The next morning, I woke up with a start.
My heart was galloping as if I’d just finished a marathon, and there was a sharp pain behind my eyes. I straightened up and realized I’d passed out at my desk, and when I stared down at the open book I was reading, I cursed under my breath. I knew learning about the history of Wicca warfare was a mistake, but last night, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the artwork and the moving illustrations.
Which is precisely why Theodora left it in my room in the first place.
I knew what she was up to. She wanted me to be prepared and ready for whatever was going to be thrown my way. I was ready to show her I was all in, though. Even if that meant less sleep and more reading.
I stretched and washed my face with ice-cold water before slipping on a fresh set of clothing that was folded neatly in the chair by the stained-glass window. Alexander stared up at me with watery brown eyes as I collected my dagger and wand, and he started to jump up and down and rub at his brown belly in circular motions.
“Oh, right,” I said. “You must be hungry.”
Alexander nodded and clapped, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his little gestures.
“Cordelia,” I called out, “could you leave a plate of assorted cheeses and peppered biscuits out for Alexander?”
There was a pause before the old woman’s voice filled the air.
“Of course, sir,” she replied. “Although, I do think it’s a waste of food.”
“Nonsense,” I said as I patted Alexander’s small head. “Alexander is just as important as the rest of us.”
“As you wish, sir,” the ghostly maid sighed.
A moment later, a small plate of cheese and biscuits appeared on my desk, and Alexander leaped up into the air with delighted squeals. Then he twitched his little pink nose and smelled the plate before using his small hands to pick up little chunks.
“Have a good day, Alexander,” I said, “I’ll see you later. Maybe when you’re a bit bigger, you can start coming with me to every class.”
The mouse didn’t even bother to acknowledge me as I left him alone with his breakfast. I headed down the stairs and sped through the hallways and into the higher-level student quarters of the castle. I was in a rush because I wanted to arrive early.
As soon as I arrived in the correct classroom for Hexes and Curses, I knocked on the door before stepping inside. Vanessa was at her desk, with her beloved wolf by her side. She was wearing a high collared, midnight blue dress and a deep blood red corset that showed off her hourglass figure. Her hair was tied up into a tight bun, and she wore large pearl earrings.
Her wolf lifted her massive head, and its piercing blue eyes stared right through me.
“It’s alright, Isobel,” Vanessa said in a soft, motherly voice. “It’s just Cole.”
“Hey, Isobel,” I greeted. “How are you?”
I took a seat at a desk by the front of the classroom, and Vanessa stared at me with confusion.
“Isobel can’t understand you,” she said before she glanced down at her familiar. “At least… she’s not supposed to.”
“Yeah, it’s strange,” I said with a shrug, “but I feel like she actually can understand me.”
“Is that so?” Vanessa asked in a cold voice, and she glanced back down at her black wolf. “Can you understand the man, Isobel?”
Isobel stared right at me, and I could have sworn she was smiling. I could see it in her eyes. They were filled with mischief.
She could understand me. I could feel it.
“She’s being… ambiguous,” Vanessa huffed as her brow furrowed.
“I think she can understand me,” I repeated with a grin.
“Well, only Isobel can answer that, and so far, she hasn’t told me anything for certain,” the brunette woman snapped.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, Professor.” I smirked and raised my hands in defense.
“You didn’t offend me,” she hissed and narrowed her icy blue eyes at me. “Why don’t you use your time more wisely and study?”
“There isn’t any textbook--” I started to say, but then she raised a hand to stop me mid-sentence.
“Always excuses with you,” she muttered.
Vanessa huffed, pulled out her wand, and gracefully flicked her wrist. Suddenly, a heavy leaf-green textbook appeared in front of me, and the pages magically opened to chapter four.
“The reversal spell?” I said with a raised brow. “That’s what we’ll be learning?”
“You all know plenty of hexes and spells that can cause deadly harm, but none of you know how to properly reverse spells. The skill is an essential one… albeit, it is somewhat tricky, but it is crucial for you to learn it.”
“Why didn’t we ever learn about this spell in preschool?” I demanded. “This sounds badass, and it seems like something that should have been taught to us earlier.”
“What did you say?” Vanessa scowled. “You know nothing, Cole. There was a reason why these spells were not taught earlier. It would have made the exam far too easy. Besides, I already told you it is a precarious spell to master and use. Now, keep quiet and focus on your studies.”
