Something Wicked Page 5

  Mika wasn’t mad about it. She never performed magic for a reason.

  When Audrey’s shield cracked Mika stopped, waiting for the other witch to regain her bearings. Mika could have decimated her in less than three moves, but that wasn’t the point of this exercise.

  “What was that spell?” Audrey asked, wiping her broken shield away. “You didn’t say a word. It takes mad focus and power to throw a spell without the incantation. I wasn’t even sure you could do magic.”

  For the first time in a long time Mika grinned, but it wasn’t out of joy. “I know.” Two movements of her fingers and she threw another attack.

  Audrey deflected the fire and came back with a crackling ball of energy. Mika didn’t bother deflecting or shielding. Instead she caught the spell and whispered three words, compressing it into a smaller ball – molding it, shifting it, forcing it to bend beneath her will.

  Then she threw it back.

  It exploded against Audrey’s shield and the other witch flew back almost ten feet before hitting the ground and skidding to a stop against a headstone.

  “What the fuck!”

  Mika was already running. She hopped over one headstone and dodged another. “Are you okay?” she asked, dropping to her knees and running her hands over the other witch, careful not to make skin to skin contact. “I thought your shield would hold up better than that. I’m so sorry.”

  But Audrey wasn’t mad. She was laughing her ass off.

  “Holy shit girl, why the hell aren’t you trying out?”

  Mika sat back on her heels in annoyance. “I was actually worried about you.”

  That made Audrey laugh even harder.

  “I could have really hurt you.” Mika crossed her arms over her chest and glared as the other witch propped herself up on her elbows in the snow.

  “Oh you definitely can. Which is why it’s so fucking funny, dude. You walk around like this weeping willow incapable of doing a basic spell such as lighting a candle and here you are, nearly blowing me to pieces. No wonder you don’t want people touching you.” Audrey was still laughing as she got to her feet and Mika didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s not that simple,” Mika muttered.

  “Clearly. You’ve got some serious shit going on, but you aren’t a delicate flower babe. And that is what’s so funny. You’ve got everyone fooled and I love it.” Audrey got to her feet and dusted the snow from her clothes. “What are you hiding from?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.” Mika slipped her hands into her pockets. “I’m not acting like I can’t do basic magic. I can’t even properly shield.”

  Mika said a few words and made a small cross over her chest – the first basic shield they taught. It popped up in front of her and it was so thin she could see right through it to Audrey. Not only that, the effort to keep it from disintegrating made her winded.

  She fluttered her fingers to make the shield dissipate and took a moment to catch her breath, staring up at the dark clouds in the sky. Did it ever stop snowing here?

  “That’s weird,” Audrey said, studying her in that way again. Like there was something Mika was hiding.

  Which she was.

  “What happened?” Audrey asked.

  Mika finally met Audrey’s gaze. Could she trust this girl? Could she maybe end up being a real friend? “What makes you think something happened?”

  Audrey leaned against one of the headstones and crossed one ankle over the other, hands in her coat pockets. “I grew up in the human world, hiding who I was. My parents didn’t know until puberty hit and I couldn’t hide it any more. My magic flared – finally at full strength. I know everyone says your abilities are locked in at five, but we’re witches. Puberty is when we become a woman and I fully believe that is when our powers are fully manifested. Specialties are usually noticed around then as well – from everything I’ve read at least.”

  Audrey squinted at Mika. “I have an affinity for enchantments. I can spell objects in my sleep. When I told my mom…she committed me to a psych ward and I spent four years in that place. I couldn’t get out until I was eighteen. The dean of the university signed me out herself and I’ve been living here since. I don’t know how they track these things – magic in witches born to humans, but I’ve never been more grateful to anyone in my life.”

  Her hands shook and Mika felt sick to her stomach. Living among witches was bad, but being committed for trusting the person you loved most? They really were kindred souls. “What happened when you were committed?”

  “I couldn’t do any magic for six months.” Audrey cocked her head and studied Mika. “Lighting a candle made me faint from the amount of energy I had to expend. Then, ironically, one day in therapy my therapist told me I was afraid of what I was capable of. She was talking about normal mundane shit obviously.”

  Mika felt her heart thundering in her chest. No wonder this girl looked at her the way she did. She knew. Maybe not the details, but she knew Mika was hiding and why.

  “I realized I was terrified of my magic after the reaction I got,” Audrey said. “And once I accepted it, I could light a candle without even thinking.”

  Mika walked away, practically stomping in the snow. “It’s not that simple.”

  “What are you so afraid of?” Audrey called after her. “I didn’t peg you as a coward.”

  “You couldn’t possibly understand,” Mika snapped, whipping around. “What happened…what I did…it wouldn’t get me committed, but it could get my powers stripped at the very least.”

  Audrey blinked at that and shoved off the headstone. “Must be some intense shit then.”

  They stood two feet apart from each other, neither blinking. Mika wanted to trust her. She really did. But there was still so much she didn’t know about her.

  At least Audrey wasn’t tied to a clan. That made it easier to trust the other witch. There were no other loyalties, except maybe to the dean of the university.

