Chapter 2
Phoenix
My bag sat open on the bed. I’d packed nearly everything in my room into the tiny backpack.
Mastering the spell to make the interior nearly limitless wasn’t too difficult.
However, the month-long chant that had to take place every night at the exact same time from full moon to full moon was a bit arduous.
But now that it was done, I could take everything to school with me and still have room for books.
Getting accepted to Widdershins Academy had been one of the happiest days of my life.
However, the summer leading up to my departure was torturously slow.
My parents, despite being accomplished witches and far too wealthy to be so involved with their children, had made it their personal mission to hover over me for the past eight years.
Ever since we’d moved away from Oregon, they’d been no further than twenty feet from me at all times.
As a child I was given freedom to roam, but that came to a stop the day they found out I was making friends with local shifters.
They weren’t exactly the ‘accepting’ type.
But none of that mattered now. I was finally getting out, finally going to college where I could be on my own at last. It would be the first time I’d made a decision for myself in nearly a decade.
I got to choose what I ate, who I talked to, and what sort of life I wanted to lead.
That amount of sudden freedom was exhilarating and daunting all at the same time.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the reality of my imminent freedom wash over me.
Eight years of suffocating supervision was about to end.
Eight years of carefully monitored friendships, pre-approved activities, and constant surveillance.
I still remembered the look on my mother’s face when she caught me playing with the Holden twins at the edge of our property; her horror at discovering they were wolf shifters still haunted me.
The lectures that followed about monster contamination and maintaining the purity of our bloodline had been drilled into me so many times I could recite them in my sleep.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Phoenix?” My mother’s voice drifted through the door. “May I come in?”
I quickly zipped up my backpack, not wanting her to see just how much I was taking. “Sure, Mom.”
She entered, her perfectly pressed sundress swishing around her ankles, not a single silver-blonde hair out of place. Her eyes immediately scanned my room, assessing what was missing, what was packed.
“I’ve finalized your class schedule,” she said, handing me a crisp piece of parchment. “Your father and I have selected courses that will best serve your future on the Elder Council.”
I accepted the paper without argument, though inside I was seething.
Of course they’d chosen my classes. Why would this be any different?
I scanned the list. There was Advanced Runic Configurations, Ancestral Witch History, and Purification Rituals.
Not to mention at least three separate courses in Advanced Magical Method.
Nothing unexpected, nothing exciting. Certainly nothing that would allow me to interact with the undesirable students.
“Thank you,” I said, folding it carefully and tucking it into my jacket pocket.
“We’ve also arranged for you to room with Thomas McNally. His family has been aligned with ours for generations. He’ll be a suitable companion.” She paused, her blue eyes hardening slightly. “I trust you remember our discussions about appropriate associations.”
“Yes, Mother.” I didn’t need to ask what she meant. The rules had been clear. I was to have no friendships with shifters, vampires, fae, or any other lesser magical beings. Stick with pure-blooded witch families. Maintain our legacy. Uphold our values.
All the things I planned to ignore the moment I was out of their sight.
“Your father has also prepared a protection amulet for you.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small silver pendant on a chain.
The symbol etched into it made my stomach turn.
It was the mark of the Purity Front, a radical group that believed in magical segregation.
“It will alert us if you come into prolonged contact with... impure energies.”
My heart sank. Of course they’d find a way to monitor me even from a distance. I forced a grateful smile as she fastened it around my neck. The metal felt cold against my skin, almost burning.
“I’ll wear it always,” I lied, already planning to accidentally lose it the first chance I got.
My mother’s smile softened slightly as she smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from my comforter. “I know this seems restrictive, darling, but it’s for your own good. The magical world is dangerous, especially for someone of your... particular gifts.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral even as my jaw clenched. My particular gifts was code for the fact that my magic was stronger than it should be, more volatile than they were comfortable with. Another reason they’d kept me on such a tight leash.
“Your father wanted to speak with you before you left,” she continued. “He’s in his study.”
Of course he was. The grand farewell speech was coming, complete with more warnings about bloodline purity and family honor. I’d been dreading this conversation all summer.
