A Handful of Hexes Read online

  “Imani, are you all right?” Greenie asked.

  “No!” Imani sobbed. “I’m a freak, and everyone knows it.”

  “Did you hurt yourself? Are you injured?” I asked. Had Thatch hurt her?

  She continued to weep. She hadn’t shot lightning at anyone at least. She’d been okay enough to run away and lock herself in a stall.

  “This is the worst day of my life!” Imani blubbered from inside the bathroom stall.

  “Greenie, would you go outside the bathroom door and keep watch so no one comes in?” I asked.

  “Sure thing.” She cast an anxious glance at the bathroom stall and strode out.

  I glanced under the other stall doors and saw no other occupants.

  “It’s just us,” I said. “Why don’t you come out, and we can talk?”

  “I don’t ever want to come out. I’ll be the laughingstock of the entire school. I bet no one else in the history of Witchkin has ever done anything that horrible.”

  Welcome to my world, kid. “Let me tell you about some of the highlights from my life. I caused an ex-boyfriend to have a heart attack while we were making out.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “And just last summer when I was at the fair, my affinity had some kind of weird reaction, and I turned hot pink. A rainbow glowed from between my legs. The fair was a big event, so there were lots of people, and everyone saw.”

  Imani sniffled. “Really? Was there a boy there that you liked? Mr. Thatch told me hormones and magic are a bad mix.”

  “Um… .” I didn’t think it was a good idea to explain the mosh-pit orgy I’d hidden myself in to avoid the Raven Court when they’d intended to enslave me. A white lie never hurt.

  “Hormones. Yes. Something like that.” I fidgeted with my dress, tugging the hem to cover my knees as I remembered the experience. “The worst part was Thatch—I mean, Professor Thatch—was there and saw. He had this mortified look on his face, and he stared at me like I was a freak.”

  “Oh my God! Was he the boy you liked?”

  “No! Yuck!” He was gross … in a hot sort of way. Though, my dislike for him hadn’t stopped me from kissing him and using his magic to power my own at the fair. And the kiss hadn’t been so bad. Okay, it had been great. Magical.

  I could have fallen in love with him if it hadn’t been for the part where he kept threatening to drain my magic. Or the part where he’d been mean to me for months after that. Then again, with me stealing magic from him after all my mother had done to him, it wasn’t really any wonder he had hated me up until recently.

  Just when I’d thought things were good between us and we might be friends, he’d assigned Vega as my mentor. Ugh.

  Imani blew her nose. “I asked Mr. Thatch if he had a girlfriend or if he liked any of the teachers at our school. You know what he said?”

  I held my breath. A small part of my imagination fantasized he would say I was the fairest teacher in all the land. Not that he would. He was far too professional for that. But a girl could daydream.

  Imani laughed. “He told me in this serious voice that all the other teachers here have cooties.”

  I could imagine Thatch saying that with a straight face, considering his dry sense of humor.

  I placed a hand on the door. “Are you ready to come out and face the world, kiddo?”

  “No.” She sniffled and blew her nose.

  “Do you need me to tell you all the other humiliating things I’ve done? Once I turned an eighth-grade class into frogs.”

  “That was back at Hamlin Middle School when I went there!” Imani laughed. “Don’t forget about the sex-ed lesson.”

  “I wish I could forget.” During a contraception lesson with condoms, the bananas had turned into penises and started dancing around. I was afraid I’d traumatized those high school students for life. I prayed Thatch had done one of his memory-erasing spells like he had for the school with the giant purple tentacle monster.

  Imani unlocked the door and came out. Her eyes were pink and puffy and her eye makeup smeared. “Mr. Thatch told me my affinity probably played a part in those incidents. He didn’t realize I was doing any magic. He thought it was all you.” She splashed water on her face at the sink.

