Page 18 of Revenge is a Witch

“And some well-deserved panic,” Derek adds, grinning.

“Right.” I lift a fourth finger. “Number four: her boyfriend, Sebastian. He’s a whole other mess, but Kyla thinks she’s got him wrapped around her finger. If we can shake that up a little…”

Derek raises an eyebrow. “You think you can turn Sebastian against her?”

I shrug. “Maybe not turn him against her, but definitely mess with that illusion of control she’s got. Besides, it’ll be fun watching her squirm if she thinks she’s losing him.”

Derek nods, still clearly invested. “And number five?”

I smirk, lifting my fifth finger. “Number five: her reputation as a witch. She’s been passing off my spells as her own, right? So what if we start planting the idea that she’s a fraud? That she’s not half the witch she claims to be.”

Derek’s eyes glint with something dark, a shared understanding that this isn’t just about petty revenge. It’s about breaking down the things that make Kyla feel invincible. “You’re planning to destroy her.”

“Not destroy,” I say, my voice cold. “Just show her what it feels like to have everything ripped away. One piece at a time. No scars. At least... not yet.”

He lets out a low whistle, shaking his head slightly, but the grin on his face tells me he’s fully on board. “You’ve really thought this through.”

“I’ve had time to think,” I reply. “She took everything from me, Derek. I’m not just going to let her get away with that.”

He stands up, crossing the room until he’s standing right in front of me. “I’m in. Whatever you need.”

I nod, feeling the anger inside me cooling into something sharper, more focused. “First, we start small. A subtle spell for that perfect hair of hers. Nothing too obvious—just enough to make her panic.”

Derek grins. “When do we start?”

I meet his gaze, my voice steady. “Now.”

I sit at my desk, staring at the scattered ingredients, my fingers tapping the edge of the potion book with growing frustration. As much as I’d love to come up with a snappy spoken spell to mess with Kyla’s perfect hair, it’s proving way more difficult than I expected. Every spell I think of could easily be reversed, and that’s justnotthe point. I want something that’ll last, something that’ll make her freak out every time she looks in a mirror.

Spoken spells are too temporary, too easy to undo. A potion, though? A potion is reliable. But there’s one catch—a specific ingredient that makes all the difference.

Mermaid hair.

The unique properties of mermaid hair mean it can’t be altered, no matter what spell or counter-spell is thrown at it. Use it in a potion to change someone’s hair, and you’re looking at an irreversible situation. Perfect for a little magical sabotage.

I glance at the clock and realize it’s almost time for dinner. I pull out my phone and shoot a quick text to Skylar, hoping she’s still on campus. She’s my best bet right now, and if I can convince her to part with a strand of hair, Kyla’s perfect blonde locks are going to be in for a rude awakening.

Almost instantly, my phone buzzes. Skylar’s still on campus and hanging around the main hub.Perfect.

I turn to Derek, who’s been lounging on my bed this whole time, watching me with mild curiosity. “I need to go get something for the potion. You stay here and make sure it doesn’t bubble over.”

His eyes widen slightly, panic creeping into his expression. “Wait, what? What do I do if itdoesbubble over?”

I chuckle, grabbing my bag and heading for the door. “You’ll know. Just… don’t let it explode, alright?”

“Zaria!” Derek calls after me, but I’m already out the door, grinning at his panic. He’ll be fine. Probably.

I sprint down the hall and through the campus, heading for the hub. When I get there, Skylar’s seated at one of the outdoor tables, casually scrolling through her phone. She looks up as I approach, raising an eyebrow at my slightly breathless state.

“Hey, Sky,” I say, trying to sound casual, though my heart’s racing. “I need a favor.”

Skylar looks at me, curious but nonchalant. “What kind of favor?”

I hesitate for a second, then launch into a mini rant. “Okay, so, I can’t tell you what’s happening or why I need it, but I need a strand of your hair. Just one. I promise it’s for something important, but also, if I explain the whole thing right now, you’d probably think I’m crazy or involved in some ridiculous scheme. Which… okay, I am, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. I just really, really need the hair.”

Skylar blinks at me, her expression unreadable for a second. Then she shrugs, like this is the most normal thing she’s heard all day. “Alright.”

I stare at her, momentarily stunned. “Wait… seriously? Just like that?”