Term One

by K M Charron

  “I will deal with Ms. McKellen later. Right now, someone needs to tell me what the plan is to ensure that the bound entity never wreaks havoc again,” Máthair Zhang demanded.

  Langston stepped forward, cradling the orb in the crook of his arm. “We had to use the bones of the witch that first bound the shifter, to summon it here. The two are magically linked, so it was safest to draw the entity away from innocent people on campus. As her magic is linked to the shifter’s, I think it’s best if we bury the orb in her grave so that it’s guarded by her magic once more.” He didn’t look up from his feet. “No one knows the location of the grave besides us.”

  Máthair Zhang and Athair Choi exchanged rage-filled glances.

  Athair Choi licked his lips, gathering himself. In a measured tone, he said. “You desecrated a witch’s remains, and the lot of you used dangerous Dark magic?” His fists were clenched at his sides, his nostrils flared. “And now you have the audacity to tell us, your Elders, how to handle the situation?”

  Sydney prayed the earth would open up and swallow her. “Since the entity can’t be killed, it's the only way to stop it. The original witch gave us the spells necessary to bind it for eternity.”

  “And what of your magic, Langston? Is it bound inside the orb with the entity?” Máthair Zhang asked with an expression that suggested she already knew the horrible answer.

  He nodded but kept his head held high. “It is, and it probably always will be.”

  “We don’t know that,” Jax said. “There might be a way to reinstate it. We’ll research.”

  “I may not have my magic, but there are still things I can do,” Langston said, not waiting for anyone's permission. He jumped into Saskia’s grave, placing the globe with the swirling gray interior into the dirt. “I need the skull,” he called up, and Syd watched Athair Choi gasp and Máthair Zhang cross herself.

  Justin retrieved the skull from the ground and passed it down to Langston before clutching one of the shovels. Langston hoisted himself back out, and the two began refilling the gaping hole.

  “That can wait, or Langston can continue on his own, but I need Justin to gather here with the others. You’ve all used a great deal of Dark magic, despite the danger and the fact that it is forbidden,” Máthair Zhang said through clenched teeth. See looked from Sydney to each of them as she spoke. “Repercussion is very real, I assure you.” She reached out, grasping Sydney’s palm in hers. With her free hand, she conjured a small ball of white light and examined Syd’s hand beneath it. “Just as I suspected, it has already begun.”

  “What has,” Khourtney asked with concern.

  “Her nails have begun graying, a sign that her blood is tainted. Dark magic remains inside you, and it will slowly poison you if left untreated. If there are too many exposures, you will die—often a most painful death.”

  Sydney’s ribs squeezed around her heart, taking her air. Pulling her hand out of Máthair Zhang’s, she scrutinized her nails under the conjured light. Sure enough, they were light, dull gray. “Can you cleanse our blood?” She didn’t want anyone to know how afraid she was, but her trembling voice betrayed her.

  “While I cannot completely remove the remnants of such treacherous magic, I will do my best to try and reduce its effects on all of you—with the help of Athair Choi,” she inhaled deeply, “if he is willing.”

  Sydney’s stared at the arduous man. He’d been so livid, she didn’t expect him to agree to help, but he nodded gruffly to the older woman. She was still his superior, so Syd figured asking him was a mere formality.

  The cleansing ritual took about thirty minutes. Sydney was convinced it had worked when a distinct vibration flowed through her body, and her nails returned to their normal pinkish hue. The healing magic seemed to bounce in and out of every cell in her body. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t exactly a spa treatment either.

  Syd felt a little better, but she questioned how she was going to summon the energy to walk all the way back to campus. But life slammed her with another waking nightmare before she could contemplate that undertaking.

  “Now would be the time to explain why you have a middling amongst you,” Máthair Zhang said, furious accusation in her tone.

  A wave of nausea took hold of Sydney; she'd forgotten about Ainsley. Following Máthair Zhang’s judgment-filled stare, she saw the brunette sitting propped up beneath a nearby tree. “Uh…”

  “What is the meaning of this?” The Máthair’s teeth showed as she growled with fury. Any goodwill they had just managed to accrue was gone.

