Theodora hadn’t been exaggerating about the dungeons.
We’d been walking down countless flights of stairs for I didn’t know how long, and the air was growing danker and colder by the minute. The headmistress lit our way with her wand, but there wasn’t much to see anyway. The pale stone steps were cracked and covered in moss and grit, the stone walls were the same color and texture as the steps, and the only difference between them was the occasional bloodstain.
“Um, Headmistress,” Morgana panted. “Just how far underground are we?”
“We’re in the deepest bowels of the castle,” Theodora responded without turning around. “We decided to keep some of our prisoners down here where no students could get to them and vice versa. It’s better to be safe, rather than sorry, wouldn’t you agree?”
“How long have you been keeping dangerous prisoners down here?” Akira questioned.
“For decades,” Theodora responded in a matter-of-fact tone. “Even long before I became the headmistress.”
“Cool,” the black-eyed witch answered. “I dig it.”
“Of course, you do,” I snickered under my breath.
“Not that I’m complaining, Headmistress,” Beatrix said, “but how much farther do we have to go?”
“It’s not too far now,” Theodora answered. “I’m starting to realize that none of you possess the virtue of patience, and patience is a key component of premonition.”
“We may not be patient, but we’re bloodthirsty as fuck,” Akira quipped, and her black eyes glinted in the dim light of Theodora’s wand. “That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose it does,” the headmistress chuckled. “Now, keep up. The sooner we get down into the dungeons, the sooner you can practice.”
Even though we’d been walking for what felt like over half an hour, every nerve in my body was pulsating with excitement and curiosity. I pictured the vilest and most dangerous creatures lurking down in the dungeon, and instead of feeling fear, I felt pure adrenaline.
Who knew what we would have to face? I had no idea, but I was eager to find out.
I was ready for fucking anything.
Finally, we reached the last step, and the entire floor was pitch black, even with Theodora’s light to guide the way. As soon as we were all situated on the dirt floor, Theodora raised her free hand, and then the entire dungeon burst with light. Candles hung from scones on the walls, and there was also an ocean of floating candles hovering directly above us. When I glanced around the ice-cold room, all I could see were wide, wooden doors, and each one had a set of small metal bars covering a sliver of an opening at the top. We heard deep growls and a chorus of other voices echoing throughout the dank room, and I knew there had to be at least a dozen creatures down here.
“Now, what you see before you are the prisoners I mentioned,” Theodora explained. “We rarely use them for academic practice, especially for students of your age and magical level, but as you guessed, we make occasional exceptions.”
When I turned to look at the others, each witch had pale lips and wide, terrified eyes, and they all jumped back as something slammed its body against one of the doors. The wooden barrier creaked and groaned, and splinters shot out into the air like a rain of small arrows.
For a split second, I genuinely thought it was going to break down.
“Let me out of here, you goddamn bitch!” a deep, menacing voice growled. “You’ll be fucking sorry if you don’t.”
“How rude,” Vesta muttered under her breath.
“As you can clearly hear,” Theodora said as she rolled her eyes, “these beasts lack manners… so don’t pay any attention to their insults. Anyway, who would like to go first?”
Morgana meekly raised her hand into the air, and I could see she was trembling.
“Ah, Miss Morgana?” Theodora smiled. “How brave of you.”
“Actually, Headmistress,” the brunette responded awkwardly, “I was hoping you could tell us what we’re going to be doing first.”
“Well, I was going to get to that,” Theodora said as she clucked her tongue. “I wasn’t about to let you just guess. You’re still not advanced enough for that.”
“Err… I knew that.” The bookworm blushed deeply. “I was just making sure.”
“Well, the first thing you will be practicing is how to foresee a dangerous circumstance before it arrives,” the headmistress explained. “So, as you can obviously guess, behind each door lies a different human or creature. Your goal is to sense the danger they possess before I open the door--”
“But how do we do that?” Penelope interjected. “There could be at least a hundred different spells and possibilities.”
“I was just about to get to that, Miss Penelope,” Theodora said as she arched a sharp eyebrow.
The bright-haired witch clamped her mouth shut and then looked down at her feet, and an awkward silence filled the air as the headmistress stared long and hard at the outspoken witch.
“She meant no disrespect, Headmistress,” Beatrix mumbled after the silence became deafening. “She’s just nervous.”
“It’s quite alright.” Theodora nodded. “I understand you all have your reservations and fears, but those qualities will prevent you from achieving premonition greatness, so you must learn to set them aside, understood?”
“Yes, Headmistress,” we all replied in unison.
