Unwanted Witch

by Kiesha Thomas

  Unwanted Witch

  Kiesha Thomas

  Contents

  1. Cosima Arko

  2. Chaniya Arko

  3. Zarin Goldbach

  4. Cossima

  5. Chaniya

  6. Zarin

  7. Chaniya

  8. Cossima

  9. Zarin

  10. Chaniya

  11. Cosima

  Epilogue

  Also by Kiesha Thomas

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Unwanted Witch

  Copyright © 2019 by Kiesha Thomas.

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For information contact :

  http://www.kieshathomas.com

  1

  Cosima Arko

  Nora almost killed me for the second time. A sinking feeling in my gut told me that the third time, might claim my life. It seemed that even being on Earth didn’t protect me from Nora’s wrath. The magic I discovered inside me didn’t seem to be enough to save my life. Valcrum’s words echoed in my mind, and I clung to them like a lifeline.

  Shaking my head, I stood up, and walked to the window. The Eastwick Academy was the most lavish place I had ever been. The bed was queen size and the windows were covered with crushed velvet curtains and the décor was remarkable. There was a huge mahogany hand carved desk in the corner of the bedroom, and the window allows a lot of light into the room. Most importantly, this beautiful room was all mine. I’ve never had a personal space and I like it.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall showed that I had fifteen minutes before I was supposed to meet Cade Cohen down in the auditorium for training. I’m glad that Chaniya is here with me. This situation would be worse if I had to do this alone.

  I’m glad that this training will help me discover my magical talent and harness the magic that I can wield now. My feet were out the door, my hand swinging the door shut, before I thought better.

  Heading down the hallway my steps halted. The hallways were packed. There were so many students moving about, and the scorching heat rose up in my throat. Reaching inside my pocket, I slid the peppermint candy on my tongue and sucked hard. A few minutes later, the saliva pooling in my mouth stopped, and I forced my feet to move.

  A girl with fiery reddish blonde hair walked toward me. She had hazel eyes and appeared happy, a smile on her face. I swallowed hard and tried to move out of her path as she came closer.

  She stopped in front of me holding out her hand. “Welcome to Eastwick Academy. I’m Griselda Garcia.”

  I smiled and shook her hand. “Cosima Arko.”

  This was no ordinary academy. My eyes narrowed and I looked at her intently. “Are you an angel or something else?”

  “I am an angel. The school does have angels, mutagens, and now I heard a rumor that there are even witches and mages here,” said Griselda.

  “Do the angels have something against witches?” My eyes widened, “do you have something against witches?”

  She smiled and winked. “Only the witches that have something against me.”

  A surprised giggled bubbled up. “You will love my sister Chaniya. I’m glad you don’t have anything against witches because my sister and I are witches.”

  Chaniya slammed out her door and stopped when she spotted Griselda and me. Her hair was bound high in a ninja bun and she had dark circles underneath her eyes. “I hope you’ve thought about what I said. Once you see what happens today, then you can make a decision.”

  I frowned. “What do you think is going to happen today?”

  Chaniya rolled her eyes. “You’re here for one day, make a friend, and now you forget about dad?”

  Griselda stepped back. “You were wrong. I don’t like your sister.”

  My faced flushed. “I haven’t forgotten about dad. But Valcrum expects us to help them and I don’t intend to disobey him.”

  Heat flooded my face but I turned on my heels away from my sister. She has been a pain in my side ever since she came to Earth. Dad is grown and should be able to handle himself, if he wasn’t drowning himself in a bottle.

  When I saw Luc heading toward us with a chocolate glazed donut I smiled. Griselda inhaled a deep breath when she saw him. Her elbow found my lower rib as she whispered how she found Luc intriguing. “He is handsome. You must introduce me to him,” said Griselda.

  A smile curved my lips. “He’s taken.”

  Griselda shrugged. “He hasn’t met me, so he may dump her when he meets me.”

  Chaniya’s deep voice rumbled behind me and made me smile.

  Luc walked up to me and smiled. “Good morning, how are you?”

  I snatched the donut and took a generous bite. “Please talk some sense into her. I can’t deal with her attitude today.”

  Popping the rest of the donut in my mouth I glared at Chaniya, whose face had turned the beet red.

  The training gym was amazing. There was a long hallway, where a small room on the right, had every weapon imaginable. It seemed like there were a thousand students gathered here to practice their magical skills and learning how to survive. Glancing around the gym, I saw Luc hovering over Chaniya.

  Griselda snorted. “Your sister is beautiful but she isn’t very nice. What does he see in her?”

  Biting my lip, I shook my head. “You know what they say about opposites attracting.”

  A guy so beautiful it was a crime waltzed into the gym. All the students fell silent once they saw him. He held up his hand. “We will train hard today. Quin, Adrian, Brian, and I will break everyone up into groups to train and learn each other’s skill.

  I jabbed Griselda in the rib. “Who is that?”

