“Agreed.”Councilman Westbrook nods at the other bigwigs, then looks forward at the chief.“We can’t let our agents or anyone end up in complex hexes that can cause permanent damage.”
“I agree,” the chief replies.“Which is why we want our hex expert to be in the field with our agents.”
He points to me, and I give a quick wave at the High Council.“Whatever you need.I’ll do anything to put a stop to this cult, you have my word.”
An hour later, my stomach is begging me for a meal, so I’m at the downstairs cafeteria.I’ve always admired the global cuisine at this place; it makes sense since we’re a network of wizards and witches worldwide.
After procuring my tray of sizzling Filipino cuisine, I spot Max at a table.He waves me down with a grin, and I smile and follow him.
“Come sit with us, Taz!”he says, pulling a chair to his left.
Considering what he went through, how can I refuse?I wouldn’t hesitate at all if he weren’t seated across from Necia and Luther.“Don’t mind if I do,” I say with a smile.
“It’s good to see you.That debrief session really took it out of me!”Max says, biting into his sushi.“But now we’re all back together.”
Recalling the extent of his hexing, my smile falls.“Again, Max, I am so sorry that happened to you.”
“Hey, don’t apologize.I’d still be spinning around like the exorcist girl if you hadn’t undone the hex.”
“Still, that cult sounds bloody awful.If it were up to me, we’d round them all up and give them a taste of their own dark medicine.”
“We need to be cautious.”Luther’s voice is stern, and his dark eyes are as serious as ever.He plays with his plate of spaghetti as he fixes stares at the three of us.“One missed step could mean exposing our magic to mortals.”
“They’re already being exposed,” I retort.I grip my spoon in frustration and level an annoyed look at Luther.“Or are we gonna sit around and let innocent people have their lives ruined by amateur wizard boys and their ill-conceived hexes?”
“Obviously, I don’t want that.You know that’s not ideal, Devries,” Luther replies, his voice brimming with contempt.“But we have strategy meetings for a reason.”
“You can strategize until dragons come to roost.Meanwhile, this cult is preparing to do heaven-knows-what.Are all lead agents this cowardly?”
“Coming from the man who didn’t even graduate!”
“Boys, enough!”Necia nearly shouts.“This isn’t high school.Your little pissing matches aren’t cute.”Her chastising tone has me shutting up in no time.
“You’re right, Neesh,” Luther says.Meanwhile, I sit back and dig into my meal.Luther eyes me with usual contempt as we listen to the sounds of other wizards eating around the cafeteria.
After several awkward seconds, Max breaks the silence.“Well, I for one am glad you’re with us.”
“Of course,” I mutter.
“We need to have each other’s backs for this mission.That’s what agents of SPELL do,” Necia points out.“Are you all willing to work together and help each other out?”
Luther stares me down for another drawn-out moment.“Yeah.I’m down.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I say with a mouth full of food.
I need to keep reminding myself that being here means I’m helping a greater good.I need to stop bickering with Luther for five seconds so we can focus on an actual dark cult.I need to be the best wizard I can be, for everyone’s sake.
But most of all, I need to keep a clear head; I have my own personal demons to fight, and no one else can know about why I’m working as an agent of SPELL.
CHAPTER 5- LUTHER
(THEN)
“I EXPECTbetter of you, son.”Dad marches toward the upstairs library, his robe billowing as he strides forward.I easily keep up and try to temper my annoyance.Mom reminds me to do my mortal school homework, but Dad’s on my case when it comes to weekend wizard school.I can’t catch a break.“Your last few magical history tests have been subpar.”
“Since when is a B-plus subpar?”I mutter.
“What was that?”
