Even if it was at my own peril.
The tang of magic filled the air as the ceiling darkened and filled with stars. A unicorn galloped through the room, eliciting screams of delight. A brush of cool air tickled my neck as Professor Cobalt called up a tropical breeze.
"As you can see, an illusion can look, feel, and seem real. The best magicians can strike terror into your heart with a clever illusion."
My mouth went dry at that one. Could she be talking about my family?
"The most famous illusionist family could produce illusions so real they could kill you."
Yup. She was talking about my family.
"The Rook clan was one of the most powerful families in Ravenscliffe until about five years ago when they fell on the wrong side of the law." Professor Cobalt's voice lowered. "No one really knows what happened, but they hunted most of them down and imprisoned them. Raven and Cliff Rook were the last to be captured, but when they were apprehended, their young daughter was nowhere to be found."
I was rooted to my seat, careful to keep my face perfectly innocent and on the illusions flying in the air. My back had broken out into a cold sweat and my hands were white-knuckled in my lap. Raven and Cliff Rook were my parents. Their young daughter was me.
"She is presumed dead," she continued, though some suspect she might be hiding under a strong illusion."
Nope. She's sitting right here in front of you, doing her best to stay alive.
"What's so dangerous about illusions?" A student said from the back.
"Imagine a cake so delicious you can't stop eating it," the professor responded. "You eat, and eat, and eat, and grow so full you slowly fall asleep."
The students in the class stared at her with rapt fascination.
"Your family comes in the next day to find you dead, your arms wrapped around a cake."
"That sounds like heaven," a student said. Snickers rang out in the classroom.
"As soon as they touch the cake, the illusion falls away to reveal a box full of rat poison." Professor Cobalt abruptly cut off the illusions. "That's how powerful one can be." She shrugged. "Or at least one from one of the Rook's. You'd eat yourself right into an early grave because it looked like cake, it smelled like cake, and it tasted like cake."
"That's super messed up," someone else said.
"It is. You should all be glad the Rook family was dealt with," she said. "Laws were passed after their imprisonment. Any illusion over Level four has to be approved by the council."
My eyebrows rose. I had no idea that was even a law. "What's considered a Level four illusion?" I asked as my hand went up.
"Anything that involves more than the sense of sight." The professor went around her desk and began walking the aisles of the classroom. "For your first illusion, I'd like you to try to create a cherry."
A what?
She grinned at us when she noticed our perplexed looks. "It is what I say. A cherry. A juicy, shiny, darkly glistening cherry. No smell. And don't try to eat it."
I could perform minor illusions without giving myself away. It was the bigger ones I had to worry about. I was just concerned about this being a gateway drug for me. I'd already been breaking the bonds of the memory spell I was under by cosplaying. Now, to knowingly perform one? It felt all kinds of dangerous.
Looking around, I saw a lot of students cupping their hands together and whispering into the space it left. I chuckled to myself. Illusion magic was all mental and realizing that a frown replaced my smile. I hadn't properly exercised my mind in years. Not since I was much younger. Careful not to look at the mean girls sitting to the sides of me, I kept my gaze on a girl catty-corner to where I sat. She held her hands in a cupping gesture and stared at the inside of them. I could feel the slight tingle of power she used to perform the magic.
The girl behind me kicked my chair so hard, my butt went numb. The professor looked up sharply but since she couldn't find the source of the noise, she continued walking up and down the aisles.
An idea occurred to me. The thing about magic is that it has both a signature and a scent. Of course, the scent is different for every magic user, but it becomes easy enough to identify someone by the scent of their magic. If you smell it often enough.
But ... if there's a lot of magic users contained in one area, the scents become so muddled it becomes close to impossible to isolate a scent strand. What I was considering was dangerous. Very dangerous. If it worked, though, it could get the mean girl triplets off my case. If I planned it right.
