Professor Broome and Professor Maddox exchange a worried glance.
“There are certain spells,” Professor Broome says. “Dark enchantments. The ingredients are quite rare, some of them even thought to be legends. But if those legends are true, then yes, it is possible to completely strip a witch or mage of their innate magick.”
“Is it reversible?” I ask.
Her silence is all the answer I need.
“Well that’s just… horrifying,” Nat says. The three of us squeeze closer together.
“Headmistress Trello is working with them now,” Casey continues, “trying to lead them through the guided meditation used to connect with magickal affinities—same one you all participated in when you first entered the Academy. But so far, none of the affinities have appeared. The students are showing absolutely zero aptitude for magick. It’s like they’re just… regular humans again.”
“I recommend that all students begin wearing protective amulets,” Professor Broome says. “Hematite, black tourmaline, anything like that. Warding and crystal grids for the dorms is a good idea, too.”
“Agreed,” Professor Maddox says. “And I want all students to continue strengthening your connection to Tarot. Doing so will only help strengthen your intuition.”
“In the meantime,” Casey says, “everyone must to continue exercising extreme caution. Limit nighttime travel, don’t go anywhere alone, report any suspicious activity immediately. Don’t try to convince yourselves you’re being paranoid. Better to be overly cautious than dead.”
“Or de-witch-ified,” Isla says with a shiver.
“So is Trello calling another assembly on Monday?” I ask. “To let everyone know about the attacks?”
“I was wondering about that, too,” Professor Broome says.
Casey shifts uncomfortably in her chair. “The headmistress feels that we should hold off on announcing any of the attacks until we have more information.”
“More victims, you mean,” Baz says.
“We’re just trying to keep everyone safe, Mr. Redgrave.”
“I’m with Baz on this one,” I say. “Want to keep us safe? Keep us informed about what’s going on.”
“That’s what we’re doing right now,” Casey says.
“Keepeveryoneinformed, not just this little inner circle.” I glare at her, refusing to back down. “The only reason you’re telling us at all is because Kirin’s your brother, and the rest of us here are connected by less than two degrees of separation.”
“Stevie, that’s not… We’re doing our best.”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” I press.
She glares right back at me, but ultimately lowers her eyes. “You’re not wrong.”
“We don’t want to cause a panic,” Quintana says—the party line.
“So you think keeping us in the dark is a better bet?” I ask. “With all due respect, agents, we’re not children afraid of the bogeyman here. We’re witches and mages attending an elite magickal academy. Show us some trust and faith.”
“How do you propose we do that?” he asks.
“Telleveryoneabout the attacks. The hair. The magick. Students need to stick together at all times, to be hyper-vigilant, and to learn how to defend ourselves as well as each other. You want to avoid mass panic, but what’s the alternative? You’re causing the opposite—mass not-my-problem. Other than the people in this room and the victims themselves, most people aren’t taking this seriously because they don’t realize how serious it actually is.”
The agents exchange a chagrined glance.
“I stand with Stevie on this one,” Professor Maddox says from behind my chair, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Knowledge is power, and right now, we need to arm everyone with as much knowledge as possible.”
“You make good points,” Casey finally says. “All of you. But we are limited by what Anna Trello believes is the best way to keep the Academy safe. She’s the higher authority here, so for now, we follow her lead.”
“Then we need to talk to her,” Professor Broome says. “Fluffy reassuring speeches about coming together as a family sound really pretty at a funeral, but if we want to prevent those funerals in the first place, we need a plan of attack.”
“Anna Trello isn’t going to be of much use on this one,” Doc says. “She’s… set in her ways.”
