Page 327 of Castings & Curses

“There is a small room that students don’t seem to care for in the same hall as your sister’s room. You are welcome to stay there until we get all of this sorted out. In the meantime, I would suggest you keep your conversations with other students at Pitchfork Prep casual. Please, tell no one what we have discussed or the unusual circumstances surrounding your arrival. What matters is that you are Antimony’s brother, you are here now, and I am sure, since you are her twin, that you will make considerable contributions to the Academy. Can we all agree on that?”

CHAPTER SIX-SUSPICIONS

Moni spentmany days after the return of Sam pinching herself and feeling as though she were walking on air. She’d introduced Sam to Luca, Shady, and Broody, and as far as she was concerned he fit right into the group.

Moni had never felt the slightest need to apologize for her lifestyle or non-discriminatory sexual proclivities, but she did feel an obligation to let him know that she was not only friends with Broody and Luca but also occasionally lovers, and that she occasionally hooked up with Shady.

Sam seemed to be as open-minded as she was, and told her that while he was glad that she felt able to confide in him, her confession wasn’t necessary and that her private life was her own business.

“Now that I have you back, Sis, I would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable or question any lifestyle choice you made for yourself… And I have to tell you that while I am more attracted to Shady than Luca or Broody, I have to admire them, even as a guy I think they arebothhot asballs!”

Moni had to laugh. It was the first time Sam had used off-color language, which made sense because, as far as she knew, he’d been kept apart from society for several years. In some ways, his speech patterns were naive and more “coming-of-age” than one would encounter in a male witch that had been raised in the same society and time period thatshehad.

They got along swimmingly, and that was why she found it so disturbing when Broody and Luca, with whom she’d been spending less and less time, asked if they could speak to her alone, just the three of them.

“Look, I know I haven’t had as much time to hang out with either of you, and Shady, but I’m trying to help Sam acclimate to Pitchfork Prep Academy. Just yesterday afternoon, I had to tutor him in riding on his Pitchfork! Boy was all kinds of clumsy at first. It even took off without him, if you can believe it!”

Broody looked at Luca, and both of them turned back to her. Broody gave her an oblique look.

“That’s, well, just fascinating, but weseriouslyneed to consult with you, in private, without your dear brother, Sam, present… Can you meet us in the Library, third sub-cellar Archives, say, immediately after dinner?”

Still perplexed, Moni nodded her assent. She was still thinking that the fact that she’d been spending so much time with her long lost twin was bothering them, and they missed her and were maybe jealous that Sam was occupying nearly all her waking hours since his arrival. Well, that was understandable, but she thought they were being immature. At least Shady understood that, after missing many years together, years that they would never be able to get back, she and her twin, Sam, had a lot of catching up to do.

Moni sighed deeply.Men! They were so selfish, and whiny when they didn’t get enough attention!

Not many students visited the Magical Archives in the sub-cellars of Pitchfork Prep Academy. Most of them had no use for the ancient texts kept there, separated from the rest of the library by steep stone steps and tunnels. Most of the student body was not interested in the history of the school, which was well documented there, or the curious texts dating back to the time of the Crusaders.

Broody had often said that it was the only part of the library worth preserving, and the founders must have agreed, because in the event of a fire, or even a holocaust, it was likely that only the texts in the sub-cellars would survive.

It was always cold down there, even in the warmer months, and as the autumn kicked in the drop in temperature as she descended the winding circular stairway—which was the only way to reach the sub levels—she found herself shivering.

She was also thinking that if Luca and Broody had asked her to meet them there as a joke and didn’t show up, she would use the itching charm she had just learned to vex the entire contents of their underwear drawer.

But there they were, on time, sitting in a pool of light that Luca had provided with aLuminaspell since the lighting in the sub-cellar was barely adequate. They were sitting at the end of a long library table and looked up as soon as she came into view.

Broody stood up and pulled out a chair catty corner to where he was seated.

“So glad you joined us, Moni. Please have a seat. I know you are wondering why all the subterfuge, but please hear us out and you will understand why we decided that it was best not to meet in public!”

Moni unwound the scarf she was wearing around her neck so that it hung loosely over her small shoulders and said, “Wow! I haven’t been down here since I was researching Mission Moth Messengers at the beginning of school for the Enchanted Entomology course. So, what’s up? And I would have much rather met in the Charm Café. We could be sipping lattes right now!”

Luca sighed, exchanged a significant look with Broody and said, “Moni, Broody and I think that guy who showed up out of the blue claiming to be your brother is a fake—an imposter—someone justposingas your long lost brother Sam! I can tell by the look on your face you think we are insane, buttrustme. We knew your first reaction would be to get mad and accuse us of being jealous because you are spending so much time with Sam—”

“Which I alreadyampissed off, andyes, I think you both are jealous of our relationship and I also think you’ve gone mental,” she replied in a snippy tone. Where in theworlddid you get the idea he is not my brother, mytwin, for God’s sake. Don’t you think I would know my owntwin? I mean, if you put lipstick and a wig on him, he could be my double!”

“Not bodywise—” Broody started to object.

But Luca nudged Broody into silence as he replied, “Moni, there is just somethingoffabout him. Both Broody and I sensed it from the beginning. And yeah, he’s a nice enough guy but he acts differently when he’s not around you. Broody and I were playing a game of pickup basketball the other day with some of the other witches and he joined in… Well, a couple times during the game he exhibited superhuman skills, well beyond the capacity of mortals. And you know the gym areas are warded from any type of magic to keep things fair when we play games. At one point he made a vertical leap into the air to make a basket that no ordinary witch could achieve, Moni! I mean it wasbeyondOlympic quality. Other times, he was moving too fast for the eye to follow! Whatever he is, he isnotyour twin! I’veneverseenyoumove like that!”

“And the way he talks about you is creepy,” Broody chimed in. “I mean,reallycreepy. We were all watching you across campus the other day, hanging around in the Commons after class, and he was watching you as you walked and said something to Shady, like, ‘Moni is so hot, who wouldn’t want to tap that ass!’”

Moni blanched at the revelation but came to Sam’s defense immediately.

“Maybe that just came out wrong! We have no idea where he has been. He can’t remember and even Proctor Reynolds couldn’t find out anything when he was doing Crystal Ball scrying. He’s just confused or something. Maybe Shady misheard what he said!”

“Would you listen to yourself?” Luca interjected, his face flushing as he half rose up out of his seat. “Are you his attorney? Are you not hearing any of this? Okay, I wasn’t going to tell you, but— He took me aside yesterday and asked me how you were inbed. What the hell kind of question is that for a brother to ask about his own sister?”

Luca hadn’t expected the slap, but even though it was hard enough to cause his head to snap back, he reached for Moni’s shoulders and shook her as if trying to wake her up.

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