Page 138 of The Holy Academy of Witches

As I scanned the group of students entering the hall my eyes snagged on the tall dark form of Marcus, savouring all the attention he was receiving with a swagger, and it dawned on me that Theo would be among them, just as I spotted him. My mouth dried out at seeing him so closely again. The witches across the room nudged each other and whispered in excitement, their eyes following his every step. He wore a cocky smile on his face which highlighted the dimple in his left cheek, though his eyes roamed the rows of students as though looking for someone.

“Theo’s here, good.” Sage whispered, more to herself than me. Of course, he was looking for his twin.

The warlocks all came to a halt at the front of the hall, their Headmaster standing at the side of my mother facing their students.

“Welcome Veneficus students, we are happy to have you and I’m sure you will enjoy your time here. In regards to the uniting of the Academies, owing to my seniority in this position, Headmaster Finch will be stepping down. He will instead be contributing to the continued educational development of our male students in their potions lessons while I will maintain my posting as High Headmistress of both Academies. I know this will be a challenging period of transition for all of us but I do not doubt that high standards will remain. Speaking for all staff, we will still expect exemplary behaviour from all students.” Cillian looked at me from the front of the room and gave me a knowing roll of his eyes and I hid my smirk behind my hair as I glanced away quickly so I wouldn’t laugh. “Now please, mingle. Introduce yourselves and girls… carry yourself with the respect and decorum expected or there will be consequences.”

She stepped away from the podium and conjured small tables of food and drinks, as the Academy’s ghostly kitchen staff descended upon the dining hall to serve canapés and fawn over the new students.

“Well, this is going to be fun,” Dorcas announced behind me.

“I’m going to find Ci- Theo, I’m going to find Theo.” Sage said, looking around at the crowds of people nervously.

“I’ll come with you, I’m going to find Cillian.” I steered her away from two girls who were openly discussing which warlocks were the most good looking. On hearing Cillian’s name, Sage’s fingernails bit into the crook of my arm.

Soft music filled the hall as my mother tried to create some semblance of an ambience after the way the day had turned out. We squeezed between people, seeing Dorcas with her hand on the waist of her boyfriend. At least her hostility should be dialled down a notch with the presence of her current partner. My eyes swept the room until they eventually found Cillian standing off to one side in deep discussion with Professor Hershaw, the sole reason he wasn’t surrounded by fawning girls.

“There he is. Are you co-”

“-I’ll go find Theo.” Sage hastily interrupted and hurried away in any direction but Cillian’s. She had it bad.

I walked to Cillian’s side, my heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. He looked up as I joined them and smiled warmly. Excusing himself he leaned in to place a soft kiss on my cheek, ever the gentleman.

“Oh Adeline! I was just talking to your wonderful friend here.” She placed her hand gently on Cillian’s upper arm as she spoke. “He said you’ve been speaking very highly of me and my lectures, which is just…” She flapped her hands around, lost for words as her eyes took on a glassy appearance. “Mr Lynch here says he’s very interested in learning from a new set of teachers. I was just saying that I’m not entirely certain what the plans were in that respect but I agree it could be quite interesting to shake things up a bit. Oh! What am I saying?! I’m sorry Mr Lynch, how inconsiderate of me, you’ve had so much change already and the loss of your Academy. I wasn’t…”

“It’s fine Professor Hershaw, it’s a figure of speech, I understand. I agree it would be a welcome challenge to be taught by a new set of professors.” Cillian assured her.

“That is quite an intriguing thought,” I added, “I wonder if my mother has considered mixing the classes or if she will continue to keep us separated?”

“Ooh! To have both of you in my class would be something to marvel at! You would keep me on my toes, that’s for sure!” Professor Hershaw exclaimed, her eyes sparkled with eagerness.

“Oh, no. That wouldn’t be possible I’m afraid. Cillian here is the year above myself.” I explained.

