“Professor…” I said hesitantly.
“Yes, Miss Welch?”
“I…well, I’m not sure how to put this…”
“What is it, Bethany? Whatever it is, just be straightforward about it. That always seems to gain the best results.”
I nodded. “Well, it’s about Professor Ubel. I think I mentioned before that I can see the threads of magic on a person, so I can tell if they’ve been bespelled. Which is why you are having me help the students.”
As we walked, she slid her gaze to mine and gave me a slight nod. “Yes, a new feature to your magic, I imagine?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And you had a question regarding that particular gift in regards to Professor Ubel?” she asked, but I had a feeling she knew exactly what I was about to say and she was encouraging me to follow it.
“Yes, ma’am. When I was battling Sara, and Professor Ubel came toward us, I didn’t notice any spells on him. His energy is all one color. A disturbingly dark shade of blue, so dark it’s almost black. There were no threads of red, or other colors in there. So he couldn’t have been bespelled by her, not in the literal sense.”
“No, I didn’t imagine he was, dear.” She smiled.
“So… he was angry that she tricked him?” I asked and then continued that thought. “Is that why he wanted me to kill her? Because she made a fool of him?”
Professor Singh looked thoughtful. “That is one possibility, yes.”
“There is another,” James said softly.
I looked at him. “What are you thinking?”
He frowned and then glanced at Professor Singh before turning back to me. “He could be working for the Shadow Society also.”
“What?” I stared at him as if that was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard, but then… he had wanted me to kill her. I frowned.
“That is also a possibility,” Professor Singh agreed. “We shall have to remain cautious around him just to be sure. And Bethany—” she looked at me. “I am serious about you no longer working with him. I will tutor you.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Professor.”
We reached the infirmary and James let go of my hand. “I’ll wait here. No need to rile up the nurse.” He gave me a lopsided grin.
I stood on my toes and brushed a kiss across his lips. “We’ll be right back.”
He nodded and waved me off into the room.
I hurried to follow Professor Singh.
“Good evening, Nurse Miller. I’m here to see if your patients have recovered.”
“Recovered?” she asked with a frown. “They are sedated because we haven’t a cure for the spells they are under, of course they aren’t recovered.” She put her hands on her hips and looked at us fiercely.
Professor Singh pursed her lips and then commented, “The witch who cast the spells is no longer with us, and from what we’ve discovered from other infected, she pulled the spells when she left. Could you please check your patients? If the spells are not completely gone, Miss Welch is capable of unraveling the remaining bits of the spells.”
Nurse Miller huffed. “Fine. Come with me.”
We followed her to Dorian’s room. He looked so peaceful laying there asleep with a smile on his lips. The nurse removed the sedation spell and Dorian woke with a yawn and a stretch. He glanced up at us and frowned.
“Um, hello?” He looked at each of us, his eyes going from me to Professor Singh to Nurse Miller in quick succession, looking more troubled as he landed on each of us. “What’s going on? Why am I in the infirmary?”
“How are you feeling, Dorian?” Nurse Miller pressed the back of her hand to his forehead.
“Fine… why?”
Professor Singh looked at and I knew she was asking me to check for strands of Sara De Abrew’s spellwork. I did a quick scan and found no traces of it.
“I don’t see anything lingering Professor,” I said softly.
“Dorian, you were hit with a spell during Potions class and we brought you to the infirmary to recover. I am glad to say it appears you have fully recovered.”
Dorian pressed his hands to his chest and up and down his arms as if looking for something wrong. “Are you sure? What kind of spell was it?” he asked.
Professor Singh looked as if she didn’t want to tell him.
“Professor, a class full of students saw the spell in action, he’s going to find out. Wouldn’t it be better coming from you?” I suggested.
“Perhaps you are right, Bethany.” She nodded. “It seems we had a rogue witch on campus who wished to cause problems for the school. She randomly chose students to… infect, for lack of a better term for the spell she used. You were one of them. The spell caused you to attack another student. She suffered severe burns, but has since recovered.”
Dorian’s face paled. “Who?” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Mira,” I answered watching his face pale even more.
“Are you sure she’s okay? She’s such a sweet girl, I…” A tear slid down his cheek and then he looked up at us. “I would never hurt her.”
I smiled. “We know. The spell was specifically used for you to target the closest vampire. She was the only one in your Potions class.”
Dorian frowned. “So whoever did this wants witches and vampires to fight?”
Professor Singh nodded. “Yes. She will be dealt with when the Dusk Knights track her down.”
“And you’re sure I am no longer infected?” He looked worried. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, let alone Mira.”
“I am positive. The only magical energy in you is yours.” I smiled at him.
He nodded looking relieved.
“We’ll leave you to rest. You should stay here tonight as you’ve been through something traumatic. It is bound to leave you feeling a little discombobulated.”
He nodded again and laid back down.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Nurse Miller commented. “We should check on Caroline now.”
Professor Singh nodded.
I followed them out of the room, closing Dorian’s door behind me.
