Pledge (Witches of Coventry House Book 1)

by Christina Garner

  Her breathing returned to normal, and she wondered why she felt deflated. Monsters not being real is a good thing.

  She just wished she could convince her subconscious.

  “If there aren’t any more questions, we’ll get started.” Carolyn pulled a small book from the bag and handed it to Eden.

  The magic it contained vibrated beneath her fingertips, and she itched to open it.

  One by one Carolyn passed out slim volumes then took a seat.

  “What I’ve just given you contains the only spells allowed for pledges. Regardless of how fast you progress, the process is the same. Only sisters receive further spell books, and we have many weeks to go before the final test to become a sister.” Carolyn scanned the circle as she spoke, looking each girl in the eye. “You must apply yourselves—learning the theory behind the magic, not just the spells themselves. Also, you must never attempt an unsanctioned spell or practice magic off of the Coventry House grounds. This for your safety as well as that of the community. Using magic is a privilege—one that I will revoke without hesitation if you break those rules.” She paused, making sure her words had landed then smiled. “Turn to page one.”

  Eden opened her book. They were going to learn to make light!

  “All of life is made of shadow and light,” Carolyn said. “To use magic responsibly you must learn to wield both.” A small sphere of light bloomed above Carolyn’s right palm. “Today we work on light.”

  Eden did her best to pay attention while Carolyn spoke, but really she just wanted to get on with it. She was about to learn actual magic—how could she be expected to listen to a lecture on theory?

  Finally, Carolyn began teaching the mechanics of the spell, and for that, Eden was all ears.

  “Close your eyes and steady your breathing,” she said. “Feel the earth beneath you and imagine a long cord connecting you with its core.”

  Eden did as instructed and found herself feeling heavy, as if gravity pulled on her with extra force.

  “Now, feel yourself connected with the heavens, a long cord stretching from the crown of your head up and into the cosmos.”

  Doing this made Eden feel buoyant, and she realized why the grounding cord came first—without it, Eden felt as though she might float out of her body and drift away.

  “Feel yourself balanced at the center point between heaven and earth—still, yet containing all life. Feel the spark of life, the flash of creation.”

  Eden felt the spark thrumming through her veins, so hot it burned.

  “Good,” Carolyn said. “Now extend the palm of your dominant hand. Feel the sun as it gives you its gift of light and warmth.”

  Eden held out her right hand, her palm already hot.

  “When you feel the energy strengthen, say illumino.”

  Eden could no longer contain the energy—a feeling that filled her with a sense of déjà vu that she couldn’t quite place.

  “Illumino,” she blurted, and instantly the pain disappeared.

  She opened her eyes and was awed to find a sphere of perfect light, about the size of a golf ball, hovering above her palm. It bobbed around, not steady like Carolyn’s, but she’d done it—on her very first try! A grin split her face, and Carolyn gave her an approving nod while Alex remained impassive.

  Eden looked around and saw that none of the other sisters had succeeded. They hadn’t even said the word yet. Sarah’s brow was furrowed with effort, and Hannah looked like she was straining with her whole body.

  “Illumino,” Jules said, her forehead beaded with sweat. A tiny sphere appeared above her palm.

  When Jules opened her eyes, Eden saw delight on her face at what she’d accomplished. She and Eden shared a look of pride. The minutes stretched with no other orbs of light appearing. She heard Sarah whisper the word, saw the frustration on her face when she realized nothing had happened. Twice, the light in Jules’s hand winked out, but both times she closed her eyes and got it back. Eden’s never wavered.

  Finally, Carolyn spoke. “All right, ladies. Open your eyes. Jules, Eden very good. You may release your spheres.”

  Eden didn’t want to release it—it was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen—but did as she was told. The feeling of disconnection was immediate and bordered on painful. Carolyn spoke encouraging words and gave further instruction; all the while Eden’s palm tingled with energy.

