A couple of days passed by, and we practiced our blood possession spell almost every evening. These classes were longer than our preschool courses, but far more intensive and with a lot more reading. The only good thing about this semester was the fact that we were able to skip our end of the class quizzes. Theodora had told each professor the quizzes weren’t necessary because the tasks she would be giving us were far more difficult than any class quiz imaginable, and far more important, considering the situation. I wasn’t worried, though, because as we studied together, we grew stronger as a coven, even if it was little by little. Each witch possessed her own special set of skills, and they honed these powers every day.
Faye was becoming exceptionally good at controlling woodland creatures. She seemed to harbor a talent for the natural elements, and I knew this would probably come in handy sometime in the near future. Akira was more talented when it came to painful hexes and spells, while Morgana, the diligent bookworm, continued to memorize every curse and hex she came across. She knew over three-hundred by heart already. Last but not least, we learned Vesta was becoming exceptionally skillful in the art of mind control.
As for me, well, I was pretty adept at everything, to the constant annoyance of my coven. But I was their master, and I’d already saved them on several occasions, so they really couldn’t say shit.
I knew that in no time, we would become even stronger than before. Together, we formed a powerful coven, one that would be difficult to defeat. At least that’s what I told myself every morning when I woke up and every night before I fell asleep.
This morning, though, we didn’t get off to a good start, and we were late for our next class.
We all ran through the corridors and sped past the paintings that shook their heads in disapproval. We were late because we were fucking exhausted, and each one of us had overslept.
“I can’t believe we’re late to our first Soul Magic class,” Morgana panted as we continued to run. “This is going to be so humiliating!”
“Only if you let it get to you,” I huffed. “I’m sure our professor will be understanding.”
“Professor Evanora?” Morgana scoffed and swiped a brown curl of hair from her eyes. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t count on it.”
“Yeah, I heard she’s a hard-ass.” Akira grinned as we skidded around a corner. “She might even be worse than Vanessa.”
“I find that hard to believe,” I muttered under my ragged breath.
We were almost there. At the end of the hall, I could see the door, which was shut, of course, and several moments later, we all stopped right in front of it and looked at one another.
We were trying to decide who should open the door first.
“Fine,” I snapped impatiently when no one made a move. “I’ll do it.”
I pushed the door open, and the first thing I saw was a woman with long, wavy pink hair. At first, she had her back turned to us, but when she spun around, I was caught off guard by her piercing green eyes and beautiful, angelic features. Her eyes were the color of emeralds, and they shone just as brightly. I’d never seen her before, though, which I thought was strange. Maybe she was new? Did they even hire new professors here?
“Ah.” The pink-haired woman grinned. “Cole, I presume? You and the rest of your posse are late.”
“Posse?” Morgana repeated under her breath, and the brunette was clearly offended.
“Well, go on, take your seats,” the beautiful professor demanded. “It’s a good thing today isn’t a quiz day. Otherwise, you all would have been sent to the stakes.”
I could practically hear my coven gulp in fear as we took our seats at a nearby empty desk. The walls of this classroom were painted black, and the desks were made out of cherry wood. There were no windows in this room, and it was massive and cold. At least fifty witches were seated at their respective desks, and they all glared at us for the late intrusion. I tried to ignore them and instead turned my attention to the red books placed at each seat. Strangely, they seemed to be vibrating violently on the desktop. I made a move to open the book in front of me, but then Vesta put a purple hand over mine.
“No,” she hissed. “Don’t open it yet.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because they’re charmed,” she explained. “Only a calming spell can soothe them.”
“You mean, they’re alive?” I asked with wide eyes. “That’s pretty fucking cool.”
“Not when your soul is being sucked dry through the pages,” Akira muttered. “Which is what would have happened if Vesta didn’t stop you.”
“Noted,” I said as I repressed a shudder and tried not to picture myself being soul drained by a textbook.
This school was insane.
“Now that everyone is finally present and ready to begin,” Professor Evanora said in a loud and commanding voice, “I’d like us to turn to page three-hundred-and-seventy-two. But first, you must recite the correct spell to safely open the book. Does anyone know what that is?”