I grunted in irritation but did as she demanded. There was no point in arguing with her. She was far too stubborn of a woman.
So, I read the chapter and devoured the words as quickly as possible. According to the text, we would also be learning about the killing curse. It was a spell that was rarely used, though, because each time it was utilized, it would take a little piece of one’s own life.
I read on, and I was fascinated by what I learned. The textbook also indicated there was only one witch who was able to use the curse whenever she wanted. She eventually became the most potent Wicca of all time and earned the name “Lilith.”
I stopped reading as soon as I heard the classroom door open. Faye, Morgana, Vesta, and Akira were all standing by the doorway, and they quickly made their way to my desk. No one said a word, but I could sense Akira and Faye’s embarrassment through our Blood Pact bond.
I rolled my eyes.
“There’s no need to be shy about what happened,” I whispered, since I didn’t want Vanessa to overhear. “We were all possessed by animal instincts, so relax.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Cole,” Akira hissed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Oh, come on.” I grinned. “It’s not like you didn’t enjoy it. I’m fine to give you all the sperm you want, anytime you want it.”
“What are you talking about?” Vesta asked with an arched green brow.
“Nothing,” Faye cut in quickly before I could say a word.
Akira turned a deep shade of red, and Faye was just as pink. I laughed gently to myself and cast a quick look in Vanessa’s direction. She didn’t look too pleased, and I wondered if she could sense something was up.
“You’re the cockiest, most conceited--” Akira sneered.
“You all need to be quiet,” Vanessa snapped as other students began to pour into the room and began to take their seats. “Your little drama can continue outside of the classroom, but there’s no room for personal dilemmas here, understood?”
“Yes, Professor,” my coven responded at once.
“Good, now start reading,” Vanessa ordered. “Cole has already begun. Try and catch up. Today will be a trying one.”
The witches beside me gulped as the same textbooks appeared in front of them. As my coven sat down in their seats, a book appeared in front of them with the correct chapter open.
I could feel the other witches in class staring at me, though, mostly with contempt. One witch, directly behind me, started to hiss to her neighbor, and she was loud enough for me to hear every word.
“Why does the man always get special treatment?” she demanded. “It’s infuriating and unfair.”
“It’s not only him,” her neighbor responded in a bitter tone, “but it’s also his slutty followers who get treated like royalty.”
“Have you also noticed this semester’s schedule has been completely fucked up and cut short?” the first witch hissed. “I bet it’s all their fault.”
“Hey!” Akira snapped as she whirled around in her seat. “Why don’t you two bitches shut the fuck up and let the rest of us read in silence?”
I didn’t bother to turn around to see the witches’ reaction, but I did hear them huff in irritation. They seemed to know better than to fuck with Akira, though, so they shut the hell up.
Thankfully, we all finished the rest of the chapter in silence, and then Vanessa stood up.
“Well,” she began, “a reversal spell is quite simple. Who can tell me the proper incantation?”
Of course, Morgana’s hand shot up into the air, and Vanessa gestured for her to respond.
“Novis,” the brunette said with her chin raised.
“That is correct,” Vanessa confirmed. “All you must do is raise your wand and point it at your opponent as they recite a spell, and it shall backfire. It is quite a useful technique… however, the incantation comes with a price.”
Everyone muttered their excitement and adjusted themselves in their seats, and I could tell every witch wanted to test it out.
“That sounds pretty fucking awesome.” Akira grinned.
“Oh, it is,” Vanessa, who had ears like a wolf, turned to our table and smirked maliciously. “The only problem is once the spell is activated, it will prevent you from using any other spells for a whole minute, which is a lifetime in battle. So, if you decide to use it, then you’d better make it count.”
“Err, I can see why that would be a problem,” the short-haired witch muttered.
“Yeah, no fucking shit,” I agreed.
“Now, let’s move on,” Vanessa said. “We have a lot to cover today.”
The class began to whisper and grumble in confusion, and then Vanessa clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“I’m sorry, but time is limited today, and we must move on to the next topic,” the professor said with a frown. “Everyone turn to page five-hundred-and-twenty-four and read.”
The room grew silent as everyone turned to the correct page, and the large, bold cursive read, “The death curse - when and how to use it.”
Were we going to use it today? I had a feeling we were, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The text indicated it wasn’t a spell that should be used lightly.