  Twice more they closed their eyes, and twice more Eden was the first to succeed. By the third time all but three of the girls had succeeded, though Rebecca’s was a pitiful thing. The glow above Sarah’s palms was small and only lasted a few seconds before disappearing, but it made Sarah smile all the same.

  Maybe she’s warming to this whole witch thing, Eden thought.

  “That’s enough for right now,” Carolyn said. “Continue to practice. You will not be tested on the size of your sphere, only your ability to summon it.”

  Eden hoped that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be learning anything else for an entire week, but when she said as much to Alex afterward, those hopes were dashed.

  “Gotta walk before you can fly,” she said.

  Eden was disappointed but then said, “Wait, are we going to learn to fly?”

  Alex turned away, muttering, “Pledges.”

  Eden smiled. That wasn’t a no...

  Eden sat cross-legged on her bed, reading her new spell book.

  “Seriously?” Sarah picked up her purse. “You won’t come with me?”

  Eden set her book down and held up her hands as if they were a scale.

  “Let’s see... Go stand in line with you for books or stay here and learn magic...” Eden dropped her left hand much lower than her right. “That was the one with the magic in it by the way.”

  “Ugh, fine,” Sarah said. “Some roommate you are.”

  Eden sighed in resignation.

  “Okay, okay, if you’re going to pull the roommate card...” She got up from her bed.

  “No.” Sarah headed for the door. “You’re right. Stay and learn something. Just make sure you teach it to me.”

  “Deal,” Eden said with a grin and plopped back down on the bed.

  Soon after Sarah left, Eden went out to the common room where she found Hannah and Jules chatting on the sofa.

  “Mind if I join?” Eden asked, eager to practice.

  “Not at all,” Hannah said. “Jules and I were discussing some of the theory Carolyn gave us on light and dark.”

  Inwardly Eden groaned. Theory? Why bother talking about light when you could make it? Or channel it, as Carolyn had been quick to correct her.

  Eden smiled. “Cool.”

  But she was already plotting her escape.

  Sarah shifted the weight of her feet and mentally kicked herself for not buying her books ahead of time like the other girls. She’d just assumed they would all be digital, but leave it to her to pick two classes with only hard copies available. Leaving it until the last minute meant she was stuck in a line that stretched halfway down the quad. She’d spend the first half hour messing with her phone, but now her battery was dying so she shoved it back into her purse.

  She looked up, delighted by who was walking toward her.

  “Hey,” she said with a grin.

  It was when the dark-haired girl looked at her with confusion that Sarah remembered that they didn’t actually know each other.

  “Sorry,” she stammered, embarrassed. “I saw you doing something on the lawn yesterday. I think it was tai chi?”

  “Oh.” She looked relieved. Her eyes were as dark as onyx. “I’m usually good at remembering people so you had me worried. I’m Kai.”

  “Sarah,” she said. “Did you get your books?”

  Of course she did; that’s why she’s carrying them. Her stomach fluttered, and she regretted that third cup of coffee.

  “Yep.” Kai sized up Sarah’s spot in line. “Looks like you’re going to be waiting a while.”

  “Seems that way,” Sarah said.
<
br />   “It’s pretty hot out. Want some iced tea?” Kai gestured to a beverage cart twenty yards away.

  “I’d love some, but I don’t dare lose my place in line. I’ll never get these books.”

  Kai gave a shake of her head and laughed. “I meant, I’m going to get a drink; can I get you one?”

  “Oh,” Sarah said, feeling foolish. “If you don’t mind that would be great. Hold on, I’ve got cash.” She fumbled through her purse.

  “It’s okay; I’ve got it.” Kai backed up. “You can buy me one next time.”

  “Sure.” Sarah smiled, touched by her generosity.

  A few minutes later Kai was back. “Here you go. It’s raspberry flavored. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Totally okay.” Sarah took the iced tea. “Thanks. A line this long, I should have thought to bring provisions.”

  “No sweat,” she said. “But don’t forget—you owe me.”

