by Logan Jacobs
I guessed the sun didn’t last long around here.
After I took a deep breath, I opened my thick leather covered book and began to memorize the tarot cards on the pages. The first one was of a young, beautiful woman. She was holding a baby goat in her hands, and it was meant to illustrate fertility. The second image, though, was of a man hanging upside down to symbolize death.
I quickly realized these cards were pretty easy to read. The images could be deceiving, but if I took the time to remember them, it was a piece of cake. I was beginning to really appreciate these lessons, and I got a thrill from learning more and more.
So, even though I was dead exhausted, I pushed myself to keep going.
Once I’d finished studying the tarot card chapters, I turned to bone reading. This section was a little more challenging to learn. Color, tint, and missing or broken pieces all meant something different, and according to the text, missing even one small detail could ruin the reading.
I spent an hour reading about bones, and then finally, I came across the section that discussed senses and phenomenal intuitions.
This part of the book was the most interesting for me. It explained that with the right spell and mindset, I would be able to sense things at a higher level.
I read the listed incantation and what I was supposed to do before I recited the proper spell. Just like we’d done in class, it was mainly a meditation ritual. I had to clear my mind and take in a slow, deep breath. Then, according to the text, I needed to free my mind from overwhelming thoughts and concerns before anything else. I had to numb myself and be open to otherworldly spirits and influences. If done successfully, I could sense whatever I desired.
The more I read, the more I realized premonition seemed to be more difficult compared to blood magic, but that made sense. As we progressed through the classes, the subject matter was bound to become more challenging and challenging.
But I wanted to learn. No, I needed to learn.
My life depended on it.
As soon as I reached the chapter regarding visions, my stomach did a flip, and I rubbed my tired eyes and focused all my energy on the text.
The more I read, the more interesting the chapter became. I realized visions could happen at any time and at any place, but they didn’t come to everyone. Only certain people were able to have visions, and those people were explicitly linked to the devil.
Again, I remembered what was said on my very first night. The devil had chosen me and brought me here to the academy.
But why?
Before I could dwell anymore on the question, I heard a group of footsteps approaching. I listened to the chatter, and I knew it was my group since I recognized their voices.
I was sitting in the far back of the room, and to my surprise, the witches took a seat at my table and quietly opened up their own books.
“What?” Morgana shrugged when she caught my eyes. Her cheeks were rosy pink, but they deepened to a crimson red as she met my gaze.
“Nothing.” I grinned.
I was in a slightly better mood now that I’d finally had some alone time, and the fact that the witches willingly decided to sit next to me was quite intriguing. They would always go on and on about how they wanted nothing to do with me, yet here they were. Perhaps Morgana was feeling guilty for being such a bitch to me earlier, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought.
We all continued to read until Akira sighed, and we all glanced up from our books to look at her. Her raven eyes fluttered slowly, as if she were bored out of her mind, and she leaned back in her chair as she twirled a black strand of hair around her finger.
“What is it, Akira?” Morgana asked as she closed her blue eyes in annoyance.
“Oh, I’m just disappointed that we didn’t even get to practice some more today,” the dark-haired witch said and shot a dirty glance in my direction. “I was looking forward to it.”
I rolled my eyes and continued to read in silence.
“Well,” Vesta said after a moment, “why don’t we try some exercises right now?”
“How, though?” Faye asked, and the redhead narrowed her green eyes in confusion.
“Do you just expect us to guess each other’s favorite colors or something like that?” I half joked.
Vesta reached into her cloak pocket and pulled out a group of colored gems. The stones caught the faint touch of candlelight hanging above us and glittered as she moved them in the palm of her hand, and I spotted emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and other colorful jewels.
“With these.” The green-haired witch grinned. “I’ll hide one color in the palm of my hand, and you have to use the incantation to figure out which one it is.”
“Where did you get those?” Akira asked, and her pale brow furrowed with suspicion.
“What are those?” I followed up. It seemed strange to carry precious jewels around, unless they had some magic properties.
“Does it matter?” Vesta replied as she rolled her silver eyes. “The point is, we can use these for practice.”
“Yeah, why not?” Faye smiled. “I’m up for a little challenge.”
“Me, too.” Morgana nodded and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her pointed ear.
“I’m not,” Sweeny spat. “Have fun with your childish little games. I’m going to study in my room where there’s peace and quiet.”
The disfigured witch shot to her feet and slammed her book shut. The scar tissue that took up the upper half of her face twisted as she snarled in my direction specifically, and the light glinted off her sharp teeth. Then she spun around in a flurry of black robes and stormed out of the hall.
“What toad crawled up her ass?” Morgana whispered to the others.
“She’s always been aloof.” Faye shrugged, and the redhead really seemed unbothered by Sweeny’s abject hostility. “I’m honestly used to it at this point.”
“Me, too,” Vesta added.
“Who cares,” Akira sighed. “Can we please just practice and worry about her later?”
“Agreed,” Vesta said as she played with the gems in her lilac colored hand. “Okay, since I’m the one with the jewels, I’ll decide who gets to go first.”
