Page 19 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Done correctly,” Professor Hershaw continued, “intricacies will strengthen your spell. The more voices, harmonies, or instruments, the better the outcome. However, the more moving parts, the more risk. Weaving your magic into anything that is not perfected can seriously injure or disable the user or their magic. So remember, practice is not just encouraged, it’s enforced.”

Adeline looked my way as if to remind me of the tutoring she had in store for me. Clearly my guesses on her Ritual test hadn’t fooled her. Still, the summer reading they’d sent had made major assumptions of my baseline knowledge, and the witchcraft books I’d found at local book stores were not all created equal.

“Everyone break into pairs and discuss what musical instruments you know, and for those of you who only know one please come sign up for lessons with Counsellor Clarkson, who is filling in for our Music chair.”

I was one of three students who approached her. She saw who was approaching and waved them off, their names already spilling from her pen. When she met my eyes, however, she eagerly beckoned me forward.

“You must be Sage Williams, I’ve been meaning to schedule you to meet with me.”

“Is that necessary?” I asked uneasily.

“Yes love, I meet with all new students and transfers. I’ll be sure to send you a note of some availability and you just circle which one works best.” Nodding like we’d just agreed on the answer together, she waved to Professor Hershaw before seeing herself out.

Returning to my group, I found that most had gone for percussive instruments as they could be layered easily and had a smaller learning curve. Theo would strongly disagree, his mastery of drumming giving him a strong dislike for people calling drums “simple.” I told them I mainly used vocals and didn’t know which additional instrument I would learn. They highly recommended drums telling me the class was simple, the tutor easy to please. I smiled before sliding my hand into my pocket to touch the irksome paper crane. I promised myself I’d learn to make a crane twice as nice, that way I wouldn’t have to be so obsessed with this one.

Adeline approached, today’s expression leaning toward disappointment, while her eyes scanned the others. The mask, unwavering.

“We’ll be meeting tonight in the East Music Room, rather than the library. Bring your textbook and the essentials for a basic ritual.” She walked away, so certain in her movements that every hair swayed without leaving their designated place. If she had to be my tutor I wish she’d stop setting such an impossible standard.

Adeline

“Miss Alva, would you like to explain the uses of Atropa Belladonna?” My mother looked at me from the front of the classroom. The front row (having turned in their seats to look at me), were waiting.

“Not really, no.”

Dorcas snorted at the side of me as I stared blankly at my mother. The rest of the class wouldn’t know how annoyed she was right now. They didn’t know her like I did. Her jaw tightened even though her smile didn’t slip so much as a millimetre. I looked to the hand gripping the back of her chair where she stood behind her desk, her manicured nails dug in. She released them on noticing my observation and took a step away. I smirked and looked back at her for a moment before sitting up straighter in my seat, “Atropa Belladonna, in small quantities, is used for astral projection.”

“And in larger quantities?” She probed.

“If too much is used it can cause hallucinations.”

“What else?”

Sighing, I continued, “Used potently it can be an exceptional poison.”

“And that brings me to my next topic…” She turned away to write on the board. Would it kill her to say ‘well done Adeline? Very good? Great job?’ …Probably.

The rest of the day was equally as uneventful and frustrating, including an exasperating study session with Clove going over anything she didn’t understand in today’s lectures; and as I sat in the library that evening afterwards I felt my eyes growing heavy. I had been plagued by the usual nightmares all week, all year really, though they were always worse after using dark magic, which of course I couldn’t tell anyone I had been doing… Even if it was for a good cause. Yawning, I jumped as the heavy book on my lap slipped to the floor with a thud that drew the attention of two nearby students who giggled between themselves. Rubbing a hand over my face, I gathered my belongings together and stood.

I threw a silencing charm around myself with a quick flick of my wrist, as I drew my phone from my skirt pocket. Stepping out of the main entrance into the fresh air, I called the only person I actually cared about.

“Everything okay?” Cillian answered.

“Hello to you too.”

“Cute. What’s up?”

“Does there need to be anything wrong? Can I not just call you?” I said attempting to sound casual.

“You don’t, usually. Did… I mean, do you actually want to talk? Or is there actually something wrong?”

“Can you meet?” I said with a sigh, already knowing the answer.

He was silent for so long I held the phone away from my ear to check it was still connected.

“Hel-

“Where?” He interrupted.

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