Page 86 of Revenge is a Witch

With a scowl etched deep into her perfect features, Kyla rises from her seat, her movements sharp, her body language brimming with arrogance. She strides down the aisle, every step a declaration of her perceived superiority. I stand tall as she approaches, meeting her halfway in front of the stage, the entire school now our audience.

Face to face, Kyla’s lips curl into a sneer. "So, Zaria,” she spits, “what is it you want from this never-gonna-happen victory of yours? A confession? For me to say something that isn’t true?”

I wait, letting her rant, because I know exactly what she’s expecting. She thinks I want her to admit she stole my grimoire in front of everyone, to admit that she’s a fraud. But I’m not here to play her petty games.

When she finally stops talking, I smirk, my eyes locked on hers. "No, Kyla. I don’t need you to confess anything. What would be the point? Everyone would assume I forced you to say it anyway.” I pause, savoring the way her expression falters, just for a second. “No, I want something more important." Her eyes narrow as I lean in. "I want your wand."

There’s a stunned silence, followed by Kyla’s immediate scoff. “My wand?” she repeats, her voice dripping with disdain. “A witch without a wand can’t perform any advanced spells.” Her mockery is practically dripping from her voice, but it only makes my smirk grow wider. She has no idea what’s coming. Kyla leans in closer, her voice barely above a whisper, but venomous all thesame. “When you lose, Zaria, I get SebastianandDerek. Both of them. Do you understand?”

A rush of anger surges through me, but I hold my composure. Barely. My fists clench at my sides, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to lash out right then and there. I’ve already hit her once. I don’t need a repeat... yet.

We extend our hands, clasping them in front of the school. The moment our hands meet, a magical pact forms, glowing runes swirling up our arms, binding us to our agreement.

“See you at the Proving Grounds,” Kyla whispers, her voice filled with malice, as the markings fade.

“I’m looking forward to it,” I reply coolly, my voice laced with a confidence I’ve earned.

We pull our hands apart, and the assembly stirs back to life, everyone whispering and buzzing with the anticipation of what’s to come.

Kyla turns on her heel, striding back down the aisle, while I stand there for just a moment longer, letting the weight of the challenge settle over me. This is it.

The Proving Grounds

Time to Shove Someones Face Into the Dirt

The Proving Grounds look like something out of an old movie. Dusty, worn-out, and basically abandoned, except for the occasional shifter throwing weights around or a gargoyle flexing like they're auditioning for a strongman competition. But today? Today, this place feels more like a gladiator pit, and guess who gets to be the main event.

I stand dead center, sand under my boots, adjusting the brim of my hat like it’ll help block out the hundreds of eyes glued to me. Seriously, it’s like these people have nothing better to do than watch two witches throw down. But hey, I’m not here to disappoint.

Sebastian and Derek are off to the side, keeping their distance because if they even think about stepping in, the challenge ends, and we both lose. I can’t afford that. Not today. Not when I’m this close to finally shutting Kyla down.

I tug at the brim of my conical hat—cute and functional, thank you very much—keeping my wand tucked away in my sleeve.I’m trying to look calm, collected, and not like my heart is about to burst out of my chest, but I can feel the tension creeping up my spine. I shake out my hands, trying to release some of that nervous energy. I’ve got this. I’vegotthis.

The crowd is practically buzzing. Everyone’s watching, waiting for the moment I either light Kyla on fire or she hexes me into oblivion. Honestly, burning her at the stake is sounding more appealing by the minute.

But let’s focus. Why am I here, again? Oh right, because Kyla’s the literal worst. Let’s recap, shall we? First, she steals my grimoire. Then she turns Sam, my supposed best friend, against me. As if that wasn’t enough, she slaps a binding hex on Sebastian, treats him like her own personal puppet, and physically abuses him just for kicks. Oh, and don’t forget that she coerced her buddy Miles into forcing Derek to shift in the middle of class.

I mean, what even is her deal? I’ve been trying to figure it out for three years. Three years! And the best I can come up with is that she's still salty because on the first day of high school, I happened to perform a spell she was planning to show off. I didn’t know, but apparently, that was the day I became her mortal enemy. Like, get over it, girl.

The brim of my hat casts a shadow over my face, but I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my lips as I think about all the crap Kyla’s pulled. This is it. She’s finally getting what’s coming to her.

Movement at the edge of the grounds catches my eye, and I watch as Kyla makes her grand entrance. Of course, she’s walking like she’s strutting down a runway, her wand already out, her smirk practically glued to her face. I swear, she looks like she’s rehearsed this in front of a mirror.

She locks eyes with me, and that smirk only gets bigger. She’s practically radiating smugness, and it’s making me want to hex her into next week. But patience, Zaria. Patience.

As she walks past Derek and Sebastian, her eyes linger on them like they’re shiny new toys she’s about to claim. My hands curl into fists at my sides. Not today, Kyla. Not. Today.

I can’t help but let my mind wander to the insane number of things she’s done to me over the years. The theft, the betrayal, the manipulation. And for what? Because I beat her to a basic spell three years ago? Get a grip.

The air around us feels heavy, like the tension could snap at any second. The crowd goes quiet, and suddenly, it’s just me and Kyla standing in the middle of the Proving Grounds. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

Finally, we’re going to settle this.

I watch as Sebastian and Derek head to the sidelines, taking seats with some of the other students. I can see Derek’s wolf pack nearby, probably still buzzing about the whole “shifting in class” incident. Sebastian, on the other hand, settles in like he’s front-row at the theater, giving me an encouraging nod. I smirk. This is it.

Kyla, ever the dramatic villain, saunters forward, her eyes gleaming with the arrogance of someone who thinks they've already won. As she approaches, she tilts her head, fake innocence plastered on her face. “So, Zaria, where’s your wand? Surely you’re not foolish enough to try and face me without one?”

I tilt my head back, smiling sweetly, though my words are sharp as glass. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s right here.” I tap my sleeve where my wand is tucked away. “But if I need to use it againstyou, I’ll be disappointed. Pretty sure I can counter whatever basic spells you’re packing without breaking a sweat.”

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