Mystic Coven: Fire Festival (Supernatural Academy Graduates Book 1)

by Jennifer Rose McMahon

  Mystic Coven - Fire Festival

  Jennifer Rose McMahon

  Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer Rose McMahon

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and incidents described in this publication are used fictitiously or are entirely fictional.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by Sanja Gombar

  Dubhdara Publishing

  www.jenniferrosemcmahon.com

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Praise for Jennifer Rose McMahon

  Free Prequel to the Pirate Queen Series

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Also by Jennifer Rose McMahon

  Sample of Urban Mystic Academy

  Praise for Jennifer Rose McMahon

  “McMahon's excellent paranormal mystery. Teen and adult readers alike will be clamoring for the sequel."

  Publishers Weekly Starred Review

  ”Engaging, beautifully written scenes, and idyllic descriptions keep the tale moving at a quick pace. The characters are engaging and they draw a person in to this tale of adventure and intrigue. Adrenaline-fueled action and enough twists and turns to keep even the most astute readers on their toes, this is a captivating story with a heroine who is forcefully engaging."

  InD'tale Magazine

  ”As Chieftain of The O'Malley Clan I am always interested in anything to do with Granuaile, our very famous Pirate Queen ancestor. Jennifer's novel captures the connection with the past which we treasure in Ireland. The Irish landscape, contemporary social life, the Irish language, and romance are woven into this fantasy story about Maeve Grace O'Malley and her quest to solve her 'Awake Dreams'. I am certainly looking forward to the sequel. More BOHERMORE please!"

  Sarah Kelly, O'Malley Clan Chieftain 2017

  Enjoy a free copy of Rockfleet, the prequel to Jennifer Rose McMahon’s Pirate Queen series.

  AN ANCIENT CURSE. A RELUCTANT SEER.

  A LEGEND REVEALED.

  Cursed with the gift of second sight, Maeve travels through her haunting visions to medieval Ireland to discover mysterious secrets within her clan – secrets that could change her life forever.

  Maeve must face her unseen enemies in a final attempt to protect her clan from obliteration. But will the heart-wrenching distraction of the rival clan chieftain’s son derail her before she is able to succeed and return to the future?

  In the quest of a lifetime, or centuries of lifetimes, Maeve must make an impossible choice between love and loyalty to end her curse before her time runs out, trapping her in the past forever.

  If you knew your gift was a curse, would you use it?

  Get your free copy of Rockfleet by signing up for Jennifer Rose McMahon’s newsletter. Keep up with her new releases and awesome giveaways too!

  Click here for your FREE copy of Rockfleet

  MYSTIC COVEN - FIRE FESTIVAL

  by Jennifer Rose McMahon

  This story was written during the 2020 Covid pandemic and is dedicated to the essential workers on the front lines keeping us safe. Thank you for your bravery and your true superpowers.

  Chapter 1

  They have a name for the supernatural academy student who graduates at the bottom of her class.

  Witch.

  Or more specifically for me, rogue witch.

  We were all witches here in one form or another, but unfortunately, I'd been labeled "rogue" early on. The sad thing was, once you're labeled in school, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to change anyone's mind about it.

  So, if I was to have any hope of making my way in this unique world, I needed to make a better name for myself.

  Breaking away from terms like cursed bloodline, ineffective magic, and teacher's pet would take major effort, but with the annual Fire Festival soon approaching, I had a perfect plan.

  Of course, my grand plan could be derailed at any moment, considering I continued to do things that were deemed to be off-limits—like right now, for example...

  Exploring the hidden labyrinth.

  Which was strictly forbidden.

  But for some reason, I was drawn to this secret place. Something about the mystery of the labyrinth had convinced me it could be an integral part of my master plan. I just wasn't sure how yet.

  I glanced across the winding stone path, tracking its direction changes with my eyes until it became too intricate to follow. Each stepping stone was unique in its lichen patterns and worn edges. Moss had taken over between each step and curving trail of the neglected maze. The elusive center was too far to see, and only my imagination could conjure what might be hiding there.

  But I wasn't a complete rule breaker.

  I never actually walked its path, so I had no idea what secrets it held at its core. Nevertheless, I always sat here at the entrance—the first stone step leading into the maze, wondering what it was that called to me.

  I'd been caught here a couple times before and reminded of the rules to stay away, but the reprimands were never severe enough to keep me away.

  Because there was something powerful within the labyrinth.

  And I intended to find out what it was.

  This year's Fire Festival ritual was going to be the time to do it, basically because the rare alignment with the Ring of Fire left me no choice.

  The Ring of Fire solar eclipse would be occurring at the same time as the festival, on the eve of the autumn equinox—two major events in the season of the witch. It was too good to be true, and I saw their coinciding as a definite sign.