Morgana’s hand shot up in the air, and she waved it around eagerly. I spotted two witches behind her roll their eyes, and then they whispered something to each other before they giggled viciously in her direction.
“Yes, Morgana?” Evanora asked.
“It is a calming spell, called a Pacem,” Morgana said with her chin raised. “Not only can it diffuse violent textbooks, but it can temporarily calm others down.”
“Very good, Morgana,” Evanora replied as she flashed the brunette an impressed smile. “Now, do you know the spell by heart?”
“I do.” Morgana grinned. “It’s ‘tranquillum.’”
“Lovely,” Evanora said with her wand raised. “Now, everyone, grab your wands and be sure you sing the incantation, almost like a lullaby. Do not just speak the words, or you will face the dire consequences.”
I picked up my wand, but before I could open my mouth, Morgana leaned forward and met my eyes. She was completely bent over to the point where I caught a glimpse of her black lace bra cradling her perky breasts, and I immediately felt a spark of lust ignite in my veins.
“Her eyes are up there, Cole.” Akira smirked when she followed my gaze.
“Remember I’ve seen all four of you naked?” I snickered as I shook my head and forced myself to meet Morgana’s eyes, and she blushed and leaned back a little before speaking to me.
“I just wanted to tell you,” she whispered. “The only way to know if the book is compliant is if it glows yellow.”
“Thanks.” I nodded.
I focused on the red, velvet book and pointed my wand at the cover. Then I took in a deep breath and uttered the spell in a sing-song voice.
“Tranquillum,” I sang.
The book slowly stopped shaking, and a soft, warm glow surrounded the book.
“Ah, well done, Cole.” Evanora clapped. “See how the book is completely still, class? It’s quite simple.”
The other witches in the room craned their necks to glance at my book, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I slowly peeled the cover open and turned to the correct page.
“Well, everyone stop staring now,” Evanora said as she clicked her tongue. “Go on and disarm your own books, for Satan’s sake.”
Everyone muttered their apologies, and the air quickly filled with singing voices. My coven managed to successfully open their books, and I thought everyone was in the clear until I heard a high-pitched scream from behind me.
I spun around and saw a blue-haired witch with her eyes rolled back into her head, and her mouth was wide open in shock. The book was sucking her soul right out of her and transferring it into the pages, and I watched in horror as she slowly disappeared from her seat until there was absolutely nothing left of her. Finally, the book shut by itself, and a heavy silence filled the classroom.
“Ah, well,” Evanora sighed after a long moment. “That was unfortunate. Now, who would like to begin reading the chapter for us?”
And just like that, we continued on with the lesson and didn’t even address the fact that a woman had just died right in front of us.
As always, Scholomance was as cut-throat as you could get.
“Oh, I’ll read!” Morgana’s hand shot up into the air once again, and Evanora flashed her a tight smile.
“How about someone else this time?” the professor said.
Morgana turned pink as she quickly dropped her hand and stared down at the book in front of her.
“Cole, maybe you would like to start us off?” Professor Evanora suggested as her green eyes shifted to me.
“Sure,” I replied with a light shrug.
I looked down at the page of the current chapter, which included a gorgeous and intricate illustration of a wolf with piercing eyes and a massive, sturdy build.
“Familiars and why we use them,” I said as I cleared my throat. “A practical guide on how to evolve, train, and control your familiars.”
“Precisely,” Evanora said, and a smile slowly stretched across her face. “Observe, class.”
She whistled a macabre tune, and then a white owl came flying through the classroom door. It flapped its silver-edged wings and fluttered down onto Evanora’s arm.
“Well done,” she said in a soft voice before she turned to face the rest of the class. “Everyone, this is Silverstone. She’s my familiar and has been a loyal companion for years now.”
Everyone awed and oohed at the beautiful creature. The owl stood tall and proud on the professor’s arm, and I was utterly stunned by how graceful and magnificent she was. She was radiating a proud and robust energy I could sense from here.