I waited for most of the class to begin working on their illusions before I started mine. I needed to look like I was struggling with it, especially since this wasn't supposed to be my strengths. But in the back of my mind, I was creating three other separate illusions. Level two if the Council's scale was logical. They could see this, but they'd also be able to feel it, too. Which would make it even creepier.
The cherry formed slowly and as it did, it was like a band-aid had been ripped from my psyche. I almost sobbed with the relief of it, even as I continued to create the real illusion I wanted to use. A smile lit the edge of my mouth as I put the final touches on the cherry.
It sat there on my desk, perfectly juicy and dark, glistening a deep, ruby red.
A gasp rang out from behind me as I slowly loosed the first of the illusion.
"Gross," the girl from behind me said. My smile grew.
To the right of me, Brittney let out a yelp and shifted at her desk. To the left, the other girl screeched.
I loosed the entire illusion. Seconds later, shrieks of bloody murder rang out as cockroaches bubbled up and spilled from the girl's desk. I turned to watch as the girl behind me fell out of her seat and scrambled to get away. Brittney screamed like her head was being ripped off as she tried to escape the teeming mass. Just as the teacher was turning to see what the fuss was all about, I abruptly cut the illusion off. Hundreds of cockroaches disappeared just as she turned to face the girls.
"What on the goddess's green Earth?"
Brittney sobbed. "Cockroaches!" she pointed at the innocent desk. Her mouth gaped open and a wrinkle of confusion lit her brow. "I swear!" Her gaze swung wildly around. "You saw them, didn't you?" She pointed to me.
I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. "Sorry," I said. "I was busy working." I pointed at my cherry and just as she was about to look away, I let my smile sharpen just a hint.
She blinked in surprise and took a single step back. "You!" she accused. "It was you!"
I allowed my brow to wrinkle in confusion. "Me?" I snorted. "I almost broke a sweat making the cherry." My face softened with concern. "Did you all stay up too late? Maybe eat the same thing for lunch?"
"I AM NOT CRAZY!" she screeched. Brittney slammed her hand down on the top of her desk. It cracked under the force of her shifter strength.
I shut my mouth. I might be good at illusion and subterfuge, but if Brittney took me in a fistfight, I'd probably be cat food.
By then Professor Cobalt was there. She put a hand on Brittney's shoulder and motioned for the other girls to follow her. I locked eyes with the redhead behind me and allowed just a touch of my real magic to flash behind my eyes. The redheaded girl blanched and looked away.
It would buy me at least a week of peace, but afterward I'd have to watch my back.
"Class dismissed early," the professor barked on her way out.
I sat back in my seat and let out a sigh of relief. There were still 45 minutes until the last class of the day. Then I could go back to my dorm and have a little peace. At least until the prom committee.
11
When I got back into my room at the end of the school day, I was so tired I barely noticed the piles of folded clothing lying on the top of my bed.
I dumped my backpack at the edge of the door. Slid my surprisingly comfortable new shoes off and loosened the stupid tie I had to wear just enough to slide it over my head. I still didn't know how to tie it and I wasn't going to ask someone how
to do it again tomorrow. I pulled my ponytail out and groaned as I rubbed the top of my head. Even my hair hurt. I tossed the ponytail holder on top of my dresser and was just about to face plant onto the bedspread when I noticed them.
Frowning, I took the slip of paper that rested on top of it and read.
"Miss LeCharme,
Please accept this as a token of appreciation. We understand your presence at the Merlin Academy is an ... anomaly. We've also taken the liberty of making a deposit in your lunch account and ensuring you have sufficient funds during your stay. We hope this will suit you and we look forward to one day meeting in person.
I frowned down at the note. It was signed by someone named Xavier. I racked my brain trying to remember if I knew anyone with that name and I couldn't think of a single person. I picked up the first thing and was admiring the softness of the material when something gave me pause. The shirt had thumbholes. This wasn't unusual in itself. People who lived in cold weather climates wore them all the time. But it was odd that one would be sent to me. Granted, it was cold outside, but I hadn't been outside in two days. I'd come to the conclusion the Merlin Academy didn't care about their student's vitamin D levels.
