The night before, she had arrived back at the room not long after me, treading quietly. I had instantly dived under my covers, snuggling into myself, trying not to cry. My own best friend accused me of casting an illusion that would harm someone. That had always been my rule, I had even signed a promise written by my parents. I shall never use my illusionist magic to hurt or kill another being unless in danger myself.
Shuffling her seat along, Isabel called for Helissa to join us. A part of me scowled on the inside, wishing that I could sit on my own, but the other part caught the genuine smile that my roommate threw my way.
She was just as lost as I was in the new world of witchery. Deciding to train in the arts of investigative magic made her have more in common with me than most witches.
“Morning,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes as she settled. “The professor just text to say he would start the investigation tonight. I… I…”
Her throat moved as she swallowed, obviously choking back the grief that threatened. I had listened to her cry herself to sleep the night before, unable to offer her the comfort she obviously needed. I wouldn’t do that today. I was a good girl, a nice girl… it was time I started acting it. Until someone went over the line, then it all went out the window.
“Tonight?” I said, shaking my head. “That’s so wrong. Why is he delaying it? Surely, in an academy full of ex-agents, they must know how to easily find the culprit and bring back Toby the snake?”
Our attention was caught by every student who entered greeting Dracian Dread. Their loud ruckus distracted me as they poured over him, almost adoring his annoying witch-self.
“How does everyone know him?” I asked Isabel.
Looking up from checking her Instagram, Isabel hummed a response, not quite hearing what I had said. When it sunk in, she shook herself and laughed.
“Oh, he set up a ton of get-togethers through the summer so the school year could get to know one another. Of course, you didn’t know that you were coming then, so…”
Helissa moved her chair and blocked my view of the boy who had apparently charmed everyone before he had even arrived. I would have a tough job getting close to him. Not in that way, that was disgusting and disturbing considering what he had done. But, I had to get the proof needed to let everyone know who he really was.
“I need your help,” Helissa whispered, taking out a piece of dried shed snakeskin.
Isabel went to squeak, but I gripped her wrist and squeezed. “Don’t…”
Looking between us, she screwed up her face. “It’s gross.”
“If you think this is gross…” Helissa paused as she took out a small pouch of salt and a map. “… you wait until we have to peruse a dead body for clues.”
Clenching her teeth and stretching her lips, Isabel moaned her disapproval. I stared at her, quite baffled by her response. For months, she had been excited about coming to the academy.
“What did you expect would happen at the Undercover Witch Academy? That we would lounge around and sit under things? Did you think that undercover meant staying in bed, under the duvet? Or that the-?”
“Stop!” Isabel slapped me on the arm, giggling as she bit her lip. “Of course not, I just… I dunno, hoped I could skip that class.”
“And you want to be an agent… why?” Helissa asked, laying out the map and spreading salt around it.
Huddling closer together, we tried to hide what we were doing.
Shuddering, Isabel waved away her question and pointed at the flaky transparent snakeskin. “Let’s just find the bastard who took Toby. No one has a right to steal someone’s familiar, it’s against witch law.”
“Okay,” Helissa whispered, taking Isabel’s hand.
When Isabel went to take mine, I raised my eyebrows and pulled my hand away. “Really?”
Tilting her head to the side, Isabel licked her pretty bow lips before she smiled. “Come on!”
Frowning, I glanced around the classroom. When we had been younger, Isabel had been my main source of magic. I had managed to trick my parents into believing that I was a normal witch by taking some of my best friend’s magic before I went home from school.
“It’s been a while,” she said quietly, grabbing my hand before I could move it fast enough.
When Isabel had been sick, my parents had taken me on a weekend break without her family, which meant my source of magic was no longer around. Our holiday had quickly descended into shouting and arguing when they realised that their seven year old had stolen magic daily from her friend… just to please them.
