Page 72 of Revenge is a Witch

He grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Always.”

As we walk through the halls, my mind races with one singular thought: I’ve had enough of Kyla’s manipulations. She’s gotten away with too much, and now it’s time to take action. Real, serious action—something I never thought I’d have to do. The anger brewing inside me has reached its boiling point, and I know exactly where to go.

“The principal’s office?” Derek asks as we head in that direction, eyebrows raised. “You’re not serious.”

“Oh, I’m deadly serious,” I reply, my voice clipped. “Miles is probably playing the victim somewhere, milking the situation for sympathy. But enough is enough.”

Sebastian chuckles behind me. “This should be interesting.”

When we arrive at the principal's office, I don’t bother knocking—I just push the door open and march inside. The principal, Mr. Halford, is sitting at his desk, a middle-aged man with thinning hair combed back like he’s in denial about the receding part. His office is as minimalistic as his personality: bare white walls, a neatly stacked desk, and a single, boring motivational poster that says something like “Strive for Success.” Yeah, because that's inspiring.

He looks up, startled. “Miss Vexx. What can I do for you?”

“I’ve got something important to say,” I start, my voice steady but fierce. “And as a reminder, it was my parents who funded the new gym equipment for the school, so I’d like to be heard.”

Mr. Halford blinks, clearly unsure of where this is going. He gestures to a chair. “Would you like to sit down?”

I shake my head, the adrenaline surging through me. “Thanks, but I’m too upset and wired to sit.” Derek and Sebastian lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching with amused but supportive expressions.

Mr. Halford, still looking slightly confused, leans forward. “What seems to be the problem, then?”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “A little over a week ago, I found out that the grimoire I was supposed to hand in for my assessment was swapped. My real one was handed in under Kyla’s name, and nowsheis getting it published as her own original work in the library.” I can feel the heat rising to my face, but I keep going. “I have proof of this, but honestly? I don’t care about exposing her. What I want is permission to ignite an old tradition—” I pause, watching the principal’s expression flickerwith confusion. “The Rite of Arcane Reckoning,” I declare, the words heavy and meaningful in the room.

Mr. Halford’s eyes widen, and he sits back in his chair, clearly caught off guard. “You want to engage in an Arcane Reckoning? But… Miss Vexx, if you have proof, we can resolve this through formal channels. Why would you want to challenge her to a magical duel instead?”

I turn to Derek and Sebastian, gesturing dramatically. “Let me ask them. If you had the choice between kicking someone’s ass or exposing their dirty secrets, which would you pick?”

Derek and Sebastian exchange a glance, and without missing a beat, they practically shout in unison, “Kick her ass.”

Sebastian smirks. “No contest. Every time.”

Derek nods, adding, “Besides, you’ve been itching for this, Z.”

Mr. Halford pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly trying to process everything. “Miss Vexx, I’m not sure the school board would approve of—”

“I don’t need the board’s approval,” I cut in, my voice rising. “The Rite of Arcane Reckoning has been in place for centuries. It’s a sanctioned tradition where two witches can use any spells they know against each other, barring death spells, of course. It’s an honor-bound duel, a way to settle disputes with magic.”

“But—”

“I’m not asking for permission, I’m asking for support,” I say, my voice firm. “Kyla’s been hurting people, manipulating them, and now she’s trying to erasemywork. This isn’t just about the grimoire anymore—it’s about everything she’s done. And I want to face her in front of the whole school.”

The principal sits there for a long moment, staring at me like I’ve just grown a second head. “Are you sure this is what you want? If you have proof—”

“I’m positive,” I say, my voice steady. “Proof won’t satisfy me. I want to take her down, and I want everyone to see it.”

Derek and Sebastian, clearly impressed by my resolve, chime in again. “Come on, Principal Halford,” Derek says, grinning. “You know this would beepic.”

Sebastian nods, arms still crossed. “Think about the spectacle. The students would never forget it.”

Mr. Halford sighs deeply, rubbing his temples. “Fine,” he says slowly, clearly regretting this decision already. “If that’s what you really want, Miss Vexx, I’ll make the arrangements. But know this—it’s dangerous. You’re taking a big risk.”

I nod, feeling a surge of triumph. “I know. But trust me, it’ll be worth it. Besides, chances are Kyla will reject the challenge—she stole my spells and cheats every chance she gets. She can't cheat during a Reckoning.” With that, I turn to Derek and Sebastian, both of them grinning like they’ve just won the lottery. “Let’s go,” I say, heading for the door. “We’ve got some ass to kick.”

The principal’s voice follows me as we leave. “I’ll make the announcement tomorrow. Be prepared, Miss Vexx.”

“Oh, I will be,” I call back, already feeling the fire burning in my veins.

As the door closes behind us, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. This is it. The battle is on, and Kyla has no idea what’s coming her way.

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