“Don’t dawdle now!” Luna sang over her shoulder as we struggled to keep up with her. “Move it along, for hell’s sake. We have important things to accomplish today, and I won’t be held back by your painstakingly slow pace… Satan, it’s like I’m leading a row of baby ducks to the sacrificial slaughter shed. Keep up! Keep up! Keeeepppp uppppppp!”
Professor Luna led us through the black forest, and the air was especially chilly and numbing this morning. Pale sunlight streamed through the woods and cast a soft glow on the root covered soil and naked trees, and as we walked, both groups of witches pushed onward with deep frowns and furrowed eyebrows on their beautiful faces. Clearly, no one was pleased about Luna’s decision to drag us through these woods for another perilous private lesson.
“Sweet baby Satan,” Akira panted as we treaded through the forest. “I know I’ve said it before, but she’s fucking insane.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you,” Morgana added, which caused all of us to stare at her in surprise.
“You are?” Akira breathed in disbelief. “Did you hit your head on something?”
“Shadow splitting is no joking matter,” the bookish brunette hissed. “I cannot believe we’re actually doing this. We should be in the classroom’s confinements if we’re going to practice such a dangerous spell.”
“Well, we’re not,” I added, “but I’m sure that whatever we’re going to be doing, Luna will have it under control.”
“But, Cole, do you think Headmistress Theodora knows?” Faye asked, and the freckled witch chewed on her lower lip. “I mean, she must know, right? Luna wouldn’t bring us all the way out here in case we die, or worse?”
“Of course, the headmistress knows,” Penelope spat before I could respond. “I’ll bet you a purple frog-leg this was her idea, and why the hell are you so worried, anyway? You have a freaking blood pact to keep you safe… the rest of us are royally fucked.”
“I hate to admit it,” Akira sighed, “but carrot-top is probably right… no offense.”
“None taken,” Penelope grunted, but a faint smile flickered around the corners of her mouth. “At least you’re admitting I’m right. It’s about damn time.”
The black-eyed witch opened her mouth to argue, but instead, she clamped her full lips tightly shut.
“Whatever you say, Penelope.” She smiled sweetly.
“Let’s just stay focused, shall we?” I sighed. “We don’t need to be worrying about what could possibly go wrong. Instead, let’s just focus on the lesson.”
“Yeah, but, Cole --” Penelope started, but she was cut off.
“All that chitter-chatter back there is slowing you down!” Luna interjected as she continued to walk straight ahead of us with no problem at all. “Less talk, more movement! I can feel the wrinkles on my skin increasing as we speak. Ewwww. So wrinkly.”
“How does she always have so much fucking energy?” Iris mumbled as she flicked back her pink-streaked fringe.
“I’m starting to think she spikes her tea every morning,” Vesta grumbled.
“And every evening.” Beatrix smirked.
The witches all giggled under their breaths as we pushed onward, and as we walked deeper into the black woods, the air grew thicker and less inviting. A pale white mist was beginning to cloud our feet and ankles as Luna dragged us further into the belly of the forest, and for a moment, I wondered if we would all make it back in one piece.
Finally, we reached a small circular patch of land, which mostly consisted of moist, rotten earth. Black, naked trees surrounded the patch of dirt, and even though the sun was still shining down on us, the light felt cold and dead. Soon, darkness would engulf us all, since the sunlight barely graced the deep woods for long.
“This should be a perfect spot.” Luna grinned as she came to a stop and stood on the patch of soil. “Now everyone, stand in a tight-knit circle. Oh, and before I forget, be wary of venomous butterflies… sometimes, they sprout out from the ground when you least expect it. One little nibble can turn your skin green and make blood shoot out of your ears, eyes, mouth, and… other parts. Actually, they are considered a rare delicacy in some realms if you pluck their wings correctly. Tee. Hee.”
“Butterflies are the least of our worries,” Akira muttered under her breath.
“Actually, they are no joking matter,” Faye warned in a low voice. “I’d be very careful if I were you. I have an entire book on the different species and types of lethal insects--”
“What was that, Miss Akira? Miss Faye?” Luna asked in an innocent tone of voice.
