by Alicia Rades
Professor Wykoff smiled brightly. “Miss Olson, come on up.”
Chloe breezed to the front of the room. As much as I hated to admit it, she looked graceful in her high heels.
Professor Wykoff held out her hand, and the cards fluttered out of the air into a neat pile. She held it out to Chloe. Chloe tilted her chin up confidently and split the deck, then pulled a card from the middle. She smiled proudly as she turned it over.
“Hold it up so everyone can see,” Professor Wykoff encouraged.
Chloe held the card high over her head and announced, “I got the Hierophant.”
I remembered him from our readings last week. He was like a priest, a spiritual leader. He sat on a throne in front of two subjects, with a set of keys placed at his feet.
“An excellent card,” Professor Wykoff said. “What do you think it means?”
Chloe lowered the card to study it closely. “Well, I know he’s a teacher. The keys represent his ability to unlock the mysteries of the world, and these two guys here represent a group identity.”
Damn, I was hoping she’d be wrong, but she sounded like she knew what she was talking about.
“How do you think that fits into your life?” Professor Wykoff asked.
Chloe held her head up confidently. “It must mean that I’ll become a spiritual teacher someday. Perhaps I’ll serve on the Imperium Council like my grandmother.”
Professor Wykoff nodded. “Very good. Would anyone like to challenge this interpretation?”
I sat a little straighter. Last week, Professor Wykoff had told us each card had multiple different meanings. Chloe didn’t really come off to me as the teacher type. Maybe the card had a different meaning for her.
“Nobody?” Professor Wykoff prodded. Her eyes turned to me. “Miss Evers?”
I didn’t know why she called on me. Maybe she sensed something in my expression. My pulse quickened, but I answered anyway. “Well, I was just thinking… the card could mean that you need a teacher, instead of becoming one, right?”
Professor Wykoff nodded, but Chloe’s features darkened.
I tried my best to ignore her. “Or perhaps it’s not about the teaching aspect at all. Priests are all about tradition, aren’t they? So couldn’t this card be encouraging you to honor your traditions, to not break the rules?”
“I’m not breaking any rules,” Chloe snapped.
“Turning someone into a toad sure sounds like breaking the rules to me,” I snarled back.
Gasps traveled around the room, and it took me a second to realize what I’d said. I didn’t mean to. It just slipped out.
Chloe narrowed her eyes at me, as if trying to figure out how I knew about that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Liar.
“Ladies,” Professor Wykoff quickly stepped in, pretending like she didn’t notice the hostility between us. “These are both very valid interpretations. Miss Olson, I suggest you take into consideration Miss Evers’s suggestions as you weigh the possibilities of this card on your life.”
Chloe looked Professor Wykoff up and down, then scoffed as she tossed the card back at her. “I know my tarot. I’m not wrong.”
She stomped back to her desk and flipped her hair over her shoulder while she sat.
Professor Wykoff turned her gaze back to me. “Miss Evers, perhaps you’d like to go next?”
It didn’t sound like a suggestion. Taking a deep breath, I stood on shaky knees and walked to the front of the room. Professor Wykoff shuffled the deck again, then held it out to me. I cut it as Chloe had and picked a card out of the middle. I was a little taken aback by what I got.
After a few moments, Professor Wykoff said, “Hold it up for everyone, please.”
My pulse raced as I flipped the card over and showed the class. “The Eight of Swords.”
This card depicted a woman bound in cloth, with a blindfold over her face. Eight swords were sticking out of the ground around her.
“What do you think it means?” Professor Wykoff asked.
I studied the card before answering. “Well, we know that swords represent behaviors. She’s bound and can’t see where she’s going. So it might mean that my behaviors and mindset are holding me back.”
“Very good,” Professor Wykoff praised. “This is the card of negative thoughts.”
I furrowed my brow. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Chloe’s hand shot into the air.
“Yes, Miss Olson?” Professor Wykoff called on her.
