by Marian Gray
“That’s quite disgusting.” I turned to rinse of my back. My eyes closed as the water ran down my face and pattered against my shoulders. When they opened again, they were greeted with a hazel stare.
From across the bath, Eli watched me. He rubbed his hands down his arms, wiping away the excess soap. I expected him to look away once we caught each other’s gaze, but he didn’t. He stared at my naked form, blurred form his view. But I couldn’t tear myself away from him either. His physique was masterful. His thighs were full and thick with each muscle tightening as he moved. His sides and hips were lean and well-shaped, wrapping around to meet a flat, defined stomach. His chest, shoulders, and back all rose with ripe muscle that contoured and flexed as he rubbed down his body.
I sunk into his image, hypnotized by lust. I yearned to have his hands touch and rub me in the shower as they had during our private lesson. I wanted to feel the warmth of his soapy body press against mine. It was a nasty, dirty desire that bloomed inside of me as I watched him, and I feared some day it would grow too ravenous to be contained.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Professor Dart pounced through the door in a hurry, unraveling his scarf with some haste. “Sorry I’m late,” he barked, not sounding in the least bit apologetic. “The Chamber,” he mumbled. “The Chamber and their meddling.” He looked up to the class of fifty students. His lips pressed into a flat line.
“What are they doing now?” A voice from the crowd floated out.
Dart shook his head. “Their usual antics, changing things for the sake of reminding us they’re the ones with the power. Over the winter break they’ll be altering student arrival. They want to do away with scheduling and just have a blitzkrieg of students appearing during a broad window of time.” His wrinkled hands threw open the textbook upon his desk. “It may seem tedious to some, but we do things the way we do for safety reasons. But no. They believe it’s a useless expense to be cut.”
“So we won’t have designated times to take the tram? How are they supposed to know who has arrived and when?”
His shoulders shrugged. “I don’t know exactly. They never provide solutions just problems.” He ran a hand across his bald head. “It’s absurd, absolutely absurd.” A heavy breath poured from his lips as his weight shifted between his two feet. “As much as I enjoy having my blood pressure soar to new heights, we unfortunately don’t have time to discuss the Chamber’s foolishness.” He pulled his wand from his deep pockets and gave the air a flick. Small squares of paper appeared on the desks of each student with a surprising pop of smoke. “Today we have a shortened class length due to midterms. This will be the last time we meet before you all are to take your exams. As such, I feel our time is best used practicing for the practical rather than running over facts and text knowledge—those are things you can do on your own time.” He walked around to the front of his desk. “Please, pick up the piece of paper before you and stand.”
The class did as requested. I glanced at the square to spot an A before stuffing it in my pocket.
Professor Dart whipped his wand in the sign of a cross. The groans from the desks and chairs filled the room as the bolts loosened. With a snap, the furniture folded in on itself, creating various shapes until an identifiable cube formed. They flew across the classroom and stacked themselves in the corner.
“Clear the center, please. Thank you.” He pulled out a clipboard from his messenger bag and stared at the list. “Just to remind you all, the practical portion of your examine will be a duel with another student. You will alternate blocking and attacking until asked to stop. For the purposes of this mock-final, we will operate on a volunteer basis. With an A and B meeting in the center. Just like in the exam, you and your partner will alternate attacking and blocking. Each participant will attack three times and block three times. Now, you all have been split for two reasons. First, whichever group wins, those students will receive five extra points on their final. Second, the groups have been evened out based on grade averages. So, I will not hear any complaints on fairness or the like.” His thumb jabbed the top of his pen. The tip poked out with a click. “Will an A please step forward.”
Heads turned and eyelids blinked. I held my breath. I had an A, but I wasn’t willing to be the first sacrifice.
Professor Dart cleared his throat. “It may be beneficial to add that you are excused from class once you have dueled.”
