The seriousness of her expression made me laugh as I relaxed. The agent was super cool, just like I wanted to be. Not to be liked, but to be something more than I was.
“Can you take us to the beach?” one girl called to me.
Smiling, I flicked my hand and turned the room into a beach. Soft sand appeared underfoot as the students stood up and went nearer to the calm turquoise water.
Dracian took no notice of the beach, instead watching me closely, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips when our gaze met.
Holding the spell drained my magic, although I brought everyone back to the classroom when Mrs Hinley flapped, her hands literally waving up and down so much, I thought she might take off.
“Well,” Devon said as everyone settled again. “I think we can safely say that Alishia Jones is a powerful witch, ready to become a good agent with the right training. I wish you all the best.”
As I walked back to my seat, I couldn’t help the burst of happiness that unfurled within me. If a witch with awesome taste in clothes, and a dagger that could slit Dracian’s throat within seconds, saw potential in me, then maybe, just maybe, I could be more than I ever imagined.
Chapter Ten
The bleep of the intercom made me look up. This is Professor Seaton. After two more student casualties, it has been advised that we suspend all classes until further notice. The ball will go ahead tonight, but it will be heavily chaperoned. Please use this time to study in your dorm rooms and be extra vigilant.
Shaking my head, I went back to my book. I had decided to come to the library for some peace and quiet. Helissa had been snoring when I left, finally able to rest easier. I hadn’t managed to sleep most of the night, so when dawn broke, I had left our room.
Devon Jinx was still in my mind, her words of encouragement making me feel more confident in my abilities. I was determined to master the art of magic in my own way.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” a female student said, bringing my attention away from the book.
I looked over the top of Witchcraft for Dummies - What? I needed to start somewhere - and tried not to roll my eyes.
Three witches, two female and one male, stood in front of me, their angry glares giving off a hatred I had never felt directed at me before.
“No,” I replied, knowing full well that they were talking about the students whose magic had disappeared.
The girls scowled at me, their arms hung by their side, ready for a fight. What did they want from me? I was in the middle of a library, albeit, a big one with nowhere to run. Did they really think they were going to entice me to fight?
“You need to stop taking other students magic,” the male said, cracking his knuckles.
Putting my book on the table beside me, I reached into my pocket and pressed the button on my Electric Beamer. Ugh, needed a proper name for it!
They wouldn't threaten me and get away with it. I was used to blending in with the crowd, but ever since I'd arrived at the academy, everyone had it in for me.
“What do you want?” My words were calm as the electrical current shifted into a magical current within me.
My feet were solid on the ground as I rose. The students stepped back, their stances on alert as I pulled my hand out from under my jacket. A flick of my eyebrows made them clench their jaws.
“You need to be stopped and Seaton isn't doing anything.” One of the girls whispered a freezing spell when I lifted my hand.
My whole body went still, the spell settling on my skin like a cloak. Little bitch, how dare she try to incapacitate me when I was trying to reason with them?
“I've not done anything.” My words squeezed through my frozen teeth. “Leave me alone.”
Fury, hot and heavy, scorched my veins as they laughed. The spell broke as I growled low in my throat. For too long, I had hidden from the world, trying not to be noticed. As soon as I was free, every bugger in the academy had noticed me for the wrong reasons. I was done, I wasn't going to allow anyone to control or threaten me ever again.
Raising my hands, I chanted a spell to send wind spinning around them. The girls grabbed their skirts, trying to keep them from fluttering everywhere. Their hair, which had been so well tended, flew around their faces, blocking their visions. I couldn't hurt them, I would be expelled instantly, but I could shake them up.
“Alishia?” Dracian's voice broke my attention, making me drop my arms.
The wind disappeared as the magic released from my spell. He stepped around the others, his frown pulling his eyebrows low. Without waiting for me to start up again, the male witch took out a knife and threw it. My stomach churned when I ducked, my hands covering my head as I squeaked. I wasn't ready for weapons, what was going on?
