Spellbooks and Stakings

by Lily Webb

  “So what did you do?”

  “I swiped a piece of her hair during Delia’s class one day when Phoebe was trying to corral the warlocks,” Aurelia said. She must’ve seen the confusion on my face because she laughed. “That’s right, you don’t always need blood, as misleading as the name of the magic is.”

  “And then you just walked right into Delia’s office to take what you wanted, but things didn’t go the way you planned, did they?” I asked. That must’ve been why she’d attacked Phoebe.

  “Exactly. The teacher’s pet couldn’t stand to be away from Delia for more than five minutes at a time, so of course she waltzed in while I was in the middle of taking care of business,” Aurelia said. “It didn’t take much. Just one quick thrust of a piece of wood and the next thing I knew, Delia was dust.”

  My blood turned cold.

  “But the real Phoebe interrupted, so you cursed her memory to make her forget what she’d seen,” I said.

  “Well done,” Aurelia said. It didn’t make me feel any better.

  “But how did you get out of the office without anyone seeing you? I got there seconds later,” I said, remembering the way I’d opened Delia’s office door only to have Phoebe come crashing out on top of me.

  “Easy. I hid in the office until everyone left, and when the coast was clear, I simply walked out as Aurelia and joined the rest of the students,” Aurelia said.

  “That’s how you knew I had the book,” I said, comprehension dawning.

  “And how I knew you’d bring it right back to me eventually,” Aurelia said. She spun her wand between her fingers and with a flick of it, Seth’s book drifted out of my bag into her hands. She leafed through the pages, though I wasn’t sure what she was looking for.

  “I still don’t understand why you killed Seth,” I said.

  “Technically, I didn’t,” Aurelia said. “He took care of that himself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This book isn’t like any I’ve ever seen. When Professor Grimm gave it to Seth, I had a suspicion it was dangerous, so rather than feed it my own blood to activate it, I forced Seth to do it,” Aurelia said.

  So the book had drained him after all — or Aurelia had, depending on how I wanted to look at it. Either way, it was horrifying.

  “Because you knew it would eventually consume him and leave one less loose end dangling,” I said.

  “Check out the brains on Zoe,” Aurelia said.

  “Was that why he was angry the night he died? He didn’t want to play your little game anymore, but you forced him?” I asked.

  Now it all made sense. They were never dating, not really. Aurelia buddied up to Seth and made him give more of himself to the book, despite Seth’s reservations, and thanks to all the dirt Aurelia had on him after their courtship, Seth had no choice.

  “Something like that,” Aurelia said. “Anyway, you’re boring me with all this talk. Let me show you one of the other tricks I’ve learned lately. Interficio!” Aurelia shouted as she jabbed her wand at me.

  I closed my eyes and threw my arms up in front of my face as a blinding light rocketed toward me — but nothing happened. When I re-opened my eyes, I found the same magical protective barrier that’d kept me safe from vampire attacks surrounding me, Mallory, and Phoebe.

  “What?” Aurelia asked, staring at me with her mouth open. “You should be dead!”

  “Witch, please,” I said and blasted her with a wave of psychic magic from my hands.

  Aurelia parried the spell with her wand. It ricocheted into the wall behind me, leaving a massive hole in the plaster and filling the room with the sound of shouting from the ground below as the rubble crashed down.

  Hopefully, it would draw the police and the hospital’s attention because Aurelia was right — I was no match for her.

  “If I can’t kill you outright, let’s see if you can fly instead,” Aurelia said, smiling. “Iacto!” she shouted, and a burst of air hit me like a speeding car. I flew backward through the hole in the wall, and the roar of the wind in my ears drowned everything else out as I fell — until I jerked to a stop in mid-air.

  I rolled over and almost started crying when I saw Raina on broomstick hovering under me, her long robes and auburn hair billowing in the wind. Police cars and what looked like gargoyles were gathered below us. I’d never seen a better sight.

  Raina pulled me closer with her wand until I was safely mounted on the back of her broom. It certainly wasn’t how I thought my first time flying on a broom would be, and though I had no idea how Raina knew to come to my rescue, of all people, I was glad it was her.

