Black Magic

Bambi

“Did you put the reserve troops on high alert?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Double guard personnel?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Arrange for defense drills twice daily?”

“Yes, Alpha. One at eight-hundred hours and one at nineteen-hundred hours.”

“Did you—”

“Yes, Alpha. And fed the fish and watered the tulips.”

“Don’t get fresh with me, Beta!”

Ekon obsessively grilled Beta Ryland on his preparedness for our absence as he toted our carry-ons to the airport security checkpoint. Good thing our Beta had a good sense of humor, as Ekon was really laying into him.

This was, however, understandable.

Ekon hadn’t been away from the pack for an extended period since the Great War. And in light of all the conflict that had beset werewolf-kind lately, I didn’t blame him for not wanting to leave.

Quite truthfully, I was proud of him for taking the plunge.

In the short span of our relationship, Ekon had been very begrudging in listening to anything I had to say.

The fact that he was heeding my leadership advice was really quite miraculous. So much so, that I had to forgive him a little petulance.

“Good God! Are you going to be able to live with that for a week?”

Victoria, Beta Ryland’s mate, and my dear friend, placed her hand on my shoulder and laughed.

She’d come along to see us off, along with Jimmy and Gamma Kalindi.

“Well, I’m trying to look at it like he’s a kind of overgrown cub. On the ground, he’s jittery and antsy. But once we get him up in the air and give him a snack and an iPad, hopefully he’ll just pass out.”

Gamma Kalindi interrupted our laughter.

“That’s no cub. That’s a highly volatile warrior. And our pack Alpha. I don’t like that he’s riding coach on a twenty-five-hour flight full of humans.”

“Why aren’t you guys taking the private jet?” Jimmy asked.

“With the werewolf situation as tense as it is, King Dmitri thought it’d be best to keep as low a profile as possible. A bunch of werewolf alphas taking their private jets to Europe just days after a terror attack could raise lots of alarm.”

“All the same,” Gamma Kalindi continued, “I don’t like it. If something happens to him—”

“Don’t worry Gamma,” I turned to Kalindi, “He’ll have me. I’ll be sure to keep him out of trouble.”

The dubious gamma scoffed, “Hah! And who's gonna keep ~you~ out of trouble? I won’t be there to cover your ass this time, Luna.”

“Hey, I can take care of myself. After all, I learned from the best,” I winked at her coyly.

Kalindi rolled her eyes and chuckled.

“Come on Bambi! Let’s get a move on!” Ekon called.

I briskly hugged Victoria, Jimmy, and Gamma Kalindi before running to join Ekon in the security line.

“Be safe!” Victoria called out.

“Hurry home!” Jimmy shouted.

“Don’t worry! When we get back, this whole mess will be straightened out!”

I waved excitedly back at them.

Ekon forcefully pulled my arm down and leaned in close.

“Keep your voice down, Bambi,” he whispered vehemently, “the less attention we attract, the better.”

“Oh sorry,” I whispered back sheepishly.

Ekon sighed, “No, ~I’m~ sorry. I don’t mean to snap, Bambi. I’m just worried. Are we really doing the right thing, leaving the pack right now?”

I pulled his face close to mine and kissed him squarely on the lips, “Yes. I’ve found that the wisest decisions aren’t usually the easiest ones.”

He smirked, “Goddammit. When did you get so smart?”

I nudged his arm playfully.

“For some of us, it just comes naturally.”

“Next, please!” Our banter was interrupted by an uncharacteristically jovial security screener.

Ekon and I proceeded to the podium.

“Boarding passes and IDs if you please.”

I handed the slow-moving guard my passport and ticket.

“Coach class to Austria from Alaska, eh? Whew! That sounds like hell!” he chuckled.

~Class!~

I was glad he’d said that.

There was something I’d forgotten to do!

BAMBI

Hey Hol! Just remembered today was ur 1st day of classes!

BAMBI

Wanted to wish you good luck!

BAMBI

Ur gonna kill this!

HOLLY

Aww☺️ Thanks so much! I’m so excited!

HOLLY

I’ll do you proud!

BAMBI

I know you will!

