Finding the Future 

No matter how many times Evelyn stamped her foot in objection, Nell remained firm.

“You must go to a Network school, Evelyn. You simply must. You’re fourteen years old now, and it’s already the first month of spring. You’ll turn fifteen in the summer, which means you’ll be ready to go when school begins in the fall.”

“But I don’t want to leave the castle!” Evelyn said. “I’ll be so lonely without you. I loathe partings. Remember how sad I become when Stella and Mildred leave after their visits?”

Unbidden, a memory of Mama’s face shuddered from the depths of Evelyn’s mind. She shook it away, forcing her thoughts from the bleak depths of fear. Mama had left once, and she never came back. What if she went to school and Nell died? Evelyn knew she was too old to throw such a fit, but it didn’t matter. Leaving the castle to live somewhere else was downright terrifying.

Not to mention she’d be leaving her many adoring friends behind. Most of the Council Members and Coven Leaders cherished her here at Chatham Castle. What if they forgot about her? Worst of all, what if she wasn’t popular and didn’t make friends? She’d die. She’d simply die.

“Both Milly and Stella have appointments with the Watcher already,” Nell pointed out. “They said so in their last letter. Maybe all three of you will be placed in the same school.”

Evelyn hesitated. If there was anything good about going to school, it would be Stella and Milly’s company. “Well, I do want to see them again. But there’s no guarantee the Watcher will put us in the same school! I shall be alone.”

“Don’t you want to learn and become a great leader?”

“Can’t I do that here?”

Nell’s maid, Leslee, interrupted by knocking on the door and peeking inside. “Your three o’clock appointment is here to see you, Your Highness.”

Nell sent a quiet warning glance at Evelyn.

“Send her in, Leslee, and please prepare the tea.” Evelyn gave in with a resigned sigh. It wasn’t often that she couldn’t sway Nell over to her side in one way or another, but today Nell’s face held that stern look that meant Evelyn wouldn’t win.

A slender witch with raven black hair and a slight underbite introduced herself with a perfect curtsy. “My given name is Mabel, but I go by May,” the stranger said in a quiet voice. “I am the Head Witch of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls.”

Nell bestowed a silent nod of approval, but Evelyn acted as if May weren’t there. Instead, she ordered Leslee about unnecessarily, instructing her on duties she had already performed. That way May would know who was really in charge. Despite not wanting to leave Nell, Evelyn had an inner desire to have—and be—the best of everything. Miss Mabel’s School for Girls was certainly the best the Network education system had to offer. If she must go away, it would be the only place she’d go.

“Please have a seat, May.” Nell gestured to an elegant chair with light green backing and rolled arms. Leslee set the tray on the table, curtsied, and moved to the other side of the room. “Evelyn, you may now pour the tea.”

Evelyn watched May with unusual attentiveness. She was thin and attractive but not extravagant, with bright blue eyes and pale skin. Her maroon dress was exquisite but tasteful, and the delicate lace along the edges testified to a wealthy background. She seemed aloof, which piqued Evelyn’s interest.

“Merry meet, Evelyn,” May said, settling on the chair across from her. “I’m always glad to meet a possible future student.”

Evelyn smiled.

“I understand how unusual a meeting like this is for you,” Nell said to May, sitting next to Evelyn on the couch and straightening her skirts. “We both appreciate you being here.”

“I don’t mind coming to discuss a student beforehand,” May said. “It’s an honor that you are considering my school above all the others. Of course, you know that Isadora has to give her final approval to any student attending my school.”

“Yes, we know about Isadora,” Nell said, glancing at Evelyn. “I’m very hopeful that she will see the potential in Evelyn. I give Evelyn only the very best, you see. She was born to be a leader, and with the proper grooming, I believe she shall change the world.”

May smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure there’s great potential.”

Instead of feeling annoyed, Evelyn wondered why this witch didn’t immediately give reassurances regarding Evelyn’s certain success, the way everyone else did.

Rare indeed.

