by Nissa Leder
Partly out of curiosity, and partly because I don’t want to be a chicken, I oblige.
Now closer, I can see the purple veins underneath her pale skin. Not wanting to seem rude, I force my gaze to her face.
She grins, and I’m not sure whether to be afraid or comforted.
“I always dreamed of having a granddaughter.” She reaches out and gently touches my cheek. Her finger is cold, but I resist the urge to back away. “Your father was such a beautiful baby, and oh, how I loved him so. But my heart longed to someday have a girl.”
“How come you never had any more children?” I ask.
“There were…complications…with your father, and I was unable to bear another child.” The longing in her voice contradicts her freaky appearance and scratchy voice. But then she lifts her chin and meets me with a cold stare. “You will meet me at this hut on Saturday.”
At first, I’m confused. I don’t know how to make my dreams come to whatever this world between reality and my dreams is. “Wait, you mean in real life?”
“I want to meet you. The real you,” she says. “Is that too much for a grandma to ask?”
The door creaks open as the creature walks in on all fours, its back hunched in an awkward curve that accentuates each and every vertebra of its spine. It continues straight to my grandma and she reaches out to pet it like it was just an ordinary dog.
The Wendigo stares into my eyes, sending a flare of fire through my magic.
“Um…” Something tells me I don’t have much of a choice. Whatever has been happening to me is because of some connection. A connection I fear is stronger than I realize. “Okay.”
“Be here at a quarter till midnight. Alone.”
Then, before I can respond, she and the wendigo are gone.
Six
I can’t shake the dread coursing through me after the strange dream with my grandma.
As hard as I try to convince myself it was nothing more than some conjecture of my imagination, I know that it was more than that. That it was really my grandma there in the dream version of the hut with her creepy pet.
Which means I actually have to willingly return there this weekend.
Although I’ve gotten used to having my room to myself, I miss the comfort of having Olivia there to distract me from my anxiety. Last year, we were both worried about our classes as we prepped for the end of the year exam. Now that our magic is safe, that fear is gone, but a new one has taken its place. And this one is worse.
Why does my grandma want me to meet her? Is it some trick to feed the beast? Would she actually allow the thing to eat me, her own flesh and blood?
And as crazy as the whole situation is, the fact that my grandma, who my grandpa and dad swear died, is alive as some dark Sorcerer is nearly too much for me to believe. And that’s saying something. A lot of unbelievable things have happened to me since boarding the boat to Wicklow last fall. But this tops them all.
Classes fall into a groove as we finish our first week back. They’ve been the only thing distracting me. As I’m leaving sixth period Defensive Spells, Elaine walks next to me.
“Are you excited for tonight?” she asks.
I stop in the hallway, earning some annoyed looks as the people behind me walk around us. “Tonight?”
“Your grandpa’s party.” Elaine glares at someone who curses at me.
“Oh, that’s tonight? I thought it was next week.” Well, shit. I’ve been so consumed by the apprehension of going into the woods again, I completely spaced.
“He’s sending a car to pick us up at six-thirty.”
“That’s right. I guess I better go pick out a dress.”
We walk side-by-side, but instead of turning toward the second-year girls’ hallway like Elaine, I turn left to the guys’ side.
The last thing I want is to be the fifth wheel again. I’m not sure if Kaz was invited this time, but the last party at Lucas’s ended up being two couples plus lonely me.
And this is the perfect chance to try to repair some of the damage I’ve created with Zane.
I’m about to knock on his door when I hear him call my name from the front of the hallway.
“Looking for me?” He grins as he hobbles toward me with crutches.
“What happened?”
Callum is next to him as they make their way to me.
“Sixth-period dueling didn’t go so well.” Zane laughs. “I jumped on a desk to dodge an immobilizing spell and when I jumped back down, my foot landed on someone’s backpack and my ankle rolled.”
“Can’t the Healers fix it?” I think back to before last semester when Zane and I snuck to my guest house on New Years and I hurt my ankle. He’d been so sweet and gentleman-like as he cared for my injury.
“They gave me a potion to take that will accelerate the healing, but I didn’t want to stay the night in the healing wing while it did its thing, so I’m going to take it when I’m in my room for the night.” He pulls a vial with blue liquid out of his pocket. “Everything okay with you?”
“Yeah, I was just going to see if you wanted to be my companion,” I’m careful not to use the word date, “to a party Luc—I mean, my grandpa is hosting for his campaign.”
The corner of Zane’s mouth curves slightly on one side into a sad half-smile. “I don’t think I’d be much of a date in my condition.” His mouth doesn’t move, but playfulness flickers in his eyes. He knows my word choice was purposeful. Because he knows me better than anyone else. “Callum and I were going to go shoot some hoops in the gym tonight, but it looks like I’m gonna have to ditch him, so maybe you’d be kind enough to invite him instead.”
I do my best not to change my expression. “Would you be interested in being my companion?” I make sure there is no mistaking my invite as a date.
Callum glances at Zane’s ankle then meets my gaze. “Well, sure.”
