Rebel Academy: Curse

Chapter Twenty MAGENTA

I stood in the center of the Memory Theater, waiting for my mind to be violated of its secrets. My hands balled into fists, and I scrunched my nose against the overwhelming aroma of sage and with it, the hungry magic of this theater that was eager to devour my memories.

Damelza waltzed to her feathered throne, throwing herself into it like she was eager to watch the Magenta Show.

Ah, the thrills of theater.

So, she expected wickedness, hidden cruelty, and excitement? Perhaps, another treasonous patricide like Willoughby’s or the moment that all hope was extinguished like Fox’s?

I’d had the misfortune to live my life the first time around, and I’d even bored myself.

It’d gone mostly: embroidery — cup of tea — walk around the lake – cup of tea — reading Jane Eyre — cup of tea.

Except, then there’d been Robin.

He’d been a mage, and I’d loved him. I glanced at Fox and the sister who’d rejected him simply because he was a mage. It delighted me to see her on her behind at his feet.

I straightened my shoulders, twisting my magic into the jaws of the ancient theater’s magic. It shuddered in shock.

Let it drag out my best and worst memories with Robin…our first kiss, his death, and my transformation into a wicked witch, as I cursed the entire academy…because then Fox would know just how much a mage could love.

The spotlight shone brighter on me, before it flickered. The walls groaned.

“Shall we?” Damelza’s self-satisfied expression faltered. “Before you lose control again and pull down this whole place on top of us. What was I thinking wanting to get inside your mind? I’m trying to be optimistic but I expect it’s as withered and blackened as Hecate’s Tree.”

Hartley’s eyes widened.

“Who wants to watch a boring tree trunk?” Fox blurted. He blushed, when I raised my eyebrow. “I mean, not that Magenta has wood between her ears…okay, I’m going to stop digging, before this hole is deep enough for a foxy grave, but I’ve been bad today, so why not punish me instead?”

The Memory Theater had destroyed Fox last time, and he had far more nightmares in his past than me. I couldn’t let him relive them, when his sister was here to witness them as well.

To my surprise, it was Hartley who shot to her feet, pointing at Damelza. “In the name of Hecate, you’ll do no such thing. I let mum lie that Reed was dead, but I know that Fox is alive now. Don’t think you can harm him. I’ll be checking up.”

Damelza huffed. “Don’t you know the definition of a whipping boy?” Then she sighed. “Have it your way, but Confess can’t be excused the general classes and training of the academy. I have my reputation as an educator to think of. I’ll also be looking forward to a sizable Don’t Harm the Mage Fund from the House of Jewels.”

Hartley’s lips pinched, but she nodded.

Damelza flicked her wrist, and I was spun around to face the images that flickered on the back wall. My guts roiled to see the fae, vampires, angels, and gods (all of them Rebels), who’d been trapped here for hundreds of years.

I wasn’t the blackened and withered thing at the heart of this academy. The House of Crows always had been.

Damelza shoved me with her magic, as if she expected me to resist. The images spun faster and faster. I raised my palm to touch them like welcoming an old friend.

My best friend.

Behind me, Fox gasped.

Then I was falling onto my knees with a crack onto the hard, wooden floor of the Dreaming Space. I shook, drawing in a desperate breath.

Turn all my frogs into princes, I’d been a fool to believe that I didn’t have secrets.

The Dreaming Space had been my childhood refuge. For the brief minutes that I’d treasured up here in the most magical point of the castle, I’d allowed myself to dream that Robin and I were alone, that it was safe to reveal our hopes, and that nobody would discover our true selves.

Well, didn’t I now look like I should be the one wearing the Dunce mark, rather than Lysander?

Now I understood why this had broken Fox apart. My mind knew that I wasn’t truly back here, but my Soul sang that this was real.

My Blessedly Charmed magic connected to the academy’s. I’d transformed back to a teenager, and my body was warm in the way that it hadn’t been in over a hundred years.

I was fully alive again.

I jiggled my bosoms, which were disconcertingly small. How strange to be able to breathe easily in my corset. I glanced down at my hands, which were bunched on my lap.