  “In my coven, there was a man named Bradley Davis,” Mika said quietly. “At the time he was well respected – studying to be a lawyer and pretty powerful considering he was male.”

  Audrey crossed her arms over her chest but didn’t say anything.

  “I didn’t know back then, but I wasn’t the only one.” Mika had to look away from Audrey. If there was pity or disgust on the other witch’s face – Mika may just do something she would regret. “I was sixteen and had just gotten my first period. My magic was finally fully mature.”

  She remembered how excited she’d been. The Beltane celebration had felt like it was especially for her. Mika had never felt so sure of herself in her life. Everything had been perfect.

  “After the coven’s Beltane celebrations Bradley pulled me aside and I thought…honestly I had no idea what I thought but it never occurred to me he would try to hurt me.” Mika looked down at her shaking hands. That day would be burned into her memory for all eternity.

  “What happened?” Audrey demanded. She took a step forward and looked like she wanted to fight something – shield Mika, but this had all happened a long time ago. “What did he do?”

  Mika looked at the other witch then and knew in her soul this girl would throw down for her. Why, she didn’t know. But Audrey was there for her.

  “He raped me in one of the closets. At the time he was betrothed to Selene Kavanagh and they were dating. She was my friend. I didn’t know what to do or what to tell her.”

  Audrey took a step closer. “Did you tell anyone?”

  She laughed then. The old pain felt like it was brand new now that she’d cracked open that memory. “I had planned to, but things got complicated. So I didn’t. Ever since that night and everything that happened after…I haven’t been able to do any basic magic without severe strain.”

  “But you can do battle magic.” Audrey squinted at her. “I’m not going to ask what happened after and why it’s complicated. From what I saw in the Witchly News that asshole got what he deserved. But I hope one
day you’ll be able to tell me.”

  Mika reached out then and took Audrey’s hand in hers – very carefully. “Battle magic…it’s fueled by rage and pain and anger. But it’s also something I’ve always had an affinity for.”

  The silence in the cemetery was somehow comforting.

  “I’ll work up to telling you,” Mika whispered. “But just know…it’s going to make you hate me.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Audrey said, squeezing her hand. “Teach me how you throw a spell without an incantation.”

  Mika smiled slightly and released Audrey’s hand. No tingling. She studied her palm and wondered if Audrey was right. Maybe if she could accept what she was capable of, it would no longer control her.

  “Yeah, I can teach you.” Mika shook out her hand and placed her thumb on her ring finger for the first sigil. “A little practice and you’ll definitely make the team.”

  Audrey smiled. “I’m going to get you on that team too, Mika. You just wait. I’ll convince you one of these days. The world needs to see that witches are still warriors.”

  Her heart clenched painfully at those words.

  Mika thought about her grandmother fighting every day to beat the heartbreak that had killed her mother. She thought about Selene fighting against the expectations of marrying some asshole because her parents said so – Kenzie fighting to find a place in a world that didn’t want her kind of magic.

  She thought about all the women who had testified against Bradley Davis when Mika couldn’t.

  And Mika decided that witches had always been warriors. Maybe it was time to remind the world of that.

  8

  Mika looked over at Audrey sitting on the bleachers with a Sumerian book open on her lap. The girl had been true to her word. She was sitting in on this hunter class and no one seemed to mind. If anything most were shocked a witch even cared about hunter classes, let alone two.

  “I looked over your transcripts when I saw you were in my class, Ms. Marshall,” the instructor said. “But I want to make sure you really want to take this class.”

  It was hard not to sigh. Mika had thought her transcripts and every test she’d taken to get into the classes she had would make it all easier. But it was like no one trusted her skills or abilities. Every single advanced class wanted her to prove her competency and it was getting frustrating.

  “Look, I just want to be another student. I don’t want to be singled out. If I can’t keep up I’ll drop the class.” Mika could feel everyone’s attention on her, but it would be worse if she had to spar with someone to prove she could be in this class.

  “I didn’t say I thought you couldn’t hack it,” the instructor stated carefully, tucking his tablet into his back pocket. “I said I wanted to make sure you want to be here.”

  The clarification made her pause and Mika narrowed her eyes. “Would you ask a hunter this?”

  Clearly her question made him uncomfortable and he went on as though they’d never had this conversation. “All right, let’s begin. Welcome to Swordsmanship for the Hunter. I am Professor Theodore Bartholomew. Yes, that is really my name. Now, I know some of you aren’t born hunters, but that’s the great thing about our class. You don’t have to be born a hunter to be one.”

  Professor Bartholomew looked at her then and Mika couldn’t tell if that was a jab at witches, or if he was trying to include her. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared anyway.

  At least the training center was airy and bright. The building was gothic stone just like the rest of the school, but there were more skylights than she’d seen anywhere else so far.

  Swords were displayed on one wall, and bleachers took up the opposite wall. Flags hung over the bleachers indicating tournaments that had been won and that kind of thing. Mika had brought her own swords. There was nothing worse than working with an unbalanced, crappy practice sword.

  Setting her case on the bleachers near Audrey, Mika pulled out one of her practice swords – dull but still perfectly balanced and made to fit her hand. She closed the case and pulled at the neck of her shirt.