By the time I entered Caroline’s room, she was already awake and asking why she was in the infirmary. I took that moment to scan her and realized she was spell free as well, but oddly she had two very different strands of magic in her. I took another moment to study it to be sure they both belonged to her. One strand was a bright green and another was yellow. They wove together in a unique pattern.
“She’s free of the spell, Professor,” I commented and stared at Caroline. “Do you know you have two strong strands of magic?”
Caroline blinked up at me. “What?”
Professor Singh looked at me curiously. “What do you mean, Bethany?”
“Her magic is made up of two distinct solid strands, one is green and one is yellow and they are woven together. She’s a healer but also, she has the gift of earth magic. She can make things grow.”
Caroline nodded. “I have always had luck growing flowers and gardens of all kinds, but I didn’t know it was magic. Mom said I was a healer like her.”
“You are, but you also have a powerful side of earth magic.” I smiled.
“Thank you.” She nodded and then looked curious. “You said I was free of some spell?”
“Yes,” Professor Singh took over again, “you were hit with a spell that caused you to attack a group of Strigoi in your math class. They have all recovered, thankfully.”
Caroline frowned. “But, how did I attack them? I’m a healer…”
“Yes, you are, but the spell used on you turned your healing power into destruction for a short period of time. It allowed you to curse the vampires with boils and blisters. They are fine now and don’t hold a grudge,” I assured her.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “I don’t want any of the Strigoi coming after me for doing that to them.”
I smiled. “They won’t. I will be sure to talk to them again, but I know they won’t hold you acco
untable, you had no control over it.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding.
“I recommend you spend the rest of the night here, and I’ll release you in the morning, all right, Caroline?” Nurse Miller added.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good night, Caroline, sleep well.” Professor Singh directed me out of the room. “We should head over to the vampire infirmary to be sure they are as free of the spell as the witches are.”
I nodded and we left the witch infirmary to find James slumped on the floor against the wall. I hurried to him. “James!”
He raised his head and blinked up at me and then yawned. “What? What’s wrong?”
I sighed in relief. “I thought you were hurt,” I commented, slowing my speeding heart. Seeing him slumped over had sent my beating heart into overdrive.
“Just tired. Probably need some blood.”
“Yes, you should head to the cafeteria and see about some nourishment. Bethany and I will check in with Professor Corbett and make sure the vampires are as recovered as the witches are.”
James nodded. “I’ll do that, Professor.” He stood up and pulled me up with him. “See you later, beautiful.” He kissed my cheek and headed toward the cafeteria.
As we walked, Professor Singh commented, “The two of you have grown quite close.”
I nodded. “Yes, he’s a good guy.”
She smiled. “It doesn’t bother you that he drinks blood to survive?”
I shrugged. “Being a vampire wasn’t his choice. His sire saved him from a car accident. And he’d never hurt me. He’s overprotective of me if anything.”
Professor Singh laughed. “Yes, he is. I am glad that you think that way. What about the other vampires? The ones born into their vampirism or turned because they choose it. How do you feel about them?” she questioned.
I thought about it, thought about my friends who happened to be vampires. “I don’t judge anyone by what they are physically, Professor. Whether they choose it or it was chosen for them, or they were born that way. None of that matters. What matters is what they do with it and what is in their hearts.” I paused for a moment. “If anything, the vampires have been more loyal and friendly to me than any of the witches here. Every attack on me has been by a witch, if you don’t count the vampires made to attack me by a witch. Maybe the better question would be how do I feel about witches?”
She laughed again. “You are pretty smart for someone so young, Bethany. And you’re right. You don’t have a lot of reason to trust the witches around you. I hope that will change in the future.”
“I don’t distrust the witches, Professor. I distrust certain individuals, but not witches as a whole. A few bad apples aren’t going to keep me from making friends with everyone who wants to be friends with me.”
“A very good way to live,” Professor Singh agreed as we reached the vampire dorms.
“Professor Singh, Miss Welch? What brings you to our side of Dusk Academy at—” Professor Corbett looked at his watch, “half past midnight?”
“Is it that late already?” I asked in wonder. I guess time flies when you’re battling deranged witches and bespelled vampires.
“We came to check on your vampire patients to make sure they’ve made a full recovery. The witches have, so we wanted to be sure. If they haven’t, Miss Welch is capable of removing the spell.”
Professor Corbett nodded. “Not to worry. The vampires who were involved in this evening’s battle made sure to fill me in on the fact that Miss Welch was the one to save them, despite their attempting to take her head off. They are very grateful you left them with only a few bruises that quickly healed and weren’t more lethal about stopping them.” Professor Corbett smiled. “As to those under sedation, we woke them and checked them over, they all appear to be themselves once more.”
“That is indeed good news, Professor Corbett.” Professor Singh’s smile grew. “In that case, we shall bid you a good evening.”
“Um, Professor Corbett?” I started.
“Yes, Miss Welch?” He arched a brow at me.
“Would it be possible for me to speak to Mira and the Strigoi who were victims of Dorian and Caroline’s being bespelled?”