“Now,” Evanora continued as the owl remained on her arm, “you should all know familiars do not start off as magnificent creatures. You will have to achieve that task all on your own. It takes time, energy, and wholehearted dedication to achieve a powerful familiar.”
“Wait… so, what do we start off with, then?” I asked aloud, and everyone turned to look at me.
“Continue reading, and you’ll find out,” Evanora replied with a smirk.
I glanced back down at my book and cleared my throat before continuing.
“All great Wicca’s must commence with a tolerable, well-mannered animal before they evolve into more powerful creatures,” I read the text out loud. “It takes time, patience, and self-control to properly train your familiar. Most Wicca’s start off with something simple, such as a mouse or a squirrel.”
The class groaned in disappointment, but Evanora was not having any of it. Her green eyes shifted to a deep red, and she slammed her open palm down on the desk. The room went deadly silent as the professor glared at everyone, and I could tell she was daring anyone to continue.
“That’s enough,” Evanora snapped. “I will not tolerate childish behavior in my classroom. You’re all adults now, but you know little of the world. All great and evil things come to those who wait and work hard.”
“Yes, Professor,” everyone muttered in unison as they bowed their heads in shame.
The room was so quiet, I could hear a pin drop from the overwhelming silence. I saw Morgana shift uncomfortably in her seat from the corner of my eye. Meanwhile, Akira looked as if she were about to laugh, and Faye and Vesta had their heads bowed low.
“Please forgive us, Professor,” Morgana said when the silence grew too heavy. “It’s just that, when we look upon your magnificent owl, it is hard not to feel envious of her grace and power.”
“Well, that’s understandable.” Evanora’s eyes slowly returned to their normal green hue, and she sighed. “But even so, I do hope it doesn’t happen again. Are we all in agreement?”
Everyone muttered their confirmations, and Akira shot a dirty look at Morgana.
“Suck up,” the short-haired witch muttered under her breath.
Morgana’s pretty face fell, and she glared daggers in Akira’s direction.
“Shut up,” the brunette hissed. “At least I said something.”
“Whatever,” Akira replied with a shake of her head.
“Now,” Evanora said in a loud and clear voice that made everyone jump, “let us begin. Videtur!”
A cloud of silver smoke suddenly appeared on my desk, and when it cleared, a small brown squeaking mouse sat before me. It stared up at me with glossy, honey-brown eyes, and its little pink nose twitched at me. I looked at the others in my coven, and each one of them had a mouse except for Akira, who had a squirrel with a long, bushy tail and bright orange eyes.
“Oh, great,” I whispered under my breath. “A dumbass mouse.”
Hey! a squeaky male voice suddenly resounded inside my head. You know, I can hear you. Don’t be such a dick!
“Whoa!” I gasped aloud and leaned back in my chair.
“What is it?” Morgana asked with a confused look on her face.
“He… it… the mouse just spoke to me,” I hissed.
Several other eyes were on us, but I did my best to ignore them.
“Pay attention to your own shit, bitches,” Akira hissed when she caught other classmates staring in our direction. Then the black-haired witch turned back to me. “Cole, what are you going on about?”
Professor Evanora was gliding through the classroom with her hands behind her back as she checked on everyone’s rodents. I thought about grabbing her attention, but then I decided against it.
“I can hear him,” I said and gestured to my mouse. “He just told me to stop being a dick.”
Akira was the only one who laughed. The rest of the witches looked incredibly concerned.
“What do you mean, you can hear it?” Morgana asked with an arched brow. “How can that be? You’re not meant to hear them at least until after several weeks of bonding! And even then, you can only hear occasional words, full sentences are rare.”
“Well, I can hear him as clear as day,” I muttered.
And I can hear you, too, the small voice piped up again, so can we please stop pretending like I’m not here? It’s insulting, you know.
“Sorry,” I said aloud.
“Sorry for what?” Vesta asked as she gently petted the head of her mouse.
“He thinks I’m rude,” I explained as I glanced down at the pathetic looking little mouse and cleared my throat.
