She’s talking on the phone and holds her finger up at my approach.
I turn my head and stare out the window. It’s pitch black outside but there’s a little light coming from the stars. The land here goes on for miles. This place isn’t like the woods that surround the village, but it still isn’t as modern as the bigger cities, making me feel somewhat at home.
The lady hangs up the phone and begins typing on the computer. “Hi, miss. How may I help you?”
“Yes, I would like to stay here for a night.” I head back over to the counter.
“What’s your name?” She glances at me.
“Sage Emberly.” This is so strange. I’m not used to people not knowing who I am.
We continue through the registration and I hand her cash for the room.
She glances at the cash and then back at me. “We normally take credit cards now.”
Of course, this won’t be easy. I’m ready for this day to end. “Look, the room is two-fifty with tax, so here’s five hundred. You can keep it for a deposit, and I don’t expect a refund due to the inconvenience. I don’t have a credit card.”
Her forehead creases and she bites her bottom lip.
I hold my breath as my heart races, waiting for her response. If she says no, I guess I’ll have to sleep in my car. I have no clue where the closet hotel is from here, and I need to make it to the college tomorrow morning.
She lets out a sigh and takes the money from my hand. “You seem like a nice girl and like you could use a break. I’m going to trust you.” She leans forward and stares me right in the eyes. “Don’t make me regret it.”
Maybe there are good people out in this world after all. “I promise. I won’t.” I hold my breath and wipe my sweaty palm on my dress.
Letting out a breath, she focuses on her computer and grabs a key card. “Here you go. You’re in room one-twenty. Check out is at ten A.M. If you go to the right, you’ll find your way to the room.”
It feels as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders. I take the key card from her and smile. “Thank you so much.” I hurry off to the right before she changes her mind and find my room within minutes.
The room is immaculate with a king-sized bed dominating in the middle. The room has beige wallpaper, and the sheets on the bed are white. I fall into bed and am asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow.
* * *
The sun streams into the room, waking me up. I sit up in bed and glance over at the clock. It’s eight in the morning so I better get a move on.
Walking onto that campus last night gave me a new perspective. Since I’m here, why not check out the college and see if I can take some classes? College always seemed cool whenever I’d see signs about different places with pictures of people my age wearing bags on their backs during our trips.
This way, I can get a taste of normalcy while blending in to stay under the radar. It will give me something to focus on other than what’s going on back home.
I push the covers off of me and throw my legs over the bed. As I stand, I glance in the mirror and frown. My green dress hits my knees but is dirty from everything that happened yesterday, and it doesn’t help that I just slept in it all night.
Things won’t go in my favor if I don’t get cleaned up. I walk into the bathroom and turn the water on. I strip down and wash my dress the best I can with the bar soap the hotel provides. When I’m done, I step back out in the bedroom and hang it up while calling on my magic. It’s frowned upon to use our power for mundane things. It’s part of respecting nature and not abusing the privilege of what is bestowed upon us. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and I need my dress dried pronto. Still, my hair stands on end in protest at what I have done.
I get into the shower and wash away yesterday’s dirt. If only I could get rid of the stress. How the hell am I supposed to save my coven? I don’t even know what to do. However, I was pulled here, so right now, I have to trust my instincts. I just hope I’m not making the wrong decision.
When I get out the shower, I run on my fingers through my hair since I don’t have a hairbrush and slip my dress back on. One of the nice perks about being a witch is that the power enhances our beauty without the aid of makeup, so we always look our best until our magic leaves us. However, I need to stop by the store once I get settled to pick up some necessities when this is all settled.
After double checking the room, I head out to the lobby and to the front desk.
A man is working the counter this morning and appears to be staring out the window.
As I approach, I smile and lay the key card on the desk. “Hi, I’m here to check out, room one-twenty. Thanks for letting me stay.”
He turns my direction and grins. “Please come back and visit us soon.”
Not sure how to respond to that, I nod and leave. I get in my car and head back to the campus, looking for the building that houses admissions.
After driving around in circles and asking a few students, I pull up to Fulford Hall. The building is a white, three-story house that has an old timey feel to it. I park the car and walk into the building.
A bell jingles as I walk through, and a girl about my age looks up at me from her phone. “Hey, how can I help you?”
“Hi.” My heart picks up. Why am I nervous? Just act like she’s part of the coven. “I’d like to inquire about signing up.”
She raises an eyebrow and sets her phone down. “Well, classes started a week ago. I’m afraid you’ve missed the deadline.”
Shit. This isn’t going well. “I was told it might be possible.” Yeah, no one told me that, but I have to get in here. The invisible tether is as tight as a bow string.
“By whom?” She crosses her arms.
She’s not going to budge if I don’t give her a right answer. I call my power up and scan her mind, seeking the right answer. “Mrs. Brown.”
A moment passes and she lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Uh… okay. One second.” She picks up the phone and presses a few numbers.
