by Avery Cross
I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself any longer. I thought I’d been embarrassed before in my life, but every single pair of eyes in that room turned to stare at the crazy girl in the third row. Including Headmaster Hooke. I expected him to look pissed I interrupted his speech, but he merely clasped his hands before him and smiled gently at me.
I heard an annoyed grunt somewhere behind me. Zach. Whatever. He could be annoyed at me as he wanted. This was insane, and I’d seen enough crap today; it was time I had some actual answers.
“Yes, Miss Shroud, isn’t it?”
I froze, eyes wide. “How do you know my name?” I muttered.
“You’ll find I know many things, Miss Shroud.”
“Right.” My cheeks grew hot. “But this… this is all a joke, right? You can’t seriously expect me to believe we’re witches and warlocks.” I laughed as I said it, a few of the other confused newcomers joining me. “Magic isn’t real, none of that is.”
I blinked, and suddenly Hooke stood right beside me on the aisle.
Jumping with a curse, I stared from him to the stage, shaking my head.
“You were saying?”
I heard laughter all around me, but I was far from laughing. “What—what’s going on?”
“I suppose I should have started my speech a bit differently,” Hooke explained. “You see, you were only sent a letter if you showed promise of advancing in the art of witchcraft. You, Briar Shroud, believe it or not, are a witch.”
My mouth worked, but no sound came out.
“All of you are witches and warlocks,” he said louder. “And here is where you will find out exactly what you’re made of.”
The applause this time was louder, but my hands remained by my side. The glowing stream, the tree wall, and the gate… the statues with the eyes I swore flashed at me and moved. Magic? It was all because of magic? He had to be a magician, that had to be it, but when I stared back at Hooke, there was no trickery on his face. A bit of mischief, but I’d gotten good at telling when people lied to me.
And he was dead serious.
“I’m not a witch,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I’ve never done anything.”
“Maybe, maybe not, we shall find out soon enough.”
“No, no. This is insane,” I yelled, jumping to my feet. “I’ve had it up to here with your rude upperclassman and this school in the mountain and the mysterious letter. I’ve been through enough crap in my life to know when this is all just too good to be true.”
I heard a few gasps, but what did I care? I technically wasn’t a student yet, and I wasn’t ready to buy into this crap. Yeah, they might say I had a full ride, but to do what? Study magic?
I was going to grab my bag and walk all the way back to civilization if I had to when Hooke cleared his throat loudly.
I glanced up, expecting him to look pissed, but he was grinning.
“What?” I snapped.
“Look down, Miss Shroud.”
Frowning, I did as he said and jumped with another curse. My feet were encased in flames quickly rising up my legs.
I screamed, but the sound cut off abruptly when I realized there wasn’t any pain. None.
“Wh—what’s happening?” Heart hammering and palms clammy, I stared at the fire until it slowly began to recede until it was gone completely.
“That would be magic,” Hooke told me proudly. “Your magic.”
The newcomers behind me had all pushed forward to see, especially those I assumed were like me and had no idea about magic until today. Nyala was one of them, eyes wide as I met her gaze.
“That’s sick,” she whispered with a lopsided grin. “Damn, Briar.”
“Fire? I can control fire?” I said, confused and awed at the same time.
“Perhaps, or perhaps another will call to you. Now then, would you like to stay here and learn, Miss Shroud? I do hope you will say yes,” Hooke stated. “There is so much more for you to learn.”
What else could I do, but nod.
“Excellent.”
I blinked, and he was back on stage, staring out over the crowd as I resumed my seat, hands shaking and glancing every so often at my feet as if they would catch fire again.
“Where was I? Ah yes,” he said with a snap of his fingers that sent sparks into the air. “Academy of Ancients offers scholarships to all newcomers, to give you a stress-free environment to study your craft. But, this scholarship is only the beginning. Your tuition, your expenses, all your expenses for the next year, those will be covered. And, after the first year, you’ll begin to draw a salary for the duties you will, in turn, provide to Academy.”
Work. I was going to learn here for a year, for free, and then I was going to turn around and learn and work here for a salary? Magic or not, this was incredible. No college would ever offer this to regular students.
No, just witches and warlocks. I grumbled under my breath, half believing I was asleep on the plane and would wake up any second now, but Hooke was talking again, and I paid close attention, definitely not wanting to miss any details now.
“At the end of your time at Academy, you’ll be expected to serve in some capacity, whether it be here within these grounds, or through other avenues open to you.”
Other avenues like what, businesses? Was he saying there were actual companies that were made up of people like us? All like us? And we had to serve with them, interesting way to put it. For some reason, I conjured images of being in the military instead of an office. I guessed it wasn’t passed the realm of possibilities for the… magic community… did I really just think that? For them to have their own military. Would we be trained to fight? To go to war against, hell, gnomes or ghouls or something like that? What else existed in this world I didn’t know about? Okay, my imagination was getting carried away, but this was all too surreal for it not to. I gave myself a little shake and concentrated on what Headmaster Hooke was saying.