“Now,” Vanessa said as she stood up, “I’m sure most of you have heard about the killing spell before.”
“Yes, Professor,” the classroom answered in unison.
“Excellent,” she replied. “Now, who will be able to tell me why we rarely use it?”
Morgana’s hand shot up, but I was quicker.
“Because it robs you of your own soul every time you recite the incantation,” I responded. “Wiccas rarely use it because once it is used, it becomes highly addictive and deadly.”
“Correct,” Vanessa said through gritted teeth. “It would have been better if you raised your hand next time, Cole, but yes, you are right.”
The professor waved her hand, and a cloud of deep purple smoke appeared in front of her desk. Instead of her quills and parchment, though, a small bluebird fluttered over the desktop. It was a beautiful little creature. Its wings were the color of a clear blue sky, and the tips of its feathers were the brightest silver I’d ever seen. It chirped, and its song bounced off the stone walls.
The poor thing had no idea what was about to happen.
Vanessa smiled at all of us before she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the small bird.
“Mortuus cadunt,” she whispered.
A fire-red bolt of lightning shot like an arrow from her wand and toward the bird. Her spell hit the creature square in the chest, and feathers burst from its wings before the bird fell backward and then went completely silent. Its black eyes were dead, and a cold shiver spread through my body. Smoke wafted from the poor creature as it laid dead on her desk, and Vanessa winced slightly as her hand glowed a misty white. Then she took in a deep breath and turned to look at the rest of us.
“As you can see, the spell is quite draining,” she muttered. “For today, we will start off with something simpler than an animal. I do not want you all passing out on me during the lesson.”
She waved her wand again, and this time, pots of roses appeared in front of us.
“Killing something that grows from the earth will not take too much life from you,” she explained. “So, go on then. Everyone be careful, and please, do not end up killing each other. It’s happened countless times before.”
Vanessa returned to her desk, sat down in her chair, and rubbed her temples. I noticed her hands were trembling, she was also paler than usual, and her lips were a bluish color.
No one made a move to start, though, even if their wands were raised. Vanessa’s head shot up, and she stared at all of us with impatience and disbelief.
“Well, go on!” she urged. “We don’t have all day.”
Within moments, muffled voices filled the air as students began killing their roses, one by one. I stared at my own, vibrant red rose with its emerald stems and green, sharp thorns. It was so beautiful, and for some reason, the idea of killing it just for the sake of practice didn’t sit well with me, but what other choice did I have?
My coven was also staring at their own roses, but not one of them made a move to kill their flowers, either.
“Is your table deaf?” Vanessa called out in our direction. “Kill the roses. Now!”
Akira was the first to kill her rose, and she winced as the flower began to slowly wilt and turn black. Her hand glowed, her purple lips turned pale, and she was trembling by the time the spell was complete.
“Just do it,” the black-haired witch whispered to the others. “Get it over with… trust me.”
Everyone at my table nodded slowly before muttering the deadly spell, and all the flowers began to wilt and turn to black.
I stared at mine before I slowly lifted my wand.
“Mortuus cadunt,” I said.
A wind picked up and swirled around the rose, and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look in my direction as I struggled to keep my wand steady. It was violently vibrating in my hand as if an invisible force was trying to pull it away from me. I tightened my grasp, and soon, the beautiful flower turned to flames. It started to burn, but what was truly strange about the whole thing was the color of the fire. It was emerald green and smelled like jasmine, and it was so beautiful it was nearly impossible to look away. I could feel a sharp pain in my fingertips as my hand glowed a pale white, though, and I sensed the life draining away from me as I grew dizzy. I thought I was about to pass out until the flames died down, and a heavy silence filled the classroom.
“What in Satan’s name was that?” Morgana whispered beside me with wide, blue eyes.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Faye added. “What was that, Professor?”
Vanessa, who had been sitting down just a moment ago, was now on her feet. Her face was even paler than before, and there was confusion deep within her cobalt blue eyes.
“It’s the aeterna ignis,” she breathed.
“The what?” I asked with a confused frown.
Vanessa was about to open her mouth, but there was a loud crash at the door. Then it swung open, and Headmistress Theodora strolled right in. She was wearing a sage green dress with black lace trimming on the hem of her skirts and around her tall collar, and she nodded at her daughter.
“Forgive the interruption, Professor,” she said with a serene smile. “But I will need to borrow Cole, Akira, Vesta, Faye, and Morgana.”
