by K M Charron
His eyes widened in horror.
She shuddered and backed away, ready to bolt.
“Unbelievable,” he whispered, shaking his head and swallowing hard. “How could it not work? You’re not a…” He seemed to be in disbelief and stopped himself from saying what he clearly wanted to.
“I’m not a what?” she asked, more confused.
“I’ve got to go.”
Now he was the one to back away in apparent fear, booking it back to the cafeteria.
What the hell was happening? If she’d heard of these experiences from someone else, she’d think they were straight-up nuts. Even Harper, who was odd on a good day and believed in some unusual things, would find Ainsley certifiable.
She’d never felt more alone.
Ainsley wanted away from here. Spinning on her heels, she sprinted in the opposite direction from Jax, toward a set of doors with zero idea about where she was going. She didn’t get far.
Ainsley crashed into something so hard it felt as though her ribs flexed. The wind was knocked clean from her, and she doubled over, her eyes swimming.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” the voice said. Hands clasped her shoulders, but she was only able to lift her head high enough to spot an Ashcroft striped tie and a white button-down shirt. Well, that narrowed it down. The wall of muscle she’d hit told her it probably wasn’t female this time.
“Seriously, say something,” a nervous voice said.
Ainsley’s lungs calmed enough to allow some breath back inside, and she was able to straighten. “I’m okay, just had the wind knocked out of me.” Her gaze moved up, and she saw Justin. “Are you okay? I hit you pretty hard.”
He smiled his suspiciously charming smile. “I think I’ll be okay.”
His green eyes truly seemed to sparkle, and she hated herself for even thinking it. All she wanted was to meet Harper and grab something to eat, not face another unwanted distraction.
She supposed it was only polite to smile back, which she did, but when she tried to walk around him, he slid a few steps over and blocked her from passing. “Where are you running off to?”
Irritation bubbled inside her chest. “I’m not running off. I’ve had a long day, and I just want to get some dinner with my roommate.” It came out snippy, instead of the firm way she’d intended, but maybe it would encourage him to step aside.
“Anything I can do to help?” Justin cocked his head, staring like he was hoping to be her knight in shining armor.
Her brows knit together. “I don’t need saving if that’s your game. I’m headed to the caf. So if you wouldn’t mind.” She motioned for him to move and attempted to swerve around him.
He put his hands up in surrender. “I don’t want to piss you off. It just looked like you could use a friend. And for the record, I don’t think you’re a damsel in distress, but for the record, you are heading away from the cafeteria.” He smiled again but took a step back, so she had room to pass.
Now that she had the extra space, she wasn’t sure she wanted it. “I’m sorry. It’s not you. I’m just a bit stressed.”
“I can see that. It can help to talk sometimes, and I happen to be a great listener.” He grinned in a way that nearly disarmed her. “I’ll only interrupt you every other sentence to ask stupid questions, but other than that, I’m golden.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. He was already making her feel better. “I’m sure you have better things to do.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and then immediately released it. She would not flirt with him. She was in the midst of a personal crisis.
“My God, Ainsley, why are you so stubborn?” He laughed and scrubbed his face with his hands.
Her heart fluttered as her name floated off his lips. “It’s part of my charm.” She didn’t want to face him, afraid he’d see the worry in her eyes and push for details.
“You really should tell someone what’s upsetting you, and I hope that someone is me.”
“I can’t.” The trembling inside her didn’t agree, though. She wanted to tell someone, and he was right here asking.
“Why not? You don’t trust me?”
“I don’t know you enough to trust you.”
His head sprang up as though she’d said something that changed everything. “Well, we can fix that. I guess you’ll just have to get to know me. We can start with you telling me what has you looking like you’ve seen a ghost. But, then again, this place is old and creepy. Is that what it was, did you see a ghost?” He grinned wide and poked her in the arm.
“It’s stranger than that. You’ll think I’m crazy.”
He chewed his bottom lip like he was trying to decide if he should say something. “You’d be surprised. Besides, you can’t actually know if I’ll think you’re crazy unless you tell me.”