Evelyn used an incantation to pour the tea into the cups, then sent May hers on a cream colored saucer. May received the cup without a single acknowledgement or thank you. Evelyn next sent a tray of tea sandwiches, but May refused, and said nothing about Evelyn’s magical skills.

Evelyn’s interest deepened.

How unusual.

“I want Evelyn to have the best education possible,” Nell said. “Which is why I brought you here to ask if you’d be willing to tutor her personally.”

If May was surprised by the request, she didn’t show it.

“I’m always open to requests,” May said. “But I will not give private tutorship the first two years of her stay.”

“Not even as a personal request from the High Priestess?”

Nell didn’t often throw her title around to get what she wanted, but this unexpected situation must have called for it. Evelyn held her breath.

“Don’t take my refusal personally, High Priestess. I really must say that, in fairness to the other students, Evelyn needs to prove herself worthy. I don’t coddle to privilege unless talent and education justifies the work.”

Nell set down her teacup and gave May her whole attention. A flicker in her eyes suggested surprise, perhaps annoyance.

“How so?”

“For one, Miss Mabel’s School for Girls still participates in the Competition, so I can’t tutor just any student,” May said after another sip of tea.

Nell’s mouth rounded in an understanding circle. “I see. If Evelyn is to have a one-on-one education with you, she must first enter the Competition as a third-year and win.”

Regret seemed to creep into May’s mournful tone. “Yes, that would be my exact expectation. I can’t make any exceptions. There are many gifted witches out there, and I wouldn’t want to diminish their experience for one who isn’t as committed. What I can do, however, is promise to keep a special eye on Evelyn during her third year if she doesn’t win.”

That did it. Evelyn could handle May’s lack of blatant adoration but refusing Nell was too much. Her curiosity turned to flame. How dare May insinuate that Evelyn wasn’t intelligent enough to win?

“You think I’m not clever enough to win the Competition?” Evelyn asked, eyes blazing. May stared at her with an aloof, studious glance.

“Are you prepared for my honest reply?” May asked. Her tea drifted back to the table when she folded her hands on her lap in an easy gesture.

“I’d expect nothing less!”

“Then no,” May said. “You seem like a spoiled little girl that doesn’t have any emotional control. Such a student would not do well in my private lessons. I have very high expectations of my pupils.”

Evelyn clenched her fists, barely able to contain her fury. The nerve of this witch! Evelyn might have things that others didn’t, but she had lost everything before she gained it. What could May know about her life?

“Consistently strong magical control does not occur without emotional control,” May continued, her voice rising into an instructive tone. “Most teenage girls have neither emotional nor magical control.”

She turned to Nell. “If I take her as a student, I will demand that she go through the first two years of school to learn those skills. At that point, I would permit her to enter the Competition and win her chance to be my pupil. Otherwise, I should be doing all three of us a disservice.”

Nell leaned back in her seat. “I’m not accustomed to being refused, but I respect your reasons. A lesser witch would have given me what I wanted simply because of my political position.”

“It may not be what you wanted to hear, High Priestess,” May said. “But it would be disrespectful for me to be involved in anything that wasn’t for the best of the Network. If you truly want Evelyn to be a leader, she’ll have to earn it.”

Evelyn blinked, slowed her breathing, and settled back in the chair. Her anger abated, and her face cooled.

I’ll do it, she thought with impressive resolution. May doesn’t think I can win the Competition? I’ll win it, and I’ll be her pupil. I know I can. I’ll give her a reason to like me. By the time I leave, she won’t be able to refuse approving of me.

“If I’m chosen for your school, I shall be happy to learn whatever you want to teach.” Evelyn picked up her cup of tea and sipped it like nothing had occurred in the meantime.

May asked the High Priestess a question regarding the new Head of Education and ignored Evelyn for the rest of their tea.

“You can’t fool a Watcher,” Mother said in her usual clipped tone as they passed York’s red brick bakery and the grocer’s stall filled with fat winter squash and cool weather greens. “Don’t try to inflate yourself.”