  Thankfully, Khourtney put her arm around Ainsley, who looked like she was seconds from wetting herself. “She’s our friend. She’s helped us through everything, risked her life, and jumped in front of the entity’s magic to save Sydney just now. We wouldn’t have beaten that thing without her.”

  Máthair Zhang’s feet lifted a half foot from the ground before she soared over. Startled, Ainsley flinched and backed into the tree as far as possible.

  “I don’t know how you managed to get mixed up in witch business, my dear, but you are no longer necessary.” Máthair Zhang held her hand in front of Ainsley and recited a forgetting spell.

  Sydney prayed Ainsley had the forethought to play along.

  When Máthair Zhang finished, she whirled around to face the rest of them. “There. Now, Mr. Lautner and Mr. Bello, please escort her back to her room, undetected, since you have all breached curfew. Ainsley will have no memory of this event or that magic and witches exist.” She waved her hand, indicating that they leave at once. Justin and Langston nodded and helped a limping, weak Ainsley out of the woods.

  Syd had no idea how Ainsley was alive, let alone walking.

  The grave was full of dirt again, and Sydney didn’t wait for permission before doing one final spell over top of it. This one, to seal the site.

  By the time Sydney and the others returned to the dorm, it was nearly three a.m. She and Ava had put cloaking spells on each other and slipped back inside, although Syd was cautious when opening and closing their door, so the sound didn’t wake anyone.

  Safely on the other side, Sydney flipped on the light. She leaned back against the door and kicked her boots off, which immediately began leaving small puddles on the hardwood. “I cannot believe the way you spoke to them,” she said to Ava, “to Khourt’s grandmother, especially—a Master witch.”

  Ava shrugged nonchalantly, but Syd discerned the fear in her. “They were laying into us and had no idea what we’d risked. I couldn’t listen to it anymore. Besides, she’s never liked me anyway.” Ava shed her scarf, jacket, hoodie, bra, and jeans, leaving her in only a long sleeve tee and underwear. “All I want to do is sleep for a week,” she said before crawling into her twin bed and slipping beneath the heavy, navy comforter.

  “Do you trust them?”Sydney asked. “Máthair Zhang and Athair Choi, I mean.”

  Ava propped herself up on one elbow and winced. “Like, do I trust that they’re not going to tell our parents or turn us into The Directive?”

  Syd nodded.

  “If they did, it would turn into a full-blown investigation, and Khourtney would be in just as much trouble as the rest of us. Máthair isn’t going to ask for that kind of shame to fall on her family name, so yeah, I think we dodged a bullet this time.”

  Sydney felt relieved, although something in her gut remained off. Khourt was one thing, but why would Máthair Zhang protect all of them? She could simply keep Khourtney out of her report, or downplay her role in things, couldn’t she?

  Ava sighed. “My body feels like it went through the spin cycle—heavy load. Even my skin aches, and everything inside me feels like—”

  “Tingly Jell-O?”

  “Yes, exactly! I’m so glad classes are out until January.”

  Sydney finished changing into her sweats, turned off the lights, and stumbled into bed. She wasn’t glad it was time for the winter holidays. The thought of spending a few weeks under her mother’s roof made her
stomach roll with queasiness.

  She couldn’t believe how close they’d come to death tonight.

  Sydney cleared her throat. “Hey, um. Thanks, by the way.” She was grateful they were in the dark. Being vulnerable was never easy for her.

  “For what?”

  “For standing up for me. No one’s done that for me before.” Syd looked up at the ceiling and did the best to keep her tone even.

  “You don’t always make it easy, but you’ve put yourself on the line for all of us, time and again, during this thing, so thank you too.”

  “Whatever,” she said with a smile. What she didn’t say was that Ava was her chosen family, just like the others, and she would always fight to protect them. “Night, Ava.”

  “Night, Syd.”

  Ainsley

  A beam of late morning sun shone through the window, waking Ainsley. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She wasn’t in her dorm room. She looked down in puzzlement and saw she was wearing a blue and white nightgown. The kind patients wore in the hospital. “What the…?”

