A tingle of awareness traced down my spine, but I was so desperate to get these answers that I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’llbe there by ten.”
Headmaster Gregor walked onto the stage then, dressed in shiny black robes, so I spun and hurried over to the girls, slippinginto my seat just as he started.
“Welcome to graduation!” the headmaster shouted, his voice booming. “We’ve had a year, I know, and many of you will be grateful to just have made it through unscathed. I feel the same. We will never forget Gerard Donovan. We lost a great student this year.” He paused for a moment, and everyone remained silent with him. “Tonight, on All Hallows’ Eve, when the veil between the living and dead is thinnest, remember to send a blessing to our lost witches and warlocks. We will lift the cloaking energy after the dinner tonight, so take advantage of the power while you can. And be safe.”
The blanket of energy was at this moment keeping us from feeling the full effect of Halloween, but when they lifted it, we’dbe inundated with power. This was my first All Hallows’ since the bloom of my energy, and I wouldn’t lie: I wanted to knowwhat the energy felt like.
I hadn’t had a necromancy section in my assessment because spellcasters couldn’t touch that magic, even though I’d shown signsI could. I wondered if I’d feel the thinning of the veil tonight.
“With all of that,” Headmaster Gregor continued, “it’s time for our seniors to cross the stage and receive their coven placement.”
Nerves kicked in for my sisters, and while I had no doubt they’d be offered excellent placements, there were two worries.One: they wouldn’t stay together, and two: they’d be sent to a coven far from Spokane. “Jerry Adams,” the headmaster called.“As a fire elemental, you’re being welcomed into the Coven of Warriors in Dallas, Texas. Congratulations, Jerry.”
Jerry, a burly guy, well over six feet tall, crossed the stage in long determined strides to accept the rolled parchment.“Thank you,” he said.
The headmaster shook his hand, and murmured a blessing, before he moved on to the next student. “Flow Allorn.”The water elemental was welcomed into the Coven of Mystic Light, which had a Californian branch. Absolute joy lit up her face when she heard the news.
The graduation continued for some time, until eventually Jenna and Alice Hallistar were called to the stage. Together. A fractionof my nerves eased because they were going to the same coven. “Our lovely nature sprite twins are being offered a place inBlessed Souls of Spokane, in their hometown of Spokane, Washington.”
“Wooooo!” Trevor’s shout was loud across the room, and everyone laughed as they joined in the cheer.
My own joy couldn’t be contained, even if there was a niggling worry that they would be accepted into the coven right as Momand Dad got kicked out. But surely the coven could find Dad a different job. There were always options.
After Headmaster Gregor blessed them, the twins hurried off the stage, smiling broadly. The rest of the students continued,finishing with Yvonne Zuka, a necromancer who ended up in a European coven.
“Amazing,” Professor Gregor said. “I feel this year of graduates are capable, powerful, and ready to lead the magical worldfor many generations to come. As will all of you. Our assessor scores were some of the best we’ve had in years, and I’m proudof every graduating year.” He cleared his throat and looked around. “For the first time, we have the chance of three spellcastersin Weatherstone who will become part of our proud legacy. We are the most prestigious magic college in America not becauseof us but because of you. Thank you.”
The room erupted in applause, and I clapped along, wishing that half the student body wasn’t staring at me now. Apparently,it was no secret who the third possible spellcaster was.
When Headmaster Gregor left the stage, another professor stepped out and led the blessings for the year. I’d never beenpart of this, but I’d heard about it from my siblings. All of us joined hands, up and down the rows, and together, the energy of the room rose collectively.
“Blessed be to those who walk these sacred halls. Blessed are their lives outside these walls. Blessed are their magics.”
We repeated after him in our ancient language, and by the time we were done, I felt as if I could run a marathon, or swimthe lake ten times. My energy was refreshed and renewed and lighter. A sense of being closer to my magic, and to my fellowwitches and warlocks, washed through me. I didn’t know a fraction of the students here, but we were all part of Weatherstone.
A collective.
Chapter 39
The dinner portion of the graduation ceremony was very reminiscent of our welcome ceremony. The tables were all pushed togetherin long lines as family-style platters were whooshed in on the winds. My siblings sat with me and my friends tonight, alongwith some of their friends who I knew in passing, creating a celebratory atmosphere.
“Jensen and I will be coming home for at least a month,” Trevor told me as he shoveled a huge spoon of Irish stew into hismouth. “We want to be there when Jenna and Alice are inducted into the coven.”
The girls flashed huge grins. “I can’t believe we’re together and in our first choice,” Alice said with a sigh. “Simon willbe home with me, and I can finally settle into my new life.”
“Ournew life,” Jenna cheered. “Morris is going to love the forests, and I’ve got his collar ready.”
Our kind existed within the human world, and while they knew about witches, they believed them to be humans who studied ourancient magic. Which, as one would expect, led to situations where the crossover of our worlds got us into trouble. Worse,it was downright outlawed to induct humans into our way of life unless you married one and bound them with a secrecy spell.
That meant Jenna couldn’t take Morris down to the local mall and check out the shops with him. At least not in hisbear form. Just the way the witch wine was disguised to look like normal wine, a bear could be disguised to look like a shaggy dog.
She’d been working on his collar all year, and I couldn’t wait to see how he looked in his cute puppy form.
“Cheers,” Belle said, raising her tea. “I think this deserves a celebratory drink.”
I picked up my lemon water, lifted it in the air, and we all cheered to the future. For this brief moment in time, there wasno worry about monsters, wonky magic, enemies who were sometimes lovers but mostly assholes, or finding an affinity.
Tonight, it was perfect.
