by D. R. Perry
"Look."
I stepped around her to see the half-burnt table in front of me. Paper napkins in sodden heaps dotted its charred surface. Dun-colored sand striped the floor. Clearly, this was the scene of an epic confrontation between an earth magus and a fire magus, with a water magus stepping in.
Charity and Aliyah, then. And probably Logan Pierce, too.
"That Hopewell girl's got no idea who she's messed with here."
"She's a Morgenstern. And maybe she doesn't." I sighed, shaking my head. "But the damage is done. They’re enemies for sure now."
The silence stretching between us wasn't uncomfortable. There was tension, a sort I'd never felt before. Surprisingly pleasant, much like Faith.
"What do we do?"
I looked up at her, letting Faith see how she brought a faint smile to my face. Because she said, "We."
"Try hard. Run fast. But mostly, be kind."
"That's it?" She snorted. "Charity wouldn't do that for us."
"We don't have to be kind to her, just provide it as an alternative to everyone else."
"I'm not good at that. Actually, I'm atrocious." She clenched her fists. The remains of her energy lingered in my palm. Curious, that.
"Were you good at swimming right away?" I knew from her file that she’d learned that skill later than most people, and also that it wasn't easy for her. Trauma again.
"No. Okay, I get it."
Faith began walking away, picking her way past the burnt table toward the cafeteria's exit. She moved slowly this time, at least for her. For me, it was a brisk pace.
"Where are you going?"
"Class." She adjusted the strap on her tote. "Keep up, Harold."
Her voice and actions weren't much different than earlier, at least on the surface, but Faith's prickly veneer had started to crack. Maybe, sometime, it'd turn into something she could use when she wanted to, like putting on armor instead of it being her emotional default mode. How did I know this?
Seth turned around in the tote. The little magical canine couldn't stop wagging his tail, his eyes bright as he grinned doggily at me. And that was why I didn’t take credit for this change. All I did was get a ball rolling. The Sha would be the one to chase it out into the sunlight. Nin would help more than I could. The other kids' critters, too.
For practitioners of familiar magic, there has always been one more factor in the nature/nurture influence on our personalities, compared with any other extrahumans.
Our companions.
Chapter Twelve
Aliyah
I woke with my cheek pressed against a flat pillow swathed in pilled jersey fabric that smelled of bleach. My right arm was asleep because I'd been lying on it, and my entire body felt warm and weighed down, so much so that I couldn't immediately sit up.
"Ember?" My next thought was for the dragonet's wellbeing.
"Be still." The voice was a warm tenor, like Izzy's cousin Eduardo but without his accent. "We've got you bundled in a weighted blanket. Your dragonet's perched at the foot of this cot. You need a bit more rest."
"What happened?" As the words slurred out of my mouth, I wished I could swallow them because I remembered it all. "Oh, no. I'm a monster."
"No, just a young and powerful magus with a newfound familiar." A cool hand pressed my forehead. "I'll tell you a secret. You're not the first new student this has happened to. He had a dragonet, too. You remind me of him quite a bit, in fact."
"Who was he?" I cringed, expecting to hear the name “Richard Hopewell.” "What happened to him?"
"Someone very special." The voice lowered, like Bubbe's when she was talking about my grandfather. "He grew into his powers, and used them heroically after the Reveal."
I opened my eyes. The man on the stool beside the cot I lay on was pale, with wavy honey-brown hair and a goatee. Amber eyes gazed from behind the round spectacles perched on his unlined face. His thin and bloodless lips tilted up slightly, as though he had resting sympathy face. Or something else.
"Are you a vampire?"
"Nobody's perfect." He shrugged. "I'm also an ice magus, for what it's worth."
Out in Haverhill, Bubbe had a vampire colleague practicing extraveterinary medicine. Salem Hospital also employed several, with a vamp physician on their board of directors. They heard and smelled things wrong with living bodies that even the most powerful magus or psychic couldn't.
I blinked slowly. Vampires weren't allowed to be students here. I knew that already, overheard through years of Mom's conference calls, but apparently, there was no ban on them working here, as long as they were also magi. That wasn't something I'd have considered controversial as recently as yesterday.
