I could use a new friend, and it wasn’t like I didn’t want to get along with my new roommate, but I was worried about a thousand different things: what if she didn’t like me? What if she blasted loud music all day? What if she was infinitely better at magic than I was?
Eventually, at the last room down the hallway, there were only two of us left.
I stared at the girl opposite of me. She looked down at the floor as if it was a painting by one of the masters of the art themselves, Da Vinci or perhaps Michelangelo.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest.
“And looks like this room is yours.” Matthew opened the door to reveal a rather bland-looking room, with two poster beds, one on each side, flanked by a nightstand. A desk stood against the left and right walls, and opposite the bed, stood a wardrobe, again one on each side.
“Here’s your map of the castle, and your agenda.” Matthew shoved the items into the girl’s hands, and she slipped past us, into the room.
I didn’t even catch her name.
Was she just shy, or was the prospect of being my roommate so horrible that she rather run off and hide?
“You’re a direct heir of the famous Lavinia Bloodbane, aren’t you?” Matthew asked, almost giving me a heart attack.
I stared at him, trying to grasp why he had bother to ask me a question, when he had practically ignored everyone else, and had been quite rude to me earlier.
“Uhm. I’m… yes,” I answered reluctantly.
“And do you live up to the name?”
Was he mocking me? “I… Uhm… I try to?”
“I take it you’re not keen on talking in full sentences. Or do you have a speech impediment?”
“Excuse me?” This stupid prefect was riling me up. What was his deal?
“I’m just surprised that you are related to one of the most famous sorceresses of all time,” Matthew said. “Especially considering you can’t even articulate a full sentence.”
“And I’m surprised they made someone as arrogant as you a prefect,” I snapped.
I smashed my mouth shut, heat rising to my cheeks.
By the goddess, Liv, you just insulted a prefect! On your first day.
Not a good move, even if he deserved it…
Matthew blinked slowly, obviously surprised at my sudden outburst. “Well, I guess there’s some spark in you after all, Lavinia Bloodbane. Here I was getting worried that you had the personality of a doormat.”
“Do you like insulting people, or is that just your personality?” I put my hands on my hips, unwilling to give any leeway. If this guy was intent on insulting me without any cause, then I wasn’t about to let him get away with it.
For a moment, Matthew seemed at a loss for words, then his expression hardened and without saying anything else, he pressed my map and agenda into my hands, and stormed off.
Great. You’re here one day, and you managed to anger the prefect. Good job, Liv.
“Don’t mind him,” my roommate said suddenly.
I almost jumped out of my skin, not having expected her to speak.
My roommate lingered in the middle of our room, still looking down at the floor. “He’s always like that,” she continued.
“He’s a self-absorbed prick who…” I started, stopping as I realized what the girl had just said. “What do you mean, ‘he’s always like that’”?
The girl looked up at me, and for the first time, I saw that she was actually quite beautiful. She had red, shoulder-length hair and bright green eyes, an appearance that made her look like a Celtic goddess of some sort.
“I’m Eleanor Dustmoon,” she introduced herself.
“Lavinia Bloodbane.” I held out my hand for her to shake and then dropped it again when her name triggered a memory in my mind.
“Matthew is a Dustmoon, too.”
“He’s my brother,” Eleanor confessed in a tone that almost made it seem like an apology.
“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. Obviously not all Dustmoons were as stuck-up as Matthew was, because Eleanor, if anything, seemed quite reserved and self-aware.
“Pick a side,” she said.
When I stared at her for a second, she continued, “Of the room, I mean. I don’t mind, left or right, so you can choose.”
“Uhm…” I glanced from one side of the room to the other. They were identical, but the left side seemed more natural to me, probably since I was left-handed. “Left then.”
“All right.” Eleanor headed to the right, dragging one of her suitcases along.
The academy’s staff had dropped our luggage in the middle of the room, and while I had brought six fully packed suitcases, I noticed Eleanor had only brought two, and a violin case.
