Something Wicked Read online

  He was the only one who seemed to be aware of how controversial this was, which Mika was grateful for.

  The snow crunched under their boots as they walked across the freshly fallen snow from the night before. The paths looked slick this early and Mika wasn’t interested in getting an injury before tryouts.

  Hunter walked beside them, slightly apart, constantly looking around, but everyone was either asleep, or at the stadium. “It’s unusual to have this as a specialty,” he said. “But not as rare as a void witch. Most of what I found was before witches became neutral. Anything after that is carefully worded. You’ll have to decipher what you can from it.”

  The trees started to get thicker and thicker as they entered the forest on the five hundred acre island. On the other side was the stadium and Mika felt her adrenaline spike. She was actually nervous.

  What if she didn’t make the team?

  “Were they all evil?” Mika asked, looking up at the sky. It was actually sunny out for the first time since she’d arrived at the university.

  “A lot, but not all,” Hunter murmured. “It’s just like being a void from what I saw. The magic itself is neutral. What you do with it is up to you.”

  Mika sighed. It was an answer, but not really.

  Glancing down at the silver peeking out from her glove, she wondered what a blood specialty could even do if it wasn’t to kill. Perhaps there would be some answers in necromancy which was a bit more common and just as controversial.

  They didn’t even offer necromancy as a specialty at the university anymore.

  “Hunter.” Mika slid off her left glove and started taking off her bracelet. “Did you know that the original building used for the university now houses the hunters?”

  He eyed her but didn’t say anything.

  “One of the hunters told me it was haunted,” she said, removing the rings. “That a long time ago something bad happened – no one knows exactly what – and forty-nine witches died.”

  Instantly he stopped and gave her a sharp look. “Forty-nine?”

  A chill ran down her spine and Audrey shivered next to her.

  The adrenaline in Mika’s blood called to her magic and she felt it rising steadily – less forceful this time. It was like it somehow knew what she had planned for it and didn’t want to waste a drop of power.

  “Doesn’t sound like an accident,” Hunter mused. Then he started walking again, faster this time.

  Audrey and Mika rushed to catch up. “It was,” Audrey insisted. “I heard the story. A spell went wrong and those witches died horrible, excruciating deaths that no one could have planned for.”

  The trees started to thin and Mika was almost hot with the sun shining down on them. Just beyond the tree line she could make out the gothic stadium rising up from the ground like some behemoth.

  “No, it wasn’t an accident,” Hunter insisted. He started scanning the small groups of people as they got closer, and his pace unconsciously picked up.

  “Then what was it?” Mika snapped, practically jogging to keep up with him.

  “There they are.” Hunter stopped just at the end of the forest, one step before the space was completely clear of anything but decorative trees. “It’s not an accident because seven sets of seven is a number too perfect for witches. If I was a betting fox, I’d put a thousand dollars on it being some kind of blood spell.”

  “But why?” Mika asked. She shivered as gruesome images tried to infiltrate her thoughts.

  The fox shrugged. “That’s the real question, isn’t it?”

  25

  “We got you guys donuts too,” Selene said with that pretty smile of hers, handing a box to Mika as they got closer. “I hope you like glazed.”

  Mika flexed her hand. It felt bare without the bone bracelet. “You didn’t have to do that,” she quietly told Selene.

  It had been a long time since she’d spent any time with Selene. Trolling under the radar meant she couldn’t really be friends with a matriarch even if Selene had the time to hang out with her. Not to mention all the other complications.

  Their lives couldn’t be more different.

  Selene had to grow up fast and even though they were both nineteen, Mika felt like she was years younger as she studied the posh woman in front of her. “What are you doing here?” Mika asked.

  “Kenzie told me Hunter had a few things to drop off. That he was…mentoring you.” Selene tilted her head slightly as she looked Mika up and down.

  The way Selene studied her reminded Mika a lot of Kenzie.

  “Thank you again for keeping them entertained,” Kenzie snorted, sipping her coffee. “But had I known I would have to come here at the crack ass of dawn I would have found another babysitter.”

  “It’s battle magic!” Finnick said, bumping fists with Audrey. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world whether Hunter wanted to play teacher or not.”

  Audrey hugged Ash, and Kenzie started asking Mika’s dorm mate about their strategy, giving her and Selene the illusion of privacy.

  “So, why did you really come?” Mika asked, tucking her hands into her coat pockets.

  Selene smiled slightly and opened the box of donuts. “To be honest I was curious more than anything. Kenzie said you had tryouts today and Hunter was talking about the books he’d gotten for you.” She shrugged and looked down at the donuts. Mika took one just so she would stop offering. “Then I realized how much we’ve grown apart, and the last time I really talked to you was years ago…I feel like a shitty friend.”

  Finding the right words wouldn’t be easy. There was a lot to detangle from this mess.

  “You had a lot going on,” Mika finally said, shrugging. She took a bite out of the donut and enjoyed the way it practically dissolved on her tongue, tasting of butter and sugar. “You’re the youngest matriarch in the coven and brilliant. Duty calls and all that.”

  Selene looked away, studying the stadium. “Yes and no. I should have noticed something was different with you. We were still in school together when…that happened.”