This altered things. My leg twitched and my foot stepped out in front of me before my mind had time to fret over the decision. Standing around, shaking in my boots was a waste of time—precious seconds I needed for studying.
As my feet came to a halt on center stage, the air shook as it made its way down into my lungs. My confidence twirled around my stomach. I had prepared for this moment, but the embarrassment from my summer performance still burned.
“Thank for your bravery, Ms. Blackwood. And now a B?”
My eyes scanned the crowd, waiting to see who my challenger would be. Several students took a step or two back, further disappearing into the crowd. Their timidness emboldened me and filled my limbs with a dauntless energy.
A tall, slender figure slipped between the students. Whiskey brown riding boots gleamed in the early winter light. They matched the light banana color in her ponytail.
“Ms. Banach will be the first on deck to fight for the Bs.” Professor Dart tucked the clipboard in his armpit after making a few tallies. “What an excellent match. In this situation, can anyone tell me who is the challenger and who is the attacker?”
“Kim is the attacker, and Lili is the challenger,” a student answered.
“Correct. And who attacks first?”
“The challenger.” A male voice rose from the herd.
“Precisely.” Professor Dart nodded toward the pair. “Whenever you're ready, Lili.”
Lili nodded and whipped her head to face me. Like a trained ballerina, she stepped back into her stance with her wand held out like a baton. Her form was elegant, outlining her lithe build. I swung my left foot behind me with my toes pointed to the side. My arm lifted. Fingers wrapped around the ebony stick.
Lili’s wrist and elbow bent back in a simple motion. “Susa.” A flick of her wrist accompanied each syllable.
A transparent ripple galloped toward me. “Rem.” I swept my wand high, blocking the spell.
“Very good, ladies,” Professor Dart commented. “Now Kim, you may commence with your first attack.”
I loosened my wrists before continuing. The tickling nerves had tightened my joints. I took in a breath and dropped my arm before scooping it back up. “Paralyo.” A silver coiled beam shot from my wand.
“Rem,” she whispered just in time.
I arched my back, stretching. My feet kicked out and ankles rolled in circles. Lili mimicked my fidgety nature. Her head leaned to either shoulder, popping her neck. Her eyes were ablaze with determination. Lili wanted this. She desired to crush me, but things were just heating up. The simple spell Lili had launched at me was a test. I washed the thought from my mind. Whatever Lili had to throw at me, I was ready.
Sinking into her classical stance once again, Lili prepared for round two. With minimized movement, she carved out a caret in the air. “Wutsiya,” she cried. A stream of bright light lobbed out from her wand and puffed its way toward me. Sparks burst from its head with the fury of a hundred sparklers.
My arm hairs singed as I lassoed my wand overhead, sweeping Lili’s spell into my control. “Lacio,” I called over the crackling noise and flung my wand forward, hurling the spell back at Lili.
But I didn’t wait to see if the magic had struck before launching my attack. “Actu,” I hissed, swiping my wand across my chest. A bright green gas sprayed from the tip of my wand.
“Kolga,” Lili huffed as her arm whipped around. A glittering white half-sphere blossomed from her wand. She held it in front of her, blocking the acid fumes.
But the moment didn’t linger. Her wand arm swirled, whippi
ng the dangerous green air around her. “Turbinis.”
A broad tornado blasted from her wand. It swept the sickening vapor into its funnel and howled its charge toward me. “Rem,” I cried with an upward sweep of my arm just as the wind blew my wand from my grip. It soared overhead. I reached high and snatched it midair. But the damage was done. The smirk on Lili’s face was plain as day. The Banach witch knew she had almost bested a Blackwood.
“Ifestio.” A spiky scarlet stream of magic pelted the ground. The floor groaned with a deep growl seconds before a root system of cracks busted the wooden boards, stretching their arms toward Lili. The hundreds of crevices glowed an angry red.
Lili hesitated as they crept closer. She didn’t attempt to block; instead, her head whipped to Professor Dart.
