Page 87 of Revenge is a Witch

There’s a collective "ooooh" from the crowd, and I catch Derek shaking his head, clearly amused. Kyla’s face hardens, but she tries to laugh it off, though it sounds more like a nervous cackle. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? Without your wand, you’re nothing. You’re just stalling because you know you can’t win.”

I shrug, trying to look casual, but inside I’m buzzing with adrenaline. “Stalling? No, I just want to see what you’ve got. If this is all you’re bringing to the table, I might as well get comfortable.”

The crowd gasps, and Kyla’s fake smile vanishes completely. She clenches her wand so hard her knuckles turn white, and I can see the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Her composure cracks as she snarls, “You’ll regret this, Vexx.”

Without another word, she flicks her wand, and a bright beam of magic shoots toward me. It’s quick, I’ll give her that, but not quick enough. I take a single step to the side, and the beam of light fizzles out as it hits the ground where I was standing.

I let out an exaggerated yawn. “Wow, Kyla. All that power, and your aim is about as good as a one-eyed goblin at a dart board.”

The crowd erupts in laughter, and I can see Kyla’s face turning red. She waves her wand again, casting another spell—something with a lot more heat behind it—but I easily counter it with a quick flick of my wrist, no wand needed. The magical energy dissipates like smoke in the air.

I’m having too much fun now. I straighten my hat, loving how it makes me feel centered and focused. “Look, I’m not saying you don’t have power, Kyla. You do. But your execution? It’s terrible. I didn’t even have to counter that last one. Just a sidestep, and poof, nothing. Do you even know what you’re doing, or are you just waving that wand around and hoping for the best?”

The crowd’s "oooohs" grow louder, and I can see her eyes narrowing into slits. Her breath is coming faster, and I knowI’ve hit a nerve. Good. This is exactly where I want her—angry, reckless, and losing control.

Kyla raises her wand again, muttering something under her breath, and a swirling ball of fire hurtles toward me. I grin and raise my hand, the spell flickering out like a weak flame in a strong wind.

“You’re really bad at this,” I say, my voice dripping with mock sympathy. “I almost feel bad for you. Almost.”

Her rage is palpable now, a simmering volcano ready to blow. Perfect. The more emotional she gets, the sloppier her magic becomes. And me? I’m just getting started. Every time she throws something my way, I swat it aside like an annoying fly.

My heart’s racing, but not from fear. No, I feel empowered, like I’ve tapped into something deep inside of me. I’m not just here to defend myself anymore. I’m here towin. To take everything Kyla’s thrown at me and turn it right back on her.

“You know,” I say, keeping my tone light and teasing, “I almost expected more from someone who’s been talking so much about how she’s the ‘best witch’ at this school. But all I’m seeing is someone who’s a little too big for her broomstick.”

That does it. Kyla screams in frustration, her face twisted in fury as she hurls another spell in my direction. I easily deflect it again, barely even trying at this point.

“Today’s the day you get put in your place,” I whisper to myself, knowing that Kyla's about to see just how outclassed she really is.

I step forward, ready to take this to the next level.

Kyla’s frustration is boiling over, and I can feel the shift in the air. It’s dangerous. She’s not just throwing out petty spells anymore. This time, it’s something deeper—darker. I narrow my eyes, keeping my guard up, watching as her magic twists and churns with a kind of reckless abandon.

Then it happens. Her next spell comes flying at me, and I realize a second too late that it’s forbidden. The spell crackles in the air, black tendrils of magic spiraling toward me, more lethal than anything she’s thrown at me before. I don’t have a choice.

I reach for my wand.

With a swift flick, I counter the spell, the force of it pushing me back a few steps. The crowd gasps, and for the first time, I see real fear in their eyes. Kyla just tried to kill me.

No one’s allowed to interfere. Not Sebastian. Not Derek. Not the principal. No one. But I can feel their panic radiating from the sidelines.

Kyla sneers, her wand still raised, eyes filled with fury. “You’re really full of yourself, Vexx. Thought you could handle this without your wand?”

I meet her gaze, my heart pounding, but I refuse to let her see any fear. “Oh, I can handle you just fine,” I say, my voice steady. But I know I need a different approach. She’s reckless, and I need to throw her off her game.

“Do you want to know how I did it?” I say loudly, enough for the crowd to hear. Kyla falters, her eyes narrowing in confusion. “How I broke your binding hex on Sebastian?”

Her expression twists into something between rage and curiosity. She tries to keep her voice steady, but I can hear the edge. “What are you talking about?”

I smirk, knowing I’ve hit a nerve. “I know you’re dying to figure it out. Master warlocks and witches have been stumped for centuries. And yet, I did it.” Kyla’s face hardens, her lips pressed into a thin line. She doesn’t say anything, but I can see the calculation in her eyes. If she asks me how I did it, everyone will know what she did to Sebastian. And if she doesn’t, she’ll never know how I undid her spell.

Her magic flares again, more erratic now. She’s losing control, her anger fueling her attacks. The ground beneath me trembles,cracks forming as it begins to crumble. I stumble, just barely regaining my footing, but Kyla is already striding toward me, her eyes wild.

She gets close enough to whisper, her voice venomous, “When I win, I won’t bother binding Sebastian and Derek again. No, I’ll throw them off the school roof. Let’s see if they can heal from a shattered skull.” I freeze, my blood running cold. “I'll just tell people they were so depressed after watching you die that they decided to jump.” Her smirk is pure malice. “How tragic.”

She raises her wand, muttering a killing curse. My instincts kick in, and before I know it, I’ve cast an invisibility spell, disappearing from her sight. She hesitates, confused, searching for me as the crowd watches in stunned silence.

Enough. I’m done with this perfect princess.

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