  “Anytime.” The cold tea was refreshing, and Sarah sighed with delight. “Wow, this hits the spot.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.” Kai grinned and checked the time. “I’ve gotta jet. But I’ll see you around, okay?”

  “Yeah, nice to meet you,” Sarah said. “Thanks again.”

  She pressed the sweating cup to her cheeks and forehead, relishing the cold. It really was hot outside—her skin felt tingly and warm.

  Sarah returned home to find Eden in almost the same position as when she’d left.

  “Tell me you haven’t been here all day.” She dropped her books on her bed.

  “Not all of it.” Eden closed her spell book. “There was an unfortunate and very boring foray into theory, but it didn’t last long.”

  “You do know that’s meant to help us, right?” Sarah walked over to the desk where she’d put her aromatherapy candle. After two hours in line she could use its soothing lavender scent. “Hey,” she said. “Have you seen my lighter? I’d swear I left it right here.”

  Eden shook her head. “Sorry, haven’t seen it.”

  Sarah could just go grab a pack of matches from the fireplace, but it wasn’t that important, and her feet hurt. She sat on her bed and peeled off her boots. “So, what did you learn?”

  “I’ve learned to blow balls.”

  Sarah stopped, mid-sock pull. “You learned...what?”

  “Mind out of the gutter, please,” Eden said with mock sternness. “Watch.”

  Eden closed her eyes, and a ball of light appeared above her palm. Then she opened her eyes and gently blew on it, making it drift a foot in front of her. She closed her eyes, and a few seconds later a second ball of light bloomed, which she also used her breath to release.

  “Awesome,” Sarah said. “I can barely do one.”

  “I can only do two at a time.” She sounded disappointed. “By the time I go for three, the first one is disappearing.”

  Proving her point, the first orb sputtered and winked out, the second following soon after.

  “And so far I suck at levitation.” Eden sounded glum. “I can’t even lift a feather.”

  “Well, there’s always tomorrow,” Sarah teased, heading for the bathroom.

  “I guess.”

  Eden couldn’t seriously be down on herself for not knowing everything already, could she?

  Sarah rapped on the bathroom door, and when no one responded, she entered, still shaking her head. She’d thought Eden had been kidding about learning to fly. But if she had her way, she’d already be in midair.

  That evening there was an optional practice session to get better at illumino, but Eden decided to skip it. It wasn’t like she needed the help. Besides, she started classes tomorrow. She wanted to pick an outfit, take a bath without interruption, and get to bed early.

  As she soaked in the tub she marveled at how much had changed in the past three days. Normally she would have been nervous to start a new school, but it just seemed so unimportant now. If being enrolled at Whitland weren’t a requirement for being a member of Coventry House, she might have entertained the idea of dropping out to devote herself full time to studying witchcraft. Magic had to be way more useful than an education when it came to making the world a better place.

  She’d just finished brushing her teeth when Sarah came back.

  “How’d it go?” Eden asked.

  “Good,” Sarah said. “I’m not exactly blowing them around the room, but I’m getting better at making them.”

  “That’s progress,” Eden said. “Was it mostly practice, or did Carolyn talk a lot?”

  “A mix of both,” Sarah said. “But just so you know—she was pretty clear about theory being important. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get tested on that too.”

  Eden groaned. “Okay, fine. I’ll read that part of the book too.”

  Sarah gave her a grin and disappeared into the bathroom. Eden went to the dresser drawer that housed her medicine and pulled out the canvas bag. But instead of popping open one of the bottles, she just held them in her hand. She’d been working with light all day. Surely it was enough to counter balance the darkness that always threatened to pull her under as she slept. She’d been fine last night...

  She tucked the bottles back in the bag and shut the drawer. She climbed into bed thinking, Fortune favors the brave.

  Chapter 8

  Teeth sharp as knives, glowing eyes, see-through skin crisscrossed with veins. Too-long fingers wrapping around—

  Eden woke, tangled in her sheets, a scream rising in her throat.

