Page 23 of Spelling Disaster

The decor is overwhelming, the small space overloaded with so many things from the human world that I’m not familiar with, and my mind burns with questions. My roommate must be a bit of a hoarder as her side of the room has every available space chock filled to bursting with personal items.

Taking a deep breath, I drop my head between my knees and focus on drawing an inhale to the count of four, holding it for five, exhaling for six.

The Clerics are gone.

How is it possible?

Are we the only ones left, anywhere?

Are we hiding for a reason?

I focus on breathing until I lose count because I definitely don’t feel better. Like, not even a little bit.

And even the dresser that’s supposed to be mine is covered with trinkets. It’s the one closest to my bed so it’s mine now. I’m going to have to ask my roommate about it, whenever she gets in.

Deciding to force myself to feel more positive, to steal a little bit of Amy’s optimism, I grab the suitcase and set it next to me on the mattress, unzipping it.

And I screech again when my familiar pops out. “Gus!” My heart turns over in my chest. I can only look at him, to see for myself he really did survive the blast. He’s whole.

Not that I thought he hadn’t survived.

I would have known he’d died, the connection between us gone and the space in my head he’s always occupied empty.

Still, he’d kept his distance while I lived in the coven house.

There I go, practically sobbing again. “I’ve never been so happy to see you in my life! What are you doing here?”

He scurries up my arm, his voice in my head in such familiar soothing tones I’m a second away from losing it entirely.

I thought you’d need me, so I came. Like you were going to go away to academy without me?It’s bad enough the wards at the coven house keep familiars on the outskirts.

I snuggle him close. “You’re a lifesaver. I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t even feel you there. I pause for a second. Their wards are that strong?”

Apparently so, and Gus does not sound happy about it.

There’s no way I’m letting go of him, no way I want any more distance between us.

The mental connection between us is also a lifesaver, soothing the frayed edges of my mind like nothing else. Soon even my frantic wonderings about the Clerics take a backseat to the joy, the sheer relief, of having Gus nearby.

As my familiar, he is able to talk to me, and his side of the conversation is never relayed out loud. It’s another level of bonding between us and something special we share.

And now, I’m not alone anymore.

Gus nestles against my chest and it’s the most effective soothing mechanism I’ve ever experienced. His weight, his scent, his voice in my head, it’s everything I need to tether me to my past. It’s comfortable.

There is something shady going on, he tells me.

“That’s a mouthful and you aren’t even speaking through your mouth. You know they sent me here because they think I burned the library.”

Gus brushes his nose against my finger.Not you, Yas.Something powerful, with enough magic to make the others think it was you.To point the blame in your direction.

“You mean the—”

I break off when the door to the room slams open and crashes against the wall.

A fabulously dressed young woman stands in the doorway for a long moment, pausing for effect, before entering the room. She’s done up in layers of pink with her hair in ombre pigtails. Yes, also pink. Her plaid school uniform has been adjusted, or transformed, to fit whatever rebellious attitude made her choose her current aesthetic.

Her gaze lands on me and, surprisingly, her features twist in a grin. “I knew I was getting a new roomie, but I thought you’d be in later! No idea why I thought that. Otherwise I would have cleaned up a bit. I’m really happy to have you here. It’s been a long time since I had a roommate. Like, weeks.” She twists a lock of hair around her finger, her nail polish matching the color of the strands.

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