Dracian shouted a spell, his voice tight as the witches rushed for me. When I glanced up, I caught sight of the knife, which hovered just in front of my face. The male witch grabbed it, only just lowering it before his momentum sent his body into me. I fell to the floor, unable to defend myself as his fist ploughed into my ribs.
Fire suddenly appeared around us, blocking my view of Dracian. He had been trying to get to me, but the female witches stood their ground. Shoving at the male's chest, I imagined myself as a tiger. When the male witch felt my sides go soft, he looked me in the face, his eyes widening bigger than golf balls. Yes, screw you, preppy academy boy. I was about to eat his face. Well, my illusion tiger was, anyway.
Backpedalling off me, he thrust through the fire barrier that had prevented Dracian from getting to us. When his clothes caught on fire, I extinguished them with a flick of my hand, sending water all over him. I didn't hold back, instead imagining a ton of liquid falling from a cloud above his head.
As he fell to the floor, his knees crippling under the weight of water, the females flew at me, their arms outstretched.
Dracian called a warning, telling me to move. I dove in the opposite direction as the fire barrier dropped. My head just prevented from hitting the floor as I looked up. Dracian concentrated hard on the girls, his mouth moving as he conjured vines. They appeared from under the dark wooden floor, instantly gripping the girls’ ankles and tripping them.
“Enough!” Mrs Hinley appeared around the corner of a bookshelf, her expression stern as she marched over. Her short pink skirt matched a bright pink blazer with the academy's emblem sewn on the breast pocket. Tapping it, she shook her head. ”Professor Seaton-”
“It wasn't her fault,” Dracian interrupted, leaning on his knees to catch his breath.
It would've taken a lot of magic to cast a spell that big, especially for a student. Apparently, my enemy had just become my frenemy, and he was good at using magic, too. Handy Harry, except for the fact that I didn't want his help. Never. Ever.
The girls squirmed against the vines that bound them.
Mrs Hinley stared at us all, her lips pulled down in a frown. “Alishia,” she started. “I did wonder if the academy would be too much for you.”
“No,” I said, surging to my feet. “I was provoked.”
The male witch sat on the floor, sopping wet from head to toe. He glared at me as he spat water when it dribbled out of his mouth. Well, he must have been thirsty after hitting me. I wasn't a punch bag, especially not for a bully boy. He got what he deserved. In fact, he deserved to be castrated. Maybe that was something I could work on. Okay, so that was a little too strong a punishment, but he had almost broken my ribs.
“Get up!” Mrs Hinley ordered the three who had attacked me.
The vines slipped away when Dracian waved his hand to release the spell, allowing the girls to climb to their shaky legs. They held on to each other, both snarling at me.
“You will go to Professor Seaton right this moment. We have not declared Alishia Jones as a suspect, so you mustn't assume that it's her hurting the other students. There's no proof of who it is yet.”
The students skulked off, the squelch of the male the only sound coming from them as they walked down the aisle and
back to the main part of the library.
Several students watched us from further away, whispering amongst themselves as Mrs Hinley faced me.
Dracian came closer, brushing a hand though his dark waves of hair where they sat on top of his head.
“I'm sorry,” she said to me. “But, I simply cannot have you at the ball tonight. Your presence will make it harder for us to try and whittle out the culprit. I'll let you in on a secret,” she said quietly, coming closer to us. “We've got Devon Jinx in to help us find the person draining our students.”
Putting a hand over her heart, she pursed her lips.
Dracian glanced at me as I clenched my hands into fists.
Not going to the ball wasn't a worry for me. It was actually a blessing in disguise. I hadn't wanted to go to the stupid dance anyway. Isabel might not appreciate Mrs Hinley's ban, but a smile tried to creep across my lips as I nodded, almost violently.
“Fair enough, Mrs Hinley,” I said, glancing at Dracian when he snorted. “I promise to stay in my dorm tonight. I could probably get a shift at my job actually.”
