Her face fell. “Oh my goddess, was that you? I’m so sorry, dear. Let me see if he’s free.”
She got to her feet, and hurried to a landline phone, and I was reminded once again that I needed to call Mom. Dad kept herupdated, but I should reassure her that I was fine.
My siblings were probably freaking out too, even though I’d left a note on my door. They wouldn’t be happy about me wanderingaround on my own, but this was important. I wouldn’t feel safe in Weatherstone until I dealt with Walter the Weasel.
“He’s on his way down,” Ms. White said as she hung up. “You can take a seat back here.” She led me into a room with a roundtable and four chairs. I took a seat but didn’t have to wait long before the door opened for Headmaster Gregor.
His energy was stronger than usual today, and with it tingles trickled down my spine. It felt like the warning energy, andI wondered if all of this was somehow tied to necromancy. In a college like Weatherstone, that would make sense.
“Ms. Hallistar...” The headmaster’s face was wreathed in concern. “I’m so sorry about the attack. I checked in with thehealers throughout your recovery. How are you feeling today?”
He sat across from me and I pushed down the chill I always got around his affinity. “I’m feeling much better. Almost fullyhealed. I just wanted to come and let you know the name of my attack—”
His smile was brief. “It’s already been dealt with.”
I blinked. “Already? But I haven’t made a statement.”
He steepled his fingers before him, peering at me over the top. “The student in question, one Walter Allomore, air elemental,has been expelled from Weatherstone, and external disciplinary action is underway. He was turned in by another, quite well-connectedstudent, and I can promise you that he won’t be back on these grounds ever again.”
I stared even harder, trying to figure out how this could have happened so quickly. “Who turned him in?” My first instinctsaid Logan, but there was also no reason for him to care enough about my safety to get rid of his friend.
“I’m not in a position to reveal their name, but rest assured, you’re safe at Weatherstone now. Walter is no risk to you,or anyone else, any longer.”
With that, he stood, and offered what felt like his first genuine smile of the meeting. “Rest up, Ms. Hallistar. You wentthrough a traumatic ordeal, and you shouldn’t rush to get back into college life. Take as much time to heal as you need. Allof your professors are aware of the situation.”
He left before I could utter another word, and I just blinked, wondering what the fuck had happened.
Walter Allomore, aka Weasel, had already been removed from the school? Before I even reported him?
It wasn’t adding up.
None of this was adding up, and I hoped that next time I saw Dad he’d have more information for me.
Chapter 17
Dad didn’t know more than what the headmaster had told me, stating that he’d heard Walter had confessed and would be goingto jail for a very long time. The council had facilities across the country that held witches and warlocks, no matter theiraffinity or how powerful they were.
“As long as he’s gone,” Dad said, “the rest are details. I just want you safe here, Little Gem.”
I agreed that was the most important part and let my worry go.
Later that week in apothecary with Belle, Sara, and Haley, the four of us were at our table near the back of the room, ourkits set out before us.
Professor Kary wandered between the rows. “Great work last week,” she said. “But we have new spells to work on today.”
The professor was a voluptuous brunette witch, with a penchant for bright red lipstick and outfits that hugged her ample curves.Most of the warlocks in the class lusted over her, and I couldn’t blame them. Her sex appeal was innate, but my favorite partof the class was her spell crafting abilities. I’d never met a more capable witch in that regard, and I’d already learneda lot.
Apothecary for Beginners was turning out to be one of my favorite classes, and I found a weird sense of comfort as I craftedspells in the steamy classroom.
“I love that necklace,” Belle said as I leaned forward andthe crystal encased in a silver frame fell from my shirt. Releasing my bundle of sage, I pressed my hand to the thick silver chain. “It was my Gran’s. I never met her, but Mom made sure to pass on some of her pieces to me. It’s an amethyst.”
“Amethysts are supposed to have psychic and spiritual properties,” Haley piped up. “Or so I read. I’ve never had much to dowith crystals.”
Most witches didn’t because there was no need. If you disregard the few spells which required a crystal bowl, usually quartz,we never used them in our magic. “Hopefully I don’t commune with any of the spirits,” I joked, because we all knew that noteven a house built of amethyst would give me necro abilities. It was the one discipline where there was no cheating, unlessyou wanted to go all the way dark with some blood sacrifice. Which was a hard no from me because I enjoyed my soul mostlyuncorrupted.
Our conversation died off as we focused on the spell, and I barely noticed the time passing. My worries faded until I washolding four parcels of protection herbs. “Keep small sections of it in your pocket,” Professor Kary called as we packed up.“It could save your life. See you all next week.”
Packing away the unused ingredients into my kit, I slung the bag over my shoulder. “Is anyone else nervous about this spellcasterclass?” Haley asked. “I mean, why do we only have a few random classes with Logan throughout the year? What could that possiblyteach us?”