  “Yeah, I didn’t realize you were Witchkin either.” I hadn’t realized I was magic. Between the denial and my adoptive mom’s brainwashing, I was lucky I’d figured it out. “When two Witchkin who don’t know how to use their magic out in the Morty Realm are in close proximity with each other, their powers have weird reactions.” That’s what Thatch had told me. I thought about Derrick. “In high school, I didn’t understand how magic worked. I didn’t get to go to a magic school and learn what you’re learning. I was playing with magic irresponsibly. I nearly killed my best friend in high school. And… .” I swallowed. “Our magic killed my sister.”

  I thought about that book I’d found with Derrick’s handwriting in it. Could it be he knew where I was, but was afraid of me after what had happened? It was a heart-wrenching idea that the man I had imagined to be my true love for all these years might not want me to find him.

  Imani looked up at me. “So, when Mr. Thatch jokes that you’re the most dangerous teacher on campus, and students shouldn’t mess with you, it isn’t a joke?”

  I bit my lip. Perhaps I’d shared too much. This was my first year teaching, and I didn’t know where to draw that line yet. What I’d told Imani wasn’t exactly common knowledge among the students. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t share that with anyone.”

  Her eyes went wide. “I won’t.”

  I took in a deep breath. “I need to tell you something else. This is for your ears only.” I suddenly felt nervous, afraid what I was about to do would be a mistake, that it might come out wrong.

  The door was still closed. Greenie stood outside guarding the door. If I revealed too much and Imani told anyone about her affinity, it could endanger her and me both.

  “You and I … we have similar problems with our affinities. We’re different.” I lowered my voice so that Greenie wouldn’t hear if she was listening. “Professor Thatch wants me to mentor you. He thinks it would help if you had a female staff member to talk to when some of these embarrassing magical problems come up.”

  “Like rainbows of doom?” She smiled. I was glad she wasn’t crying anymore.

  I nodded. “It’s hard to be different. It can be dangerous. There will be people—Fae mostly, but Witchkin too—who will want to use us for our magic. It’s happened to me already.” I pushed away icky thoughts of Julian. “I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. There are some things I’m going to have to teach you in secret.” I didn’t know what those things would be. I wasn’t even sure Thatch knew yet.

  “Really? You’ll help me?”

  “I will.” I cleared my throat. “But after I learn how to use my magic. Then I can help you with yours.”

  A toilet flushed. I turned, astounded to see feet under one of the stalls. I hadn’t seen anyone in there earlier. The door swung open.

  Hailey Achilles, villainous student of the year, sauntered out. Her elf ears poked up through her brown hair. Her smile was triumphant.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Wiseman’s Oath

  Hailey Achilles was one of my worst students. I had chased after her and her cronies after they’d tried to steal one of the school’s treasures. They’d attacked me with hexes in the process. All the other teachers thought the students had been after answer keys for the yearly standardized tests, but Hailey had confessed to me they’d been after the Ruby of Knowledge. Whatever that was.

  I had thought that perhaps me tutoring her during homeroom and helping her with her reading skills would improve her disposition and overall regard for me, but from that smug smile, I suspected I had been under false assumptions.

  Imani and I stared at Hailey in silent horror. She washed her hands and pretended everything was normal, that this was just a typical da
y of eavesdropping for her.

  She grinned at me in the chipped mirror. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your secrets. Not if you make it worth my while. I’m prepared to make a bargain.”

  Great. A bargain with a juvenile delinquent witch. What could go wrong?

  Her expression was smug, as if she was going to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse. “In exchange for not telling the entire school about all of your embarrassing secrets, I want something in return.”

  I didn’t know if she knew specifically about the Red affinity, or I’d said anything that gave away what Imani and I were. Even if Hailey didn’t know, she was bound to tell someone who would figure it out. How could I have been so stupid? I should have checked more closely under all the stalls to make sure no one else had been in there. I’d been certain we were alone. She must have lifted up her feet to make the stall look empty.

  I expected Hailey to ask for an A in my class since she was failing. Or for me to steal alcohol for her from the principal’s office. Or even for me to give her information about the Ruby of Knowledge that she’d been looking for under the school only a few weeks before—which I truly knew nothing about.