Chloe straightened her spine. “On the contrary, this card is quite positive if you look at it correctly.” She shot me daggers as she emphasized the word correctly. “Notice how her feet are unbound. She has the ability to go in any direction she chooses. The woman in this card is bound by her own doing. All she has to do is stop playing the victim.”
Chloe glared at me. Was she seriously accusing me of victim mentality when she didn’t even know me? Yeah, my life sucked, but I wasn’t a victim. I dealt with my shit.
“Excellent,” Professor Wykoff said. With her, I didn’t think anyone could interpret the cards wrong. “It seems the power to escape your issues is in your hands, Miss Evers. Remove the blindfold, and everything shall be made clear.”
I gave her back the card and returned to my seat. The whole time, Chloe’s eyes followed me. I sat, wondering if maybe I’d chosen the wrong card. Was I really holding myself back? I didn’t play the victim, did I?
I was contemplating it all class, so I didn’t really pay attention to the rest of the readings. All I knew was Chloe had to challenge them all, and Professor Wykoff praised her each time.
As I was walking out of the classroom, Chloe grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the hall. I ripped my arm out of her hold and glared at her. “What the hell?”
She lowered her voice, but her tone was as harsh as ever. “You think it’s funny challenging me like that?”
“Professor Wykoff called on me,” I growled. “I followed the assignment.”
Chloe pointed a manicured finger in my face and leaned close. “Don’t ever insult me like that again. Understand?”
“I’m so scared,” I said flatly. “Try not to act so offended next time… unless it’s true?”
Her lips tightened. “Screw you, Nadine. No one wants you here anyway. Why don’t you just leave?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you come up with a better insult? I’ve heard that one before,” I said coolly.
Chloe didn’t like that. She stepped closer, until she was looming over me. “I’m going to have so much fun driving you out of town.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? I’d like to see you try.”
Chloe scoffed. “You’re on.”
She breezed away. I stared after her, narrowing my eyes at the back of her head. It wasn’t until she turned the corner that I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever. She didn’t deserve my attention anyway. What I really needed right now was a nap.
I turned and started back toward my dorm room. When I got there, the door handle didn’t move. I twisted harder, but it wouldn’t budge.
“What the…?” I glanced down to my wrist, and my gut sank. My bracelet! It was gone! That was the key to my room.
I pounded on the door, feeling a red-hot energy rise inside of me. How could I have lost my enchanted bracelet?
Talia answered a few moments later. She furrowed her brow and tilted her head. “You didn’t have to knock.”
“I did.” I held up my wrist to show her it was empty.
She gazed at my wrist in shock. “What happened to your bracelet?”
I entered the room and plopped down onto my bed. It felt really good to lie down. “I don’t know.”
Talia sat on the couch. “When was the last time you saw it?”
I racked my brain, trying to recall. “I definitely had it at lunch. I fell asleep in the study area outside the fitness center between classes, but I’m pretty sure I still had it on me when I woke up.
Which means I must’ve gone to my tarot class with it on.”
“Should we retrace your steps?” Talia asked.
I was too tired to move. I shook my head. “Maybe in a bit.”
Talia’s face fell. “You know what? I’ll go look for it.”
“No, Tal,” I said quickly. “You don’t have to do that.”
She grabbed her bag. “Well, I’m going to go for a walk. If I happen to stumble upon it, I’ll let you know.”
I’d already closed my eyes. I was drifting off so quickly that I barely heard her. “Yeah, okay. Have fun on your walk.”
I was out before I heard the sound of the door shut.
I woke at least an hour later to the sound of three voices entering the room. It felt like I’d barely slept at all. I pushed past the pain in my joints and sat up in bed to see Talia, Mandy, and Amy entering the room. Mandy wore a plum dress with a plaid skirt that fell to her knees, with dark tights and high heels. Amy dressed more casually, in jeans and a Miriam College hoodie.
“Bad news,” Talia said. “I didn’t find your bracelet, but I did find these two wonderful ladies who want to go shopping with us and take us out to dinner.”
