Page 47 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“She doesn’t really seem that interested in all that actually, she’s more inclined to spend her time studying. Didn’t you say you had an assignment you were doing?” I snapped.

She faltered, her fork in mid air, “Yes… I’ll get to it as soon as I’ve finished eating. I don’t think we need to worry about her getting a following here anyway. She sounds rather dull.”

“I didn’t say I was worried.” I said bluntly, holding her gaze.

She swallowed, “of course not.” She laughed insincerely. “Wh… What topic have you chosen for the essay?”

“Foresight.” I said, no longer in a talkative mood. Gemma nodded slowly, looking down at her almost cleared plate. At least she had the decency to look uncomfortable after blatantly trying to use me for information on the new girl. My mind wandered back to the letter. Yes, I certainly did know how it felt to be alone in a room full of people.

Taking my plate to the sink, I rinsed it by hand and left it to drain. The room now completely silent. I picked up my textbooks and bag, and retreated to my bedroom, locking the door behind me.

Time to write a reply.

Stalker...

Too much? I rubbed the word away, staring at the blank paper. There was something about the anonymity of both him and I that made me want to pour my heart out directly onto the paper in front of me… but I wasn’t that person. I was careful, calculated. Nothing I did was accidental or spur of the moment. Writing a letter to a tall handsome stranger who I didn’t even know the name of wasn’t me… but it was appealing. Goddess knows I had no one else to talk to about my problems, not in the way I needed to. Sage had been making an effort lately to spend time with me outside of tutoring and classes and I was still undecided about how I felt about that. She was very likely using me like everyone else… using me to get closer to Cillian. And Cillian… Well, Cillian would just worry more than he already did if I told him half of what was on my mind.

I picked up the pen and took a deep breath. Be brave Adeline.

Blondie,

You’re right this is weird… I can’t actually remember the last time I wrote someone an actual letter, by hand. I like it though, I might conjure a quill and parchment next time.

I have been staring at this paper for quite a while… I wasn’t sure I would even reply but I have to admit that what you wrote did indeed make sense to me… as you knew it would.

But the first thing you need to know about me is that I’m a private person. This isn’t easy for me.

So… tell me Mr.Swimmer, what should I call you?

Ax

Twenty-Five

Sage

The next week flew by. Which was a shame as Friday’s had become a source of dread due to the longer day of lectures we were forced to attend. We had been in the current one for two hours already but there was no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Stalking the stage was Headmistress Alva herself, just as aggressive at hour two as she had been at minute one. Her dark gaze swept the crowd with a cold hunger, each fact thrown like a weapon. Every question asked with an eerie knowledge of the recipient’s weakness. It had already given one girl an anxiety attack and we were all politely ignoring her squeaking sobs.

I looked down at my phone in a brief moment of insanity, the lecture was halfway done thank heavens. Looking up I met her eyes, they were filled with disdain as she spoke.

“Is the lecture not entertaining enough for you, Miss Williams?”

“I meant no offence, Headmistress Alva.” I responded, turning off any and all emotions instinctively.

She looked at her watch then back across the crowd, ignoring me completely. I held in the sigh of relief I felt as she raised her voice slightly.

“I’ll be cutting this lecture short thanks to Miss Williams. For any vital information - now missing, feel free to ask our star pupil Miss Alva.” I bit the inside of my cheek till it bled. I didn’t need to see Adeline’s face to know this would be a problem, just when we were making progress toward becoming friendly. The class was already glaring at me enough to know several vital things had indeed been left out. Landing more work into Adeline’s lap was most definitely not the best way to go about becoming friends. And now that everyone in the dorm was avoiding me, she was my only potential friend.

With a pointed spiders-smile, Headmistress Alva continued, “The last order of business is this, try out schedules for The Run have been posted, as of today.” Everyone sat forward, their interest peaked, “we will be taking the top twelve competitors, and due to the large number of applicants we have assigned you into groups of four. We will be marking not only your proficiency in spell work but your physical ability and cunning. The top twelve will be selected across all groups. Your group assignments have been posted outside Mrs. Biggle’s office, as well as sent to you personally.” That explained why I’d gotten a notification, fantastic. “There will be no do-overs, so don’t hold back and be sure you’re ready when your time comes.” With that she strode from the room, a bit more energy in her stride than before, openly pleased by the potential suffering she was inflicting on the student body and her only child. It made my stomach churn.

The lecture hall turned toward Adeline, and I felt the breath of fate against my neck. I’d heard Adeline being called many things my first week here, the favourite being “her mother’s creature.” And perhaps she was, but only in the same way a lab rat was the scientist’s treasured pet. Adeline wasn’t about to hand me over to her mother, so I wasn’t about to let her mother, headmistress or not, hand her over to her fellow peers. That being said, I wasn’t ready or interested in any sort of fight. I grabbed a charged tower of obsidian from my bag, focusing on Adeline and myself, and wordlessly focused on repelling negative energy. The students angrily headed her way paused, many mid-sentence, before shaking their heads and leaving. Those that were calmer continued on their way to steal her time. I was probably being selfish at this point, but I wasn’t about to let that happen. I wove between the remaining students until she could see me waving the mostly drained obsidian tower. She took in the evidence of a decently cast spell, the stone sparkled, a thread of light connecting itself to us flickered faintly.

“Not to be the bearer of more bad news, but I’m afraid your answers will have to be an email. Headmistress Alva already assigned me to tutor this student, who is three years behind to your half a lecture. Come along Sage.” Adeline said, twirling to walk away much faster than anyone of her height should be able to. Catching up quickly I took the liberty of walking at her side rather than behind her. She made no comment for or against that decision as we hastily made for her dorm room.

Once there, she loaded my arms with books, a dark skinned beauty giving me a look of disgust that quickly faded when Adeline shot her a look. I smiled sweetly, before following Adeline back to the main building and through the suspiciously empty halls to the Music room.

She activated her wards and summoned a curtain over the large window before conjuring a handful of floating lights. The lights followed her as she went about loosening a floorboard under the piano.

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