BAMBI

That’s why ur the 1st ever witch recipient of the pack scholarship

HOLLY

I thought it was cuz I saved the Luna’s hide😉 LOL

BAMBI

Yeah yeah. That too

BAMBI

Hey g2g into airplane mode. About to get on plane to Austria. Pack business. Ttyl ❤️

HOLLY

Ooh! Fancy! Safe travels! And thx again

HOLLY

Being here is a dream come tru!

BAMBI

😘

Holly

~Gosh, it’s good to hear from her.~

A friendly word from Bambi was really what I needed that day.

Selfishly, I wished she were on a plane down here.

But fat chance of that happening in the middle of “No Wolf’s Land,” South America.

I had never really understood why wolves weren’t welcome south of the Panamanian border.

But I guess I was in the right place to find out.

It was my first day of classes at Mojica Universidade de Feitiçaria— the world’s première school for witches, wizards, and warlocks.

Located deep in the Amazon jungle, somewhere in western Brazil, it was one of the world’s most revered institutions of magic and had produced some of the most notable witches in history.

Never in a million years would I have thought that an untrained, sixteen-year-old nobody like me could make their way into such an exclusive place.

But after word had spread that I defeated the evil Devina, academia was willing to overlook my lack of polish.

Thanks to scholarships from the university and the pack, I was there on a full ride.

Bambi and Ekon were excited to help me out with school and expressed hope that when I graduated, I would return to the pack to serve as their official witch.

And while part of me couldn’t see any other possibility besides that, another part of me wanted to really explore my talents. Learn how I could use them to benefit not just my pack— but the whole world.

Sounded pretty pie-in-the-sky for a day-one Witchcraft Studies major.

Particularly one running late to her first class.

But it wasn’t my fault!

The university’s grounds were narrow and winding, with strange-looking Romanesque buildings that felt very out of place in the middle of a rainforest.

Fortunately, an invisible aura placed around the campus kept out the daily downpours, smothering humidity and any dangerous local fauna.

My heart pounded in my chest as I burst through the doors of the large lecture hall.

All eyes in the room turned to me as I stood there, huffing and puffing.

~Shit. Great first impression.~

But one gaze stood out amongst the hundred agitated expressions in the room.

My professor.

She didn’t look peeved or perturbed as one would’ve expected at such a prestigious school, but disarmingly inviting.

Her deep, dark eyes twinkled with endearing mischief. They complemented her caramel skin and long dark hair.

By no means could she be called young, but her exotic features gave her countenance an evergreen quality. The golden rings on her fingers glistened as she waved up at me.

“Ah! Ms. Stone! Welcome to Introduction to Witchcraft Culture. I’m Professor Zillana!”

Her voice was as enchanting as her face, smooth, yet powerful.

Being called out by name in front of a class on the first day would be an unnerving experience for most new students, but Professor Zillana’s salutation felt far more like a genuine welcome than a scolding.

“Please have a seat,” she continued pleasantly.

Her eyes followed me as I made my way to a seat in the center of an aisle near the front. As I sat down, Professor Zillana began to address the class.

“How many of you are here to become practicing witches?” she asked.

A forest of raised hands shot up high.

“And how many of you are here because someone told you this class would make an easy A for your first semester?”

The crowd let out a few uneasy chuckles.

Several hands bobbed up and down, uncertain whether or not she was looking for an honest answer.

Honestly, that was the reason I’d chosen this class.

Introduction to Witchcraft Culture was basically just a fancy name for Witch History 101. Not hard stuff like casting spells or concocting potions.

Professor Zillana chuckled melodiously, “It’s okay. I used to be like all of you, too. Hungry to grow my powers. To wield magic prodigiously. To own my talents.”

She leaned on her desk on the auditorium stage and looked in my direction.

It was as if she was addressing me directly.

“My goal is to show you how each of your futures is transcribed in the traditions of our predecessors. Every spell you cast is inextricably linked to magic toiled over tirelessly by inquisitive witches and warlocks for millennia.”

With a snap of her fingers, Professor Zillana began to levitate above the assembly of students. We were all entranced.

“Knowledge of the stories and customs of our kind’s cherished heritage will guide your individual authorship of witchcraft’s future. Some of you will write footnotes, some of you whole chapters, some of you whole new spell books.”

From across the room, I felt her eyes meet mine. There was no doubt this time. She was talking to me. She was calling to me...

But why?