  The rare eclipse would mark the beginning of the festival. As the moon covers the sun's center, leaving only a ring of flames around its edges, magic would be at its highest. To me, it would be a mystical phenomenon. I'd always been drawn to the power of fire. It was my magical element—the sun, stars, flames, volcanoes, they were all a part of my inner essence.

  However, my fire element was dangerous and could even be deadly if left unchecked, which placed me in awkward situations more than once. My biggest vulnerability was that my fire could be extinguished by any of the other elements. My fellow graduates were all too aware of that fact. They were also eager to remind me that my power required another substance to consume in order to exist.

  And there it was—my downfall.

  With a gentle breeze pushing long strands of my hair off my face, I studied the lines in my palm, following each one as if beginning the labyrinth journey. Each line connected to another, leading my eyes in different directions. As I focused harder, a purple glow of heat formed within the center of my hand, and I shook it, causing it to disappear.

  I looked all around to see if anyone else had seen it, but I was definitely alone. No one else would dare venture into the restricted garden, which made it the one safe pl
ace for me to practice.

  The energy around the labyrinth always helped with my conjuring of flames. By no means did I have control over the skill, but when I was near the secret maze, I could draw on its power. And consume it.

  Closing my eyes, I pulled the energy from all around me as I took in a huge breath. Focusing it onto my palm, I tried again. But at the same time, a strange sound came from within the labyrinth, shaking my concentration. As the quivering sound danced around my ears, I shook my hand as searing pain shot through it.

  "Ach," I yelped, jumping up to standing.

  Holding my wrist as I studied my palm, I stared in surprise as the redness began to blister.

  As I gawked at the burn, the strange sound from the labyrinth swirled around me again—a lost voice echoed in the open air, calling as if searching for something.

  I stepped back, looking all around me for any sign of its source. With my heart beating in my ears, I spun around and hurried back toward Hazeldene. Getting to the safety of the academy became my immediate priority.

  I'd have to tell Noah and Piper.

  The burn, the voice, it was too much to keep to myself.

  They'd kill me, though, for going to the labyrinth again, saying I gave our squad a bad name each time I got caught there. Of course, they'd tell me to keep quiet about it, that it would only make me sound crazy and generate more unwanted attention around me.

  And they would be right.

  Everyone at Hazeldene had an opinion about me, and it was generally not good.

  And the worst part of trying to fit in at the academy was that the other grads all seemed to know something I didn't. Like they had information that gave them power over me. It was infuriating, but at the same time, gave me a focus—uncovering the mystery behind all the hushed whispers and side-glances.

  What made it even worse was that I had little memory of coming to the academy. I had been in my early teens at the time, and now at nineteen, I was still foggy about the details.

  During my training time, I'd seen enough newbies arrive to know that it was never a normal transition. They'd either been sent away from their homes by clueless parents for mental health support or suspected drug abuse, or dropped off by the juvenile officer for a diversion program, signed off by the district attorney—again, a complete misunderstanding of the presenting behaviors. Stories of portals and spells, astral projection, or the discovery of hidden altars in bedrooms were just a fraction of what got our new recruits sent to us.

  Or the newcomers would be like me, showing up with absolutely no trail of where they'd come from, lost and confused.

  Outsiders called it psychosis or hysteria, while insiders knew better.

  We were supernaturals.

  The one common thread was that we were all gifted, each in our own way, connected by our ability to use magic elements all around us.

  And with three weeks until the Fire Festival, it was time for me to gain some control over my element and prepare.

  For that event, I planned to use the element of surprise.

  This would be my one chance to prove myself, to show the doubters that I was worthy of my alumni status at Hazeldene. And my position as the lead new-recruit mentor within the academy was riding on it.

  Racing back to the huge manor, I scanned the manicured grounds for any spies. The vast, rolling lawns were all clear, so I glanced up along the side of the creepy-looking towers and slated gables, scanning the balconies and stained-glass windows. Legends of deep dungeons and grizzly executions always chilled my bones when I looked at the house.

  The gothic estate was enormous, leaving a million opportunities for me to be spotted, but then, I really had no reason to feel so guilty. I hadn't actually entered the forbidden labyrinth.

  Keeping my head down, I flew across the sprawling porch and bombed through the massive double-door entryway. I raced beneath the twinkling crystal chandelier and up the grand spiraling staircase leading to my room. With a smash, I closed the door behind me and locked it.

  My palm throbbed with pain, and I searched my desk for something soothing to cover it. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to notice the injury. They'd know it was another failed attempt at controlling my fire.