Mildred rolled her eyes. “Really, Mother.”

“I’m just saying what I must,” Mother said, elbowing Mildred into an alley. “You don’t have any control over whether you are accepted into Miss Mabel’s School for Girls with Stella and Evelyn, so don’t even stress over it. The Watcher will put you where you belong.”

“What if the Watcher doesn’t accept me?” Mildred asked, her stomach curling in fear. Watchers had the rare ability to perceive personality traits. The most powerful Watchers could view glimpses of the future. The Network paid them to decide who had the talent and skill needed to attend a Network school.

Mother glared. “Don’t even say it. You’ve worked twice as hard to perfect your magic as anyone else. I’m sure you’ll be accepted.”

A gust of early summer wind escorted them to the schoolhouse, rustling Mildred’s shoulder-length hair. She batted it out of her eyes in frustration, wishing Mother would let her chop it all off. She didn’t have time to fuss over her looks.

“The thought of so many girls in one school scares me,” Mildred said.

“You’ll have to learn how to deal with it.” Mother dodged a horse-drawn carriage and nodded to the driver. Mildred scowled. What would it be like to live away from Mother’s steep expectations and constant demands that she improve her magic and overcome her shyness?

Perhaps a school full of strangers wouldn’t be the worst thing.

“Teenage girls are confusing and emotional,” Mildred muttered.

“You are no exception to confusing and emotional, Mildred. Just remember your goal. That’ll make it easier.”

Her goal, yes. There was nothing Mildred wanted more than to have the power to create change. To be somebody. To get out of poverty. To achieve as much as Stella and Evelyn, although she had started with so little. But above all, she just wanted to make Mother proud.

“Besides,” Mother said, “you’ll never be a Council Member if you don’t earn your circlus at a Network school.”

Mildred looked down at her wrist and thought about the circular tattoo received at the beginning of the school year. Knowing she might attend the same school as Stella and Evelyn gave her strength. She rubbed the pale skin on her wrist as if the circlus were already there, then realized she’d fallen behind and scrambled to catch up. Mother could never simply walk anywhere. She always moved with purpose and determination, even just to cross the room. They continued in silence until they arrived at the school to find Mildred’s teacher, Miss Sarah, speaking to an old woman with graying hair.

“There you are,” Miss Sarah said, glancing at the clock. “Right on time, as usual. Mildred, Vanessa, this is Isadora. She’s the Watcher for all the Network schools right now, so she’s quite busy.”

Isadora smiled. One of her eyes was hazel, the other, olive green. Mother nudged Mildred with a sharp jab of her elbow. Mildred curtsied.

“Merry meet, Isadora.”

“Merry meet, Mildred.” Isadora patted the desk next to her while Mother and Miss Sarah withdrew from the room. “Have a seat.”

They sat side by side in separate wooden desks but didn’t look at each other. Mildred let out a breath of relief. It would be easier to answer the questions if she didn’t have to look Isadora right in the eyes. Mildred waited for Isadora to start for several minutes.

“You intrigue me, Mildred,” Isadora eventually said. “Of all the students I’ve ever interviewed, I’ve never met one with such a quiet personality. I didn’t even detect you until you were already at the door.”

Mildred kept her eyes on the chalkboard. The familiarity of the classroom eased her initial nervousness.

“Perhaps that’s because my mother’s personality is so strong,” Mildred said. Isadora’s laugh startled Mildred. Another stretch of silence passed before Mildred turned to find Isadora staring at the fire, musing.

“Aren’t you supposed to ask me questions?” Mildred asked.

“Yes, but I find speaking to strangers to be very draining.”

“Are you saying that to set me at ease?” Mildred asked, convinced that Isadora had an angle behind the comment. No witch came right out and admitted that they didn’t like social requirements.

“No, do you think I’m obligated to put you at ease?”

Not knowing how to respond, Mildred remained quiet. Perhaps this wasn’t a witch she could frighten away with her usual abruptness. The thought didn’t comfort her.