  “There she is,” a woman’s soothing voice said.

  Startled, Ainsley noticed the nurse, dressed in scrubs with teddy bears on them, at the side of her bed.

  “You’re going to feel a tiny pinch and tug.”

  Pinch and tug? What? The nurse gripped her arm and pulled the IV needle from her hand in one quick movement before applying pressure. “Good girl.” She placed a small bandage over the spot and patted her on the arm. “The doctor should be in shortly.” With that, the slight nurse left.

  “You’re finally awake,” another voice said, sounding far too chipper.

  Sitting in the corner of the room, Justin beamed at her. She gulped and pulled the thin blankets up around her neck. “What? How did I get here?”

  Justin leaned forward in his chair and cocked his head. “You don’t remember? God, don’t tell me that memory spell actually worked?” He looked up as if the ceiling had answers. “You passed out.” He smiled wryly.

  It all came flooding back. They’d made it to the forest’s edge when she’d felt woozy, and then everything went black. “Oh my God, how are you here? I mean, you shouldn’t be here. Those,” she dropped her voice to a gravelly whisper, “elder witches were so angry. If they find out, you’ll be in even more trouble.” She was rambling, but there was a lot to consider.

  He gave a joking sigh of relief. “Thank God, I was worried that Máthair Zhang could actually Persuade you.”

  She pulled herself upright and felt a sharp twinge in her right ankle. “Very funny. I remember everything. Well, until the point where I passed out. What happened, and how did you get me here?”

  “You had a touch of hypothermia and were dehydrated. But after a night of fluids and many warm blankets, you’re better.” He beamed at her. “Langston and I carried you here. You’re in the infirmary.”

  She nodded as she processed this. “And my ankle?”

  “Sprained. You fell on it as you collapsed, but it’ll be fine in a couple of days.” He leaned in closer. “Or I could do a healing spell on you. If it would work, which it probably won’t. The way magic works with you is very confusing.”

  The sheepish way he looked at her made the butterflies in her stomach do backflips. She smiled broadly at him. “What time is it?”

  “Almost eleven.”

  She nodded. “Did you stay here all night?” Watching me passed out and drooling? “Did anyone from the school call my mother? She’s not here, is she?” Ainsley didn’t want her mom to worry, besides what excuse would she have for being taken to the hospital—by two boys after three o’clock in the morning?

  “The headmistress decided it was best to wait until you woke up, to see what you wanted—and what you remembered—since you’re not seriously hurt.” He gave a conspiratorial wink. “She hates the school being under any scrutiny, and an injured student is bad press. Also, for the record, she thinks the forgetting spell worked and expects you to have the new memory of studying for finals so intensely you became dehydrated and tripped down a few stairs, twisting your ankle.” He smiled, but she could see the guilt in his eyes.

  “You didn’t have to stay here.”

  He shook his head. “Yes, I did. I have no idea how you’re still alive—maybe because of your immunity to magic—but you saved Sydney’s life. Thank you, Ains.”

  The memory flooded back. The mist winding up to strike Sydney down. Running in front of it. The strange way it felt as the entity’s magical energy beat against her body. “I don’t know how I am either,” she admitting, looking up. “But I’m glad you’re okay.” Her throat felt suddenly thick. “How’s Sydney?”

  “Alive and well, thanks to you.”

  “I hear you’re finally awake.” A short, slim doctor with thinning hair and wire-rim glasses came in, his nose buried in Ainsley’s chart. He gazed up and greeted her with a coffee-yellowed smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “I feel fine, good actually. Can I leave? I’m supposed to get picked up by my uncle later today.” She smiled wide, praying the doctor wouldn’t want to keep her. “Back to Maine for the holidays.”

  “Everything looks fine, so yes, you’re free to go. Take the time over the break to rest up,” he said in a cheery voice. Ashcroft must pay him a boatload because he was pretty bubbly for a prep-school doctor. “Go ahead and get dressed. I’ll get the discharge papers sent off to Headmistress Chambers’ office. Have a Merry Christmas, Ainsley.” He turned to leave.

