by Kate A. Fox
The way he winked at me sent a warm tingle down my spine.
"If you only want to meet up to make out then I'm not interested." I scowled at him.
Who was I kidding? Of course I was interested. I wanted to suck his face off right there and then.
"It's a good job I like spending time with you then."
Before I could reply the moment was broken abruptly by the swinging of the classroom door.
On the other side stood a tall woman who was equally as beautiful as Celestria and Merrin if not more so.
Her strawberry blonde hair was fashioned into viking braids down the sides of her head and she looked, for all intents and purposes, like a warrior woman.
"I thought I heard voices." She scowled first at Booth but when her gaze fell to look upon me and my smaller stature, her eyes grew wide and she breathed, "Emelia?"
My breath caught in my throat as I heard the name of my mother uttered on her lips.
"No, Lecturer Stevenson, this is Brianna Winters. Your new student."
Booth winked at me and I was relieved he hadn't introduced me as 'the new girl'.
It was a distant relief that was overwhelmed by the fact she had just called me by my mother's name.
"You...you knew my mother?" I asked.
I remembered Nicola telling me often that I looked like her but until now I had thought it was just something she said to try and make me feel better.
"Emelia is your mother's name?" Lecturer Stevenson looked confused, "I wasn't aware that Emelia had a daughter."
And just like that my hopes were scattered to the wind. Of course she didn't know my mother. How could a witch in a creepy cult school know the woman who had given birth to me?
"I guess not then." I huffed.
"Brianna, please come in. We have been waiting for you." Lecturer Stevenson instructed as she stepped out of the way to let me past, "Booth, be off with you to your next class."
With that she slammed the door closed, blocking my exit as I found that everyone inside the classroom was glaring at me, making it extremely obvious that the third years still hadn't accepted me into the fold.
How many third years are there? I thought as I realised I didn't recognise a single one of them.
"Please take a seat, Brianna."
"Yes, Lecturer Stevenson."
"You may call me Mae." She said even as I found myself a seat at the very back of the class.
I distantly thought of how at my last school when you turned up late you found yourself stuck in one of the front seats within spitting distance of the teacher. I'd been given a shower by my English teacher plenty of times but luckily for me, Lecturer Stevenson didn't seem like an overactive saliva maker.
I settled down in my seat and placed my bag at my feet, glad that I'd had the good sense to pick it up even when Booth had kissed me outside the temple.
"Okay, class, who can tell me why spellcraft is so important in a witch's routine?" Mae asked as she came to stand a few feet away from me.
Several hands shot up and I was relieved that she picked one of them instead of being one of those horrible teachers who picked a student who clearly didn't know the answer.
"Yes, Gwen." Mae gestured to a brunette with blonde highlights streaking her hair, sitting a few rows back.
"Because it’s a way of connecting with our Gods and Goddesses." She said in a voice that was utterly proud, as though she knew her answer was correct even before the lecturer nodded.
"Very good. And who can tell me what we use spellcraft for?" Mae asked, glancing around the room. This time the hands went up a little more slowly.
"Yes, Cameron."
This time Mae picked a boy who was sat on the front row a few seats away from me. I was surprised to see that he was wearing the same football jacket that Booth prided himself on wearing daily. It wasn't every day you saw a football guy sitting on the front row, especially not a football guy willing to participate in giving answers in class.
He wasn't as jaw droppingly handsome as Booth but there was definitely something about him that made me look twice.
"We use spellcraft for healing, protection, tracking, and good fortune." He said calmly and just as proudly as Gwen had answered the first question.
"Very good, although the last one, less so. It is not always a good idea to tempt fate." Mae explained to the entire class, "We also use Spellcraft for things like the growing of our gardens and keeping pests away."
Finally I began to learn something interesting and I could almost forget about everything that had happened over the last few days.
***
By the time that class ended I found myself held back once more.
Lecturer Stevenson eyed me closely until the last student finally clicked the door closed behind them.
"Tell me about your mother." She said, still looking at me as though she was trying her hardest to figure me out.
"I don't really know all that much." I shrugged, suddenly remembering Nicola's warning.
The familiar stab of homesickness burrowed into my stomach and I suddenly realised I hadn't thought about home for over a day. I'd been so preoccupied with everything that had been going on that I had totally forgotten to even check my phone to see whether she had messaged me.
"But her name was Emelia?" Lecturer Stevenson asked as though she had gleaned from my answer that I was adopted.
I nodded.
"And what of your father?" She asked, the end of her eyebrow twitching with interest.
"I know even less." I sighed and I felt the familiar twinge in my heart that I always felt when I thought of how little I knew about my birth parents.
"Curious." Lecturer Stevenson tapped her index finger against her lips and continued to observe me.
When she remained silent I suddenly remembered what I had been wanting to talk to her about all morning.
"Lecturer Stevenson, can I ask you a question?"
"It seems only fair." She nodded, "And please, call me Mae."
I paused and sucked in a breath as I prepared myself for the question that had been working its way around the edge of my mind all day.