“Oh, this is perfect,” Akira laughed. “You familiar already knows you are rude. Maybe if he--”
“Silence,” I interrupted the beautiful woman, and her mouth clicked closed like a sprung bear trap.
“We should have figured Cole would already have a strong bond,” Vesta sighed. “He’s done so well with everything so far.”
“So, what’s your name?” I asked the mouse aloud.
It’s Alexander, the mouse replied as he stood up on his rear little pink feet and bowed. And you are… ?
“Confused,” I said as I shook my head in disbelief. It was so fucking weird to have another voice in my head that wasn’t mine.
That’s a strange name, Alexander replied as he blinked up at me.
“Err… no, my name’s Cole,” I said. “Sorry, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Alexander.”
Likewise, Alexander squeaked. Even if you were a little rude at first. I’m a forgiving mouse.
“Sorry,” I repeated, “this is all a little strange.”
Akira grunted at me and glanced down at her squirrel, and her expression changed from mildly amused to irritated.
“You can talk again,” I commanded her.
“Why won’t you say anything, huh?” she asked the squirrel. “I hope it’s a girl.”
“I still do not understand how he can already hear his familiar,” Morgana pouted and crossed her arms over her ample chest.
“It’s because he possesses a power stronger than all of you combined,” a voice from behind me said.
I whipped around, and Professor Evanora was staring down at my familiar with a strange smile on her face.
Hey, she’s hot, Alexander said as he stood up on his hind legs again and squeaked cutely in Evanora’s direction. Why don’t you introduce me?
“Easy there,” I muttered. “I have a feeling you’re not exactly her type.”
Well, you never know unless you try, Alexander replied as he shrugged and smoothed out his fur, which made the witches all cackle with laughter.
“What is he saying?” Vesta asked, and her silver eyes were bright with mirth.
“Ugh… he’s just… excited to be here,” I said with a forced smile. “That’s all.”
Everyone was staring in our direction, and several witches threw angry glares at me. I could sense the jealousy radiating off them, and it was an unnerving sensation to handle all at once.
Evanora might have sensed my discomfort because she slowly smiled and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Embrace your power, Cole,” she said in a faint voice. “Do not fear it… and never be ashamed of it.”
“Yes, Professor.” I nodded.
The pink-haired woman suddenly pulled back her hand, as if my shoulder had stung her, which I thought was strange. Then she coughed awkwardly before she clapped and turned to look at the rest of the class.
“Everyone stop staring at Cole and read the rest of the chapter,” she commanded. “If you’re gifted enough, you’ll be able to start conversing with your familiar in no time. If not, well then, you’ll be stuck with a mute rodent for the rest of your lives.”
“Well, fuck,” Akira muttered under her breath. “That would suck.”
I glanced down at my book and quietly read along with the rest of the class, while Alexander craned his little head at me and just stared as I read. According to the text, familiars’ lives were tied to your own once they were introduced to you by someone of immense soul power. Which, in this case, was Professor Evanora. It would take several full moons before a familiar developed into its next evolutionary stage, though.
If it happened at all.
“Is everyone caught up?” Evanora asked after a few minutes.
“Yes, Professor,” we all replied.
Alexander started to squeak, and when I looked down, he was raising his little fist into the air.
“What are you trying to tell me?” I asked aloud. “Why don’t you just say it?”
“You can’t always hear them clearly, Cole,” Evanora said. “Sometimes, you just have to rely on your bond and dig deeper for the meaning.”
Of fucking course it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Okay… so are you hungry?” I asked. “Tired? Do you need to take a piss? What the hell is it?”
Alexander shook his little head and then raised his small fist again, so I squinted down at him and tried to decipher what the hell he wanted. Then, suddenly, a hunger pain pierced my stomach, and it growled loudly enough for my entire table to hear.
Alexander then stood up and jumped up and down while he squeaked furiously.
“I think you just figured it out,” Vesta laughed. “Poor little guy is hungry.”
