“We do?” Isabel blurted. “But, why? That’s dangerous.”
I tried not to let the flutters in my stomach rise up my throat. This was secret agenting at its best. If I wanted to learn, I had to trust those that were teaching us.
“If we are successful at keeping the bad guys out for one evening, that’s great, we’ve achieved something. However…” Mrs Hinley glanced over to where Seaton chatted on the phone. “… they’ll just come back another time. If we are able to lure them inside and trap them, we might be able to get some answers.”
“You really think we have the magic to trap those who are clearly more powerful than us?”
My fingers shook as I tucked them into the sleeves of my jacket. I had suddenly come over all cold. Yes, having a whole team of witches and warlocks as security would help, but hello, the institute were ruthless bastards with no conscience at all.
“Maybe not, but we have to try, don’t we?” Mrs Hinley’s cheeks bloomed pink, sweat suddenly lining her forehead. “This has to end so we can get back to our lives.”
If I ran away, would the institute come after me, instead of attacking the academy? It seemed crazy to risk the lives of others when Brian had clearly stated that they wanted me.
“The police will be here, of course,” she added as an afterthought. “We’ll need you and Frankie to work together.”
Her glance made me frown. Wait, what?
“What can I do?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.
Most Illusionist witches were left out of sting operations or serious matters, just because our magic wasn’t classed as good enough. However, a thrill ran up my spine when she smiled gently.
“The students will be evacuated in an assembly in the afternoon. If you and Frankie can create an illusion to make it seem like they’re still here, it will fool the institute into thinking that we’re unaware of the attack.”
Ah, that was a good idea, although, why did they need us to create the illusion? They were magical enough to do that themselves.
“I can see what’s going through your mind. We want to use you and your friends as enticement. Come the evening, you’ll be in the ballroom alone, playing tag or tennis, or something active. The illusion will show other students milling in the hallway etc. If you could hold the illusion, it would free us to use our magic to trap those who enter. We think they’ll try and sneak inside to kidnap you.”
James suddenly sat forward and clapped his hand down on the map. “I’m willing to do anything to capture these wankers-”
“James!” Mrs Hinley almost shouted. “Don’t use that vulgar word!”
Not letting his mother stifle his anger, James shook his head roughly. “These people took my hand. I’m getting them back.”
No one could deny him his vengeance. If I had lost my hand, I don’t know how I would cope. James appeared calm and collected on the outside, dealing with his loss rather well. But, I knew, as someone who had lost something traumatically, that on the inside, he was probably boiling like a cauldron, ready to unearth his revenge. My own had driven me mad as I hunted for Dracian, ready to take him down.
Glancing at Dracian, who now filled my head in other ways, I almost laughed, only just managing to control myself. James wouldn’t take too kindly to my humour, not when he was thrusting his finger at the map, telling his mother the weakest parts of the ballroom.
She watched him, her face softening as he showed an intelligence that rarely rose from the quiet prodigal son.
“You think that we should stay on the far right of the hall?” Dracian asked him, his focus completely absorbed in the plan.
As James pointed to a small part of the wall, I almost zoned out, staring at the one who had driven me to distraction for five years. Dracian’s hand rested lightly on my thigh as they spoke about the secret entrance, which came from a tiny courtyard that was hidden between walls of the academy.
Oh, a secret entrance. My attention slipped to the map, my interest piqued. Helissa, Izzy and Mrs Hinley were quiet, listening to James and Dracian as they formed a plan.
“So, we’ll play football in that corner,” Dracian said, clapping his hands together. “I’ll be goalie, which will bring me closer to the entrance.”
“What does it look like?” I had forgotten about James’ hand, Dracian’s handsome face, and even poor Professor Seaton, whose shoulders were hunched in the corner of the office.
James raised his gaze, his bright eyes looking straight at me. “It’s a panel of wood, just next to the inglenook fireplace.”
“I know it.” Shuddering, I refused to look at Dracian as I remembered the moment I had hidden from my foster parents, only a short while ago, when I had first arrived at the academy.
The altar had been a perfect hiding place, even when Dracian had joined me on the floor behind it. Gosh, the memory felt like it was a million years ago, and yet, I hadn’t been at the academy for that long, despite the aging. I was sure my grey hairs would come in from all the stress.
Mrs Hinley took back the reins of the operation with a swipe of her hand. More blobs appeared on the map with names beside them.
“I’ll be right here.” She pointed at her own name. “In the corner of the ballroom. All of the officials will cloak themselves with an invisibility spell.”
“The institute probably has someone who can detect the invisibility spells.” James challenged his mother.
Smiling, Mrs Hinley tapped her nose. “Of course, but we have more resources than you’re aware of. Ones that we’re keeping to ourselves for now.”
“That’s not very fair.” Isabel glanced down when the teacher narrowed her gaze on her.
Clearing her throat, Mrs Hinley sat up straight and took a deep breath, her chest rising as she put a hand over her heart. “Students are never involved in these sorts of battles.”