Her heart warmed. He was trying so hard and seemed sincere. “That’s an interesting way to reason this.” She laughed. Her mind raced back and forth between wanting to tell him everything and giving him a lie as stand-in. The truth was, she had no clue who she could or couldn’t trust. Sydney and Jax had acted so bizarrely, and Justin was their best friend. She needed to keep her distance, no matter what, no matter how much she wanted to confide in him. To be near him. To grab his face and kiss him.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m good. Take care, Justin,” Ainsley said, leaving him in the hallway, her heart in her throat.
Chapter 6
Sydney
All the other apprentices were in the Potions room when Sydney arrived. She collected her robes, grimoire, and quill from her cubby and hurried to the Potions classroom with two minutes to spare.
She slid inside, her gaze sweeping the medium-sized room. It was her favorite space in the Nest. The rows and rows of ingredients in brightly colored bottles called out to her, each full of wonder and possibilities. With them, she could create literal magic, maybe change her life one day, but that would have to wait since the Masters monitored the elements and supervised the apprentices closely.
She spotted Langston and Ava at one of the tables. She regarded Langston’s rich, gold-flecked brown eyes and smooth black skin. He wasn’t the tallest in their class, but he more fit and muscular than most guys their age. Their playful laughter aroused a sharp pang of jealousy in the pit of Sydney’s stomach, even though she knew it was paranoid of her to be so. Langston was crazy about her. He’d chased her for months before she’d finally agreed to go on a date with him. And when she’d finally agreed, he’d been so nervous his hands shook when he’d handed the barista his money for her hot chocolate and raspberry scone and his peppermint mocha and peanut butter cookie at the Overlook Café in town.
Ignoring an obnoxious giggle from Ava, Syd held her head high and walked over. “What’s so funny?” She did her best to keep any tinge of attitude out of her voice so that she wouldn’t come across as insecure. She was Sydney Lockwood after all, what did she need to be insecure about?
“Hey,” Langston smiled, but Sydney noticed it didn’t reach his eyes.
Pulling a chair next to him, she lifted a small vial of ground elk hooves, pretending to inspect it. “Sorry about being late,” she said, “although it looks like you found another tutor.” She didn’t glance at Ava, who was suddenly busy with a glass jar of molted snake-skin and minced lizard.
“We’re learning how to make sleeping potions today,” Ava said gleefully.
“I’d rather learn how to stay awake. Coven classes on top of Ashcroft ones are taking their toll.” Not to mention trying to figure out what kind of magic existed in that underground room and who the skeleton belonged too. Oh yes, and the fact that the world’s most irritating middling knew all about it.
A large steaming cup appeared in front of Syd, and the smell of fresh coffee hung in the air.
“You’re welcome,” Ava said, an arrogant twist to her jaunty voice.
Syd did her best to quell the panic threatening to burst out. When did Ava learn how to conjure solid objects? “N
eat trick,” she said coolly as if it wasn’t an advanced skill for their year.
Máthair Bello, a High magic Master and Langston’s great aunt, called the class to order, and the apprentices took their places. It was two witches per table, and Sydney always shared with Langston. She glared at Ava, waiting for her to leave, before yanking her books up and sulking her way over to the next table where Khourtney sat. Langston didn’t even have the good sense to ask her to stay.
The White witch Master, Khourtney’s grandmother, Máthair Celeste Zhang, was helping Máthair Bello lead the lesson. “Quiet, everyone. The first thing you need to do is collect two ounces of Valerian herb and three pinches of lavender and place them in the mortar. Grind them with your pestle until completely crushed.”
Máthair Zhang strolled between the tables, checking amounts. She was a petite Chinese woman in her mid-sixties but with the glowing skin of a forty-year-old. Her dark brown eyes were a contrast to her shiny salt and pepper hair, which she wore in a twist on the top of her head. Tonight, she wore a floor-length green and white dress with tiny pink flowers speckled across it.