“Nothing, Professor,” Akira quickly responded.
“Ah, well, then, get into your circle,” Luna ordered as she clapped her hands together. “Quickly now.”
We all sighed quietly under our breaths before we gathered into a circle, and then we waited for Luna’s next kooky command.
But she simply blinked at us, and a long, pregnant silence followed.
“Are they ready?” a familiar voice asked from behind me.
Several witches jumped up in surprise, and when I whipped around, I spotted Headmistress Theodora situated in between the trees with her hands folded in front of her.
“Ah, Headmistress,” Luna said, “I thought that was you! I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up at all.”
“But of course,” Theodora elegantly drawled. “This is one of the most important tasks they’ll have to master before the final game.”
“No pressure,” Akira whispered.
“Miss Akira,” Luna said suddenly, and her lilac eyes shot toward the smart-mouthed witch. “You seem to be very talkative this morning. Would you like to go first? I’m actually curious to see what your shadow will look like.”
“There’s probably no difference between them,” Morgana muttered loud enough for some of the other witches to snicker.
“Very funny,” Akira grunted as she scrunched up her small nose. “Alright… I’ll go first.”
“Perfect,” Luna answered. “Headmistress Theodora, would you like to take a step closer?”
“No, thank you, Luna,” the older woman responded. “I’d prefer to keep my distance, just in case I need to step in. I have a better view of each witch from here.”
“Very well.” The pale blonde witch nodded in agreement. “Alright, Akira, are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” the short-haired witch answered with her chin raised.
Akira was putting on a brave face, but I could feel hesitation and fear emitting from her body like a heatwave. Her lower lip was slightly trembling, and she was clutching so tightly onto her wand that her knuckles were turning white.
“Don’t be afraid, Akira,” I whispered. “You can do this. You will do this. That’s an order.”
She quickly looked at me and then nodded. “I will do this.”
“Akira, stop staring at Cole, and pay attention to me,” Luna hissed. “Now, this will be a tad bit different from what we demonstrated in class, so listen closely. You will have to summon the shadow on your own, and it will be a little bit painful, so try not to worry if it feels like your head is splitting open in two.”
Akira firmly nodded and then waited for the next command.
“To split yourself in half, you will raise your wand above your head,” Luna began, “and then you must repeat the words, ‘qui vocat umbra mea.’ Understood?”
“Yes, Professor.” Akira nodded.
The dark-eyed witch then raised her wand and repeated the incantation in a firm, clear voice. As soon as the entire spell left her lips, the sky darkened, and then the trees began to sway in the blowing, violent wind. A fierce chill crept up my spine as inky black smoke oozed from Akira’s wand, and then it slowly began to form a slim, shadowy replica of the dark-eyed witch.
This version of Akira was the same height and build, and my mouth slowly gaped open as the shadow hovered over us and then stared directly at me. Its features were identical to Akira’s, and as the shadow floated closer to me, I studied the dark outline of her small narrow nose, full lips, and slanted, exotic eyes.
The shadow flashed me a quick smile and then began to float over the trees above us.
“Take control of her, Akira!” Luna demanded. “The same way Cole took control of the mock shadow!”
Akira pursed her lips in concentration, and with dark, determined eyes, she aimed her wand at the wandering silhouette. The shadow must have sensed Akira’s wand on her back because, in the next moment, it quickly whipped its smoky head in Akira’s direction and then screeched. The sound was deafening, and I was sure it would split our eardrums wide open, but the black-eyed witch never faltered. As the phantom continued to pierce our eardrums, Akira narrowed her ebony eyes at the entity and then gripped her wand even tighter.
“Vinculum!” she shouted.
The shadow shrieked even louder, and then it extended black, smoky hands toward Akira’s throat as if it was preparing to choke the life out of her.
I wasn’t about to just stand here and watch Akira being attacked, so I pulled out my own wand and then aimed it at her shadow.
“Volant!” I cried out.
A blast of light hit the shadow, and it squealed like a tortured animal as it flew back through the air at an alarming speed. When the spell wore off, the shadow hovered from afar between two trees, and we all watched as it narrowed its dark eyes at me and then quickly glided in my direction.