“Anywhere but the Chinese buffet,” Amy said. “I’m sick of rice and egg rolls. My mom hasn’t stopped making them all summer. She’s trying to replicate my grandmother’s famous recipe.”
“In that case, no Indian food, either,” Mandy added. “Curry’s the only thing my mom knows how to make.”
“Your family has a secret recipe?” Amy asked her.
“Just the one,” Mandy replied. “That recipe was the one thing my grandma brought with her from India.”
“Same,” Amy said. “Except my grandma came from China.”
Mandy turned to me. “So, what do you say, Nadine?”
I forced a smile. As much as I loved shopping, it was beyond tiring. I hated to miss out, though. “Sounds like fun. You’ll have to give me a few minutes to get ready.”
“Sure,” Talia said, before walking over to her bed to pick up her cat. “Hey, you guys want to meet Gus?”
“Oh my gosh! He’s sooo cute,” Mandy raved. “Nadine, do you have a cat?”
I grabbed my hairbrush and started brushing my hair into a high ponytail. “No, not yet.”
The girls either didn’t notice how slowly I moved, or they didn’t care, because they didn’t rush me. It was kind of nice.
Talia leaned against the bathroom door while I was fixing my makeup. “I can’t wait until we get our magic. Hair and makeup will be so easy.”
“We can do magic makeup?” I asked as I smeared mascara across my eyelashes.
She nodded proudly. “Makeup and hair. It’ll make my morning routine super fast.”
I tightened my ponytail and turned from the mirror. “It will definitely be a perk of magic.”
We took Mandy’s car into town and parked along a street with a bunch of cute shops. I noticed various signs advertising free samples of things like honey, maple syrup, and apple cider. There were plenty of cute clothing shops and metaphysical stores. I didn’t know where to start.
Amy noticed me eyeing the street curiously as we stepped out of the car. “Haven’t you been here before, Nadine?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t had the time yet.”
Mandy inhaled a sharp breath. “Girl, you’re missing out! You have to try Grandma Dee’s Apple Cider. It’s the best.”
“We could start here and work our way to the end of the street,” I suggested, pointing to the closest store, which sold crystals.
“Good idea.” Talia looped her arm through mine, and we entered the shop.
It was quiet inside, though a soft melody played over the speakers. Various incense smells hit my nose all at once. Beneath the counter in the middle of the shop, crystals big and small glittered under the light. There was an entire section dedicated to different tarot decks, and another for candles. The entire ambiance soothed me…
Until I caught sight of Gwen and Camille. They were filling small draw-string bags with different colored stones. I was pretty sure I saw Gwen slip one of the smaller ones into her pocket. The two of them shot daggers my way when they noticed my eyes on them. I quickly glanced away and followed my friends to the other side of the store.
I pulled a box of tarot cards from the shelf. “I should probably get myself my own tarot deck. It’s not required for my class, but it might help me study.”
The artwork on this deck was beautiful, but I didn’t recognize the cards shown on the back.
“Those are oracle cards,” Talia said.
“What’s the difference?” I asked.
“Tarot is more standard,” Talia explained. “Tarot decks should have seventy-eight cards, with Major and Minor Arcana, and four suits. Oracle cards can basically be anything the creator wants them to be. There’s more flexibility in the oracle cards.”
“Interesting…” I mused as I studied the artwork on the front. It depicted a beautiful woman with the full moon behind her. She looked as if she was praying. I didn’t know why, but I felt drawn to her. “I think I’m going to get these ones.”
“Oh my gosh! Check these out,” Mandy cried. She was hunched over the front counter looking down at one of the crystals inside. The three of us came over to join her. Below her was a beautiful orange and red crystal set into a silver ring. It shimmered in the light. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“I like this one,” Amy said, pointing to a midnight blue crystal. “Don’t let me buy it, though. I have at least a dozen of these already.”
“Seriously guys?” Talia teased. “It’s pink all the way.”