I had no idea what was going on, and when I turned to look at my coven, they seemed equally confused.
“O-Of course,” Vanessa mumbled as she blinked in surprise, and then she turned to glare at us. “You heard the headmistress. Go on, then.”
My coven stood up, and my legs nearly buckled underneath me as I made my way to the door with the others close behind me.
“Very good,” Theodora said as she whipped her green skirts and headed out the door. “Follow me.”
We all trailed behind the headmistress without question, and no one said a word as she led us back to her office, but a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as we stepped inside the warm, glowing room and stood in front of her desk.
“Now, then,” Theodora said with a grin. “I trust Vanessa showed you how to use the reversal spell? You will need it where you’re going. As she probably mentioned, it is a tricky spell that drains you of magic for a full minute after use, but sometimes, it is the only spell you can use on a highly advanced creature.”
“Well,” Morgana replied first, “Professor Vanessa taught us the spell, and she mentioned the problems that follow it… but we weren’t shown how to use it.”
“Oh, really?” Theodora frowned. “Well, I’d hoped she would demonstrate the spell in class, but no matter. I’m sure you’ll be able to use it. As I’ve told the professors, you are the best pupils I’ve seen in decades, and your coven is powerful.”
“Thank you, but that’s not all, Headmistress,” Morgana went on. “Something strange happened when Cole enacted the killing curse--”
“Oh, yes,” the headmistress cut her off. “I couldn’t help but overhear the commotion outside of the classroom. That’s something Cole and I will discuss at a later time. But for now, I have pulled you all aside for an important… assignment.”
“An assignment?” Morgana echoed, and she wrung her slender hands nervously.
“Yes.” Theodora nodded. “It’s strictly confidential, and you’re the only ones who can take care of it. You carry no magical imprint since you’re relatively new to Scholomance, which is why I can’t send anyone else, even if I wanted to. And together, your coven forms the strongest alliance this school has seen in a long time. This task can only be completed by you.”
I could hear the others inhale, and my heartbeat stuttered as Theodora looked at each of us one by one. Then her pale blue eyes bored into mine. I felt like she was reading my mind, and it was an uncomfortable, intrusive feeling I had to push away. I struggled to keep my eyes on hers, and she slowly nodded.
“I’m sure you’re all trying to guess what I have in store for you,” she said.
“Well, I personally like to dive into things fully prepared,” Morgana replied with a small, nervous smile. “So, yes, I was kind of wondering what this assignment would entail. Will we need supplies… or… ?”
Akira rolled her dark eyes, but Morgana was right. We needed to know what we were getting ourselves into.
“I’ve had a vision,” the headmistress began. “I saw an asylum, where creatures lurk behind stone walls. These beasts are the result of elder magic, used by opposing schools to create an army… one that will attack the school if we do not stop them--”
“And you want us to kill them before they can reach their full potential?” I finished. “Using the reversal spell?”
“Precisely.” Theodora nodded. “I know it is a tricky spell you are not fully familiar with, but it’s your best bet against these beasts. Now, are you prepared to go in there and defeat them?”
No one said a word, and I knew they were nervous, but I was ready.
“Bring it on.” I grinned before I turned to look at my coven, and they all nodded in agreement.
“Then let us begin,” Theodora said in a faint voice.
The headmistress started to mutter under her breath, and the room began to shake. I shut my eyes as the room disappeared from view, and my body spun and turned as nausea rolled throughout my body. I tried to focus on breathing as we were transported to Satan knows where, but it was difficult as uncertainty burned through my veins.
Finally, the spinning sensation stopped, and my body crashed down into something hard, like a stone. I smacked my head against the ground and saw white before I slowly opened my eyes. My coven had landed roughly as well, and when I glanced around, I realized we were in a large, stone dungeon. There were pillars placed all around the gray room, and it smelled of piss and vomit. There were heaps of hay in the corners, and as usual, there were no fucking windows anywhere. There were, however, a few open archways that led to other rooms, and each one was placed on the north, east, south, and west side of the chamber.
“What the fuck was that?” Akira growled as she struggled to sit up.
“That was rough,” Faye grunted as she rubbed the back of her head. “This is not how I expected advanced Hexes and Curses to go.”
“I don’t think any of us expected this, Faye,” Vesta sighed. “But here we are.”