“And I don’t blame him,” Evanora said in a loud voice. “Time is up, class. We will return to where we left off tomorrow morning. Take this time to bond with your creatures. Some of you will be able to develop a connection by this evening… and for some others… well, that might take a little bit longer.”
Everyone nodded before snatching up their rodent and textbook, and I slipped Alexander into the safety of my pocket before I left the table. My coven and I then headed down to the banquet hall, and we took our seats. We all set our familiars down onto the table before a lunch plate appeared in front of me. The smell of roasted duck, walnut salad, mashed sweet potatoes, and honey biscuits filled my nostrils and made my mouth water.
I was absolutely famished.
“Well, that class was certainly interesting,” Vesta said as we began to eat. “I didn’t expect familiars on the first day.”
“Me, either,” Faye replied as she petted her mouse on the head.
I shrugged and looked down at my own familiar. Alexander was jumping up and down, and he rubbed his belly, so I pulled a cranberry from my salad and handed it over to him.
Thanks! Alexander squeaked in my head as he started to nibble on the treat.
“Oh, now you speak,” I muttered.
“What?” Vesta asked.
“Nothing,” I said as I shook my head. “I was just talking to Alexander. He’s a tricky little bastard.”
“At least you know the name of yours,” Morgana sighed as she pulled out her mouse from her cloak pocket and set it down on the table. “I wish mine would speak… or at least make some kind of indication she wants to bond with me.”
“How do you already know it’s a girl?” Akira asked with a raised black brow. “I don’t even know that.”
“No mouse nuts.” Morgana smiled. “At least none that I can see.”
Faye laughed and stared down at her little mouse peeking from her shirt pocket. Its eyes were green-gold, just like hers.
“I wish we could name them ourselves,” Faye said with a long, dreamy sigh.
Alexander finished chewing his cranberry, stood up, and squeaked at her. Then he shook his little fist again, which made Akira and Vesta laugh.
“What did he say?” Morgana asked in an excited voice.
“I’m not sure,” I replied, “but I have a feeling he doesn’t agree with you, Faye.”
“Oh, sorry, Alexander,” the redhead said to the mouse, which made Morgana giggle.
“Ugh… everyone is looking at us again,” Vesta groaned as she glanced around. “I hate it when they do that.”
I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, there were tables of witches glaring at us.
“Oh, who cares?” Akira scoffed. “Most of them are just jealous bitches. Don’t let it get to you. And don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing it bothers you.”
“I’m not letting it get to me,” Vesta replied with a stubborn pout. “It’s just a little irritating because you think they’d be used to it by now.”
“Used to what?” I asked.
“You,” she replied as if it were obvious. “You know, how you’re always one step ahead of everyone in the class? They hate it.”
“I’m not always one step ahead,” I argued.
My coven all sighed and rolled their eyes.
“Sure, Cole,” Akira laughed bitterly. “Whatever you say.”
“You know it’s all about mind control, right?” I said. “Connecting with your familiar requires a great deal of mental strength.”
“And?” Faye asked with wild eyes, and she looked appalled and offended at the same time. “Are you saying we don’t possess enough mental strength? That’s pretty patronizing, Cole.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all,” I scoffed. “I think you’re more than capable of achieving great things. I’m just saying you all tend to overthink everything, and it blocks your abilities.”
The witches all exchanged looks with one another, but no one said a thing until Faye practically fell out of her seat as she gasped in shock.
“Whoa.” The redhead grinned at everyone, and then she looked down at her mouse and petted its tiny head. “Hi there, Lilly.”
“Who the fuck is Lilly?” Akira growled.
“My familiar,” Faye replied as if it were obvious. “She just introduced herself to me. I heard her as clearly as I can hear you right now.”
I looked down at her small mouse and smiled. I couldn’t read her thoughts or anything of the sort since she wasn’t mine, but still, I could feel her energy. She was an intelligent and curious little thing.
Lilly then stood up on her toes and clapped her small pink hands, which made us all laugh.
“Oh, are you hungry, too?” Faye giggled. “Well, here you go.”
