by Jody Morse
Everly’s eyes met mine. “You are everything.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, come on. Think about what I am telling you, Juliana. You are everything: part magic user, part shifter, part water, and part vampire.”
“But I don’t have bloodlust. How could I be part vampire?” I asked.
“Your vampire gene might be tiny—possibly just a drop of blood in your body—or the gene might be lying dormant for right now. But you, the Chosen One, were to be the only paranormal being in existence to be born with blood from every paranormal race.”
“Why hasn’t the Headmaster figured out that I’m the Chosen One?” I questioned.
“This is a secret that’s been kept by the Vixen for hundreds of years. No one knows aside from the original members and their descendants.”
“Why are you telling me all of this? You hate me.”
“Well, you’re really not my favorite person, if we’re being completely honest,” Everly admitted. “But this affects all of us.”
“The Vixen?” I questioned.
“No, that isn’t what I meant. It affects every paranormal being on this planet. But I’ll tell you more about that some other day.” She paused. “The Vixen is weaker this year. We’re not nearly as strong as any of the previous years. And you’re the reason why.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“When our great-great grandmothers formed the Vixen, they put a spell on it. Well, some might consider it a spell. Personally, I consider it a curse.” Her eyes locked on mine. “The spell said the Vixen would only be powerful if all of the founding members’ descendants, particularly those with an affinity for the elements, were a part of it.”
I swallowed hard. “I can control the elements. All of them.”
“I know. That’s because you’re the Chosen One.” Everly paused. “I have an affinity for water.”
“So, you really are an ice witch.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “We need you, Juliana. Trust me when I tell you that I don’t want to have to ask you to be a member of the Vixen, but we actually need you.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“No?” As she stared back at me, I could’ve sworn her gray eyes turned an icy shade of blue. Blue with fury…
“I’ve heard things about the Vixen—bad things. There’s no way I want to get involved in it. I’m sorry.” I turned for the door. As I reached for the handle, I realized it wouldn’t open—and it was cold. Extremely cold.
Glancing over my shoulder, I said, “Did you just freeze the door shut?”
“Yes.” Everly’s lips curved upwards. “I’ll unfreeze it once you decide to reconsider.”
“No,” I replied firmly.
“Wrong answer, Juliana.” There was an icy tone to her voice.
“Are you telling me I have to join the Vixen?” I questioned, trying to control my anger. I really didn’t like being told what to do.
“If you know what’s best for you.” Her eyes locked on mine for a long moment. Then they moved to the door.
I watched as the ice melted, quickly becoming a puddle on the floor.
“You may go now.” She met my eyes. “Oh, and Juliana? Don’t tell anyone about this if you want them to live.”
As I slipped out of her dorm room, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. She had just threatened me on every possible level. I definitely couldn’t tell Kaden, Ambur or Draia or anyone about this or I risked them being killed.
The scariest part was that I wasn’t sure what Everly had planned for me if I didn’t join the Vixen. If I joined, I could end up like Ashleigh. But then again, if I didn’t join, I could still end up like Ashleigh.
I was caught between a rock and a hard place with a girl who was one of the most powerful witches on campus.
Chapter 35
The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of a pixie’s wings flapping above me.
Groaning, I grabbed the envelope the tiny fairy had dropped on my chest and then watched as she flitted across the room and slipped out through the door.
When had I even fallen asleep? All I could remember was staying up late and thinking about everything that had happened the night before: the truth about Kaden, the truth about me, Everly’s threat. I wasn’t sure when I had dozed off, but apparently, I had.
“Are you okay, Juli?” Draia asked from where she was doing her morning broom exercises, which was basically like Pilates for witches.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked. Only aside from the fact that one of the most powerful witches on campus had threatened me and my friends, the same night I’d learned that the guy who I was head over heels for was half-warlock and, therefore, off-limits to me, as per the student handbook.
A part of me wondered if word about both of these things had somehow already traveled back to my roommates. After all, I knew just how fast rumors circulated around this school.
“You just look rough,” Ambur said, glancing over at me from where she was doing her hair. “Really rough.”
“I feel really rough,” I mumbled to myself as I opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of white paper.
Juliana,
Please come speak to me in my office as soon as you are up and dressed.
- Headmaster Crane
“Crap,” I said aloud.
“What is it? Who’s it from?” Ambur asked me.
“Headmaster Crane. I forgot that I’m supposed to meet with him today,” I said, pulling myself out of bed and quickly changing into my clothes.
“You seem nervous,” Draia said, obviously in tune with the anxiety that had overcome me.