“Go for it.” Akira smirked.
“Bring it on,” Morgana added, and her ice blue eyes glinted with anticipation.
I wanted to keep studying, but it was difficult since I couldn’t help but look at all the women. Their beautiful faces were all glowing with hope and excitement, and even though they were always giving me shit, there was no denying how gorgeous they all were.
“Alright, Faye, you can go first,” Vesta said after she glanced at the other witches.
“Got it,” the redhead replied, and I watched closely as Faye closed her green eyes and took in a deep breath.
While she was focusing, Vesta jumbled the gems in her hand and picked a deep blue one. The lavender-skinned witch showed the stone to the others before she tucked the rest back into her pocket. Then she closed her hand around the sapphire and smirked.
Faye continued to breathe in and out before she muttered the incantation under her breath. “Da mihi sermonem loquens.”
When she opened her golden-green eyes, she smiled in Vesta’s direction.
“Purple,” Faye said with a confident grin.
“Close.” Vesta winced sympathetically. “Sapphire.”
“Damn it,” the fire-haired woman hissed, and her freckled face contorted with a scowl. “That wasn’t close at all.”
I laughed under my breath, and all the girls shot daggers in my direction.
“Oh, I suppose that you could do better,” Faye snapped. “Arrogant man. Well, go on then, give it a go.”
“I never said I was better,” I corrected her. “You were just too eager.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Faye asked with her arms crossed.
I shook my head and glanced back at my open book. Then I flipped to the chapter about foresight.
“According to
the text, you need to take the time to clear your mind and spirit before you jump to the incantation,” I explained. “You literally took one second to close your eyes and breathe in. See what I’m saying?”
“If you think you know everything about it, why don’t you try?” she snapped in defense.
“Sure.” I shrugged. “I can give it a go.”
Faye grinned from ear to ear, and it was the type of smile that said, “I can’t wait to see you fail.”
I’d show her, though.
So, I closed my book and shut my eyes. Then I took in a long, deep breath and focused on nothing but my steady breathing. Despite my wavering thoughts and endless questions, I managed to turn my mind into a blank slate. Everything was blank, and I breathed in again before I muttered the same incantation.
When I opened my eyes, every woman was staring at me with anticipation. I looked at Vesta’s lavender hand, and instantly, I knew she was holding an emerald.
“Green.” I smiled.
Vesta’s silver eyes widened, and she slowly opened her hand to show us all a glittering, emerald gem.
Akira sneered and slammed her open palm on the table.
“Lucky guess,” the black-eyed witch snapped. “Try it again, but this time, put two gems in your hand, Vesta.”
“Ugh, whatever,” the purple witch sighed.
I closed my eyes again and repeated the process, and when I opened them, all gazes were locked on me. I looked down at Vesta’s hand, and I immediately sensed there was a purple and red stone in her palm. It was the strangest sensation, but I knew it was certain.
“Red and purple.” I grinned.
“Damn it,” Vesta sighed as she slowly opened her hand and showed I was right.
The women all groaned, and I slowly closed my textbook.
“How about you all practice some more and then give it a try?” I suggested, and I sounded more than a little smug.
“Luck,” Morgana growled, and the tips of her pale, pointed ears were bright red in aggravation. “It all comes down to luck.”
“No one is that lucky.” I winked. Then I grabbed my book and left the table. I’d had enough of them for one day.
The witches all glared at me as I left the hall, and I could feel their eyes burning a hole into the back of my head.
I had to admit I relished in the fact that they were jealous of me. It sent a pleasant feeling down my body whenever I thought about it.
I returned to my room and put my textbook on my desk, but I still had a few more hours to kill before I needed to go to the library. Whatever I was looking for, I had to keep it secret and safe, and the more I thought about it, the clearer the vision was becoming.
I took off my cloak, tucked my dagger under my pillow, and collapsed onto the bed. Thanks to the vision, it felt as if I hadn’t slept for days. My energy was completely drained, and my head was throbbing, so I thought a nap was in order.
Luckily, I fell into a deep and peaceful sleep, and by the time I woke up, I felt somewhat better. My body was not as sore, and my headache had disappeared, so I rubbed my eyes and gently pulled myself off my bed. It must have been night time. There was no glow shining through the stained glass window, and the candle lights were burning brighter.
So, I grabbed my blade from under my pillow and tucked it into my waistband before I swung my cloak over my shoulders.
As quietly as possible, I pulled my door open and tip-toed down the stairs, and when I entered the corridor, the portraits all stared at me as I made my way to the library. My heart beat like a drum in my chest as I walked down the hall, and the cold, empty corridors seemed like a passageway of caves. Each step I took echoed against the stone walls, and some of the portraits glared in my direction. I guessed I needed to walk a little more quietly since some of them were deep asleep.
When I finally came to the doors of the library, I frowned when I realized they were still bolted.
“Fuck,” I hissed under my breath.
I wasn’t expecting this. I thought the doors would be open, just like they were in my vision. I picked up the gold lock and fumbled with it, and then I saw the keyhole and wondered if I could pick the lock with my blade.
It was worth a shot at least.