  “What’s going on up there?” Raina asked.

  “Aurelia’s going to kill Phoebe and Mallory! I don’t have time to explain, but we have to stop her. Hurry!” I shouted. Raina signaled to the people on the ground, and within seconds the air was filled with the sound of flapping gargoyle wings as they took flight. They soared past us as Raina lurched forward on her broom and we shot through the air to Phoebe’s room behind them.

  Inside, the gargoyles had already surrounded Phoebe and Mallory, deflecting Aurelia’s manically-casted spells with their tough hides and wings. Raina zoomed around the spells as they bounced away until she saw an opening and shoved the handle of the broom forward. We charged into the room just as Aurelia raised her wand to cast another spell.

  “Dearmo!” Raina shouted, stabbing her wand at Aurelia. She tumbled backward and slammed into the door as her wand bounced away from her.

  “Ligo!” Raina said while Aurelia was stunned, and ropes appeared around Aurelia’s feet. She screamed her rage as the ropes snaked their way up her body until they covered even her mouth, making her look like a mummy.

  But at least Aurelia was incapacitated, and my friends were safe. Without her wand, and with Raina and the gargoyles there, I doubted I needed to worry about Aurelia anymore — and I had a feeling that was going to be true at school going forward.

  “I can’t believe this,” Raina said. Her face was a mixture of disbelief and horror. It couldn’t have been easy to accept that one of her most promising students had turned out to be one of the most dangerous as well.

  “Nolan was one thing, but you too, Aurelia?” Reina asked. Aurelia mumbled something incoherent and squirmed against the ropes that bound her. “Are you okay, Zoe?”

  “As okay as I can be,” I said. “Turns out I can’t fly without a broom.” Raina smiled despite the situation. “How did you know to come after me?”

  “I didn’t until a hole appeared in Willowvale’s front,” Raina said, her eyes twinkling.

  “It was her,” I said, pointing at Aurelia.

  “I don’t doubt it. And what about you?” Raina asked Mallory, who had just started to stir back to consciousness. Mallory rubbed the back of her head.

  “I think this is gonna hurt tomorrow, but I’ll survive,” Mallory said as one of the gargoyles helped her off the floor.

  Seconds later, pounding on the door echoed through the room. I stepped around Aurelia — and thought better of giving her a firm kick — to let them in. Mueller and Barrett came crashing into the room, both of them bewildered.

  Mueller looked from the hole in the wall to me and back again, his brows furrowed. It made him look more like a hound than he already did.

  “There’s never a dull day with you in town, is there?” Mueller asked.

  “Hey, don’t blame me. I’m not the one murdering people,” I said, glaring down at Aurelia. Mueller hoisted her up by one of her bound elbows.

  “I should’ve known this witch would be trouble. The overly-ambitious ones always are,” Mueller said, and I didn’t miss him staring at me as he said it. “Zoe, you know the drill. You’re coming with us to the station to answer some questions.”

  “Okay, but what about Phoebe?” I asked as I reached for her hand again.

  “We’ll transfer her to another room and make sure she’s watched at all times by the best guards we can hire unt
il she’s well again,” Raina said. “You have my word.”

  Thank you, Zoe, Phoebe’s voice echoed in my mind, and I jolted.

  Phoebe stared at me with her wide eyes, but I knew she was going to be okay. It might take time to undo all the effects of whatever dark curse Aurelia had put on Phoebe, but now that we had Aurelia in custody for questioning, we’d find out what it was and how to reverse it.

  Of course, I projected and squeezed Phoebe’s hand. It was slight, but a smile appeared in the corners of her mouth.

  “Maybe now we can get Veilside back to normal,” Raina sighed as she dusted off her robes.

  “Normal?” I asked, incredulous. Raina chuckled.

  “Okay, as normal for a magical university as possible,” Raina said. “Once again, we owe it to you, Zoe.”

  “I had some help along the way,” I said, jabbing my thumb over my shoulder at Mallory.

  “You better believe she did,” Mallory said.

