“Begin!” Shouted Freddy.
Green light shot from the tip of Grisham’s two fingers, Maeve ducked down, took a knee, and fired back without hesitation.
Maeve’s hex hit Grisham square in the chest, sparks of blue splattering across his shirt, ripping the fabric as he grunted in pain.
A hex she sent with two fingers. An audible gasp rang through the room.
Maeve could hear Abraxas cheer loudly.
Grisham’s body was already reacting to the hex; his two front teeth were getting longer every few seconds. His face turned bright red. He reared his arm back and sent her a bright green hex. It completely missed her. A group of girls screamed and had to slink to the floor to avoid getting blasted.
Grisham reared back again and sent Maeve another hex. She blocked his advance with her left palm. His teeth were still growing rather rapidly, and he looked furious.
Maeve lowered her right hand to her side, at the ready, just as Mal had taught her. Magic barreled down her arm, building and begging for release.
He fired on her again, the sparks as bright as his angered face. She blocked with her left once more, power swelling at her right side. It pulled her eyes to a close.
A third, furious curse flew from Grisham’s fingers as is slammed into Maeve’s shield.
She opened her eyes. Pulled her two fingers into her palm, reared her arm back and fired, two fingers flinging bright sharp light across the dueling platform.
His shield shattered. He was too focused on his offensive Magic to create a proper shield. And her magic encompassed him entirely. He slammed to the floor with a loud smack in a silent cry. His mouth hung open, teeth pushing past his bottom lip.
He was down for one, two, three seconds as Maeve crossed the platform towards him. He pushed into the floor and made to stand. But he stopped as Maeve pressed two fingers into his throat.
He looked at her with a hatred that rivaled the way her sister looked at her.
The room erupted in applause and cheers. Maeve sighed with relief and dropped her hand. She stepped away from him. She allowed herself to meet Mal’s eyes. He gave her a slow nod of approval. He was subtly smirking and politely applauding. His behavior was in complete juxtaposition to Abraxas, who was losing his mind with joy. He and Hendrix Fawley were jumping up and down, their fists in the air.
She looked back down at Grisham and extended him her hand. He slapped it away without a thought and pushed off the dueling platform.
“Thornburg!” Shouted Larliesl. “Take Mr. Grisham to the healing wing and have those teeth retracted at once.”
Grisham was one step away from foaming at the mouth. His two front teeth were already past his chin. He glared at Maeve.
“Fucking bitch,” he muttered, but Larliesl didn’t miss it.
“Fifty demerits for foul language, Grisham,” his face suddenly stern. “And another twenty for being a sore loser.”
Thornburg escorted him away before he could hurt Draconem Court any further.
“Brilliant hex, Maeve,” said Larliesl, his smile returned. “That one isn’t easy to successfully cast.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Maeve, jumping off the platform with the assistance of Freddy.
“Nice job, Maeve. I ‘ave to say I wasn’t expectin’ that,” said Freddy.
Maeve smiled at him.
The rest of the night was just as enjoyable, and, of course, Mal remained the undefeated champion. No challenges.
Later that evening, when she entered the common room, Lavinia punched her arm with such gusto Maeve almost sent a spell her way before she realized Lavinia was merely excited. Maeve rubbed her arm.
“I knew you’d pull that out!” Yelled Lavinia. “I’ve already told Freddy to put us together next week. And I really think you should consider coming to the Magical Sporting Expo this summer. I think you’ve probably got that in you too.”
“Are you mental?” Maeve shook her head and ascended the spiral staircase to her dorm as quickly as possible.
Violet and the other third year girls were not there. Once she settled in bed, Spinel came lurking out from the shadows.
