by A Lonergan
“What about your parents?” She picked up all the other dresses but the green one and put them away.
When she came back, I gave her a severe look. “I don’t know who my parents are. I’ve been in foster care for as long as I can remember.”
She probably sensed my discomfort and stopped talking. She held up the dress and took it off its hanger. She pushed me into the closet to change.
The dress was beautiful on me. It complimented my porcelain skin tone and my soft reddish-blonde hair. It was always different. It either looked strawberry blonde or fiery red. It changed on a whim, I had always chalked it up to be my imagination. I looked down at my magi, and things started to make more sense. When I pushed the closet door open, I came face to face with Sterling. I made sure my face was blank of all emotion.
I didn’t need his judgment ass in my life. He was taking his clothes from Ayre with a nasty look on his face but when he turned to me… it changed. He looked surprised.
“Yeah, I know, I clean up nice.” I didn’t give him the opportunity to reply and instantly started talking to Ayre. “I’m supposed to be meeting the coven today?”
She smacked her palm to her forehead. “I completely forgot and should have gotten you up earlier. Everyone has left for the day, but that means that we have time to get breakfast and really search for your car!”
She jumped up and down like it was the best thing in the world to have to go out into the Louisiana heat.
Sterling face had so much lack of interest when he spoke. “She’ll do anything to get out of the compound. This is going to be the best day ever!” He rolled his eyes before making his exit.
Chapter Five
Sterling
She was different.
I could see it in the way she held herself and the way she spoke, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. She didn’t act like all the witches around here. I knew she was new to all of this, but even the humans around New Orleans worked a certain way. There was something there, and I would be damned if I didn’t try to figure it out.
By the time they had made it back, I had already gone through her empty leather sack. I had found the dragon egg, though I wasn’t sure why my sister had let her get it with her magi. The witches on bourbon rubbed me the wrong way with their dumb creatures, especially the ‘dragon eggs’ they sold there. There were many things that existed, but dragons weren’t one of them.
I heard the massive iron doors slam closed, and I didn’t bother with covering my tracks. I tossed Freya's leather sack onto the bed and took my time exiting my bedroom. The new girl and my sister were carrying a few bags, and I wondered if shopping had been in the cards. Since the backs were cheap and falling apart, I doubted that they had. I could hear the new girl's voice echoing around the courtyard.
“I didn’t realize we were in Jackson Square. How is this even possible?” I rolled my eyes at her even though she couldn’t see me. Couldn’t she put the pieces together already? Magic.
Ayre giggled at her nativity, but I couldn’t hear what she said back. When they made it up the steps, and I could see them making their way toward me, I leaned casually in the doorway.
“Have a fun time?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
Newbie ignored me, and Ayre beamed. “Oh yes! You should see her little car, it is very quaint.”
“Didn’t have a good time, Newbie?” She whipped around so fast, I thought her hair was going to kill me.
“For one, asshole, I have a name, and if you don't want a permeant nickname too, then I suggest you learn it, its Freya. Two, don’t speak to me ever.” She gave me such a harsh glare that I didn’t say anything. There was no need for a response. She passed me up in the doorway and put her shoulder in my ribs, and it actually hurt.
“You can’t stay in here again. I need my stuff, and I'm not about to do what I did last night again.” I could have slapped myself. Dammit.
“Excuse me?” She whipped around again. Her eyes got big. “You came in here last night while I slept.” Her face got red as she looked down at her chest in horror.
“I didn’t see anything, you were sleeping your stomach. Don’t freak out.” I rolled my eyes. Women were so dramatic.
“My real question is, how did you get in? I locked the doors!” Her eyes searched me for a magi, and when she didn’t find one, they narrowed.
Ayre smirked and marched past us both. She pushed the closet open and swept her hand forward. “I should have known he would stoop this low. He did this when he was a kid.” She parted my clothes and revealed the door there.
What happened next, I would have never predicted. Freya pulled her hand back and where I was preparing myself for a slap. She let her fist fly. I heard a crunch as it connected with my nose. My vision swam for a second as I touched the tender cartilage.
“Next time you feel the need to peep on me, I’ll damage something much more valuable.” She kicked her foot up just a few inches from my crotch. I stepped away from my room in horror. I had never met such a feisty woman, besides my sister. But then again, she was a redhead.
Chapter Six
Freya
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my erratic heart rate. I had never felt so furious! I picked the pillow up from the bed and let out a shriek into its feathery contents. By the time I was done, I didn’t feel any better, in fact, I felt worse and now had a headache. I pushed my hair from my face and worked hard to calm my nerves, again.
I had never had a temper like this before. I had never felt like I couldn’t control myself before. I had usually been level-headed my entire life. I was the calm one in the group homes that kept everyone together and sane. This wasn’t like me. I clenched my fists in front of me and started to shake.
What was happening to me?
I let out a scream as lightning burst from my fingers. The drapes across the room caught on fire, and that was enough to cool me down. I ran to the curtains and stomped on them, putting the small flames out.
