Page 132 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Dorcas…” I began in frustration.

“Um, yes?” Sage answered.

“Was that a question or a statement? Sure don’t sound ready to me.” Dorcas remarked, scrolling on her phone with a smirk.

“Dorcas!” I snapped in warning.

“Um, didn’t you come second in our trial…afterAdeline?” Sage cocked her head as she held Dorcas’ livid stare.

“You little!”

“- Hey now. Let’s keep it civil. I’m sure you’re going to give it your best Dorcas. May the best witch win and all that. C’mon Sage.” I rushed out, dragging Sage up by her arm and steering her out of the dorm.

“She started it!” Sage muttered, as we descended the main staircase out of the dorm building. The fresh Spring air hit us as we pushed open the heavy wooden doors, and the scent of flowers danced on the breeze.

“Relax, I loved it. Her face was quite priceless, I think I’ll keep that memory locked away for safekeeping.” We laughed together as we followed the curved path which skirted round the dormitory buildings.

“Are… Are you nervous?” Sage asked, her sapphire eyes peeked at me through her blonde curls. Apprehension written all over her face.

“Yes… and anyone who tells you any differently this morning is a liar, Sage.”

She nodded but said nothing. I smiled as I saw her shoulders relax. We walked to the dining hall in comfortable silence, navigating through the students who had already begun to gather outdoors with blankets and snacks.

“We’re not running late are we? …Actually, forget it, that was stupid. Since when has the great Adeline Alva been late for anything?”

“Students always show up early, I think they just like to claim the best seats before the rest of the Academy gets here.” We joined the queue for hot drinks as we spoke. There were plenty of other girls in the hall, already eating their breakfast. Some of Sage’s old room mates among them. I tensed as Silva caught my eye. She slid out of her chair smoothly, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder.

“What now…” Sage mumbled under her breath.

“It’s fine,” I assured her as we stepped forward in the line. “Silva, what a pleasure it’s been to not have to seen your face recently. What’s new? Ruined any lives recently?”

“Now, now, Adeline. No need for the hostilities. I was actually coming over to apologise for Marsha’s behaviour of late.”

“Hmm.”

Silva kept pace with us as we reached the front of the queue. I grabbed a cup and placed it in the hot drinks machine, setting it to my desired beverage.

“Yes. I know Cillian is a dear friend of yours and well, you can’t blame girls for getting jealous. However, I agree that Marsha stepped over the line… more than once. We do have a lot in common, Adeline. Our parents run in the same circles after all. It would be a shame for us to ruin our time here at the Academy with childish squabbling. Don’t you agree?” Her speech was certainly well rehearsed, she even had a twinkle of hope in her eyes like she actually wanted to be friends. I just couldn’t work out her angle. She wasn’t Running, we hardly shared any classes together and Sage had already moved out of her dorm. What did she want… “What do you say? Fresh start?” She held out a cup, filled to the brim with a steaming gourmet hot chocolate. Just how I liked it. I looked from the offered mug to her perfectly painted face. Her steel blue eyes were holding a faint flicker of something other than hope… fear? Nerves?

“Okay,” I accepted the cup and gave her a tight smile which didn’t quite meet my eyes. “Fresh start.” I agreed.

“Oh wonderful! You won’t regret this.” She smiled widely, showing every brilliant white tooth in her stupid mouth. Striding away to her table on her Louboutin’s, I turned back to face the coffee machine, promptly pouring the cup she gave me in the trash.

“But you just said…”

“- That witch is full of shit.” I picked up my own cup and sipped it with satisfaction. “C’mon, I want to grab some toast and fruit before we need to make our way to the starting line.”

* * *

Massaging my temples, I joined the line up of contestants that was beginning to form along the edge of the forest. My mother stood on a raised podium to the right of us, the rest of the staff standing to one side giving out reassuring smiles. Her stony face remained unmoved as she cast a clinical gaze over each student in turn, her focus barely wavering as she passed over me; though the tightness around her eyes told a different story.

“Are you okay?” Sage asked, looking at me with concern.

“Yeah…” I replied, shaking my head in an effort to clear the vague ache which was settling behind my eyes and left temple. What a time to develop a headache. I brought my water bottle to my lips and drank deeply. “I woke up early.”

“Again?”

“It’s fine.” I said, dismissing her worry with a wave of my hand.

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