“You’ll sign a contract today to let us know you are serious about this commitment. If you are not, do not sign. It is a magically bound contract and to do so will have dire consequences against your magic.”
I heard a few concerned whispers amongst the newcomers.
Hooke went on, ignoring them. Probably used to them. “Let me spell the fine print out for you in a few succinct words. We expect you to perform well in exchange for the education, room, and board. And at the end of your time here, you will have to…” He paused, his eyes searched the auditorium, until they landed right on me.
I narrowed my gaze right back at him, and he grinned, as if impressed I was being so challenging still.
He continued. “You will work for us. The minimum commitment is two years. After that, you can decide if you want to stay with us and those we work with.” Dramatic pause. “Or not.” Another glance in my direction with a shrug. “Most opt to stay.”
Why in the world was he eyeballing me? I was far from special, but he kept staring at me like he knew me somehow, knew better than I did what I was capable of. Aside from setting my shoes on fire.
“How very Skull and Bones-ish,” Nyala muttered. “Can you believe this? We’re witches.”
“Yeah, yeah we are. At least I’m not the only one who had no clue until today.”
She patted my arm. “No idea, but you know, my older brother did go to some weird college like five years ago, was all excited about it. Kept trying to ask him more about it, but he kept telling me I’d figure it out soon enough.”
“So he’s a warlock? What about your parents?”
“No idea. That’s the first phone call I’m going to be making when we’re done here.”
Other students had been talking quietly amongst themselves, but Hooke held up his hands and silence fell once again.
“I know you’re all excited to get started, but we have one more order of business to address before you sign your contracts and find your new rooms for the remainder of your stay with us.” He shook his hand, and a long scrolling pi
ece of parchment appeared in it. He tugged out a tiny pair of spectacles from his pocket and perched them on his nose. “Every incoming student will be assigned to an upperclassman. Your upperclassman is responsible for you. They are judged based on your performance, and as such, they will be your mentors, your conscience, and at times it may feel like they are even your alter ego. Until you get through your first year, you and your upperclassman will be partners. And in turn, when the time comes, you will one day also take up the role of a mentor, so pay close attention to all they do.”
“Glorified babysitters,” I muttered. “That’s just what I need.”
Nyala giggled until a few people behind us shushed us loudly. We slunk down into our seats and waited for our names to be called as Hooke started in on his list.
Tons of names were called out, or so it seemed. He announced the first-year’s name, followed by the upperclassman’s name. Both would stand and acknowledge each other before sitting back down. Hooke assured us we would have a chance to speak with our mentor before we had to sign the contract.
I didn’t really care who they assigned to me, as long as it was someone I could talk to and wouldn’t treat me like a child. Bad enough I dealt with the fact that I was a witch, and that somewhere along the lines in my family, I guessed there were more of us? Possibly? Didn’t matter, not now. I was here, and that was that. I had nowhere else to go. So long as my partner wasn’t—
“Briar Shroud.”
I startled, then stood in a hurry, Hooke gave me a bow of his head again, that mischievous glint back in his eyes as he glanced back down at the list and called out the second name. The name of the person I’d be stuck with all year.
I glanced around the room, hoping for someone with a nice face and a polite smile thrown my way.
“Zachary Pierce,” Headmaster Hooke’s voice boomed.
The smile froze on my face.
A series of tiny gasps, all female, erupted in the auditorium.
“Oh, that’s just great,” I mumbled and swore Hooke heard me because he had to cover his laugh with a cough. Was he doing this on purpose? Did he somehow know how horribly we had gotten along together already?
Zach stood near the back of the room and barely managed a nod at me before he sat back down. If I’d been closer, I knew I would’ve seen that muscle tic in his jaw start up, knowing we were stuck together for an entire year. I quickly sat back down, too as Hooke resumed his name calling.
“There is no god,” I muttered.
“He’s cute,” Nyala murmured, as if I didn’t just get the shittiest news I could have gotten all day. She turned all the way around in her seat, peering through the crowd to try and catch a glimpse of him again. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s the guy that picked me up at the airport and we, uh, we didn’t exactly hit it off so well,” I whispered. “Not sure this is such a good idea is all.” I took a deep breath, then a second to assess my situation, which pretty much sucked.
Well, not all of it sucked. I did find out I was a witch, which in hindsight was pretty awesome. I think I was slowly accepting that to be true since there was no other reasonable explanation for what I’d seen happen so far. Accepting it seemed easier than fighting it tooth and nail. So yeah, I was a witch. Go me. If only Mom could see me now… unless she knew this whole time and never told me. That’d be really great. Just one more point to add to the shitty parent column.
“That’s everyone,” Hooke said, and the list disappeared from his hands. “Please take the next few minutes to meet with your mentor and get to know one another.”
I did not want to get up from my seat to go and talk to Zach, but everyone else was already moving around, and I sensed Hooke watching me. Deciding I might as well just get it over with, I stood and found Zach standing in the aisle, arms crossed, those sapphire eyes narrowed as I trudged up to join him.
“We can move over here a bit,” he suggested tightly. “Give us some privacy. I’m sure you have questions.”