“Check this out!” Amy cried, flapping a hand. She pointed to a green stone beneath the glass. “This is supposed to ward off curses. I hear it’s the best thing since Curse Breakers.”
“Curse Breakers?” I asked.
Mandy’s face fell. “Oh, honey. You have so much to learn. Curse Breakers are the fifth Cast.”
My eyebrows knitted together. “They died out, didn’t they?”
Mandy nodded. “Yeah, I think… well…”
She hesitated.
“What?” I pressed.
Mandy played with the strap on her purse. “I’m just surprised no one mentioned it to you. I’m pretty sure your grandpa was the last one.”
Shock hit me. Why hadn’t Grammy told me?
“What exactly is a Curse Breaker?” I asked carefully.
“Exactly what they sound like,” Mandy said. “Witches who break curses.”
“There’s more to it than that,” Amy added. “They could transfer magic from one place to another. That’s how they broke the curses. Plus, they can absorb magic.”
“That sounds really cool. I wonder why there aren’t any left,” I mused.
“It’s always been kind of rare,” Talia explained. “I mean, being able to absorb magic takes a lot of responsibility. Mother Miriam wouldn’t want that kind of power to be put in the wrong hands.”
“I guess that makes sense,” I said.
Talia gestured to the stones below us. “Which one is your favorite?”
I peered into the glass. They were all so gorgeous. Some shimmered like diamonds, while others were smooth. I was drawn to a light blue one, but it was hard to pick a favorite.
“Will that be all for today?”
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the cashier checking out a customer. I looked up to see Headmistress Verla setting a huge crystal on the counter next to us. It was orange and reminded me of a Himalayan salt lamp, but it was solid and looked hella heavy. She had a large bag draped over her shoulder, and Odin’s black head poked out the opening.
She brushed her brown hair out of her eyes. “Yes, that’s it.”
The cashier started ringing her up. Headmistress Verla lifted her head and caught my eye. “Girls, how are you?”
“We’re good,” I said.
“Nadine, I’m actually really glad
I ran into you,” Headmistress Verla said. “I wanted to talk to you about your Evoking Ceremony training.”
“Oh?” I pushed my hair behind my ear. “How exactly does that work?”
She gave a polite smile. “Each freshman is assigned a mentor who will help prepare them for the ceremony.”
“Have I been assigned?” I asked eagerly. I was excited to hear who I’d been assigned to.
“Yes,” she said brightly. “Me.”
I blinked a few times. “You’re my mentor?”
“You sound surprised, Nadine.”
“I just thought it’d be one of my professors,” I said.
“Well, it was, but there were some… reassignments.” I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I sensed something in her tone.
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
She waved her hand nonchalantly. “It’s nothing. I just thought… maybe we could get to know each other. You know, since I was so close to your mom.”
“Yeah, I’d like that that,” I told her.
“Excellent,” she said brightly. “I suggest we meet at least three times before your Evoking Ceremony. How does the first week of October sound?”
“Sounds great.”
“I’ll see you then.” She paid for her crystal, then left the shop with it cradled in her hands.
Talia, Mandy, and Amy all turned to me with wide eyes.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“You’re so lucky,” Talia said. “She never mentors anyone.”
I furrowed my brow. “She doesn’t?”
“No,” Mandy confirmed. “She’s super good, too. You’ll pass your Evoking Ceremony for sure.”
Relief washed over me. “That’s encouraging.”
“You should get a crystal to celebrate,” Amy suggested.
I eyed Talia and Mandy. “Is that what witches do?”
Amy laughed. “No. I just really like crystals.”
Mandy frowned. “I feel so bad for the Headmistress.”
My heart sank. “Me, too. Talia told me what happened. She lost her sister and her baby.”
Mandy leaned in to whisper. “It wasn’t just any sister, either. It was her twin.”
“Wow, that must’ve been hard,” I said in a soft tone.
Talia shook her head. “Worse than that. Identical twins share a soul. She literally lost half her soul.”