A Curse of Magic Read online

  “Yeah, absolutely, no problem. Totally understandable. Follow me.”

  He led me across the green, past a few groups of students doing fascinating things with their wands. I wanted to watch, but my dizziness and nausea were fast returning. I thought that if I saw much more than my brain couldn’t process, it might just shut down.

  He led me into another grand stone building and down a hallway. “I can show you around some other time, if you want. Whenever. Your roommate will probably be able to help you out, too, though. I think she’s been here for a few days already. The semester doesn’t start ‘till tomorrow, but a lot of people get here early.”

  We stopped in front of a door numbered 104.

  “Home sweet home.” He bowed dramatically and adopted a comically formal tone. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Song. Welcome to the venerated Broken Wand Academy.” He straightened back up and chuckled. “Let me know if you ever want that tour. I’m sure I’ll see you in the dining hall or something. Who knows, we might even have a class together.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” I smiled doubtfully. “If I end up staying.”

  “Yeah, right.” He gave me a knowing smirk. “Well, good luck. Whatever you do.” He turned and headed back for the entrance.

  Why did everyone think they knew what I was going to do already? I didn’t even know.

  “Well, here we go.” I took a deep breath, turned back to the door, and knocked. I waited anxiously for a few moments, but there was no answer. I knocked again. “Hello?”

  A muffled, breathy voice came from behind the door. “Come in.”

  I pushed into the room as a blonde, naked girl was tipping down from a headstand.

  “Ah!” She yelped in shock and tumbled to the floor in a heap when she saw me.

  “Oh!” My hand shot up to cover my eyes, and I jumped back out of the room and shut the door. I winced in embarrassment as I called through the closed door. “I am so sorry. I thought you said come in?”

  “I said coming.” Rustling sounds issued from within the room, and the sound of approaching footsteps made my stomach clench.

  A slim girl with chin-length blonde hair opened the door, draped loosely in a thin robe that hung slightly open in the front. She was apparently unphased by our encounter, as she had a broad smile on her face, and her eyes glittered with excitement. I, on the other hand, was mortified.

  “Hi, I’m Leia! You must be my roommate.” She pulled me into a tight embrace, and I flinched as the outline of her body pressed against me through the thin fabric of her kimono. “It’s so good to finally meet you.”

  “Uh, hi.” I patted her awkwardly on the back, unsure of what to do with my hands. “I’m Meena.”

  I had been at Broken Wand Academy for less than an hour, and already I was hugging a half-naked stranger. Somehow, it seemed fitting.

  Chapter 3

  Leia and I sat on the couch in the shared common room that linked our bedrooms. Well, it linked her bedroom to a room that was mine if I wanted it. I still hadn’t decided if I did or not.

  “So, wow. We’re going to be living together for a while, I guess.” Leia’s smile was easy and open as she sat next to me with her legs folded under her.

  “I’m not sure, actually. I haven’t decided if I’m staying.”

  Leia raised her eyebrows at me. “You’re thinking of leaving? But you just got here.”

  “Yeah, um, I don’t know. This place is kind of crazy. I mean, magic? I didn’t even think it existed before today. I still don’t know if I believe it does. How can I? It’s, well, it’s unbelievable.”

  “Ah, I see.” Comprehension spread across her face. “So you’re a new convert. Must be tough, having your whole world flipped on its head.”

  “Yeah, no kidding.” I smiled at the situation’s ridiculousness. “Ever since Professor Wallace did, um, whatever he did, that brought me here? I feel like I’ve been on the verge of throwing up.”

  She grinned. “I could totally see that being your response. Magical travel can be extremely disorienting, especially if you’re not expecting it.”

  “That has definitely been my experience so far. So you knew about magic before you got here?”

  She spit out an open, honest laugh that put me at ease. “Oh yeah. I was raised on the stuff. My parents are part of a coven? Wiccan. It’s kind of like a hippy-commune situation, you know? Totally off the grid, grow all our own herbs and vegetables, raise chickens, goats, that type of thing. A lot of group rituals, celebrating all the major holidays, solstices, the equinox, all that.”