  When she’d caught her breath and stopped her racing heart, she thought of another Latin saying: Rome wasn’t built in a day.

  Hannah’s first day of college was off to a good start, if she did say so herself. Her first class was one she’d picked for fun, and it didn’t disappoint—they’d spent ninety minutes discussing the importance of positive depictions of powerful women on television with Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the basis of discussion. An easy A and one of her favorite old shows to boot.

  Then she got to her Creative Writing class and saw her professor—a certifiable hottie with ash blond hair and eyes the color of green sea glass. She was sure whatever he was saying was fascinating, but she was finding it hard to concentrate, her eyes drifting to his cupid’s bow lips.

  Behind her a door opened, and she looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Eden. She looked frazzled and out of breath. Hannah gave a small wave, and Eden hurried over, trying to escape Jacob’s—Professor Hottie’s—notice. With class sizes as small as those at Whitland, she didn’t succeed, but he kept on with his lecture.

  “You’re in this class?” Hannah whispered.

  Eden nodded. “I thought I had time to grab a coffee, but I guess not.”

  “From the cute boy barista Sarah told us about?” Hannah grinned.

  “From the coffee cart,” Eden said defensively. Then she added, “I’ll go to The Grind after class when I have more time.”

  “Smart girl.” Hannah gave her a wink.

  A guy sitting in the row in front of them turned around with a do you mind? look, and the two stayed relatively quiet the rest of the class.

  As they were filing out Hannah said, “Pretty sure I’m going to like that class.”

  “Definitely,” Eden said. “I love to write.”

  “Me too but that’s not why. Did you look at him?” Hannah said. “Those eyes...”

  “Hannah, he’s like thirty.” Eden looked at her like she was nuts.

  “And?”

  “And we’re eighteen!” Eden said. “Isn’t that a bit of an age spread?”

  Hannah shrugged. “What can I say? Mature is sexy.”

  “Well, he’s all yours,” Eden said with a grin. She looked at the time on her phone. “Ugh, I’m late—again! I’ll see you back at the house.”

  Eden dashed off, and Hannah looked back at the classroom they’d just left. Jacob was at his desk, looking over some papers. It couldn’t hurt to go introduce herself.

  She did a quick check of
her makeup and walked back in. It never hurt to be nice to the teacher.

  Sarah sat beneath a hawthorn tree eating the lunch she’d made the night before. Knowing how much she loved sleep, she’d opted for later classes, which meant she’d only been to one so far. It worked out to her advantage in more ways than one—she’d heard Rebecca yelling at Eden to hurry up in the bathroom. By the time she’d gotten out of bed, the others had cleared out, and she was left to get ready in peace.

  Across the lawn Eden raced by, past the tai chi students. Sarah didn’t bother waving—wherever she was going, she was in a hurry. Sarah’s eyes fell on Kai as she moved gracefully through the forms. That’s what they called the combination of movements—forms. She’d looked up tai chi online—for some reason she found herself wanting to learn more about it.

  Maybe I should sign up, she thought as she finished her sandwich. She had a few more minutes before her next class. She settled back against the hawthorn and enjoyed the scenery.

  Eden spent the day feeling anxious. As much as she wanted magic to be the solution to her nightmares—and still thought it could be, eventually—she needed to stop them now. Letting them continue was dangerous—for her and everyone else at Coventry House.

  Finding out there was only one urgent care clinic in town had done nothing to soothe her nerves. In her experience, a general practitioner asked a lot of questions, but clinics were used to dealing with more acute needs and were much quicker to prescribe. Having access to several had been her saving grace back home. Not all medications were effective, and all of them lost their effectiveness over time, so she’d needed a rotation to make sure she was covered. Having only one clinic made that harder.

  The one thing that did calm her somewhat was believing that this was temporary. Eventually using magic enough would lift her up and out of the deep well of her own fear and false memories. It had to. And in the meantime, there was always the bus. The next town over was only eight miles—she’d skip a day of classes if that’s what it took.