Page 80 of Echoes of the Banshee

“Mavis gave me a present.” He raises an eyebrow. “I’m a little worried it’s a trap. Do you think you could do that air bubble thing in case it explodes or stinks or something.”

His lips quirk and he follows me towards my room. I didn’t think this through. No one’s ever been in my room. No backing out now. I unlock it and pretend I’m not embarrassed.

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” he says. My ears get even warmer as he looks over at the recording setup. Then he looks to the Manchester poster on the wall.

“Do you play?”

“I used to,” I say a little shyly and grab the present from my desk. “Ready?”

I wait as he makes the bubble around it before I carefully unwrap it.

I stare.

What does this mean?

“See you at breakfast.” The door shuts behind Zair. But I can’t look away from the picture frame and the photo of my family.

Taken two weeks before the shadows ruined my life.

The last time I was loved.

Thea

Terms and Conditions Apply

Classes are demanding, but now that I’m finally in the right place, I feel capable, like I’m not just trying to survive. I’m loving Misfit Magic, though I accidentally started glowing again last week while trying a low-level necromancy spell.

I didn’t try again.

Combat Magic has finally started to click and I can already tell the extra practice with Mavrik will help. Sometimes, I’m convinced he’s Lazlo, then he says or does something that completely throws me. He’s changing, though, his eyes aren’t so dark anymore, his shadows less pronounced. Or maybe I’m just used to them.

I almost took down a fae in sparring. It was a brutal match, but I managed to land a rock-fisted punch with perfect timing, knocking him flat. He knocked me out afterwards and I ended up with a black eye and a bloody lip, but I was proud of myself. I let Zair heal me afterward. Last week, I tried healing myself and I managed to turn a sprain into a full-on break that Zair had to fix, laughing the whole time.

After practicing with Mavrik, I run home to shower. When I’m walking past the Illusions building, Anita steps into my path. I spot Gideon on a bench ten feet away, and my stomach sinks. Trouble.

“Look what I got you,” Anita says, all sweetness, before presenting a delicate silver pendant shaped like a teardrop.

She holds it out like it’s a gift, not a noose.

The necklace is heavy in my hand, its cold surface unnatural against my palm. Her gaze sharpens when I don’t immediately put it on. I know it’s cursed. The question is, am I strong enough to fight it? Gideon’s watching. If I refuse, he’ll force me.

I shove aside the unease twisting in my gut and fasten the chain around my neck. The clasp clicks into place with finality.

Almost instantly, a chill runs through me. It’s as if the necklace is pulling something from deep within me. My magic is dying as it’s being siphoned away. My heart beats faster as I try to shake the sensation, but it lingers, pressing deeper into my chest like a stone.

“Adora, you should never take it off,” she says, her voice syrupy with insistence. And I feel the necklace’s magic attempting to worm into my brain. “It’s a symbol of our friendship. A reminder that no matter what, I’ve got your back.”

Anita steps closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. Her cloying perfume fills the air. My arms stay limp at my sides and my mind races, icy dread crawling down my spine as I realize I’ve made a mistake.

“Take care of it, okay?” she insists. “And remember, no matter what happens, you can always trust me.”

With that, she turns and leaves. I’m left standing alone, the silence around me louder than ever. My magic feels caged, trapped within me, and the necklace thrums faintly against my skin, as though it’s alive and pleased with itself.

The moment I make it to my dorm, I try to reach up to remove it, but my fingers feel numb, unresponsive. I turn away from the door, pacing in a tight circle. My eyes land on the goblin blade resting on my desk. I know I could break the enchantment, sever the magic, but last time I used brute force, this time I need to use some delicacy.

I grab my phone and type quickly, trying to steady my breathing.

I need advice.