I set that shirt down and picked up another. It was the same. Long-sleeved with a thumbhole present.
These shirts would cover up the tattoos on my wrist perfectly. I swallowed hard as the ramifications hit me. This could be an odd coincidence.
But I didn't really believe in them all that much. Whoever sent these garments to me knew about the tattoos on my skin and they knew what they did. There were only a few people who knew the significance of my body art. My mother. My father. And an aunt named Charlotte whom I hadn't seen since before my parents disappeared.
Not all Rooks had tattoos. In fact, most of them didn't. They were invented by my parents as a way to store more magic. They were tied to my power and I had to be careful with how much power I accumulated. They had the pesky habit of glowing when I was charged with magic. They'd disappeared when the memory spell was placed on me and only returned when it had dissolved. More than likely they'd always been there, just under a strong glamour.
I riffled through the pants satisfied to see they were all skinny jeans and all of them were in my size. There was enough undergarments to last me for at least two weeks, pajamas, a new toothbrush, and some toothpaste. There was makeup there which was disturbingly the same kind I wore when I deigned to wear any. Ponytail holders, a new brush, shampoo, and conditioner.
Basically, anything a girl needed, I had staring up at me. I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I was desperately grateful, but I wondered if by using any of this, I'd indebt myself to someone I couldn't afford to be indebted to.
I eyed the shampoo and soft new skinny jeans.
But ... this was the fancy shampoo. Not the cheap stuff my foster mom had made me use. My lips twisted to the side as I snatched the shampoo and a matching conditioner up and put them in the bathroom.
It was only shampoo. What could I say?
I'm weak.
The student handbook said nothing about taking your food to go. I'd rushed down to the dining hall, filled a to-go container with mac and cheese and baked chicken, then came back up to my room for a while. I was just about to shove my face full of dinner when a knock sounded on my door.
I groaned with annoyance. Did the intruder not understand that mac and cheese was not something you waited to eat? You had to eat it when it was hot and melty, otherwise it became greasy, congealed trash.
I set my fork down and went to open the door.
Mannix stood there. My mouth went dry and my hands turned clammy. We stared at each other for a beat too long.
"Uh. Hello."
Mannix scratched the back of his neck, an adorable nervous gesture. "Hey. I didn't see you at dinner, so I wanted to make sure you were okay."
I pointed wordlessly to my open styrofoam container. One of his dark eyebrows rose as he still stood outside. I blinked, opened the door wider, and motioned for him to come in.
"Shut the door behind you," I said as I hopped back onto my bed and grabbed my fork. "I'm starving." I wasn't the kind of girl who only ate salads in front of boys. First of all, there was too much good food in the world to waste a perfectly good meal on rabbit food. Second, this was mac and cheese. The King of England could have knocked on my door and I would have made him watch me eat. And third, but most important of all, who gave a crap what you ate? If anyone judged me for what I put in my mouth, they could march themselves right out the door.
I shoved a forkful of food in my mouth, not looking at Mannix because he was probably laughing at me.
"Hungry?" he asked a moment later.
I grunted and as soon as I swallowed I met his gaze. He was breathtaking. And secretive.
We still hadn't talked about my presence here. Since we were by ourselves, I thought we might.
"Why?" I asked simply.
His eyes widened. "Why what?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't do that. You know." Tears formed in my eyes. "I know you know."
He put his index finger over his lips and looked up at the ceiling. "I know you have a crush on me, Harmony," he said.
My eyes bugged out. "Excuse me?" I screeched.
He pointed up at the ceiling and gave a warning shake of his head. "There's no need to hide it anymore. Several girls overheard you professing your love to me in the bathroom. Were you practicing for your romantic speech?" He pretend swooned.
I was going to murder him. And I was going to enjoy it.
"Actually," I said sweetly, getting his hint about how we couldn't talk freely. "I overheard your prom date caught you masturbating in Home Room." I tutted. "That's a real shame. I was thinking about asking you out, but since you can't keep your hands off your little worm, I thought I'd ask someone else."