“Jump,” he yelled just as the cracks crept to her toes.
Lili leapt to the side, crashing to the floor as the ground burst apart. Lava erupted where she had once stood, hammering at the ceiling before disappearing.
I sheathed my wand, proud of my finale.
“Well, that was quite a display,” Dart commented as the room righted itself. The cracks disappeared, and the damage from our battle was forgotten. “Can anyone tell me why I instructed Ms. Banach to jump instead of defend?”
“Unblockable spell?”
“Correct. I know we briefly covered them a few chapters ago, but Ms. Blackwood’s spell was unblockable.” His attention turned to me. “It appears those holmgang practices have been rather effective. Win goes to A.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Magnisum.”
“No, quieter.”
“Magnisum,” I whispered. My wand whipped upward, summoning two clawed tentacles from the ground. They twisted in the air, sparking with a charged current before snatching the mannequin. Sparks popped from the shoulders before the tentacles sunk back into the ground. “Not bad, huh?”
“No. It’s not bad.” Elijah rubbed his lips. “But I think I’ve figured out a way for it to be better.” He strolled over to me. “The other night I was going over old holmgang footage in the library. I came across your great grandmother’s last championship for Ivory, and I noticed something odd—other than her grip and stance. Whenever she would cast, she would finished her spells off with a little extra flick of the wrist. I want you to try it.”
I ran a hand down my face. “Nothing’s ever good enough for you?”
“Why stop at good when you have the possibility of being great. Raise your wand, Blackwood.” His tone hardened with an authoritative nature.
My feet repositioned themselves upon the bruised oak floors, and eyes lifted to pale wallpaper. Its dark green fern pattern crept toward the ceiling. “Which spell would be best to try out this flicking motion?”
“Something we can see.” He rubbed his chin. “Draco. First cast it on me without the flick, and then we’ll try it with the flick.”
The idea made my gut turn. “I don’t feel comfortable casting anything on you—especially not draco.”
He held his hands open in surrender, and a single eyebrow raised in question. “What? Would you rather cast it on yourself?”
My lips flattened in response.
“I didn’t think so.” He took several steps away from me. “Give me your best shot.”
I swallowed hard. A sweat tickled my forehead. "If you insist." I slashed my wand forward. “Draco.” A flow of energy trickled from my arm into my hand and out through my wand.
A translucent ruby starburst sprouted from his neck. It rotated as he looked around.
“Try it out on the training dummy.”
He turned to face the dummy. His chest puffed and spine arched, drawing back for might. A foot stomped forward as he opened his mouth for a roar. Fire streamed from his mouth like a huge blow torch, roasting the mannequin. But it wasn’t long lived. After five seconds the magic was gone.
Elijah coughed and released a burp of smoke. “Try it again and flick your wrist at the end of the wand motion.”
I mimicked my movements from before. “Draco.” My wand came down with a slash and small flick at the end. My arm tingled.
The very same ruby starburst appeared around his neck once more. Elijah shook his head with vigor. The starburst broke into pieces, shattering on the floor at his feet for disappearing. “Do it again. Flick it like you mean it.” He winked.
“All right.” I sighed. “But you should know, I don’t think this is worth our time.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”
My lips spread into a cheeky smile. “Draco.” My wrist popped at the end. In a hot flash, I felt my insides being sucked out through my hand.
The starburst exploded around Elijah’s neck, wavering between ruby and black. His eyes widened at the sight. He raised a hand and stuck a finger through the translucent collar. The three foot spiked circle remained undisturbed. He held out his thumb toward me, approving of what he saw.
“Give it a go.” My voice was giddy.
Elijah lifted and tensed his arms as he reeled back, ready to blow. When he opened his mouth, white gold flames shot from him with a deafening clamor. They swelled across the floor and licked up the walls. The fern leaves upon the wallpaper blackened. As they withered from sight, his chest glowed from the inside out. The illuminating light spilled through the fibers of his shirt.
