Page 18 of Hex Appeal

Chapter 5

Ceries stared at herrejected curriculum proposal in the darkening classroom.Her quill tried to pat the papers consolingly, though it couldn't resist adding a tiny broken heart in the margin.Ceries stared at her rejected curriculum proposal in the darkening classroom as the setting sun painted dramatic shadows across her desk.Her quill tried to pat the papers consolingly, though it couldn't resist adding a tiny broken heart in the margin alongside what appeared to be the world's smallest violin drawn in surprisingly detailed ink.

"He didn't even read it," she told her empty classroom.The practice dummies in the corner sagged in sympathy, one of them miming a dramatic faint.Her hair shifted to frustrated crimson."Twenty pages of safety protocols, modified casting methods, practical applications—and he just said no like I was suggesting we teach students to juggle unstable potions for the school talent show."

She pulled out Thorncraft's notes from her hiring interview.There it was in black and white, underlined with the self-important flourish that characterized all his handwriting: "Looking to modernize our defensive magic curriculum...need fresh perspectives...particularly interested in practical applications..."

Going over Mal's head felt wrong, like stealing someone's wand when they weren't looking.But wasn't her first duty to her students?To giving them real tools for self-defense?To making sure they weren't left with just theory when faced with actual danger?

"He was completely unreasonable," she argued with her charm bracelet, which was trying to tug her toward his office with the persistence of a matchmaking aunt."Something about twenty-three students...but he won't even explain."

The memory of pain in his eyes made her hair shift to worry-blue.There was clearly more to his resistance than just being traditional.But how could she help if he wouldn't tell her?How could she understand when he kept shutting down every time she got close to the truth?

"This isn't about him," she told her accessories firmly."This is about student safety.And Trustee Thorncraft did hire me specifically to modernize the curriculum..."

Her reflection in the window looked unconvinced, hair shifting to a shade that could only be described as "ethical quandary purple."The bracelet gave a dejected little chime, like a tiny bell calling a surrender.

She paced her classroom, torn between professional obligation to her students and her growing feelings for Malachai.Her instincts said something wasn't right about Thorncraft's eager support, but if Mal wouldn't even consider her research...Her charm bracelet gave another warning tingle as she reached for the door, but she pushed the feeling aside.Students' safety had to come first, didn't it?"

But she had to try.For her students.For Irideane who took three seconds to cast a shield charm that wouldn't save her in a real crisis.For Tommy who'd finally overcome his anxiety about defensive magic and was now eager to learn more.

Gathering her research and her resolve, she headed for Thorncraft's office. As she walked down the corridors, Malta Kenobrie ran up to her.

"'Is it true?'Malta asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.“About you and Principal Starcatcher?”

“What?”Ceries felt her hair flash panic-purple.

“The arguing,' Malta clarified.“About the advanced hexes.Everyone's talking about it.Some of us think he's being too cautious, but others...”she hesitated.“Well, Chaume's older brother was at Windermoore Academy when something went wrong with a hex demonstration.He said it was really bad.'"

“What type of bad?”Ceries asked, her heartbeat still trying to go back to normal.

“I don’t know. I should get to class.” Malta teleported out of the hallway with a flash of light and the lingering smell of brimstone and peanuts.

***

THORNCRAFT'S OFFICEpractically screamed "I'm important and have excessive amounts of money."Unlike Principal Starcatcher's practical, efficient organization, everything here was calculated to impress—from the mahogany desk large enough to land small flying creatures to the pretentious magical artifacts that served no purpose except to glow impressively.

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