“Excellent.” Theodora smiled. “Now, as with all premonition skills, you must keep an open and free mind as you focus on your mysterious opponent. Then you must quickly decipher which spell would be the best one to use. For example, if I were faced with a centaur, what spell would best disarm the quick and cunning creature?”
“Glacio?” Morgana suggested. “Or perhaps, Conligo?”
“Excellent, Miss Morgana,” Theodora replied. “Centaurs are quick, so a freezing or paralyzing spell would be best. As you focus on your potential opponent, you must silently repeat the word ‘periculum,’ and you should be able to see your foe before they appear. If not… well, we’ll worry about that later.”
We all nodded in mutual understanding and then pulled out our wands.
“Oh, no, no,” Theodora tutted. “No wands, I want you to use your hands to predict your foe. You may use your wands once you figure out what you’re facing, but not before that.”
The witches around me exchanged panicked looks with each other before they slowly tucked their wands back into their skirts, and I slipped my own wand up my sleeve.
“Now, who’s ready to go first?” Theodora asked.
No one said a word, and several witches even took a small step back. I knew someone had to be first, though, so why not me?
“I’ll go,” I offered with my chin raised.
“Very good, Cole,” Theodora answered. “Come and stand by my side.”
I took a small, tentative step forward and joined the headmistress, and when I was standing shoulder to shoulder with her, she turned to face me.
“Are you ready?” she asked. “Is your mind open?”
Before I answered, I took in a deep breath and tried not to picture the endless possibilities that could be lurking behind these wooden doors.
“As much as possible,” I finally responded.
“Excellent,” Theodora answered as she took a small step back. “Now, face the door and prepare yourself. You can do this, Cole.”
I adjusted myself, planted my feet firmly on the ground, and then raised my hands. With all my mental strength, I focused on the door, and then something heavy slammed against it. I didn’t flinch, even though several witches gasped loudly.
“Be quiet,” Theodora hissed at the others.
I swallowed hard and then forced my mind to turn into a blank slate. As I studied the door, my mind slowly freed itself from any fear and doubt, so I took one more deep breath before I thought of the incantation.
Periculum.
Then, as clear as day, I pictured a massive bird with a gigantic beak, razor-sharp talons, and wings made from steel. Its eyes were the color of blood, and it was larger than any bird I’d ever seen or read about. It was beating its massive wings inside the cell, and I knew as soon as the door opened, it would be quick to attack. I figured the best spell to use would be something that could cut off its wings before it charged at me, so I gritted my teeth and prepared myself.
“I’m ready,” I said.
Theodora used her mind to slowly open the door, and as it started to lift from the dirt like a portcullis, I heard a deep growl from within. The outline of the creature slowly revealed itself from the bottom up, and I pulled out my wand as I took a small step back. Then I focused on the creature’s clawed feet, and as soon as the door completely lifted, the enormous bird flew out from the opening and sprang right for me with a deafening screech.
The witches all screamed in terror as the beastly bird fluttered its silver wings and opened its mouth to devour me, but I was quicker. I dodged its attack, and it ended up pecking the ground instead of me, and it cawed angrily as I swerved around it. It was trying to regain its balance and speed, but then I quickly took aim and attacked.
“Secare!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
A bright light hit the bird’s right wing and sliced it clean off, and the creature squawked in pain and fury as blood spurted from its open wound like a red waterfall. Then it fell sideways and stumbled as more blood gushed out from the opening, and I didn’t hesitate to finish the job.
“Secare!” I repeated as I aimed at the other wing.
The large, sharp-edged appendage detached from the bird’s body with another spray of crimson blood, and then the bird fell to the ground with a thunderous crash. We all watched as the life slowly drained from its eyes, and after another moment, it stopped moving entirely, and dark blood pooled from its wounds and seeped toward my boots.
The witches were silent for a minute until one of them began to wildly clap and cheer, and when I looked in their direction, I was surprised to see it was Penelope. She was jumping up and down with glee, and I couldn’t help but smile at her reaction.
“Stupendous,” Theodora breathed, and her blue eyes glinted with pride as she looked from me to the dead bird-monster. “That was a very clever way to kill it, Cole.”
“Thank you.” I nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Now, who’s next?” Theodora asked.
“Me!” Akira shouted with her hand raised in the air. “Please!”
“Alright, then,” Theodora chuckled. “That’s the spirit I want to see. Come up here, Akira.”
I turned away from the headmistress and then joined the others, and we all watched as the short-haired witch waltzed over toward Theodora.
“Take the next door, Akira,” the headmistress instructed.
Everyone’s eyes were plastered on the black-eyed witch as she confidently strutted over to the next wooden door and then waited.