  I had forgotten Hailey was seventeen and not the brightest bulb in the pack.

  “I want you to give me a new broom,” she said.

  “What?”

  Hailey flipped her long brown hair behind a pointed ear. “Mine sucks balls, and I can barely get it to take off from the ground anymore cuz of all the bristles falling out. The coach said I need to get a new one before the next game, and I don’t have any money.”

  I stared in silence. That was all?

  Hailey went on. “It’s not like my life is Harry Potter and someone is going to just gift me with a broom out of the kindness of his heart because I’m such a good athlete and everyone loves me.”

  No, she wasn’t like Harry Potter. She was more like a female Crabbe or Goyle.

  “I’ll think about it.” I didn’t want to give in too easily and make myself prey for blackmail. I clearly remembered an episode of Star Trek the Next Generation when Captain Picard made it known that the Enterprise did not negotiate with terrorists. I had to show I was just as wise as a Starfleet officer.

  Hailey crossed her arms. “No, you need to agree now. If you don’t, I’m going to tell the entire school.”

  I tried to stall. “How do I know you aren’t going to blab to everyone anyway?”

  Imani bit her lip. “You could use Wiseman’s Oath. It means you can set the terms of the contract and neither of you will be able to break it without severe consequences.”

  Craptacular. I didn’t want to strike a bargain with the devil, but I didn’t see what other choice I had. No one could know about my affinity. My only other option was asking Thatch for help, and there was no way I wanted him to learn I had spoken about what I was and endangered myself and Imani.

  “Well?” Hailey asked.

  I turned to Imani. “Do you know how to cast Wiseman’s Oath?”

  She shook her head.

  A smug smile tugged at Hailey’s pretty pink lips. “Too bad for you.”

  I used my firm teacher tone. “If we are doing this, you are making an oath.”

  “No way. I don’t want to break out in boils that will last my entire life for saying one dumb thing.”

  “Then I guess you don’t want that broom,” I said.

  “Fine. We can ask Balthasar to do it,” she said.

  “No,” I said firmly. “I’ve seen enough of Balthasar’s magic. He’d probably freeze us accidentally instead.” That was about all her friend could do besides hexes. Plus, I didn’t want him knowing what we’d bargained about.

  “We could ask Mr. Thatch for help,” Imani said quietly.

  “No!” Hailey and I both shouted at the same time.

  Greenie peeked in. “Is everything okay?”

  “No. Keep guarding that door,” I said.

  I could guess Hailey’s motivation for not wanting to involve Thatch; she didn’t want him to reprimand her and punish her. My reasoning was pretty much the same.

  I had no idea what he would do to me. Certainly, he wasn’t going to be more forthcoming with information about my affinity or the Fae Fertility Paradox. He was stingy with information enough as it was. What if he told me he wasn’t going to teach me about my affinity at all? He was just the kind of person who would torture me like that.

  “Can Miss Kimura do this oath?” I asked.

  Hailey shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Both of you, wait here. Don’t leave, and don’t talk to anyone.” I exited the restroom.

  Greenie stood outside. She looked to me expectantly. “What’s wrong? Can I help?”

  “Maybe. Guard this bathroom. Don’t let anyone in. If anyone asks, tell them Miss Lawrence said to use one of the other ones.” I didn’t know if my word held much authority—especially with the other teachers.

  I jogged back to the great hall. Jeb was in the middle of a speech, asking for people to open their hearts—and wallets—and donate to the school. I tugged Josie outside into the hallway and asked her if she could perform Wiseman’s Oath.

  “That isn’t really my specialty.” She chewed her lip. “The incantation is long, and I don’t have it memorized. I might be able to if I get my book on wards. Is this something I can help you with after the open house tonight? What’s this for?”

  “I don’t have time to explain right now. I’ll fill you in later.”

  She clucked her tongue. “If you’re making an oath, you probably aren’t going to talk about it later. You’ll be sworn to secrecy.”

