“Maybe she was drinking without us,” Isla says.
“She’s not kidding, and she’s not drunk.” I glance back up at the girls and take a deep breath, knowing I’m about to change everything between us. Toriskeverything. But I’ve held this in long enough. Nat and Isla are my closest friends here, and they’ve been there for me at every turn. I trust them. I owe them the truth—as much as I’m able to share—in honor of our friendship and for their own safety.
All of our lives may depend on it.
“Remember when I told you guys my enrollment at the Academy was a crazy story?” I ask, flagging down the waiter for another round of drinks. “I think it’s about time I told it.”
* * *
Out of respect for the guys and my sacred oath, I don’t tell Nat and Isla about the Brotherhood, or the fact that I’m one of the fabled Arcana Majors destined to protect magick. But after confirming we’re alone on the patio, I let everything else pour out of me—my parents’ mysterious history at the Academy, followed by their hasty exit. How I was raised in a mundane household where magick was a four-letter word. The attack on my friend Luke that led to my arrest and imprisonment, and Dr. Devane’s role in helping me escape. My mother’s prophecies and their possible connection to the magickal attacks happening beyond our borders, and my work with Kirin to translate them.
I also tell them about my visions, my nightmares, the Dark Arcana legends, and our quest to find the sacred objects.
They listen attentively, heads bent close together, eyes full of concern and astonishment. But no matter how crazy my story sounds, their energy continues to wash over me in warm, supportive waves, never once faltering.
“So you and Kirin are trying to find the link between your mom’s predictions and what’s going on with the witch and mage attacks outside?” Isla asks.
I nod. “As well as the attacks here on campus.”
“And you believe this is all connected to the legends of the Dark Magician,” she says.
“Him specifically, yes, but also the Dark Arcana in general. We believe there are at least four of them working together, maybe more. Professor Phaines was one of them—the Hierophant.”
“Oh my Goddess,” Nat breathes.
“He didn’t just assault me. He tried to do a ritual sacrifice on me. He thought he could channel my magick through my blood and use it to read the spells.”
“Does APOA know about all this?” Isla asks. “Is that why they’re trying to keep everything under wraps?”
“Kirin said his sister asked about the Arcana objects,” I say, “but as far as I know, she hasn’t said anything beyond that. I’m pretty sure APOA is more focused on the magickal attacks on campus and their connection to the attacks happening outside. But they’re pretty secretive themselves, so who even knows?”
“So you and Kirin are what—planning to take on this psycho Magician by yourselves?” Nat asks.
“Baz, Ani, and Dr. Devane are also involved,” I say. “I told you how Dr. Devane got me out of prison. He brought me here at Anna Trello’s behest. Kirin is the researcher, and he’s been working on my mother’s prophecies all along. Baz and Ani are just… part of the package.”
Isla sighs. “No wonder they’re all so protective of you.”
“It sounds crazy,” I say. “Itiscrazy. But all this Dark Arcana stuff… It’s bringing us closer.”
Close as brothers… among other things.
“So what does Trello think about all this?” Isla asks.
“No idea, honestly.” I shrug. “It’s funny—she’s the one who sent for me. She knew my mother, and as far as I know, she’s the primary reason my parents were booted out of the Academy. Now she believes Mom’s prophecies were right—that we need to translate them if we stand a chance against whatever’s going on outside. Supposedly I’m the only one whocantranslate them. I’m basically her star pupil in that respect. But the entire time I’ve been here, I’ve hardly seen her. Hardly had any communication with her at all since the first day.”
“She’s shady AF,” Nat says, and Isla and I agree. “And why is she trying to keep all this a secret, anyway? If she knows about the Dark Arcana legends, shouldn’t she be rallying us all together? Figuring out how to train us to defend ourselves? Defend each other?”
“I think she’s either hoping we’re wrong, or that we can take out the Dark Arcana without involving anyone else.” I down the rest of my drink. “On that point, I can’t blame her. I don’t want to drag anyone else into this, either. We don’t even know what we’re up against. Not really.”
Isla grabs my hand, her eyes shiny with tears. “There are five of you, Stevie. Just five. Whether this ends up being just a bunch of crooked mages like you initially thought, or the actual Dark Arcana rising up to reclaim magick and enslave us for all eternity, five is not enough.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she’s absolutely right. Five people against an army—possibly one that can’t be killed. Five people against a world gone mad, against human authorities executing witches and mages on live television, ensuring the population stays terrified and angry. No matter who’s behind all of this, no matter if it’s connected or not, we don’t stand a chance on our own.
“You need more people,” Nat says.
“I know,” I say. “Goddess, I know. I just… We can’t let anyone find out about the Arcana objects, and I’m scared of dragging anyone else into this.”
“Who says anything about dragging?” Isla glares at me as if my protectiveness is an utter affront to every last one of her sensibilities. “Stevie, did you honestly think you could drop all this on us and think wewouldn’thave your back?”