Why did I think I would be able to just waltz in here and expect them to welcome me in with open arms?
“I’m sorry, Ms. Brown, but I have someone here saying she was told she could enroll today.” She winces as she listens to the reply.
A death glare is directed at me by her. “She said you told her.”
Oh, crap. Maybe I picked the wrong name.
She sets the phone down and crosses her arms. “I don’t know what the hell you just pulled, but have fun dealing with the repercussions.”
Footsteps echo down the hallway and my heart skips a beat. How the hell am I going to get myself out of this one?
The girl at the desk smirks at me.
My ears ring as an older lady turns the corner and faces me, a stern expression on her face with an intense gaze searching the room. Her eyes lock on me.
She’s holding a clipboard against her white lace blouse. A pencil is in her hand, hanging to her side next to her long black skirt. She frowns at me and places the pencil behind her ear. “I heard you are under the impression you are able to register today.”
Fake it til you make it. Those words repeat in my head. That’s what Ivory and Willow always tell me. Act confident, even if you’re not, and more people are apt to believe you. I stand tall and hold my head high. I’ve got this. I’m a priestess, after all; well, almost. “Yes. You mentioned that, but there was a lot going on that day so I’m sure you might have forgotten.”
After a second, she purses her lips. “You’re right. I don’t remember.” She glances at the girl at the desk. “Let’s take this conversation to my office.”
I follow after her and walk down the hall. The hallway is lined with pictures of the university everywhere. The second room to the right, we turn and I’m immediately attacked by the scent of roses. It’s not the natural kind of roses but the scented kind made from a factory. I try not to gag.
She walks behind a dark cherry desk and sits. Her computer is
to the left of her and the space to the right is open for her guests. “Please sit.”
Clearing my mind, I take my seat and place my hands in my lap.
“What is your name?” She turns to her computer and types in her password to get into the University database.
Crap, she’s not going to find my name in there. What am I going to do? I can’t give her a fake name. I have no ID to back it up and that will make everything else more complicated.
Her fingers pause and she turns to me. “Your name.”
I shake my head. “Oh, sorry. Sage Emberly.”
The typing resumes and after a few clicks she glares at me. “As I suspected, you are not anywhere in our system. You are going to have to wait until spring enrollment and follow the proper procedures.”
No, this can’t happen. “But it was during the campus visit and…”
She holds her hand up blows out her mouth. “Do not insult my intelligence.”
Messing with people’s minds is a frowned upon practice amongst magic welders and should only be used under dire circumstances. I hate doing this, but being here is vital to figuring out what this pull is. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been brought here.
Drawing the magic within me, I weave it with the memory of Ms. Brown meeting me and learning about how I wasn’t sure if I would be able to register prior to the first day. I include how she promised that when I came to her she would make a one-time exception for me, including somewhere to stay.
I push the memory toward her, the light silver magic floating between us and weaving into her mind.
Her brown eyes glaze over as her brain absorbs the memory. As soon as the memory takes hold, they clear and she runs a hand down her face. “Oh, dear. I remember now. I’m so sorry. Yes, of course. Let’s get your schedule squared away. This is your first semester. Do you know what your major is?”
What is a major?
“Umm…” My tone draws out and she puts me out of my misery.
“Undecided then. So we will put you in all the core classes that will be needed for just about any major you decide on.” Her fingers fly over the keyboard, and her chair spins around to the printer behind her.
Within just a few minutes, I have a schedule printed off and in my hands along with a housing arrangement. Glancing down, I realize my first class is at ten in the morning, which is in thirty minutes. I get up from my seat and smile. “Thank you so much for all your help and sorry if I caused any problems.”
Ms. Brown stands, and her lips press into a line. “It’s no problem but this won’t happen again.” She wrinkles her nose. “I have no clue why I agreed to that in the first place.”
Not wanting to push this much longer, I turn and head out of the room to the main lobby. The girl from earlier stands, twirling her hair as she talks to the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
He has broad shoulders that stretch the material of his black polo shirt, revealing every muscle underneath. His jeans fit him like a glove, revealing a tight butt. Once I pry my eyes away from his body, I’m startled to find his face is just as amazing. His brown hair is short, his face chiseled. His blues eyes would be strikingly beautiful if they weren’t looking at me in complete disgust. “Who the hell are you?”
Pain pierces my heart, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him know his effect on me. “Just a student getting ready for school.” I walk out the door before I crumble.
Who is this man and why does he already have a hold on me?
4
The fresh air blows through my hair as I step outside. I inhale a deep breath, ignoring the echo of pain in my chest from that encounter.
Whoever he is, when his eyes met mine, all regret for my misuse of magic flew out of my mind.
Why did one look from him rip my heart out of my chest?
I pull the map of the campus out of the packet Mrs. Brown gave me and locate where I am and the bookstore. I need to get the books for my classes today, and I’m running low on time.
