The twins were the oldest; Jenna and Alice were in their final year at Weatherstone, and were nature sprites, collecting animalfamiliars since they were toddlers. Trevor, my oldest brother, was a year below the twins; he was a strong fire elementalwith a secondary skill in air. The fact that he’d almost burned our house down when he was five, eight, and twelve had beena strong indication of his affinity long before he attended Weatherstone. Then there was Jensen, my youngest brother, whowas eighteen months older than me, and about to enter his second year. He was a primary water elemental with a secondary inair.
He’d been swimming since he could walk, spending hours in the pool, and holding his breath for ten minutes with ease.
Dad was fire and air elemental, Mom water and earth. It was rare to have two strong elements to call, some might even say...exceptional. Hence their acceptance letters to Weatherstone coming as a surprise to no one. Unlike mine.
Well, I’d hopefully find out soon enough. College started next week on the tenth of January—my power had emerged at the perfecttime for me to take the entry tests and start in semester one. Still couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad happenstance.
Forcing my worries into a box, I slammed the lid closed and pulled on jeans, a thick down jacket, and my waterproof wool boots.The weather was frigid this time of year in Spokane, Washington. It would be just as cold at Weatherstone, which was acrossthe country, out in the wilds of New York State.
For years I’d watched Dad take his daily transport out there, and now I’d get to experience it for myself. It wouldn’t be myfirst time traveling via an energy portal designed by air elementals and spellcasters, but it’d be my first to Weatherstone.
As I hurried downstairs, more than one voice echoed up to me, and I stepped into the living room to find my whole family there—Momhad called everyone back from college to reveal the news.
“Pais! I’m so proud of you.” Jenna launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck. She was blonde and petite, likeMom, the picture of girl-next-door beauty. Her power, on the other hand, was strongly centered around her bear familiar—shecould growl and slap you down good and hard when she wanted to.
“Me too.” Alice sounded teary as she joined in on the hug. The twins weren’t identical. Alice was my height of five feet ninewith darker blond hair. She also had less slap in her power, as the epitome of the gentle nature sprite, with a sheep familiar.
“Our family fucking rocks,” Jensen cheered from behind us, and I heard a thud, which no doubt was Dad smacking him up theside of the head.
When the girls pulled away, the rest of my family stared at me, proud and beaming, and I tried not to panic at the very realprospect of letting them down. They didn’t expect anything of me, I knew that, and yet I had this terrible urge to try andlive up to all their powers and reputations.
Zero freaking chance of that.
“Come on, Little Gem.” Dad, also known as Professor Tom Hallistar, patted my shoulder. Hearing that familiar nickname warmedmy heart and brought me back to my younger years. From the age of four, I’d collected gems and crystals like it was my lifecalling. Shelves in my room were filled with my obsession, and if there had been a crystal witch affinity, I’d be set.
“Let’s go out and have one last family meal before the nest is empty,” Mom choked out around a sob, and Dad was immediately distracted, wrapping her up in his arms.
Dad was a good foot taller, but they never looked awkward together. If anything, despite the fact one was small, fair, andblonde, and the other huge, bronze, and dark-haired, they fit together perfectly.
Trevor, my equally huge and dark-haired brother, draped an arm over my shoulders and steered me out the door. We’d learnedover the years that it was best to give our parents space.
“You’re going to love Weatherstone,” he said with a grin. “And if anyone gives you grief, you find me immediately.” The temperaturerose as visible flames danced in the darkness of his pupils, before he blinked his power away once more.
I leaned into him. “I’m sure it’ll be uneventful. I’m just excited that we’ll all be there together, at least for one year.”
My sisters clapped their hands, and everyone was excitedly chattering as we waited outside. It was so rare that we had thesemoments together, all of us in the same place, and I found more joy here than I did in the letter sitting upstairs on my desk.
My family was special, and even if I was the least exceptional of them all, I’d hold on to their strength and energy. Hopefullythis would be enough to get me through the next four years.
Chapter 2
Forcing myself not to fidget with my long hair again, because messing with the golden-brown strands five times was officiallyfour too many, I stood beside Dad, staring at the imposing Weatherstone gates. Seconds ago we’d been at home, hugging Momgoodbye, and then Dad had called for the transport. The magical ring of energy we’d stepped through had deposited us in ahut to the right of the campus gates. Right was for incoming traffic, left for outgoing.
No one could transport straight into Weatherstone, except maybe the headmaster. I’d heard rumors he had his own personal portalinside his office.
“Impressive, isn’t it, Little Gem?”
“Uh, yeah...” A picture of the gates had been in the brochure, but it did not do them justice. It was more than their sheersize, standing twenty feet high and at least that wide, constructed from iron, curving and twisting in intricate patternsto reach an arched top. It was the energy emanating from every facet, including the glowing golden script in the center thatreadWeatherstone College. Below, in a slightly duller gold, was the school’s motto:Conquester livara incidium morando.
The ancient language of magic users was no longer part of our day-to-day speech, but we still used it in spells. Everyoneknew the rough translation of the motto: “To conquer life you must first accept death.”
It made sense with the knowledge that the two witches who created Weatherstone College, all the way back in the eighteenth century, were both necromancers. Hence the reason a necro always sat as headmaster. Rumors about the pair still swirled to this day, but it was widely accepted that in the end their obsession with death and Weatherstone had gotten them killed. It was believed that their souls remained on this plot of land, trapped, unable to move on to the next plane of existence.
Considering its history, the fact that this was the most prestigious magical college in the country was odd, and yet,notat the same time. The afterlife was shrouded in mystery and untapped power, and those of us with magical abilities were alwaysblurring the line between the energy of the living and the dead.
“Ready to start the next chapter of your life?” Dad asked as he picked up my duffel bag, leaving me to pull my suitcase along.The school provided uniforms and all our needs for classes, so I only had to bring some casual clothes and any personal effectsI couldn’t live without for the next ten months. The hardest part for me was choosing between my favorite crystals, but I’dnarrowed it down to ten.
“Yes,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