  She smiled. “He is the most handsome guy here. That is Cade Cohen but don’t set your eyes on him. He doesn’t date students, but I think he likes Arianna Deeds.”

  Who is Arianna Deeds? I didn’t ask her aloud but I did notice Cade’s eyes flying back to the red-haired beauty standing off to the right.

  All the guys except Cade paired off with twenty students and training started. Cade had walked over looking at each student in all the groups. I didn’t know the seventeen other students around me but I did now Luc, Chaniya, and Griselda.

  “The rest of you are with me,” said Cade.

  We had paired off into groups of two, and we started with basic survival skills. I was hoping to be paired with an opponent that was smaller than me, but Cade paired angel with angel and witches with witches and so on. When Cade pointed to Chaniya and me I shrugged and moved over to the station with the bow and arrows.

  Chaniya glared at me. “Do you still think we need to stay?”

  Rolling me eyes, I shrugged. “We are needed here. Valcrum needs us to protect his people.”

  Sweat dripped from my brow. The survival skill training wasn’t bad. I guess learning many ways to kill an enemy was very useful.

  Cade clapped his hands. He moved ahead and asked us to follow him. Then he led us in front of the large targets along the wall. There were large windows but they had large brown shades covering them blocking out the light.

  He pulled out a small black remote and pushed a button. The shades went up and light flooded through the windows. “Pick up the bow and arrows. Shoot the targets.”

  Chaniya shot all the targets perfectl
y looking bored.

  My palms were sweating. My heart fluttered in my chest, but I didn’t pay it any attention. I pulled the arrow tight took aim and let the arrow soar. After hitting all the targets, I slung my bow across my shoulder.

  Cade nodded at us. His phone rang and he looked down at it. “I need to take this call. Take some practice shots for now and I’ll be back.”

  Chaniya shook her head. “Your power isn’t with the bow. I know you want that to be your talent, but it isn’t.”

  Turning away from her, I looked at Griselda whose large black wings flapped as she flew high in the air. It was amazing to see them. She looked majestic and stunning.

  Chaniya grabbed my elbow turning me around to face her. “Get your head out of the clouds. What about our father? Your bow and arrow skills are beginner at best.”

  I yanked my arm away from her. “My skills are with the bow and arrow and so are yours. If you hadn’t delved into the darker magic, out of fear, we wouldn’t be here.”

  Cade came back. “I hope you practiced. The real training begins now. He snapped his fingers and four men stood in front of each of the targets.”

  Chaniya frowned. “Is our training just going to consist of shooting arrows at targets? Anybody can hit a target.”

  His eyes narrowed at her. “No, but what we teach you here will show you that dark magic isn’t needed.”

  Chaniya snorted. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

  Closing my eyes, I said a prayer for patience. Chaniya was more stubborn than a mule. Many of the students stopped training to stare at us. I’m not sure why she has to make a scene all the time.

  Cade waved his hand at the men, and they started dashing back and forth past the targets. “It’s easy to hit a target that is standing still, but out in the real world, the targets will move.”

  Taking an arrow out, I squinted against the sunlight, and let the arrow fly. It missed the man. Ignoring the noisy chatter from the students watching, I shot another arrow. One arrow left. This was ridiculous. My fingers dripped with sweat. My heart fluttered in my chest and I nibbled on my lower lip.

  Cade’s heavy hand fell on my shoulder. “Cosima you need more practice with your bow.”

  Chaniya shrugged. “The bow has never been her talent. She longs for the bow to be her talent but it isn’t.”

  “Show me what you got,” said Cade.

  Chaniya shot every moving target and then some that weren’t. Some students that were on their cell phones accidentally walked in front of the targets.

  “You have mastered the bow, but I knew that you would. The bow and arrow are skills that require great patience and can be used for short and long distance kills.”

  “Thank you,” said Chaniya.

  “Your real training will come when Claire comes to train you. She is a strong witch, and your abilities will be thoroughly tested.”

  Chaniya turned to me. “Are you tired of feeling like crap? We belong at home.”

  Blinking rapidly, I turned away from them. I needed a few minutes to get myself together.

  “I know you are upset, but this is your life and I may not be there to save you the next time.”

  My jaw ached. I shook my head. “I will learn everything I need to, here at the academy.

  “We can discuss this once I come back from the restroom,” said Chaniya.

  2

  Chaniya Arko

  The hallways were empty. I rushed through the door. A strong aroma of bleach and water made my nose hairs burn. Each of the five stalls were empty. Rushing over to the sink, I waved my hands over the platinum faucet, allowing the cold water to flow. Once I splashed cold water on my face, I wiped the sweat from my face.

  I walked into the first stall, since it was closer to the bathroom door. The air conditioner came on with a loud rattle. It sounded like two wild boars fighting to the death. Kicking the toilet seat down, I grabbed a seat cover from above the toilet.