“You play?” I asked her, pointing at the violin case.
“Oh. Sometimes.” She shrugged as she put the suitcase on her bed and zipped it open. “I’m not very good, I’m afraid. How about you?”
“No, I’m not musically gifted at all.” I let out a dry laugh. “Jensen says I sing like a cow mooing on a summer’s night.”
Eleanor chuckled.
She still wasn’t very talkative, but without her brother present, she actually seemed like a nice person. Slowly, my nerves started to melt away. Maybe I could make a friend after all—and this time, without Jensen’s interference.
“Who is Jensen?” she asked. “Boyfriend?”
“By the goddess, no.” Now it was my turn to chuckle, while I struggled to pull my suitcases over to my side of the room. Unpacking was a dreadful task, but Eleanor seemed to have no problems getting started, and I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing. “He’s my best friend. We’ve been friends since kindergarten.”
“Wow.” Eleanor walked toward her wardrobe, armed with a pile of clothes, and nudged the door open with her hip. “Has it never gotten weird?”
“Gotten weird? What do you mean?” I slammed one of my bags on my bed, groaning from the effort. I really shouldn’t have packed these many clothes.
“Being best friends with a guy,” Eleanor said. “I mean, it’s all fun and games in kindergarten, but when you grow up… Isn’t there a time when you start to realize that he’s… well, a guy?”
I looked at her as if she had grown two heads.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, waving my concern away. “I was just thinking out loud. Don’t mind me. It’s none of my business, after all.”
“No, no, it’s just that… It’s never really occurred to me.” I lifted a few shirts from my bag and put them down on the bed. “Girls started swooning over Jensen two or three years ago, and I know objectively that he’s attractive, but I just never thought of him in that way.”
“Hm.”
If I didn’t know better, I would say Eleanor’s “hm” sounded like she didn’t really believe me. Then again, I didn’t know her at all, so maybe there was no secret meaning to her “hm” at all, and I was just reading into things that weren’t really there.
“Do you think we should still wear our uniform tonight, at the party?” I asked my new roommate. “Or are casual clothes allowed?”
“According to the All Hallows Academy Rulebook, casual clothes are only for during weekends, so I’m sticking with the uniform,” Eleanor said.
“The Rulebook? You actually read all that?” A hint of surprise slipped into my voice.
“Of course.” Eleanor turned toward me. “You mean you didn’t?”
I shrugged, getting back to folding and unfolding my clothes. I was at All Hallows Academy for maybe three hours, and I felt very much like a fish out of the water.
Even though Eleanor seemed nice, I still didn’t know her or her personality.
I had dreamed of this day for years and now I longed for nothing more than to go home, to the room I was used to—heck, even to my parents.
I huddled my clothes to my chest, inhaling the scent of home and wondering if All Hallows Academy would ever feel like home.
Chapter Two
The welcoming party was held in the common room downstairs, and it was a far larger affair than I imagined. Easily a hundred students—freshmen, sophomores and seniors—were all huddled together, making the room look crowded despite its enormous size.
Banquet tables were positioned along the sides that held all sorts of snacks and beverages. Music was playing in the background, and Halloween decorations filled the room, too many to count.
The majority of the students, of course, had ditched their uniforms, making Eleanor and myself stand out like sore thumbs.
“What were you saying about the uniforms again?” I asked her sarcasticaly.
“Well, the Rulebook does dictate we should wear them on regular schooldays,” she defended herself.
“Maybe there’s an exception because this is a party?”
Eleanor shrugged. “I like the decorations.” She pointed at the Halloween-themed pumpkin garlands strung across the room.
Apart from that, there were pumpkins on the tables, dolls of witches on broomsticks lined the walls, and orange-and-black flags decorated the chairs. I knew Halloween was a big deal in All Hallows Academy, but I hadn’t exactly expected it would be this omnipresent.
