12. Matilda
12
MATILDA
When morning arrives, I’m still wrapped around Draven. My head is on his chest, and his arms are draped around me. I’m surprised I slept with him so close by, let alone practically on top of him. I pull back slightly, but he doesn’t stir, so I examine his face more closely. He is fucking gorgeous. The black veins of his Necromancy nature flicker and stutter under his skin. He frowns in his sleep, and I purse my lips. What horrors is he seeing? Growing up in Hell isn’t even something I can imagine, let alone understand. Even as a prince, there are obviously things that bother him about it. I want to know, but I doubt he will tell me. I reach out and trace one of the black veins, and his face falls back into a peaceful expression, making me smile. But time is ticking on, and I have a shit load to get done before I have to attend classes. I crawl out of bed, careful not to wake him, and head to the bathroom to freshen up.
Two minutes later, I quickly get dressed in my spare underwear, black tee and blue jeans. I pull the hoodie out and snuggle into it. It reeks of the washing powder my mother made me use, and I gulp back the fear that they will find me here and drag me back to a life I hated. If that happens now, it will be a thousand times worse knowing what is out there for me. My hands shake as I run the brush through my tangled hair and tie it up in a high ponytail. I glance at the bed and hope that the bag of jewels will be safe under there until I can get back later. Right now, I need to move. I need to see Eldra, get my timetable and hopefully some supplies, and then find a way to get some food.
I pick up the backpack with my journal and pen still inside, knowing I can use these if all else fails. Slinging it onto my back, I cross over to Draven and stare down at him. He is still flat out. Bending down, I kiss his temple softly and turn to leave.
His hand clamps down on my wrist, drawing me to a halt.
“Sneaking out? Not nice, petal.”
I giggle. “This is my bedroom. I’m leaving, not sneaking out.”
His eyes open and they are filled with amusement. “Fair enough. But my dick is hard, I want you to fuck me until I come inside that pretty cunt of yours.”
“Choice words, Prince of Hell, but I can’t. I have shit to do before classes. I was offered a place here out of kindness, and I won’t let them down by being a slacker.”
He lets me go and sits up, leaning against the headboard, his hard chest on display. “And that is just one of many things I adore about you, Tilly. Go. I will see you at lunch.”
“If I can find you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find you.”
I have no doubt .
I smile and lean down to plant a kiss on his lips. He deepens it, clasping his hand on the back of my head as he plunges his tongue into my mouth. I moan softly and pull back. “I have to go.”
He smirks but says nothing, watching me as I leave.
My heart is pounding when I open the door and peer out into the hallway. It is busy with students, but luckily, Luc is nowhere to be seen. I creep out and quietly close the door, hoping he hasn’t heard me, and I rush back the way we came up last night, only to find that the stairwell has moved over by about ten metres. “What the fuck?” I mutter as I adjust and head downstairs and out of the door to the residence building. It is a crisp, cold morning, and the mist is curling around the old buildings, giving it a spooky vibe. The sun is up somewhere above the canopy of trees that stand so high and proud, they must be ancient.
A shiver goes over me, but the good kind. This place is utterly magnificent.
Crossing the courtyard, I make my way back to the main building and find Eldra sitting at the information desk. She smiles when she sees me. “Good morning, Matilda.”
“Hi,” I say shyly. “Professor Blackthorn said I should come and see you for my timetable.”
“Of course, follow me.” She rises and leads me to a back office that appears to be a normal administration office with a computer and filing cabinets.
I sit down in the chair opposite the desk as Eldra takes her place and starts tapping the keyboard. “So, you are a witch by designation, yes?”
“Yes.”
“But you have no classifications?”
I shake my head. “None that I know of.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile. “That’s not a problem. We can figure it out as we go along. Professor Blackthorn said you have an interest in the elements and defensive magick?”
“Yes.”
She nods. “Okay, so we will put you in physical combat training for beginners and defensive incantations for this term. Those are the easiest to catch up on, seeing as the year has already started.”
