by Luna Pierce
I had no idea I blew the shadow realm apart. I really don’t even know much of what happened between thinking I killed Silas and him waking back up, it’s all sort of foggy.
“With that being said, I applaud each of you for overcoming such a situation. It truly is a wonder that you all made it out of this unscathed. I’d like to offer my deepest apologies for allowing this to happen. I was naïve in thinking I had the condition of the realm in manageable order.”
Trying to pay courtesy to the words Headmaster Walker is saying, I find myself focusing on the energy around the room, teetering onto each of my guys and soaking it in. I find myself in shock when I meet Silas’s gaze, the unbelievability of last night still remaining.
“Willow,” Walker says loudly.
I snap my head his direction. “Yes, sir?”
“I’d like a moment alone, if you don’t mind.”
I stand to leave, and he continues, “With you, that is.”
“Oh, yeah, right. Absolutely.” I give a weak smile to the group.
They clear out, leaving Walker, Abigail, and me in the large office. Anxious energy fills me.
“It’s come to our attention that your behavior may have been a bit reckless, Willow.” He massages one of his hands into the other. “And it should go without saying, but you broke an important rule by visiting the shadow realm unattended. But, in doing so, you shed light on an incredibly weak spot that was on oversight on our behalf, and because of this, you will not be reprimanded for your insubordination.”
I let out a small sigh in relief.
“We’d also like to offer you the ability to assist in the rebuild of the realm. Like I said to the group, supernatural classes in the traditional sense will be on hold until we can come up with a better resolution, and with your newfound strength, you would be a great asset to the team.”
He’s proposing that I help them?
“Yes, whatever I can do to be of assistance,” I all but stutter the words.
He grins. “That would be wonderful.” He looks to Abigail. “Now, I believe Abigail had some things to discuss.”
I shift my focus to her.
“You broke your curse,” she declares.
Instinctually, I smile and then frown. “Accidentally, but yes.” It’s such a bittersweet thing to have thought I killed Silas. On one hand, it’s terrifying and rips my soul apart, but on the other, it freed me from a horrible fate. And if I’m not mistaken, it unchained the other Oliver witches, too.
Abigail fidgets with the zipper on her sweater.
Her nervous energy pools into me, confirming that whatever comes next will not be good.
“I haven’t had the chance to tell you this yet, Willow, but your curse, it has fail-safes. It’s uncertain how many are put into place, but this is just the beginning. You’ve broken through one obstacle, but there are more to come if you want to defeat the people who have a hold on the Oliver magic line.”
A new fracture rattles my core, threatening to destroy me from the inside out. Fail-safes? More curses? One of many obstacles? How can this be possible?
“We’re determined to do what we can to help you, Willow. You’re not alone. You don’t have to do this on your own. Now that you’ve put one curse behind you, it’s important to see that you are capable of great things, that you can overcome this,” she says with a sad kindness.
I bite my lip, shifting my gaze across the room, at nothing in particular.
“I know this is a lot to process. All of this is. But whenever you’re ready, I’ve secured part of the library for you.”
“Library?” I blurt out. I guess I knew there was one, I’ve just never come across it in all the time I’ve spent at Harper Academy.
“Yes, the library.” She smiles. “It’s a bit off the beaten path. It’s below the main floor of the school. There is an access point near the east wing stairwell.”
A place I’ve never needed to visit, it’s no wonder I never saw it.
“I can take you there, if you’d like. When you’re willing, I can show you around and let you explore the space I’ve obtained for you.”
“That would be great. How about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow would be wonderful. But it’s okay if you need more time. I don’t expect you to rush matters like this.”
“What better time than now. I’d just like the day to get things in order and breathe a bit before jumping right back in.”
“That is understandable.”
“Well then,” Walker breaks in. “It’s nice to see we’re on the same page here.”
“Could I ask a favor?” I say, unsure of how they’re going to react.
“I’d say you’ve earned yourself a favor. What is it?” he questions.
“I sort of… erased some of the memories from my old roommates when I switched dorms. I thought it would be easier for everyone to forget me instead of trying to explain what was happening. Is there maybe a way I could return their memories but have some sort of explanation for why things are the way they are? I already have a spell that I could do to give them back, but it’s the justification part I wasn’t sure of.”
I’m sure this is a long shot, but it’s worth a try. I miss the girls something fierce, and I’d do just about anything to have them back in my life.
“Hmm,” Walker says, rubbing his chin.
“What about dorm distribution?” Abigail offers. “We could say we had to equal out the students and Willow got relocated because of that.”
I rejoice at the idea, turning to Walker for his reaction.
“I don’t see any issue with that. It’s not completely a lie. The west dorm is severely lacking in occupants,” he adds.
“I could write something up today,” Abigail verifies.
“That would mean the world to me. Thank you, both of you.” Despite hearing that I’m still cursed, the knowledge that I might have my friends back in the future does wonders on my mood.
“Thank you, Willow. You are a brilliant addition to the academy,” Walker declares.
I stand, shaking both of their hands, and walk out of the room. A heaviness weighs on my chest, but I fight it back. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.