  Mika glared at the foxes and Kenzie, but no one would look at her directly. “So you know everything then.”

  “Yeah, I do,” Selene admitted, tucking the box of donuts into her bag. “It’s…I’m sorry. I should have been there for you.”

  They stood there awkwardly and Mika felt her heart clench as she fought off tears. “I never blamed you,” she whispered. “And I’m so, so sorry I didn’t tell you about him. It wasn’t just your fault. I didn’t know how to be friends with you and keep this shitty secret.”

  Selene’s voice was hard when she said, “I knew who he was which is why I dissolved our engagement the second I became matriarch, but I didn’t know he’d hurt others.”

  Mika studied Selene then and realized even if the other witch had been a virgin for her contract, that didn’t mean Bradley Davis had never hurt her. “We need to remind ourselves and the others that witches have been warriors since the dawn of our race. Somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten.”

  They’d let the world and this hoity-toity society make them soft, make them weak. And the men had taken advantage.

  Selene’s dark blue eyes sparkled at that. “Sounds like you have something in mind.”

  She did actually. “Outlaw betrothals in our coven as a start when you become High Priestess,” Mika told her, crossing her arms over her chest. How she reacted to this would definitely show Mika what kind of witch Selene really was. “With your position and power you can petition the Council of Paranormals to outlaw it completely before the age of sixteen, and only with the consent of the witch.”

  Selene grinned at that. “It would be my pleasure – if I make High Priestess. But there are other ways. Upsetting the current regime sounds like my new favorite hobby.”

  “Really?” Mika asked, arms falling to her sides. “Then…would you help me find a way to allow shifters into this school? Any paranormal actually?”

  The others stopped talkin
g and all three foxes stared at her.

  “Why?” Selene asked, tilting her head. “They can’t perform magic.”

  The tingling started in her palms this time and Mika clenched her hands into fists. “Because they’re not allowed. All that does is drive the wedge between us deeper. Would you be hanging out with shifters at all if your sister wasn’t mated to them?”

  “Hey,” Kenzie said, taking a step forward. “I don’t disagree with you, but don’t fucking talk to my sister like that.”

  Mika took a step back, and decided that she should have just kept her mouth shut. She’d asked for help from someone far more powerful than she’d ever be – when the real question she should have asked was, ‘would you still accept me into the coven knowing my specialty?’

  Why didn’t she just ask that?

  Mika didn’t want to admit how scared she was to hear the answer.

  “No, it’s okay Kenzie,” Selene said, reaching out as Mika took another step back.

  “Er, don’t touch her skin,” Audrey warned.

  Selene’s hand wrapped around Mika’s covered wrist and they studied each other for a moment – the last three years was like a weight hanging over the both of them.

  “I was just curious,” Selene said. “It’s definitely not something I’m opposed to. Would you like to talk about it sometime over coffee? The portal to the school is always open if you have your student ID. Are you planning to visit home at all?”

  Already Mika felt like this place, Oleander House and Morgana, was her home more than that empty mansion back in San Francisco. But she wanted to check on her grandmother in person.

  “I am. I’ll let you know when I plan to head back.”

  There was a commotion on the other side of the stadium wall and Mika and Audrey shared a look.

  “Twenty more minutes until tryouts start, but we should go in,” Audrey told her.

  Selene released Mika and they headed into the stadium.

  Well, at least that was a start. No doubt it was something that wouldn’t happen overnight, but Mika had taken that first step toward fixing some of the shit that was bothering her, instead of just talking about it.

  The endless stairs echoed hundreds of voices and Mika tuned them out as she tried to settle her thoughts. Part of her wished that Kenzie and her foxes hadn’t come to the tryouts, and especially not with Selene. But the other part of her, that was slowly realizing just how lonely she’d been over the last few years, was ecstatic to have the support.

  But, what if she didn’t make the team?

  That would be embarrassing.

  “We got this,” Audrey told her, nudging Mika’s shoulder with hers. “Get out of your head already.”

  They went through one of the doors at the top and eyed the circular hall that went around the entire stadium. On game nights there would be shirts and sweaters, food and drink for sale. It would be a party. Today they had a few coffee carts, but that was it.

  Audrey and Mika went through the door directly opposite the stairs and eyed the massive field below them.

  More people were in the seats than she’d expected to see and Mika’s stomach flip-flopped. Holy shit. A lot of people were going to be watching.

  The last time she’d been here she’d nearly shoved Audrey right out of her life because of how terrified she was of her own power. She’d almost lost control of her magic because a handful of people were staring at her.

  Compared to the people in the stadium seats this time – that had been nothing.

  “It’ll be fine,” Audrey told her. “I won’t let you fail.”

  Mika shot the other witch a grateful look.

  In that moment it felt like neither of them would have made it through their freshman year without the other.

  Had the Fates crossed their paths for a reason?

  They took off their coats, gloves, and scarves. Mika handed hers to Hunter with a pointed look. “My bracelet better still be in there when I get back.”

  The alpha fox gave her a sharp grin and Mika almost snatched it back, but Audrey was staring at something.

