Academy of the Elites: Unbound Magic

by Alexis Calder

  I looked over at Zach, noting his serious expression, then turned to Professor Flora.

  She smirked. “You have been doing your homework.”

  “That sounds too dangerous,” Luka said. “Taking magic internally has never worked out well. There’s several lost souls in the underworld who thought they could handle it.”

  “Would it work?” I asked.

  “It would,” Professor Flora said. “At least it should.”

  “No way,” Ben said. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m with Ben,” Matt said. “You are not taking that kind of risk.”

  “There’s five of us, though,” I said, letting the words sink in for a minute. “I don’t want to volunteer you all, but…”

  “She’s right,” Zach said. “That kind of magic could be handled safely in a smaller dose. And if we divided it, it would be harmless without all five of us to bring it back together.”

  “Would that work?” Matt asked.

  “I’ve never seen it tried,” Professor Flora said.

  “Do we have any other options?” I asked.

  Nobody said a word. I knew it was our only choice. I hated asking my mates to do this, but I had no idea what this dark fae would do with magic like this. If we split it between ourselves, it would be eliminated from both realms.

  “You need a new moon for the transfer to work,” Professor Flora said.

  “That’s in two days,” Ben said.

  “Luckily, he gave me four days,” I said, fishing the note out of my pocket and holding it out.

  “In the meantime,” Professor Flora said. “You need to work on your magic.”

  She lifted her hand and with a flick of her wrist, the bubble around us collapsed. “Mage tricks are no match for Fae magic.”

  My chest tightened. My whole plan was built on using mage magic. But what other choice did I have?

  “The five of you need to learn to work together,” Professor Flora said. “It’s the only chance you have at passing the trials and your parlor tricks won’t work.”

  I smiled at Professor Flora. Maybe she was on our side after all.

  “You each have talents and weaknesses,” she said. “You weren’t given your topics on accident.”

  “I knew it!” Matt said.

  “What topics?” Luka asked.

  “I’ve spent the last few weeks researching dream walking,” Matt said. “And your brother came and gave me a test.”

  “Wait, what?” Luka asked.

  “Were you going to tell the rest of us that?” I asked.

  “It doesn’t matter right now,” Matt said. “Because now I know why you did it. At first I thought you were trying to drive a wedge between us but that wasn’t it, was it?”

  “It is showing unfair favoritism to the group that I’m sponsoring for the trials,” she said. “But I don’t lose.”

  “Someone catch me up on this,” Ben said.

  “Your weakness is anti-shifting spells and your inability to control your emotions when you’re in your shifted form,” Zach said.

  “What?” Ben asked.

  “I’m telling you, I studied shifters for weeks and my exam was against you.”

  “You left that part out,” I said, suddenly realizing why Zach had been so weird after his test.

  “I wasn’t proud of how I reacted,” he said. “But now I know your weaknesses and your strengths. Which means, I can help you get better before the trials.”

  “And I suppose that means Matt is supposed to help Luka?” Ben asked.

  “There is hope for all of you after all,” Professor Flora said.

  “What about Raven?” Ben asked.

  “I have to work with Professor Flora,” I said. “Is that what you were getting at?”

  She nodded. “Your fae magic is both your weakness and your strength. You have to control it or you’ll do something you regret.”

  “Like stopping time?” Zach said.

  “Like that,” I agreed. “Or worse.”

  I could feel my mates staring at me and I knew they were wondering what my words meant.

  “Go ahead,” Professor Flora said.

  I nodded then took a deep breath. I’d been practicing the shadow magic in my room but it was still difficult to control. Calling to my magic, I pulled the shadows from the corner of the room toward me. They came to me like smoke, wrapping around my ankles like tendrils of darkness.

  “Raven,” Luka said, in awe. “That’s amazing.”

  “Turns out, I’m part Shadow Fae,” I said. “I’m still not sure how it can help me, but it’s something I’m working on.”

  “How does this connect to portals?” Zach asked. “That was your topic.”

  I had no idea. We hadn’t even gotten into portals in my independent study lessons. All of my research for that had been on my own and so far, I didn’t see any connections.

  “It doesn’t really,” Professor Flora said. “But portals are her weakness. She can control her time magic now. But until she can fully contain all her fae magic, she’s at risk of doing things she shouldn’t.”

  “Are you saying she could accidentally open a portal?” Zach asked.

  “Probably not,” she said. “But I know some day she might choose to and she should be able to control it.”

  I blinked a few times, startled by her words. That wasn’t what I expected. “So it has nothing to do with the trials?”

  “It has everything to do with your heritage, and your choices,” she said. “No fae should be forced to stay in this realm. Even if they are half fae.”

  “We saw what that drove Professor Halifax to,” Luka said.

  “Do you want to go to the fae realm?” Ben asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I mean, I suppose it’s something I’ve wondered about but I don’t even know what I’ll do when I gradate, let alone for the rest of my life.”

  “Wow,” Zach said.

  “Yeah, wow,” Luka agreed.

  “Hey, I’m not going anywhere right now,” I said.

  “We know, Raven,” Matt said. “But it brings up the fact that after graduation, everything will change.”

