A Charmed Mind: Mage Paranormal Romance (Illusions Academy Book 1)

by Kaylin Peyerk

Before I can question myself further, a knock at the door startles me. Who would be visiting my dorm room this early? Surely it’s some of Sage’s friends? I’ll just let them know she’s at the rec hall. The door swings open, and my entire mood sours when I see who’s standing on the other side. Demetri is leaning against the doorframe with both hands shoved casually in his pockets. Of all people, how did he find out where my dorm room is? Before I can ask he barges past me, taking a look around without my permission.

  “Which one is your room?” he asks, turning back toward me while flashing that million dollar smile.

  I flush and turn away, gesturing to the open door. “Get out. I don’t recall inviting you inside.”

  He ignores me while pouring himself a cup of coffee, and even has the audacity to pop open the fridge in search of creamer. Annoyance floods through me as I watch him act at home in my kitchen. Who does he think he is? We’re not close anymore, and we haven’t been for years. Did he hit his head on the way over here or something?

  I step forward to chew him out when he turns back to me, taking a big gulp of coffee. He sighs, his eyes rolling back in his head. A slight moan of pleasure escapes him, making me jump. The sight forces me to lose my train of thought, and all I can think about is what else makes him moan like that. My cheeks flush, and I shake my head.

  Get your thoughts out of the gutter Elise!

  He wanders closer to stare out of the bay windows. “I’m totally coming here for coffee every morning. I knew your mother would set you up with top notch brew.”

  I roll my eyes. “How’d you even find my dorm room? Are you a stalker now?”

  He turns, grinning, “No, but I’ve become quite popular with the ladies since the last time we saw each other. They tell me everything I want to know.”

  “Alright Casanova, whatever you say,” I reply while retreating toward my bedroom.

  Demetri follows me in, much to my irritation, before flopping into the chair by the dresser. His eyes follow me around the room as I grab the things I need for a shower.

  “This is a lot of pink, I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type to be obsessed with it,” he comments, frowning at a pair of ceramic flamingos sitting on the dresser.

  I shrug. “I didn’t design this room, my mother did. Nothing in here is mine other than a few picture frames and my clothes. You of all people should understand that.”

  Before he can respond, I shut the bathroom door between us, leaning against it. Why did I say that like we relate to each other? Like we’re friends? We’ve never been friends and never will be! Ugh, it’s his sudden and unavoidable good looks. They’re messing with my head. Maybe a steaming shower will fix that.

  I step in, sighing at the contact. My eyes flutter closed as I soap myself up, but his smirking face invades my thoughts, causing a carnal reaction within me. Ugh! My eyes fly open and I rinse as quickly as possible before stumbling out of the shower. Apparently nothing is safe. To get any peace, I have to kick him out, knowing that he’s sitting in my bedroom while I’m naked isn’t helping me to forget his sexy smile.

  No! It's not sexy!

  I throw on a pair of jeans and a plain black tee shirt before banging the door open again. Demetri is now lying across my bed, holding himself up with one elbow while tapping away at his phone. My face flames at the suggestive pose, and I gesture wildly at him. His eyes lift to meet mine, but all he does is raise one unconcerned eyebrow.

  “What?” He asks.

  “Get off my bed! We’re not friends, you know that right?” I practically shout, still flailing my arms in the air like a crazy woman.

  His hand goes to his heart. “You wound me so. We’re friends.”

  I narrow my eyes as I stalk forward to tower over him. “No, we’re not.”

  He bites his lip while looking up at me, and I try my best not to react. He truly is handsome. If I’m honest with myself those blue eyes have always stirred something within me. Lucky for me his stupidity and irritating personality always overrode any attraction I had toward him. I’m sure that nothing’s changed in that department. But this look is testing that theory, that is, until he speaks.

  “Fine, we’re not friends. Want to be something else instead?” he asks, licking his lips. My face burns and I close my eyes against the desire.

  “No, you pervert! Get off my bed!” I say, smacking him.