“Meet me at the front door at 6:25. If you’re late, we’ll leave without you.” Suddenly, bitch-mode has taken over my body like someone switched a setting in my mind. I’m not sure why I’m not acting normal. It isn’t like it was my idea to invite him, so she shouldn’t take it as something it isn’t.
And even if Zane had agreed, it wouldn’t have been a date then. So why am I worried Callum will think it is now?
“I’ll be there at 6:20 just to be safe.”
With that, I excuse myself and head straight to my room. Since I had the days mixed up, I haven’t even given a single thought to what I should wear. From what Lucas said, it’s a black-tie event to schmooze with different donors and supporters of his campaign. The letter he sent—because apparently, texting isn’t formal enough for the Sorcery President—asked us to attend as his guests of honor. It claimed he’d be able to introduce us to some important people in the Sorcery world, which, of course, is all it took Beck to agree. That doesn’t excite me, but the end of the letter promised free food and drinks and reminded us how excited Lucas is to get to know us—his only grandchildren who he’s already missed out so much on—better.
I pull out three black dresses, choosing one with an off the shoulder, long sleeve look. A sexy V slit shows just a little cleavage, but not enough to be inappropriate. The dress is snug, outlining the shape of my hips, but almost reaches my knee so it isn’t too scandalous.
Once the dress is on, I pull my hair into a partial updo, then apply my makeup. When I’m done, smoky shadow covers my eyelids, accentuated by black eyeliner and mascara. I choose a neutral lip color to finish the look. One spin in front of the mirror at 6:15 then I slip on some simple strappy heels and head to the academy’s main entrance.
When I get there, Beck and Elaine are too busy teasing each other to notice me approach, but Callum doesn’t hide his gape.
“Damn,” he says as I reach them. “You look stunning.” The way he says the word surprises me. I expected something like hot or sexy to come from his lips, but not the sincere tone the word stunning held.
Elaine hears him and sp
ins around. “Wow, Wren. That dress is amazing.”
She’s chosen a black dress too, but hers covers her chest and cinches at her waist before poofing out in a flowy skirt.
Beck glances at me but doesn’t comment. He glances at his watch, a gift from Lucas that I swear he never takes off. “They should be pulling up any minute.”
Elaine’s attention returns to my brother as she adjusts his tie.
I step toward Callum. He’s chosen a black suit with a black undershirt and a white tie. This suit fits him better than the one he wore to the Mystics party.
“I’m going to have the hottest date at the party,” he says.
“Companion,” I correct him, nerves bouncing around my stomach.
“That’s right. Companion.”
Soon, the car arrives and we’re on our way to Coast Harbor. Since I never let Lucas know I was bringing a date, he sent a five-passenger car instead of the limo he sent last time. Beck volunteers to sit in the front, leaving me in the middle between Elaine and Callum.
Elaine keeps close to the door, but Callum’s body and leg are pressed against mine. I could ask him to scoot over, but our proximity sends a spark of excitement through me.
Besides Beck asking the driver random questions about what it’s like to work for Lucas, the rest of us stay quiet. Elaine stares out the window as the forest passes by us at 60 miles per hour. A never-ending pink sky floats above the trees, some of which have just begun their transition to autumn.
As hard as I try to focus on the scenery, every few minutes my eyes wander toward Callum. The first time, he catches me and grins. The second, he’s reading something on his phone. And the third, he’s looking out the window as we pull in front of Lucas’s house.
I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.
The driver gets out and opens the door on Elaine’s side.
Callum opens his own and steps out. Since his side is closest to the house, I follow him.
When he’s out of the car and standing, he turns and reaches out a hand to me.
I take it and let him help me up.
We follow Beck and Elaine, whose hands are locked, up the stairs and into the mansion that is Lucas’s home. One of them, that is.
A man dressed in a suit leads us to the same room the party was in before.
People lost in conversation, glasses of champagne raised in their hands, are spread across the room. They all don fancy dresses and suits, likely worth thousands of dollars each, and jewelry worth many times more. It’s no wonder Lucas invited them. Rich guests equal large donations.
Wide-plank, perfectly-polished wood floors rest beneath our feet as crystal chandeliers hang from above. Large art pieces sit in black frames, scattered strategically across the walls. I wonder if Lucas’ taste in art is as expensive as Mom’s.
“A bit much, right?” I say, feeling awkward all of a sudden as Callum takes in the room around me.
“It’s nice,” he says. “Pretty much what I’d expect from someone so wealthy.”
There isn’t judgment in his tone, but something coats his words. Envy, maybe?
Lucas stands a few feet away, talking to an older couple. When he notices us, he excuses himself and comes our way.
“Welcome,” he says. “I’m so happy you’re all here.”
He shakes Beck’s hand then hugs Elaine before turning toward Callum and me.
“I didn’t know you were bringing a guest,” Lucas says as he extends his hand.
Callum shakes it. “Callum Wright, sir. Wren’s classmate and companion for the night.”
“The transfer from Carmichael, right?”
Callum swallows. “Yes.”
“I read your folder after you were selected. Very impressive.”
“Thank you.” Callum nods.
Lucas leans in and hugs me. “I’m glad to see you making good friends.”
“I don’t know if I’d call us friends,” I say as I pull away.
