Page 12 of Revenge is a Witch

My heart pounds in my chest, and I feel a cold sweat prickling at the back of my neck. The doubts coil tighter, suffocating me. The confident, sarcastic Zaria that I usually am is nowhere to be found. She’s buried under layers of self-doubt and frustration.

Professor Bellamy’s voice cuts through the fog just as I feel like I’m drowning in it. “Control is everything. Without it, even the most skilled witch can unravel their own magic.”

Her words pierce through me like a dagger, driving the point home.

I did this to myself. I ruined everything.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to force the thoughts away, but they linger, heavy and suffocating. I’ve never felt so... small. So completely incapable. And worst of all, it’s my own fault.

I step out of class, the weight of my thoughts still pressing down on me like a boulder. The hallway is crowded, as usual, but I feel distant, like I’m not really there. My mind keeps replaying the same words over and over:You did this. You erased your own grimoire.The buzzing conversations around me only make it worse, and all I want is to be alone for five seconds to catch my breath.

But instead of solitude, I find Derek leaning casually against the wall, waiting just outside the door. His usual confident smirk is in place, like he doesn’t have a care in the world, but there’s something different in his eyes—something softer.

I frown, stopping in front of him. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugs, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside me as I start walking down the hall. “Got out of class early. Thought I’d bless you with my presence. You’re welcome.”

I roll my eyes, but the corner of my mouth twitches into a small smile despite everything. “Oh, yeah, because you’re justsucha joy to be around.”

He chuckles, giving me a sideways glance. “Well, someone has to keep you entertained. You seemed pretty upset about the whole grimoire thing, and while I don’t exactly get why it’s such a big deal, I figured you might want someone to talk to. Or someone to mock. I’m versatile.”

I stop walking for a second, blinking up at him. Derek’s not the type to go out of his way for emotional support, at least not openly, and yet here he is, waiting for me outside class, offering...something. It throws me off for a moment, but I nod, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Yeah. Yeah, actually. That’d be nice.”

We head out of the building, the noise of the hallways fading behind us as we walk across the school grounds. The air is crisp, with a light breeze that rustles the leaves of the nearby trees. It’s a nice day, but I barely notice. My mind is too tangled in the mess of thoughts about my grimoire.

We find a bench under one of the large oak trees, the shade offering a bit of comfort from the bright sun. I sit down, leaning forward, elbows on my knees, as I try to figure out how to explain everything without sounding like a complete idiot.

Derek plops down next to me, his body language relaxed, but I can feel him watching me, waiting. I take a deep breath and glance over at him.

“I think I did it,” I blurt out, my voice sounding smaller than I’d like. “I think I erased my own grimoire.” He raises an eyebrow, clearly confused, but doesn’t interrupt. I keep talking, the words tumbling out faster than I can control. “It’s protected—my grimoire. No one else could’ve messed with it. And I keep thinking... What if it was me? What if I was stupid enough to screw it up without even realizing? I mean, who else could’ve done it? It had to be me, right? I had one job, and I blew it.” My throat tightens as the thoughts start spinning faster. The more I say it out loud, the worse it feels, like I’m admitting something I don’t want to believe. “I’ve never... I’ve never felt so useless. Like everything I’ve worked for, all those spells—it’s all gone because ofme. How do you come back from that?”

The emotions hit me hard, and before I can stop it, I feel my eyes burning, my chest tightening. I bite my lip, trying to keep it together, but the pressure is too much. I’m not going to cry. I’mnotgoing to cry.

And then, before I can even react, Derek pulls me in.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and for a moment, I’m too stunned to move. His embrace is strong, solid—like a wall between me and the world. I hesitate, my face pressed against his chest, but then something in me breaks, and I let myself relax into the hug.

He doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t need to. He just holds me, his chin resting lightly on the top of my head, and I feel the tension in my body start to melt away. It’s the kind of hug that makes you feel like maybe things will be okay. Like you’re not completely alone in the chaos.

I close my eyes for a second, letting myself take comfort in it. This is my best friend’s boyfriend. I shouldn’t be this comfortable with him. But at the same time, I know Sam would understand. She’d get it. Derek isn’t just her boyfriend—he’s also my friend. And right now, I need that.

“Thanks,” I mumble into his chest, my voice muffled.

“No problem,” he replies softly, his arms still tight around me. “You’re not as tough as you think, you know. You’re allowed to feel things.”

I snort, pulling back a little but still leaning into him. “Says the guy who pretends not to feelanything.”

He grins down at me, but there’s a softness in his expression that catches me off guard. “Yeah, well. Maybe I’m just better at hiding it.”

I roll my eyes and push him away gently, wiping at my eyes quickly before he can make a comment about it. “Okay, enough with the emotional therapy session. I’ve got better things to do than cry on your shoulder.”

He laughs, standing up and offering me a hand. “Whatever you say, Z. But for the record, it’s okay to need help. Even for a badass witch like you.”

I take his hand, letting him pull me to my feet, and as we start walking back toward the school, I can’t help but feel a little lighter. The weight of the grimoire disaster is still there, but it’s not crushing me anymore.

Aura Disruption

It's MY Spell, Back off Bitch.

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