We all watched as Faye tore off a piece of biscuit and handed it to Lilly. The little rodent shoved the entire piece into her mouth and started to chew with some difficulty, and we all laughed as she swallowed and then started to bounce up and down for more.
After we all finished our meals, we headed to the study hall. If Faye was able to connect with her familiar, then I thought that the rest of them could, too. So, we spent hours studying and connecting with our familiars until everyone was able to mentally converse with their rodents to a degree. Akira ended up with a male squirrel named Damien, who apparently had quite an attitude. Vesta’s familiar was a female mouse named Ursula, who was soft-spoken and sweet, and Morgana had another female mouse named Silvia, who, according to Morgana, was just as mean and snappy as Akira.
By nightfall, we were exhausted, so we all closed our books and rubbed at our tired eyes.
Vesta smiled and looked down at Ursula, and love and respect filled her silver gaze as she stared down at her new companion.
“I wonder what she’ll become,” the lavender-skinned witch mused as we gathered our books and our new furry companions. Then we headed out of the study hall with our animals and books in our hands.
“Well, what’s your favorite animal?” Morgana asked with a tilt of her head. “Or rather, if someone compared you to an animal, which one do you think they’d choose?”
“A cow,” Akira said with a smirk.
“Ha, ha.” Vesta scowled. “Very funny, Akira.”
“I’m only joking,” the dark-haired witch cackled. Then her face softened, and she turned serious. “Actually, I think you’d make a beautiful hawk.”
“What, really?” Vesta smiled. “Do you really think so?”
“Sure.” Akira shrugged. “You’re clever, quick, and fierce.”
Vesta’s face lit up, and her cheeks darkened into a lovely plum color. “Well, I think you’d make an excellent panther.”
“I do love cats.” Akira grinned. “That would be pretty fucking cool.”
“Well, don’t get your hopes up,” Morgana warned them. “Magic chooses for you. It searches deep within your bond to determine what matches your personality best.”
“And what creature is a constant know-it-all?” Akira asked as she rolled her black eyes.
Morgana stopped in her tracks and was about to give Akira a piece of her mind until her eyes flashed down at her mouse.
“Yeah, you’re right, Silvia,” Morgana said as she patted the head of her mouse. “She’s not worth it.”
“Whatever,” Akira sighed. “Damien agrees with me.”
“What the hell are we going to do in class tomorrow?” I asked as we reached the end of the corridor. “If everyone wasn’t able to connect with their familiars, I don’t see how this will be a well-rounded lesson.”
“We’ll probably try and control them,” Morgana said. “Familiars are loyal, but only after a deeper connection has developed. Professor Evanora will try and see if those of us who have developed a connection will be able to manipulate our familiars.”
I remembered the wolf named Isobel that always followed Vanessa, and I recalled how she’d listened to me when I asked her not to reveal myself. It had almost seemed like she understood me on that night.
But communicating with another witch’s familiar wasn’t possible. Was it?
Before my coven parted ways, I grabbed Morgana gently by the arm, and she glanced up at me with wide blue eyes.
“What?” she whispered. “Do you want me to come to your ro--”
“I just have a quick question for you.”
“Oh, what is it?” she asked.
“Can you connect with other people’s familiars?” I wondered.
“No,” she said as she shook her long, dark curls. “Not unless you have ancient blood in you. Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” I murmured as I slowly let her go.
“Okay,” she replied, and her eyes drifted to my lips. “Is there anything else?”
“Do you want there to be something else?” I smirked.
“No!” she hissed under her breath as her cheeks began to redden.
“You sure?” I raised an eyebrow. “We’ve been studying hard for a few days, and I’d be more than happy to help you relax tonight.”
“Are you going to order me into your bed?” she grumbled.
“Naw,” I chuckled. “Unless that’s what you want. Is it what you want, Morgana?”
Her eyes flashed with mixed emotions, but there was no fooling the bond we shared, and I could sense her knees weaken, and her pussy began to drip with hot desire.
Yes, she absolutely wanted me to order her to my bed so I could fuck her. There was nothing else she needed more than that right now.