  He hops up, laughing, while rubbing his shoulder. “God! You are the same old El. It’s nice to have you back. Let’s go get breakfast at the rec hall.”

  He saunters out of the room like nothing happened, and I fume as I pull on my boots. Was that a test? A game to him? If so, he really is a playboy these days. That’s even worse than my memories of a teasing, slightly irritating, Demetri. People that play with another person's emotions are sleazy, unforgivable. If I find out that that’s the kind of person he’s become, cutting ties with him will be even easier. Not that it’s hard for me now.

  Chapter Five

  The rec hall is massive and full of bustling students, first and second years alike. Most of them recognize Demetri and wave or stop him to chat. At each stop I’ve attempted to flee, but he always stops me by grasping my hand. I’m not exactly thrilled at the message that sends to the people around us, so I stopped trying to run away.

  He introduces me to the various clicks, and most of them eye me curiously until we’re stopped by a group of girls. Their eyes are like knives in my chest, and it makes me realize for the second time in two days that hanging out with Demetri will bring me nothing but misery and irritation.

  “So, you’re the famous Elise Peterson?” a girl asks while popping bubble gum.

  The sight makes me cringe. “Yes, that’s me.”

  “Demetri!” a familiar voice shouts, and we both turn to find the girl from yesterday.

  Her eyes narrow when she spots me, and I suddenly wish that I could melt right into the floor. Is this what it feels like to be targeted by a mean girl? I thought this only happens in books and movies? Demetri stiffens beside me, but when I look up he’s still grinning slyly as if nothing’s wrong. Who knew he was so good at hiding his emotions behind a smile?

  “Good morning Allison,” he murmurs lowly, and most of the girls around us swoon at the timber of his voice.

  I roll my eyes and look down at our conjoined hands. When did that happen again? I didn’t even realize it. She saunters closer to him as I try to yank my hand from his grip to no avail. Why won’t he let go? Allison stops in front of him, completely ignoring my presence, and places one hand against his chest. When she smiles I swear her teeth actually sparkle in the sunlight coming in through the windows. That’s how beautiful this girl is. And yet, Demetri is still holding my hand.

  “I missed you last night, why didn’t you come to my room like you promised?” she asks, running two fingers down his chest.

  My face flames for him at this very public display of sexual desire. Is this actually attractive to guys? If his rigid posture is any indication, the answer would be no, even hell no. But did he promise to go to her room? And if he did, what were they going to do? Allison shoves her boobs against his chest, effectively answering my question. Good god this girl has no shame.

  I renew my efforts of yanking my hand away, and this time, he lets me go. Surprised that he did, I stumble back, catching Allison’s attention again. The fire in her eyes freezes me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she lifted her fingers to reveal real fire burning there. If looks could kill, this one would. She steps closer to me, so close that I can smell her lilac perfume.

  “You! Didn’t I tell you to stay away?” she whispers, so no one else can hear.

  Demetri steps closer to me, brushing his fingertips against my own, sparking magic within me. The power fills me in a rush, and I practically get drunk on it. Is this how my parents feel all the time? No wonder they’re so confident and sure of themselves. This is what being on top of the world is like, this is what being the strongest woman in the room fe
els like.

  “And didn’t I tell you who I am?” I ask, leaning in.

  We lock eyes as she stiffens, and I grin. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid at this school, so why am I being so confrontational? It’s his damn fingers still touching mine, making me feel more powerful than I really am. I jerk my hand away from his and the magic dampens, shrinking without his presence. The fact that he’s the only thing or person who’s been able to pull my magic out of me is infuriating, not cute. Plus, I have a rival on day one because of the man whore next to me. My blood boils, and I wish that alone was enough to awaken my magic.

  “I know who your parents are, but you? I haven’t heard a thing,” she replies, grinning slyly.