She stopped to inspect Khourtney’s mortar and pestle progress. “Good, now grasp the bottle of fermented Reed Palm firmly and shake out about half of the bottle. Mix it all together and wait for further instructions.”
Yesterday, they had learned the accompanying spell to go with tonight’s potion. A potion’s strength and longevity increased when performed in conjunction with the proper spell. It helped fortify the substance’s magical properties.
Langston stretched toward Syd and whispered, “You okay? You seem out of it.” He gently took the Reed Palm out of her hand and shook the remainder out into her mortar, looking out of the corner of his eye to make sure his aunt or Máthair Zhang hadn’t seen. It was forbidden to touch any other witch’s implements. Success or failure was to be each individual’s alone.
Sydney’s body ached, and it took all her strength the keep upright. “I’m fine,” she whispered back. Pulling herself up straighter, she willed her body to cooperate. She needed to stop being so fragile.
After a few more instructions, the sleeping potion, which would put the recipient into a deep sleep from one to twenty-four hours depending on the dosage, was completed. She decided that she’d enjoy using this on her mother from time to time, although she knew her mother would flay her alive if Sydney ever attempted any magic on her—daughter or not.
It was nearly 9:30 p.m., and she and the other apprentices still hadn’t been dismissed. The class had moved onto a truth potion that would compel the recipient to answer all questions honestly and without filter. This one had the potential to be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands. Like all of the potions and spells they were learning lately, it worked on other witches. Even advanced witches weren't immune to its effects. Maybe if they were, she considered, there would be no threat of warring covens and no need for the Directive. Technically there was an active Peace Treaty, but Sydney’s mother hadn’t put a lot of stock in that. It was the one thing from her mother’s lips that she believed without question.
Now the apprentices were tasked with concocting potion mixtures from only a list of suitable ingredients. Máthair Bello paced up and down the aisle, checking and rechecking everyone’s concoctions to see if they were on track.
“More thyme, Mr. Brighton. Less beetle blood, Ms. Evans.”
Sydney felt the looming presence of the Master witch before her. Suddenly, the ladle was snatched from her hands. Máthair Bello brought it up to her nose and inhaled the purple, bubbling brew. “What have you used, Ms. Lockwood?” Steely eyes seemed to hypnotize Sydney.
Sydney blinked, trying to refocus but felt Langston and the other apprentices watching her. She swallowed hard. “Frog heart, crushed lizard bones, the milk of a dandelion root, and lilac and sage sprigs.” Sydney pushed past her nerves to meet Máthair Bello’s gaze. She refused to be intimidated.
“Is that all, Ms. Lockwood?”
Her fierce, unmoving stare made Sydney queasy.
Did I miss something? She was sure it was correct, but… “Um, well––”
“Um? Well? What is the missing ingredient? Or perhaps you don’t know.” Máthair Bello circled Sydney’s table, bouncing the pointer in her hand on the wooden tabletop. Tap. Tap. Tap. Her braid pulled the skin around her eyes taut, causing her to appear even sterner if possible. “You know, or you do not know, Ms. Lockwood. I do not have time for stalling.”
Shit, had she missed something? She tried to remember what her text had said. “The web of a wolf spider?”
“Is that a question?” Máthair Bello stooped to face her. Both wrinkled hands rested on the table as she stared into Sydney’s eyes. Langston’s aunt did not go easier on her. That would be favoritism, and she—a respected Master—was not about to show preference to any apprentice.
Sydney squared her shoulders, unwavering. “A statement not a question. The missing ingredient is web of wolf spider.”
Máthair Bello straightened before stepping away. “Good. Carry on.”
She nearly collapsed. She’d done it. Barely. She had to keep on her toes if she wanted to excel during this phase of testing. Her exhaustion would be worth it, she reminded herself, when she proved to her mother that she was wrong about her. Not to mention finally besting Ava’s brother, Oliver. They’d been rivals since before Syd could remember. Since their mothers were such good friends, he and Ava were in many of Sydney’s memories. It was a good-natured rivalry for the most part, but she did enjoy bursting Oliver’s inflated ego.