"What do you know about the Winterwood Book of Shadows?"
That seemed to catch the lecturer's attention. A spark of something I couldn't quite put my finger on, flashed through her dark brown eyes.
"Why do you ask?" She furrowed her brow at me as if I shouldn't have really been asking the question.
If she really did know its owner, it’s probably a difficult subject for her. I realised.
"When I was in the library for second period, I couldn't help but feel as if I was drawn to the book." I admitted sheepishly.
"Curiosity is healthy." Mae mused, "But I would warn you against asking too many questions. If you ask them to the wrong people you may begin drawing attention to yourself."
Was she one of those 'wrong people'?
"I'm sorry, Lecturer...I mean, Mae. Forget I asked." I said quickly.
Mae sighed then as though she was disappointed at putting me off the subject entirely.
"I will tell you one thing." She said and I couldn't help but lean in to listen, "Emelia Winterwood was one of the brightest students we ever had the privilege of knowing. Her loss is greatly felt throughout the community."
There was a sadness in her tone that made me sympathetic. It was clear that the two of them had been friends.
"When I saw you it was as if she had returned." Mae continued, "I suppose it’s not entirely uncommon for witches to look similar. After all, the Goddess has gifted us all greatly with beauty and grace."
She continued to eye me closely as if she thought there was more to it.
Then she averted her eyes and made a show of looking at the papers on her desk.
"You may be dismissed."
I left the room feeling entirely turned around. What exactly had just happened? I guess I would never really know for sure. Witches didn't seem too big on sharing their secrets.
BY THE END OF FIFTH PERIOD I'D LEARNED THAT even witches took mathematics seriously.
My one saving grace was the fact that Booth was in the same class as me and every time I didn't find myself thinking of what had happened with Lecturer Stevenson, I found my eyes wandering to him, sitting a couple of rows ahead of me.
My mind was a whirlwind of the things he'd told me and the fact that Lecturer Stevenson had mistaken me for some lost witch, so much so that she'd even called me by her name.
I was so focused on those things that I barely heard the bell ringing for the end of class and suddenly realised I had only finished half the worksheet that Lecturer Alexander had given me.
Just like all the other lecturers he was tall and beautiful though he seemed much older than the others with salt and pepper hair and silver mixed into his close cropped beard. I guess that's what happens even to witches when you become a teacher of such a boring subject.
"New girl? Hey?" Booth's voice sounded in my ear, full of concern and I suddenly realised he had been talking to me.
The rest of the class, eight other students, had already left the room as though they were eager to catch up with their friends.
"When are you going to stop calling me that?" I scowled as I turned my face up to look at him.
"When you aren't the New Girl anymore." Booth shrugged and his mouth twitched with the first hints of his usual devilish smile.
"Any idea when that will be?"
"We won't know until Celestria or Merrin pick up on another beacon."
Well that really narrowed it down for me. Not.
"You mean mum?" I pointed out and Booth rolled his eyes at me.
"I haven't called her mum in public since I started going to school here."
"You mean, you haven't always been a student here?" I gaped at him. I'd just assumed that as the son of a lecturer he would have always been here.
"I've lived here all of my life but there was no guarantee that I would be gifted so I went to the closest human school until my powers started to reveal themselves." Booth explained and then gestured for me to stand, "Are you coming or are you planning on sitting there for the rest of the day?"
I looked around to see Lecturer Alexander watching us out of the corner of his eye, doing a crappy job of pretending to mark maths worksheets.
"Where are we going?" I asked as I gathered up my bag and slung it over my shoulder to follow him from the classroom.
"Well, I figured seeing as you don't want to ditch your friends, I'd walk you back to your dorm." He smirked at me.
"You know, I've been here a few days now. I know how to get back to the dorm." I pointed out.
"Like I told you before. I like spending time with you." Booth said and before I could stop him he had hooked my bag off my shoulder and slung it over his own, "Allow me."
I guess there was no arguing when someone was being such a gentleman about it.
I couldn't say that I wasn't anxious about him walking me back to my dorm but it was nice. Not having to carry the bag I'd been lugging around all day was a relief and I wasn't going to complain about it.
I was however concerned that Rhea and her little minions might be watching so I was careful not to walk too close to him even though my fingers itched to link with his again.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked as we descended the stairs into the hall.
Holding your hand. I thought but bit my lip until I tasted blood to stop myself from saying the words out loud.
When I glanced at him his eyebrow was raised almost as though he'd sensed what I was thinking. I half expected him to reach out and take my hand.
"Not much." I replied simply when he didn't call me out on it.
"So why do you have that whole world-on-your-shoulders look going on?" Booth's brow began to furrow.
How did he already know me so well? Was everyone at this school intuitive?
Everyone seemed to know me better than I knew myself. Maybe that was because up until a few days ago I had believed I was just a 'normal' kid.
"I think we both know what I'm thinking about." I eyed him, almost relieved that I could use the secret he'd shared with me to hide everything else that was on my mind.
"I'm sorry." The forlorn look that crossed his face caused my heart to clench. He was so damn cute when he looked at me like that.