“Did you see this coming?” Morgana asked as she turned to me. “Did you know she was going to send us on a spontaneous assignment?”
“No,” I scoffed. “Don’t you think I would have mentioned it beforehand? And it’s not a random assignment, she said she had a fucking vision, and we’re the only ones who can fulfil it.”
Akira opened her mouth, probably to argue, but then she gasped and winced.
“What is it?” Morgana asked with a frown.
Akira slowly lifted up her palm, and we all watched in horror as the word “west” was slowly carved into her flesh. Blood seeped down her wrist, and she squeezed her black eyes shut in pain.
“Are you okay, Akir--ow!” Vesta hissed as she grabbed her own hand.
“What’s it say?” Morgana demanded, just before she winced in pain as well.
“It says south,” Vesta replied with a furrowed brow. “You?”
“East,” Morgana said.
“Which means either Cole or I will be north,” Faye whispered.
I looked down at my palm, and nothing happened, but after a moment, Faye grunted and grabbed her hand in pain.
Sure enough, the word “north” was cut into her skin.
I looked down at my own hand and waited in confusion.
“I don’t think anything is going to happen, Cole,” Akira muttered.
“Maybe not,” I said, “but I’m still going to wait and see.”
Suddenly, a burning pain dug into my flesh, and I struggled to raise my hand. Letter by letter slowly appeared, and each one was more painful than the last. Whatever was being carved into my skin, it wasn’t a simple word. It was a full fucking sentence.
“What does it say?” I asked through my teeth.
For some reason, I couldn’t bear to look at it.
“Cole, remain here,” the witches all replied.
“Well, I suppose it’s obvious what we have to do next,” Morgana sighed.
“Theodora couldn’t have just told us this before?” Akira mumbled. “She had to be all mysterious and shit.”
“That’s just her style,” I said as I got to my feet. “Besides, she told us what our objective was. We have to kill the creatures using the reversal spell and get out in one piece. Simple as squash pie… now, you’d better go.”
“But we shouldn’t separate,” Faye argued, and worry shone in her green-gold eyes. “What if something happens to you?”
“Well, we can’t linger here,” I said. “Theodora clearly wants us to go our separate ways. Besides, we all managed to fend for ourselves last night. We can do it again.”
“Cole’s right.” Vesta nodded. “There’s no use staying here with our thumbs up our asses. We better do what the headmistress commands.”
“Fine,” Faye sighed before she wrapped her arms around herself and cast a suspicious glance at the shadows of the dungeon. “I just have a bad feeling about this place.”
“We all do,” Vesta agreed, “but we cannot let fear overcome us.”
“So, let’s go, then,” Akira said, as determined as ever. Then the black-haired witch looked at me, and I saw a flash of unease in her ebony eyes. “For the sake of all of us, don’t die, ok?”
“I’ll do my best,” I replied with a forced smile. “You should all go. I have a feeling time is running out.”
With that, everyone else rose to their feet, and then they ran in their assigned directions through the archways that led to other mysterious rooms or hallways.
I planted my feet firmly on the ground and patiently waited for something to emerge. I hated waiting here like bait, so I quickly pulled my wand out and kept it aimed in front of me.
At first, there was nothing, and I just stared at the grimy stone walls, the cracked pillars, the dry hay, and the moss that grew in the cracks of the floor. Then suddenly, I could feel the air changing, and it was an unpleasant sensation. My heart felt heavy, almost as if I would never experience any form of pleasure ever again. Next, the air grew ice-cold, and I found myself violently shivering. A mist emitted from each breath I took, and I saw ice beginning to form on the pillars and against the cracks of stone. It was freezing cold now, to the point where I thought I might turn into an ice statue.
“Is it too cold for you?” a woman’s voice abruptly asked. “I can change that.”
I looked wildly around me, but there was nothing.
“You poor thing,” the woman crooned again.
Her voice was the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard. It reminded me of blue skies and the warm sun, and I smiled as I looked around.
“It is a bit cold, yes,” I replied in the politest voice I could muster.
“Oh, how careless of me,” she answered, “let me remedy that.”
The temperature quickly shifted, and the air became warm and salty. Instead of piss and vomit, the room smelled like the ocean. The ambiance had changed entirely, and I was no longer cold or nervous. Instead, I felt something I’d never experienced before. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was a beautiful feeling. Then the pain in my hand flared up, and when I turned to the doorway, everything changed.