“Forma reditus!” Akira shouted.
The light hit her shadow just before it could reach me, and then it cried out again. The sound caused a murder of crows to fly through the steel gray sky, and I could tell Akira was physically struggling to recapture her shadow by her gritted teeth and the sweat on her brow.
“Don’t let go of her!” Luna shouted. “Stay focused, Akira!”
Akira groaned as sweat dripped from her brow, and she was turning a deep shade of red as if she were holding her breath. Her chest heaved up and down, though, and her knees violently trembled as she kept her wand extended outward and aimed at the shadow.
Finally, the silhouette must have given up because it cried out one last time before it disappeared into nothingness. The air suddenly went still, and then everyone looked at each other with wide, terrified eyes.
“Do I have to do that again?” Akira finally asked in a small voice, and she dropped her wand hand back to her side.
“Well, yes!” Luna sighed impatiently, and the beautiful professor placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. Then she shot me a disgruntled look before she spoke. “Cole, why did you interfere?”
“Because I didn’t want to watch Akira’s shadow choke the life out of her,” I countered.
“Oh, she would have been fine,” Luna replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. “A few days in the infirmary never hurt anyone.”
“Wait… did you say days?” the short-haired witch gulped.
“Anyway,” Luna pouted as she ignored Akira’s question. “Aside from that little hiccup, you didn’t do too badly there, Miss Akira.”
“T-Thank you?” she stuttered.
“How are you feeling, Akira?” Morgana asked in a soothing voice.
“Like total troll shit,” the short-haired witch responded with pale lips and dark circles under her eyes. Then her black orbs widened, and she placed a hand over her mouth. “I’m going to be sick.”
Before anyone could say another word to her, Akira bolted behind a grove of trees, and we could all hear her violently heaving up this morning’s breakfast.
“Not to worry, that happens sometimes,” Luna sighed. “Okay… let’s see who’s next.”
The beautiful professor swiveled her head in different directions until her lavender eyes landed on me, and then she smiled.
“Cole… since you seem so eager to participate, why don’t you go next?” she suggested.
Akira was a pale and trembling mess as she slowly rejoined the group, and when she stood by my side, she shot me a fearful look.
“Alright,” I replied as I met Luna’s gaze squarely. “I’ll go next.”
“Excellent.” The professor nodded with wide and eager eyes, and she gestured for me to take a small step forward. “Go on, then.”
I sighed and prepared myself for whatever might happen next, but before I raised my wand above my head, I tried to clear my mind of all fear and doubt. It wasn’t such an easy endeavor, though, since all I could think about were the endless possibilities and terrifying outcomes.
I barely knew who I was, and what if my double was even worse than Akira’s? What if I was unable to control it? What if it hungered for blood and death, even from those I cared deeply for?
There were so many things that could go wrong, it was difficult to remain focused and clear-headed.
“Cole, what’s the hold-up?” Luna asked as she tapped her foot in the dirt. “We haven’t got all day!”
“I think he fears what might happen once his shadow is released,” Theodora suggested as she edged closer to our circle. “Is that not so, Cole?”
“I do have my concerns,” I replied without looking at her, but I could feel her standing directly behind me.
“You would be a fool not to,” the headmistress replied as she took another step forward and then turned to face me. “Take your time… breathe in the forest air and feel the darkness that you can control. Let the dark forces seep into your blood and allow them to guide you. You need to control your fear, especially the fear you have for yourself and who you are.”
I nodded deeply and then cautiously raised my wand. As I stood there and prepared myself for whatever might come, I could feel everyone’s apprehension, and the witches’ eyes burned into my skin as they stared long and hard at me.
Of course, the only exception was Professor Luna, who had a wide and enthusiastic smile on her face, but we all knew she was short of a few marbles.
“Are you ready now?” Luna asked in a brisk tone.
“Yes.” I nodded firmly.
“Then take a step forward and summon your deadly half,” she ordered.
I took in a long, deep, steady breath before stepping forward. Then I slowly lifted my wand into the air and mentally prepared myself for anything that might come my way.