Slanting her head, Mrs Hinley tutted loudly when her bun almost dislodged. “I'll take care of the students who threatened you. If you have any more trouble, report to Professor Seaton immediately. We won't have any of our students bullied. It might be safer for you to stick to your dorm for study time over the next few days.”
Glancing at Dracian, Mrs Hinley narrowed her gaze on him.
He didn't say anything, instead he gave her a big broad smile, one that lit up his face and made his dark eyes sparkle. Oh, the charm that boy had on him was criminal.
Even Mrs Hinley, who was obviously married to the head teacher Seaton, melted under his gaze. Without saying another word, she shook herself and marched away.
“Do you put a love spell on everyone?” I asked him when she was out of earshot.
Picking up my bag, I tried not to cringe as pain blasted my side. Dracian saw the expression on my face and took my arm, holding me as I stood straight again. Slowly pulling away from him, I chucked my jacket over my shoulder. I would have some nasty bruises on my ribs in the morning. Bloody witches, why were they so mean?
“Of course not. Do you need to go to the infirmary?”
His eyes were soft, all kind and caring as if he hadn't killed my parents. Bitterness rose in my throat as I dismissed his kindness with a quick shake of the head. He was getting under my skin and not in the way I thought he would. I had come to the academy to take him down, but instead, I was starting to weirdly like the bastard. That had to change because it just wasn't right.
“I'm fine.”
Striding away from him, I paused when he called me back. Looking over my shoulder, I waited for him to speak, my arms shaking slightly from the shock of being attacked. I might play the hard girl, but I had to harden myself, forcing my bottom lip not to tremble. Being bullied wasn't fun.
“Aren't you going to-?”
“Thank you,” I said quickly before rushing away from him.
He might not have been asking for gratitude, but I had to begrudgingly give it to him anyway.
Who would've thought? The boy who I'd come to the academy to destroy had made himself my ally. That wasn't something I was comfortable with, so I had to change it somehow.
Leaving the library, I trotted down the steps, keeping my head down. Stares followed me wherever I went. I was truly the infamous Alishia Jones now. My back burnt from their glares as I ran up the steps of the dorm wing and hurried down the corridor. Students hung around, bored from not being able to go to class. Apparently, that was all my fault. How could I prove to these people that it wasn't me?
Unlocking my door, I thrust into our room, dropping my bag on the ground.
Helissa looked up from the book she was reading. A small smile crossed her face as she waved. She had been up and down the last few days, trying to get used to not having a familiar. My suggestion at getting a new snake hadn't gone well. How was I supposed to know that a familiar had to choose its owner? I had never been chosen.
Snapping out of my pity party, I plonked myself on the bed, clasping my side when pain sliced through me.
Helissa noticed, a frown crossing her face as she moved to the edge of her bed. “You look like shit,” she said, coming over to sit beside me. “What happened?”
Her demand was harsh, her tone tight. I couldn't ignore her as she rose her eyebrows and gestured for me to answer. Before I could, Isabel waltzed into the room, her high ponytail swinging behind her. As soon as she saw us, her high mood dropped.
“Who beat you up?”
“How did you know?” Trying to sit back on the bed, I cursed loudly.
Helissa jumped up from the bed and went to the chest of drawers that rested under the window. Taking out a small ceramic pot, she came over and offered me a pill.
“I'm not sure that will help, I don't fancy getting shitfaced.”
Her snort was followed by Isabel's cough. ”Alishia!” Isabel snapped, frowning down at me with an almighty higher than thou expression. “If you would take your head out of your arse for two minutes, you would know that Helissa aced medical magic in high school. I'm sure she's offering you a healing tablet.”
Nodding, Helissa urged me to take the small orange pill. “Yes, it’s made with natural herbs infused with a healing spell. It will get rid of the pain and bring out any bruising within minutes.”