  “Who can help me?” I peeked back inside the hall of students, families, and staff. “Who knows how to do this? I’m in a hurry.”

  She tapped her chin, lost in thought. “I guess Pro Ro could do it. He’s good at wards and protective spells.”

  I shook my head. “Pro Ro is out of the question on account of him hating me.” I couldn’t blame him after the turban incident.

  Josie adjusted her witch hat. “Jeb and Khaba are pretty good at everything. Vega teaches stuff like that too.”

  Even if it hadn’t been an event night, Jeb was never available; his secretary guarded him like a hound of hell. Besides the fact that I was pretty sure I had used up my three wishes with Khaba’s magic, he was the school’s disciplinarian. I didn’t mind Hailey getting in trouble, but he probably wouldn’t allow me to use the oath, and he’d find out the secret I was supposed to be keeping to myself. Hailey would probably find a way to tell the entire school.

  Even if there had been a way to keep the entire school from figuring out what I was, Thatch didn’t want Jeb or Khaba to know I was a Red affinity. That meant I was going to have to try my luck with Vega.

  Craptastic. It was time to put my new mentor to the test.

  I dove back into the hall. The speech was over. The crowd roared with conversation. Parents perused the displays. Adults flocked to the refreshments table along with the students. I probably would have myself, considering the event had been catered by parents. Volunteers had made cookies, cakes, and finger sandwiches.

  I found Vega at the refreshments table, yelling at some poor freshman for taking two cookies instead of one. She’d changed into one of her sequined dresses for the occasion and sported a glittering black headband that flattered her twenties-style flapper bob. More than ever she reminded me of a paler version of Catherine Zeta-Jones from Chicago.

  She had ahold of the freshman’s arm.

  “The second cookie is for my mum!” the boy said. “Honest!”

  “Vega, I need your help,” I said.

  She eyed me disdainfully. “The answer is no.”

  The teenager snuck away with the two cookies. More students shoved to the front of the line.

  “You just pushed someone’s grandmother,” Vega shouted to Luke Heller. “Get to the end of the line. Right now.” She
pointed her wand at him in warning.

  “Just hear me out,” I said to Vega.

  “You’re Thatch’s responsibility to babysit, not mine. Whatever you need, go ask him.”

  “You’re my mentor now. He wants me to go to you about things.” That sounded like a good excuse, anyway. I stood on tiptoe, trying to whisper in her ear. “Plus, I can’t. I don’t want to tell him about this.”

  She turned to face me. “This should be good. Go on, let’s hear it, then.”

  “Not here. Please.” I remembered how Thatch had buttered her up earlier and tried to employ the same tactics. “I need someone brilliant and powerful for this. That’s you.”

  “I am brilliant and powerful.” She stood taller. “Well, I suppose I could cut out for a few minutes.” She sauntered over to Professor Bluehorse at the next table over. “Grams, I need to take a potty break. I’ll be back in five.”

  The old woman nodded, a warm smile on her weathered face. The sweetness in her eyes soured as she looked at me. My biological mother hadn’t exactly paved a pathway to make my life easy considering how she had killed people, Professor Bluehorse’s husband included.

  Outside, I explained an edited version of the situation, leaving out the personal details of my affinity and Imani’s. Vega cackled the entire time.

  I clasped my hands in front of me. “Will you help me?”

  “I suppose. Are you truly willing to buy that broom for her? It’s going to cost you at least a hundred for a used broom. Three hundred for a nice used broom.”

  “Yes, so long as she doesn’t start rumors about me or anyone else.”

  She shrugged. “Where are they waiting? I’ll meet you over there. I need to do something first.”

  I explained where to meet me and then rushed down the hall to the bathroom. By the time I arrived, Vega was already waiting outside. Considering Vega was powerful and skilled at magic, it shouldn’t have surprised me she arrived before I did. She knew teleportation spells and all sorts of witchcraft. Greenie held her arms across the door, valiantly barring Vega’s entry.