My heart was heavy as I remembered the moment that both our parents had forbid us from ever touching again. If we were ever caught sharing magic, we would be separated. Isabel’s mother was traditionally Chinese, her hopes in her daughter going far in life far outweighing her love for me. Or rather, her reason was better than her emotional reaction. She knew that illusionist witches were frowned upon. Their inability to connect to Mother Earth and the ley lines meant that most covens believed that there was something inherently wrong with the witch.
Gritting my teeth, I fought back the grief that washed over me. From that day forward, my parents worked with me to try and find a way that I could safely syphon magic without taking it from other witches.
“Mrs Hinley will be here in a minute,” Helissa hissed as the other students chatted amongst themselves.
Dracian kept facing forward, not bothering with the likes of us, instead laughing with a pretty witch who had French plaits down each side of her head. Apparently, she hadn’t got the memo about the academy being for grownups.
“Okay.” My tentative agreement made Isabel’s eyes well up.
Shaking her hand, I swallowed as I pulled magic from her. The parts of her skin that my fingertips touched warmed, the blast so familiar and yet, a distant memory. I had vowed never to use another person’s magic when my parents had died. Why was I now breaking that vow? Helissa wasn’t exactly my best, get locked up in jail for, friend.
Isabel, on the other hand… she was… Even if we hadn’t seen much of each other over the last five years. We had a bond that was as strong as family.
“It tickles.” She laughed, her face softening when our gazes met.
She was remembering the happy time, too. A time that we could never get back.
Bending her head, Helissa started to silently chant the location spell. Her lips moved quickly as she touched the dry snakeskin with her free hand. I studied her tanned skin and the thick dark lashes that sat against her cheeks where she had her eyes closed. I could see why the boy had comforted her last night. Her innocence shouted loud and clear, but her beauty was understated. A regular girl, just like us.
“What are you doing?” A masculine voice made us jump.
Dracian appeared behind me, staring at the map. A chill went down my spine as his dark eyes traced the salt, and then the snakeskin, smirking when it clicked. Great, the popular boy knew what we were doing. If he said anything, I would-
“Want some help?”
Taking my hand, he frowned when I ripped away from him, almost releasing Isabel. The salt slowly started to move, a fine line of it extending onto the map. The spell was working. Oh great, I had to sit, extremely uncomfortably, might I add, and let a boy who had called me Magic Fingers, watch me do my thing.
“Oh yeah,” Dracian, the Dread, whispered. “I forgot…”
Leaving me alone, he put his hand on Isabel’s shoulder and ducked his head, closing his eyes as he offered us his magic.
Using Isabel’s magic to intensify the spell, I allowed it to run through me and back into her.
No one had ever known why a select few witches were born without magic. It had been a phenomenon that no coven had ever managed to explain. A witch from the Salem line in America had been the first man to realise that he could syphon magic from other witches when he took a witch lover. It had always been frowned upon for illusionist witches to marry. They were regarded as human, even if th
ey’d come from witch parents. The mixing of witches, warlocks and humans was prohibited by the human government and had been forever, just so they could control us all as individual species.
“It’s stopped.” Isabel dropped my hand and pointed at the spot where the salt formed into a pile over a location.
“Okay, class!” Mrs Hinley called, almost charging into the room.
Jumping, all four of us laughed.
Helissa got up and waved to the teacher, hiding our table as she stood in front of it.
Isabel moved the salt and circled the location on the map. It wasn’t far from us at all, although I couldn’t quite make out the exact location.
Ignoring Helissa, Mrs Hinley fumbled with her bag as she shoved it on her desk. The wooden old-fashioned writing desk had thick chunky legs and several drawers. She probably had a bottle of whisky hiding in there, like in the school films that were so popular. Maybe we could sneak a swig or two, although, being eighteen, we were legally allowed to drink, so hiding it wasn’t necessary. Well, if we didn’t care about being expelled of course. Academy rules meant that no alcohol was allowed on the grounds. Magic and diminished mental capacity was a violent mix, one that could be pretty fun, too.