  “Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like that before. Must have been a pretty interesting way to grow up.” It sounded kind of weird, truth be told. But I didn’t want to offend her, and I was determined not to make things more awkward than they already were, given our unusual introduction.

  “Yeah, it was definitely interesting.” Leia smiled as she rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and our commune, and I’m like totally into a lot of the Goddess principals and everything.” She waved her hands to minimize her dismissiveness, her tone becoming more earnest. “Sexual liberation, female empowerment, harmony with the earth and all its children? I love all that stuff. But it was maybe a little bit over the top sometimes. Like when I got my period for the first time?” Her eyes went wide again with the memory of embarrassment. “We had this whole Moon Cycle Feast to celebrate it, and they made me bathe in the river with a white robe on. The whole commune was, like, very aware of what was going on. It was kind of beautiful, in a way. But also extremely embarrassing.”

  I chuckled. “Wow, I think I actually would have died.”

  She laughed along with me, and I was surprised to find that I already felt very comfortable with her. “Yeah, it was way too much. But probably better than the shame-filled alternative, I guess? There’s got to be some way to strike a better balance, but, overall, I’m pretty grateful for my family and the commune.”

  “Yeah, it sounds like you had a really good community around you.”

  “Totally. What about you?” She blinked at me several times. “You never had anybody tell you about magic?”

  “Just my grandmother.” I strained to avoid being overcome by grief. “I used to believe it was real when I was a kid. But my dad always told me she was just very superstitious, and I guess after a while I believed him.” Sadness washed over me as I reflected. “I feel awful about it now. She must have felt so alone.”

  Leia smiled. “No way, girl. That’s one of the best parts about being a witch. You’re never truly alone.”

  “But still. I can’t help thinking about how she must’ve felt. Like I didn’t understand some deep, crucial part of her.” Tears welled in my eyes.

  “I bet she didn’t feel that way at all. If she had wanted you to know, she would’ve made it happen.” She shrugged. “Maybe she just wanted you to have a chance to have a normal life? Some people think of our gifts as more of a curse than a blessing, you know. You inherited from her, didn’t you?”

  I shrugged, still skeptical. “That’s what they tell me.”

  She nodded. “That’s tough. It’s always harder when the gift comes from a close family member.” She gave me a warm, heartfelt smile. “It’s totally normal to feel a little guilt over having received a gift from the departed. At the coven, we had a whole ritual to aid in the transference of power.” Her face lit up with realization. “Hey, remind me to introduce you to Jacin. I think you guys will have a lot to talk about.”

  “Okay.” Sadness weighed heavily upon my chest.

  “Anyway, you probably don’t want to dwell on that too much. It’s been a rough day already, I’m sure.”

  Overwhelming exhaustion mingled with my renewed grief, sapping me of all my energy. “It really has.”

  “Goddess, I’m so excited for you, though.” She smiled, shaking her head in wonder. “You’re going to learn so much about yourself here. It’s going to be crazy. It’s like a wh
ole new world has opened up. I mean, literally.” She chuckled. “Have you had any sort of awakening yet?”

  “Awakening?” I tilted my head at her, confused. “Definitely not. I feel like I’m about to pass out, actually. I don’t think I’ve ever been so exhausted.”

  She laughed. “Not like that. An awakening. You know, like, random acts of magic? Altered consciousness, extra-sensory perception, light shooting out of your hands? That kind of thing.”

  I shook my head.

  “Hmm.” She squinted one eye at me, her lips pursed as she thought.

  “Why? Should I have?” Even though I had only just found out about magic, I felt a little self-conscious and inadequate.

  “No, no.” She waved me off. “Not necessarily. Although, usually powers begin to manifest pretty quickly.” She continued to study me. “Can we try something?”

  I sighed. “Honestly, I’m so tired. That’s why I had Dash bring me back here. I’m completely worn out, and I feel pretty gross. I still smell like diner grease.” I gestured down at my stained Quaker Diner t-shirt for emphasis. “I think I just need to shower and lay down.”