My eyes suddenly fell upon the most beautiful woman imaginable standing before me, and my mouth dropped open as I studied her. She had long, pale blonde hair that was almost silver, and her pale, rosy skin glowed, even in the dimly lit room. She was wearing a sheer, white dress that showed off her womanly curves and perky, pink nipples. Her almond-shaped eyes were the color of gold, and they shone like honey as she slowly smiled at me.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
I was in a complete trance, and I couldn’t look away from her. The woman reminded me of green fields, open skies, and warm sunny days.
“I am Molpe,” she cooed, “and you are?”
“Cole,” I breathed.
I was utterly transfixed by her. I’d never been so captivated by someone before.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Cole,” she answered with a gorgeous smile.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” I muttered in a haze.
Molpe neared me and extended her white hand.
“I want to touch you,” she whispered in a seductive voice, “just once, let me touch you all over.”
I nodded. I wanted her more than anything.
No! Don’t listen to her, a voice in my head screamed, and it kind of sounded like Theodora. Fight back.
Something was wrong. As the beautiful vision walked toward me, my heart began to beat in fear, and it angrily pounded against my chest as she took another step closer to me. I tried to lift my wand, but it was difficult. It was as if she were forcing me to remain compliant. I was transfixed by her beauty, but there was also something incredibly terrifying about her.
That’s when it hit me.
She wanted to kill me.
Fight back, the voice in my head repeated. You must fight back. Use the reversal spell.
As beautiful and enchanting as this woman was, I knew she was nothing but a deadly weapon created through elder god magic and opposing schools.
I had to kill her before she slaughtered me.
So, I forced myself to lift my wand and aim it right at her, and her beautiful eyes suddenly turned from gold to a deep red. Then her perfect face morphed into a skeletal form like a snake, and her skin turned green and sickly. The young and beautiful woman was now replaced with an ugly hag. Yellow fangs protruded from her lips, and she opened her mouth to bare rows and rows of jagged teeth.
And as she advanced toward me, I could feel my soul leaving my body.
I suddenly realized she was sucking the life right out of me. I was growing weaker, and everything was beginning to fade to black. If I didn’t act now, I was going to die here.
Then I remembered the reversal spell. We’d never used it before, so I was playing with chance, but I had to use the spell, even if it was a risk, or she was just going to kill me.
“Novis!” I cried out.
Molpe, or whatever the hell she was called, cried out in pain as the spell hit her right in her hideous face. A bright light began to devour her as she slowly turned to ash and dirt, and she let out a horrid scream and dissolved into nothing but earth at my feet.
I stood trembling in the middle of the room and tried to catch my breath. I was still trying to understand what the hell just happened, and my heart pounded violently against my chest as I tried to steady my rapid breathing. Then a smile broke across my face as Molpe’s power surged through my veins and coursed through my entire body. Even though all magic had been drained from my psyche and my wand for a full minute, it didn’t matter. That was the price to pay for using such a powerful spell, but it had been worth it. That creature’s power was now a part of me, and I was ravished in the intoxicating feeling. It was overpowering, intoxicating, and all my senses felt as if they were in overdrive, but soon, the feeling began to grow weaker, and the moment was gone.
I didn’t know when it would return again, but I couldn’t wait to try the power out for myself when it did.
As I waited for my own magic to return, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of creature was that thing? I’d never been under such a trance before.
Suddenly, my hand burned again, and when I looked down, I saw new writing etched into my skin.
Well done.
As I breathed a sigh of instant relief, something pulled me back, and I started to spin and turn again. My body swerved, and my stomach was doing flips as I was transported through the air. I wanted to vomit as my body continued to spin and twirl, but finally, I landed with a thud back in Theodora’s office. To my instant relief, Vesta, Akira, Faye, and Morgana were all on the floor as well, but they all had messy hair and looked utterly disheveled. Morgana even had a bloody lip, and Akira sported a black eye.
“What the hell just happened?” I panted as I looked up at the headmistress.
“Well, you all returned in one piece.” Theodora smiled at each of us. “That’s good.”
“That was… interesting, Headmistress,” Akira muttered, and she winced as she poked at her black eye.
“Headmistress Theodora,” Vesta spoke up, and I noticed her skirt was torn in several places and her hand was cut and bleeding. “May I ask… how many more asylums… or creatures, are there?”
“That’s a good question,” I said as I looked to Theodora.