Callum shakes his head with a laugh.
“Please help yourself to food and refreshments, and I’ll be back in a while to introduce you to a few people I’d like you to meet.” Lucas moves toward the door to greet the older couple who just arrived.
“Elaine and I are going to go find something to eat,” Beck says.
“We’ll catch up in a bit,” I say. Once they’re gone, I locate the closest bar which is in the back of the room. “Thirsty?”
“Parched,” Callum jokes.
Once we each have glasses of white wine, we settle in the corner of the room.
“I used to dream about coming to parties like this,” Callum says. “Full of important people with all the right connections.”
“Used to?” I take a sip.
“I went from longing to belong to this world to wishing it didn’t exist.” His voice is low. “When the Shades found me, I was the epitome of a stereotypical Mystic Master. Cunning, ambitious, capable. At first, I thought their ideas were absurd. What kind of world would exist without the elite there to keep things going? But the more I thought about it, the more I saw the poison in the system.”
“And now?” I’m not sure I want a real answer. I’ve covered for him for months now. If he tells me he wants to rejoin the Shades and destroy this world, what will I do? Turning him in will land me in epic trouble. But how could I sleep at night if I were to know his intentions were dangerous?
“Now, I see their world vision is just as terrible.”
A group of people settles next to us, chatting about a charity event one of them is hosting next month.
“I can’t see any other option but to invite her,” a man says. His salt-and-pepper hair is cut short and thinning at the crown.
“Would she dare show her face?” an older woman with pushed-up and clearly-fake cleavage asks.
“After what she did to Tim, I can’t imagine she would.” The guy pulls a flask out from his pocket and sips.
I catch Beck waving at me from the front of the room.
“Guess we’re being summoned,” I say.
Callum and I make our way through the filling room to Beck and Elaine.
“Grandpa is about to speak,” Beck says.
Lucas steps onto a small platform no more than three feet by three feet and a foot tall. As soon as both his feet have planted onto the dark wood, it begins to float into the air until he hovers ten feet above the ground.
“I’d like to thank you all for attending tonight’s event. It is my honor to have all of you in my home. You are the reason I take my job as President so seriously and why I’m determined to win the reelection and continue to keep our world safe from those who want to harm it.” He pauses and scans the crowd. Finally, his eyes settle on me. “And now, the fate of our people is more important to me than ever. Tonight, my two outstanding grandchildren are here to offer their support for my campaign.”
The crowd falls into a collective murmur as people look in the direction of Lucas’s gaze. The people in our area all stare at us, whispering to each other like we are some sort of spectacle.
“I heard his relationship with his only son is estranged,” the woman behind me says.
“After the whole situation with his wife, I’m not surprised,” another woman retorts.
I turn around and narrow my eyes into what I hope is the coldest glare they’ve ever seen.
I’m about to say something when Callum rests his hand on my back.
“They aren’t worth it,” he says.
“Please enjoy unlimited refreshments and mingle amongst each other,” Lucas says. “For those interested in donating to the campaign, a table has been set up in the back corner of the room with more information.” He gives a bow and then the platform glides back to the ground.
He comes over and thanks us again for attending the party, then excuses himself to make his way around the room.
Elaine convinces Beck to go dance, leaving Callum and me alone again.
“C’mon,” I say, then lea
d us to the bar. After we each down a fresh glass of wine, we leave the party and sneak away to the library.
Walnut bookshelves line the entire room, extending all the way up the twenty-foot ceiling. Three sliding ladders are connected to a rail and dispersed around the room. I’m no bookworm like Olivia, but I’ve always loved the feeling of being in a library.
I grab a book from a shelf by the room’s double-doors. “I found this room last time I was here.” It’s a first edition of Pride and Prejudice. Olivia would be so jealous.
Callum spins around slowly. “I’ve never seen such a huge personal library.”
“Me either,” I say. “And I’ve been to a lot of wealthy houses.” My mouth snaps shut as I regret my words. Bragging about knowing rich people probably isn’t the best thing to do in front of Callum.
“I don’t blame you for growing up in a family with money.” He walks next to me and grabs another book. “I don’t blame anyone for it.”
“Then why did you join them?” In the off chance anyone can overhear us, I keep my words discreet.
“I’ve always had to work so hard for everything I’ve ever gotten. So, when someone told me that they had a plan to help people like me, I wanted it to be true. I didn’t ask enough questions.” He sticks the book back and turns toward me. “I regret it. Knowing my mistakes affected people who didn’t deserve it eats at me. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I would do everything differently if I could.”
This isn’t the first time he’s made such a claim. But how am I supposed to know what he really thinks? What if this is all some ploy to get close to me? “How do I know I can trust you?”
His new eyes, darker than those in his born body, lock onto mine, searching deep into my soul. “I can’t promise to be perfect or always know the right thing to do. But I’m never going to lie to you again. That’s all I can assure you of.”
Callum places his hand on my hip, never taking his gaze away from mine. He pauses, and slowly, leans in, giving me every chance to stop him.
I should. Growing any more attached to him than I already have is such a bad idea. When his lips are an inch from mine, he lingers.