Page 6 of Revenge is a Witch

I spot Sam ahead, walking with her hood up and a bag slung over her shoulder. She’s making her way toward the library, too, just as we planned. I quicken my pace to catch up, and as I come up beside her, she turns, offering a small smile.

"Hey, Z," she says, pulling down her hood. "I didn’t think you’d actually come out in this weather."

I tap my umbrella lightly on her shoulder. "Not taking any chances after earlier. I’m done playing ‘let’s get drenched for fun.’"

Sam laughs, but it’s a little muted, like she’s tired—or maybe just weighed down by something. We both head inside the library, shaking off the rain as the warmth of the building envelops us. The library is mostly deserted at this hour, save for a few students tucked away at various tables, their heads bent over textbooks and laptops. The soft hum of quiet conversation and the occasional rustle of pages fill the air.

The library itself is a massive, multi-level space with tall, arched windows that look out over the campus, though tonight all we see is rain streaking down the glass. Shelves upon shelvesof books stretch out in every direction, housing everything from spell tomes and enchanted grimoires to historical texts on ancient magical wars. At the far end, a glowing sign marks the entrance to the restricted section, a place we’ve definitely snuck into a time or two.

We find an empty table in the corner, away from the few students scattered around the library. There’s a girl with silver hair hunched over a thick spellbook, a pair of fae studying levitation charms by one of the windows, and a couple of vampires chatting in hushed tones near the magical history section. Late-night studying attracts all types, apparently.

Sam pulls her grimoire out of her bag and places it on the table with a sigh. "I feel like I’ve barely made any progress," she admits, flipping through the mostly empty pages. "I should’ve started way earlier. Derek’s been... distracting."

I raise an eyebrow, sitting across from her. "Distracting, huh? I’m sure that’s not the only reason."

Sam looks guilty, like she’s about to confess to something. "Okay, maybe not theonlyreason. I guess I just didn’t realize how much time had slipped by."

I nod, understanding. “Look, it’s fine. We’ll fix it. You’ve got the basics down, right? I mean, you’ve been doing this stuff for years.”

She shrugs. “Yeah, but I don’t know. I feel kind of... clueless. Like I’m way behind everyone else.”

I frown, leaning forward. “You’re not clueless, Sam. You just need to fill in the gaps. Tell you what—remember those spells and potions we designed together a few years back? You can write those down. They’re yours too.”

Her eyes light up, and she perks up slightly. “You mean the ones we used to sneak into Cauldron Concoctions class?”

I grin. “Exactly. You can use them, but we’ll make them even better. Enhance them, you know? We were practically kids when we came up with half that stuff. Now we can make them proper.”

She looks relieved, flipping to a fresh page in her grimoire. “Z, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I give her a soft smile. “Probably still be doodling in the margins.”

We both laugh, but there’s something comforting in the easy way we fall into working together. I start rattling off ideas, old spells we created during late-night sleepovers and secretive study sessions. There’s theNo-Slip Hexwe used to avoid tripping down the stairs, thePerfect Timing Charmthat let us leave for class exactly one minute before it started and never be late, and of course, the infamousInvisibility Glamourthat only worked half the time—but when it did, it was a lifesaver.

As I talk, Sam scribbles furiously, taking down everything I say and adding her own little embellishments where she can. The more we work, the more I realize I’m the one coming up with almost all of the ideas. I pause, feeling a little guilty.

“Hey, uh... am I taking over too much?” I ask, looking up at her. “I don’t want to feel like I’m doing the whole thing for you.”

Sam shakes her head immediately, her expression soft and grateful. “Z, don’t worry about it. Honestly, I’ve been feeling kind of lost with this whole thing. You’re helping more than you know. I appreciate it.”

I nod, feeling a bit better but still aware of how much I’ve taken the lead. It’s not that Sam doesn’t know her stuff—she’s just... distracted. And I can’t help but wonder if Derek has something to do with that.

We continue working late into the night, filling page after page of Sam’s grimoire with improved spells, detailed instructions, and tiny drawings to make it all look more impressive. Every now and then, I glance around the library. The silver-haired girlis still in the same spot, her nose buried in a book, and the fae by the window are now asleep, their wings twitching as they dream. The vampires have left, their table now empty.

The rain outside hasn’t stopped, but here, surrounded by the smell of old books and the quiet murmurs of students, everything feels... peaceful. Almost like the world outside doesn’t matter for the time being.

Sam stretches, looking at her nearly-filled grimoire. “I can’t believe we did all this tonight.”

I smile, leaning back in my chair. “Told you we’d get it done.”

She grins at me, tired but happy. “You’re a lifesaver, Z.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I say, waving her off. “Just don’t let Derek take all the credit when you hand it in.”

She laughs, and for a moment, everything feels like it used to—before Derek, before Kyla, before the stress of finishing grimoires and dealing with rival witches. Just two best friends, doing what we do best.

But as I pack up my things and we head out of the library, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s shifting. Maybe in our friendship, maybe in Sam’s relationship with Derek, maybe even in myself. Whatever it is, it’s coming.

And I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

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