I nod.
“Then we can assign you to fire and air magick classes. You will be in the courses with Year 1s, but I trust that won’t be a problem?”
“No, not at all. I’m grateful for any opportunity to learn.”
She smiles. “Okay, now Professor Blackthorn has requested as well that you attend the Advanced Dark Magick class…” She trails off, her eyes narrowed.
“I’m sorry?” I stammer. “What is that?”
“It’s a new subject to MistHallow. We have only had it from the start of this year. We are only one of two academies that teach dark magick. It’s very exclusive, and you can only learn it by invitation. I wasn’t aware that you were a dark magick wielder.”
It’s not a question nor a statement—more a general wondering, from her tone.
“Me neither,” I mutter. “Are you sure that’s what it says?”
She turns the screen so I can see the note. I frown. “There must be some mistake. Beginners, maybe. Advanced? No, not me.”
“Professor Blackthorn has requested it.”
“Could you check to make sure it’s not a typo?” I’m panicking. Advanced any magick class is bad enough, but dark magick? That sounds dangerous - at best.
“Professor Blackthorn is very meticulous. It’s not an error.”
“Could you check anyway?” I ask, my voice a high-pitched squeak of terror. How am I supposed to be in a class of advanced magick users when I can’t even cast a simple spell without it backfiring on my arse?
“Sure,” she says and stands up. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappears and, not a minute later, reappears. “It is correct,” she says, sitting back down.
I glare at her. Did she even go and check?
She taps the keyboard again, and the printer whirrs to life.
“Here is your timetable,” she says, handing me a sheet of paper from the printer. “And this is a map of MistHallow.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the papers. “Is there somewhere I can get supplies?”
Eldra opens up a drawer and hands me a pile of notebooks, pens, and other assorted stationery.
“Thank you. Uhm…” I chew my lip.
“Do you need something else?” she asks.
“Clothes,” I say in a rush. “I don’t know how much you know about me, but I left my home in a rush and didn’t bring much with me.” She doesn’t need to know that I only own two sets of clothes.
“We don’t sell clothes, but we have a lost and found. Everything has been washed and pressed, and you can have a rummage in the cupboard. There are also some students who can magick up clothes, if you find one, you could ask nicely.”
“I’ll check the lost and found,” I mutter, mortified at the thought of hunting down a student who can make clothes for me. Gods. Huge pass.
“Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the menagerie to pick out a familiar,” she says, rising.
“A familiar?” I ask with a frown.
“Yes. You are a witch, and witches have familiars.” She gives me a searching stare and realises that this is something that, up to now, was outside the realm of possibility. She plucks the map out of my hand and points to a spot on it. “The menagerie is here. The dining hall is here, and your first class is here.” She clearly has taken pity on me for being a bit of a loser.
“Dining hall,” I murmur as my stomach growls. “And how would I pay for the food there?”
“It’s all included, sweetheart.” She strokes my hair, that sympathetic look on her face again. “Take whatever you want, whenever you want. It’s always open.”
“Okay, thank you.” My voice is hoarse, and she nods.
“Have a look through the cupboard over there, pick out some suitable items, and leave them on the desk. I will have the housekeeping fairies take it up to your room.”
I want to argue that I will take them myself, but she is already leaving, so I mutter, “Okay.”
“Fuck.” I turn to the cupboard and open it. All the clothes are neatly lined up by size and colour, with drawers stacked underneath.
I have a quick look and decide on two pairs of leggings, two oversized tees, and another hoodie. Opening the drawers, I see packs of new underwear and socks, so I grab those as well. I place everything neatly in a pile on the desk, hoping it will arrive in my room soon.
Shoving the supplies into my backpack, I leave the office and wave to Eldra, who is busy with another student. She smiles and nods and goes back to her work.