So, I retrieved my black dagger and then used the point to pick the lock. I was messing with it for a few minutes until I heard a click.
“Hell, yes!” I whispered to myself.
The lock opened, and I slipped through the doors. When I was inside the massive, three story library, I noticed fur carpets and the glowing fireplace, and books towered from the floor up to the ceiling. It was a gorgeous sight, and it looked exactly the same as it did in my vision. My mouth hung slack, and I stared at all the books in pure amazement. I knew I’d already seen it in my mind, but being here again and in person was a totally unique experience.
I knew I couldn’t just stand here and admire everything around me, though. I had to find the Books of Survival and retrieve the right pages as fast as possible.
“Where to begin?” I asked aloud.
I saw a towering set of drawers by the fireplace, and I pulled the first one open to find a numbered filing system for the books. Each of the numbers was non-negative integers, and I found a section called “History of Powerful Bonds and Lifelong Spells.”
Yes, this had to be it. I could feel it.
I ran over to the correct section and tossed book after book onto the floor until my finger traced the spine of The Book of Survival. I took the book away from its companions and opened it up. The cover was a dark sapphire blue, and it was heavy as a load of bricks with beautiful engraving on the cover. The tome smelled like vanilla and almonds, and I slowly flipped through the pages as I took the book to read by the fireplace.
Finally, a strange sensation spread through my chest when I landed on a particular page. I suspected my premonition sense was trying to tell me something, so I muttered to myself as I read a long-detailed page with the sketch of a pentagram on it. There was a bloody cross in the middle and a group of six witches holding hands in a circle. I was very intrigued as I read on, and my eyes practically devoured the text.
One master will initiate The Blood Pact. This Pact is one of the most complicated but powerful blood and soul bonds of all. When enacted by a master, other willful witches will be bound for life to the one who initiated the spell. Immortality will befall the pact as long as the master remains alive. In addition to immortality, common spells initiated while under the influence of the pact will become stronger and more powerful than before. The most important rule of the Blood Pact is all witches must abide by their master’s will and always do as she says. They must always keep her alive.
Well, now. This blood pact would certainly help me during the finals. As everyone had reminded me time and time again, the final exam could kill, but if I initiated the spell and bound the witches to me, then we’d have a better chance of succeeding, considering that it entailed immortality. That was one hell of a motherfucking game changer, especially if the witches had to keep me alive if they wanted to survive as well.
I had a good feeling about this.
When I flipped the page, I came across the intricate spell that would initiate the Blood Pact. There were several steps to be taken by the master, and while the pact seemed complicated, I knew it had to be done.
I needed to pass and survive the final exam and, with this spell, I knew I could.
I would need to tell the witches about the Pact sooner or later, but not right now. I’d wait for the right moment, maybe right before the exam.
I ripped the page from the book and stuffed it into my cloak pocket. Then I paused and wondered about the other copies I’d seen in my vision. I’d have to find them and take those pages, too. That way the witches couldn’t get their greedy little hands on the spell.
I knew the other women hated my guts and wouldn’t want to join me, but once they learned I’d obtained all the copies, then they would have no choice but t
o come crawling to me if they wanted to survive. Then they would be mine.
What a delicious thought.
So, I thought carefully back to my vision, and I tried to remember exactly where I’d been, but the vision was growing murkier by the second.
“Shit,” I whispered.
I glanced back down at the book and studied it under the light. Then I thought I saw a number and a letter scribbled into the corner of the page.
A-24
I closed the book, returned it to its spot, and then tried to find the A row. The library was so massive, though, that it took me an hour to find the right A-24 on the bookshelf. Finally, I found the same book and ripped out the page. Again, there was another letter and number scribbled into the corner.
Y-30
I headed over to the next spot and retrieved the third copy, and I repeated the process until I came to the fifth copy.
There was no number written on the corner of this page, so I figure this was the last copy.
Suddenly, I heard a noise and realized I had to get out of here. Dawn was probably not too far off, so I left the library and quickly headed back to my room. Then I stuffed the torn-up pages under my mattress and collapsed on the bed.
My mind was racing with questions, and I knew I’d have to memorize the steps and destroy the copies, as the vision indicated.
Even though my heart was still pounding with excitement, I forced myself to close my eyes and fall asleep.
I had a long day ahead of me tomorrow.
The next morning, I woke up and headed to the Premonition classroom. Everyone was already seated, and no one bothered to look up once I walked in.
“Good morning to you, too,” I said to Morgana.
Today, she was wearing her mahogany brown hair in a loose bun. Wisps of curls framed her heart-shaped face, her cheeks were rosy, and her blue eyes were practically glowing.
“Please don’t speak to me,” she grumbled. “I’m in a good mood today, and I don’t want you to spoil it.”
“That’s a change of pace,” I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you happy. Are you okay?”
She scoffed and turned her nose up, and I laughed to myself as I opened my own book. I started to re-read the chapters of the bone reading. There were images and diagrams of the bones, and I was doing my best to memorize the differences, so I was deep in concentration when I heard Theodora’s voice echo through the classroom.