  Demetri steps between us, attempting to break it up, but I’m already walking away. Girls like that live for getting a rise out of people, and even if it’s working, I don’t want to show it by egging her on. The sound of footsteps follows me, and I wish it wouldn’t. Demetri just can’t take the hint, can he? Sage and her friends spot me, waving excitedly for me to come over. Her eyes slide behind me and a blush fans across her face, confirming my suspicions. I whirl on him and he staggers to a stop, almost knocking into me.

  “Go back to the popular table and stop following me!” I hiss.

  He scratches his chin, a dumbfounded look on his face. “Come one, El, don’t be like that.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’ve told you over and over I’m not your friend, and we don’t have some special bond between us just because you know me. I don’t want any trouble here, I don’t want to be the popular girl, I just want to learn magic.”

  He steps closer, brushing his fingers against my side. “But you need me for that, right?”

  His eyes burn into mine when I look up, and it startles me how serious he looks.

  “No, I don’t,” I say, turning away from him.

  He doesn’t follow me, but waits until I’m far enough away to reply so everyone can hear. “Now you’re just lying to yourself.”

  I flinch, but don’t stop walking. He’s just the same as the others, always trying to make a scene. Always trying to look cool to others, to get a rise out of people. It’s the mark of someone not worth knowing. Now I can feel everyone watching me as I sit down beside my fellow first years, people no one else here cares about. That’s exactly how I want it to be, well, minus the staring.

  “Geez Elise! How’d you become the center of attention already?” Sage asks, laughing.

  “Ugh, I know. It’s awful,” I groan, covering my face.

  The other girls lean in, listening. “Why are you so upset about it? I’d love to get attention from a man like Demetri,” Sage gushes, blushing.

  Her friends look between each other, rolling their eyes. Sage totally missed the point. Demetri may be hot and popular, but that comes with consequences for girls like us. I’m not my mother, I’m not all powerful or beautiful, and until this moment, I’ve been perfectly fine with just being average. Why does two days with Demetri make me feel otherwise?

  “Yeah, whatever you say,” is all I respond, all while stealing glances at Demetri as he strides away.

  His painless confidence is both enviable and infuriating. No one is supposed to feel that at ease in their skin. As if the entire world has to apologize to them for existing rather than the other way around. He doesn’t fidget, withdraw into himself, or even feel self-conscious. I’m not sure if that new development since the last time I saw him makes me hate him more or less.

  ***

  Monday morning came way too fast. I wake up sweating from the nerves of my first class, and I suspect it won’t get any better as the day drags on. Will I have to complete magical rituals in front of everyone else? Or will it be mostly theory based?

  A girl can only hope.

  It takes me no time at all to shower and grab coffee, then I’m out the door speed-walking to class so I can arrive before everyone else. Getting a seat at the back will be crucial to me fading into the background. No one will whisper about me if they can’t look at me. At least that’s what I try to tell myself as I edge around a group of second years on the sidewalk.

  I can feel their eyes burning into my back as I hurry away. Being the supposed magical prodigy of the twenty-first century in the eyes of my peers feels like a death sentence. Everyone knows where I came from, or rather, who I came from. They’ll be circling me like vultures just for the chance to glimpse the kind of power my mother had passed onto me. Too bad I can’t control it yet.

  The building is bright today since all the fluorescent lights are on, but thankfully the halls are empty this early, making it easy to slip into my first classroom unnoticed. Each row has five seats, and I choose the closest to the window and in the back. Hopefully it will send a clear message that I don’t want to make friends.

  Since the teacher isn’t here yet I pop in my headphones and pull up the hoodie I wore over this hideous uniform. Who in their right mind decided we should wear so much plaid? Students filter in around me, but I do an excellent job at ignoring their presence. A girl even sits down next to me, but I turn my face away, hiding within the confines of my hood. I will not give these people one more reason to draw attention to me.

  Only when the teacher arrives in a flurry of papers and floating books do I look up from my phone. My eyes watch the silvery magic curl around the books with hunger. Despite what people might think, I haven’t seen much magic in my lifetime. My parents, being the powerful beings that they are, exercise tight control. Magic, to them, isn’t to be used frivolously. In other words, we lived like normals. Or at least, I did, while my parents were out kicking magical ass as the head of the council.