I struggled to control myself not to reach out and comfort him.
"I probably shouldn't have burdened you with something so big, especially with everything else you're going through."
You have no idea. I thought of my mark and Lecturer Stevenson's reaction to me. I thought of Nicola's warning and Merrin's vow to keep my secret even though I really didn't have a clue what she was talking about.
"A problem shared is a problem halved." I said and instantly began to feel guilty. I'd always had a major problem with not taking my own advice.
"You're a cool kid, New Girl." Booth smirked at me and I felt my cheeks begin to burn red hot, not just because we'd walked out into the afternoon sun.
Coming from the captain of the academy's football team I knew I should take that as a compliment.
"Bri?" My name was said in the kind of way that suggested a 'what the hell are you doing?' afterwards and I turned to see Zoe, Keeya and Luci perched at the bottom of the steps as though they'd all been waiting for me.
They eyed Booth as though he was a snake in the garden and I felt my skin beginning to crawl. No doubt they were as worried about Rhea as I was.
"Zoe, Keeya, Lucille, it’s good to see you all again." Booth greeted them politely as though he had no intentions of allowing them to scare him off.
When they noticed my bag hanging from his shoulder I was sure they would all implode.
"We were waiting to walk you back to the dorm but I see now we had no need to worry." Zoe scowled and it was obvious that she was mightily worried.
"I think I can take my bag from here." I told Booth, unable to stop from blushing. Now everyone was looking at me and I couldn't help but feel as though I was being forced to choose between my friends and the hottest guy in school.
"Are we still meeting later?" Booth asked as he handed me my bag and I swear I could hear the cogs turning in the other girls heads.
They were going to pounce on me as soon as he was gone. I was sure of it.
"We have dinner and the full moon circle tonight." Zoe pointed out.
I'd totally forgot! How could I possibly have forgotten something I'd been looking forward to?
Maybe it had something to do with everything that had happened today? It wasn't exactly first day of a new school material, right?
"Meet me afterwards?" Booth raised his perfect eyebrow at me once more, seeming to ignore the other girls. His eyes were doing that weird yet not unpleasant burrowing into my soul thing again and I found myself nodding.
"I look forward to your company." He winked at me before descending the steps.
I stared after him, open mouthed like a fish out of water as I felt all my friends' attention turn from the hottie to me.
"What the hell was all that about?" Keeya exclaimed as soon as he disappeared around a row of bushes in the courtyard.
"Yeah, Bri, what the hell happened to staying away from him?" Zoe chimed in.
"That was before…" before he had shared his deepest secret with me. Before we'd kissed so passionately I felt like my soul had become one with his. Before I realised that for the first time in my life I found a guy anything but annoying.
"Oh no!" Luci gulped, "Bri's in deep!"
“Please tell me she’s wrong.” Keeya turned her attention solely on me and I could feel the anger radiating off her, almost see it cloudy and red all around her just as I’d seen it on Booth the night he and Rhea had been arguing, “I thought you were determined to keep a low profile?”
“What was I supposed to do? Be a bitch to him?” I demanded, feeling just as angry that she’d put me on the s
pot like that.
“If it keeps Rhea off our backs then yes!” Keeya snapped back at me. I knew she was only lashing out at me because she was worried but it still pissed me the hell off.
“Bri’s right,” Luci came to stand beside me and I was surprised when she linked her arm in mine as a show of solidarity, “You know as well as I do that the heart wants what it wants.”
She gazed at Keeya, willing her to calm down.
“Luci is right.” Zoe added, “It’s not Bri’s fault that Booth has taken a liking to her.”
Exactly! I wanted to scream at them all. It wasn’t my fault he’d sought me out to be the one to bear all his secrets. I couldn’t exactly tell them that though, not without breaking his trust. No matter how much I wanted to share the burden.
Keeya sighed then and averted her eyes from mine as if she was ashamed of herself.
“I’m sorry, Bri, it's just we all know what it's like to get on the wrong side of Rhea.” Keeya apologised sincerely and I found myself reaching out to take hold of her hand.
I squeezed her knuckles even as I said, “You saw how shit scared of me Rhea was at the river. We haven’t seen a glimpse of her since then.”
That wasn’t entirely true but I wasn’t about to tell her about Booth and Rhea’s argument. That was a whole other kettle of fish.
“Let’s hope it stays that way.” Keeya groaned.
“Come on. We should go and get ready for dinner if we don’t want to be late to the temple.” Zoe suggested and I was relieved that the conversation seemed to be over.
CHAPTER 24
DINNER SEEMED TO GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH WHICH I was glad about because after missing lunch I was starving.
Zoe had warned me not to eat too much because a circle casting could be heavy on the stomach. I’d listened to her, remembering the snacks back in the dorm kitchen that I’d probably raid afterwards.
It wasn’t until we were standing outside the temple, the moon rising above our heads, that I realised the magnitude of the full moon ritual. There must have been one hundred or so people gathering outside the temple, the pathways bursting at the seams.