by A. N. Sage
“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention, I’m new—“
“I don’t need your life story,” she snapped, “just stay out of my way!”
“You okay, Savannah?” Another girl yelled out a few feet away from us. Her fiery red waves bounced as she jogged to meet her rude friend.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Whoever this is decided to try to kill me, apparently,” Savannah bit out.
Her eyes zeroed in on me and I could sense her stare burrow into my bones. My magic screamed beneath my skin and I tightened my lips into a thin line to keep myself from lashing out at her. So much for staying unnoticed.
“I’m really sorry,” I said through clenched teeth. “It’s my first day and I’m just trying to find reception.”
“You should try finding your balance first,” Savannah growled.
Was this asshole for real right now? It was an honest mistake and she was way extra with her responses. Though judging by her appearance, I doubted anyone at this pathetic school dared do anything to anger this chick. I’ve seen enough movies about human high schools to know a mean girl when I saw one and Savannah was as wicked as they came. Snarl and all.
The redhead next to her snickered and turned away, hiking up the straps of her floral tank top to reveal a sliver of midriff. “Abigail! You coming?”
From behind them, another girl appeared, trailed by three boys that all looked like they just finished auditioning for some beach babe movie. The girl, Abigail, had her fingers entwined in the hand of one of them and she walked over to us, dragging him behind.
“Calm your shit, Morgan, we still have ten minutes to class.” She rolled her eyes and turned to plant a kiss on the boy’s cheek. “See you at lunch, babe.”
The four of them turned to look at me and I froze in my tracks; it felt like I was being pulled into something I would definitely regret later. I needed to get away from these jerks and fast. Squaring my shoulders, I made a beeline to the left to give them a wide birth. I was already past them when a deep voice called out behind me, causing me to pause.
“Reception is around the corner from the music room!” A boy from their group yelled out. “Just make a right at the next turn.”
My face blushed as I turned to face him. I mean, sure, I’ve seen my fair share of hot boys in the city but this guy was out of this world gorgeous. My gaze drifted over his messy brown hair that sat just past his ears and landed on his dazzling green eyes. He was tall, not much taller than Savannah but well built for his height. He had on a pair of ripped jeans—designer, no doubt—and a fitted golf shirt that hugged his chest muscles in all the right places. And that jawline… wars have started for less, I was sure of it.
I shook my head. “Thanks,” I said, my voice catching in my throat. “First day.”
“No problem.” Ge took a step toward me and I backed up. “Welcome to Shadowhurst, I’m River.”
River outstretched a hand and I hesitated before taking it. Fire lit in my belly as soon as our skin touched and I cursed the Goddess for putting this fine piece of man in my way. I seriously needed no more distractions today. River studied me with calculating eyes, like he wasn’t sure what to make of me.
“This is Tyler.” He pointed to the round-cheeked boy Abigail kissed. “And his girlfriend Abigail. The spit fire is Morgan and that over there is Jayden.”
River pointed to the boy next to him and Jayden bowed in a theatrical bow to me. His Shadowhurst Academy varsity jacket rode up so high when he lowered his head that it seemed like he had no neck at all; though to be fair, jacket or not, the muscle in this boy’s shoulders likely trumped his neck, regardless. “Pleasure to meet you, malady,” he joked, running his hand through thick, black hair.
“And you’ve already met Savannah. She takes some getting used to.” River smiled and I nearly fainted. “So where are you from?”
“Um,” I stumbled, trying to remember if I was allowed to tell these people anything. “Stamwick.”
“Ooooh!” Jayden crooned, “Big city girl! To what do we owe the pleasure?”
I sighed and gave my moonstone ring a few flips. “Long story.”
“We’ll be late for class,” Savannah said with venom in her voice. Her long legs strode toward River and she wrapped her red-tipped nails around his bicep to pull him away. “Let her figure out her own way, we’re not hall monitors.”