  Strong hands wrapped around my neck and slammed my head against the tile wall. Pain shot through my skull. I thrust my elbow in his gut. Blood traveled down my cheek, and the sight of it had my blood boiling.

  He stood up. His hard-green eyes stared at me, while he held his right rib. “I like it rough. Fight me all you want, but I want you.”

  I waved my hands in a circular motion. My voice was strong and thick with emotion. “Your eyes are as black as night. I cast you from my sight.”

  A gust of wind swirled around him. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the bathroom. When he disappeared, I sank down on the floor. My heart slammed in my chest. The bathroom door opened, and a cry of terror tore from my throat. “No!”

  Luc walked into the bathroom. “Are you alright?”

  He bent down, wrapped me in his arms, pulling me gently up and leaned against the counter. “I saw Brad Johnson sneak in here and I was worried that he was up to no good.”

  I snuggled deeper in his arms. He smelled like an ocean sea breeze. His skin was cashmere soft and his hard-muscular chest against mine made me feel safe and secure. A bolt of electricity shot through me when my hand touched his face.

  I placed my hand over my chest trying to calm my heart. “Thank you.”

  He grabbed a brown paper towel and dabbed some water on it, before leaning over me again. “Let me see to that wound on your forehead.”

  I turned away from him. “It’s just a scratch.”

  He gently took my chin and dabbed at the wound. Once he had mopped up the blood, he tossed the paper in the trash.

  His fingers gripped my chin and lifted my face so that he stared in my eyes. “Did he touch you?”

  Closing my eyes. I shook my head. The lump in my throat was too much. “Luc, I was so scared.”

  Tears traveled down my face and I blinked rapidly trying to stop them. I hate tears. They are useless and made your head pound. I wiped my face trying to shield my vulnerability from him. I’m not the crying type, and I refuse to appear weak.

  I will never be weak again. Pushing out of his embrace I walked to the bathroom door.

  “I will never let anyone hurt you ever again. You don’t have to fight your battles alone. Let me fight them for you.”

  My eyes closed. Luc was the only man in my life. There was something inside of him that called to my beaten, and battered, soul. I ached for him. He has my heart in his hand, and I’m not sure I can do anything about it.

  When you let people get close, they stab you in the back.

  Breathing deep, I forced myself to face him. “I have told you, that we cannot be together. Why won’t you accept it?”

  In two strides he was standing in front of me, and had my back pressed up against the wall. The tile was cold against my back and it felt wonderful against my heated skin.

  He bent and pressed a wet kiss at the base of my neck. “If you can tell me that you don’t love me, then I’ll leave you alone.”

  His head lifted and his fingers tenderly touched my cheek.

  The anger left me. He would ask the one thing I couldn’t give him. “I don’t know if I’m capable of love.”

  He latched on to my arm and thrust open the bathroom door. His gait fast as he padded down the hallway.

  I frowned as he opened the door and headed out into the gardens. “Where are we going?”

  Luc stopped in the middle and sat down on the circular bench. “Please sit.”

  The beauty of the garden before us was breathtaking. This place looked romantic, and my heart raced. There were flowers the color of pink, red, and yellow. Mature trees were tall, green, silver and blue. I swallowed hard and sat down next to him.

  “Well. Do you love me?”

  I shook my head. The words wouldn’t tumble from my mouth. I knew they would be lies but tried to spit them out. Tears clung to my eyelashes and my shoulders slumped.

  “You deserve so much more. You need a girl that can give you her heart. My heart was carved out with a spoon.”

  “Chaniya do
you think I can’t tell that you love me. You have lain in my arms and cried all night, shared your burdens, and whispered that you love me when you thought I was asleep,” said Luc.

  A small gasp escaped me and my mouth fell open. It was only one time in a moment of weakness that I whispered my true heart’s desire. Dang, he had been awake, yet he played sleep.

  “Fine. I do love you. If you love me, please never speak of this again.”

  Luc pulled me up on his lap. “It doesn’t matter about your past. I love you, just the way you are, and there is nothing that you can do about it. We will be together in this life and in the next. We are meant to be. I need you and you need me. We are one.”

  “Luc, everyone that I trusted has betrayed me. It would kill me if you betrayed me too. Please just give up on us.”

  “Never. I will love you until my heart ceases to beat,” said Luc.

  Jumping to my feet, I moved to the door. “Luc, I will love you even after my heart stops beating.”

  When I locked my bedroom door, I leaned up against it and sank down to the floor. Luc’s heart felt words echoed in my mind like a broken record. He was sinful saying all the things that I longed to hear. Today, I almost got raped. Again. If I weren’t here listening to these people, I wouldn’t have been attacked.

  It’s like I have a brand on me or something. The guys still single me out to be raped. Why does this keep happening to me?

  Getting to my feet, I walked to the bed and flopped down. If I’m honest all men are not the same. Luc had never once forced me to do anything no matter how he desired me. He knows that I love him and he has never used my emotions against me. Closing my eyes, I rolled on to my side.