"There's no way Hailey or Charity let you take care of them."
"And I didn't." He shook his head. "I'm merely an assistant at this time. But Nurse Smith is almost done with them. He'll be with you shortly."
As I lay there, opening and closing my right hand under the blanket to work the pins and needles out of it, I pondered who this guy was. It took some serious mental and emotional armor for a flammable vampire, even one with ice magic, to remain calm at a time like this.
He was alone in a room with the girl who’d almost burned the cafeteria down—and being so kind. I couldn't have managed a feat like that, so of course, I had to know more about him.
"E. Brown, CNA." I read his badge. "Can I sit up now?"
"Yes." He grinned again, turning down the weighted blanket and giving me a hand up. "By the by, E is for Ezekiel, but students here call me Zeke. They say it sounds cooler, which suits my magical element, I suppose."
"Well, thanks for taking care of me, Zeke." I smoothed my hair, which was messy but not matted, thankfully. "Where's Dylan? And Logan? The boys who brought me here?"
"They both departed to get their class schedules." He nodded at the door. "The one with the dark hair said he'd return right after that."
"That'd be Dylan. He's a good friend." I reached out my left arm toward where Ember perched. "Met him the same day I found her."
"I see."
"Is it going to be a problem?" Ember stretched her wings, as though testing them. She opted for hopping across the bed instead of flying over. "The fact that I missed the tour, I mean?"
"The headmaster will show you around, along with the other students who missed it."
"But isn't Charity Fairbanks an upperclassman?" Ember climbed into my lap and leaned against my stomach, resting her head on my breastbone. I cuddled her, of course.
"That she is. But I speak of her sister." Zeke nodded. "Faith."
There was a knock on the door before I could ask how she ended up missing such a crucial part of orientation. She wasn't with me.
I cleared my throat. "Come in."
The door opened, revealing a short man with a buzz cut wearing blue scrubs covered by an assortment of pockets. His neck was decorated with tattoos, black lines in peaks and whorls like ocean waves. He held up a round-bottomed flask filled with water, positioning it between him and me. The line where the water met the glass wavered slightly, then stilled.
"You're doing much better now, Miss Morgenstern." He waggled the flask in his hand. "I might be able to let you return to regular activities."
"Might?" I raised an eyebrow as Ember lifted her head off my chest.
"Yes." Nurse Smith pulled a stool over, rolling it on casters. "I just need to ask you a few questions."
"Um, can Zeke stay?" I was nervous. No, that's a lie. I was scared half to death that I'd get expelled, and if this was a psych screening, I wanted a witness, even if the only one available was a vampiric nursing assistant.
"Of course." He leaned forward, setting the flask of water on the bedside table. After that, he reached toward his largest pocket. A gleaming blue claw emerged, handing him a notepad with a pen protruding from its spiral top.
"Now, I heard that in the cafeteria, you got into an argument with Charity Fairbanks. How did it start?" The nurse flipped open t
he pad, pen poised over the empty page.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let it out. I was a bit hazy on that. I noticed that the water inside the flask rolled slightly like it had its own current.
"Peep." Ember nuzzled my chin, and it all came back to me.
"It started with Faith, actually." I told the nurse she ran off, and how I realized why. I stopped before getting to what I overheard. "Look, I don't want to repeat what she said, even though I sort of have to."
"Why not?"
'Because it's hate speech, Nurse Smith." I glanced at Zeke. "It's also total hogwash, and I don't want to repeat that pack of lies. It's nasty and might hurt someone."
"Like fire might hurt someone?"
Nurse Smith's words hit me like a breaker hitting the shore.
"I didn't mean to shoot the flames out, only conjure them."
"Peep!" Ember had my back, at least.
"Okay." He nodded. "So, was this hate speech against your Jewish heritage? Or perhaps against fire or solar magi?"
"No." I sighed, not looking at Zeke. "It was anti-vampire."