  “And you’ll both be rewarded handsomely for it, make no mistake,” Raina said. “Speaking of, I think this calls for a wand ceremony.”

  My heart felt like it might burst.

  Chapter Twenty

  A week later, Veilside was ready to reopen — and my wand ceremony was the first event.

  “You seem nervous,” Flora said as we ate another of her delicious breakfasts, boiled potatoes with dill and baked beans.

  “I am. I have no idea what to expect for this,” I said. Luna hopped up into my lap to sniff at the food.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked as I scratched the back of her head.

  “Giving you the comfort and support I know you need,” Luna said as she batted at one of the potatoes.

  “Yeah, right. Get down,” I said and picked her up to set her on the floor.

  “You’ll be fine, you always are. Besides, from what I know, a wand ceremony is an exciting time. You don’t need to pass any tests, so there’s nothing to be nervous about,” Flora said.

  “That’s easy for you to say,” I sighed. “You aren’t the one carrying a huge reputation and an even larger set of expectations. Don’t forget, everyone else has to take a test to get a wand.”

  “True,” Flora said. “But I think you’ve proven yourself more than worthy. If anyone has any problems with you now, it’s their issue, not yours.”

  “I hope so,” I said. “I want to tell my grandma about it, but after the way our last conversation about magic went, I’m not sure I should.”

  “What’s the worst that could happen? I’m sure she’d like to know what’s going on with you, even if it isn’t something she fully understands,” Flora said.

  “Good point,” I said.

  “You might as well get it over with now,” Luna said. “You’ll pay later if you don’t.”

  “You’re right,” I sighed. I finished my breakfast in silence, dreading the phone call. How was I supposed to tell her I’d solved a couple more murder cases and that I was going to be honored by being given a magic wand?

  After Flora cleared the table, I retreated into my room with my cell phone. Luna was on my heels, not about to miss out on the drama. I flopped down onto my bed, and Luna jumped up to sit next to me. I dialed Grandma Elle’s number, but couldn’t bring myself to press “call.”

  “Do it,” Luna ordered.

  “Pushy much?”

  “Cowardly much?” Luna fired back. Savage.

  “Fine,” I said and pressed the button before holding the phone to my ears. It rang several times without an answer, which wasn’t unusual for Grandma Elle. Finally, she picked up in a clatter like she’d almost dropped the phone.

  “Hello?” Grandma asked, and I smiled at the sound of her voice.

  “Hi, Gram. It’s Zoe,” I said.

  “And here I thought you’d done been killed,” Grandma said, and I laughed — I couldn’t help it. Something about her sense of humor always got to me.

  “Not quite,” I said.

  “What?!” Grandma shouted. Were we already starting?

  “Relax, I’m okay,” I said.

  “Nearly gettin’ yourself killed doesn’t scream ‘okay’ to me,” Gram said.

  “Fair enough, but that’s not why I called,” I said.

  “Then why in tarnation did ya?”

  “I have something special I want to tell you, but you have to promise not to freak out first,” I said.

  “I reckon that depends on what you’re fixin’ to tell me,” Gram said. “Go on, spit it out then.”

  “I’m getting an award,” I said.

  “Oh, Lord above, you made it sound like it was somethin’ much more dark than that,” Gram said. “What’s the award and what are they givin’ it to you fer?”

  I hesitated. This was it; the moment of truth.

  “For solving another couple of murder cases,” I said. The line went utterly silent, and I worried I’d finally done Gram in — until she cleared her throat.

  “Well, I reckon that’s good, ain’t it?” she asked.

  “Yeah, it is. A student and a teacher at the school I started at recently were killed and to reward me for figuring out who did it, the school’s going to give me my own wand,” I rushed, hoping if I spoke quickly enough Gram would gloss over the gravity of what I’d said.

  “A wand, huh? You mean for casting spells and whatnot?” Gram asked.

  “Yeah, exactly. Most people have to pass a lot of tests before they’re given one because they can be so dangerous, but because of my service to the town and the school, they’re letting me skip the tests,” I said.

