Page 95 of The Holy Academy of Witches

Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes. Not liking what he saw, he inhaled the rest of his plate before heading for the door. He threw a leather jacket on before turning to me.

“Call me when you start to feel the strain. Then I’ll keep you on the line till we find your limit. Stay near the couch in case you faint, feel free to read as you wait.”

Without waiting for a response, he closed the door. I waited for the sound of his motorcycle to fade before getting off the couch. Time to snoop.

Casting several detection charms, I paced the perimeter of the main room. I found a small bathroom through a door I’d thought was a pantry near the kitchen. The floorboards along the entire area had standard wards intertwined with mastery level spells I couldn’t identify. Was everyone secretly at mastery level but me?!

With that depressing thought, I moved onto the bedroom. There were no wards barring entry, or physical locks. Suspicious. Looking closer and casting a more sensitive charm I looked specifically for alarms and listening spells. Nothing. Well this was either going to be a lot more boring or more interesting than I’d hoped.

Opening the door slowly, I felt my heart do a little stutter. It looked like an uptown music store, the wall behind me had basses and guitars mounted up to the ceiling. The wall to my left was covered in shelves of vinyl, some framed like pictures. A stereo system connected to a tabletop record player under the shelves, it stopped right before a door that most likely led to a closet or an en suite. The far wall had a desk covered in sheet music and his surprisingly small bed which was pushed unceremoniously to the corner. The final wall had a large armchair next to a beautifully polished cello. There was a window covered by thick light-blocking curtains. The exterior logs exposed in the rest of the cabin had been covered here with luxury wood panelling, looking down I saw my boots had sunk into thick carpeting. Removing them and my socks I sank into the softest carpet I’d ever felt. Letting out an illicit moan I sank to my knees, burying my hands in the heavenly texture. If I passed out here I’d consider it a privilege. Making sure my phone was still in my back pocket I stood and went toward the record collection.

He had every rare record known to man, including the entire Jimi Hendrix and Rolling Stones collections. Signatures winked up at me from almost every sleeve. Bands I knew were interspersed between labels I’d never heard of. From what I recognised, I came to the disturbing realisation that we had near identical taste in music. Placing one of the unknown vinyls to play I enjoyed the unfamiliar notes that filled the room. Well, I’d already come to the conclusion that I liked his band’s music, it only made sense I’d like his music collection as well. That didn’t have to mean anything, right?

Walking to the desk, I began rifling through the scribbled notes. Humming the tunes, I found I quite liked the main melodies. Would Adeline recognise the handwriting if I took pictures and brought them to our piano lessons? I probably couldn’t play these perfectly but something about the song title, “Storm” was calling to me. Taking pictures of the scribbled notes on a whim, I put my phone away before facing the door. Bathroom or closet?

The smells of leather, expensive cologne, and citrus wrapped around my senses. How it fit in the cabin I couldn’t quite make out. Must be magic. I forgot that existed for a minute, being surrounded by mundane leather jackets and luxury leather boots. A set of drawers were filled with the ripped denim and tank tops he favoured at the shows. When the waistbands of boxers came into view I slammed the drawer shut. Logically he might have hidden his secrets in that drawer but listening to my pounding heart I knew that I’d not be finding out.

Bending down to look at his boots, I saw they were the same brand my parents had sent me as a replacement to my lost doc martens. It was an obscure brand I’d not seen before, perhaps it was something popular in Britain. Stars knew I was out of my depth there.

I felt the twinge of something in my wrist, much like the impatient yanking of a leash if I were a dog. Should I call now or wait till it hurt? Trying to cover my tracks, I left the closet and its intoxicating smell. Taking the vinyl off the player, boots in hand, I turned off the light and closed the door. Grabbing my plate from off the couch, I dished more for myself and grabbed a drink from the fridge. Settling on the couch as if I’d never left, the picture of innocence, although it wasn’t meant to be a video call. The tug was more insistent so I dialled him. He answered on the first ring.

“Pain on a scale of 1-10?”

“It’s just a ‘one’, but it’s been tugging for the last five minutes.”

“Oh good, so there is some kind of warning beforehand.”

“So long as I’m conscious.”

“Excellent. I’m about 8-10 miles from you now.”

“Okay, probably why we’ve had no issues so long as you stayed on campus, or the village nearest SAM.”

“Sam?” He asked, his tone changing abruptly.

“Yeah, the Witch’s school, Sancta Academia Magarum? SAM?” I said slowly, happy to return the condescending tone for once.

He made an affirming noise before we fell into silence. I realised now I probably shouldn’t eat the cherry pie I’d served myself as it would be rude to finish it all. Staring at the plate that now taunted me I felt the pain begin to escalate.

“It’s about a three now.”

“What happened to two?”

“I got distracted. I don’t know.”

“Yes, well try to not miss four would you?”

“Ha. Ha. If I get a headache is that going toward the total?”

“Not unless it’s the bond, but feel free to jot it in your journal.”

“It’s a four now. Maybe a five… Definitely a five. Did you speed up?”

“No? Should I slow down?”

“Yes please, it’s a six now. Oh I really hate this. How are we meant to work and live our separate lives if I can’t even make it off your undoubtedly obnoxious estate before falling over.”

“Well I’ve never had a female bodyguard, but you’re tall enough to scare away the crows, so that’s something.”

---