Chapter Six
Two days later the shriek of Mother’s teakettle woke me. I shot up in bed to sit upright. “Oh my God! Get up! Get up! Get up! Today’s the day!” My pitch rose higher with each sentence until I practically sounded like a deranged mouse.
On the foldout couch across my room, Tabitha groaned and threw a decorative pillow in my direction. Since she wasn’t looking, it missed by a good four feet, but the middle finger she flung at me next was dead on.
“Shut up, you big nerd!” Tabitha said, while Phoebe buried her face in her pillow. “We have hours until the testing starts. I don’t know why you’re so excited, anyway. You’re gonna get in no matter what.”
My stomach clenched. Even though Tabitha didn’t mean that I was getting a free pass—she knew better than that—it stillsoundedlike she’d meant that. And Ihatedwhen people thought I could just rest on my connections to get into Spellcasters. It belittled all the work I’d done.
I’d studied hard for well over a year. I’d snuck forbidden texts out of Mother’s library, an act that would have severe repercussions if she found out. I’d stayed up late, woken up early, and made Father run me through drills to ensure that I excelled.
I was better than my friends by a long shot, and that was saying something because they were damn skilled witches. In fact, at all the meetups and functions I’d attended, I had always been the strongest witch of my age. At least, that was true until I met Alex Wardwell.
Who I’ll see again today.
A grin spread across my face. Mending my broken heart with someone hotter and more driven than Jackson by my side was an extremely appealing prospect. I flung my covers off and strode across the room toward where my friends slept near the window. Once there, I ripped the curtains back, allowing light to stream into my tower bedroom.
“Rise and shine, sleepyheads,” I said, my voice cheery just to piss Tabby off.
“I hate you,” Tabitha muttered, flinging her face into her pillow. There were a few muffled sounds—a stream of profanity, no doubt. While Tabby fought the inevitable, Phoebe gave in, rose, and shuffled to the bathroom.
“What do you guys think the first test will be?” I asked. Despite Mother being the headmistress for the last thirteen years, when it came to the entrance exams she kept me in the dark like any other hopeful initiate. In fact, other than the daily goings-on of Spellcasters, I knew nothing about the rituals that I would undergo this year. Mother insisted on maintaining an even playing field and I preferred it that way too. Not only could I tell others that the advantage they imagined I had was almost nonexistent, but not knowing what was coming was more exciting.
“Who the hell knows,” Tabitha said, admitting defeat and rolling onto her back. “Don’t they change it every year?”
I jumped on the hideaway, making the mattress bounce. She swatted at me but missed. “Yeah, but we should still brainstorm. We only have three hours until the first exam begins!”
Tabitha released a dramatic sigh. “You’re such a competitive psycho, Di.”
“You love me for it. And you know my mother’s motto is expect the unexpected.” I picked up a pillow and swatted Tabby on the leg. “Now come on, let’s talk about what to expect so we can do her proud.”
Much like the rest of the academy, the overall vibe of Agnes Sampson Hall was dark, with its chocolate-colored wood walls, thick, red curtains at the ends of a stage, and decorative paintings done in brooding tones. But today, somehow, the hall seemed lighter, more vibrant and expansive than normal. That was probably because Sampson Hall was large enough to hold three hundred people but during the welcome assembly that preceded the first exam it wasn’t full, not even halfway.
Still, peering into the familiar room sent shivers up my spine. Although I knew the turnout was less than that of previous years, I’d never seen so many witches my age in one place.
I’d often dealt with witches who were older than me, specifically parents whom Mother held meetings with. But here there was a sea of Spellcasters hopefuls, all my age, right before my eyes.
And Mother thought the curse would scare all but the most serious legacies off.I shook my head.It seems not everyone in the witching world is as superstitious as she thinks.
“Where’s your hot nerd?” Tabitha folded her arms over her chest.
I scanned the crowd. There were two applicants whom I recognized from when their parents brought them to the academy, but the rest were new to me. I squinted, intent on finding him, and suddenly, my gaze latched onto shining black hair and a tall muscular form.
“Right there,” I said and pointed to the far right of the room where Alex and his family stood removed from the other families. “That guy with black hair and glasses.”
It took a moment for Tabitha and Phoebe to find Alex, but I knew the moment they spotted him because both their mouths dropped wide open. I smirked. “See? He’s hot, right?”
Tabitha regained her composure first. “He’s all right, I guess.” Her eyes darted to the other side of the room and lit up. She extended a slender finger adorned with an assortment of chunky rings. “Nothing compared to that one over there though.”
I searched where she was pointing and my eyes locked on a guy with golden blond hair, eyes so green they glinted even from halfway across the room, and a swagger that would do James Bond proud. He was an attractive man, but he wasn’t my type—at least not anymore. He reminded me too much of Jackson.
“If you like the ‘I’m handsome and I know it’ type of guy, then he’s right up your alley.”
Tabitha and Phoebe shared a look and giggled. I rolled my eyes, realizing belatedly that Ken Doll wasexactlythe type of guy they both liked.
“Good.” I smirked. “I’m glad you guys won’t be vying for Alex’s attention. I want to show him I’m a badass in my own right.”
I was excited to show my skills off to the young healer. After all, wasn’t the best kind of attraction half physical connection and half mental? Alex and I hadn’t gotten to the mental part yet, but I thought he was good looking, and I knew I was attractive. If he reciprocated my feelings, it wouldn’t be a major shock.