“Just a few,” I replied smartly. “Like why didn’t you tell me any of this in the car?”
He stepped into a small alcove I hadn’t even noticed when we entered the auditorium and stared at me. “Not my job.”
“Seriously? Not your job.”
“Nope, my job was to get you from the airport to here. I did that.”
I watched his eyes narrow as he glared up at Headmaster Hooke, then away. I laughed sharply as that gaze focused on me intently. “You knew, didn’t you. You knew the whole time we’d be paired up together. Wow, that’s just great.”
“If I’d told you all that at the airport, what would you have done?”
I paused, knowing exactly what I would’ve done. Not gone with him, called him a nut, and found a way to get back to Texas, or anywhere else. He flashed me that smile of his, driving me crazy, and I gave in. “You may have a point.”
“I usually do.”
“Are you going to be like this all year?”
He shrugged one shoulder, pulling his shirt tighter across his chest. “Depends. Are you going to be like this the whole year?”
“It’s who I am. You don’t like it, not my problem.”
“Actually, it is and will be.”
We stared each other down, but if he thought he was going to intimidate me into behaving like a good first-year, he had another thing coming. I quirked my brow at him and grinned brightly, telling him exactly how difficult I could make his life without saying a single word. The seconds ticked by and I inwardly shouted in triumph when he was the first to sigh, giving in.
“Look, this is my senior year, and the last thing I want to deal with is someone trying to play the smartass rebel,” he informed me. “I won’t get in your way, but you have to start giving a damn.”
I flinched back at those words. “Who said I didn’t?”
“Your attitude since the second I picked you up. I get it, you have some dark, harsh past, whatever,” he muttered. “Get over it because none of that matters anymore.”
“The hell it doesn’t.”
“It doesn’t,” he repeated firmly.
I found myself biting back the rest of the words I wanted to fling at him.
“You just found out you’re a witch and that’s a lot to take in. So, take it in, and understand that this, right here and now, this is your life, Shroud. It’s one hell of a chance. Do yourself a favor and don’t blow it because you have a chip on your shoulder.”
I studied my feet, shuffling them as he called me out for my bullshit. No one ever did that to me. No one else usually cared enough to do it. They just left me alone, but Zach, he wasn’t going to let me be on my own here, no matter how much of a fight I put up.
“Can’t help it,” I admitted. “But… I’ll try.”
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
“Whatever,” I said, surprised to hear myself laugh and his shocked gaze said he felt the same. “So, I’m a witch, and that makes you a warlock?”
“Tenth generation, at your service.” He gave a little bow. “And don’t worry, once you get into the swing of things here, you’ll get over the shock and awe of magic actually existing.”
Not sure I agreed with him, but I promised I would try and I wasn’t about to go back on my word. “Yeah, sure. Anything I should know about this place? Or you, I guess?” I picked at my nails as I nervously added, “Or why you were being a bit rude in the car earlier?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and for a split second, looked ashamed. “Yeah, about that, hard not to be wary of someone when their aura is as red as yours, and then you bring up disappearances happening at this Academy that no one I know has ever heard of.”
“Aura?”
He nodded.
“That’s a thing?”
“You’re going to find a lot of things here are a thing.”
“And red is what, bad?” I stared down at myself as if I could see it, but there was nothing red floating around me. And my feet were
n’t on fire again at least. “How bad?”
“Depends on how you look at it I guess. There are positives and negatives to all colors, but red, well, that usually means danger… and warning.”
Great. So not only was I finding out information about this Academy no one else knew, I was a walking warning sign of danger? Bells rang in my mind that something was terribly wrong about my being here, but what was I supposed to do?
“I’m sure it’s nothing, probably just residual from your past.”
“Yeah, right, because that makes sense.” I wished I could see what he saw. “Will I be able to do that? See auras I mean?”
“Depends on what element works well with you.”
I scratched at my head confused. “Auras are an element? Thought there were only four.”
“There’s five total, but you’ll get into all of that once orientation starts tomorrow. And trust me, any other questions you’re going to ask will also be answered.”
“So, I shouldn’t stand here and run through the list in my head?” He was probably getting bored talking to me, not that I could blame him. “How about anything pertinent I should know before I make you look bad?” My words came out harsher than I meant, and his smile fell, leaving him scowling at me.
Yeah, it was going to be a long first few weeks here, asking me to readjustment my entire attitude.
“You can’t leave campus.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
He crossed his arms, suddenly looking very pleased with himself. “Can’t leave campus, not your entire first year here, at least not without an upperclassman, one in particular.”
“You.” I rolled my eyes.
“Me.” He nodded, his dark blue eyes as unfathomable as the Pacific.
Did he have to look so damned smug about it? “Ok, can’t leave campus for a year. Not like I have anywhere to go I guess unless I need things.”
“They offer most things here, not very stylish clothes, but enough to get you by. If you’re looking for something more fashionable, or what not, you’ll have to have me drive you into town. And word of warning? I’m not some girlfriend who’s going to want to go shopping every weekend, not that you’re going to have time for that nonsense,” he added.