He frowned. “I don’t see why not. Professor Singh, do you wish to question them as well?”
Professor Singh shook her head. “No, I shall leave this particular mission to Bethany and take my leave for the night. I’ve yet to eat this evening and find I am quite peckish.” She smiled.
“Thank you, Professor, for everything,” I murmured.
“We’ll talk tomorrow about setting up a schedule for you to practice.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Good night, Professor Corbett, Bethany.”
“Good night,” Professor Corbett replied as he closed the door to the vampire dorms behind her. “Now, do you know your way or do I need to show you?”
I smiled. “I know the way.”
“Off you go then.”
I headed down a flight of stairs and into the common room on that level. It was the sophomore floor, the same floor James and Cory lived on. It would change to the junior floor next year. The witches’ dorm floors worked the same. The senior floor of the year becomes the freshman floor of the following year. That way, students kept their same rooms unless there was a need to shift roommates.
I found Mira with a group of my friends who had taken her under their wing. I smiled as I approached them and was surprised when Noor stood up and threw her arms around me, bursting into tears.
“I am so sorry!” she bawled hugging me to her. “I would never hurt you! I swear! Helen must hate me now!”
I rubbed her back even as she faded in and out. I could tell when she began to calm, because her form stayed more solid. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault, Noor.”
She pulled back and looked at me, her face a mess of make-up that was now spotty and blotchy with streaks of mascara running down her cheeks. “Are you sure you’re not mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. Seriously, it wasn’t your fault. I know whose fault it is, and eventually she will pay for it. As for Helen…” I winced. “It might be a while before she trusts any vampires near her. She was fragile to begin with, and now, well… it’s going to take a while for her to recover.”
Noor sniffled and nodded. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked softly.
“I don’t think so, at least not right now. I mean it’s not like you can send her an apology flower saying, ‘hey, sorry I tried to eat you, but I was under a spell’.” I giggled and Noor did too.
“What? You don’t think that will work? Darn… should I add chocolate?” Noor asked, getting my sense of humor over what happened.
I laughed. “I don’t know, maybe?” I looked her over and asked, “Are you okay? Do I need to get you a flower to say ‘hey, sorry you got bespelled and tried to eat me’?”
Noor burst out laughing. “Nope, I don’t think I need a flower to commemorate that particular moment in our lives. As to how I am… honestly? Not great. I’ve never bitten anyone before. I’ve always used bags of blood. I’m scared, if I’m honest.”
I sighed. “I can understand that. It’s not something you thought you would be capable of under any circumstances and now you’ve had the rug pulled out from under you. The thing is, now you’re choosing to use bags of blood even knowing what it feels like biting someone and that makes you stronger. And if you ever feel like you are weak, you just come find me and I’ll remind you of how strong you are.”
Noor smiled and hugged me again. When she pulled back, she said, “So,” she wiped her hand down her cheeks, “I know you didn’t come down here to have me blubber all over you, what brings you here?”
“Well, actually you were part of the reason, but I also wanted to check in with Mira and—” I glanced at a group of Strigoi boys huddled around the pool table watching me, “and them.” I nodded at the boys.
“Me?” Mira blinked up
at me from the couch. “Why talk to me?” she asked in a small voice.
I sat down next to her. “I’ve been to see Dorian.”
“Oh.” She looked away, locking her fingers, which were trembling, in her lap.
“He is so sorry for hurting you. He has no memory of it, but is devastated that he hurt you.”
She nodded. “It’s not his fault,” she said softly looking down at her healed hands.
“It really isn’t,” Noor added. “I don’t know exactly how it was for the witches, but for me, and the others who were cursed, we couldn’t stop ourselves. From what I can tell, the ones you removed the spell from, Bethany, remember more than what those who just recovered did.”
I nodded.
“Well, tell Dorian I’m not mad at him, but it will probably take a while before I talk to him again,” Mira replied. “We had been talking about going out, but now… I… I need time.”
I smiled gently. “I understand and I’ll make sure he does too.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded and rose, crossing the room to the group of Strigoi from my math class. They looked at me warily. “Hi guys.”
“Bethany.” Devon nodded at me. “What brings you over to us? Are you the witch diplomat now?”
I laughed at that. “Not exactly. But I do come with an apology from Caroline for all of you.” I glanced at each of them.
“Save it,” Brad snorted, shaking his head.
I was about to come to Caroline’s defense, but then he continued.
“We know she was under a spell. Wasn’t her fault. And there was no permanent harm. Not to mention the fact that you tackled her and took her down before she could do any more damage. She probably got hurt worse than we did with that move.” Brad grinned. “You should go out for football with that tackle of yours.”
I laughed, feeling at ease. “So you all forgive her?” I looked at each of them.
“Yeah,” Devon said with a nod and a glance at the others. “Tell her no hard feelings.”
“I will.”
“You will what?” James asked coming up behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist. “You guys wouldn’t be hitting on my girl, now would you?” He grinned, so I knew he was joking.
A Witch’s Immunity: Supernatural Academy - Book 3 Page 18