There, waiting for me in the foyer, are my four guys. The charismatic Deghan, the romantic Cameron, the intelligent Sydney, and the protective Silas. Looking at them, I can’t help but wonder how I got so damn lucky.
Luck or not, I need to come clean with what I was just told. At first, my knee-jerk reaction to finding out I was still cursed was to run far away, push everyone out, and deal with this on my own. But Abigail was right, the guys we’re right—I don’t have to do this by myself anymore. I have a team of gracious people willing to help me overcome what life throws at me. I don’t deserve any of them but somehow, they’re still here, standing in front of me, willing to do what it takes to protect me, to keep me nearby.
“You guys up for food?” Deghan breaks the silence.
A few shrugs and a yeah, we head toward the dining hall together.
I hang toward the back with Sydney. “Think you can help me put up a sound barrier?”
He side-eyes me. “Yeah, definitely. But why?” Concern lines his voice.
“I have something I need to tell you guys, sort of for our ears only type of thing.”
Once we grab some grub, we walk out onto the patio, pulling two tables together to fit all of us comfortably. The late morning air is crisp and warm, perfect for breakfast outside. Sydney holds true to his word and helps me put up a spell blocking our conversation. Even though there aren’t many people outside with us, it’s better safe than sorry with these types of exchanges.
I take a long drink of my coffee and speak. “Abigail informed me that she uncovered a bit more about my past than I was aware of.” I steal a glance at the guys. “She said there were fail-safes put into place. That I didn’t just have the one curse, that there are many others to fall back on if it was broken.
“I’m telling you
all this because… the last time I found out about my curse, I chose the flight option without telling any of you. This is me being transparent and telling you upfront that the curse didn’t end there, and that I understand if any of you choose to walk away. But this is me saying I’m not walking away, not this time, I’m choosing to fight.”
“Damn, Willow,” Deghan says. “You have some shit luck, girl.” He wipes at his mouth with his napkin.
Cameron laughs. “No kidding.”
Sydney squares his shoulders. “I’m not speaking for the group, just for myself, but I’m not going anywhere. Especially not now.” He places his hand on my shoulder, meeting my eyes, his emerald energy beating into mine.
“You really think we’re going to up and abandon you?” Deghan asks. “You’re crazy. Syd’s not, I’m not, I know damn well Mister Grump Ass over there isn’t. What about you, Cam? You with us?”
“There’s no backing out now,” Cameron confirms.
My heart swells, growing infinitely larger in size, so full it could damn well explode with love. Never in a million years could I have anticipated this is what I’d find at Harper Academy.
My true self.
My powerful magic.
Great friends.
Four amazing guys.
A seemingly endless curse.
Harper Shadow Academy has been full of surprises, and I can’t imagine it will stop here.
But for now, I can breathe easier knowing that soon, I’ll hopefully have my friends back, and not a single one of the guys sitting right here with me is going to abandon me, despite all I’ve put them through.
Tomorrow, I’ll start the next adventure. I’ll explore the library with Abigail and learn more about the safeguards trying to steal my power. I’ll go home and visit my mom. I’ll tell her all the things that happened here, and maybe she can help me uncover our past and the monsters that threaten to destroy us.
But I’ll be doing it with the knowledge that I’m not alone.
That I am a force to be reckoned with.
I slayed a demon; I broke a curse.
I am an Oliver witch and I will use my hidden magic to defeat what is to come.
*BONUS* Cursed Magic
Chapter One - Early Access
If someone would have told me a few short months ago, that I’d discover I was a witch, a powerful and cursed one, I’d still never be prepared for the insanity that this new life brings.
And now, having this knowledge, I have no idea where to start to make sense of it all.
I need to talk to my mom, tell her I’ve broken the curse—the first one, at least. And find out whatever information she’s capable of giving me about our magical bloodline.
I need to explore the library with Abigail and dive deep into the old texts she’s been kind enough to help me locate.
I need to give my friends their stolen memories and what little explanation I can to piece together the last few weeks. I miss Remi, Kyra, and Lillian something fierce.
I need to continue making amends with the guys, reiterating how damn sorry I am for abandoning them the way that I did. It was unfair, cruel, and brutal for all of us.
I honestly need to breathe, too. Everything that's happened is a whirlwind of chaos in my head and it's becoming difficult to ground myself. Not to mention there's a shadow realm in need of repair, and some nagging homework that needs completing.
Just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m a witch is a lot to handle.
And there’s the whole werewolf, vampire, and demon thing.
It’s going to take some time to figure out who I am, and how I fit into this world.
“You okay, Willow?” Sydney asks.
I blink away my thoughts. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“You’ve been staring at the wall blankly for a while. Your coffee is getting cold.” He nods toward the cup in my hand.
“Oh, right.” I shake my head and take a swig of the sort of warm latte. Hazelnut today thanks to barista Sydney.
"No one is rushing you. We can go see your mom another day." His words are kind and delicate, like I'm a fragile being in need of extra care.
“No, it’s okay. I’m good. Today is great.” I lie with a smile.