Finally, I was ready.
“Qui vocat umbra mea,” I recited, and I spoke each word carefully as if my life depended on it.
Soon, thick red smoke appeared from my wand’s tip, and the sky slowly darkened. Then there was no trace of sunlight left because the sky had turned a deep, charcoal black. A violent wind swept across the decaying soil, and dead leaves, twigs, and other bits and pieces of the forest were carried up into the air and flew in every direction.
A storm of chaos was brewing on my behalf.
I watched with wide eyes as the red smoke slowly began to form a tall, broad-shouldered man who was exactly my height and build. The crimson silhouette had its eyes shut, and right as it opened its bright, yellow orbs, the sky split with a crack of lightning.
And that’s when I thought I saw something unusual, even for me.
It could have been a trick of the light, but I could have sworn I saw two horns appear at the top of the shadow’s head. It was only for a split second, but I was sure I saw them. They were two massive, sharp, protruding parts that curled up and over, like a ram’s, but when I looked again, they seemed to have disappeared.
“What the fuck?” I muttered to myself.
This red version of myself simply stared at me, and then its face broke into a malevolent grin. The shadow form slowly opened its mouth and then released the most painful sound I’d ever heard, even worse than the holy army’s screech. I could feel hot blood dribbling down my ears as I met its yellow, malicious eyes, and my head throbbed in agony.
“Cole!” Luna screamed. “Take control of it!”
The wind grew stronger and stung my skin with dirt and pebbles, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hear the professor’s voice. As I tried to fight against the violent wind and raise my wand, the shadow in front of me opened its ugly mouth, and another long, drawn-out scream erupted from its lips. When I quickly glanced at the others, each witch was crouched down into the mud, and they all had their hands tightly pressed against their ears. Even Professor Luna appeared to be suffering from the excruciating sound as she squinted her eyes and scrunched her pretty face in pain. Theodora was nowhere in sight, but I could feel her presence still lurking behind me.
As I met the gaze of my fiery red double, trees were being pulled from their roots and flying through the air. The storm was growing more vicious by the second, and I could feel the wind trying to shove my body and hand back. I fought as hard as I could against the storm and stared into my other half’s eyes, but its smile just grew more feral and bloodthirsty, and I knew the only thing it wanted was death. I felt its deepest, darkest desires as if they were my own. My dark form craved death, destruction, and decay, just like a drug, and it would do whatever it could to obtain its desires.
But fuck this bastard. I was still the one in control.
The wind tried to force my hand down, but I fought against the sensation and lifted my wand even higher. Then I aimed it right in between the motherfucker’s eyes and smiled.
“Vinculum!” I screamed.
The spell hit the shadow right in the center of its chest, and then it jerked backward as if it had been stabbed in the gut. I watched as it wriggled and squirmed under my spell, and then the smoky form shot me another spiteful glare before it tried to open its red mouth.
But I was faster.
“Silence!” I commanded.
The shadow’s crimson mouth clamped closed, and then its lips turned into a thin, red line. I watched as it tried to break free from my hold, but I knew it was useless. I had taken total control over the smoky being, and it was mine to command.
“From now on, you will obey my every whim,” I ordered. “Is that understood?”
The double nodded slowly and then hovered a little closer to me. It may have been mine to control, but I was ready to send it back to where it belonged.
“Forma reditus!” I grunted.
The howling wind came to a slow stop, and then the crimson phantom began to dissolve into pale red wisps of smoke. The mist returned to my wand, and it felt as if I were becoming whole once again. Finally, the air settled, and then the sky returned to a whitish-gray.
The witches all looked cautiously around them before they slowly stood up.
“That was… fucking insane,” Akira gawked with her large, black eyes.
“No kidding,” Vesta breathed. “I was sure the whole forest was going to be ripped up from its roots.”
“Don’t even say such a thing,” Faye breathed with wide, gold-green eyes. “A destroyed forest would have been one of the worst possible outcomes.”
I exhaled sharply and tried to ignore the splitting headache that was penetrating my skull. My stomach was doing flips and somersaults, and for a moment, I wondered if I was going to be sick like Akira.
