A History of Hexing

by Evie Wilde

  A HISTORY OF HEXING

  ENCHANTED ACADEMY BOOK II

  EVIE WILDE

  COPYRIGHT© 2020 A History of Hexing by Evie Wilde

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted by U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, or organizations, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously to give a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Rebecca Frank Art

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Also by Evie Wilde

  CHAPTER ONE

  Cassandra

  I watched the guys and studied the way they interacted with each other. Acting more like brothers than competitors who were all vying for the same woman—me. Luckily, the understanding of months ago that we were all one team still held to be true. I would be lying if I said I hadn't expected a fight or two. But, so far, we all got along the way we agreed, none of the guys worrying about sharing me. I pointed out the heart had four chambers and since there were four of them, my heart was complete, each having an equal piece.

  The summer had been freaking awesome despite all the training. We managed to get away for a few days, the five of us spending time in the forest, hiking and checking out waterfalls and other magical places. Kyler still disappeared into the forest on occasion, though he had yet to take me along. I completely understood his need to get away and roam. The other guys stayed around campus, one or two of them always in my company. They had sworn a vow to protect me, but I also swore to protect them.

  I thought maybe Braeden was still having a little trouble accepting all the extra help. For as long as we both could remember, he was the guy. Now there were four guys.

  “Here comes Aurelius,” Dash yelled over.

  Dash probably changed the most over the summer, letting his hair grow to the middle of his back and even hitting the academy’s gym more often. He couldn’t give up the bad boy persona, choosing instead to throw up a wall to everyone but me and the other three guys.

  I moved from my seat and joined the others, slipping between Braeden and Kyler. Braeden looked around to see if everyone else was preoccupied and then squeezed my behind. I then felt Dash’s hand on my other cheek. Boys would be boys.

  Oliver leaned forward in the line and glanced in my direction. Every day over the summer we spent exactly sixty-minutes studying magic lore, witches, warlocks and wizards. Oliver’s goal was to become one of the greatest magic instructors in the world. He wrote to his parents once a week, sending the handwritten letters via a hawk he’d found after it fell from a nest. He nursed it as if he were the bird’s mother and, in return, the bird allowed Oliver to train him. Of the guys, Oliver was the one I was most envious of because he still had his parents. I longed to sit in my bedroom with my mother brushing my hair and looking at me in the mirror. I missed my father’s tales of their adventures on the missions they completed together.

  As I watched the guys around me, I hoped that we too could go off on faraway missions to magical and exotic lands. But the task at hand needed to be finished first. We had a score to settle with Edius.

  “Wands, lady and gentlemen.” We followed Aurelius’ orders and removed our wands from the sleeves in our pants. I glanced at Dash’s wand, and he winked. He’d made a big deal about having the longest wand. I shook my head.

  Aurelius walked in front of us and studied the variety of wands. He passed me and turned around when he got to Oliver. A large bird flapped from the trees and momentarily blocked the sun. Each of us jumped, remembering Challis’ attack that started from the trees.

  Aurelius stopped in front of me and clasped his hands behind his back. “The academy has a gift for you.” He smiled as if he were giving me the best Christmas present ever. The wand sparkled beneath the shine of the sun. “It belonged to one of the headmasters before the war. It’s now yours.” He plucked my wand from my hand and replaced it with the one in his.

  The wand pulsed in my hand, and Aurelius stepped back.

  “Wands in sleeves.” Aurelius paced back and forth. “Good.” He took four steps back. “Defensive mode.”

  We moved quickly, our right feet moving forward, the left moving back, our knees slightly bent, our hands up as if to block a punch. Aurelius walked along our line and nudged each of us, knocking Oliver off balance. Oliver returned to his stance, his face stern, daring Aurelius to nudge him again.

  “Wands,” Aurelius said, and lightning fast we each pulled our wands. “Good.” He nudged everyone but me. For a moment I thought he might ignore me, but he suddenly turned and lunged, but I held my stance firm, refusing to flinch. “That’s my girl, Cassandra.” He adjusted my wand hand a bit higher and nodded. “Perfect.”

  “Thank you. It feels amazing.” I held it flat in my palm so the others could see it.

  “More amazing if you channel your powers through its tip.” He pointed at a tree about a hundred yards away. “Show us what you’ve learned.”

  I placed the wand in the sleeve along my leg and stared at the tree.

  “Concentrate,” Dash whispered.

  I quickly withdrew my wand and pointed it at the tree, the guys jumping back when a fireball shot from the tip and hit the tree, setting it ablaze.

  From the corner of my eyes I saw Oliver step forward, withdrawing his own wand and casting a water spell at the tree, dousing the fire with a brief downpour. He looked my way, and I gave him a wink. We were indeed a team.