“I’ve never met an illusionist witch,” Dracian said, running his hand over the back of my chair. “They’ve never allowed one in the academy before.” He popped his head between me and Isabel, narrowing his gaze on my face. “You must be special, Magic Fingers.”
“Of course I am. Why else would they let a witch, who isn’t a real witch according to you, come to such an esteemed academy? Oh… maybe because we are real witches. And you… you need to overcompensate by getting everyone to love you before you even get here. What are you afraid of Dracian Dread? That everyone will find out-?”
“Dracian, my dear,” Mrs Hinley called. “Please take a seat!”
Keeping his dark, incredibly mysterious, eyes on me, he hesitated before pulling away. Had he been searching for my soul or something? I highly doubted that he would find much there. Ever since he had killed my parents, I hadn’t felt much… except when I bawled my eyes out for my parents. Not that it did any good, the void would never be filled.
His movements were jarred, his legs slow as he went back to his seat, glancing over his shoulder at me until his butt was on the chair. It had been close - too close. I didn’t want to reveal my hand too early, I had to be careful.
“What was that about?” Isabel hissed as Helissa went up to Mrs Hinley.
We heard her say something about Toby, so she must have been making the teacher aware of her stolen familiar. Let’s hope she didn’t say anything about the location spell. We weren’t allowed to practice magic anywhere and everywhere at the academy. Classes were for learning skills as investigative witches. Magic could be practiced outside the classroom, but there were strict rules on what kind. Location spells were most certainly prohibited.
“Why do they have such stupid rules about spells?”
Okay, so my hands were itching and my neck was hot. I had to avoid Isabel’s question, especially since my best friend knew me way too well. How could I tell her that I planned to out one of her friends as a murderer?
Allowing my change of subject, Isabel checked her phone, yet again. She was probably seeing if anyone had posted anything in the yearly Facebook group. I mean, really? A Facebook group for the first year kids? It was the lamest thing ever… except when I might need to spy on Dracian’s online activity. Hmm, maybe joining it would be a good thing after all.
“You know that we’re limited because this amount of awesomeness…” She waved her hand around her head, winking as she flicked her hair behind her ear. “… would create a shit-ton of explosive magic. I mean, hundreds of witch students in one place, all learning about how to track and locate criminals? They’re cray-cray.”
“Did you-? I mean, what was that?”
Laughing, we shook our heads as Helissa joined us, a tear tracking down her cheek.
Sobering, we both looked between her and Mrs Hinley, who went to the chalkboard – yes, she lived in the dark ages – and wrote her name on it.
“She said that I have to wait for Professor Seaton to start his investigation before I do anything.”
Taking her hand in mine, but quickly dropping it when her eyes went wide, I stuttered a response.
“We won’t wait, we’ll find him by ourselves. Can you…? I mean…” Swallowing, I glanced at Mrs Hinley, who was chattering on about who she was, blah, blah. “… Can you still feel him?”
Helissa’s eyes widened before she nodded fast, her hand on her heart as she gripped the table. “Yes, he’s still alive.”
“Girls?” Mrs Hinley called. “I know this isn’t high school, but you’re still required to listen when I talk, which I can do a lot, I’ll admit, but still…”
“Sorry,” we all murmured, trying not to laugh.
It really was like being back at school. I had been free for a couple of months, but now I was in the confines of a place where restrictions were the norm. Just like my foster home. Why had I come to the academy again?
Glancing over at Dracian, I quickly looked away when he turned to stare at me. His dark eyes were delving still, trying to find out what I had meant, although I was pretty sure the killer boy wouldn’t be intuitive enough to know that I’d seen him outside our house that night.
“We have a very special student with us this year.” Mrs Hinley pointed at me, her long fingernail glistening pink as it reflected the dim lights that shone from their rustic metal chandeliers. The candles had been replaced with LED fake lights, carved in the exact style of the medieval candles. Wait, wasn’t this a magical place, surely real wax would’ve been more fitting?