She turned and pulled him behind her with a huff while the rest followed. As they stomped away from me, River turned back smiling and a single dimple deepened in his left cheek, melting my already overheated body into oblivion. Blood cells hummed and expanded in my veins and I could feel a familiar tingle of nerves at the edges of my skin. All around me, the air became solid until I could almost hold it in the palms of my hands. My vision blurred and as I tried to blink, sparkling white lights frayed in my peripheral. My magic was going into overdrive and I wasn’t sure if it was because of his hotness or the fact that I wanted to rip Savannah’s throat out but whatever it was, I had to keep it together. I blew out a lengthy breath and turned in the direction he instructed. As I walked past the scurrying heap of students, I had the distinct impression that I was being watched. It felt like there were eyes on me with every step I took but each time I turned around, there was no one that drew my attention. Either I was losing it or whoever was stalking me was even more invisible than me.
I saw the sign for reception and sprinted in its direction, eager to get out of the hallway. So much for a good first impression, Billie. I scoffed and turned the knob to walk in.
Peyton Ling
School dragged on for hours like a bad movie set on repeat. Every class was the same and I found myself daydreaming more often than necessary. Luckily, Savannah and her team of hyenas was only in two of my classes that day and I sat far enough in the back to avoid their judging gazes. Every once in a while, my eyes locked on River and I had to shake myself to concentrate on the lessons. Is this what normal kids dealt with every day? This constant fear that someone will notice them combined with pointless infatuation? I hated every second of it.
The classrooms in Shadowhurst Academy left much to be desired. Unlike the grandeur of the buildings on campus, they were small with rows of tables lined up at the center. It was pretty much a regular classroom, chalkboard and all, and I wasn't sure why expected anything else. Oh, right! Maybe the freaking gold bell and crystal chandelier in the Main Hall threw me off kilter. All around me students whispered whenever our first period teacher, Mr. Blair, turned his back to scribble something on the board. I couldn't believe the nerve of them. Back in the coven, a head witch would singe the hairs off your arms if you talked during a lesson. I guess money really doesn't buy class, or obedience.
The lessons were simple enough to keep up with and I found I had no trouble staying on track despite this being my first day. The hardest part was keeping my backpack out of sight when I took out my binders in class for fear of the grimoire making an appearance. I was too afraid to leave it in the guesthouse so the leather-bound, hefty book of spells travelled with me to school and stayed hidden at the bottom of my pack.
When it was time to break for lunch, I stuffed my books in the surprisingly large locker assigned to me and made my way to the bustling courtyard behind the main hall.
The academy was so much bigger than I expected and it took me almost ten minutes to find a spot to sit on the freshly cut grass. I picked the one furthest from the pond as it seemed to be a hub of activity, Savannah included, but made sure to give myself a clear view of River in the process. Might as well have a good show while I ate.
River, Tyler and Jayden tossed a football while the girls cackled about something Savannah said and I found myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion. Their laughter echoed through the courtyard and drew in crowds like they were celebrities. Girls swooned over Savannah and her friends, while boys tried to cozy up next to them. It was truly a disgusting act to watch.
I bit down on my veggie sandwich and tried to remember the l
ast time I was surrounded by this many people. The answer was never. The High Coven consisted of a substantial group of witches but we never gathered in big crowds so as to not attract attention. Aside from Sebyl’s home, which we used as a meeting point, the witches kept to themselves unless ritual called for it or there was a big hunt taking place. I always loved spending time with the other witches, especially the high priestesses. Sebyl, Theodora, Luna and Rhiamon practically raised me after my useless mom was arrested and I spent every free moment trailing behind them like a love-sick puppy. As far as I was concerned, they were what magic was all about.