  “I don’t want it to change,” I said. We were back at the conversation we’d had right after defeating Professor Halifax. Our futures. We’d put the topic on hold for a few weeks, but it never really went away.

  “Can we focus on one thing at a time right now?” Luka suggested.

  “Good idea,” I said. We had a book to destroy, a shadow fae to catch, and a trials to pass.

  Why was everything always so complicated?

  26

  Raven

  The next two days were a blur as I went through the motions of getting my classwork done. Even Luka wasn’t his normal cocky self. It was unsettling. But I kept reminding myself that once this was over, we could go back to focusing on normal school stuff. Whatever that meant at the Academy of the Elites. Because let’s face it, I had yet to experience normal.

  My independent study with Professor Flora was surprisingly helpful as I worked to harness more of my shadow magic. It was an odd skill that I was struggling to find balance with. Having the ability to wield both fire and shadow was going to come in handy for sure. But it was difficult to think too far ahead right now.

  Plus, Professor Flora kept reminding me that I still had a test next week over portals. After how harrowing the tests for Matt and Zach had been, I was nervous.

  I tried to shake all the nerves free as I walked into the cafeteria for dinner. Fixing a fake smile on my face, I walked over to where Makayla was waiting for me.

  “You look like shit,” she said.

  “Wow, nice to see you too.”

  She laughed. “You need a night off. And you still owe me a girl’s night,” she said.

  That was true. While I’d finally caught her up over a series of short conversations about the trials and everything that had happened that night - well, mostly everything - we hadn’t ha
d a chance for our night in yet.

  I glanced over at the line waiting for cafeteria food, then looked back at Makayla. “Should we call for pizza?”

  Makayla threw her arm over my shoulder. “We should.”

  “Hey, Raven, Makayla,” Ben said as he walked toward us.

  “Sorry, Ben, I’m stealing your girl away,” Makayla said.

  “Impromptu girl’s night,” I said, giving him my cheesiest smile.

  He laughed. “Have fun, you two.”

  “Thanks,” I said, as Makayla led me away.

  After a quick call to the pizza place in town that was run by a family of supernaturals, we settled into my room.

  “So, tell me about Remi,” I said. “Any updates?”

  Makayla’s face turned bright red. It had been a few weeks since I heard the latest and her blush was a dead giveaway that something new was going on. “Spill.”

  “I finally told my parents,” she said. “So I guess that means he’s not just a fling.”

  I squealed. “And? What did they say?”

  “They’re looking forward to meeting him,” she said. “I was surprised how well they took it, honestly. But I did wait till they got news that my youngest brother just dropped out of high school. So I look great compared to that.”

  I laughed. “Is that what siblings are for?”

  “Of course! Save your bad news for when one of them screws up worse,” she said. “Want to know the craziest part?”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “My dad wants to interview him for a job,” she said.

  “Wow,” I said. “He must think you two are serious.”

  She shrugged. “I guess we are.”

  “So you’re moving in with him after graduation?” I asked.

  She smiled. “Probably.”

  “I’m happy for you,” I said.

  “What about you? Going to find a cozy four bedroom house and rotate which room you sleep in?” She elbowed me playfully.

  “I’m still trying to figure all of that out,” I said.

  A gentle knock sounded on the door and I jumped to my feet, grateful for the distraction. I opened the door, money in hand to pay the delivery guy.

  Only, there wasn’t anyone at the door. I looked down, just in time to see the swirls of shadow as they dissipated. An envelope sat on the ground.

  I picked it up and opened it quickly, using the door to block myself from Makayla. Of course the note was from the Shadow Fae. And of course, he was reminding me of my deadline.

  Only this time, he was also leaving me a more specific threat. The words on the note should have sent fear coursing through my veins. But it didn’t. I was furious.

  I crumbled up the note, anger making my face hot.

  It’s one thing to threaten me. It’s another thing to threaten my mates or my classmates.

  This note was worse than that.

  Apparently, if I didn’t get the book to him, he was going to open as many portals to the fae realm as he could and let the monsters in.

  If that happened, it wasn’t just going to be a few people who were hurt. Nobody in the school would stand a chance.

  Tomorrow, I was going to bind that book with my mates and we were going to end this.

  “Where’s the pizza?” Makayla asked. “I’m starving.”

  “Wrong room,” I said as I closed the door. “I’m sure it’ll be here any minute.”

  I walked back into the room and settled down onto a pillow on the floor. For all I knew, the shadow fae was in the room with us right now. I wasn’t sure if it would be better for him to see me ignoring his threat or if he wanted to see me upset.

  “What’s wrong?” Makayla asked.

  “Nothing,” I said. “Just worried about a big test I have tomorrow, that’s all.”

  “The Spellcasting one?” she asked. “I keep hearing all the mages complaining about it. That new professor sounds intense.”

  “She is,” I said, grateful for the subject change. “Hey, did you ever figure out how to get those mice to deliver messages in your class?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m probably going to fail that class. Good thing I don’t see myself ever needing an animal familiar. I mean, who puts a wolf shifter into that class?”