Witching heavens, my dress was frilly and pink.

Now all my secrets truly were out.

All of a sudden, my mind became hazy, until nothing remained of the rebellious witch who’d become Wickedly Charmed, and I was my teenage self once again.

I glanced sideways at Robin, who knelt next to me. His red hair tumbled across his eyes. He’d grown so much taller this year. He used to be smaller than me; how strange it was to look up at him.

No doubt he’d become insufferable about winning our running races now. He’d always been better at climbing trees, even in his human form, although I was the stronger swimmer.

Why was everything changing so fast? Why couldn’t we just stay the same…like now…best friends forever?

Robin was carving his initial R into the wooden beam with a knife.

I smiled at the way his pink tongue poked out of his mouth, as he concentrated. I’d bet he didn’t even know that he had that habit.

Did he notice little things about me too?

Would he smile at me today?

I blushed, looking away. Why was I suddenly so hot?

I ran my hand through my hair, flicking cobwebs off it. I’d crawled up to this room with its low arches through the dusty passages. My dress was smeared with dirt.

I furrowed my brow. Would papa be blamed?

Henrietta had prowled into the Bird Turret this morning, snatching up my essay on The History of Hecate like I’d written it to personally disappoint her. Byron had rested his hand on my shoulder to comfort me, but his foot had tapped in his tell that I knew had meant he was more nervous than I was.

I hadn’t missed the significant glance that Henrietta had cast him and the way that his shoulders had slumped, before she’d tossed down the essay and swept out.

“Papa, tell her that my poor writing is my fault…” I’d gasped.

“Hush.” Byron had squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re in charge of your own choices, but I won’t allow you to blame yourself for another’s actions. Why don’t you take the afternoon off and see your friend?”

Had he been making sure that I didn’t witness his whipping? When I noticed his bruises, he’d tell me that he deserved them because he was bad.

But he wasn’t. He was the kindness person I knew.

How could I save him? Why wasn’t I strong enough?

Papa, I’m sorry…

How could I’ve abandoned Byron to Henrietta’s mercy, even if I was taught that her treatment of him was Husband Management? Would I be expected to treat a husband of my own like that?

My chest ached at the thought. I squeezed shut my eyes, clawing my nails into my thighs.

Then a strong hand gripped my chin, and I opened my eyes to gaze into Robin’s concerned ones. They were as bright and green as emeralds and just as precious.

Warmth curled through me again, prickling my skin.

“Here,” Robin pressed the knife into my palm, “time to claim our room.”

He backed away, tracing his finger over the R like it was the start to a rite.

I dug the blade into the beam, carving an M in front of his R, sizzling my magic through the blade and entwining it to bind Robin and I together.

I’d make this a hidden rite.

“Best friends forever,” I whispered.

Yet Robin hesitated.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my hand shook.

Byron had given Robin to me. He was my most valuable possession.

Let him be mine…

Robin’s voice was low and vibrated with something that I didn’t understand, “Always, silly.”

I dropped the knife. “Did you hex the professors with a Trust Hex to allow you this blade?”

Robin chuckled. “I stole it at lunch.”

My eyes widened. “You…you…reckless…”

“…Brave mage?” Robin’s eyes twinkled. “I know that our friendship must be in secret, and publicly, you must treat me with as much contempt as the others, but I thought that this could be our secret promise.”

My expression gentled. “It’s perfect.”

Robin shrugged. “Anyway, if they had caught me, it’d only have given them another excuse to beat me. See it as me taking part in the academy spirit. Your mother gave a rousing speech about that this morning after breakfast. After all, imagine how happy beating me would’ve made the Princes.”

How could he joke about such things?

I loved him for it.

I blanched. Wait, I loved him as a friend…didn’t I?

Sweet Hecate, this heat inside me wasn’t friendship.

My magic thrummed, reaching out for Robin. I was desperate to smile, smile, and never stop, as long as I was with Robin.

I could’ve burst flowers from the wooden floor and ivy from the walls.

But if I let it show, then it’d destroy the only truly good thing in my life. Robin was my best friend, and I’d couldn’t risk that.

I’d die if I lost Robin.