There were a total of eighty-seven witches in our coven back in Stamwick, though I knew there had to be more spread out across the world. If there were though, I never got to meet them. The High Coven’s main initiative was to control the infestation of the beasts that threatened human life in the shadows; or shadowers as we called them. Once, when I was still too young to know better, I asked the high priestesses why we had to vanquish them in the first place. It seemed odd to me back then that we couldn’t just let the shadowers be and go on with our lives. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sebyl that angry with me before; she even had to leave the room, like she couldn’t bother to look at me. See, what I didn’t know then was that our magic was the reason shadowers existed in the first place. The more we used our magic, the more it grew and intensified; seeping out a little more each time we wielded it. The elements have a balance of sorts that needs to remain constant and if it’s overused, anomalies begin to form as a result and the magic can go bonkers somehow—attach itself to human cells and restructure them. By the time the witches realized what was happening, it was too late and plain old humans were turning into shadowers right, left and center. I guess since we were responsible for the creation of these creatures, it was our job to clean up the mess. Of the three types, I feared the soul suckers the most since they could literally kill you with just a touch. Unlike the rest of the evil beasts that went bump in the night, the soul suckers were the hardest to lure out and deadly once they got there. Mind reapers were my next least favorite in the haunted house that was my life. On the outside, they seemed to be peaceful and kind but that was just a front to get close to the humans. One touch and these pathetic, two-faced bastards could get a lock on your brain so tight you’d be crying for your mommy in no time. Unlike the other shadowers, these guys took their time killing you and they didn’t stop until you were nothing but a void of forgotten memories and confused thoughts. If I had to pick my opponent, I’d no doubt go for a shapeshifter. They were nothing but dumb beasts with a pack mentality and easy enough to trap. Shapeshifters were less damaging and fairly easy to vanquish; though with the right spell and a few weapons, anything could be killed. Anything except the fae but we haven’t seen any around for decades so as far as I was concerned, they were as good as dead already.
I took another bite of my lunch and ran my fingers through the grass. It was weird but something about the ground here felt steeped in magic, which would explain why I had so much trouble keeping my own under control this entire time. A witch’s power stemmed from her surroundings and the stronger your connection was to the earth, the harder it was to keep your magic contained. Since I entered Shadowhurst, mine was on a whirlwind. It was like I could tap into it even without crystals or herbs which was an absolutely ridiculous thought. No witch could wield magic without external sources.
“This seat taken?” A light voice sounded next to me, turning my attention outward.
I turned to see a petite girl glare at me from above. Her narrow eyes took me in and she flipped her straight bob cut to the side to reveal streaks of red that peaked through her black locks. Unlike Savannah and her friends, this girl was dressed head to toe in black. Everything from her biker vest to her ripped shorts was studded with metal and I found myself staring at her in shock. Much like me, this kid was way out of her depth.
“Uhm, no. It’s a field, so all the seats are open.” I smiled and patted the grass beside me.
She plopped down with a sigh and tossed her navy, jean backpack to the side. Her tiny nose pointed up as she surveyed me. “Thanks! Name’s Peyton. Peyton Ling.”
She stretched out a hand and I ogled the ring tattoos on her fingers before shaking it. “Billie Stonewall. Nice to meet you.”
“First day?” Peyton asked, digging though her bag to pull out a Tupperware container. When she opened it, the scent of Dim Sum filled my nostrils and my mouth salivated uncontrollably. I looked to my half-eaten sandwich in dismay before forcing myself to take another bite.
“Yep.” I nodded between chews.
“Saw you this morning, you looked lost. Glad you found reception okay.”
So that’s who was watching me, I thought and looked down. Great, first day and I already have a stalker.
“Oh, yeah. This place is a maze.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Peyton said. “Aside from the trust-funders, it’s not so bad.”
“Trust-funders?”
Peyton pointed to Savannah and her friends. “The annoying rich kids.”
“Ah…” I pursed my lips. “I’ve had the pleasure already. Unfortunately.”
“Don’t let them get to you. They’re pricks but totally harmless. Savannah would never do anything her parents might deem as unsavory. And the Queen Bee does whatever they tell her so you’re safe.”
“So what’s the deal with them?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“The usual. Money and power.” Peyton smirked. Her phone vibrated and she fumbled with lock before frowning. “Crap! It’s my dad, I gotta take this!”
