13. Vex
13
VEX
I look up from the desk where I’m sorting through today’s notes. Professor Night is sitting next to me, and he does the same. A witch with blonde, rainbow-streaked hair, pauses in the doorway, looking around uncertainly.
“Can I help you?” I ask, crossing over to her, drawn to her more than any other creature, ever.
Her blue eyes find mine. “Uhm…” She blinks a couple of times and stares at me, her tongue flicking out over her bottom lip as she drops her gaze to my mouth.
I raise an eyebrow at her and smirk. “I think you’re in the wrong place, little witch.”
She gulps. ‘“Is this not Advanced Dark Magick?”
Assessing her a little deeper, I search her eyes. “It is. But you are not in this class.”
“Actually,” Professor Night’s dry voice cuts through the tension, “she is. As of today.” He holds up a transfer slip, his face unreadable. “Matilda is joining us on direct orders from Professor Blackthorn.”
Blackthorn. Of course. I turn back to the witch—Matilda—with renewed interest. Blackthorn doesn’t make these kinds of decisions lightly, but as far as I can tell, she is a witch with no acuity for dark magick.
Still, it might be fun to see her sink.
“Well then, Matilda,” I murmur, enjoying how she shivers slightly at my voice. “Welcome to the deep end. Let’s see if you can swim.”
She lifts her chin, a spark of defiance flashing in those mesmerising blue eyes, but she doesn’t say anything.
She has fire. I admire that. But I also like playing with it.
“Sit at the front,” I say, a slow smile spreading across my lips.
She pales, and her bottom lip trembles slightly.
“Right there,” I point to an empty desk that is front and centre where she cannot hide.
“I’ll find a seat at the back,” she whispers.
“They are all taken. All taken except this one seat.”
She glares at the desk and then at me. “And who are you, exactly?”
“Vex. The TA for this class.”
Her eyes widen, but she refrains from commenting as she brushes past me to the empty desk.
As she moves past me, I catch the scent of her magick. It’s sweet and rich and absolutely untainted by dark magick. What the fuck is going on here?
The other students—all six of them—file in and take their places scattered around the room.
“Today’s lesson,” I announce, standing in front of Matilda, “is about accessing the darker aspects of your power without losing yourself to them.”
Matilda frowns and glances around at all the empty desks, her expression going darker as she realises there are plenty of empty seats at the back.
“Think you can handle that?”
My voice draws her attention back to me. Her glare is fierce, and it turns me on like a fucking light switch.
Matilda’s glare intensifies as she looks up at me. “I’ll do my best,” she says through gritted teeth.
I smirk, glad she didn’t rise to the bait with a smart comeback. There is something about snark that seriously irritates me, unless it is coming from me, obviously. “I expect nothing less. Now, everyone, close your eyes and reach for that dark well of power inside you.”
The other students comply immediately, concentrating as they tap into their darker natures. Matilda hesitates, her eyes darting around nervously before finally closing.
“Feel the darkness.” I drop my voice to a quiet instruction, circling the room. “Let it rise up, filling you with its power. But don’t let it consume you. Control it. Shape it to your will.”
As I pass behind Matilda, I feel... nothing. No darkness, no power rising. Just the faintest flicker of innate magick, like a candle flame in a storm.
It piques my interest. Who is this girl, and why the fuck has Blackthorn shoved her in this class where she is way out of her depth?
Placing my hands lightly on her shoulders, making her jump, I lean down and whisper in her ear. “Having trouble, honey witch?”
She turns her head sharply, her eyes flying open at my endearment. Our lips are millimetres apart. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to be feeling,” she admits in a whisper.
“Focus,” I murmur. “Reach deep inside yourself. Find that part of you that’s capable of anything. The part that wants power, no matter the cost.”
She closes her eyes again, her brow furrowing in concentration. I watch, fascinated, as absolutely nothing happens. Her breath hitches, and I step back with a thoughtful stare. What the fuck is going on here? I glance up at Professor Night, who is watching this with narrowed eyes. He knows what I know. This witch doesn’t belong here. So why is she here? He catches my eye and shakes his head, rising from behind the desk. He glides over to Matilda and slams his hand down so hard on her desk, it cracks.
She stifles her scream, her eyes flying open again as she shrinks back from the Professor, who is leaning down, getting in her face. The other students freeze as the air turns colder, more malevolent.
“What are you doing here, you useless witch?” he spits out.
“I—I…” she stammers.
“Don’t speak to her that way,” I say, moving closer.
“Vex,” he warns, but I shake my head.
“You don’t scare me, so don’t try that bullshit with me.”
He straightens up and contemplates trying to kick my arse in front of this group of students. I smile at him, begging him to fucking try it.
He growls and storms out of the class, probably so he doesn’t cause an explosion that will send us all to the bowels of Hell.
Matilda is staring at me, frozen in fear, so I crouch down next to her and take her hand. Something about this witch screams at me to forget watching her sink and protect her at all costs.
Her hand trembles in mine, her blue eyes wide with fear and confusion. I can feel the other students watching us, curious about this strange new witch who seems so out of place. “I don’t belong here,” she whispers. “I can’t do any of this.”
I study her face, seeing her vulnerability. “Maybe not,” I admit. “But you’re here now, so we might as well make the best of it.”
Standing, I address the rest of the class. “Okay, change of plans. Today, we’re going to work on sensing and identifying different types of dark magick. Partner up.”
As the others pair off, I turn back to Matilda. “You’re with me, honey witch. Let’s see what you can do.”
She stands on shaky legs, clearly still rattled. “I told you I can’t do anything.”
“We’ll start small,” I say, leading her to a clear space. “Close your eyes.”