Finally, the Masters dismissed the group. Students flooded into the Main Hall, each shuffling to get their robes off and their grimoires packed up as fast as possible to savor the last hour before Ashcroft curfew. “Want to go somewhere?” Langston asked, his eyes suggesting that he wanted to do more than just hang out.
“I’d love to, but I need to do something first.” Her chest tightened. She hoped he wouldn’t take it as a rejection since she’d blown him off hours ago.
The disappointment showed on his face instantly. “What’s more important this time? We’ve barely hung out. Unless you’re avoiding me?”
“I promise I’m not—”
He spun on his heels. “Save the excuses.”
Anger rose in her so unexpectedly that she had to inhale slowly to keep from lashing out. She didn’t have time to reassure him or to fight. She needed to find Oswald and ask him what he knew about the secret room that had possibly been a part of their coven once.
She pulled on his arm, hoping to end this. “I’m exhausted, and I don’t want to argue.” A lie would speed this up. “I’d love to spend more time with you. You know I miss you, but I need to see my mother. She just messaged me.”
His turned, his eyes softening. “Oh, okay. Do you want me to wait?”
“Who knows how long I’ll be. She does love a lengthy lecture. I’ll text you later, okay?”
Thankfully that was enough to send him off. She waved to Justin, Khourt, and Ava as they left, but Jax stayed behind. He kept glancing up at her, stalling as he pretended to put his stuff away. As soon as most of the other apprentices had cleared out, Jax rushed toward her.
“To what do I owe the honor?” Syd said, curious.
“We need to talk.” He was pale and appeared more wound up than she’d ever seen him. His usual lighthearted playfulness was gone. She’d never seen this side of him.
“You’re freaking me out. What’s wrong?”
He grabbed her upper arm and yanked her to the side of the room. “It’s that middling, Ainsley.”
She detached his hand from her arm and rolled her eyes. “What now?” That girl loved being the center of drama. It was pathetic.
“I was sitting at the fountain earlier with a few of the guys from my Economics class, and they were screwing around. Then one fell back into the fountain water but didn’t come up. He vanished!”
Syd’s stomach clenched. “What do
you mean he didn’t come up? It’s just a garden decoration, not a lake.”
Jax leaned closer, whispering, “Exactly. I had to pull him out with magic. He was under so long I had to do a simultaneous healing spell to get him breathing again.”
“First of all, impressive that you did simultaneous spells. You’ll have to show me how. Second, what does any of this have to do with Ainsley?” She did her best to keep her focus on Jax, training her eyes on the rim of his black glasses, but her mind kept drifting off to where Oswald could be and if she could get to him without anyone seeing.
“She was there, saw the whole thing, and she freaked right out. So, I used a forgetting spell on her at the same time as the other guys. That’s where it gets really weird.”
Sydney’s stomach did a pirouette. He had her full attention now. She already hated where this conversation was going.
“It didn’t work on her, Syd. She saw everything, and I don’t know who she’s going to tell. Not that anyone would believe her, but that if they did…” He was rambling.
Heat filled Sydney’s body, and her vision darkened. This couldn’t be happening. What if her mother found out? She cut him off, “What did you do?”
“I didn’t know what to do, so I took off.” His eyes swept the room around them, making sure no one was listening.
Sydney’s skin tingled, and her vision returned. So it wasn’t only her magic that didn’t work on the girl. Was it all magic? “Have you ever heard of a middling being immune to magic?” she asked.
“No. I mean, I’ve studied everything about Black magic I can get my hands on and never heard of that. Maybe it’s known in another proficiency? We should tell your mother. She’ll know what to do.”
Her hands grasped his shirt and pinned him in place. “No. We can’t do that. My mother is the last person who needs to hear about this. Please, Jax, don’t tell anyone. We’ll deal with this together.” She despised the pleading tone in her voice. It was only a small step from actually begging. And she, Sydney Lockwood, did not beg.