"Hmm." His eyes cut left, then he marked something down on the paper. "Charity told me that you said, 'Mean people suck.' Is that true?"
"Yes."
"And then you set the table on fire?"
"No." I shook my head. "That's not how it happened."
I told him about her insult, how I was pretty much struck speechless. How I wasn't even aware of raising the temperature around me while making the flame in my hand.
"So, it's a simple loss of control, then." Nurse Smith nodded.
"No. It wasn't simple." I swallowed. "I wish it was. But people got hurt, so it's way more complicated."
I left out the part where I felt like Ember and I had merged, and the bit about the lights. That had to be some sort of hallucination because I couldn't do solar magic. I'd have had to be an extramagus to affect those lights or even draw energy from them.
I shook my head again. The esteemed medical professionals might have thought I was trying to remember, not deciding whether to lie, but it was all too much for me to handle or even speak about when it might mean my expulsion. It wasn’t even the first day. I said the only thing I could be sure of.
"This was all my fault." My shoulders drooped, and I cradled Ember. "I flew off the handle, and I'm sorry. Should have had better control."
"Miss Morgenstern," Nurse Smith said, patting my arm. "This is actually quite common with fire magi your age."
"Really?"
"Yes. In fact, your own mother struggled the same way when she was a student here." He made another note on his pad. I must have seemed confused because when he glanced up again, he said, "Oh, I see. She hasn't discussed that with you."
"No." I looked up at the clock, unable to meet the nurse's gaze. "All she did was teach me some meditation techniques. But those aren't so helpful now that I'm here. I feel like a total freak."
"You're in an unfamiliar place. It's your first day, and you stood up for what you believe in." Nurse Smith gave me a gentle smile. "It sounds like normal behavior to me."
"This wouldn't have been my kind of normal last year."
"Your magic wasn't as developed then. Remember, you and all the other students here are growing into their powers. It's going to take adjustment on everyone's part."
"Am I expelled?"
"Oh, goodness, no." The nurse tucked his pad and pen back in his pocket. "But I'm afraid you’ll have an extra course for this first month of school. It's time-consuming, but it will help you avoid control issues in the future. It’s designed for students who aren’t fitting in for various reasons."
"What?" I blinked. My plans for afternoons off-campus with Cadence and Izzy would be foiled.
"Headmaster Hawkins will fill you in on all the details during your tour." He picked up the flask, which I'd almost forgotten about, and put that away too. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and write some reports."
Was he using the flask as some kind of lie detector? No, that was more of an air thing. With water as his element, the nurse probably used it as a way to gauge emotional states.
"Your roommate brought a bag while you were sleeping." Zeke pulled it out from under the bed. "You can freshen up while you wait for the headmaster."
"Wow." I took the bag, setting it on the table beside me. "Thank you, Zeke. For everything."
"It was no trouble." The vampire CNA grinned again, less sadly this time. "I would say I hope to see you again, but I'd prefer it if you stay safe."
"Be sure to come back here if you see heat warping the air again, Miss Morgenstern." Nurse Smith stood. Zeke joined him by the door.
As they stepped toward the exit, I spoke. "Thanks, Nurse Smith." For nothing.
At least I managed to keep my inside voice locked away this time.
They closed the door. Once I changed and freshened up, I exited the infirmary, on my way to take my second chance at a new beginning.
Chapter Thirteen
I wore the same old leggings and tunic again because that was what Grace had packed. She’d also stuffed my course schedule in the bag, bless her. A scrawl of handwriting told me to meet Professor Hawkins in the main lobby, where we had the welcome assembly.
On arrival, I was relieved to see Hal, Logan, and Dylan. Faith not so much, but I was prepared to give her a second chance.
But the twin I’d injured was there too. Hailey. Or was it Bailey? I wracked my brain because I wanted to go over and apologize, but it was coming up blank.
I froze.
"Peep." Ember twisted her head in front of my face, then knocked some sense into me by headbutting my nose.
"Thanks."
My feet moved again, and I was sure it was Hailey who got hurt now. I kept my eyes fixed on the girl I accidentally injured. More specifically, on the gauze wrapped over her wound, no doubt holding a magical compress in place.