“Talking to strangers is part of my career,” Isadora said. “But that doesn’t mean I enjoy it. It exhausts me.”

“Then why do you do it?”

“It’s what I was meant to do. Sometimes we fight our destiny because of our fears, when what we really need to do is learn how to make destiny work for us.”

The words fell like barbs in the fleshy part of Mildred’s heart. A flood of shame, of insecurity, and then uncertainty swept through her. She hadn’t expected Isadora to infiltrate so deep into her mind after only a brief exchange.

“Besides,” Isadora continued. “I learn the most about someone by what they do not say.”

Mildred, unwillingly, fell into Isadora’s conversation.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t like small talk,” Isadora said, as if she had a private vein into Mildred’s mind. “You speak only if required, regardless of whether there’s an awkward silence. That tells me that you don’t care about social conventions, which tells me that you have a strong sense of right and wrong.”

“If you have such an insight into my mind, then you must know that I’m uncomfortable with attending an all-girls school without my two best friends with me.”

“Yes,” Isadora said. “I do know that.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Would you put me in the same school as them?”

“No.”

Mildred straightened, bristling. “Even though I’m not comfortable being with so many other girls my age?”

“I think you’re very smart!” Isadora said, laughing. “I wouldn’t want to attend school with that many girls either.”

“Oh. I didn’t expect you to agree.”

“Attending an all-girls school is the only way to get what you really want,” Isadora said with a twinkle in her eye. “You know that already, which is why you’re here.”

Mildred’s heart began to pound.

“What exactly do you see that I want?”

“To be somebody,” Isadora said easily, as if they were discussing what type of tea Mildred would take. “You want to make a difference in the lives of witches like you so they don’t have to grow up in the same poverty. You also want to make your mother proud. But beneath all this stoic bluster, and perhaps your greatest motivation of all, is a girl that just wants to measure up to her friends who always had more than she did.”

Isadora’s easy reading of her mind was unnerving. Mildred turned away, annoyed by this wily witch, despite her lack of discernible ill intent. Isadora kept her observations so neutral that Mildred couldn’t even distrust her.

“In fact,” Isadora continued amicably, “you have such a strong desire to lead—to prove yourself to a silent audience that doesn’t exist outside your head—that you’re going to attend Miss Jane’s School for Girls, even though you’re deeply frightened. You have stronger emotions than any witch I’ve ever met. You just hide them behind your arrogance exceptionally well.”

“Miss Jane’s?” Mildred asked. She’d heard of it before. Respectable, but it certainly wasn’t the top of the list. “But what are my chances of—”

“Miss Mabel’s is not the right school for you,” Isadora said, anticipating her question. “Trust me. Your magical ability is not good enough yet. Sending you to Miss Mabel’s would alter the course of your life, and possibly the Network, in ways you can’t imagine.”

Mildred deflated. “Oh.”

“Now,” Isadora said, slapping the desk with a sprightly clap of her hand. “I have some advice for you before you start Miss Jane’s: Do not nurse your weaknesses as you do now.”

Mildred opened her mouth to protest, but Isadora cut her off.

“You’re not at all gifted socially. You never will be. Find one or two witches with whom to be friends with when you start school—it will help. Take alone time when you need it, but don’t let it become an excuse. Also, keep working on your magic. I know it’s difficult for you, but eventually, with dedication, time, and patience, you’ll be very powerful. Does that sound manageable?”

Very powerful with magic? No one had ever said that to her. “Yes.”

“Wonderful. I’ll tell Miss Jane that you shall be a member of her school starting in the fall.”

Isadora hopped up—she was impressively spry for her age—and called for Miss Sarah and Mother to rejoin them. By the time their chatter faded, Mildred had filed all of Isadora’s advice into a special place in her mind and managed to smile and curtsy in parting. The surge of relief she’d felt at being accepted ebbed away.

The good gods, she thought shakily. What have I gotten myself into?