A demon invaded our school and tried to kill Cameron, and the rest of us—there is no time to wait for the next threat to appear. If I can’t protect them, then I need to stay on top of whatever the hell is coming next.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving us,” Cameron calls from down the hall.
My heart warms and breaks at the same moment. "I'll be right back."
Deghan trails beside Cam, and Silas follows behind, keeping a Silas-kind-of distance.
Having them all in the same space, the energy changes and pulses through me. It’s heaven on earth.
But with the realization that I hurt them, and that I could do it again, whether or not I mean to, kills the mood immediately.
Silas leans against the far wall, studying me while I study him. A black leather jacket, matching black tee hugging his torso, his arms crossed in front of him. Dark grey eyes with a hint of purple, chiseled jawline, and always serious expression. He’s fucking beautiful.
“Gimme a hug.” Deghan pulls me in without letting me protest. He smells of honey and cedar. “Be safe. And that’s an order, not a request.”
I smile into him, hugging him in return. “Okay.”
“We won’t be long,” Sydney confirms. “Walker is only allowing an hour.”
Something I’m grateful but also disappointed about.
Now that a demon broke into the school through the hole I somehow created in the shadow realm, he’s pretty much got the school on lockdown for supernaturals. He enforced extra wards to protect the school from any other unwanted visitors, but that means the supernatural students can’t go to and from whenever they please. He sanctions who comes in and out and I’m honestly surprised he’s even letting us go out on this adventure today.
But, not allowing him the time to change his mind, Sydney volunteered to drive me and here we are, ready to leave. With a final glance around the room, we head out.
It’s a short drive to my house, and this time, Sydney makes all the turns without me telling him.
"If I'm not mistaken, your mom should probably have her magic back, right?" Sydney looks from the road to me, and then back.
I shrug, “In theory. Who’s to say that whatever the next curse is, hasn’t already suppressed her magic though.”
“True.”
“I’ll wait in the car again; I don’t want to overstep any boundaries or impose.”
“Thanks, Sydney. Maybe when we get some more time, you can meet her.”
The car comes to a stop in the drive, and I’m let down when I see Danny’s car. I was hoping for the off chance that he would be away from the house so I could talk to Mom alone.
I make my way into the house and find her cleaning the living room.
She’s dancing a bit and I desperately wish I would have snuck in quieter as to not disturb her. She seems… happy. Her eyes lock onto mine and she beams.
“Willow, you’re home!”
“Hi, Mom.”
She embraces me tightly and a new energy fizzles between us. Magic.
I lead her into the kitchen.
"Willow, your hair," Mom says suddenly, her eyes going wide.
I twirl the strange dark lock around my finger. “Right? It just… happened.”
"What did you do? How is this possible?" Her eyes scan my body like she's looking frantically for something else out of place.
“I didn’t dye it, Mom. It literally just appeared.”
“Yes,” she swallows and nods. “It’s… honey… it’s a sign of dark magic.”
“Dark magic?” I mumble, sitting onto the chair at the kitchen table.
“Yes, it’s a sporadic trait passed through the Oliver witches. Those with silver hair, they’re known to be more powerful than the rest, a
nd when they dabble in the darkness, it marks them by turning their hair,” she grabs the strand, “like this.”
“Mom, I… had no idea.” The realization settles over me. “It must have been when I took on the demon. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just felt a rage so fierce. I summoned every ounce of my strength and apparently shattered the shadow realm in the process. Sydney told me he’d never seen magic like that.”
“Okay, hold on. What are you talking about? Let's just rewind a bit, tell me exactly what happened.”
I take a deep breath and then explain to her, to the best of my abilities, what went down at the school. When I finally finish, a silence falls on the room.
“You, you broke the curse?” she stutters.
“When I killed Silas, or when I thought I did, it must have broken it.”
Tears well in her eyes. “Willow, do you know what this means?” Her voice is just a whisper.
I shake my head, unsure how to read her words and emotions flooding into the space.
“Your father,” she breathes. “We can finally get your father back.”
My heart thuds loudly. My father? A man I had no idea whether or not he even existed.
“We have to find him.” She grabs onto my arm, squeezing it with almost a bit too much force. “You have no idea what you’ve done, Willow. I’ll never be able to thank you enough. I should have known you’d rid us of this curse.”
Little does she know, it’s not just one curse, it’s many more, and there is no solid information on how many, and what kind, and how to break them. I just have to deal with them one at a time and use my resources to save us of whatever they have in store. Whoever they may be. But for now, I have to learn more about how to find the father I know nothing about.
“Mom, please tell me what you know of the curse?”
She inhales deeply. "Tea? We should have tea. Yeah, I'll make some." She stands from her chair and fills a kettle full of water. "So, a long time ago, many generations back, there was some kind of conflict between two covens. Ours and another. The details are sparse but from what I know, the Oliver witches were cursed, their magic suppressed and taken, harvested, and used by the other coven. We operate so heavily on love, that to take our powers, they stole our love. The heartbreak alone wrecks us so intensely that it binds our magic and makes it easy to steal.