  Ainsley’s muscles tensed, and she forced a smile. Well, the headmistress was better than her mother. “You too,” she called back.

  Justin stood and made his way to her side. “Come on. I’ll help you up.” Her cheeks warmed, her embarrassment evident despite her best efforts. He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll turn around when you change. But be careful, you’re going to be wobbly.”

  She slid her legs over the side of the bed, careful to make sure her nightgown covered all the right places. Then she slipped her pants on, followed by her long sleeve tee and sweater.

  “Pain bad?”

  “Not really, just tender.”

  “Let me help you then.” He turned back around and gripped her by the arm as she slipped all the way off the bed. She held her breath, preparing for the electric jolt through her foot. To her surprise, she could put most of her weight on it.

  “Shouldn’t you be heading home for Christmas too? Most people will have gone already.”

  His eyes swept the floor for a second, and she thought she detected a veil of sadness. Glancing back up, he said, “My family lives here, but a lot of students who live away have postponed,” he sucked in a ragged breath, "so they could attend the funerals.”

  Her gut grew leaden with the realization. She nodded absently, “Jasmine and Corey.” How could she have forgotten, laughing here with Justin when two people, two witches were dead? And she’d had a hand in it. “Did I miss them—the funerals?”

  He shook his head. “They’re in a few hours. A double ceremony about twenty minutes from campus. Most of the local witch community will be there and a lot of Ashcroft students.”

  “Will you bring me?”

  “You don’t have to go. You’re still recovering—”

  “I have to do this. I’m sure you understand why.”

  He nodded, understanding. “I’ll bring you.”

  The graveyard was nothing like Saskia’s. It was modern, with wrought-iron fencing and decorative gates, beautiful stone benches, understated headstones marked with weeping angel statues. It wasn’t a large cemetery, compared to the one in Maine where her dad was buried.

  “They sure knew a lot of people,” Ainsley remarked, walking through the elaborate gate.

  Justin leaned in. “Small town life. Most people know one another or know someone who knew them. And everyone Wilde-related is here, plus some witches from other regional covens came to pay their respects.” He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her
down the main path. A mass of people stood in separate, scattered groups, awkwardly waiting.

  Two caskets sat nestled inside metal lowering devices. One was pearl-colored, the other ebony-black. The pearl one had a large arrangement of white, yellow, and pink flowers on it, while the ebony one’s bouquet was a mix of purple, blue, and white.

  As Ainsley walked closer, she could smell the heady fragrance of the fresh flowers.

  Her father’s casket was suddenly in front of her mind. His pallid face with a sweep of dark hair looked up from the cream-colored pillow. She gasped, her chest tightening as a sudden wave of light-headedness struck her. She tugged Justin’s arm to keep steady and closed her eyes, hoping to erase the memory for the moment.

  “Hey, hey,” Justin said gently. “You okay?” He put himself in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Bending down, he looked up at her, determining if she was all right.

  She nodded vigorously and wiped away a stray tear escaping down her cold cheek. “Yeah,” she said with a strained voice, “I’m just really bad at these things.” She stepped back from his grasp. “Let’s keep moving. I see the others.”

  “Ainsley, thank God you’re okay!” A doe-eyed Harper swooped in from nowhere and wrapped her gangly arms around Ainsley. She squeezed hard before pulling back to get a good look. “I was so worried. How’s the ankle?”

  Ainsley stiffened, her blood pressure dropping enough that she tilted to the left. The memory of Harper—no, the shifter—slinking out from the shadows filled her head. No strange shapes or trace of gold polluted Harper’s warm brown eyes, and she smelled like blueberry Pop-Tarts. Ainsley released a sigh.

  “What’s with you?” Harper eyed her speculatively, keeping Ainsley’s hands in hers.

  Shaking her head, Ainsley mumbled, “It’s really you.” She winced, realizing what she’d just said.

  Harper laughed. “Who else would I be?”

  Ainsley just smiled. “I just meant, it’s been too long since I’ve really seen you.”