  “Fabulous. You might actually pass this semester.” Aurelius patted Oliver on the back. “And fantastic team work. These are the things you’ll need when it comes time to challenge Edius.” He nodded, pleased with our performance. “Oliver, can you please explain the difference between spells, hexes, and curses?”

  Oliver’s smile widened, happy to help. “Spells aren’t harmful and are usually useful, like moving an object. A curse, on the other hand, is meant to do harm, like torturing someone.”

  “And a hex?” Aurelius crossed his arms and awaited Oliver’s answer. I think he enjoyed listening to Oliver’s knowledge as much as I did.

  “A hex causes a physical change in the person you are hexing, like making someone’s head smaller.”

  “Demonstrate,” Aurelius ordered.

  We all heard Oliver swallow hard. He looked at us a
nd then back at Aurelius. “On one of them?”

  Aurelius nodded. “Choose your victim.”

  I stepped forward. “Choose me, Oliver.”

  “No way.” Braeden stepped in front of me.

  “Back up, cowboy.” I moved Braeden out of the way. “Go for it, Oliver.”

  Oliver looked at Aurelius who nodded. He raised his wand and pointed at me, his hand shaking.

  “It’s okay, I trust you.”

  Oliver eyed the other guys. If he screwed up, they would be all over him. “Reptilius tailis,” Oliver commanded and waved his wand at me.

  “Oh shit.” Kyler moved away, his eyes wild.

  Braeden and Dash looked behind me.

  “Who wants to grab my butt now?” I asked and walked forward, my lizard tail slashing back and forth along the ground. The tail felt cold and slimy despite the mid-day heat. “Good job, Oliver.”

  Oliver smiled and took a deep breath as he waved his wand at me again. “Changeus reptilius tailis.”

  I glanced back, and my reptilian tail was gone. “Nice work.”

  “Brilliant.” Aurelius clapped and then patted Oliver on the back again.

  Dash made a move to grab my butt, and I playfully knocked his hand away. “How would you like a lizard tail?” I asked. He held up his hands in surrender.

  “I know you understand the power Challis had and what she wanted to do with that power. She opted for magic most of us will never use.” Aurelius paced in front of us. “Edius is a different animal altogether. He and his henchmen will throw every spell in the book at you, most of which will be sent to cause harm. This is when your defensive skills need to be most impressive.” He handed each of us the same list of spells and curses. “These are what they’re most famous for and what they used to destroy several of the guilds, including yours.” He pointed at Braeden and I. “Your defense has to be as good as your offense. Study those spells and be prepared. Lizard tails are the least of our worries.” He patted Oliver on the shoulder and started away.

  “What about the weekend?” I asked.

  “The five of you have worked hard all summer. You deserve a little break.” Aurelius made eye contact with each of us. “School starts next week. Get some rest and be prepared for much harder course work. I promise your sophomore year will challenge everything you’ve learned and every skill you have honed.”

  We watched Aurelius disappear through the trees, leaving us wondering what the semester held. It seemed impossible our next year of schooling could be more difficult than the last. However, the gloom and doom of Edius still loomed large over both us and the academy.

  “What’re you smiling about, brainiac?” Dash lifted his chin at Oliver.

  Oliver nodded at me. “We studied all summer long. I love hexing class. It’s my thing.”

  “I thought we decided you needed to get out more,” Kyler said to Oliver.

  Oliver shrugged. “Make fun of me now, but I guarantee you’ll be coming to me during the semester.”

  “He’s right, you know,” I agreed. “His smarts are what’s going to get us through the semester.”

  We started back toward the dorms. Dash put his arm around my shoulders. “Your powers are stronger. All the training over the summer paid off. For all of us.”

  I knew what his comment meant. Yes, my powers were increasing, but his were stronger. No matter how well I advanced, Dash would never admit to my powers being stronger than his. I had to accept the bad with the good. His tougher than nails façade would never go away. As long as he treated me and the others with respect, I could overlook his need to always be the best. We also needed him to retain his confidence if and when we faced Edius.

  I walked between Kyler and Oliver, Braeden and Dash following. Though I loved being around the guys all the time, I also needed some girl time. I couldn’t wait for Ruby to return to campus. I would even settle for a chat with Nicolette, though I figured she’d have the same attitude Dash did toward my growing powers. I wasn’t the kind of person who needed a pissing match. I wanted us all to live in harmony.

  A low rumble came from Kyler’s stomach, and he quickly laid a hand across his mid-section. “Dinner at our place. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll whip something up. Maybe something French.”

  “Or maybe we order pizzas and have them delivered.” Dash reached into his pocket and pulled out forty-dollars. “Three larges should do the trick.”

  “I’m game.” I never passed on pizza. “Double pepperoni for me.”

  “Breadsticks,” Oliver added. “And garlic butter.”

  Braeden gently grabbed my arm. “I thought we could go back to the dorm and check-in on the guild. See if there’s any news.”

  Dash nodded at Kyler and Oliver, and the three moved ahead.

