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Miss Mayweather emerges from the common room with a tray of cookies and milk. “Nothing to worry about. It seems they have recovered the lake house. That sound you heard was it being reunited with its foundation.”
“Where was it?” Yassi asks.
“Holland. It took a good portion of the Magical Monitoring Regulating and Recovery task force to retrieve it.”
“My mother works for them,” Audra says, “I bet he was on that project.”
I nibble on a cookie, wondering and worrying about all the things.
Miss Mayweather goes on. “They’ll have to reinforce the building with spellwork to protect students and professors from the demon snatchers, which will take some time. Even though it’s part of the campus, it must be refortified.” She yawns as though exhausted merely by the idea of the task. “I was in the engineer division before I came to Riptivik,” she says by way of explanation.
Winnie asks, “Weren’t all the demon snatchers apprehended though?”
“Just a precaution, I’m sure,” Miss Mayweather says, passing her a glass of milk. “It’s been a long day, and you’re back to classes tomorrow. Best to get some rest. On up you go,” she says, gesturing toward the stairs.
Though the tone in Miss Mayweather’s voice and my knowledge suggests that she’s not confident in her response.
I say goodnight to the girls, shut my bedroom door behind me, and sigh. I’m glad to be back in the comfort of my dorm after Skerry Street, the underworld, and then West’s cottage.
I pull out my wand to set it on my dresser as I flick on the light. Before I reach the switch, a hand forcefully closes over my mouth. Strong arms wrap around my body as I struggle to break loose.
“Let me go,” I garble.
The grip tightens and a male voice says, “Stop struggling and don’t scream. If you do, I’ll neutralate you,” he hisses.
“That’s illegal,” I say. I may be unfamiliar with many spells but that one is a big no-no.
“I never said I abide by the law.”
He grips my hands behind my back and binds them with a magic rope. Then he grabs my wand and tosses it onto the bed, out of my reach. He spins me around to face him.
“Bobby Gold.” I fight the urge to gape. I shouldn’t be surprised.
“We could have been great together, Maija. An anferi and an astral—an incredibly unique and powerful combination.”
“And you’re going to wish you never messed with me.”
His eyes flash dark with grim desire.
I shake my head.
“There’s so much you don’t know. You have so much potential. You don’t even realize, Maija,” he says, stroking my cheek.
I jerk my head away.
“A wish witch,” he adds hungrily. Heat rushes toward me as I sense Bobby prying and seeking my energy.
“What do you want?” I ask although I know it’s a wish. I just need to stall him, hoping someone will hear us and knock on my door.
A low laugh spills from his lips. “What do I want? You, namely.” He paces a slow circle around me like he’s stalking prey.
“Under no circumstances,” I hiss.
“I can think of some exceptions you might consider making.” He gazes into my eyes. It’s like looking into the sun: dangerous and blinding. I glance away.
“Why are you doing this?”
“So many questions. So many reasons. I’m anferi, a rightful ruler of the earthly realm. Unfortunately, this place you call home has been polluted by mixed-magicals—fae mating with vamps, dwarves and changelings, and elf scum with non-magicals,” he says with bitter distaste.
“That’s such a horrible thing to say.”
“No, that’s a fact. You’re new to the magical world and you’ll soon see all of your mixed magical friends are second-class. They get in the way, have wants and demands, and think they’re our equals. Blah, blah, blah.” He shakes his head. “I’ve formed an alliance with other like-minded individuals. Yes, you can credit us with the Hallows Eve incident, the Cinderbeast on campus—though your little friend thwarted us there—the Sweetheart Dance, the Jubilee, the rumpus final... Did you sense me there, seeking you?” His voice slithers in my ears.
I recall the shadow that overtook everyone on the field and the way it made me feel like I was suffocating. “I hate everything you stand for.”
“Hate, you say? Then we’re not so different, are we then?” He lets out a low laugh.
My cheeks burn with embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“No matter. I’m sure I can get you to come around and see things as they are because we’re unstoppable now. They formed a secondary alliance with the Hive.” His tone suggests I should be impressed. “You’re new to our world. The Hive consists of the three most powerful anferi in all of history. They’re in a position to dominate. All we need is you.”
“What about your family?”
“What about them? They’re also part of the Golden Hive.”
“And your sister?” I think of Sage betraying me and then helping.
“What about her? She’s useless.” He scoffs.
Bobby sends another volley of heat in my direction, trying to melt the barriers I’ve constructed to keep him away from my magic. “You want a wish,” I taunt.
“That would make things easier. Are you offering?”
“Never.”
“Why’s that? Why are you unwilling to help our cause? It will only make your life better, give you power, and access to anything you want.”
“Sorry, not sorry. I used my three wishes. Sorry, all gone. Used up. No more.” I raise a defiant eyebrow.
White-hot rage flashes across his face. “Is that so?” He grabs me aggressively and then says the same camouflage spell Yassi used to hide the Cinderbeast before pushing me into the hall. “Don’t make a sound,” he breathes into my ear. “Silentate.” A muffling sensation surrounds us and the floor doesn’t squeak. I have to distract him, buy time, and act fast.
I take my time walking down the stairs (it’s actually surprisingly difficult to keep balanced without the use of my arms or at least that’s what I make it look like).
When we get outside I say, “You’re abducting me?” I can’t quite believe this is happening. “Where are we going?”
“To the Hive.”
“And who are they?” I ask.
“Screven, Veda, and Valerius.”
“Where—?”
“Stop asking questions,” he says, thrusting me forward.
“I’ll never stop asking questions. And I will always get answers.” I fake a stumble and break away. I regain my balance and spin around while at the same time whipping out Imogen’s wand to break my bonds. “Bobby, I’m not subject to your power-hungry game. I’m a wish witch, and an astral, but I’m also a brixta.”
“Brixta?”
“It’s an ancient Gibberish word for a revolutionary. Things are going to change, but not according to your plan.” With that, I slice the air with the wand, tie him to the lamppost, and run toward the light on the hill. Not the cottage this time, but the chapel.
