Page 15 of Overwhelmed By Magic

Harlow wasn’t physically at my side but I knew he was there because that scent was.

The white-clothed individual snorts, folding his arms across his chest as his amber eyes burn into mine. “You’ve heard of me?”

“Dmitri has a few family pictures and you’re in one of them.”

“I highly doubt they’re his but sure. I’m Rumi. This is Ambrose. A staff member will be here to greet you shortly and lead you to your dorms as well as give you the rundown for classes. If you’re wondering, no, this is nothing like Astral. There are no pompous rules and restrictions but there are also a lot fewer individuals to watch over. Classes are Monday through Thursday, counseling on Friday, and weekends… just don’t die.”

I frown, trying to find the words when Liz speaks first. “Don’t die? You are all so dramatic. It can’t possibly be all that bad. Another five years in school and then we’re done, right?”

Rumi shakes his head. “Does she think she’s getting out of here? That’s cute. Liz, is it? That’s not how things are done here.” He opens his mouth to speak again when that sweet scent hits my nose and Harlow groans beside me. I don’t even know when he showed up but it seems that he was chucked in here without any consideration of his well-being.

He pops to his feet, dusting off his clothes—out of habit, I presume since spirits don’t actually interact with our plane of existence—and then looks up to see Rumi and Ambrose. His expression falls. “Is this the welcome committee or the start of our hazing?”

I tense at his side, Liz’s smile disappearing.

Ambrose chuckles. “Well, it would have been a hazing but the angel has gone a bit soft. Seems I’m not allowed to string people up by their toenails and demand information about the outside world anymore. It’s a shame, though. It was quite fun.”

“An angel?” I question.

“Does no one know that our famous Magila here has wings?” Ambrose twists his fingers until a white feather appears between them in a swirl of green essence, Rumi snarling at him to cut that shit out. All I know is that I’ve just walked into a complete mess. I knew I wasn’t walking into anything good but this? This just seems like chaos and we haven’t gotten more than two steps inside.

10

RUMI

RUMI

They caught Harlow. It’s been a while since we had a spirit type here so I’ll be interested to find out what he really is and what he’s capable of. I also want to pry into who Skye is especially when my essence lost track of the human just outside of the bus stop. Seeing Harlow somehow grab our essence and make it disappear isn’t something I’m used to.

All I know is that I have questions.

I’ll grill him later.

Liz pops out her hip as she pulls up her rolling bag to the edge of her feet, running her tongue along one of her fangs. “So, we just choose our rooms or do we have assigned ones? I really don’t want to get stuck with a weirdo.”

I hate to tell her that we’re all kind of strange here but that’s neither here nor there. The vampire hardly looks put out by being here, Liz truly believing that five-year bullshit. Maybe it was the plan over a hundred years ago, professors honestly trying to search and find where we fit in the hierarchy. Now? They just placate us with lessons and then leave us to our own devices most days.

Even Friday counseling sessions are a load of crap. I don’t even think the Magila council asks to see the reports to see if we’re actually doing anything.

“Glad that all three of you could make it,” I muse, watching as Harlow just scowls. He’s going to be a fun one. “We just wanted to warn you that you’re at the bottom of the food chain. Rarely are there helping hands. Everyone is jilted and angry here, most with essence that is hard to control. You’d do well to keep your emotions in check.”

Stellan nods immediately, his nostrils flaring as sweat pools on his forehead. He’s overheating but I can’t tell if it’s because his fire is too powerful or he just doesn’t know how to let it flow evenly. Many Magila when they first start out channel all their essence into one place and end up stressing themselves out as a result.

Our new fire elemental, however, seems to be in pain, though. I hate it.

I step to the side just as one of the Magila staff, an elder werewolf moves to greet the three. “Welcome to Grimrose. I’m Helen and I’ll be here for any questions you might have. Please follow me to your rooms.” I watch with amusement as they shuffle behind her, Harlow staying put. His gaze narrows after her before he disappears and then reappears, confusion spreading across his features.

“Well, that’s incredibly stupid.”

Ambrose raises an eyebrow. “What is?”

“There’s no protections around Grimrose. There's a fence along the back but like, we can just come and go? What’s the point of stuffing us in here then?” His frown deepens as his tongue darts out to lick his piercings, my gaze stolen by his handsome appearance. He’s not the regal beauty found in the magazines but there’s something about him that catches my attention and it has nothing to do with Skye’s lingering sweet scent.

I realize Harlow isn’t going to accept just any kind of bullshit answer and if I want the truth from him, there’s no use sugar-coating shit. “The threat of what happens if we leave is enough to keep us here. Without an ID, it might take a few days, maybe less before we’re caught and then drawn and quartered before the Magila council. Most here can’t control their essence so one step out there and it’s game over.” I continue to catalog everything regarding Harlow, not quite understanding how he’s existed this long.

Spirit types like Harlow—actual spirits—are usually reserved. They don’t want to accidentally find the reason their soul has returned to Earth and lose their second chance at life. However, Harlow seems far removed from those usual restrictions. Even more so, I heard the thud when he stumbled through the double doors and hit the ground. A spirit can’t physically come in contact with our plane of existence.

Which means the man standing in front of me is hardly a spirit.

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