Chapter One
WESTLYN
10 Years Ago…
Despite how magic goes down in all the movies, the contents of my cauldron donot, in fact, boil and bubble.
They explode, splattering me and Mrs. Larkum in sticky blue goo.
Not too hot, not too cold, not too toxic… Just freaking mortifying.
“Oh, Westlyn.” My teacher frowns beneath the mess dripping down her face, clearly disappointed. I swear the woman has never encountered a witch who couldn’t master the fine art of potions and charms under her expert tutelage, but here I go, blazing trails again.
“I’m doing everything in my power to help you,” she continues, reaching for a tissue, “but I can’t force the spells and correspondences into your mind. If you want to pass my class, you’re going to have to do more than just stay after school. You need to develop a positive mindset, put in the work, and meet me halfway.”
“I’m trying—honestly.” I drag my sleeve across my face, wiping the goo from my eyes. “But I’m never going to be able to cast these spells. That’s not a negative mindset—it’s just a fact. I’ve got no magic of my own.”
“No, but you still need to learn the material. One day, if destiny is kind, you’ll marry into a mage family, where you’ll be expected to support your partner in all things magical and mundane. You can’t be an asset to them if you don’t know your silver slipper powder from your essence of nightwing.”
I wipe my eyes again, grateful for the excuse to cover my face, which is definitely scowling now.
Marry into a mage family... Be an asset…
Right.
For a witch with no mojo, that’s as big as my dreams and aspirations are allowed to get.
I’ve accepted that. But all the forced positivity in the world won’t make me happy about it.
By the time we clean up the classroom and put away the supplies, it’s already dark outside, the deep autumn shadows of Manhattan coming alive beneath the city lights.
“Goodness, I didn’t realize how late it was.” Mrs. Larkum grabs her coat and hits the classroom lights. “Do you need me to call you a cab?”
“No, my dad’s picking me up.” I force the lie through a too-bright smile. “He’s taking me out for dim sum.”
“That sounds nice. Well, in the meantime, keep striving, Westlyn. It’s not time to give up on yourself just yet.”
Goddess. I know she means well, but all I want to say is,so whenisit time? Will you let me know, so I can put it on the calendar?
Anyway, I don’t want to disappoint her any more than I already have, so I do the expected thing, as usual—lock in that positive mindset smile, promise I’ll keep trying, and follow her out into the street.
I’m still smiling as we say our goodbyes and I walk alone past Skyline Laundromat and Big Belly Burrito.
Still smiling when I turn the corner at Cheng’s grocer and wave to Mr. Cheng, who’s busy sticking plastic-wrapped bouquets into buckets outside the storefront.
And still smiling on my way to the train… right up until the part where my fellow magical academy student and undisputed champion douchebag Jacob Pomeroy steps out of the alley between a boarded-up hair salon and a hipster brunch place, hands in his pockets, smirk twisting his evil face.
My throat closes up. I nearly trip in my haste to get away, but it’s no use.
“Look who it is, boys,” he sneers, stepping so far into my personal space I can smell the cheap booze on his breath. “Wicked Westlyn.”
“And she’s smiling!” This from Alonzo Florentine, Jake’s partner in crime. He crowds in close, too. Tugs on one of my braids. “What’s so funny, Wicked? Care to share with the class?”
“Fuck off.” I swat his hand away, but he comes right back for another grab, this time touching some of the leftovers from my failed spell. “Looks like you tried to give Papa Smurf a blowjob and missed.”
“Smurf fucker!” A peal of laughter sounds from the alley, and another guy slinks out—a dude everyone calls Full Metal Jacket on account of how completely insane he is. I don’t even know his real name, but he certainly knows mine. “Wicked Westlyn, wandering the city streets alone. It’d be a real shame if anything happened to you.”
“Not like anyone would miss her,” Alonzo says, the three of them now circling me like hungry raptors. “Just a useless, impotent witch taking up space.”