“Finally!” Jensen cried out as he made his way through the crowd toward us. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Liv. But… why are you wearing your uniform?”
I shot a meaningful look at Eleanor. “Long story.”
“Anyway, I want to introduce you to my roommate,” Jensen said, turning me towards a dark-haired, handsome guy with a five o’clock shadow and the most piercing blue eyes I had ever seen.
My breath got stuck in my throat, and all I could do was stare at him.
How did I totally miss how gorgeous Jensen’s roommate is?
“This is Eiran Cross,” Jensen said. “Eiran, this is my best friend Liv who I told you about.”
“Nice to meet you,” Eiran said.
“Same.” I struggled to get the word out, mesmerized as I was by those amazing eyes.
“And who is your friend?” Jensen asked, gesturing towards Eleanor.
“Huh? Oh.” I blinked, trying to ignore the gorgeous specimen that was my best friend’s new roommate. “Uhm, meet Eleanor, my new roomie.”
“Hey,” Eleanor said, waving shyly.
“Hey.” Jensen enthusiastically shook Eleanor’s hand. “I’m thrilled to meet Liv’s new roommate. Did she tell you that I’m her best friend?”
“She did.” Eleanor looked everywhere but at Jensen, her cheeks coloring as red as a tomato.
Jensen probably noticed because he cleared his throat awkwardly. “So, anyone wants a drink?”
“I’ll get them,” I quickly suggested, eager to get away for a few seconds. This Eiran guy had me flustered, and if Jensen noticed I was even remotely interested in someone, he would tease me mercilessly.
“Ah, sure,” Jensen said.
“I’ll help,” Eiran suggested.
I struggled to keep a straight face while I cringed inwardly.
Great. The guy I’m trying to get away from offers to help me.
Jensen raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything else, as Eiran and I walked toward the tables on the side.
We walked in silence, and I felt more uncomfortable with every passing second. What should I say? Small talk was never my forte, especially not with insanely hot guys.
I picked up a few cups filled with soda, and was about to head back, when Eiran put a hand on my arm, stopping me mid-step.
“Why don’t we spice those up a little?” he suggested, patting the pocket of his jacket.
I frowned, wondering if I heard him correctly over the sound of the bass blasting through the room.
Eiran smiled, which caused my heart to make a tumble in my chest. This guy was way too attractive for his own good—and mine.
He opened his jacket, moved his hand into his pocket, and revealed a tiny bottle. “Let’s say this isn’t exactly legal at our age.”
My mouth dropped open, and I glanced left and right, terrified a teacher would notice and I would get detention on my first day.
“Put that away!” I tried to force the bottle back into Eiran’s pocket, brushing against his hands in the process, which sent another red-hot flare up my cheeks.
By the goddess, get a grip, Liv! You’re blushing like a schoolgirl.
“Relax,” Eiran said, yanking his hands away from me. “I had no idea you were such a goody-two-shoes, or I never would’ve suggested it. I just thought we could all have some fun.” He shrugged, as if it was no big deal.
“You can’t just offer to spice the drinks,” I whispered furiously, still worried that any of the teachers would notice. “Especially not on our first day.”
“Will you chill? No one would’ve found out.” Eiran rolled his eyes, grabbed a drink, and walked away from me. “For a Bloodbane, you really like to play on the safe side, don’t you? I thought the Bloodbanes weren’t afraid of bending the rules a little.”
I hurried after him, getting more annoyed with every passing second. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Eiran sneered, “that everyone knows your great-great-grandmama liked to dabble in dark magic, and that’s why she became so much more powerful than all other witches of her generation.”
“That’s nothing but lies and gossip,” I countered while I rushed to keep up with him, nearly spilling over my drink.
“Lies or truth, who cares? I’m sure the magnificent Lavinia Bloodbane would turn in her grave if she found out her latest grandchild is such a crybaby.”
