“Good. See that it doesn’t” He holds my gaze a moment longer, the warning clear.
Though I can still catch a hint of his scent in my suite from the day he delivered my stuff, this is the first I’ve actually seen him since our meeting in Trello’s office. He’s dressed similarly—dark gray dress pants, white button-down and pale yellow tie, jacket. But here in his classroom, far away from the desolate desert highway and tacos and portal magick, he looks almost… sad.
I try to get a read on his energy again, but he’s got his walls firmly back in place.
“Mental magicks,” he says, finally breaking his gaze and pacing the room before us. “A subject as fascinating as it is dangerous, and one you’ll need to master if you have any hope of succeeding—not just in my class, but in the world that exists beyond these hallowed walls.”
He continues his pacing, all of us riveted. He may be cranky, but the man sure knows how to command a room.
“If I tell younotto imagine a unicorn,” he says, “what are you now imagining?”
“A unicorn,” comes the unanimous reply.
“Precisely. My words easily and immediately influenced your thoughts.” Devane grins, holding up a hand in question. “Is it magick? Is it manipulation? Something else entirely? Miss Kirkpatrick, what do you think?”
“I think it’s a little of both,” Carly says. “I mean, anything can be considered mental magick if you think about it. Dressing a certain way to attract male attention, for example.”
I feel her eyes on the back of my head. It’s all I can do not to turn around and flip her off.
“Okay,” Dr. Devane says, “that’s a fair point. I suppose you could argue that’s similar to glamour magick, something that absolutely affects the mind. But what I want you to consider this semester is that a true mastery of mental magick is not just a matter of tricking your opponent, or simply implanting your thoughts into the mind of another person with words, as I did with the unicorn example. The skilled mental magick users wields his or her mind like a sword, knowing when to block…” He holds up his arms, blocking as if he’s wielding an imaginary sword. Then he looks at me and charges forward, stabbing me through the chest with his invisible blade. “When tothrust…”
I look down at my tablet, pretending to take copious notes, but oh goddess I donotneed to be thinking about words likethrustaround my hot, wound-up professor…
“And finally,” he continues, “when to simply walk away. Miss Milan,” he announces, so abruptly I jump in my seat. “What is your opinion on the use of mental magicks to gain an advantage in a situation?”
“I don’t know.” I glance up from my tablet. “I guess it depends on the situation.”
“Does it?”
“Of course. There’s a big difference between fending off an attacker and say, sabotaging a competitor for a job you both want.”
“Is there a difference though?” He smiles, his eyes casting a wicked gleam. “In both scenarios, both parties are fighting over a single outcome, yet only one can win. Who’s to say which person is more deserving?”
“Nine times out of ten, you’re talking about a complete violation,” I say. “It’s a slippery slope, and no offense, but I personally don’t plan on using mental magicks unless my life is in danger.”
I cross my arms, shooting him a meaningful look. Maybe it’s not a big deal to him, but I won’t soon forget the fear of being shot in the chest by someone claiming to be an ally. Granted, he saved my life, but still—there could’ve been another way. I don’t want to put someone else in that position ever.
Dr. Devane watches me a moment, then claps once and says quickly, “Debate. Use all available resources and persuasive techniques to make your case. Mr. Redgrave, you’ll be arguing against the use of mental magics. Miss Milan, you’ll be arguing for.”
“You know I can’t do that, Dr. Devane. I’ve just told you I don’t support it on principle.”
“You can,” he says calmly, “and you will, unless you prefer to fail my class on principle.”
An F on my first day. Perfect.
I close my eyes, forcing my hands to unclench. He’s just trying to get under my skin, and I’m playing right into his trap.
Mental magicks indeed.
The good doctor thinks he can break me? Fine. Two can play at that game.
“Mr. Redgrave,” he says. “Make your opening statement.”
“Mental magicks is wrong,” Baz says flatly from the back of the room. “It’s a violation. Do unto others and all that.”
Give me a break.Baz didn’t believe anyone should be spared this mental torment any more than I believed it’s justifiable.Goddess, I’m going to kill Devane. Maybe not right now, with all these witnesses around and no good place to hide the body, but one day he’ll pop in for that cup of tea, and I’ll see his Bugs Bunny mug sitting there, and… oops? Was that hemlock that just accidentally fell in there unnoticed?
“Miss Milan,” he says with a grin. “Any time you’re ready, please make your opening statement.”