“Except in Harry Potter,” Izzy muttered.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop the burst of hilarity that rushed over me. I understood why being kept in the dark was important to the teachers. I also got why Isabel was feeling left out. She had a serious case of FOMO. Fear of missing out was one of her biggest fears. She’d had it our whole life, hence why she’d let me take some of her magic when we were children.
“This isn’t Harry Potter,” Mrs Hinley said, her composure collected, considering. “This is real life. You shall know what we want you to know. If you want to help us rid the academy, and Alishia, of the threat of the institute, you’ll accept that everything we do is to protect you.”
Isabel dropped her gaze as she nodded, avoiding eye contact with everyone. It was a serious time, but Mrs Hinley was right. We were only students, being taught how to handle a seriously dangerous situation.
“We would never allow students to partake in these operations. It’s only because of your involvement right from the start that we’ve had to weigh up the risks verses the reward.”
Dracian squeezed my knee before he spoke. “We understand. And we’re willing to play our part by doing whatever you tell us to do.”
“As I’m the target,” I said. “Do you want me with the others, playing football? Which, by the way, is an awful game. I’m great at kicking the end of my bed, but when a football is in front of me, it might as well be on the other side of the field.”
“Yes, you’ll be there with the others, who will create a protection spell around you as soon as the threat enters, however they enter.”
The professor coughed as he turned, the phone no longer in his hand. Our attention swung to him as he came and joined us.
“What did he say?” Mrs Hinley sat back and waited for her husband to talk.
Keeping eye contact with his wife, Seaton pursed his lips. “My informant, a government official, said to work with the police alone. No agencies.”
“No agencies?” she repeated. “That’s unsettling considering we’re paranormals ourselves.”
Seaton glanced down at the map, his gaze once again staring as
he became distracted by his thoughts. “Yes, indeed. However, the human government believe that we’re all in danger from our own kind and they’re determined to stop a paranormal civil war.”
Chapter Nine
“Apparently, Damian has been held by the Hunted Witch Agency,” Isabel told me as we waited outside the ballroom. “He’ll go on trial for draining the students, but the human government has been lenient. He won’t get the death sentence.”
“That’s lucky considering they usually kill those who are a threat.”
My voice was steady, but I was checking over my shoulder, waiting for Frankie to arrive. The students had been evacuated an hour ago, leaving the academy frighteningly quiet. A spell had been cast by the professor for now, but Frankie and I would create an illusion once he arrived. I would need my inducer on me the whole time, topping my magic up as we went along.
It was getting later in the day, the time for students to be settling down for late night study. The professor had made it look like there were lights on in certain dormitories and figures of students were visible in the windows.
There was no doubt that the institute had been watching the academy all day. Warlocks had been hidden around the perimeter, their magic covering their presence. They would try and prevent those who worked for the institute from entering anywhere other than the designated entrance.
When Seaton had finalised the plans for the evening, I had been shivering. Not from the cold ice that had settled over me, but from the fear that laced every inch of my body.
“Are you okay?” Izzy asked me, looking up from her phone.
She had been distracting herself with the academy dating app. Seemingly, she’d been talking to a nice witch who had noticed her around school. She’d promised him that she would go on a date with him on Friday. If she was still alive. I’d had to laugh at her sombre condition. However, the truth of it was pretty stark. We were going up against the nastiest people in the paranormal world.
“I’m… nervous.” A sigh escaped me as Dracian came into the entrance hall, sporting football shorts and goalkeeping gloves.
A smile tugged at my lips against my wishes. How could a man look so sexy in shorts and a T-shirt? I had never found football players attractive, but Dracian would make love to my eyes in whatever he wore. And when he wore nothing… well, that was between us.
“I’m nervous, too,” Helissa said, rubbing my arm.
My friends touch was so familiar now, my senses no longer automatically tried to take their magic, which was a blissful feeling. To be hugged, or patted, or probably even hit, no longer meant that I had to hold back, rigid and unbending, in an attempt not to take their magic.
“I really appreciate you guys,” I blurted when James and Dracian trotted up to us. “I can’t believe you’re risking so much for me.”
Isabel threw her arms around me, squeezing tightly. “That’s what friends are for. Plus, we’ll make agent status by the end of the school year at this rate.”
A laugh escaped me as Helissa shook her head, her curly hair bouncing with the movement. “We’re in this together.”
Nodding, I tugged her into a hug. She squeezed me back, a hiccup echoing in my ear. As I pulled away, I wiped the tear that had escaped my eye.
“Enough of the melodramatics,” James said. “Frankie’s here.”
We turned as one, facing the man who had just popped into existence by the front door. When he saw us, he checked through the glass and licked his lips. “Okay, Alishia, let’s do this.”
Tingles ran up my arms as I reached into my jacket pocket and pressed the inducer. Electricity shot through me, settling rather quickly. My magic would help create the illusion, along with Frankie’s, although he wouldn’t be able to keep it up for long. We were hoping that our combined efforts would sustain long enough for the institute to be fooled before they attacked.
“Where’s the professor?” Frankie asked as I joined him by the front entrance.