“Do I need to go over the instructions, Miss Akira?” Theodora asked.
“No,” she answered confidently. “I’m ready.”
“Fantastic.” Theodora nodded before she took a small step back and then gestured toward the door. “Show us what you can do.”
Akira cleared her throat and then narrowed her black eyes at the mysterious, wooden door, and as she stood there with her hand outstretched, something heavy banged against the confinements and growled deeply. The black-haired witch jumped back, but then she quickly composed herself and raised her hand even higher into the air.
“I’m ready,” she said in a low voice.
The door slowly lifted, and I caught a pair of paws planted on the ground. The massive clawed feet were kicking back clouds of dirt as the mystery beast prepared to attack Akira, but the brave witch was ready. As soon as the door lifted completely, we all gasped to see a three-headed dog charging right at Akira, but before it could rip out her throat, she pulled out her wand and aimed it at the swift creature.
“Parvus!” she shouted.
A deep purple light hit the dog, and then its entire body convulsed before it shrunk into a tiny-sized mutt. When it realized it was smaller, it barked and squeaked at Akira in anger, and then its three heads swiveled around the damp room. Its eyes were furrowed in rage, and it continued to bark and nip at Akira’s ankles. Then one of the heads managed to bite into her pale skin and draw blood, and the witch flinched back in annoyance.
“Ouch!” Akira snapped. “Quit it, you dumb little shit.”
The witches burst out into laughter as the three-headed puppy pranced away from her and then ran over to us and began sniffing at our shoes.
“You know, I think I’ll make the spell permanent, and we’ll keep it as an academy pet instead of killing it,” Theodora said after a moment, and a faint smirk twitched across her lips. “Vanessa does have a soft spot for canines.”
“It’s so weird looking,” Penelope chuckled.
“Akira, I had no idea you knew about the shrinking spell,” Morgana breathed. “I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” the short-haired witch responded with her chin raised. “I know it’s only a temporary curse, but I figured it was the best spell to use in this case.”
“Let’s have another go at it, but this time, two of you may come up at the same time,” Theodora said as she looked around. “How about Miss Vesta and Miss Faye?”
The duo nodded firmly before they each took a couple steps closer to the headmistress. Theodora pointed to two different doors and then each witch took her respective place. They stood still for a long moment, staring at the mysterious doors. When they were ready, they glanced at each other and then raised their wands into the air and prepared for whatever may come charging their way.
“Ready?” Theodora asked.
“Yes, Headmistress,” the two witches answered in unison.
The doors slowly lifted, and then I watched as a massive, midnight-blue bear with extracted claws and protruding teeth came charging at Faye. Meanwhile, a thick, emerald serpent that was at least twenty-five-feet long with multiple tails slithered toward Vesta.
Both witches did not falter as the beasts came charging in their direction. My eyes darted between the two, and the redhead was the first to take control over her creature, and she wasted no time casting her spell.
“Mutatio!” she screamed.
Suddenly, the dark blue bear stopped in its tracks and then its entire body violently shuddered. His extended black claws seeped back into his paws until there was nothing left, and his sharp, yellow teeth shrunk into small buds, like rows of kettle corn. The bear’s natural weapons were gone now, and he was no longer a threat. It stared at Faye strangely before growling in frustration and then returning to its prison cell.
While all this was occurring, Vesta wasted no more time and then aimed her wand at the multi-tailed serpent.
“Volant!” she cried out.
The serpent flew into the air and then began to wriggle in protest as Vesta kept it projected upward. It snapped and writhed as the elvish witch sent it back into its prison and then both doors came crashing down once the beasts were back in their cells.
When the air settled, Theodora clapped with pride, and both witches were brimming with pride.
“What spell did you use, Faye?” Akira asked as they returned to the line.
“A temporary mutation spell,” the redhead responded. “I try to use whatever I can to avoid hurting a creature.”
“Very clever.” Vesta smiled. “I myself prefer not to make a mess if I can help it.”
“Alright, enough chitter-chatter,” Theodora interrupted. “I think you have the gist of it… the rest of you take a door and practice. I’ll be watching closely, so do not fear. Just make sure you picture the creature before you ask me to open the door.”
Akira and I stood by and watched as the rest of the witches all took their positions at different doors and waited. I was slightly nervous for Penelope and her group because if they were attacked and killed, there was no blood pact to save them. I knew it was a slim chance with Theodora around, but it was still one of the reasons I had to convince the orange-haired witch to join my coven.
And soon.
I watched as different doors opened up at various times, and each witch faced their own deadly creature and masterfully defeated it. When each witch had completed their tasks, I breathed a sigh of relief as I stared at the bloodstained floor and studied the dead beasts lying on the ground. I spotted a griffin head, a troll’s arm, and even the head of a medusa.