The building isn’t far and I need the air to clear my head before my first class. Anything to take my mind off of him. It’s about a block over diagonally from the admissions building.
There is about fifteen hundred dollars left in the glove compartment, and I haven’t the first clue how much books will cost. It shouldn’t be that much.
I walk in the direction the map indicates with my face buried in it. My body collides with a hard surface, knocking me on my butt.
“Oomph.” A different kind of pain ricochets from my tailbone up my spine. At least that will take my mind off the other pain caused by a complete stranger. Why do my thoughts keep returning to that man?
I sit on the ground, stunned. I don’t want to look up, afraid to see what I ran into. Maybe I can play it off, act as if nothing happened and no one saw.
A pair of tan leather, dress style shoes come into view.
My gaze follows them up past a dark pair of jeans and a light gray button up shirt. When I get to his face, I have to clench my jaw to keep my tongue inside my mouth.
Striking green eyes bore into mine with a devilish smile gracing his mouth set in an angular face.
His beauty is a nice distraction from the unwelcomed feelings for the man I just saw. But it doesn’t prevent his blue gaze from flashing through my mind.
The man’s voice breaks through whatever spell I’m under; at least, I figure that’s what it has to be.
“Here, let me help you up. I’m sorry about that. I should have been watching where I was going. But I’m glad I wasn’t.” He holds a hand out in front of me.
“That’s okay.” I press my palms onto the concrete and push myself up before dusting off the backside of my dress.
The map is in a crumpled heap on the ground. I reach down to pick it up when another hand grabs mine as we touch the paper, both of us trying to get it at the same time. Unease flows through my body at the contact. Tightness in the back of my throat makes it difficult to swallow.
Jerking my hand back, I sling my bag over my shoulder, my fingers fiddling with the straps to avoid meeting his gaze again. Now, I know why the women stay in the village.
He holds his hands up, palms out. “Hey, I was just trying to help you.”
Get your crap together, Sage. He’s not interested in you.
My lips lift in a small smile and I meet his stare trying to act normal. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to people helping me.” Which isn’t entirely true. I’m just not used to men helping me. But I get the feeling he would think I’m crazy if I said that.
He smiles and picks the piece of paper up, holding it out for me. “First year?”
I take the map from him and tuck my hair behind my ear. “Is it that obvious?”
He chuckles. “Maybe just a little.”
I laugh, shocking myself. “Well, thank you for your help. I’m sorry for holding you up.”
Looking me up and down, he grins. “It was no problem. If you ever want to hold me up again, I wouldn’t object.”
Umm. That’s not weird at all.
My eyebrows furrow together, and I tilt my head to the side. “Okay.”
Let’s try this again. Lifting the map into view, I get my bearings before walking toward the bookstore. I don’t want a repeat of what just happened. Once is embarrassing enough.
The cold air from the vent blasts from the ceiling as I step into a room full of textbooks.
I stop with a deer-in-headlights look. I haven’t a clue where to begin to find the books I need.
The large clock on the wall behind the counter reads ten-fifteen. Crap.
Guess I’ll be coming back after my first class. At least I’ll know where it is this time.
A girl about my age, Molly according to the name tag hanging around her neck, approaches with a smile. “Can I help you find something?”
Yes. My body relaxes a fraction. Maybe this won’t be so bad.
I smile back at her and reach into my bag to pull out the schedule Mrs. Brown pri
nted off for me. “Yes, please. I need the book for my first class that starts in about ten minutes.” I squint at the sheet trying to decipher the gibberish that is my schedule. How can anyone read these schedules?
Molly holds her hand out. “Mind if I take a look?”
Oh, thank goddess.
“Sure.” I hand it to her and her eyes scan it before walking a couple of aisles over and halfway down to the section with tags reading, psy one-zero-one. Whatever that means.
After grabbing a thick textbook, she walks over to the counter and I follow behind, stopping on the other side where there are other school supplies.
I pick up a five-subject notebook, a four pack of mechanical pencils, and a four pack of pens to take notes with.
She cuts her gaze up to mine. “You have Ezra West for psychology. Be careful of that one. He’s known as quite the ladies’ man.” Her voice holds a hint of bitterness.
She rings the book and other items up. “One hundred ninety-three dollars and eighteen cents.”
Holy shit. One textbook costs that much? How am I going to afford all of these books and still survive? I might need some of the funds for finding the local coven, not including feeding myself for however long I’m here.
I could implant memories that I paid and change the numbers in the system. Bile rises in the back of my dry throat at the thought.
No, I can’t do it again. The guilt from the harmless action earlier is still eating at me.
I reach into my pack to pull out two hundred dollars and hand it to Molly. Zipping my bag, I take the tan canvas tote bag from her and my change, putting it in my pocket.
“What do you mean? Is he a bad professor?” I have to find where my class is, but if she’s warning me about a professor, I need to know why.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 195