She jumped to her feet and tossed her half-eaten food back in her backpack. Peyton already had her phone to her ear when she turned back to me.
“Let’s hang out later, kay?” She yelled out without waiting for me to answer before she rushed off.
As I watched her run down the slope I let out a deep breath, shrugged my shoulders and continued eating. This day had already exhausted me and we were only half way through. I turned my ring around mindlessly while I ate, each turn leveling out my spiking body temperature. The cool breeze of Shadowhurst spun around and I closed my eyes—I could not wait to be back in the guesthouse and away from this place.
The rest of the day flew by surprisingly fast. I had two more classes after lunch and was relieved that gym wasn’t one of them since I completely blanked and forgot the gym bag Silas left for me in the main house. I tried to find Peyton after school but there was no sign of her and I had no intention of running through the halls in search of someone who I wasn’t even sure truly wanted to hang out with me. Maybe she was just being nice to the new girl.
After my last class, I was instructed by the teacher to proceed back to reception to fill out paperwork which was just as boring as it sounded. By the time I was done, the sun had already started to set and the school was all but abandoned. As I unbuckled my bike from the rack, I could hear a few hollers from the football field and my mind immediately went to River. Was he out there right now with the rest of his jock friends?
Why do you even care, Billie?
I pulled the chain off the rack and secured it back in place before wheeling the bike out of the stand. My head was pounding and all I wanted was to be back in the guesthouse. My eyes looked at the clock on my phone and I hissed. It was already half past five and I still had to bike back and get changed before dinner! From what I gathered of Silas so far, he was not a man that appreciated tardiness and I didn’t want him telling the Chandlers about what a poor house guest I was on my first week here.
Securing my backpack to the small seat at the back, I started to mount the bike when a low scuffle caught my attention. My head jerked to the bushes behind the bike rack and I was hit in the face with thick, warm air that made me gag.
“Crap!” I yelped, dropping my bike with a loud bang and reaching for the hidden dagger in my boot.
Before I had a chance to grab it, the bushes
split open and a large tiger pounced at my throat. My breath hitched and I jumped back, avoiding the creature before it could make contact. The tiger slid through the lot, its large paws kicking my bike out of the way and sending it flying across the cement.
What in the actual hell?
While the tiger rebounded, I ducked down and grabbed the dagger, holding it in front of me defensively. Beneath my skin, my magic riled to the surface, pushing its way through my blood stream. The hairs on my arms stood on edge and I shivered from the feel of the power inside me multiplying. My irises narrowed and my face flushed as I surrendered to its call. As the air thickened, I blinked to focus my vision and refused to look at the thousands of twinkling lights around me. The magic danced in circles; beckoning me to close my eyes and surrender. I patted my pockets, searching for anything I could use—a crystal, an herb, a damn stick even—but there was nothing in my reach.
The tigers golden eyes landed on me and I swear I could almost see it smile. It lunged again and I swerved out of the way. My backside collided with the bike rack and I tripped on my loose shoelaces, falling to my knees.
“Damn it!” I screamed and scrambled to get up.
The dagger glistened in the setting sun and I held it fiercely, hoping to scare off the beast. I had nothing with me to use in a vanquishing spell and if I tried to fight a shifter with just the dagger, there was good chance I’d lose. Sure, silver hurt these bastards but if I wanted to get rid of it for good, I’d need to vanquish it. This is a bloody mess!
My fingers clammed and I shakily rose to my feet, pointing the tip of the dagger at the tiger’s glaring stare. It growled and the sound sent shivers down my legs and spine. I took a step back and ground my feet into the cement just as the beast shook its brown fur before barreling toward me.
Fun in Shadowhurst
The tiger’s body slammed into me. The force knocked out my breath and I gasped as I flew back across the parking lot. Its massive paws framed my hair and I could smell the foul stench of its breath on my face like molasses. A rush of nausea hit me as I thought of the poor sucker the shadower ate before this. My fingers wrapped around the hilt of the dagger in my hand and I swung it upward, kicking the tiger’s chest and making it yelp out.