Another snap of her fingers brought her floating elegantly back to the floor.

“Whatever your contribution, it is vital that you deferentially recognize those who blazed the oft oppressive trail of history for us to be here today.”

The whole room was silent, as if under a spell. Not one of the magical hexes to which Professor Zillana had referred, but rather our teacher’s captivating dynamic.

“Now go,” Professor Zillana bade the class with a smile on her face, “Next class, we will begin the exploration into our past. Be sure to read chapters 1 and 2 in your tomes for discussion.”

I sat in my seat as the rest of my classmates quietly filed out of the auditorium.

Once the crowd had thinned, I made my way down to the desk.

There was just something about her that begged me to speak to her one-on-one.

As I approached her, I felt my throat dry up and my hands grow clammy.

I didn’t know what to say.

“Professor Zillana…”

The bewitching instructor looked up from her desk and smiled at me. “Ms. Stone.”

“I… I… I’m sorry I was late. I know that must leave a pretty poor impression. But I’m very excited about this class and to learn from you.”

Professor Zillana rose from her chair and walked over to me.

“Ms. Stone, think nothing of it. And believe me, it is truly my honor to serve as the humble guide into the world of witchcraft for someone as promising as yourself.”

She stretched her long, narrow fingers across my shoulder.

All at once I felt both assuaged and alarmed.

“Tell me, where did you come from, Ms. Stone? Have you studied the ancient arts very long?”

“No... I haven’t formally studied at all. My parents died when I was young, so survival always came first. Any witchcraft I do know is just what I’ve taught myself.”

I blushed, embarrassed at my response.

“Ahhh… that explains it,” she nodded.

I was confused by her apparent epiphany.

“Explains what?”

“The raw strength that dwells in you. It’s so powerful, I could feel it the moment you walked in the room. It’s what gave you the ability to overcome such a powerful witch as Devina.”

“Oh, you know about that, huh?” I asked, slightly embarrassed. I never did take praise well.

She gazed into my eyes intensely.

I didn’t know whether to feel sincerely flattered or fucking terrified.

“Ms. Stone…Holly… If properly channeled, your talent could rival history’s most powerful witches. If you’d be open to it, I’d be more than happy to tutor you privately. Get your basic knowledge up to speed with your more scholarly classmates. Even teach you some of my own tricks here and there.”

Words failed me.

I couldn’t believe it.

My first class on my first day and already a professor saw something in me and wanted to help me get ahead.

I’d never had this kind of validation before from another witch.

It was exciting!

Exhilarating!

What else could I say but…

“Yes! I’d be thrilled to.”

Professor Zillana smiled widely at me and her dark eyes illuminated with glee.

“Excellent! Stop by my office later, and we’ll set up times to meet.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

I was so overcome with emotion, I couldn’t help but give her a hug.

At first, I was afraid I’d offended the old pedagogue, but she warmly reciprocated.

As I turned to leave, Professor Zillana called back to me.

“Holly! Just so I know where we need to begin. Do you know any of the spell books you used to train yourself?”

I froze.

There was really only one book I had used to study.

And it wasn’t one you were likely to find in the school library.

It was Devina’s grimoire of evil spells.

Naturally, I hadn’t used it for evil myself.

Just to gain the edge over Devina in battle.

“I… uh… uh…”

My first instinct was to lie to Professor Zillana and name one of the zillion spell books I knew of.

But there was something about her that I just immediately trusted.

Some vaguely familiar quality that I couldn’t quite place.

But apart from that, she was devoting her own time to teach me privately.

The least I could do was let her know what she was working with.

I scanned the room to make sure nobody else was around.

Then, I reached into my book bag and pulled out Devina’s musty old grimoire.

Bound in weathered black leather that smelled of sulfur, the book itself was the embodiment of its former owner’s evil.

I handed the book to Professor Zillana.

Her eyes widened as she leafed through the yellowed pages.

“Black magic?” she asked with a gasp.

I nodded uncertainly.

~Shit. Have I already shot myself in the foot?~

“Black magic is a slippery slope, Holly,” Zillana said, “But with proper training, I can help you channel its abilities positively.”

I sighed, relieved that the professor was open-minded enough to understand my perspective.

“Now then,” the professor’s eyes beamed with enthusiasm, “When shall we begin?”