Eleven
STEVIE
I’m late for Potions and Charms, stumbling into the classroom just as Professor Broome announces the elixir we’ll be working on this week.
“Dream potions,” she says, nodding at my apologetic smile as I take a seat next to Isla, “are one of the safest ways to experiment with the power of the subconscious mind. Depending on the herbs and incantations you chose, you can use your potion to aid in lucid dreaming, dream recall, past life regression, travel between realms, and even spirit communications.” Her eyes widen, sparkling with the same mystical excitement as always. “So, my little dreamers, grab a mason jar from the counter in back, gather your herbs, and get to work!”
A murmur of excitement ripples through the room—we’ve all been anxious to work on dream stuff. I just wish her timing had been better—dream potions would’ve come in handylastnight.
A shiver creeps down my back as images from my nightmares flash through my mind—a horror movie I’m pretty sure is far from over.
“Everything okay?” Isla asks. “You look a little freaked out.”
“I’m… No, I’m good.” I follow her to the shelves at the back of the room where all the supplies and ingredients are stored. “I actually tried to make my own dream potion last night. Epic disaster.”
“Enthusiasm is an admirable quality in a witch,” Professor Broome suddenly says from behind us, “but overeagerness is the enemy of successful magick.”
I turn around to face her, offering an apologetic smile. “Sorry I was late, Professor. And you’re right about the overeagerness. I should’ve waited, but I was having trouble sleeping and wanted to give it a try.”
“And?”
“It was a complete failure.”
“Hmm.” She taps a finger against her lips. “Did you record your spell, your ingredients, and your expected versus actual outcomes?”
“To the letter.”
“Then it wasn’t a failure, Stevie. It was a learning experience.” She beams at me, then ushers us toward the shelves. “Onward!”
“I’m pretty sure she’s my favorite professor,” Isla says as we line up to collect our ingredients. “Hey, speaking of professors… Nat told me Maddox gave you a hard time after Foundations class today. What happened?”
“Yeah, it was totally weird. She said I was in danger of failing and that I need one-on-one tutoring. But right before I left, I saw my essay sitting on her desk. She’d already marked it an A+.”
“Seriously? So she’s lying about the tutoring?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t get a bad vibe from her or anything. More like… I don’t know. Like she wanted to talk to me about something else, but with that Eastman guy lurking around, she couldn’t.”
“When are you supposed to get together?”
“I’m meeting her tonight at Time Out of Mind. She owns it and has an apartment upstairs.”
“Want me to go with you? I’m usually pretty good at sussing out people’s motives.”
“No, I think I can handle it. Like I said, I didn’t get any bad vibes. Actually, I’m pretty sure she knew my Mom.”
“Really?”
“They’re close in age. Well, the age my mom would’ve been if…” I blink back tears, wondering if talking about my mother is always going to feel like this—a strange mix of joy at remembering her and despair that she’s gone. “Anyway, maybe they were friends.”
“Okay. Just text me if she ends up being a crazy cat lady and you need a rescue.”
It’s finally our turn at the supply area, so Isla and I grab our mason jars and get to it. The shelves are fully stocked with bottles and vials of anything we could possibly need, each ingredient carefully labeled with its name and magickal properties.
Isla goes right for the lucid dream stuff, a mad-scientist grin taking over her face. “I’ve been wanting to try this all semester.”
I pick out a large jar of oat-colored powder and unscrew the lid for a closer look.
“Fairy’s Breath,” Professor Broome says, coming to stand beside me. “In its powdered form, ingesting it or applying it directly to the skin will help you open up to spirit communications and channeling, but you must exercise extreme caution. Too much could leave you vulnerable to possession.” She touches the amulet dangling at her throat. “If you find yourself drawn to this herb, I recommend wearing a grounding stone like black tourmaline or hematite for additional protection. It should help you keep one foot in this realm, even as you’re skirting along the astral.”