“Well done,” Theodora praised as she looked over the two teams. “You all did a marvelous job.”
Everyone nodded their heads in gratitude, and sighs of relief echoed in the room.
“So, is that it?” Beatrix wondered.
“I’m sorry?” the headmistress asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“A-Are we done?” the light-haired brunette stuttered. “We completed the assignment…”
“Oh, hell, no,” Theodora laughed as she waved her hand in the air. “We still haven’t covered psychoscopy.”
The headmistress snapped her fingers, and then a large cloud of dark blue smoke erupted in the middle of the dungeon, and when it cleared, there was a human man. He was tied naked to a chair, and his skin was absolutely filthy with grime and dry blood. His large, yellow eyes focused on the coven, and then his face broke into a disturbing smile.
“Oh, sweet girls, help me,” he begged. “Please help me… I know you have kindness in your hearts. Please help me escape from here.”
“Nope.” Akira shook her head. “You’re shit out of luck.
His eyes went as wide as dinner plates, and then his chapped lips parted open before he turned to look back at the headmistress.
“Please,” he repeated. “Just let me go… I swear, I won’t tell my village that you took me. We won’t seek vengeance.”
“Pfft,” Theodora said as she waved her hand in the air. “As if you could. You humans are truly pathetic creatures. Now, be quiet before I sew your wormy lips shut.”
The hostage immediately clamped his mouth shut and then turned to look back at us. His eyes were filled with desperation, but I felt no pity for him. Whatever he did, he deserved to be here. I knew his kind by now, and they hated us beyond reasonable measure and vice versa.
In a war, there was no room for mercy. Not if you wanted to win.
“Please,” the man whimpered again. “I beg you.”
Theodora raised her hand in the air and then slapped him across the face with all her strength. His head swiveled from the sudden impact, and his lip split open. As blood trickled down his grimy chin, he lowered his head and then began to pathetically sob.
“Now, students,” the headmistress said as she ignored the man’s pitiful cries, “pay close attention to what I’m about to do.”
The headmistress raised her hand and closed her eyes. Then she pressed her hand against the forehead of her hostage, and he began to tremble violently under her hold. As she continued to press her hand against his skin, piss dripped down his legs and puddled beneath his feet, but Theodora didn’t even flinch or step back.
“Where is your family now?” she whispered.
“Go to hell,” the man whimpered. “You goddamn bitch.”
His pathetic attempts to insult the headmistress didn’t faze anyone. We all knew he was about to shit himself, and it would have been better if he just answered the damn question.
But then again, what fun would that be?
“Now as you can see,” Theodora said with her eyes still closed, “he is refusing to answer my question, but it doesn’t matter. I can get him to talk in another way… secretum mentis.”
At first, nothing happened, but then the hostage began to violently shake, and even though his entire body was convulsing, Theodora still managed to keep her hand placed firmly on his forehead.
“He will try to fight it,” the headmistress explained in a calm tone, “but no matter. He will talk.”
Tears spilled out from the man’s eyes, his sallow skin turned beet red, and for a moment, I thought his head was going to explode like a ripe melon.
“T-They are in the Coletta Realm,” he finally spat out. “You fucking bitch… are you satisfied?”
“Not quite yet,” Theodora growled as her eyes snapped open, and the blue of her irises was like ice.
Then she quickly pulled away from him, snatched a dagger from her sleeve, and cut his throat with one swift slice. A line of dark blood spread across his neck as he gurgled, and then his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He shit himself before he slumped back into the chair, and the smell was incredibly overwhelming.
“Oh, fuck,” Akira grunted as she pinched her nose. “That’s nasty.”
“We’ve smelled worse,” Vesta reminded her. “Although, I must admit that was rather foul.”
“Yeah,” the black-eyed witch muttered, “humans are disgusting in every sense of the word.”
“Enough chatter,” Theodora called out. “I hope you were all paying close attention, because I won’t be repeating the exercise. Also, you will find that reciting the incantation ‘obliviscatur’ will wash away your host’s memory of the event. It’s a useful little spell that will come in handy. Understood?”
“Yes, Headmistress,” we answered in unison.
“Excellent,” she answered. “Now, the real test can begin.”
Before any of us could react, the headmistress snapped her fingers, and then we were engulfed in a cloud of purple smoke. In the next moment, we were tumbling and flying through the air, and the last thing I heard before the dungeon disappeared from view was Theodora’s voice in my head.
Cole, find the second stone, she said. Find the second Defero.