  There was no uniform like there had been in her class in high school. So Mika had worn athletic wear for the winter. It covered her from head to toe – all black of course. And then the leather gloves she wore looked like they were for grip, but it was another layer between her and everyone else. The running shoes she wore would help with speed, but she would have to be careful. Any natural born hunters would be much stronger and faster than her.

  The instructor started pairing people up, telling them to grab a practice sword from the wall or to take out their own. Mika glanced at Audrey sitting on the bleachers, not even pretending to read anymore. She gave Mika a thumb’s up in encouragement.

  “Hey, the prof paired us.”

  Mika looked up and froze. Did they accept all the guys here based on their beauty or what? She’d never seen so many gorgeous men in her life until she’d walked through the portal to the University of Morgana.

  “I’m Lucien.” He grinned down at her and Mika almost wanted to grin back, but she was too busy taking in his golden skin, long black hair that brushed his shoulders, and the necklaces around his neck.

  Lucien looked like a Korean rock star, but he was also a hunter which meant his shoulders were broad and he was absolutely ripped.

  Mika cleared her throat delicately. “Mika. Born hunter?” she asked, getting into position.

  That grin of his widened somehow and it was almost vulpine. “Does it matter, witch?”

  Well. “No, it doesn’t.” Mika whipped the sword across her body, reminding her muscles what needed to be done.

  They stared at each other while the instructor explained to them how rare it would be to need a sword, but also how some creatures would be easier to fight with one. Then he launched into a bit of history about hunters and swords.

  Mika was barely listening. She couldn’t take her eyes off Lucien. Something about him set her instincts on edge and she refused to let him out of her sight.

  Even Lucien’s teeth seemed sharper than a normal person’s. “I hope you’re as fun to play with as you look, little witch.”

  Mika gripped her sword tight as she tried to regain control over her temper. “I’m not little,” she hissed. It wasn’t her fault this guy was so tall. Tall Asian men happened to be one of her weaknesses, but she’d never admit that to anyone.

  Lucien whipped his sword as well and then let it fall to his side as he waited for the signal to begin.

  That wasn’t a good sign. She didn’t think Lucien thought she was incapable. Which meant he thought he was really that good. And from what she could see he probably was.

  Mika licked her lips and took a deep breath. Relaxing her grip on her sword she forced her body to go loose. Her weight was balanced and she could move at a moment’s notice. But Mika already knew Lucien was going to kick her ass.

  Training as a hunter wasn’t the same as being one.

  The bell chimed and Lucien didn’t attack first. Instantly her heart started beating hard enough she felt like everyone could hear it.

  Mika hated attacking first – hated it with a passion. But Lucien was a hunter. She knew without a shred of doubt he would wait for her – as long as it took for his prey to make the first move. She was the rabbit and he was the fox.

  Was she fast enough to escape him?

  If she was a white hare in the snowy landscape…maybe.

  Mika calmed her heart with another cleansing breath and looked down. Lucien was stronger than her, but was he faster? She vividly remembered Kenzie telling Selene one of the times she’d been visiting that they had to be faster, because they wouldn’t always be stronger.

  It was what had convinced Mika that avoiding conflict was a thousand times more effective than bashing her head against a wall.

  One step to the right and Lucien shifted his weight. Still she kept her eyes down so he couldn’t read her and watched his feet, relying on her periphera
l vision. She went completely still, just like a rabbit.

  The clash and clang of other swords was loud and then it faded into nothing as she concentrated – until Lucien’s breathing was all she heard.

  Then Mika struck.

  He blocked it like she’d expected he would, moving into a parry, but Mika had anticipated that. She was already moving in the opposite direction, nowhere near his sword. Attacking her like he was left his side completely open and she went for it.

  But Lucien was fast – inhumanly fast. If he wasn’t a natural born hunter, he sure as shit wasn’t just a human.

  His sword came up and met hers and suddenly they were locked together.

  “Clever little witch,” he whispered. “I like the way you think.”

  Mika made the mistake of looking up into his eyes. The dark pools were playful and intrigued. Lucien studied her as they both strained against each other.

  “You can’t hold this for long,” he warned her. “What are you going to do little witch?”

  “Stop calling me that.” Mika stomped on his foot and shoved him away from her at the same time.

  Lucien stumbled backward with a laugh. But her breathing room was short lived. He was attacking her without mercy now, faster and faster until it was all she could do to keep up. Then she lost her balance and Mika knew she was going to fall flat on her back.

  But his hand shot out and he grabbed her forearm. Mika looked down at the floor that was so close to her face, breathing hard. Glancing up at Lucien, she didn’t know what to make of him. He was grinning down at her, sweat on his brow.

  “Your name means ‘new moon’ in Japanese,” Lucien murmured, pulling her up slowly. When she was practically pressed against his chest he stared into her eyes like he was looking for something. “But I have a feeling you’re more the Native American meaning.”

  She yanked out of his grip, feeling unnerved for some reason, and yet – insanely curious. “And which one is that?” she asked.

  “Intelligent raccoon.” Lucien grinned and tilted his head. “You’re a smart fighter and scrappy. It’s a good strategy against those who are stronger than you.”