“I could order you to tell the truth,” I growled as my lips curled up into a smile. “Then we would both know for sure.”
“Cole--” she started to squeak, but then I held up my hand to cut her off.
“Have a good night,” I said, and then I turned to walk away from her.
“Wait, what?” she gasped.
“I’m tired,” I fake yawned. “I’m going to--”
“But what about me?” she asked, and her voice has this bit of a delightful whine to it at the end.
I loved it when they begged.
“Well, I’m sure you’ve learned an important lesson just now. Go to your room and go to bed immediately.”
It was a command, so the brunette spun on her high heels and ran up the stairs to catch up with the others.
I still had a bit more work to do before I’d broken my women in, but I was making progress with each of them. It helped that they loved my cock, and I could use sex as a reward or lack of sex as a punishment.
“So much to do. So little time.” I shook my head, walked back to my own quarters, and thought about Vanessa’s familiar. Maybe there was another reason why I could connect with the wolf?
Whatever the reason, I knew now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Not with a war brewing. I had to focus on excelling in my classes. Nothing more.
As soon as I returned to my room, I put Alexander on my desk, and he squeaked before curling up into a ball and falling deep asleep. Then I blew out the candles on my desk, undressed in the dark, and slipped under the sheets.
Luckily for me, I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
I woke up the next morning to find Alexander asleep on the pillow next to mine. It seemed he’d moved closer to me sometime during the night. He was snoring the smallest little snores, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Time to wake up, Alexander,” I said. “We have to get to class.”
The little rodent stirred himself awake and glanced at me with beady little eyes. Then he stretched his small little pink paws and used his hind leg to scratch his back.
I picked him up gently and set him on the desk before I quickly dressed. Then I grabbed my wand and scooped up Alexander before shutting the door behind us. I promptly headed to class, and instead of being late, I was actually the first one to arrive.
I sat down and sighed with relief, but Alexander squirmed out of my hand and leaped onto the desk. Then he waved his little fist angrily up into the air.
“Sorry,” I said. “Was I holding on to you too tightly?”
Yeah! he huffed in my head, and he crossed his little arms over his tiny chest.
I shook my head. It was strange that one minute, I could hear him clearly, and at other times, I couldn’t hear a damn thing.
At least no matter what, I understood him. That was the important thing.
“Ah, Cole,” I heard a familiar voice say. “Good morning.”
I turned to the door and saw Evanora staring right at me. Today, she was wearing a long and simple black velvet dress. Dead flowers were woven into her hair, and her beautiful white owl was perched on her shoulder.
“Good morning, Professor,” I replied. “How are you this morning?”
“Fairly well,” she sighed as she headed to her desk. “I trust your familiar is doing well, also?”
“How’s it going, Alexander?” I asked him.
He stood up, whipped his tail back and forth, and patted his belly before he pointed to his mouth.
“You’re always hungry,” I muttered.
“They are growing, living creatures, Cole,” Evanora laughed gently and then rubbed her owl’s head. “Can you blame them?”
I smiled, but just as I was about to ask another question, Vesta came running through the door.
“Ah, Vesta.” Evanora smiled. “Do not fear, you are early this time.”
Vesta blushed a darker purple and nodded before she quietly took a seat in front of me and looked down at her own mouse.
“You told me I overslept!” she hissed into her pocket.
The little mouse peeped out from her cloak, and when her eyes met mine, I could have sworn she was giggling.
“Mischievous little thing.” Vesta scowled.
I laughed, and soon, Faye, Akira, and Morgana joined us. No one else came into the classroom, though, which I thought was strange.
“Professor,” I asked. “Where is everyone?”
“Oh.” The pink-haired witch smiled. “Of course, how silly of me. It will only be you five today, and we’re going to be outside.”
My coven exchanged confused looks with each other, but I just shrugged. I had no idea what she had in store for us, but a feeling deep within me told me it was going to be difficult.
“Alright,” I said after a long moment, and I cast Evanora a confident grin. “Bring it on, Professor.”