She complies, her lashes fluttering shut. I take a moment to admire her delicate features before focusing.
“I’m going to cast a simple dark spell. All I want you to do is try to sense it. Don’t try to manipulate it or control it, just feel for its presence.”
Matilda nods, her eyes still closed. I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way she’s bracing herself. Gently, I place my hands on her arms.
“Relax,” I murmur. “You’re not in danger here. Just breathe and open your senses.”
She takes a deep breath and relaxes slightly. Satisfied, I step back and begin to weave a simple, dark enchantment. It’s nothing too powerful. It’s just a basic curse that would cause mild misfortune if actually cast on someone. But for now, I’m just letting its energy pool in the air between us.
I watch Matilda carefully. At first, there’s no reaction. “Anything?” I ask.
“No,” she says quietly and opens her eyes. “I can’t do this.” She turns and picks up her backpack, running from the class like lightning.
“Fuck it,” I mutter, and after a second’s deliberation, I follow her. Catching up to her in the hallway, I grasp her arm, forcing her to a stop. “Only quitters run,” I remark.
“I’m not a fucking quitter,” she snaps. “I’m just not supposed to be in that class. It was a mistake.”
“Blackthorn wanted you in that class for a reason.”
“Not good enough. How am I supposed to do any of the assignments when I don’t have access to the magick?”
Well, she’s got me there, but I’m not letting her quit this class. I want her near me, I want to push her until she screams and begs for me to stop. I want to offer her no mercy until she shows me why Blackthorn put her in this fucking class. Asking him would achieve nothing. I drag her closer to me. She is panting softly, her heart is hammering against her ribs.
“Get back inside the lecture hall, honey, before I spank you so hard you will weep.”
Her eyes go wide, and her mouth drops open. “Fuck you,” she hisses. “I will tell Blackthorn about this.”
“That threat doesn’t work on me, princess. He needs me here, so squeal all you want, it won’t get you anywhere.”
She glowers at me. Her gaze burns into my soul, and I want more than anything to shove her up against the wall and fuck her senseless.
“So what will it be? You going back inside, or me spanking your arse right here, right now?”
“You can’t speak to people that way,” she cries, struggling in my grip. All it does is make me tighten my hold on her.
Matilda’s eyes flash with anger as she struggles against my grip. “Let go of me, you arrogant prick!”
I smirk, enjoying her fire. “Not until you agree to go back to class.”
“Why do you even care?” she demands. “You don’t know me. Just let me leave.”
I lean in close. “Because, honey witch, you intrigue me. And I want to know why Blackthorn put you in this class.”
She shivers but doesn’t back down. “That makes two of us. But I can’t do dark magick, let alone advanced dark magick.”
“Says who?”
She loses all her fight. “Says me. Now let me go.”
I release my hold on her, but I don’t step back. “Meet me tonight at six in the library,” I murmur, close to her ear. “One-on-one tuition.”
“Ugh, fuck you,” she spits out, throwing my genuine offer back in my face in such a way it makes me laugh.
I step back, chuckling. “Ouch. You should learn how to accept help, especially when you need it, honey.”
“I don’t need it from you .”
“Then who? Night? He is seriously pissed with you for wasting his time, or did you forget?”
“There are six other students in that class. I’m sure one of them will help me.”
“Yeah, I doubt it. They are all as arrogant as fuck. Each out for themselves.”
“Like you then?” Her eyes flash with heat.
“Pretty much. Except you…” I cross my arms, placing my left index finger on my chin. “… oh, you, honey witch, have touched something inside me that needs to be explored.”
“I’ll say this again, fuck you. You are a TA, for the gods’ sake. Don’t you have ethics?”
“Meet me at six and find out.”
“Not a chance.”
“You are in this class whether you want to be or not. What have you got to lose?”
“My dignity?” she spits out.
“You think I will take that from you?” I challenge.
“I think you want to meet up in the dark to take advantage of me,” she says hotly.
“Oh, honey, I don’t need the cover of night for that. I could take you right now, and no one would even know.” I snap my fingers, creating a shield around us that hides us from the naked eye. She feels the pressure of the shield and licks her lips, her eyes darting nervously around.
“What did you just do?” she demands.
I smirk, enjoying her discomfort. “Just proving a point, honey witch. No one can see or hear us right now. I could do whatever I want to you.”
Her breath catches, fear and excitement flashing in her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare,” she hisses.
I step closer, backing her up against the wall. “Wouldn’t I?” I murmur, bracing my hands on either side of her head. “You don’t know me very well yet, Matilda. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
She swallows hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
“I could kiss you right now,” I continue, my lips a breath away from hers. “I could slide my hand up your shirt and pinch your nipples until you begged me to stop. I could push your jeans down and fuck you against this wall, and no one would be the wiser, no one would hear you scream.”
A small whimper escapes her, her pupils dilating. “Stop,” she whispers, but there’s no conviction behind it.
I chuckle darkly. “Make me,” I challenge.
For a long moment, we stare at each other, the tension thick between us. Matilda’s breath comes in short pants, her eyes wide as she looks up at me.
“I...” she starts, then trails off, biting her lip.
I smirk, enjoying her uncertainty. “Yes, honey witch?”
Suddenly, her eyes flash with determination. “No,” she says firmly, pushing against my chest. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not interested.”
For a moment, I consider pushing further, seeing just how far I can take this, but then it would be over before it even started. I step back, dropping the shield around us. “Six o’clock in the library, if you want to actually learn something.”
Matilda glares at me. “Don’t hold your breath, arsehole,” she mutters, then turns and storms off down the hallway.
Watching her go, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she will show later.