  I had no idea how I'd even graduated from this place. I felt more like disappointing drop-out material. But for some reason, the teachers had full faith in my leadership position at the house. They never wavered in their belief of my ability or my lineage. They believed I came from a historical line of witches, dating back to the Salem Trials that occurred not too far from here. But there was no way I was buying that without proof.

  It wasn't the faculty that unhinged me, though. It was the other students who doubted me, like they'd been turned against me. And that was what rattled my confidence.

  Someone had poisoned my reputation when I'd first arrived at Hazeldene—lies about a cursed bloodline. To this day, I was still uncertain of who started it.

  But it wasn't hard to at least narrow it down to the most malignant group in the house.

  The bane of my existence.

  The Big Three.

  "Shaye!" My name traveled up the curving staircase.

  Hiding my hand behind my back by instinct, I stood tall, staring at my door.

  "Shaye, the new students are arriving!"

  Noah's voice punched through the door, straightening my spine further.

  It was time to meet the new recruits.

  And standard operating procedure meant I was the first to greet them.

  It was a routine event around here that always felt natural to me.

  Until today.

  Grabbing my copper ring from my desk, I slid it onto my finger.

  My ring was the one thing I still had from when I'd first arrived at Hazeldene. It held the secrets of my origin—the story I knew nothing about.

  I paused for a moment, certain that the burning pain in my palm subsided somewhat when the ring slid into place.

  Feeling more balanced and in control now, I threw my door open and stared into Noah's eager face, his smiling eyes sparkling with ice blue.

  "Where's Piper?" I asked as we flew down the stairs.

  "She's already down there helping Ms. Harrison," he said, brushing his jet black hair away from his eyes. The rest of his hair was clean cut all around, emphasizing his square, stubbled jawline, making me wonder, yet again, how he could still be single.

  "Oh, good," I chuckled. "Ms. Harrison will need all the help she can get."

  "True that."

  We couldn't help making fun of Ms. Harrison. It was because we loved her so much, and her confuzzled nature. She was a prominent member of the Higher Order, with a stellar list of accomplishments, but we knew her on a more personal level, as our mentor. And she was a scattered mess.

  As Noah and I bombed from the third floor to the foyer, we saw the others gathering outside by the porch.

  "How many newbies are there this time?" I glanced down the long drive for any sign of their arrival.

  "I think two," he said, narrowing his eyes on me. "You knew that. Where's your head at Shaye?"

  I shook it and rubbed my eyes with my hands, only to pull back my sore one.

  Noah was always the first to point out when I was unfocused or distracted. He was that kind of friend you relied on to keep it together in times of need.

  "Right, I know. I was just confirming," I lied.

  Noah pursed his judging lips to one side and shook his head to flip his hair away from his face.

  "Where were you this morning?" he asked, eyeballing my hand. His eyes, lined with envy-producing dark lashes, pierced through it. "Are you hurt? What's wrong with your hand? I swear, Shaye, if you're playing with fire again..."

  At first, I wanted to chuckle, because, yes, I was playing with fire, as always. But Noah was like my conscience, always nagging me at the exact right times, wanting me to stay out of trouble. I supposed it was part of his gift, feeling people's emotions without them sayi
ng a word. But sometimes I just wished I could hide mine from him. He got a little too close sometimes.

  Either way, I panicked as I realized I wasn't prepared with an excuse for him about my hand. But it was Noah. He knew all too well about my antics, and I had planned on telling him and Piper anyway.

  Just as I prepared to explain the strange happenings from the labyrinth, my attention snapped to the porch.

  "Hey, guys," Piper called to us, waving. "Get out here." Her red hair swung around her like the rays of a sunset.

  A smile crossed my face, and I immediately forgot about my burden, and instead hopped out to her.

  The crisp morning air of early September cleansed my senses, and I smiled in appreciation of the New England seasons. The leaves were just beginning to turn, sending orange and yellow hues across the backdrop.

  "They'll be here any minute," she said with bright, round eyes. Her light orange lashes and eyebrows created a glow on her face that radiated warmth.

  Noah and I joined Piper and our house-mother, Ms. Harrison, and we watched the gated entryway with anticipation. The squeak of the old wrought-iron gates opening always meant something interesting was about to happen. The scrolled, gothic details of the iron design added to the mystique of the academy.

  My heart pounded with excitement. This was the one thing I was good at. The one thing that didn't trip me up every step of the way—working with the new recruits and teaching them about their unique abilities.

  My excited anticipation of who we were getting grew with every passing second. I wondered what their gifts might be, and more interesting, their backstories. The stories from the new students were never dull. Their life experiences leading up to their convocation at the academy was always a whirlwind of chaos.