  “We can do that later tonight,” I said. “We should have pizza with the guys.”

  “Cass.” Braeden was holding onto a hope I couldn’t grasp. “It’s our guild.”

  “I know, Brae.” I pointed at the three guys. “So do they. They know today it’s been three months. The pizza is to help us get our minds off the tragedy for a little while and try to have fun. And believe me, there isn't a day that doesn’t go by without me thinking about the guild and what happened.” I didn’t want him to think I didn’t care, because I did. Everything we did all summer, the hard work, I did to someday set things right, meaning destroying Edius. “It’ll be fine.” I put my hand around Braeden’s.

  “We’ll even the score, Cass. It’s now my single goal in life.”

  “Just remember, we can’t fight with anger.” It was a mantra I was trying to live by. “That’s what Edius wants. And we need to fight as a team. No going rogue.”

  The other guys slowed as we approached the dorm. “Do you guys really think we have what it takes to defeat Edius?” Braeden asked. “Or any of his henchmen?”

  Dash placed his hand on the door but waited to open it. “Based on all the training we did this summer, yeah, I think we’re close. Really close.”

  “I spoke to Aurelius,” Kyler said. “Last night at dinner. He thinks we’re all close. When the time comes we’ll be ready.”

  We entered the dorm building and started up the stairs, and I watched Braeden, knowing something was bugging him. I grabbed his elbow, and the two of us fell back. “Don’t even think about it, Braeden. You do not go after Edius without me and the others.” I studied his face, still not happy with his demeanor. “Promise me, Braeden.”

  Braeden’s eyes narrowed as he stared ahead.

  “Brae?”

  “Okay. But I don’t like all this waiting around. We haven’t even been back to the guild to see the damage for ourselves. What about your house? What about mine?” He stopped at the top of the stairs. “I can’t promise you how long I'll sit back and let someone else do what we should be doing.” He entered Dash and Kyler’s room without me.

  “Everything okay?” Dash asked, joining me.

  I wasn’t sure, so I shrugged. “I get it. I know why he’s upset. It’s hard sitting around, knowing what happened to our home.” I looked away and realized it was the second time we’d lost our home. “I’m afraid of what he might do if the academy waits too long to send us out to find Edius.”

  “We’ve got his back just like we’ve got yours. We all know if Edius isn’t stopped soon, our guilds may be next, and none of us want that. Give me a chance to talk to Braeden, and I’ll let him know we’re here for both of you.”

  “Thanks, Dash.” I kissed him on the lips, thankful the door between us and them was closed.

  Dash gently moved back from the kiss and patted my ass. “Let’s go before we make a side stop.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Cassandra

  I walked down the hall alone but could still sense the energy from Braeden, Kyler, Oliver, and Dash. It seemed as my powers grew so did the energy between me and the guys. Dash had even mentioned feeling my presence in his room at night while he slept. The others agreed they
had the same experience. Though we never discussed it, I felt their presence in both my room at night and in my dreams.

  “Hey, Reagan,” I said as Raegan Howard approached. She started the academy the same time we did. We had become friends, but we weren't as close as Ruby and I. Reagan grew up in Florida as well. She, like most students, had gone off to faraway places during break. “How was Europe?”

  “Amazing.” There was a glimmer in her eyes, one I wished for. “We managed to hit fifteen countries, drank thirty kinds of beer, and I met a hot Swiss guy.” She smiled but gave no more information about the Swiss guy. “How was training?” she asked.

  “I’d rather have been in Europe. But it went well. Thanks for asking.” I tried not to show my disappoint with being on campus all summer.

  “The guys hangout with you?” she asked. Everyone on campus knew there was a connection between the five of us. I was used to the whispers and gossip.

  “Yes, sure did.” I smiled but gave no additional information on the things we did. I would rather have been traipsing around Europe with them than training in an empty arena.

  “I think I would rather have hung out with four hot guys.” Raegan pulled her schedule from her notebook. “You know where Demons and Hexalogy is? Room 206?”

  “Down the hall on the right. I just passed it. Looks like a new instructor to the academy.”

  “Yeah, I heard several instructors left after what happened in the spring. I heard a lot of them were afraid Edius was going to return.” She seemed to think about her next words. “You think he’ll return?”

  I hated to think he would, but there was no denying who his targets were. He would definitely be back. “I’m not sure. I’m hoping we get to find him before he finds us.” I put my hand on Reagan’s hand. “Don’t let it ruin your semester. I think the academy is doing everything they can to keep us safe.” I actually didn’t believe they were, but I wanted to set Reagan at ease.

  “Okay,” she said and went about her way. Like most students, Reagan wore the boring academy clothing: white blouse, short school-girl skirt, knee-high socks and flat shoes. Most of the guys wore white buttoned-down shirts and khakis. Some of us had managed to stay away from the drab look and wore what we wanted.