What is this? Hogwarts?I thought as we claimed a table.
At the next table over, more professors congregated. Professor Tittelbaum did a headcount and nodded to the headmistress, who stood and clapped her hands.
“Let the pre-Beltane rituals begin,” she proclaimed.
Rituals? I thought we were just having dinner and learning about the upcoming trial.
I shot a glance at Alex, who shrugged, and I didn’t even have time to check if Hunter or Eva knew what the hell was going on, before Professor Thrax’s dulcet Scottish tones rang through Kyteler Hall.
“Bring in the chalice!”
A set of doors at the far end of the room slammed open, and three figures dressed in hooded cloaks glided forward. One of them held a silver goblet in their hands.
My mouth fell open.What the hell sort of secret society crap is this!
“Initiates, step forward,” de Spina’s voice boomed.
My attention swiveled to the front of the room to find that our professors had donned their hoods, formed two lines facing one another, and conjured an illuminated pathway for us to walk between them. The headmistress was positioned at the end, her hands lifted in supplication.
I shivered. Spellcasters was always a little creepy—a building as old and darkly beautiful as this one couldn’t help it—but this was a new level of creeptastic. Still, I did as they told me, and rose to fall into line right behind Alex.
We entered the tunnel of lit magic, and my lips parted in awe as a dozen colors swirled and spun all around us. The figures of our professors were visible through the kaleidoscope of magic, their hands working to keep the energies flowing.
Right behind me, Eva nudged my back. “This is awesome,” she breathed, and unable to form words, I merely nodded.
Alex was the third person in line, so when we stopped, we were near the front, facing Headmistress Wake, whose dark eyes did not stray from the ground.
“Who joins me in the sacred ritual of the Beltane Trial?” she asked, her eyes still on the floor when the three hooded figures accompanying the chalice halted to stand behind her.
The tallest figure clutched the cup, which up close I noticed was encrusted in emeralds. He stepped forward first. “It is I, Headmaster Ezra of Nightdwellers Academy.”
I gaped.The headmaster of Nightdwellers is here? But why would they invite a vampire?
“I join the witches of Spellcasters Spy Academy in the Beltane Trial,” Headmaster Ezra continued in what was clearly a preplanned speech, “so that I may give testimony to the events of the rite, and act as an impartial judge. In doing so, I bind myself to the ritual.”
A flash of metal shot out from the voluminous sleeve of his cloak, and the vampire lifted his arm. Blood poured into the chalice until, almost as quickly as he’d cut himself, the wound healed.
I stiffened, realizing what was happening.Holy hell! They expect us to drink that blood? Please be wrong.
Despite the churning of my stomach, I watched in grotesque fascination as Headmistress Cristala of the Fae Academy of Elemental and Arcane Arts, and Alpha Conon of the Shifter Academy of Spies approached the goblet. They recited a similar speech and added their blood to the chalice.
Finally, Headmistress Wake took the chalice, stuck out her palm, and made a one-inch cut. Red blood welled up, and a few drops of her lifeblood flowed into the cup.
“The power of all the schools representing the newest generation of the United States Supernatural Society of Spies has been united. Contingent on your performance in the Beltane Trial, partaking in this ritual binds each initiate into the Supernatural Society of Spies. First initiate, please step forward and drink.”
My gut flipped, and saliva began to pool in my mouth.What the what? A little heads-up about all this blood-drinking would have been nice.
I briefly considered bringing it up, when the first person in line, Mina, stepped forward, took the chalice, and took a sip without hesitation.
Damn. What the hell, Mina! Now I’ll just look like a wimp if I say something.
“Excellent, initiate Köhler,” Headmistress Wake said, her tone flat. “Now that you’ve completed the first portion of the ritual, seek Professor de Spina to claim the packet bearing your Beltane Trial partner’s name. Refrain from opening it until I command you to do so.”
Amethyst went next, followed by Alex. Both took the blood like a pro, claimed their envelope, and sat down like all of this was no big deal.
But when I got to the front of the line and stood before Headmistress Wake, I didn’t feel that way. Despite the many mantras running through my head, telling me that everything would be fine, the room was spinning.
When Headmistress Wake passed the chalice to me, it took all I had not to throw it back at her.