Robin threw himself onto his back, pillowing his head on his arms. I didn’t miss his wince or the way that his forehead furrowed in pain. I settled next to him on my side, massaging his temples. He winced again.

“How’s your head?” I asked.

“Handsome,” he smirked.

When I nudged his shoulder, he flinched. My eyes became flinty. So, he’d been whipped, just like Byron.

I swallowed hard at the thought that the two men in my life who I loved had both been beaten and I couldn’t protect either of them.

“The Princes?” I demanded because we both knew what I meant.

“They’re just in a bad mood, since they lost their Privilege Points. In SHP they were meant to be transfiguring a personal belonging into a paper ship. They almost got it right, but appear to have missed by a single letter.” When Robin’s lips quirked, I stared at him in confusion. “The stink as the shit rained down on them was appalling but hilarious. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help transforming into Mr Tailsy in my excitement and well, you know how impulsive I am in my squirrel form. Can I be blamed for climbing up the tall elf prince, when covered in that shit, he looked so much like a tree?”

Robin’s laugh rang through the Dreaming Space.

He was so handsome when he laughed. Did he know that his eyes crinkled at the edges? I cuddled closer to him, resting my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arm around me.

In joy, my magic wound out, curling around the beams like sparkling branches.

“You’re a wonder, Miss Crow,” Robin breathed. “My magic tingles like…” He flushed, dragging me even closer. “Even when we’re not together, I can sense you flowing through the academy. I’m never alone.”

My breath hitched. Then I smiled, dancing my magic to form a gleaming crown in front of us.

It was time for one of my favorite games, which we often played in the Dreaming Space: What If…?

“What if I’d been born as a non-magical queen and you were my trusted adviser?” I murmured.

Robin’s gaze became dreamy; it was the look he got, whenever we imagined ourselves safe out of the academy, cocooned together in our joined fantasies. “Then I’d be your loyal adviser at your side, and you’d be the admired queen in all the non-magical kingdoms. We’d dine on delicious meats and cakes, as well as the finest tea, of course.”

“Of course.”

“And I’d make the princes fight dragons to prove their worth as your husband.”

I waved my hand and my magic swirled into a dragon that roared, before fading away.

I scrunched up my nose. “Why must I marry?”

“What’s a queen without her king?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Historically speaking, more powerful.”

Robin avoided my gaze. “What if…I defeated the dragon and became your husband?”

When he pinked, I stiffened. I was suddenly aware of every place that Robin touched me, and how warm his skin was.

“Sweet Hecate, we both know that you’re more likely to cuddle the dragon than to slay it.” Why was I breathless, as my pulse fluttered in my throat?

Robin ducked his head. “Guilty.” Then he raised his head, and I swallowed, when I saw the seriousness of his gaze. “What if we ran away from the academy?”

I startled, wrenching away from Robin and banging my back with a sickening jolt against the wall. Robin’s face fell, before shuttering in a way that it never did with me.

That was how he looked in front of the Princes.

Don’t hide from me.

I reached out to him, but he only sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees.

“We can’t leave the academy,” I explained in a terrified rush. What if somebody overheard us? What would they do to Robin? “How many times have we walked the wards looking for weaknesses? They can’t be broken, and the brand on your hand connects to the wards. You’re imprisoned here.”

Robin studied the brand, rubbing it angrily. “Merlin’s breath, I don’t believe that and nor does your papa.”

I flinched, imagining the swish — crack of the whip. Was Bryon suffering that right now?

“Don’t talk about dangerous things like that with papa,” I hissed. “Do you think him safe?”

Robin’s gaze hardened. “I know that he’s not, just like he’s aware that I’m not. I love him like a papa too. He’s a good man. Just like you worship, Hecate, mages should be free to worship our god, Pan. Your papa’s brave enough to allow me that.”

Was Bryon as reckless as Robin? If they were caught…

I sucked in desperate breaths. They’d be killed. I’d lose them both.

“It’s forbidden,” I insisted, desperately snatching Robin’s hands like I could get him to understand…promise that he’d never worship Pan in our coven-run academy, which was woven with Hecate’s magic.