  “Your boy toys are sitting together.” Audrey jerked her chin and Mika followed the direction over to Lucien and…Ethan.

  Lucien and Ethan were sitting together, eating donuts out of a box with coffee in their hands, like they’d come here together.

  What the fuck?

  “I still think he’s hot,” Finnick said, slapping her on the shoulder. “Who’s that other one?”

  The last thing she wanted was for the foxes to go over there and start asking questions. Lucien was a shifter hiding in a school for witches. She didn’t want the foxes anywhere near him.

  “A hunter,” Mika told him. “I’m going to say hi, mind your business.”

  Finnick grinned at that and Ash chuckled as he found seats for everyone and got them settled.

  Mika told Audrey she’d be right back and then headed for Ethan and Lucien.

  Why were they sitting together like chums?

  “Hey,” she said. “Didn’t realize either of you cared about dodgeball.”

  Lucien gave her a sharp smile. “Didn’t realize you were going to try out, little witch.”

  “She’s fucking fantastic,” Ethan said, smiling up at her. “You’ll do great. Try not to kill anyone.”

  Mika narrowed her eyes at him, and then flicked a look at Lucien. “So, did you two come here together?”

  “Maybe,” Lucien said, smiling as he sipped his coffee. “But it’s nothing serious.”

  Her cheeks felt like they were on fire and Mika didn’t know what the fuck to say to that so she turned and stomped down the stairs toward the field.

  Whatever games they were playing, she didn’t have the time or energy to care at the moment.

  “Hey, wait up!” Audrey called, jumping the stairs as she ran to catch up. “Are they here for you?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Mika told her. “We’re here to try out for the team. Boys are a distraction I can’t afford.”

  “You’re a distraction,” Audrey muttered, pointing at someone who was waving at them.

  Mika found Ryan’s clear blue eyes in the crowd. “You still owe me a muffin!” he called. Then he gave her a wink. “Good luck!”

  Grabbing Audrey’s arm she yanked her toward the field. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Malachi spotted them as they went down into the below-ground hall and punched in the code for the gate. It made an obnoxious noise as they entered the field. Mika stomped across the bridge, practically dragging Audrey with her.

  “Hey! You’re trying out!” Malachi called as they took their places with the other freshmen.

  “Don’t say a fucking word,” Mika muttered.

  Audrey snickered. “Come on, Ms. Marshall. We have fans to entertain.”

  26

  Now that they were on the field it felt like they were in a totally different world.

  Mika looked up at the stadium seating around them, going higher and higher until it looked like the walls touched the clouds. But down here on the field was a little quieter. There was some chatter, but something about the way the field was built, how it was set into the ground, and the pool of water surrounding them buffered a lot of the noise.

  Then there was the fact that the walls surrounding the field were slightly above them and suddenly it felt like the crowd was faceless. Mika couldn’t find anyone she knew even if she’d tried.

  Taking a moment to collect herself, she eyed the water. There was ice floating in it. If anyone went over…hopefully they had triage healers around.

  “Hello!” Malachi said loud enough to startle Mika. His voice boomed in the dome-like structure and it was the first time she realized just how deep it was. “I’m the captain of the Morgana Marauders.”

  “Look,” Audrey whispered. “Some of the professors came.”

  Mika didn’t bother to look and see who. She didn’t want to get more nervous than she already was. She r
an through some of her best spells over and over again in her head, picturing the two-person strategy she and Audrey had decided on.

  “The spring session will be eighty of us competing against each other for a spot on the university’s main team for the coming fall,” Malachi explained.

  Two hundred potential Marauders on that field and Mika didn’t doubt that every single one of them could hear him.

  Malachi’s dark skin shone in the sun and Mika had to tear her eyes away from the muscles in his arms. At least he was wearing a shirt this time.

  “Some of you were on one of the teams last year and know how this goes. We’re separated into team colors for spring. Now!” Malachi put his hands on his hips and stalked up and down the line of hopeful players. “We are going to run through normal practice routines. Some of you will be tapped on the shoulder before they’re over. When that happens I ask that you leave right away. Those still here when practice is over will be separated and we’ll start running scrimmages."

  This was going to be brutal.

  Mika was out of shape for something this intense. If she made it through a college level practice, no doubt she’d barely be able to stand for the scrimmage.

  “We’ll be fine,” Audrey whispered, more to herself than anything.

  “I hate you,” Mika muttered, crossing her arms over her chest to glare at nothing in particular. This was going to suck.

  “You’ve trained to be a hunter,” Audrey hissed. “Fucking deal with it.”

  They shouldn’t have gone to that damn party. Both of them were cranky.

  Mika was regretting the last six months she’d taken off after graduating. She should have kept up her hunter training, because if she couldn’t get her magic under control it was either that or being a glorified gardener for her family’s greenhouse.

  “We’re going to start with sprints!” Malachi stated cheerfully, as if this was his favorite part of practice.

  No one dared groan though.

  “The faster you are, the less likely you are to be hit! So, let’s do this!” He chuckled as he started separating people into groups. “If it makes you feel better I’ll be doing everything you are.”