  “Well, hot cross buns,” Gram said, and I heard the smile in her voice. “When is it? Maybe I should make a trip out there.”

  “Too late. It’s in about an hour,” I said.

  “Oh, bless your heart. Are you nervous, Sugar?” Gram asked.

  “Not now that I’m talking to you about it,” I said, smiling. “Are you serious about wanting to visit though?”

  “You’re darn-tootin' I am,” Gram said.

  “Even with all the ungodly stuff in this town?” I asked.

  “Are you pullin’ my leg? That’s exactly why I wanna come! Besides, as long as I keep my faith, can’t no Pagan nab me,” Gram said.

  I bit back a laugh. I didn’t understand for the life of me why she was so fixated on the peaceful Pagans, but then again, I didn’t understand a lot of things about her.

  “When do you think you could make a trip? I’ll have to get it approved. Moon Grove doesn’t allow non-magical folks generally,” I said.

  “Whenever, Sugar. You tell me when to come, and I’ll get my tush there one way or another,” Gram said. My heart skipped a beat. It’d been a month since the last time I saw Gram, and I couldn’t believe how much I missed her in such a short time.

  “They might not allow it. I’ll have to ask,” I said.

  “They let you in, didn’t they? I don’t see how we’re all that different. Fer all you know, I could be just as magical as you,” Gram said.

  It wasn’t the first time the thought had occurred to me. What if Grandma Elle had magic in her blood this whole time and just never knew it? The only way to find out would be to bring her to Moon Grove.

  I just hoped the Council would agree — but given the number of favors I’d done them, I couldn’t see any way they wouldn’t. They owed me big time.

  “Yeah, you could,” I agreed.

  “Lemme know what they say. Now I’m all a-twitter,” Gram said. Somehow, I doubted she’d feel the same way if and when she got here.

  “I will,” I said. “Anyway, I’d better let you go. I need to get ready for the ceremony.”

  “Cast ‘em dead, Sugar. Make Granny proud” Gram said.

  “You know I will,” I said.

  “See you soon,” Gram said.

  “Yeah, see you soon,” I said and hung up.

  “See? Was that so bad?” Luna asked.

  “Surprisingly, no. Not at all,” I said.
>
  “I think your grandma’s more open-minded than you give her credit for,” Luna said.

  “I think so too,” I said.

  “All right, now get dressed. We’ve got a ceremony to slay!”

  “Poor choice of words,” I said, and Luna smiled at me with her shockingly blue eyes.

  “Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, what are you gonna wear?”

  “I dunno. I don’t want to be too formal, but I also don’t want to look tasteless,” I said.

  “Girl, you’re from a farm. Don’t let your new fame go to your head,” Luna said, and I laughed.

  “Fair enough. I guess I’ll just wear something simple,” I said as I rolled off the bed and went to my closet. “I’m going to be the only one people are looking at up there anyway, so why draw more attention to myself?”

  “Exactly,” Luna said. “What about this?” she asked, standing on her hind legs to point at one of the most basic dresses I’d brought along with me — a form-fitting blue and shouldered skirt.

  “That’s as good as anything,” I said and pulled it off the wrack.

  “Is Beau walking you to the ceremony?” Luna asked.

  “Of course,” I said, smiling. “After the way I ran out on our last date, I owe him a makeup.”

  “Ugh, you two,” Luna groaned.

  “Don’t hate me cuz you ain’t me,” I said as I got undressed and unzipped the dress to step into it.

  “Please,” Luna said.

  A knock on my bedroom door startled me.

  “Zoe? It’s Flora. Beau’s waiting for you in the living room,” I said.

  “All right, give me a few more minutes,” I said with my heart racing.

  “Sure thing,” Flora said, and I listened to her footsteps echoing away down the hall.

  With some difficulty, I zipped the back of the dress up in the mirror and slipped into the best-matching pair of heels I had. My hair was a ball of fuzz, but I didn’t have time to fix it now. The look wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.

  I straightened the wrinkles in the front of the dress and stepped out into the living room. Beau beamed from the couch, the same way he did every time he saw me.