Sparks tingled on my fingertips and rage lit up in my heart once again. I couldn’t control it. A knock at the door simmered me down. I tucked my electric hands into the pockets on my dress and plastered a smile on my face. If there was something that I was good at; it was putting a fake smile on my face. I had had enough practice throughout the years.
Ayre pushed the door open and gave me a curious glance before looking at my feet. Shoot! I had forgotten about the burnt fabric there. I kicked it away from me, all while smiling suspiciously.
“You can’t hide the fact that you just used magic in here. It stinks of rage and burnt fabric.” She cocked an eyebrow at me.
“I’m not sure what you are talking about.” I continued to push the fabric with my foot. I couldn’t stop incriminating myself, apparently. Ugh.
“ Magic leaves behind a particular smell. It is coating the room. And if that didn’t give it away, the burnt curtains certainly did.” Ayre crossed her arms over her chest.
“ I don’t know what’s going on with me. I couldn’t control it.” Then I realized I was still wearing the magi. I wrapped my fingers around it and tried to pry it off. It wasn’t budging. It was almost as if it was embedded into my skin, connected down to the bone.
“I wouldn’t try that if I were you.” Ayre shook her head and leaned against the wall, observing me.
“Why not?” I asked, getting angry once again.
“Your magi is apart of you now. You can’t just take it off. Your magic calls to it and holds it in place. I’ve never heard of someone being able to remove theirs, and the stories that I have heard weren’t good ones.”
“What’s the worst thing that could happen?” I shrugged my shoulders, trying to fake that I wasn’t afraid of ripping the thing from my arm even though I was terrified.
“It could rip your magic from your soul.” She frowned at me. “Ya know, no big deal, at all.” She rolled her eyes at me.
That did frighten me and before I could reply she grabbed my hand
and pulled me from my thoughts and the room. “Emotions fuel our magic. I wish I could tell you that it would get easier but unfortunately, it won’t.” She led me out of the courtyard and straight into a festival.
This was the New Orleans I loved. The families and all the vendors in the streets. The smell of coffee and beignets floated around me.
An older gentleman with chocolate colored skin played saxophone on the street corner while people crowded around him. He leaned forward then back, completely lost in his own music. When we had left the compound earlier that morning, the streets had been empty and Barron. Now they were full of life and love. People of all shapes and nationalities took pictures and spoke excitedly in different languages,
The sun was hidden behind gray clouds and offered relief from the usual Southern heat. Cafe Du Monde was bustling like usual in front of us and my mouth watered at the thought of their pastries. Ayre motioned me forward and grabbed a table quickly. Usually, the line was down the street, but this morning, there were few people waiting. Ayre winked at me and wiggled her fingers. The people that had been standing in line looked up confused and left altogether. Ayre got up and got our order placed, and within minutes she had a mountain of powdery pastry goodness sitting in front of me.
“Food always helps me feel better.” I couldn’t have agreed more.
I carefully picked up a beignet and tried to not spill the sugar everywhere. Just as I was about to take a generous bite, Sterling slipped into the seat across from me and gave me a cocky grin. I inhaled suddenly, and the sugary goodness shot up my nose and all over my face. I placed the beignet down hastily all while coughing uncontrollably. Sterling rolled his eyes and Ayre waved her hand in front of my nose. “Avai!”
My coughing stopped and my nose cleared. Ayre gave Sterling a death glare. “Perfect timing…”
Speaking of perfect timing. My nose started to run, and I hastily whipped at it until I noticed the color on my fingers.
Red.
I watched in horror as it dripped into the mountain of white sugar. Sterling scowled, and Ayre gave me a frightened glance. I grabbed a handful of napkins and tried to soak up the blood coming from my nose.
“That’s nasty, what's wrong with you?” Sterling snorted.
I shook my head. I didn’t know what was happening to me. The more I focused on it, the more blood flowed. I needed to concentrate on anything but my ailment.
“Something isn’t right.” Ayre waved her hand in front of my face and muttered incantations. Nothing worked. “This is magic-induced. I can’t stop it.”
Sterling's face went serious then as he looked around us. The streets had cleared, and the music had stopped. Which was very unlike New Orleans. After a few minutes of us looking around, the sky grew dark as the clouds covered the sun. Laughing started in the distance and echoed off of all the buildings around us.
“Do you think you could escape us just by befriending some little witches?” At the woman’s voice, I watched as Sterlings fingers lit up in an orange flame. I stood there transfixed. Then almost as if it were on cue, Ayre’s fingers did the same, but instead of fire or lightning like mine, hers was a rainbow of different colors, jumping between her hands. It looked like small bolts of energy surging around her body.
Sterling looked at my shocked face and smirked. “She’s the high priestesses daughter, her magic is ancient and powerful.”
“But you are her son?” I stayed alert, turning about, looking for the woman coming for me.
“It’s not the same.” He winked before he went flying backward close to the statue of General Jackson.