"Hailey, I'm so sorry you got hurt." I looked her in the eye as I continued, "I just couldn't stop the fire I conjured from getting away, and I want to apologize for even using magic back there. I shouldn't have."
"Oh." She blinked, but whether it was from shock or to block tears, I don't know. "Well. Um."
"For Pete's sake, don't hem and haw." Faith snorted. "Accept her apology or not, but pick one before you drive us all batty." Her Sha let out a short bark from the tote slung across her body. "See? Even Seth agrees." The little canine licked her arm.
"Okay. Fine." Hailey tilted her head, her side-ponytail bobbing. "Accepted. But that doesn't mean we're friends. Far from it."
"I don't blame you." I nodded, then headed over toward the boys.
"You okay?" Hal stood, Nin dashing up his arm to twine around his shoulders. "I heard all about what happened in there."
"I screwed up." I shook my head. "And I'm going to make up for it. The nurse set me up with some kind of after-class activity."
"Oh, no way." Logan winced. "Not Familiar Bondage?"
I'd have heard a pin drop if Hailey wasn't snickering into her sleeve.
"What?" Hal scratched his head. Clearly, he’d never checked out Urban Dictionary or been anywhere near Snapchat.
"Logan, buddy." Dylan sighed. "It's ‘bonding.’ They don’t have detention, but the next best thing at good old Hawthorn Academy is called Familiar Bonding. Drop the -age and add -ing."
"I'll bet fifty bucks nobody but the Firestarter over there is required to take it." Faith snorted as she idly patted Seth the Sha.
"Awesomesauce!" Dylan clapped his hands, then held one out. "I'm rich!"
"Fetch, puppy." Faith sighed, snapping her fingers. Seth turned around, his long, straight tail sticking out of the bag as he rummaged in it. He emerged with a crocodile-skin wallet.
"Wait." I shook my head. "Are you being punished because you helped me?" I blinked.
Faith whipped out a fifty, tossing it into the air.
"No." Dylan held out his hand, and the bill see-sawed
down to his palm. "It’s the coursework for misfit kids. I don’t have a familiar, so I don’t fit in yet."
"That means you owe me too, Faith." Logan chuckled. "I’m taking it also." He jerked his thumb at his shoulder. “Familiar gone."
"Ugh, dropping adverbs is gauche." Faith wrinkled her nose but paid up anyway. "You're not funny, Logan. Like, ever. Go to the library and check out a joke book or something."
His face fell like one of Bubbe's soufflés. My grandma could bake anything but soufflés. Nobody’s perfect.
"Never will be, either," Hailey chimed in. "Ya basic."
"I didn't say that." Faith swallowed. "Just that he's got a lot to learn."
"So do you." Hailey rolled her eyes. "You know what your problem is? You're too nice. And you can hardly call a boy that pretty a charity case."
"Seems to me that all of you need improvement."
We all looked up as the headmaster appeared out of nowhere. I suppose it was a good thing this family of space magi decided to open a prep school instead of an old folks’ home because otherwise, they'd give everybody heart attacks. Teleportation is startling on the receiving end.
"Yeah." I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about the fire in the cafeteria."
"Understood." Headmaster Hawkins nodded.
"Now, all of you missed the tour earlier, so this is the only way I can ensure you won't get lost tomorrow." The headmaster clapped his hands. I got a stomach-turning sense of rapid movement that only lasted a second. "Unfortunately, you can't make up for not meeting the professors who will be advising you during your education here."
"Bummer." Hailey rubbed her eyes, blinking, and I didn’t blame her. The lighting was different all of a sudden. "Can we go see the classrooms yet?"
"You're already in one of them." He gestured.
We stared up, down, and all around like turkeys in the rain. The headmaster must have teleported us when he clapped his hands. This classroom was different from the dorms and common areas.
There were a few similarities, of course. The chandeliers were that same spidery wrought iron with solar globes, and the clock was just like the rest of those wooden ones, but it was hung on the wall instead of worked into the decor.