Sweat trickled down my back. The temperature in the room grew to unbearable heights. “Stop, Eli.”
His mouth shut, but the ruby and black mane remained around his neck. He gave his head a hard shake. The spell shattered but not without putting up a fight. When it had all fallen from him, Elijah glanced up at me. “That was amazing. How did it feel?”
“I’ve never experienced anything like that.” My arm pulsed.
“Neither have I.” His face broke into a smile. “That was extraordinary. I can’t believe I got to witness much less experience something like that. Do you have any idea what this means?”
A rush of excitement broke across my chest. “We’re going to win?”
He huffed a chuckle. “No, Kim. This is it. We’ve done it.” He clapped his hands together. “Imagine what you could be by the time you're ready to walk out of these doors.” A sooty hand rubbed his lips. “I haven’t been this jealous of someone since I was sixteen.”
My smile poured from my face as joy built in my core. I was validated. “I can't believe that came out of me." My gaze dropped to my wand before lifting to meet him. "Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His posture relaxed and shoulders loosened. A sparkle broke across his eyes as he stared at me. “When I’m an old man, busted and broken from my seven year career in holmgang—I’ll look back at this moment as being one of the best in my life.”
My cheeks flushed. The feeling was mutual. It chilled my every bone.
“I think we can call it a night. Let’s get out early and enjoy what’s left of our Saturday night.”
“That sounds great.” I couldn’t shake the grin from my face. “You know,” I began as we grabbed our backpacks. “A few weeks ago when you claimed you only had eyes for one girl—I think I figured out who it is.”
His eyebrows climbed to his hairline. “Enlighten me, please.”
“Kinsey McGowen.” The raven-haired captain’s aide had spent every practice in the tightest most provocative clothing she could get away with wearing.
Elijah leaned back and roared with laughter. “Kinsey McGowen?” The chuckle boomed from his lungs. “Wow! Kinsey McGowen? You think she’s my type?” He shook his head.
“No? It’s not her?” Shock pummeled me.
“Not at all. Kinsey’s too—” He rubbed his lips, gathering the words. “Well, she feels plastic—like a caricature of what a hot girl should be. Don’t misunderstand me though. I choose her as my aide every year, because she’s smart, trustworthy, and very good at the job, but there’s no spark. I feel nothing for her.”
“Really? So you’ve never slept w
ith her?” I found it hard to believe.
“Mother of Merlin! Absolutely not. Her family would sue me if I had and didn’t end up marrying her.”
“What do you mean?”
He tilted his head. “Are you seriously asking?”
“Should I not be?”
“I’m just surprised you don’t know.” He slung his book bag over his shoulder. “Some families in the wizarding world are very conservative. Virginity is a matter of importance, and arranged marriages are still very much a thing. The McGowens fit snuggly in that category."
"That's rather archaic of them."
"Well, the aristocratic families are odd. Wizards prize tradition above almost all else, and centuries of tradition is difficult to break." He shrugged. "I'm sure you've noticed."
"Lili Banach." I groaned.
"Exactly." He winked. " Anyway, I’ll see you around, Blackwood. Great work tonight!” He flashed me a heart-throbbing smirk before leaving.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“What is the most important component when casting a charm?” Sara asked, looking up from a study guide.
“Isn’t it wand tip placement? I think that’s what I put.” Eddie flipped back a page, searching for the specific question.
“It’s maintaining eye contact,” I corrected. “That’s one of augmentation’s distinct features that separates it from casting.”
Eddie nodded, flipping his pencil so the eraser met the page. “Yeah, you’re right.” The red rubber wiped away the old mark. “I had put down wand tip placement, but it’s eye contact.”
“You’re getting a lot better at this, Kim. It’s kind of frightening.” Sara smiled at me. “I’m going to start asking for your answers instead of Eddie’s.”
Eddie held his hands up in defense. “I never claimed to be the smart one. You two elected me into that position.”