“Little girl, we have searched high and low, and here you finally are!” The woman came into view than with her hands raised high above her head. She was the woman that had chased me throughout the hotel. Her hair flew around her head in a halo, and the wind picked up around us. Ayre shoved her hands to her sides, and her eyes lit up. She was ready to take on anything.
Me? Not so much.
I tapped on my magi, hoping that it would kick start something. Where was the magic when I actually needed it? My magi had wasted precious magic and energy on the stupid drapes instead of saving up for this psycho.
“Your mother has been waiting for you to come back to New Orleans. It’s been years, and finally, your magic is developed enough for us to sense you.” Speaking of psycho...
Ayre gave me a confused look. I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t have a mom. Never have.”
“Sariah will be pleased to have you back. She’s been needing your magic for some time.” There they were with that name again. The woman took a few steps forward, and I took a few back. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Sterling creeping along the side of a building.
“I don’t know who Sariah is! I don’t have a mom, and I’m tired of all these new things happening in my life!” Anger built up inside of me and one minute the crazy lady was smiling at me like a lunatic and the next a lightning bolt dropped from the sky and burnt her to ashes. Sterling fell back in shock, just a few feet away from the result of my anger. He scrambled backward and gave me a look of horror.
Ayre’s eyes were wide. I wiped at my still bleeding nose and rubbed my magi affectionately. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I could dig it. Sterling approached us slowly then shook his head and turned away.
“That was incredible,” Ayre said as she took my hand.
“Thank you,” I replied, shocked and self-conscious.
It has been a very long time since I have seen power like that.” Ayre circled me slowly. “Are you sure you’ve never used magic before?”
“What a dumb question,” Sterling said as sat down in one of the iron chairs by Cafe Du Monde. “Like she could use magic without a magi. Her magic would rip through her and kill her. The magis are here for a reason. Don’t ever forget that.”
I looked down at my hands to find sparks jumping between my fingers. I closed my hands into fists and pressed them to my sides. Sterling was looking at me with newfound curiosity, and I didn’t blame him. I had enough interest for all of New Orleans.
Ayre gave me another handful of napkins and looked around the empty street. “We should probably get going.”
There were no complaints from me. An empty New Orleans was creepy enough, even in broad daylight.
Chapter Seven
Sterling
Her nose wouldn’t stop bleeding. No matter what we did or tried, it just wouldn’t stop. When we made it back to the compound, my mother rushed to her side. Her eyes got huge, and I knew she was on the verge of a freakout.
“You’re being tracked.” She said under her breath. “That’s why the bleeding won’t stop.” She looked to me with confusion. “What happened out there? You were supposed to be keeping watch!”
I scratched my forehead and shrugged. “How am I supposed to do that? The girl is a walking magnet for trouble. She hasn’t been a witch for more than a week, and she already has enemies!”
My mother looked around in wild panic. I wondered how she had ever gotten the title of High Priestess. She couldn’t handle anything that gave her a lot of stress.
Where was my father when I needed him?
I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. I was supposed to be enjoying my summer, not babysitting my sister's dumb friend. I seemed to have the best luck lately.
Not.
I pulled my magi from my breast pocket and checked the time. I was about to miss the music festival because my mom was erratic and couldn’t keep it together in a crisis and some new girl was dumped onto our front porch. I took a deep breath and focused my energy, well, I damn well desperately tried to. It was getting harder and harder to do so with my mother freaking out.
I put my hand on my chest, right above my magi and whispered, “levaí,” Orange energy pulsed and danced around my body. My magic moved and reacted differently than everyone else’s in the coven. My mother stopped her clucking and finally started to calm down. Exactly what I had
intended to happen with my magic. I was the only one that could get through her craze haze.
“I have places to be, please tell me that you can handle this till dad gets back.” I was getting more irritated as the seconds passed.
She glared at me. “Yes, I’m the High Priestess, not him. I am perfectly capable of handling all of this on my own.”
“Of course you are,” I said under my breath as I walked away. If she thought she could do anything then who was I to stop her? When I made it back to my sleeping quarters, I stripped down to my boxers and pulled on some old clothes. Khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, you didn’t wear anything nice to a paint festival.
For whatever reason, my magi had never been attached to my skin. I pulled it from my breast pocket on my suit, and it immediately formed into a long chain and the pocket watch shrunk to about the size of a quarter. A pocket watch magi were practically unheard of these days, but I loved the classic feel to it, and it helped pull my suits together. The magic in it just knew what to do. The only downside was, I couldn’t use magic without it. I had forgotten it once as a child, and the unfathomable migraine that had followed had made sure that I wouldn’t forget it again and I hadn’t. I had also been one of the youngest to receive their magi. Most witches didn’t receive theirs until the age of 8. Mine called to me when I was just turning 4. My parents had made sure that I always wore something dapper after that, making sure that I kept the role up with my pocket watch.
The style had eventually grown on me and I hardly ever changed, unless… A female friend invited me to a rave. I couldn’t say no to those, and it seemed as if my magi agreed. I stretched my arms above my head and felt the magic course through my veins. There was honestly nothing like it. I cracked my neck and slipped on some old vans.