“Oh really? You’ve begun your specialisation then? Do tell…” Cillian and Professor Hershaw launched into a conversation about mastery as my eyes wandered the hall. The male students had mainly stuck together in small groups, most likely their room mates, apart from the odd Warlock who was flirting outrageously with the doe-eyed witches willing to pay them any attention. My eyes caught on a set of ocean blue eyes across the room. He quickly looked away as he refocused his attention on the witch standing in front of him. Sage was gesticulating wildly as her mouth moved rapidly. Theo nodded and held his hand out for her to see, looking abashed. She paused what must have been a scalding to look at the backs of his hands, her fingers tenderly swiping over his knuckles. Her head snapped back up to his and her rant continued. I could see his jaw clench from across the room as he looked away from her, his eyes finding my own once more. They widened in surprise to find me still looking at him before flicking up and down my body.

I averted my gaze back to Professor Hershaw who was laughing at something Cillian had said and waving for another teacher to join them. I attempted to contribute to the conversation as the evening went on but felt wholly distracted until Sage appeared, asking if we could return to our dormitory.

Seventy-Three

Sage

I’d avoided the infirmary as long as I could, but since combining campuses Cillian’s preferred use of his free time was to help the overwhelmed staff heal any remaining patients, and I needed to talk with him alone. I wasn’t sure the infirmary would be the ideal place to have this talk, as every time he was on staff it was rumoured the place became overrun with singles suffering from headaches and stomach aches alike. Either way it was better than trying to wade through the crowd of his adoring fans that followed him from practical to practical. Taking a deep breath I walked through the door only to see row after row of empty beds. Had I gotten the time wrong?

“Cillian?” I called out, taking a few steps into the echoing space.

“Sage?” Cillian’s disembodied voice echoed around me. Walking closer I spotted a subtle shimmering before a sparse scattering of staff and patients materialised, inhabiting the previously empty room. Cillian was making his way toward me, arms outstretched, dressed in the same white lab coat from my nightmares.

Before my horrors had time to swallow me whole, Cillian was there. Enveloping me in his woodsy and citrus smell. I melted into the hug, allowing myself to pretend he’d offered the embrace for no other reason than because he wanted to. The tears pricked behind my eyes as I tried to remain firm in my convictions that calling our fake relationship off was the right thing to do. But as he ended the hug and I got another look at him in that lab coat my determination died, withered away along with any pretence that I didn’t love him. That even if this was one sided, I couldn’t call it off. I enjoyed our fake relationship too much. I couldn’t imagine losing our silly outings and quirky quizzing phone calls. Not to mention the mere idea of any of his many admirers taking my place made me simultaneously furious and physically ill. I jumped as he slid his fingers through mine, intimately linking our hands to lead me further into the infirmary.

“Sorry about the illusion, it became necessary to deter the idiotic… Well, I’m sure you’re aware.” Cillian rolled his eyes before smiling at me, as if to show me or the people watching us that he didn’t see me as one of his groupies. I smiled appreciatively. It was an astute kindness, but then he always had been sharp… and more gallant than I liked to admit.

Cillian introduced me to a few of the people he knew. He ignored their effusive thanks in favour of giving me sidelong looks, knowing me well enough to spot my unusual silence. I blushed, embarrassed that I honestly couldn’t think of anything to say. I’d only come here, braving the possible flashbacks to break up with him, to set him free. But now, I was trying to think of ways to keep him. Or at least make this last as long as possible. Was he enjoying himself in our fake relationship? It was his idea, and we hadn’t stopped our weekend outings until the most recent attack, but that was because of the new protocols Headmistress Alva had dictated.

I was being led by the hand out of the infirmary. Cillian had changed out of his lab coat and grabbed his satchel at some point though I couldn’t remember him letting go of my hand. He continued ahead of me, drawing more than a few stares as he towed me behind. I should catch up, walk beside him and claim my place, be sure everyone knew he was mine. I didn’t want to though, not when he was so much easier to admire from here. Here, I could pretend he wanted me the way I wanted him, that I was anywhere close to deserving of the love and attention he showered on me. How much better of a boyfriend would he be to someone he actually cared for if these were the lengths he’d take for a fake girlfriend?

I happily followed him through campus, having already called in sick to my remaining classes in preparation for the emotional breakdown I’d anticipated following my conversation.

“Do you not have any practicals you need to get to?” I asked as we continued north east.

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