dani said.
“The cafeteria is open,” Peter interjected. “I checked.”
Dani shook her head. “Of course you did.”
We filed out of the Great Hall, talking and laughing. My heart was so full of happiness that I practically floated down the hallway to the cafeteria. I didn’t know what to expect, whether I’d settle into my career as a Keeper of the North. Whether my relationship with Declan would endure. Whether the Quad Squad would survive separation. There was, however, one thing I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. The real Mia—the compassionate, smart, funny, beautiful badass—her life was only just beginning.
Outgrow: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Keeper of the North Book 2) Page 17