“Hey!” Before I could tell him a piece of my mind, we had reached the spot where Jensen and Eleanor were standing, and both of them looked at me funnily following my outburst.
“Is something the matter?” Jensen asked.
Eiran shrugged. “I’m off. See you la—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the lights dimmed, and the music quieted down. A spotlight blasted to life, illuminating the exact same spot on the stage where earlier today, Headmistress Wynona had given her welcoming speech.
“Any idea what’s happening?” Jensen asked as he moved next to me.
I could barely see him in the darkness.
“No clue.” I handed Jensen his drink, gazing expectantly at the stage. Was the headmistress going to give another speech?
To my surprise, it wasn’t the headmistress who appeared on the stage, but one of the teachers: a man with short, blonde hair and glasses.
“Students.” The teacher’s voice thundered through the room. “For the freshmen who don’t know me yet, my name is Professor Alastair Thorne, and I teach Potions and Elixirs.”
Somehow, even from this far, the professor seemed very intimidating. I had heard stories from Jensen’s brother, Flynn, about the Potions and Elixirs professor and his strict discipline, but I had always thought Flynn was just exaggerating. Looking at this professor, though, he gave off the kind of vibe that said that if you even dared to whisper one word during his class, you would be turned into a toad. Literally.
“I’m also a descendant of Magnus Thorne, the wizard we are honoring today during this First Day of Halloween,” the Potions and Elixirs professor said. “Which means that each year, I get to do the honors of leading the Summoning Ritual.”
I furrowed my brow and tilted my head at Jensen. “Summoning ritual?” I whispered, but he just shrugged. Apparently, this was something his brother hadn’t mentioned to him either.
“As you may remember, my ancestor invented the potion to bring inanimate objects to life,” Professor Thorne continued. “Of course, many similar potions have been derived from his original concoction since then, but all of them contain the basic ingredients Magnus Thorne used. The faculty staff, with help of some senior students, have recreated the potions used by Magnus Thorne, and we will soon distribute them to all our students.”
Professor Thorne paused for a second, gesturing for one of the students aligned to
the right of the stage, to come closer.
I sighed as Matthew Dustmoon came into view. Of course, he would be the type of suck-up who would do anything to own some points with the teachers, even if it meant spending the entire day making potions.
Matthew lifted a small vial and showed it to us, while Professor Thorne continued. “As you may know, around Halloween, the veils between the world of the living and the world of the dead grow thinner and thinner, until on All Hallows’ Eve itself, when the veil is thin enough that we can cross from one world into the next, or the more likely option, the dead can cross from our world into ours.”
A shiver ran down my spine. All this talk of the dead, mixed with the Halloween decorations that had looked like fun eye-catchers but in the dimmed light looked slightly macabre, made me feel uncomfortable.
“This is why we can connect with Magnus’ spirit, and call upon him to give us strength,” Professor Thorne explained. “If all goes well, he will make our potions more powerful so that instead of mere seconds, they can last minutes.”
I had heard that back in the day, when Magnus Thorne first invented his potion, it made objects inanimate forever, and he was forced to brew an antidote and throw it all over the cursed objects, returning them back to their lifeless form.
Nowadays, our magic barely allowed us to make an object come to life for seconds, or minutes at most.
“Please gather in circles, taking the hands of the students standing next to you,” Professor Thorne said. “Thirteen students per circle, and everyone should turn toward the outside of the circle, not the inside.”
When nobody moved at first, he clapped his hands, which promptly sent the students into action.
Jensen took my hand, and I cringed when I saw the person standing on my other side was Eiran.
Eiran seemed as annoyed as I was, while he reluctantly extended his hand toward me.
In a few minutes, all the students had gathered around in circles, with the seniors shouting instructions.
“Did you know this was going to happen?” I whispered at Jensen, spooked by the idea that we would call upon a spirit from the beyond. This type of magic leaned towards the darker side, and I had always tried to stay away from dark magic.
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