“Oh, well done!” Luna exclaimed like a giddy schoolgirl. “That was certainly interesting, wasn’t it?”
I was painfully nauseous, and my body felt as weak as a newborn deer’s, but I did my best to remain still and upright, even though my entire body was begging me to lay down.
“Did… did anyone else see that?” I asked after a moment of silence.
“See what?” Faye asked as she picked leaves and twigs out of her long, tangled hair. “Your red double? Of course, we saw him.”
“No, not that.” I shook my head slightly. “The horns… did anyone else see those fucking horns?”
“What horns?” Morgana questioned as she cocked her head to the side.
“I thought I saw horns on the top of his head,” I replied with a confused frown. “Are you telling me none of you saw them?”
I glanced at each witch, but not one of them seemed to know what I was talking about.
“I didn’t see any horns.” Akira shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean they weren’t there.”
“Yeah, exactly--” I went on, but Professor Luna cut me short.
“Horns, tails, wings, who cares?” she interjected, although I thought I detected a small amount of doubt in her voice. “The point is, you took control over your shadow. You also didn’t die. Ha! I think that’s a job well done in my book.”
“Professor--” I started, but then I felt a warm hand press down on my shoulder.
“Cole,” Theodora drawled in a soothing voice. “You’re exhausted… Why don’t we head back to the castle and prepare for your dinner tonight? The rest of the groups can practice with Luna while you return to your quarters and get dressed.”
“But, Headmistress--” I tried to argue, but she beat me to it.
“No arguments,” she insisted. “You need to have your wits about you tonight. Now, come along. I trust Luna won’t let anything happen to any of the students. They’re in good hands.”
Theodora took a step closer to me, and when I turned to look at her, she stared sternly in Professor Luna’s direction.
“Ah, yes, of course.” The blonde witch nodded. “I will ensure their safety, and do my best to keep them out of harm’s way… I mean, I really can’t promise anything for certain, but--”
Theodora cleared her throat, and Luna quickly acknowledged the warning.
“I mean, nothing will happen,” she answered quickly. “You go on now, Cole. Don’t worry about anything.”
I nodded, but not before I turned to look at my own coven.
“We’ll be fine, Cole,” Faye affirmed in a soothing voice, and she flashed me a quick smile. “Just go.”
I cast one last glance at the group and then followed Theodora back to the castle. As we walked through the damp, dark woods, Theodora hummed a strange melody under her breath, and I couldn’t help but feel as if the ever-confident headmistress was a bit nervous.
“You’re concerned about my dinner with Ravana tonight,” I said, “aren’t you?”
“Why ever would you think that?” she asked without looking at me.
“I can feel it,” I answered. “It’s practically radiating off your body.”
“Well, you’re incorrect,” she replied as she lifted her chin stubbornly, and she looked just like her daughter Vanessa when she did this. “I’m perfectly fine, but I appreciate your concern.”
“Alright, then,” I answered, but my voice was laced with doubt. “If you’re sure.”
We quietly passed through the tall, black iron gates that led into the castle, and once we were inside the warm academy, Theodora stopped in the middle of the corridor and then quickly looked around as if to make sure no one was in earshot.
“Headmistress,” I said with a raised eyebrow, “are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, but then she gave me the once over and sighed. “I just need you to be extremely cautious tonight. Can you do that for me, Cole?”
“When have I ever let you down?” I grinned confidently.
“Not once so far,” she admitted with a small smile. “Still, keep both your eyes and ears peeled, will you?”
“I will,” I answered in a cool tone.
“Very well.” She nodded. “Now, go upstairs and get some rest before dinner. You’ll be needing it. Be sure to come by my office when you’re ready. I’ll take you down to Headmaster Ravana.”
I nodded and then parted ways with the Headmistress, and as I headed toward the common room, I tried not to envision all the different ways that tonight could go wrong.
I was about to enter the lion’s den, but what Headmaster Ravana didn’t know was that I’ve faced more terrifying beasts than him, and I was fucking ready for anything.