by Logan Jacobs
“Yes, Professor,” the class answered in unison.
“Very good,” she said as she took in a sharp breath of air. “Now, we will begin the lesson with an unwilling host… there is no way in hell I’m allowing you to practice on each other. One simple mistake, and you could be obliterated into bits.”
“How comforting,” Akira muttered under her breath.
Vanessa looked at the students with a cold expression on her flawless and beautiful face before she snapped her fingers, and then a cloud of smoke erupted by the other side of her desk. As soon as the mist cleared, there was a warlock tied to a chair, and his lips were sewn shut. He had pale, purple hair and bright, fearful blue eyes that darted back and forth like a trapped bee.
“We decided to keep a handful of Mors warlocks for educational purposes,” Vanessa purred as the class stared at the squirming man.
He looked genuinely pathetic as his eyes wandered over to Vanessa, and his stifled cries grew louder when she turned her head to meet his wretched gaze. Then she tossed back her head and began to softly laugh.
“Why on hell’s red soil are you looking at me like that, hmm?” she taunted. “Do you think your pitiful stares will inspire mercy? By Satan, you are truly mistaken.”
The warlock squeezed his eyes shut and then rocked back and forth in the chair as if by some miracle, he could undo his bonds, run off into the hallway, and escape.
What an idiot. His fate was clearly sealed.
“Now,” Vanessa purred as she began to circle the helpless warlock with her wand in her hand, “you must all pay very close attention to what I’m about to do… as I said before, one simple mistake and poof, you end up with a mess.”
“Yes, Professor Vanessa,” the class obediently replied in unison.
“Excellent,” she sighed.
The dark-haired professor stopped dead in front of the warlock, and then she rolled back her sleeves and raised her wand. She aimed it right between his eyes, and even from my table, I could see the sweat dripping from his forehead and down into his fear-laden eyes.
“Obstupefacio!” Vanessa shouted in a firm, loud voice.
A blast of lime green light hit the warlock in the center of his forehead, and once the light traveled through his body like a current of electricity, he immediately stopped squirming, and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Then he went completely limp, and if it weren’t for the small movements of his chest, I would have assumed he was dead.
“See?” Vanessa asked before she spun around to face the class. “There’s nothing to it… just be sure to concentrate.”
Before anyone could respond, Vanessa snapped her fingers, and more clouds of smoke puffed around the room. A giant purple cloud appeared at the right side of our desk, and when the mist cleared, there was a skinny warlock with dark brown hair and pale green eyes tied to a seat. He had the same look of panic across his face, his mouth was also sewn shut, and fat tears were rolling down his freckled, ashen face.
“Only one warlock per table?” I wondered aloud. “How will we all practice?”
“It’s not as if I have an endless supply of warlocks at my disposal, Cole,” Vanessa’s stern voice echoed from the front of the room, and she turned her head to glare at everyone before she continued. “You will all do well to try and take turns… Oh, and in order to reverse the spell, simply utter, ‘laxo,’ and they should return to their previous state of consciousness.”
I nodded in response and then turned to look at each witch at my table. “Who wants to go first?”
As soon as the question left my lips, each witch looked down at the table, and even the ever-ambitious Morgana refused to meet my gaze or utter a response.
“Really?” I asked with a forced chuckle. “Not one of you wants to give it a shot?”
“Hey, if it’s cool, I think you should go first,” Nyx suggested, and she raised a blue eyebrow.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Penelope added as she flicked back her tangerine-colored hair.
“Alright.” I shrugged. “I’ll give it a go.”
So, I pulled out my wand from the back of my waistband and then slowly aimed it at the struggling warlock. His eyes widened and focused on the tip of my wand, and I took in a long deep breath. Then I pictured his body going as limp as a dead fish, and after I steadied my aim, I recited the incantation.
“Obstupefacio!” I cried out.
The same green light hit the warlock right between his eyes, and his entire body convulsed just before his eyes rolled into the back of his head, which lolled to the side.
I grinned in satisfaction as the rest of my table lightly clapped.
“What the hell are you clapping for?” Vanessa snapped as she neared our table. “So, Cole managed to successfully paralyze him… what about the rest of you?”
“We were just about to give it a shot, Professor--” Morgana started, but then Vanessa raised a hand to stop her mid-sentence.
“You cannot constantly rely on Cole to defend and protect you,” she snarled. “Of anything, that’s a poor use of the immortal power you’ve gained by giving him your souls. Cole, please reverse the spell and then let the others have a go.”
“Yes, Professor,” I answered with a repressed sigh. Then I took aim at the wilted warlock and focused on his state of mind before I uttered the next spell. “Laxo.”
This time, a pale pink light hit the warlock in the chest, and suddenly, his head flung forward, and his entire body jolted as if I’d electrocuted him back into consciousness.
“Now,” Vanessa said as other students practiced behind her, “I’d like for Miss Faye to give it a go.”
“Right,” Faye gulped. “I mean… of course, Professor.”
The redhead took her time to roll up her sleeves before she inhaled sharply and focused on the warlock. Then she lifted her wand into the air and waited a moment for her hand to stop trembling, and as soon as she was ready, she uttered the spell.
