Page 17 of Forbidden Magic
Lydia grazes the spread deck, her index finger twitching over a card. She presses on it and slides it out of the line.
“The Tower.” She lays it across the Fool. “A sudden change, a crisis.”
On the top of a big tree that looks a lot like a Sprite nest, a tower has just been split in two by a bolt of lightning. Fire rises from the rubble. The orange and red flames contrast against the stormy sky, the artistry of the piece blowing me away. I feel as though I might actually be zapped if I touch it.
Lydia reaches for a third card and flips it over the other two. I instantly recognize it even though it’s not one I’m used to.
A hoofed figured with large transparent wings is weaving a spider web between his wraith hands. A small heart is held captive in the net. The long, skeletal claws bring a chill to my bones, and I can’t help but notice his pointy ears and the dark hook of the scythe curling over his head. Under the hill on which he stands, a naked, prostrate woman is holding her head, her wrists chained to the rock.
Lydia’s voice trembles. “The Devil. Overindulgence, or choosing to stay in the dark.”
My lids flutter, my heart hammering in my ribcage. “Addiction and enslavement.”Lust and desire…
Lydia’s throat bobs, and she quickly squares the mass. “I’ll do another reading tomorrow. I’m clearly off my game.”
Our gazes meet, and the weight of what just happened passes between us. It’s not about the reading, but the card itself.
The eyes, the face. The dark curl of the hook falling over his forehead. It’s uncanny.
We’re both too stunned and scared to admit out loud that the figure her great grand-mother painted a century ago looks like Cole Desirys.
8
Hide and Sneak
Melanie claps her hands three times and uses them as a magical megaphone, her voice thundering across the clearing. “The hide and seek monthly games are a Dark Falls Academy tradition. Newbies, for your initiation, we figured we’d add a certain level of difficulty. Magda, will you do the honors?”
About fifteen students stand with me in front of Melanie’s pedestal. I stand on my tip-toes, wide-eyed, and search the crowd gathering around us for Allie. Melanie herded us in the clearing leading to the forest after the History of Magic class, and it’s already pitch black outside.
A pixie with purple hair flies over us and sprinkles a bit of pixie dust. My skin starts to gleam like a reflective surface.
“Refuse to participate, and you’ll automatically lose. Plus, we’ll tie you up to these trees, naked.” She motions to a lonely patch of half-dead pines. “Is everyone clear on the rules? Now, as usual, the twenty best hiders from last month’s games get to be seekers.”
Brie, a mermaid shifter with long tanned legs and short, fluorescent lime hair, hops to her feet. “The first twenty found will split up all the students’ chores. Anything goes except for changing reality planes.” The girl points directly to the very back of the crowd with a half smile. “Yes, I’m looking at you, Cole. No zapping to Fairy this time, or you forfeit.”
I stare ahead while everyone else crane their necks around to look at the prince’s reaction.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Mortals are to wear helmets.” Melanie tosses ugly hockey-style helmets at us.
Olson Lewis, a cute warlock with an electric-blue punk haircut, shouts over the crowd. “What? Why?”
Melanie grimaces. “They threatened to shut the games down if we didn’t.”
With a somber frown, I clip the white helmet over my head and help Lydia with hers. The strap is tangled in her hair.
Brie wets her lips and continues, “If a seeker touches you, a number will appear on your skin so you know in which order you were found. If you leave the forest before the horn signals the end, you’ll automatically receive a blue number, and you don’t want to find out what happens to quitters.”
A wicked grin spreads on the vampire’s lips. “Now, you’ll have a five minute lead. Use it wisely… Go!”
I’ve never been inside the forest before and follow Lydia’s lead until we reach the trees.
“We should probably not stick together,” she says, motioning to the pixie dust that radiates off our skin, turning us into small lighthouses.
“You’re right. Good luck.”
“It was nice knowing you,” Lydia says with faux-drama before running straight east.
I turn west. A raven crows from a branch, its slick black feathers shining in the night. He lunges into the air, and I follow.