  I laughed with her. She wasn’t great with the animals either but she’d been better than me.

  Another knock on the door. I raced to it so fast, I nearly knocked Makayla over in the process. This time, it really was the pizza guy.

  Relieved, I tipped him extra and took the pie. “Hungry?”

  Makayla and I spent the rest of the evening eating and talking. For most of the night, I forgot about tomorrow. Once she left, though, I found myself in my bed awake and wondering if I could actually pull this off.

  There was only one way to find out.

  27

  Raven

  “Raven?”

  I looked over at Ben, who was sitting next to me at dinner. His forehead was lined with concern.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “Fine,” I said. “Just distracted.”

  Luka and the twins had skipped dinner tonight to prepare for our big plans of the evening. While Ben had been talking with the other shifters, I’d apparently zoned out.

  “You’re not looking so hot,” Makayla said, narrowing her eyes. “What are you hiding from me?”

  I laughed. She knew me too well. “Nothing.”

  “Something,” she said with a sigh. “Fine, tell me when you’re done saving the world or whatever the hell it is you’re doing.”

  “I’ve got that test coming up, that’s all,” I said.

  Makayla shook her head, clearly not buying it tonight. But she didn’t bring it up again. She passed me her plate. “More fries?”

  “I’m good, thanks,” I said.

  Ben stood and then leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. “See you later.”

  “Bye,” I said.

  “Poker tonight?” Jamal called.

  “Maybe,” Ben said. “You guys start without me.”

  “Wait up, Ben, I’ll walk with you,” I called as I grabbed my plate. “Catch you later, Makayla?”

  “I know what that is,” Starla said. “Booty call time.”

  “Not everything is about sex all the time,” Makayla said.

  I shrugged and lifted my eyebrows. “Sometimes it is.”

  My friends around the table cat-called after Ben and I as we left the cafeteria. He slid his arm around my shoulders. “I wish you wouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why not?” I asked. “Now they’ll just think we got stuck in bed if we don’t make it to poker.”

  He paused for a second and glanced at me. “Good point. But I think we should try to squeeze in some one-on-one time just for the sake of authenticity.”

  “I support that plan,” I said. “I mean, it’s for the benefit of everyone, really.”

  He laughed and pulled me closer. Then he started walking again. “I’m going to be so glad when this is all done and we can go back to normal.”

  “Me too,” I said. My stomach tightened as I thought about what the rest of the night would bring. Zach had Ben’s spare key and if everything was going to plan, he was getting the book from my room right now.

  Ben and I walked past the stairway to the shifter dorms and headed toward the entrance to the lower levels of the school. I’d been down there twice before. Both times for confinement.

  This time, we were using something that Professor Halifax mentioned to me when the time thief had stopped time inside the school. There were a few old dungeons, mostly used for storage. From what she’d said, they were impenetrable from the outside for magic to get in.

  The rest of the group was already waiting for us inside the ancient dungeon. A chill ran up my spine as Ben closed the door behind us.

  I was standing in a room that looked almost identical to the place I visited in my dreams. Along the back was a wall of iron bars. Be
hind them was a crumbling brick wall, blocking the view of whatever used to be on the other side. The ground was cold stone and a dripping sound echoed throughout the room.

  Luka grabbed my hands. “Hey, you okay?”

  My lower lip was trembling but I reminded myself we had work to do. “I think so.”

  “What’s wrong?” Matt asked. “Raven?”

  “It’s a dream I have sometimes,” I said. “Since I was kid. It’s a room that looks like this. And I’m alone and scared.”

  Matt and Zach stood on either side of Luka and I could feel Ben behind me. All of them moved in closer to me, wrapping me in a giant group hug.

  “You’re not alone, now,” Ben said.

  “Thank you,” I said, breathing in my mates. Being here with them made everything better. The room that had haunted my nightmares wasn’t so bad if I could have them along with me.

  They moved away from me, Luka still holding my hands. “It’s almost over.”

  Zach held up the book. “We follow the plan, and we set this whole mess behind us.”

  I nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Zach set the book down in the center of the room and the five of us stood around it. “I’ll lead,” Zach said, looking at each of us in turn.

  I had a general idea of how the spell would work from texts I’d read, but it wasn’t a spell that was recommended for mages to do. Much like everything I seemed to be doing lately.

  Zach stretched his hands out, taking hold of Luka and Ben’s hands. I grabbed hold of Luka and Matt. We hoped that keeping a mage between each of the non-mages would make the spell work better. It wasn’t exactly tested on other magic users.

  “Ready?” Zach asked.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Ben said.

  “Agree,” I said. I wanted this whole thing over with. The book, the shadow fae, everything.

  Zach took a deep breath and then closed his eyes. I followed his example and blew out a breath while I waited for him to cast the spell.

  A moment later, he started speaking the words. “Magic within, reveal your secret.”

  I kept my eyes closed as the tingle of magic filled the air like an electric charge. Zach kept speaking, his words hardly above a whisper. I was too focused on summoning the magic into me to notice what he was saying. It called to me, coming to me easily. The magic in the room seemed to want freedom.