“Obstupefacio!”
Again, the warlock went deadly limp as soon as the blast of green light hit him in the face, and the redhead sighed with relief when Vanessa nodded approvingly.
“Great, now… how about Iris?” Vanessa suggested.
Faye performed the laxo spell on the warlock without being told, so the pink-streaked twin could have a shot. As soon as the warlock returned to painful reality, his eyes pleaded for the twin to stop, but of course, it didn’t faze her. Instead, she aimed her wand right between his eyes and then quickly recited the spell.
“Obstupefacioooo,” she chanted, and we all cringed at once.
She’d mispronounced the spell, and as a result, the warlock’s head began to violently vibrate.
Vanessa quickly took a step back, and then the warlock’s eyes popped out of his sockets and exploded everywhere. The witches all groaned in disgust as bits and pieces flew on the desk, but that wasn’t even the end of it.
Soon, the warlock’s entire body began to bubble with boils and pus-filled sores, and it was as if he were being boiled alive. He then exploded into pieces, and we all raised our hands to defend ourselves against the gory splatter. An ear landed right in front of me, and I quickly brushed it off the table as the others all looked down in disgust at their stained uniforms and then turned to glare at Iris.
“Sorry,” the twin muttered as she sheepishly dropped her eyes.
“Nice going,” Ivy groaned.
“Like you could have done any better,” Iris barked back at her sister.
“Enough,” Vanessa commanded before she snapped her fingers, and then the bloody chair disappeared. “You can try again tomorrow… today was more of an introductory lesson anyway.”
“But Professor,” Morgana protested, “not all of us had a chance to practice.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that, Miss Morgana.” Vanessa scowled. “If circumstances were different, then perhaps you would have all had an opportunity.”
“But--”
the bookworm insisted until Vanessa turned on her heels and returned to the front of the room.
“Class,” she snapped as she furiously raised her hands high into the air. “That’s enough for today… you’re all dismissed.”
Even though no one dared to utter a word of protest, I could feel the disappointment hanging in the air like a weighted blanket hovering over us. It was clear we could have had a longer lesson, but for some reason, Vanessa was just not in the mood to even try.
I turned my head to look at my table, and while Beatrix, Nyx, and the twins were already packed and heading toward the door, my coven lingered behind, as if they were waiting for my next order.
“You look like you’re considering something, Cole,” Vesta whispered in a sensual tone as she tossed back her long, sage green hair. “Care to share it with the rest of us?”
“Not just yet,” I said as I stared at the professor. She was busy cleaning up her desk and sending the warlocks back to Satan knows where, so she didn’t even seem to notice my eyes on her. “I think I need to speak to Vanessa alone… I’ll meet you all upstairs in a bit.”
“Alright,” Morgana replied with a frown. “Come back to us alive.”
“I will,” I chuckled.
My coven gathered their belongings before leaving the classroom, and when Vanessa realized it was just the two of us in her room, she shot daggers in my direction and placed her hands on her hips.
“Are you deaf?” she asked. “Why are you still here?”
“You said if circumstances were different, we’d all get a chance to practice,” I repeated slowly. “What did you mean by that?”
Vanessa’s eyes softened, and she thoughtfully chewed on her rosy bottom lip.
I didn’t think she would actually answer me, but apparently the surly professor was full of surprises today.
“Well,” she began after a long moment, “there are a series of books in the forbidden library…books that hold some of the most powerful spells against elder gods. They even have an entire volume on how to recreate an elder god entity and elder creatures called replicas. They are essentially like test dummies. They mimic the powers of the elder gods and their creations.”
“Cool,” I breathed, but then I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. “So, why not use them?”
“I don’t think Theodora could be persuaded,” she answered after a long moment. “She thinks these advanced spells will be enough, but I disagree, and I’ve tried to tell her, but she thinks it’s too dangerous to use the forbidden books. Those spells haven’t been used in centuries… and she doesn’t believe the professors are equipped to teach them since none of us have ever used them ourselves. We’ve only studied their history and power… but never have we actually recited or learned them.”
“So, it would be a substantial risk,” I said, “but in my opinion… one worth taking. We can’t pull any punches with these elder god assholes.”
To my surprise, Vanessa smiled and then looked down at the floor.
“It seems we are in agreement,” she murmured without meeting my eyes.
I grinned and then quickly stood up from my seat. The sound of my chair scraping across the marble floor startled Vanessa, and she furrowed her dark eyebrows at me.
“Where are you going with that look of determination on your face?” she questioned.
“To ask Theodora for permission to use the forbidden texts,” I said as I spun toward the door.
Then I rushed out of the classroom before she could stop me and found myself heading down to Theodora’s office. I had no idea how I was going to persuade her, but I knew I needed to try something.
Our lives were depending on it.
Chapter 6
After my brief discussion with Vanessa, I soon found myself in front of Headmistress Theodora’s office, and once I took a deep, bracing breath, I knocked three hard times.
“Come in!” her resilient voice echoed from within.