Mages were our enemy and their god was an abomination. Although, I’d heard that Pan was beautiful.

Robin rubbed his thumb along the back of my hand. “Studying the dead is also forbidden, but that didn’t stop mama. The witches shut you away not because you’re weak and need protection but because they fear your power. They want to contain and tame you. I know that I’m only a mage and don’t have the right to speak of this but…” He sought out my gaze, and when his tongue darted to wet his plush lips, I was mesmerized by his mouth. I wanted him like my insides were being wrung over and over and… “One day, I know that you can break free. These don’t need to remain as dreams. Don’t do it for me. I only ask that you do it for you. If you get the chance, leave here.”

His smile was small and sad like we were already separated.

I dived forward, clutching him hard to my chest. He was warm in my arms. We were together.

Why didn’t it feel like enough?

“Best friends?” I gasped.

He carded his fingers through my hair. “Always.”

I’d lost him, hadn’t I?

A tear slipped down my cheek, and then the world span.

My knees buckled, but Fox caught me, before I could hit the floor of the Memory Theater. He cradled me in his arms, stroking my hair as Robin had.

Except, Robin had been dead for over a century.

I was no longer a teenager, warm, or alive. But I had lost both Robin and Byron as I’d feared.

As Robin had known.

I’d made a promise to Robin, however, and nothing in the witching heavens would make me break it.

Damelza thought that remembering my past would tear me apart, but it’d only strengthened my determination to tear apart the academy.

The wards that’d trapped Robin and me were weakened. The House of Crows had relied since my birth on the Membership, with its wards and brands, to control the Rebels. They’d always been there, and they couldn’t conceive that one day they wouldn’t be.

Ah, glorious tradition.

I hoped that Damelza wouldn’t miss the irony when the very witch whose magic she relied upon, destroyed her own House.

“I didn’t save him,” I murmured.

Fox kissed the crown of my head. “It’s just a hunch, but I don’t think that Robin expected you to. But you’re powerful now like he said. You’re a vengeful spirit, right?”

I sat up, straightening my shoulders.

“Always.” My magic surged around me, howling through the theater.

Hartley stared at Fox and me with sad longing. Was she lonely for love or for the love of her brother?

Fox grinned. “There’s my wicked trooper.”

Damelza met my glare with a sly smile. “Well, that was enlightening. Not only are you a mage lover, but your father illegally worshiped Pan. Don’t worry, I’ll help you reform. Many of my students need extra help, coming from the disadvantage of terrible parenting.”

My eyes glittered, and Damelza’s smile faded. “My mother burned me alive. Hecate’s tit, you’ve no idea the lengths that I’d go to stop others being similarly disadvantaged.”

Emerick’s face lit up, and he pushed himself to his feet. Juni’s gaze was speculative, and her hold tightened around Snow.

Did Damelza understand that she’d lost?

Damelza stalked closer to me; her eyes flashed. Crack my cauldron, she didn’t look like she’d lost.

“Let’s play the What If Game.” Damelza smoothed down her dress. “What if you’d been placed with the Princes, rather than as a Prefect for the Immortals? Crown would’ve kept you in line with his unique brand of discipline. He may be a Dunce now, but until you arrived, he was excellent at controlling both the elf and whipping boy.” Damelza’s eyes lit with glee. “You’d no doubt be used to feed the vampire. Isn’t it a pity that dreams don’t come true? Why, I’m the Principal; I can make fantasy reality. So, tonight the Princes will be joined by Crow. You don’t mind sharing blood with a hungry vampire, do you? Unless you choose to select another Immortal to take your place. Should your whipping boy suffer the punishment for you?”

Firmly, I shook my head, hushing Fox’s protest.

I clenched my jaw. I’d been given to the Princes. If there wasn’t love, it was a violation to become Midnight’s Blood Lover. Wasn’t it as close a bond as marriage? I’d never force that on Midnight, unwillingly.

Did Midnight love me?

Sweet Hecate, I was no longer a virgin but I’d never experienced the sensation of a vampire sinking his fangs through my skin and drinking my blood.

Tonight, I’d belong to the Princes. Would they both love and savage me?