Page 45 of Revenge is a Witch

“It was... interesting,” I reply, noncommittal, trying not to give too much away.

Sam, completely oblivious to my evasiveness, starts rambling about her own weekend. “I tried to go to Derek’s houseyesterday, you know,” she says, and I feel my stomach do a weird little flip. “But he wasn’t home all day. I swear, it was so annoying.”

I tense. "Why were you trying to go to Derek’s place?" I ask, trying to keep my tone casual, though the tension in my voice betrays me.

She shrugs, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Well, being a witch with a shifter boyfriend is really good for my status in the community. High school social stuff aside, it just looks good, you know? So I thought maybe if I showed up in something a little... shorter and, you know, low-cut,” she says, making a vague gesture to her chest, “he might reconsider breaking up with me. But he wasn’t even there! I wasted a perfectly good outfit.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. She still thinks she can manipulate him into getting back together? And the worst part? She has no idea that Derek was in my dorm room for most of the weekend... and all of last night. My stomach knots at the thought.

I bite my tongue, trying not to say anything that would set her off.Not yet, I remind myself. Until I know for sure what part she played in the grimoire fiasco, I can’t let her know about Derek. Instead, I give a noncommittal shrug and nod, pretending to be engrossed in my walk to class.

“Maybe he just needed some space,” I offer, my voice tight but steady. “You know how shifters are. Sometimes they just need to blow off steam.”

Sam huffs. “Yeah, well, I’m still annoyed. He’s got some nerve, honestly.”

I can feel the tension rolling off her, but I can’t bring myself to care. Not when I’m still piecing together the puzzle of my stolen grimoire. We walk in silence for a few moments before I spot the familiar door toDivination & Propheciesahead.

I step into the classroom forDivination & Prophecieswith Professor Selene, a space that always feels more mystical than academic. The walls are draped with deep purple and black fabrics, candles line the shelves, and the air smells faintly of sage and incense. In the center of the room, circular tables are arranged, each with a large crystal ball perched on a velvet stand.

Professor Selene, a tall, ethereal woman with long silver hair, glides into the room as though she’s floating. Her presence alone commands silence. “Good morning, class,” she says in a voice as smooth as silk. “Today we’ll be working with crystal balls to hone your truth-reading abilities. Pair up, and you’ll each take turns asking a question. The crystal ball will reveal whether your partner is telling the truth or not.”

I sigh. Of course, it’stodaythat we have to play truth or lie with a magical orb. Glancing around, I notice Sam coming toward me. Great. I was hoping for a moment to breathe after that conversation, but fate apparently has other plans.

“Partners?” she asks, flashing me a grin that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

I nod, forcing a smile. “Sure.”

We sit down at one of the tables, the crystal ball glowing faintly in the dim light, casting an eerie glow over the room. Professor Selene hands out slips of paper with suggested questions, but of course, we’re free to go off-script. I glance over at Sam, who is practically bouncing in her seat, looking like she’s ready to dish out some trivial nonsense.

“Alright, Z. Let’s start simple.” Sam presses her fingertips lightly to the crystal ball, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Have you ever skipped a class?”

I roll my eyes, already regretting partnering up with her. “Seriously? That’s your opening move?”

Sam leans in closer, her grin widening. “Just answer the question. Gotta start somewhere.”

I place my fingers on the other side of the crystal ball, feeling the cool surface beneath my skin. “Nope. Never skipped a class.” It’s a fact I’m not exactly proud of—skipping seems like a rite of passage I never quite indulged in.

The orb swirls with faint blue smoke, the color of truth. Of course. I’m nothing if not predictably responsible. Sam laughs, her shoulders shaking as she gives me an exaggerated look of disbelief. “Of course not. Little Miss Overachiever strikes again.”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “What can I say? I’ve got priorities. Some of us actually like graduating on time.”

She snorts. “Right, priorities like homework and kissing up to Professor Malakar.”

I smirk. “Please, I don’t kiss up. I just happen to be better at potions than you.” We go back and forth like that, trading harmless jabs as we work our way through the questions. What’s your favorite food? Have you ever cheated on a test? The crystal ball swirls blue each time, indicating truth, and we both laugh at the absurdity of it all.

But then it’s my turn, and I know I can’t just let this slide. Sebastian’s words have been gnawing at me, and I need to know for sure. My heart races a little, and I can feel a thin sheen of sweat starting to form on my palms as I press my fingertips to the cool glass again.

Time for the question that’s been burning in my mind.

“Have you ever stolen anything?” I ask, keeping my tone casual like I’m not really expecting much from the answer.

Sam blinks, just for a fraction of a second, her usual smirk slipping ever so slightly before she recovers. “No, of course not. What kind of question is that?”

I narrow my eyes slightly, keeping them locked on the crystal ball. The swirling blue smoke begins to shift, darkening into a deep, unsettling red. Red means a lie. My stomach does a little flip as the realization hits me—Sam just lied.

I stare at the crimson smoke, my mind racing.Sam… lied?

“Z?” Sam’s voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. “You okay? You zoned out there for a second.”

---