Page 108 of The Holy Academy of Witches

Doubt creeped through my mind, venomous, twisted. What if my gift didn’t need them to be near at all? No, stop it. I stood and quickly stuffed my belongings back in my bag. My hands trembled with every movement. Oh Gods… oh Gods…

My phone was to my ear within seconds, the dial tone ringing through.Please answer, please answer,I whispered, like a prayer.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” His smooth voice asked with a hint of a smile.

“Cillian,” I gasped as I tore through the woods in the direction of the boys campus.

“Adeline? What’s happened? What’s wrong?” His voice commanding, all humour evaporated as though it never existed.

“I was… I…” what could I tell him? How could I possibly explain to my oldest friend that I had been doing dark magic for years without anyone knowing? He would never forgive me, even if it was for a greater purpose, “I don’t know what happened, I was in the woods and… I slipped into a trance and when I woke…”

“Are you hurt?”

“I need you.”

“Usual place, I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

I climbed over a fallen tree, its roots exposed, warped, the pungent smell of damp earth lingered in the air. The tree’s body was broken and hollow. I could empathise. A twig snapped nearby and I froze, a rabbit in headlights. I looked down at the remnants of blood on my skin and uniform, even against the black silk in the shadows of the forest, it was noticeable enough if you paid attention. The sound of crunching leaves and the rustle of brambles underfoot grew closer. How I wished I could apparate on school grounds in that moment.

The one person on earth I didn’t wish to see, even more than my own mother, was, of course, the one to appear through the trees. A flash of his blonde hair peeked out from under a dark blue hoodie. He stopped when he saw me, immediately looking away and swearing under his breath. His expression was torn as he finally looked at me. A million unspoken words travelled between us, the only sound, our breathing. His gaze travelled from my pale face down my body, a frown appearing as he noticed the blood and dirt on my skirt. I quickly hid my hands behind my back, shielding them from view. I don’t think he caught the motion but his jaw clenched in a way that made his cheek flicker. He really was handsome. Such a shame he was a lying prick.

He looked away again into the forest and I took the opportunity to look him over. He either hadn’t been to lessons today or he had a break between classes because he was out of uniform, instead he wore a pair of grey joggers and a hoodie. Usually I liked men to look refined and well put together, but everything about Teddy appealed to me. Theo… Theo. Dammit. I looked away, my light headedness returning as I tried to focus on a nearby tree, “I need to go.”

“I’m not keeping you.” He said, his voice bitter and cold. He remained turned away, as though willing me to disappear. A pain in my chest had me staggering away into the forest, I refused to analyse why Theo hadn’t yet left and why I distinctly heard a crashing from behind me as I fled the area.

“Adeline? What on earth!?” I collapsed to the ground as I reached Cillian, his strong arms wrapping around me. He paled at the sight of my blackened fingers but said nothing as he lifted me gently to sit on a nearby tree stump.

I swayed as my head spun, his arms the only reason I wasn’t falling back to the ground. “I… Don’t know what happened…” I repeated.

“It’s okay,” he spoke softly. I wasn’t sure whether he was attempting to reassure me or himself. “Did… Were… Is anyone else,” he swallowed, “hurt?”

Andthatwas exactly why he couldn’t know. We loved each other with the protectiveness of siblings, but on some level he feared me, no matter how he tried to hide it. I couldn’t give any more reasons than he already had to not trust me. He was all I had.

“I don’t think so, no.” I said, my voice shaky with the exertion of running and the dread of not actually knowing the answer. “I think I must have… fallen.” My excuse was lame even to my own ears, though he nodded as he gently stretched out my arms to examine the wounds.

“You used the healing salve on them?” He asked.

“Yes, I always keep it handy.”

“Good. It looks like it’s stopped the bleeding at the very least.” He eyed my clothing, “-which there seems to have been a lot of?” He cocked an eyebrow at me as he met my gaze. His blue eyes boring into mine.

“Umm, yes.”

“Okay.” He wrapped his large hands around my arm, his touch was tender and careful. Well practised. It had always been an issue of debate in his household growing up. As pleasant as his parents were, it was obvious that they wished their only son would have been blessed with a different gift. One that would lend itself more seamlessly to a life in politics rather than healthcare.

A glow emitted from his palms. He worked in silence and I felt a warmth spread through my body as his gift knitted the cuts back together until there was no sign of any damage at all. He didn’t ask any further questions. He never did. Ever the professional… or perhaps he just didn’t want to know anything that would alter his perception of me.

I sagged in relief, exhaustion weighing the very bones of me. “You’re entirely drained, also. I suggest you get some rest and recharge for the evening. Do you have your tutoring with Sage?” He asked.Shit, Sage. She was moving into my dorm this afternoon and I’d promised I’d be there. I wasn’t even sure how long I’d been out for, though judging by the position of the sun, I may have already missed it. I hoped Dorcas had behaved herself… for once. Surely, we were due at least one miracle.

Fifty-Seven

Sage

The dining hall was full by the time I made it there after dropping off the last of my luggage into my new dorm.

I grabbed a tray, filling it with the savoury pies I’d grown to love since attending. Seeing no empty tables I headed to the adjacent courtyard outside. The stone tables and low walls were mercifully free of snow so I sat on a portion of the wall that was in the muffled winter sun. I ate with my eyes closed, enjoying the flaky crust and saucy filling. The rustling of wind sighed through the pine hedges. I inhaled greedily, the scent soothing my nerves. The feeble rays soaked into my wool jacket perfectly as I took another bite, which elicited a groan.

“Is that how you snagged Cillian then?” Silva sneered.

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