“All asylums are built for outcast spirits, demons, and monsters held in captivity,” Morgana explained with a dismissive wave of her hand, and then she turned to look at the headmistress. “But I’d never heard of one that harbored specific creatures to be used as weapons before.”
“This one had just come to my attention,” Theodora answered. “And as I said, I knew you would have been the only ones capable of defeating those creations. I know you haven’t been able to partake in normal, everyday classes, but as I’ve mentioned, the school is counting on you all.”
“Right… ” Morgana muttered, but a frown marred the beautiful brunette’s face, and she cringed as the movement upset her torn lip.
“Even if there are more, we can handle them,” I panted. “We all made it back in one piece and successfully used the reversal spell, despite its setbacks. That’s a job well fucking done in my book.”
“Cole.” Theodora smiled. “I’m glad to see that kind of optimism. I assure you that you will all need it in the days to come. Now, off with you! You must be starving. Go and get something to eat in the banquet hall.”
We all nodded gravely before leaving the room, but when we moved into the hallway, Akira stepped to block us from going into the banquet hall.
“So,” she said with a wide grin, “what did you all face in there?”
“Can we please grab food first?” Morgana sighed. “I need to eat after that little adventure.”
“Me, too,” Faye grumbled and winced as she touched her swollen cheek. “All I want to do is sit down.”
“You guys are so boring,” Akira groaned and rolled her black eyes, but she stepped aside to let us pass.
“No, we’re just hungry,” Faye countered.
“Honestly,” I said, “I’m pretty famished as well.”
“Sudden travel does that,” Morgana snorted.
We all went to our usual table, and instantly, plates of turkey, green beans, and yams with a side of cherry wine appeared in front of us.
“Ah,” Akira groaned as soon as she saw the wine, and she took a hearty gulp and smacked her lips. “I really needed this.”
“What the hell happened back there?” I asked. “I mean with the rest of you?”
“Nope,” Vesta cut in before anyone else could speak. “First, tell us what you saw, Cole.”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “She was a beautiful, blonde-haired woman who quickly turned into a hideous viper-monster. She tried to take my soul.”
“A siren.” Morgana nodded. “Impressive. Most men die by them quite easily.”
“Well, I’m not most men,” I replied with a smirk, and I was met with scoffs and eye rolls. “Now that I’ve told you mine. What happened with you all?”
“I ended up confronting a centaur again,” Vesta grumbled and shuddered “which gave me horrible flashbacks to the night you saved me.”
“And what happened?” I pushed.
“It just toyed with me for a little, asking me vague questions,” she replied, “and then it tried to attack me with a paralysis spell, but I reversed it and turned him to stone.”
“Cool,” Akira said before she stuffed a piece of turkey into her mouth.
“What about you, Akira?” I asked. “How did you end up with that nasty bruise on your face?”
“I ran into a pillar,” she muttered after a moment.
Morgana burst out laughing, and Akira shot her a sharp look.
“Oh, and what about you?” she demanded. “Your lip is swollen and bleeding.”
“I ended up confronting a ghoul,” the brunette said with a haughty sniff. “At first, it didn’t go so well. The ghoul tried to rip my face off with a cutting spell until I reversed it, and boom! I slashed it into thin, bloody slices.”
“Not bad,” Akira said, and I could tell she was somewhat impressed.
“Well, besides a pillar,” I snickered, “what did you face, Akira?”
“I had to fight off an ogre,” she groaned and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “He stank of shit and piss.”
“What spell did it try to cast on you?” Morgana asked.
“A sleeping curse,” Akira scoffed, “but I was quicker than him. As soon as he shot the spell in my direction, I reversed it and put that fucker into a deep sleep. Then I slit his throat. He won’t be waking up anytime soon.”
“Good for you.” I grinned before I turned to the last member of our coven. “What about you, Faye?”
“A goblin king,” the redhead said as she chewed on a bite of yams. “It tried to use a forgetful curse on me, so I reversed the spell, and the idiot couldn’t remember a thing before I killed him. It was quite funny, actually.”
We all laughed, and I looked at my witches. They were such a strong group of women. We’d been warned the reversal spell would be a risk, but we all managed to use it and defeat the creatures that posed a threat to our school anyway. Even though I had my occasional doubts, I knew we could do this. It would just take some time.
The only problem was, I wasn’t sure how much time we had left.