I slowly opened the door, and Theodora was busy furiously scribbling away on a long piece of golden parchment at her desk. She had a pitcher of dark wine by her right side and a tall silver goblet on the other, and a small violin hung in the corner of the room and played a hauntingly beautiful tune on its own. The fireplace was lit, and it cast a warm and welcoming glow across the room.
If the warlocks had invaded this room during the attack, no one would have been able to tell. Everything appeared to be in pristine condition, and nothing seemed out of place. Theodora herself looked just as perfect as the room around her. Her dark hair was pulled up into a towering updo and decorated with bone pins and red jewels. She was wearing a deep burgundy gown, made of luminous velvet and black lace, and her porcelain, doll-like face was adorned with a touch of rouge while her lips were painted red.
“Ah, Cole,” the headmistress purred without looking up. “What can I do for you?”
“I just came back from hexes and curses with professor Vanessa,” I explained.
I paused and let my sentence hang in the air, but Theodora didn’t seem fazed by my stillness. In fact, she continued to keep writing as if I wasn’t even here.
“Oh?” she finally replied in a surprised tone. “What about it? Was it a successful lesson?”
“No,” I said bluntly, “in fact, it was a mess. There was nothing truly intense about it. It felt like any other lesson to be perfectly honest with you.”
The always poised headmistress slowly stopped writing and then lifted her head to look at me. Her face scrunched up in confusion, and her mouth was slightly parted open as if she were at a loss for words. Then she stared long and hard at me with her piercing blue eyes before leaning back in her chair and folding her hands on the desk. Her eyes continued to peer into mine, and it was impossible to sense what she was thinking. Finally, her mouth curled up into an unusual smile, and she shook her head.
“Well,” she tutted, “I’m sorry to hear about that… perhaps Vanessa is still getting used to teaching more advanced lessons. I’ll be sure to have a private word with my daughter as soon as possible, and thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now, if you don’t mind, Cole, I have plenty of work that needs to be done.”
“Well, no Vanessa’s not the problem--” I started, but then she cut in.
“Oh, before I forget to ask, tell me, does Miss Penelope need a bedroom in the suite?” the headmistress asked out of nowhere. “I can only imagine she would want her own room as well… now that she appears to be another member of your coven. She’s a bright witch, and I think you made a wise choice to include her.”
It took me a moment to collect my thoughts. Why was the headmistress suddenly deflecting from the conversation? Did she already know what I was about to ask her?
“Yes, another room would be most appreciated,” I cleared my throat, “but that’s not what I came down here to ask, and I think you know that. We need more advanced books… and you know which ones I’m referring to.”
“Yes,” she sighed after a long moment of heavy silence. “I know.”
Before I could say another word, Theodora pushed herself out of her seat and began to slowly strut around the room with her hands behind her back. Her face was set into a firm, stony expression, and her red lips were pursed tightly. She was a loud thinker, and I could sense her apprehension, fear, and confusion radiating off her body every time she neared me.
“Headmistress?” I finally asked in a hesitant voice. “Are you going to say it, or should I?”
“It doesn’t matter who says it,” she answered with a solemn nod, “because I’m afraid I’m going to have to refuse your request.”
“But Headmistress,” I argued, “we need the forbidden books! Today’s class was just a pathetic excuse for a lesson--”
“Cole,” she huffed before she slowly crossed her arms, “do you even know what kind of spells are in those books? All it could take is one careless student to bring the entire castle down into bits. No, it’s too dangerous. There’s a reason they’
ve been forbidden for ages.”
“I understand the spells are powerful,” I answered, “but that’s why we desperately need them. Slightly advanced spells aren’t going to defeat the elder gods… we need the most powerful magic possible, and we need to be able to create elder god replicants to practice on--”
“Who told you about that?” she interjected until the realization quickly hit her. “Ah, of course… Vanessa. I’m surprised at her… she’s normally good at keeping things to herself.”
“Don’t blame her,” I said in a firm tone, which seemed to surprise the headmistress.
“I don’t blame her, Cole,” Theodora answered with a soft laugh. “I’m just shocked she would share this information with you. In case you haven’t picked up on it, she’s never been your biggest fan.”
“Well, it surprised me, too, but she did.” I shrugged. “And I think we need those books now more than ever.”
Theodora glanced down at the floor and then began to slowly shake her head. The woman was one of the most respectable witches I’d ever come across, but Satan, she could be as stubborn as a bull.
“Some students are more advanced than others,” she explained as if I hadn’t understood her before. “What if the less advanced pupils die because they can’t even master a highly lethal defense spell?”
“Why don’t we just split the students into groups, then?” I suggested. “Students with greater grades can be placed in one domain, while the less advanced are placed in others. Like ranks in the military, we can organize ourselves into various categories.”
Theodora stopped pacing, and then she turned to look at me with a placid smile on her face. For a moment, I was hopeful because I could see a twinkle of interest in her pale blue eyes.
“That’s actually not a terrible idea,” she conceded after a long moment. “I like the way you think, Cole… I always have.”
“So, let’s do it,” I said, and I was unable to hide the eagerness in my voice. “Advanced spells aren’t going to cut it… we need to use magic specifically designed to destroy the elder gods… even if it is dangerous and forbidden.”