A smile quirked his lips, showcasing a tiny dimple I'd never noticed. Good one, he mouthed. Mannix leaned forward, so close to me I could feel the warmth of his breath. My fork froze in mid-air as he got even closer.
"What are you doing?" I squeaked. His presence overwhelmed me. He smelled like cardamom and secrets, magic and night. All the wonderful things I loved and I struggled not to close my eyes and lean into him. My mouth parted just as his did and I thought he was going to kiss me and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
I'd just decided to go with it when his lips closed over the fork full of mac and cheese I was holding.
A choked breath of air escaped from me. "You dirty dog," I accused.
"Mmm," he said, chewing on his ill-gotten gains. "Delicious."
"Stay out of my mac and cheese," I said, pulling my fork away. He was still too close to me.
Mannix swallowed and leaned even closer to me, his lips at my ear, sending a shiver of sensation down my spine. "There are only a few safe spaces to speak at this school. I'll show you one after the committee," he whispered.
Stunned at how his presence affected me, I nodded mutely.
"I'll walk with you as soon as you finish eating." Mannix kicked off his shoes and lay across my bed, taking up the majority of it. I wondered if he really wrote poetry. Did he have a girlfriend? Did he want one? Why didn't he report me? Was he carrying secrets of his own? It would be unusual if his were as bad as mine. Also ... what was he? What kind of magic did he have? I couldn't tell. He didn't have the features of a shifter. If he were one, maybe he was a fox or something.
I didn't think he was a witch, but I could have been wrong.
"How long have you been here?" I asked as I cut a piece of my chicken.
"I'm a sophomore." Sadness flickered in his gaze.
"And you haven't seen your parents in two years?"
He shook his head but looked away. "They wouldn't want to see me anyway so it doesn't matter."
I itched to reach out and stroke his silky hair. I guessed it was silky with the way it flashed blue in the light of my dorm room. He looked relaxed but his body was tightly c
oiled. I could tell in the way he rested but was alert of everything.
"Why were you there that night?" I asked after I'd swallowed another bite.
He shook his head and pointed again at the ceiling. "How was your first day?"
Brittny and the mean girl train came to mind. A small smile formed at the corner of my mouth. "Decent. I think I stopped some behavior before it full started." Trixie's words came back to me. Mannix and Brittney were a thing. "I heard you and Brittney dated before?" The question was posed innocently, but his gaze locked with mine. Wariness appeared in his eyes.
"We did," he acknowledged. "A long time ago."
I clucked my tongue. "It couldn't have been too long ago. You've only been here for a couple of years."
He shook his head. "It feels like a hundred years ago."
"Mmm," I said. "I'm having trouble seeing the allure."
"Oh really?" he asked, that dimple peeking out again. "Do you really?"
I picked up a small throw pillow and tossed it at him while also trying to squash down my jealousy. "I get it. She's gorgeous. Her personality is trash, though."
Mannix sat up abruptly. "We should go."
I dropped my fork. "Umm. I wasn't finished."
He slid off the bed. "I'll go then. You can catch up." He didn't seem ... angry. Just like he wanted to stop talking about this.
"Talking about an ex is weird, I get it," I acknowledged. "Sorry for bringing it up."
He waved a hand at me as he slipped his shoes back on. "It's nothing. Just ... weird." He tugged his ear. "I'll see you at the meeting."
I blinked at him but he'd already opened my door and let himself out. "Way to go," I told myself. "You finally had a cute boy in your room and you blew it." I wiped my mouth and gathered up my trash to deposit in the receptacle. I'd have to set it outside before I left so it wouldn't smell up my room.
A few minutes later, I was dressed in a pair of my new jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I'd left my hair down and it cascaded over my shoulders, bright as a unicorn's tail. I turned to the map in the handbook and tore it out so I could keep it with me. I knew where the class area was, but I didn't have a clue how to get to the library.
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