Chapter 4: Cassandra

Ruby still worked part-time in the admin building, so she usually had the scoop on all the new students.

"Transfers from other academies, and kingdoms from around the world," Ruby said. "Probably the most diverse group of students the Enchanted Academy has ever had." She pointed at a young girl sitting at the far table, chatting with other students. "She's from Brazil. Sent here by her government. She's only thirteen-years-old."

"I don't remember ever being that young," I joked. "They all look like kids."

Nicolette sighed. "I can't wait until we're in all upper-level classes, so we can get away from the daycare age."

We zigzagged our way through the classroom and took a seat at one of the tables where a couple of new students sat. The two guys stopped talking, smiled at each other, and then turned their attention to us.

"Ladies," one of the guys said. The other guy at the table shook his head. They made faces at each other until the guy who greeted us seemed to have a lightbulb go on. I was in agreement with Nicolette.

"Cassandra Clarke," I said. "That's Ruby, and she's Nicolette."

"Sonny Carson," the other guy said. "And we've heard of you three." He looked at me. "Especially you. That's Brett Bowman, the guy with no manners. It's a pleasure to meet you."

We stayed in awkward silence for a minute until the instructor walked in, a woman whom I had never seen on campus before. She couldn't have been more than five-feet-tall, but her very presence said don't screw with her. I was glad Dash wasn't around to make a derogatory comment. He would have been sent to Headmaster Eliphas' office, never to return.

"Morning," the instructor said, and we all replied good morning. "Welcome to Hexes and Field Missions 201. I'm Samantha Blackburn, your instructor for the semester." She removed a stack of papers from her bag and started around the class. "As you probably know, we'll be building off what you learned last semester. My rules for class are simple. Do your work, respect me and your fellow students, and you'll pass with no problem. It really is that simple. Go the other direction, and you'll be sitting in the headmaster's office."

I looked at the long list of work on the syllabus and sighed. I then turned to the next page and viewed the dozens of hexes and spells we'd be covering. Perfect. Most of what would be covered I already knew with Oliver's help. Though Oliver and I had spent time together every day over the summer, he had yet to make a move toward anything sexual. I sensed his nervousness, but thought he needed to decide when and where without my prompting.

"My understanding from Headmaster Eliphas is last semester turned out to be challenging in more ways than one." She returned to the front of the class. I guessed her to be in her mid-forties, though she seemed a lot older, maybe an old soul. "I think you'll find the field work this semester with the mages we've lined up will be a challenging task. Hopefully we can avoid a run in with this Edius character, though I believe it will fall on your generation to stop him and his kind from destroying more mages and guilds. You are the generation who will save us from those who wish to do the world harm."

Sonny raised his hand, and she nodded. "Will we be picking our own training partner?" He then looked at me. I wanted to tell him not a chance.

"Good question, Mister Carson," she said. "Before we start that discussion, I thought it would be useful for us to get to know each other." She grabbed a stack of index cards from her bag. "Each of you will take a card and write your name and three interesting facts about yourself. "She looked at her watch. "You have ten-minutes."

"Did you hear that?" I asked Ruby. "She said before Edius destroys another guild or mage. The administration knows he won't stop."

"Why does it seem like nobody knows how to find him?" Ruby asked, whispering as the instructor moved back to the front of the class. "It can't be that hard to find him."

"Everyone's afraid he's too powerful to defeat." Nicolette wrote something on her card. "I'm not worried about him. That's why they're grooming all of us. We're the last hope for all the academies and kingdoms around the world. It's on us. Just like she said."

Ruby leaned forward. "They really think a bunch of academy graduates can bring down someone as powerful as Edius?" Ruby wrote something on her card but then marked it out.

Nicolette chuckled. "That's why both Aurelius and Headmaster Eliphas made their classes and training so much harder this year. They want us prepared." She looked directly at me. "You better bring your A-game. They're looking to kick our asses, so they can see if we're ready for Edius."

I motioned for Nicolette to lean closer, and then I leaned in. "I don't run from anything. I'm ready to find him now." And I meant what I said. Like the guys, I was tired of waiting around to be attacked.

The instructor collected our index cards and then passed them out to the class. We spent the next thirty-minutes learning about each other and the special things we'd done in life. Most everyone had traveled far and wide. I tucked that away in my mind.

I watched Nicolette from the corner of my eye, trying to determine her trustworthiness. I hated having an unknown hanging out there like that. One minute we were friends and the next we were adversaries. I wanted that fixed.

"Interesting." Sonny read his card and stared at me.

"That mine?" I pointed at the card he was holding.

"Sure is." He read the card again. "You really blew up a sacred statue?"

"Shit happens." I turned away from Sonny and listened to other students read off their cards about classmates. I glanced at Sonny again and found him still staring at me. I hoped we wouldn't have to speak again.

The bell rang, and I was thankful for the escape from both the class and my own thoughts. The whole herd of us started down the hall, discussing lunch, our magic, and our next classes, Sonny leading the way as he and Ruby chatted. Then things turned to shit.

Kyler, Oliver, Dash and Braeden appeared from their classroom, Kyler coming face to face with Sonny, the two guys glaring at each other, neither budging. Every student stopped to see what was happening. Dash stepped forward and stood next to Kyler. Sonny looked up at Dash and then back at Kyler.

"Kyler," Sonny said. "It's good to see you." Sonny stuck his hand out, offering to shake Kyler's hand. I couldn't tell if it was a smirk or a smile that Sonny wore.

Kyler looked at the hand and scoffed. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Kyler asked, the veins in his neck growing from anger. I'd known Kyler for a year and had never seen him so angry. Oliver and Braeden moved forward and stood behind him. We were a team regardless of circumstances. Whatever was about to go down, Kyler would not have to deal with it alone.

Sonny dropped his hand. He refused to take his eyes off Kyler, but he did take a quick peek at Dash. Dash was the biggest student at the academy and could be quite imposing. "I transferred in. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about." He looked at me. "Everyone says it's the place to be."

"I didn't think they let your kind into nice places like this," Kyler said. "Or did you lie your way in?" He took a step forward, and so did I. Kyler getting tossed from the academy for fighting would hurt the group. I wasn't so sure if Kyler left, if Dash and Oliver wouldn't go as well.

"Enough, guys," I said. "You're causing a scene."

Sonny looked around at the other students. "What kind are you referring to, Kyler? I'm no different than you." He glanced at me again. "Well, maybe you are a little different."

"He's a witch doctor," Kyler said, and Oliver let out a loud awe. "You don't belong here, Sonny. And if I see you again, one of us is leaving, and I'm not planning on that being me."

"Kyler," I said. "What's wrong?"

Kyler glared at me and then pushed through the crowd of students, heading down the hall. By the time he reached the stairs he'd shifted into a wolf.

"What was that all about?" I asked Dash.

Dash shrugged. "Who the hell are you?" he asked Sonny who shrugged as if he had no idea why Kyler was so offended.

I noticed Dash's fist clinching, so I placed my hand on his arm. "We need to find Kyler." I glanced at Sonny and then took off down the hall, Ruby, Dash, Oliver and Braeden following, Nicolette's laughs echoing behind us. Was she friend or foe?