  The books fly down the aisles, landing hard on each desk, sometimes forcing kids to duck out of the way or risk being smacked. Since I’m furthest from the front I’m the last one to get a book, and it makes the final loud echoing sound as it plops onto my desk. For some reason that attracts the eye of the teacher, and she smiles brightly at me, recognition lighting her face. She looks familiar to me, but I can’t quite place her name. I’ve met almost all of the professors of the academy over the years at one event or another. If my parents weren’t busy fighting dark magic, they were busy networking, which, unfortunately for me, meant I was drug along. Thankfully her eyes slide away to peruse the rest of the class, and I loosen a breath. Crisis averted

  “Good morning students, my name is professor Elphane. Welcome to your first, and perhaps most important, class. Introduction to magic sounds silly, simple even, but I assure you that it is not. Here you will learn all of the base ideologies of magic, including the four mage classifications,” She pauses, scanning us again as if to ensure we’re paying attention. “As today is the first day of class, we will go over the syllabus and discuss the schedule of assignments. But first, are there any burning magical questions for me?”

  A cocky looking boy lounging at the front of the class with his tie hanging loose waves in the air. “You said four classes when there’s five.”

  The entire class shifts in their seats as a wave of murmuring floats around the room. Even thinking about the forbidden fifth classification sends goose bumps down my arms. Why would this guy bring it up on the first day? Is he trying to get kicked out in record time? Instead of becoming angry, professor Elphane smiles giddily. She almost appears excited to put the boy in his place.

  “Ah, your mother told me about your fascination with the fifth line Jonathan, but I didn’t think you’d be so brazen as to mention it on day one.” She stops to hop onto the front of her desk, flipping her golden blonde hair in the process. “We will start with a lesson. As I’m sure most of you know, there are four major classifications of magic. Healing, elemental, phrenic, and divination. Healing is easy to identify, and the second most common affinity. It is the ability to conjure potions, know herbs and tonic ingredients on sight, and in some cases, even being able to heal by touch. Mages with this power will have blindingly white magic, almost a
ngelic.

  “Elemental magic is broad in nature and the most prevalent trait amongst mages in our time. The rarity comes in the type of elemental magic a mage possesses. The order of rarity in our current society, going from most frequent to least is fire being red, water being blue, air being yellow, and then earth which is green. Spirit, which can be identified as purple magic, was once controlled by mages, but we haven’t had a spirit wielder identified in centuries.”

  A girl raises her hand shyly, and the professor waves for her to speak. “How do we know the type of mage we are?”

  Professor Elphane laughs prettily, and I can practically see the males in the room melt. She’s a hauntingly attractive mage which leads me to believe that she’s elemental. Almost all elementals I’ve met are beautiful beyond measure. But she has to have a power level of seven or higher to be a professor, so if she is elemental, she must possess a rare affinity.

  “That is the question, isn’t it? Mages like you and your classmates are born with magic power that almost always refuses to awaken until your late teens or early twenties. That’s why it’d be a waste to have magic high schools or grade schools. Before you stepped onto this campus you were regular people, human. Now, every single minute you spend here will help you to determine your place in the magical community. Everyone on this campus is committed to pulling that magic up and out of you, no matter how stubborn it is. It is our oath, our promise to you,” she finishes, smiling cheekily.

  “You still haven’t answered my question,” Jonathan quips, sounding annoyed.

  At that statement, professor Elphane’s face goes slack. The room is silent, but a certain sense of awe swirls in my stomach, and by the looks on everyone’s faces, I’m not the only one. Of course a room full of young mages would be starstruck by this force of a woman, so what’s that guy's problem? How can a student be so rude to a teacher? The professor turns, forcing a now cold smile onto her face. It doesn’t suit her.

  “I’m getting there Jonathan, do not rush me. One more outburst from you will land you in detention on your first day, and trust me, it’s much worse than traditional detention.” She pauses, glaring at him for emphasis as he shrinks in his seat.