“That’s right, mortals, run away from the scary monsters. It’s what your kind does best.” I felt Payton’s sneer as I turned my back on her and headed for the door.
Just be the bigger person, October.
Cal caught up to us. “Don’t let her get to you; she doesn't have a lot of friends.”
“How come? Isn’t she a cheerleader?” I asked as we raced down the halls.
“Cheerleaders are social outcasts around here. Most of them are clowns, and even by our standards, they’re a lot to handle.”
Maddie shivered. “We didn’t exactly get a warm welcome from the last clowns we encountered.”
Cal tipped his head in question, so I said, “We got chased by a few of them when we got into town. It wasn’t pretty.” I remembered the way my heart had leapt into my throat as we ran for our lives. I still had no idea what would have realistically happened had they caught us.
Cal laughed, stopping us short. “Don’t let those guys intimidate you. They were probably just fucking around, and you guys were the perfect targets. Payton’s family runs the Killer Clown Motel downtown. They’re weird, for sure, and you really don’t want to piss them off, but they’re harmless. Her uncle is even on the city council with my dad.”
“Huh,” I said, scratching my head. “I literally have nothing to say to that.”
He gave me a suave smile. “It’s all right, little mortal. You’ve got a lot to learn. It’s a good thing I’m such a good teacher.”
“Feel free to teach me your ways, oh wise one,” Maddie purred, sidling up to Cal again.
For just the briefest of seconds—so short I almost missed it—I could have sworn I saw a blush stain his cheeks, but it was gone in an instant. Hmm…curious.
“Well, ladies, it looks like this is your stop.” He gestured to an open classroom door. Maddie giggled and brushed past him slowly, but I lingered for a moment.
“Listen,” I said, lowering my voice. “I really appreciate your help. We’ve been so lost, and this whole situation makes me feel like I’ve finally lost my mind. Thanks for showing us around and treating us like...” I giggled darkly. “Well, not like we’re humans, I guess.”
Cal grinned. He really was charming, I suppose. Still, my belly didn’t flutter when he smiled at me. My heart didn’t do backflips when he leaned in for a half-hug. But I did embrace him, enjoying the soft smell of cinnamon and vanilla that wafted off of his jacket. “Anytime, October. I’ll see you girls around, so please don’t be a stranger.”
With a smile, I turned away and finally stepped into my first class.
Our first two classes were easier than I’d imagined, but they were the only two classes Maddie and I had together. I was done for the day, but she had something a little extra on her schedule—a class on witchcraft that the aunties had signed her up for, despite her complaining about going.
I was kind of jealous, not going to lie, but I was happy Maddie would get some help. I knew she was trying to cover up all her worries with jokes. Over the last week at the manor, weird and unexplainable things have started happening around Maddie. Doors would open for her, items would levitate, and a few times, I could have sworn I saw her stirring her tea without touching the spoon. We were all pretty sure Maddie was a witch.
It made sense, and I hoped she would just embrace it. Michael, as it turned out, was a rare sort of warlock. The snake and the blazing hellfire were signs of dark magic, and the aunties told him they’d do their best to help him through it. Jason was struggling with his demonic familiar and trying to keep him at bay, but Damon liked to come out whenever possible, especially when Jason found himself alone with me. We were all in for a hell of a wild ride.
Potions had been entertaining, to say the least. The professor was kind of scary at first, but once I got used to her popping up in any given place, her antics actually became amusing. She was a ghost—or a poltergeist, as she asked to be called. Nearly translucent, she wore what looked like a long, sweeping dress in a patchwork of fabrics with lace around the cuffs and collar. Her hair was up in a neat bun, but there was a distinct gaping hole right in the center of her forehead. I hadn’t asked about it and didn’t think I’d have the guts to any time soon.
I still wasn’t sure how invested I should get in academics. We’d only been here for a week, and everything still seemed so surreal. The aunties had said there was no chance of us going back to the mortal world any time soon, at least not until next Halloween. I had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't entirely true. They were keeping something from us, and I needed to figure out what it was.
But did any of this really mean we needed to immerse ourselves in the life here? I suppose it was better than the alternative. I didn’t really feel like sitting around the aunties’ manor, twiddling my thumbs, for a year. Still, it was hard to concentrate when I was feeling so completely outside my element since I’d raised the dead. It didn’t mean I wanted to go back; I didn’t, but I had a feeling I’d have to make a choice someday.
We’d been learning some of the basics, and I was pretty sure the professor only covered it because she knew Maddie and I were in the class. Most of the students probably knew this stuff already, but she was being kind for our sake. We learned some basic concoctions, such as a potion to make food instantly taste better and a potion to make your hair grow. We even watched her mix a potion to temporarily turn any organic being into stone without killing it. That one kind of freaked me out. I had no idea just how in-depth magic really went, but so far, I knew it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Actually, I was pretty sure neither of those things even existed here.
During my other class, I pretty much zoned out. The professor, who looked like he was seconds away from falling apart at the seams, didn’t seem to care that Maddie and I were behind. We spent most of the class period talking about some book they’d been collectively reading. It seemed like the professor loved to hear himself talk, because I wasn't even sure he’d taken a single breath the entire time.
I actually found myself nodding off, and I’d spied Maddie with her head in her hand a time or two and prayed she wouldn’t start snoring. My mind drifted to the changes I’d seen in the guys and how much I worried about them. My brain wouldn’t turn off. I thought about the last serious conversation I’d had with Jason, vividly picturing the way his eyes flickered to that bright yellow when Damon came out and the way his smile transformed his face into someone I didn’t recognize.
Damon. Even thinking of his name made me shiver with equal parts of pleasure and dread. Jason’s apparent familiar was terrifying. The thought of him taking up residence inside Jason’s head was enough to make my own head spin. And that tongue... That tongue admittedly made me feel a few things in my core, which I was definitely not proud of. But I was convinced it was only because Damon still had Jason’s face and voice. Yeah, that was it; I was sure of it.
And then that moment with Freddy in the bookshop. The way he’d looked at me, his touch sparking something wild inside, he’d actually touched me for real, without a hint of his usual dickishness or malice. It was surreal, but I was sure it was genuine. Of all the guys, Freddy always seemed the most hesitant to mock me. He still did, but not to the extent that the others did. I didn’t know what came over him or me in that shop, but I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t want it to happen again and again.
Feeling his lips on mine after a year of being lonely was more magical than anything I’d experienced in Midnight Hollow so far, but I couldn’t let him know that since he’d only use it against me. I supposed there was still a very good chance that the moment had been planned, some little scheme he and Norman concocted to humiliate me. There was no sure way of knowing, but I wanted to tell myself it wasn't true. Freddy meant that kiss and those toe-curling touches, and he’d have been a fool to try and deny it. Even now, my skin tingles with the memory.
After class ended and I said goodbye to Maddie, I decided to go back to the aunties’ house. I had nothing else to do at the school, and I figured some time alone couldn’t hurt. Back in the mortal world, I’d become somewhat of a homebody and liked to be alone more often than not. It was a good thing Midnight Hollow was so small, as it didn’t take long to walk through town.
The night was comfortably crisp, and I pulled my cloak around me tighter, the hood pulled up over my hair. I couldn't believe I got to wear a cloak casually too, and no one would say a goddamn thing about it. Up ahead, I could see the lights of Main Street, but my eyes kept flickering to the road leading out of town—the same road we’d emerged from. I knew that if I were to walk just a little farther, I’d reach that cemetery. Curiosity was eating at me. My parents were buried in Sunset Hollow Cemetery, not Midnight.