“I’m sure it’s probably no big deal,” Ambur assured me. “He’s called you to his office so many times already.”
“You’re probably right.” But as I slipped into my uniform, I knew that I was lying. I didn’t think she was right.
I wasn’t sure why, but I had a really bad feeling about this. I wasn’t sure if it was just because so many bad things had already happened or if my intuition was actually working.
“I’ll see you guys later,” I told my roommates as I headed for the door.
“Good luck,” Draia said.
“Thanks,” I replied—and I meant it. I was pretty sure that I needed all of the luck I could get.
When I reached Headmaster Crane’s office, I was surprised that he was pulling the door open before I had a chance to knock.
I shot him a strange look, and he explained, “I heard the sound of your footsteps.”
“Oh.” As I moved into the room, I asked, “What is this about?”
“Please, have a seat.” He motioned to the chair across from his desk.
I felt too anxious to sit down, but I did anyway.
“Am I in trouble?” I asked him right away.
“Trouble?” He looked at me. “Should you be?”
“I used magic against the raven shifter that took Kaden,” I explained. “I saved his life.”
The Headmaster gave me a funny look, but he shook his head. “That was an admirable thing for you to do. Not many are willing to use their magic against raven shifters. I commend you.” He paused. “You’re on Halloween break until Thursday. I wondered if you’ve made plans for it already.”
“Um, no. I don’t think so.” I paused. “I’m sorry. You had to speak to me just to ask if I had plans for Halloween break?”
“Well, not entirely.” He met my gaze. “I have a Mission that I would like to send you on, Juliana.”
A Mission. Kaden had told me about those before. He had said his brother had been sent on one.
“Missions are top-secret operations,” Headmaster Crane went on. “If you choose to go on this assignment, you will be forbidden from telling any of the other students—or anyone else—what you did. I can’t even tell you the details of the Mission until you have agreed to go on it.”
“Why do you want to send me on a Mission?” I questioned. “I’m so n
ew to this world. I doubt I could be any good at whatever it is you want me to do.”
“Well, you won’t be alone,” he replied. “In fact, I would like to send a fairly large group of students—larger than what I normally send.”
“Oh.” I breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least I wouldn’t be alone.
“I’ve chosen one other student to go with you, but I thought you could pick three more,” he explained. “I’d like a total of five students to go on this Mission.”
“The student you’ve chosen already… It isn’t Everly Carmichael, is it?” Getting stuck on a Mission with her would have been the absolute last thing I ever would have wanted.
“No, it’s not.”
I breathed a deep sigh of relief. “I can choose anyone I want?”
“Yes, anyone,” Headmaster Crane agreed with a nod.
“I choose Ambur and Ondraia,” I began.
“Okay. I think those are very good choices. Who else?”
I thought about it for a long moment. I knew we weren’t allowed to discuss the details of the Missions Headmaster Crane sent us on, but I had a feeling that I was about to start a war with the next person I was choosing to bring with me. But it was the first person who came to mind when I thought about who I trusted.
“Brett Summers,” I said.
“Oh, I should have figured you would choose him. He’s become attached to your hip.” He smiled. “Brett is a powerful wolf, and a very good match for you.”
I got the sense that he was talking about him being a good match for me in things that went beyond this Mission, but I might’ve only been imagining it. Was it possible that even our Headmaster thought Brett and I were meant to be together?
I supposed that it was a possibility now. Now that I knew I was part werewolf. At least, I assumed. Everly hadn’t specified what type of shifter I was.
“Well, then. It looks like we’re all set. I will have to call each of these students in individually to make sure that they’re willing to go on the Mission with you and that they understand the terms. If they don’t, I’ll call you back here to choose someone else.” He glanced over at me. “I’ll provide details on the Mission itself to you this evening before you leave.”
“Okay.” I was about to rise to my feet until I realized there was one thing that he hadn’t told me yet. “Wait, who was the student who you already chose to go with me? You didn’t mention.”
Headmaster Crane glanced up at me. “Kaden Connor.”
Crap.
How was I even going to be able to focus on the Mission he was about to send me on when I would be with both the guy who I had major feelings for and couldn’t be with and the guy who everyone thought I had feelings for?
But more importantly, why had Headmaster Crane included a guy who was probably half-warlock in the group if we weren’t supposed to have contact with dark magic users? Why was he breaking the rules?
It was in that moment that I realized Kaden was right. The Headmaster really was up to no good. I wasn’t sure what his motives were, but I was determined to find out.
TO BE CONTINUED THIS FALL….
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