  She held her hands up in a gesture of understanding. “Totally get that. How about I make you a cup of tea? It’s an old coven recipe. Dandelion root, chamomile, mint, a few other choice herbs. Not only will it be relaxing, but it might also just knock loose any latent magic you’ve got kicking around in there.” She swirled her finger around, gesturing at my chest.

  I shrugged. “I like tea.”

  “Great!” She clapped her hands as she hopped off the couch and walked over to a large cabinet in the room’s corner. She spoke over her shoulder as she rummaged through it.

  “You know, showers are fine and all, but we do happen to have a pretty excellent bathtub. Just saying.”

  “We have a bathtub?” What kind of a college dorm had a bathtub?

  “Oh yeah, girl. A big one. With claw feet and everything. It’s divine.” She turned to me, holding several jars of dried herbs.

  “Hmm. I do love a good tub.” I considered the idea of a soothing soak. Part of me wanted to just rinse off in the shower and flop down on the bed, but the prospect of a relaxing bath was too good to pass up.

  “Who doesn’t?” She jerked her head toward a bedroom. “I’m going to go brew the tea in my room.” She smiled shyly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “It’s kind of a secret recipe. But it won’t take long. Why don’t you run the tub and then check out your room? You know, gauge the energy and stuff. I can help you cleanse it later if you want.”

  “All right. But just so you know, I’m not sure if it’s my room yet?”

  “Mhmm, that’s fine.” She seemed unconvinced. “You might not know it yet, but you’re totally staying. Especially once you realize you have the best roommate. Anyway, there’s a bunch of bath supplies in there.” She gestured toward the bathroom. “Under the sink there’s some bubble bath, and a huge jar of sea salt.” She glanced suggestively toward several bundles of herbs and flowers hung from the ceiling near the windows at the back of the room. “Could always toss in some lilac or lavender blossoms, to open up your psychic pathways. Plus, they smell really good.”

  “Mmm, lavender and sea salt. You are making a push for the ‘best roommate’ title, aren’t you?” I cocked my eyebrow at her.

  Leia grinned. “You know, I like you, Meena. I think we’re going to get along wonderfully.” She moved toward her room.

  “Hey, you keep the tea flowing and the tub clean, and we’ll be friends forever.”

  We shared a laugh as she walked from the room, and I was left alone to fully take in my surroundings for the first time.

  It was a nice space. Two huge windows at the back allowed plenty of light in. There was a nice floral printed armchair and a big green couch – thankfully more tasteful than the plaid print one in Professor Wallace’s office. There was a small table with two chairs near the windows, and the massive cabinet that Leia had pulled the jars of dried herbs out of. Probably full of a whole host of magical supplies. Or teas. Could go either way, at this point.

  I walked over to the bathroom and ran the water for the tub. There were about a dozen white candles strewn about the room on the floor, the sink, and the windowsill, and the shade was drawn down over the window so most of the early evening light was shut out. The tub really was lovely.

  It was deep, too, with a large spout of polished silver that rose up half a foot before curving down dramatically. The opposite end of the tub had an extended contour on which to rest your head. It was the most elegant tub I had ever seen, and I couldn’t believe it was located in a freshman’s college dorm room. Once the running water’s temperature was to my liking, I dumped in a healthy dose of sea salt and returned to the common area.

  I made my way over toward the unoccupied bedroom. Could it really be my room? If I had a roommate willing to fix me tea and a tub fit for royalty, I would be foolish to walk away from that, right? It also seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to further understand my grandmother. I could find out about a part of her that I always knew was there, but never let myself see.

  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Singh, Wallace, and Leia were all right. I was starting to feel like this place was too much to pass up. It sure as heck beat living with Dad and commuting to Twin Rivers. And if I really didn’t like it here  or if it turned out it really was all one big hoax  Twin Rivers would still be there. Not like community college was going anywhere. I’d let the idea marinate while I soaked in the tub, but I felt like I might be stepping into my new room.

