Chapter 3: The Consequences of Magic

Clouds darkened the sun and an icy shiver trailed down my back as I raced home. I couldn't even concentrate on the rest of my classes. My mind still replaying that warlock vanishing before my eyes. I skipped the rest of school, not wanting to deal with anything other than talking to my mom about all the crap that had gone on today.

Oak, Pine, and Elm trees along the street shifted with dark limbs as if watching me. Shadows stretched toward me across the concrete. I shuddered, hunching down into my jacket and turning the volume up on my earbuds to block out the sound of my pounding heart.

At my house, I rushed inside, and locked the door behind me. Even though the light leading upstairs was on, the house felt dark. Like the walls pressed in on me. A sensation like a thunderstorm hovered in the air, almost crackling. And it was silent like a cemetery at night. I tugged out my earbuds.

"Mom? Are you home?" I bounded up the stairs and let out a sigh when she called from her bedroom. Rounding the corner, I blinked at the scene before me.

My suitcase lay on her bed with my clothes spilling out of it. Mom stood with a pair of my jeans in her hand. Tears streamed down her face.

A lump of emotions pressed into my throat. "Mom? What's going on?" Terror filled me. We were going to have to run away all because of me. "Tell me what's going on."

"Zoey, you're in danger." My mom flopped down on the edge of her bed. "It's taken all of my magic to keep you safe, but they've found you. I-I can't do it anymore."

"They?"

She put her face in her hands. The room was suddenly too hot, stifling even. I felt sick to my stomach, but I rushed over to her, wrapping my arms around her.

"It'll be okay, Mom," I said. "We can move. I'll try harder not to use my powers. You work too long at that stupid restaurant anyway. How about transferring to Florida and we can go to the beach every day? We can open a business together making surfboards."

Her little laugh tore at my heart, and she patted my arm. "It's too dangerous now. They will find you no matter how far we run. I can't protect you anymore. You need to go where you'll be safe, right now before it's too late."

I eased back. "I don't understand. What are you talking abo - "

A male cleared his throat from the hallway and my hands sparked as I leapt to my feet, raising my palms.

And the warlock strolled into my mom's room, joining us.

"How did you get in here," I growled.

"You need to listen to your mom, Zoey."

I froze, a million questions zooming through my mind faster than the subway. How does he know where I live? Why is he even here?

"Have you been stalking me?" I asked, not sure if I should be appalled or flattered. "What's going on? Do you two know each other?" I stared between them. My skin prickling all over. In seventeen years, I hadn't run into another magic-user. It was just me and Mom after my dad's accident.

What if he was some long-lost cousin of mine, not from the council? And I'd thought about kissing him. Really needed to get a boyfriend if my hormones were chasing down family members now. But that would explain how he was able to disappear earlier.

"Go with Reed," my mom whispered, wiping at her eyes.

Reed, so that's his name. Kinda cute, I thought, then I cringed. Nope, the name sucks all the way to the moon.

"With Reed? No way. Where would we go anyway?" I sniffed, blinking back tears. "What will happen to you? Is his magic that powerful?"

"Not just mine." His voice drew my attention to him. "Two others will join us at the academy where you will hone your craft and be protected."

I stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

"There's a school for magic users to the south." My mom cleared her throat. "You'll be safe."

"Why am I just now hearing about this place?" I stood, feeling like my mother wasn't telling me everything slide underneath my skin like an itch. "What are you not telling me?"

Her gaze flicked to Reed. "Your father sacrificed himself to strengthen the barrier around you. For thirteen years, it kept you hidden from others who would use your powers for evil. Who would turn you to the darkness."

"You sound like a character from Star Wars." I choked on a forced laugh and shook my head, unable to wrap my mind around all of this. "No. I'm not going. We've been fine on our own for this long. I can protect myself."

"Not anymore." Reed shook his head.

"Forget you! I've been doing fine until you showed up." I lifted my chin, curling my fingers against the magic that burned across my palms and wanted to strike out at him. "I'm not going! Not now, not ever. So go back and tell whoever wanted to recruit me to jump out of a plane. I'm not going to your stupid academy!"

Before either of them could protest, I stomped to my room and slammed the door, throwing myself across my bed. I didn't want to go to some crummy magical school that hadn't given a crap about me or my mom for all this time. It wasn't fair that she was making me do this. Had she sent Reed to spy on me? Figured I'd slip up and use my magic at school then be able to ship me off like some unwanted child to a boarding school or something?

A knock sounded on my door and I sat up, my chin jutting out.

My mom entered and sat beside me on the bed. Like she always had done whenever we had to have a serious talk.

"Zoey, I know this is hard for you, but you can't stay."

"Why?" My voice cracked. "I'm sorry for what happened at school today, I'll do better."

"It's not just that." She clasped my hand in hers. The lines in her hand made her look older, frailer. "Your magic is maturing, like you. It's too dangerous for you and others around you to keep you among the humans. I should have had you transferred last year, but I was selfish. I didn't want to let go of you then. I still don't."

The rush of despair hit me like a sledgehammer. "I don't want to go. Please don't make me."

She looked away and sorrow dug a hole in my heart. "There are other witches who want to use your magic as a tool for evil. I can't hold them off any longer."

"What are you talking about?" For so long, I thought it was primarily she and I. She'd never spoken of other witches before.

Reed rapped his knuckles on the doorframe drawing our attention. "If you stay, you're not only putting yourself in danger, but your mom, too."

As much as I didn't want him to be right, to wipe that look of satisfaction off his face, he was right. My mom wouldn't force me to do this if I refused. And my magic didn't always do what I wanted it to. There was no guarantee if things stayed the same that I'd be able to keep her safe or myself. I could figure out my own stuff, but I wasn't willing to lose my mom too. Not after everything. Staying though, put her in danger and that was something I'd never willingly do.

For a moment, I clamped my eyes shut, wanting to hold onto my life as I knew it for one more second. Not wanting to leave everything I loved behind. I opened my eyes to find them both watching me like I was a ticking bomb. And maybe I was.

"Fine. I'll go." The words scraped my throat raw. "But as soon as I learn to control my power and shove it down the evil witch's throat, I'm coming back and living my life how I want."

Mom's shaky sigh twisted my heart. She really thought this was best.

She pulled me into a hug, kissing both cheeks. "Go with my blessings. Remember how much I love you - no matter your blood."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I drew back.

"We have to go." Reed gently pulled at my elbow. "Now."

"Wait. I need more time." I wasn't ready. Didn't know if I'd ever be ready.

My whole life, my future, everything was spiraling out of control.