“Can you stop contemplating the ceiling, child, and come up here, please?”
Wringing my hands together, I swallowed as I slowly pushed back my chair and got to my feet.
The whole class watched me, boys and girls, their gazes boring into the witch who had been called to the front. It was a nightmare when watching it on films, but to be eighteen years old and summoned to be a spectacle, it almost made me want to vomit. Yes, I was still human. Well, sort of, not really.
“This little witch had the audacity to ignore me yesterday,” Mrs Hinley said, a smile coming to her face when my gaze sought hers. “But, luckily, she saved the day.”
I wasn't sure whether to be pleased that the teacher clearly had a grievance with the way I had acted - pleasing those above me had never been in my nature, except for my parents, of course. Although, I knew I had to behave. Underneath all my bravado, if it could be called that, I wanted to do well with my life once I had got my revenge.
“Alishia Jones is an illusionist witch with a difference.” Reaching up to put a hand on my shoulder, Mrs Hinley squeezed, her pretty nails glowing bright against my black leather jacket. “Do you want to explain what it is you've managed to do?”
Licking my lips, I looked out to the class, keeping my head held high. My heart was literally playing my ribs like a drum, all panicky and shit. It wasn't a good feeling, not at all. I had never wanted to be famous, but if I wanted to survive a whole three years at the academy, I had to play the part. My ability was my ticket to a better life, one where I wasn't confined to the rules of others. First, my coven had kicked my family out, then I had lost my parents, only to go into a foster family who didn't give two craps about me, and now... at least I wasn't at the institute. I would never bow to that power, ever.
“My name is Alishia Jones, and I'm a magic-aholic.”
Laughter bubbled across the room. I kept my gaze off Dracian, knowing full well that he would distract me with his haunting gaze. No one could see who I really was, the illusion was real. It had to be.
“When I was a child, I got so frustrated with not having my own magic, I began taking it from my friend.” Smiling at Isabel, I almost dropped my gaze as a wash of memories flashed through my mind. “With her conse
nt, of course.”
Eyes stared at me, all fifteen students completely focused on the strange witch. I must have been a marvel to them, someone who didn't have a coven was unheard of, especially in normal society. Most witches in the room would have had their tuition paid for by their parents. Some of us were on scholarships. Every person in the room, bar me, had a coven, that much I knew.
Taking a deep breath, I cleared my throat. It was becoming extremely hot, and the staring did not help me feel confident or comfortable. Images of my parents made me almost cough.
“Go on, dear, we'd all love to hear your story. It's a special one!” Mrs Hinley was smiling warmly, encouragingly.
Digging deep, I shoved my memories away and held my jaw tight as I went on. “When my parents found out, they vowed to help me learn how to control my power. You see, everyone believes that we have no power, but in taking yours... that's our magic. Can humans take magic from witches? No. So why are we seen as less than a witch when we can drain you of-?”
“Okay,” Mrs Hinley cut me off. “Tell us about your amazing invention.”
“I wouldn't call it an invention. An invention is usually an object, but I can't really invent something using invisible matter.”
Waving me on, Mrs Hinley narrowed her gaze at me. “Someone has learnt some science, I see. Well, my dear, you know very well what I mean.”
Her pink cheeks were a warning sign. If I wanted to keep my head down at the academy, it probably wasn't a good idea to antagonise the teacher within the first five minutes. My bad.
“My father tested me, trying to find the science in how I took magic from other witches. He got me to visualise pulling magic from him when I touched his arm. He recorded the time it took until the magic stopped flowing and noted down what he felt too. Eventually, all I had to do was touch someone who had magic and it would automatically come, without me having to visualise.”
Mouths dropped open, chairs shifted as the witches in the room grew uncomfortable. Er, maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to tell them about my little trick. If their expressions were anything to go by, they would stay at a 300 yard distance away from me at all times. I was used to it, so it wouldn't bother me. Much.
Undercover Witch Academy Box Set Page 4