Her face lit up as she spoke, her arms moving in excitement. It was nice to see that Helissa had found her passion. According to Isabel, who was technically right, I had been so engaged with my own affairs, I hadn't even got to know Helissa. Considering they both wanted to help me, and that Helissa’s snake was killed because of me, I was being unfair to them.
“I'm sorry,” I said as I took the pill and swallowed it down. “I have been preoccupied. I promise to be a better friend from now on.”
Glancing at my bedside table, I frowned when I noticed a letter with my name on it.
Helissa followed my gaze, jumping up to retrieve it. “This came for you from Infinity just before you came in.”
Taking it from her, I ripped it open. I hadn't let them know that I had contacted the snake-killer, but now was the perfect opportunity. They watched me as I scanned the letter, my fingers tightening on the paper as I read.
“It's from the snake-killer,” I whispered.
Helissa gasped in a breath, her hands clenching into fists as she watched me. I handed it to her, not trusting myself to speak. If the mere mention of the boy who had killed her snake made her tense up, I didn't want to be the one to read the letter out to her.
“He wants you to meet him at the ball tonight.” Helissa's words were pushed through clenched teeth.
“I sent him a letter, asking him to meet me. I didn't expect him to want to meet at the ball, there'll be too many people there. It's too risky.”
Wringing my hands in my lap, I chewed on my bottom lip until blood lined my tongue. The pain in my ribs had disappeared completely. Wow, Helissa was brilliant with healing magic. Maybe I could get her to heal my emotional pain, too. Surely, it wouldn't take too much to drag pain from someone? It was a thought I would shelve for later, even if my therapist had told me that I should always allow my emotions to surface, otherwise it wasn't healthy.
“You've got to meet him. We can be your backup. I've always fancied myself as someone's sidekick.” Isabel took my hand, dropping it when heat formed between our fingers.
I wasn't in any fit state to control my ability to take magic from others, so it was best that she didn't touch me. Before Helissa could jump on the bandwagon, I surged from the bed and stood in front of them, hands on my hips. I hadn't bothered to wear my academy skirt, expecting to get changed after I'd finished my early morning revision before class. Now that class was dismissed, I would stay in my jeans and jacket. It was no wonder everyone hated me. No one loved class, but everyone had chosen to come to the academy to learn. Why, oh
, why, did my ability, or inability really, have to be my downfall?
“I have to go alone, it says it in the letter. I'm not risking either one of you.”
They both went to protest, but I waved my hand, making their voices silent with a small spell. Their faces contorted with anger as they moved their mouths but no words came out. Okay, so it was a little cruel to shut them up, however, no amount of protesting would change my mind.
“I have about five minutes left of magic before that spell runs out,” I said. “So, I'll tell you how this is going to happen. Mrs Hinley has banned me from the ball after an altercation between a few witches and myself. Dracian-”
Isabel grabbed my arm, tugging it hard. “Dracian?” she mouthed.
Nodding, I shrugged her off. “Yes, Dracian bloody Dread helped me fend them off. That doesn't matter now.” Waving away their silent protests, I went on, determined to say my piece before they could interfere. “So, I'm going to have to sneak into the ball. I can't do that with you guys. If you could help me by being my inside spies, I might be able to lure the snake-killer outside.”
My magic ran out, the last withers of it sinking into the floor beneath my feet. Oh great, here came the barrage of abuse from those I was technically protecting.
“He says that he'll be wearing a Phantom of the Opera mask. We can text you to let you know whereabouts he is in the ballroom,” Helissa said sensibly.
Isabel nodded an agreement, her ponytail jumping up and down. “Hopefully, you'll be able to bring him down with your magic.”
Licking my lips, I debated telling them my whole plan. They were my friends, two people who I was trying to trust, but old habits die hard and all that. When I saw the excited look on their faces, I changed my mind. I had to start to allow people in. If I didn't, well, I would probably end up dead.
“I'm going to lure him outside where I'll cast a vine spell.”
“Vine spell?” Isabel interrupted. “That's too hard, how will you do that?”
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