  It was a nice space, but mostly unfurnished. The walls were empty, and a bare mattress sat against the wall on the scuffed and dusty wood floor. There was an empty closet and dresser, and two big windows, identical to the ones in the living room. It looked like no one had lived here for a long time. I wondered if they’d be able to give me sheets and pillows if I decided to stay tonight. Maybe Leia would let me borrow an old t-shirt or something until I could get some of my stuff. I wandered over and gazed out the window. Outside was a small, lush field that gave way to a thick wood.

  My breath caught in my chest. A huge metal stake was driven into the ground in the middle of the field, and attached to this stake by a thick chain was a large grey wolf.

  “What in the world?” I spoke aloud, shocked by the strange sight. The wolf’s head snapped up toward my window, his yellow eyes seeming to meet mine. I tilted my head in confusion. He couldn’t have heard me, right? We stayed like that for a few minutes, completely still.

  I couldn’t understand why there would be a wolf chained up outside of our dorm. Was it somebody’s pet? It made no sense to me, to keep a wild animal restrained like that. It was cruel.

  “Tea’s ready!” Leia’s voice carried in from the next room and snapped me out of my trance. I looked reluctantly away from the wolf, who seemed to study me through sad eyes.

  I stormed back to the living room, outrage bubbling within me. “Hey, what the hell is up with the wolf out there?”

  “Oh, I know, right?” Leia’s face went hard as she handed me the mug of steaming tea. “So messed up.” She frowned. “Apparently he’s like some sort of school mascot or something? They say he’s domesticated, and they don’t keep him chained up out there all the time.” She shrugged. “Supposedly it’s just a beginning of the year thing? Nothing says ‘Welcome to your new school’ like animal cruelty, I guess. I don’t know what the deal is, but I’m freaking pissed off about it. I’ve been trying to talk to the faculty or administrators or somebody, but nobody will listen. Everyone seems to think it’s some grand symbol of school pride.”

  “Sounds more like a source of shame to me, keeping an animal chained up like that.” My eyes narrowed in indignation as I sipped at the mug of tea. It was delicious. The dandelion root’s bitterness was perfectly tempered by a dash of honey, and the mint and chamomile had a cooling, calming effect.

  “One hu
ndred percent accurate. Oh, I do like you. Oliver feels the same way, too. He’s a friend I made over the past few days. Good guy. Maybe I can introduce you to him after your bath?”

  “Maybe. Honestly, I might need to sleep after, though. I’ve literally been on the verge of collapse all day.”

  “Fair enough.” She smiled mischievously. “But I have a feeling you’ll feel much better after my coven-brew and a good soak. Plus, it’s taco night at the dining hall, and trust me, you do not want to miss that. All-you-can-eat, legit, authentic tacos. Every kind you could think of, too; al pastor, asada, chorizo, tofu, veggie, carnitas, you name it.”

  “Oh, dang it, Leia. Why you gotta mention tacos? I love tacos.”

  “Who doesn’t?” Her lips stretched into a wide smile, and she spread her arms apart. “I mean, come on. Isn’t this place great?” Her face went serious, and she held up a finger. “Except for the wolf, of course. That part is not great. But maybe we’ll fix that, huh?”

  I smiled. “Ha, maybe. You know, you’re kind of crazy.”

  “Maybe a little.” She smirked. “But, like, a good crazy, though. Right?”

  “Well, I don’t know about that.” I returned her smirk, grabbing a couple of sprigs of lavender from a bundle hanging from the ceiling.

  She waved me off. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You're delirious. You’ll be thinking much more clearly after your bath.”

  We shared a chuckle as I moved toward the bathroom. “Hey, do we have any matches? Wouldn’t mind lighting some of these candles, if that’s okay.”

  “Got you.” She closed her eyes and swept the knuckles of one hand across her palm, making some deliberate gestures with her fingers. “There you go.”

  “What?” I poked my head into the bathroom and found that it was bathed in warm candlelight. All the candles were lit, apparently by Leia’s hand gestures. I pulled my head back into the living room and stared in shock at Leia. “Did you just light all those? With your hands?”

  “Magic, girl.” She beamed with pride and raised her hands in a shrug. “It’s rad.”