I hold up the map and follow the directions to the dining hall, deciding to get food out of the way first. It is absolutely packed out, so I join a queue, having no idea what I’m queuing for. When I get to the front, it turns out it is bacon sandwiches and mugs of tea.
“Score,” I mutter, snatching up a plate and mug. I look around and see that no one is paying for anything, so I take Eldra at her word and slip out of the queue with my goodies.
Too bad there is no table free, not even a solitary chair. So I place the plate on top of the mug and stand around eating my sandwich, which takes me all of thirty seconds I’m so hungry, and then I gulp back my tea. Feeling better, at least enough to focus on the next few hours, I decide to come back at a less busy time between classes.
I watch where everyone else leaves their dirty plates and place mine on the same trays as they do. I see all sorts of creatures milling about, most of them human in appearance. I guess the night students will be slightly different.
But not a single creature looks at me, let alone talks to me. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. For now, I need to get my arse to the menagerie and hope that whoever is there can help with this familiar business. None of my family ever had one, so I didn’t think it was a popular thing. I’d heard about them, obviously, from my first few years at school, but I’ve never seen one.
Leaving the dining hall, I follow the map to the menagerie. As I approach, I hear animal sounds and know I’m in the right place. The building itself is a large stone structure covered in vines, with intricate iron gates at the entrance.
I hesitate at the gates, unsure if I should just walk in or wait for someone. Before I can decide, a tall woman with bright green hair emerges from inside.
“You must be Matilda,” she says with a warm smile. “I’m Professor Fauna. Eldra sent word you’d be coming by for a familiar.”
“Oh, um, yes,” I stammer, trying not to laugh at the punny name. “Though I’m not really sure what that entails.”
She chuckles. “No worries, dear. That’s what I’m here for. Come on in, and we’ll find you the perfect companion.”
I follow her through the gates and into a vast courtyard filled with free-roaming creatures of every description. Cats, ravens, toads, snakes, and others I’ve never seen before.
“Now,” Professor Fauna says, turning to me. “A familiar is more than just a pet. It’s a magickal partner, attuned to your specific energy. The right familiar will enhance your powers and act as a conduit for your magick.”
I nod, trying to take it all in. “How do I choose?”
“You don’t. The familiar will choose you,” she says with a knowing smile.
“Oh, okay,” I murmur and wait as the animals all ignore me.
Professor Fauna frowns slightly but then forces a smile as we stand there, me again feeling like a spare part. This is more mortifying than asking someone to magick me up some clothes.
“Uhm,” I mutter as the seconds tick away. “Perhaps I should come back?”
“Nonsense,” she says too loudly. “Sometimes it takes a minute or two.”
Or five .
Professor Fauna looks at me. I look back at her. She purses her lips. “Are you sure you’re a witch?” she blurts out.
“Excuse me?” I stammer.
“I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I didn’t mean it the way it came out. I mean, are you just a witch, or do you have something else in your makeup?”
“Just a witch, so far as I know.”
“Hmm,” she murmurs and sighs lightly. “This has never happened before. I think perhaps I need a word with Professor Blackthorn. I will send word to you once we’ve had a discussion about this reject… uhm… unforeseen event.”
Rejection. She might as well say it. I’m so low on the totem pole that not even the familiars want to be near me. “Okay,” I say dejectedly, trying not to cry. “I’m sorry.”
Professor Fauna gives me a pitying look. “We will get this figured out,” she says, patting my shoulder.
I nod and hurry out, not being able to bear the expression on her face any longer. I try to push the misery aside that it’s clear I don’t belong here and pull the timetable out of my back pocket. I stare at it through a blur of unshed tears and see that my first class is this advanced dark magick bullshit.
“Great. The perfect class to make me feel even more of a failure.” Shoulders slumped, I slope off in the direction of the lecture hall, hoping and praying that Professor Blackthorn stops me before I get there to tell me there has been a big mistake and I should be in a beginner’s basic magick class instead.
He doesn’t.