Looking over my shoulder, I searched the area. The ballroom doors were closed, the room on the other side empty.
“They’re coming,” Dracian announced as footsteps sounded down the teaching corridor.
Frankie reached for me, indicating that I take his hand, which I did. We closed our eyes and envisioned students milling around outside the academy. Only a handful, here and there, coming and going. The spell that created the appearance of students in windows shifted. Holograms of girls and boys appeared, walking around the entrance hallway. Some even went up the stairs as the professor, Mrs Hinley and Detective Rollings joined us.
“Great job!” Professor Seaton said, coming over to congratulate us. “If you can keep that up until they attack, we’ll hopefully fool them into thinking that they’re going to harm more students. They think that will give us incentive to hand you over.”
Patting my shoulder, he turned to the others. “Okay, let’s get going. You all know the plan.”
Brian had told the detective that the attack was supposed to be at nine. It was dark outside already with only twenty minutes to go. We were cutting it fine, considering the institute were known for bursting in at any time they wanted.
“Good luck,” Frankie said to me as he moved to stand by the door.
An invisibility spell wrapped around him, covering him even from my own eyes. My friends gasped as all the adults disappeared, leaving us alone. Or so we thought. Mrs Hinley hadn’t been kidding when she said that they had powerful friends.
I made a commitment to myself as my eyes lingered where Frankie had been. If I got out of this alive, I would help Frankie to learn how to use my inducer. One Illusionist witch at a time, I could help them better their lives. I would need to get a scientist to copy the mechanics of the inducer so I could give them one to work with, but I was determined to give them all a chance to have their own magic and stop taking it from others.
“Let’s go.” Coming over to me, Dracian put an arm around my shoulders.
Looking up at him, I grinned. “I think I love you,” I whispered.
His dark eyes stared down at me as we walked, the corner of his lip slipping into his cheek in a half grin. “I know I love you.”
His head came down, his lips brushing against mine in a quick hard reassuring kiss. I didn’t grab him when he pulled away, thanking James for holding the ballroom door for us. There would be plenty of time for that later, if I didn’t get killed or kidnapped in the attack.
“Time to play!” Dracian called, clicking his fingers.
A football appeared on the wooden floor in front of him. I watched him rush off with James, both fighting for the ball. If we weren’t about to be under attack, I would’ve laughed at their antics as they tried to take it off one another. They were dressed for the role, their kits evidently created by a spell. The girls on the other hand, we were dressed in our normal uniform, not in the least interested in looking the part for a game that we all hated.
In the corner of the room, a couple of fake students lounged on chairs, chatting amongst themselves. The teachers would be in place around the hall now, their wands ready and their magic on high alert. Professor Seaton would’ve taken his spell down, ready to use all his power against the institute.
“Come on!” the boys shouted, gesturing for us to play.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the other girls and pushed them across the hall. We went together, almost laughing as James kicked the ball towards us.
It slipped past Izzy and Helissa, who jumped away from it. This would be an interestingly bad game of football if the girls didn’t get into it.
“Kick it, then,” Dracian called. “I’ll see if I can stop it going into the goal.”
The look of playfulness on his face almost fooled me. His gaze darted around occasionally, although more discreet than I could ever be. My insides shook violently as I went to the ball, pulled my leg back and kicked. My boot smashed into it, sending it straight towards my boyfriend.
Diving to the side, Drac
ian grunted as he landed on the hard floor. The ball sailed past him, crashing into the wooden panel behind his head.
“Goal!” I screamed, throwing my arms in the air and running around the others.
They laughed, their fear leaving them for a second. The look of joy on their faces made me cherish the moment, forever etching it into my mind. Who knew that Alishia Jones could play football?
Finishing my lap of honour, I glanced towards the secret panel not far from where Dracian stood. When he saw me look at it, he moved away slightly, putting my mind a tiny weeny bit more at ease. I didn’t want him to be grabbed instantly, we needed him. Plus, I needed him. In my life, and my bed, forever.
“Can I have a go?” Izzy called.
“Sure!” Dracian rolled the ball towards her, his eyes watching both her and our surroundings.
It was no wonder he was top of the class, he really would make a great agent one day. He was a natural at feeling the environment and acting on it.
Isabel drew her leg back to kick the ball. I held my breath, waiting to see if her foot would make contact. A sharp gut throb made me look towards the ceiling windows and towards the doors at the other end of the ballroom.
A crash resounded, the glass flying into the room. As much as I was tempted to drop to my knees as shards flew into me, scratching at my bare arms, I stayed upright, moving into position. My friends, although covering their heads, surrounded me and joined hands.
Their chant started as several men in black shot through the empty space where the glass had been, their boots thumping hard on the ground and crunching the glass underfoot.
“Alishia!” Professor Seaton shouted. “Stay where you are!”
He appeared in front of the intruders, a fuck off massive gun in his hand. What the hell? I didn’t remember that being in the plan. Although, it did give me a little reassurance as I held my ground. A shiver overtook, alerting me to my diminishing magic. Weakness suddenly floored me, making me sway where I stood. Shit, I needed to top up.
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