“I’ll be right there,” I said.
She kissed my forehead, her lips cool against my skin. “We’re so proud of you, Phoenix. You’re going to do wonderful things. And when you join the Elder Council… well, I know you’ll put our world to rights at last.”
After she left, I walked to my window and stared out at the sprawling grounds of our estate.
The perfectly manicured gardens stretched toward the forest beyond, where I knew magical creatures roamed freely.
Creatures I’d been forbidden to even acknowledge, let alone befriend.
And now my parents, the moment I graduated, wanted me to help cleanse the supernatural world of their kind. I was nothing but a pawn in their game.
I touched the pendant at my throat, already planning its demise. Maybe I’d drop it in the woods during orientation. Or better yet, I’d give it to some vampire to wear around campus, just to see how quickly my parents would teleport to the school in a panic.
The thought made me smile for the first time all morning.
I shouldered my bag and headed downstairs to face my father’s inevitable lecture. Soon, very soon, I’d be free to make my own choices. And the first choice I planned to make was to be everything my parents feared I would become. Free.
My father was exactly where I expected him to be. He was seated behind his massive oak desk, surrounded by ancient grimoires and artifacts of questionable origin. The study smelled of sandalwood and old parchment, a scent that had once comforted me but now felt suffocating.
“Phoenix.” He didn’t look up from the text he was reading, his silver-streaked dark hair falling across his forehead. “Sit.”
I obeyed, perching on the edge of the leather chair across from him. The pendant felt heavier with each passing moment, like a collar around my neck.
“Widdershins has changed since my time there,” he began, finally meeting my gaze. His eyes were the same unusual amber-orange color as mine — the Emberwood legacy. “It’s become... progressive.” He spoke the word like it tasted foul on his tongue.
“I’ve heard,” I replied carefully.
“The current administration has allowed monsters to infiltrate what was once a sanctuary for our kind. They claim it’s for unity, for peace.” He closed his book with a snap. “But we know better, don’t we?”
I nodded automatically, the response drilled into me through years of lectures.
“Your mother and I have worked very hard to ensure your placement in classes that will keep you separated from the more... unsavory elements.” He leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. “But you will inevitably encounter them. When you do, remember who you are. Remember your bloodline.”
“I will, Father.”
He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small leather-bound journal. “This belonged to your grandfather. It contains spells that aren’t taught in any classroom, protective measures against those who would corrupt our magic through their very presence.”
I accepted the book, feeling the weight of generations of prejudice in my hands. “Thank you.”
“One more thing.” His voice hardened. “It’s come to my attention that there have been some recent…
developments on campus. Developments that have led to the Purity Front being perceived in a bad light.
It’s best if you keep your pendant concealed when you can.
Don’t show it to anyone you don’t trust. In fact—” My father reached up, giving his hand a wave in my direction.
The moment he did, the pendant and its chain went invisible.
“There. That should keep it out of sight until winter break.”
“Thank you, Father,” I replied automatically.
“Now that it’s invisible, you won’t have a need to take it off.
So, your mother and I will expect to see it reporting back to us at any time.
” He leaned forward, his right index finger tapping a small crystal sphere on his desk that was filled with a soft green light. “We’ll be checking in now and then.”
I forced my face to remain neutral, despite the sick feeling in my stomach. The amulet felt like a noose around my neck, invisible but tightening with every breath. And now I couldn’t even lose the damn thing without them noticing. So much for that plan.
“Of course, Father. I understand.”
He studied my face for several long moments before nodding, apparently satisfied with whatever he saw there. “Good. Your mother and I only want what’s best for you, Phoenix. The world is changing in dangerous ways. Our kind must stand together.”
“I know.” I shifted my bag on my shoulder, eager to escape this room, this house, this life. “Is there anything else? The portal opens in twenty minutes.”
He stood, straightening to his full height. Even at eighteen, I still had to look up to meet his eyes. “Make us proud, son. Remember that every choice you make reflects on the Emberwood name.”
“I will.” Another lie to add to the growing collection.
He embraced me stiffly, the formal gesture of a man who had never quite figured out how to show affection. I returned it with equal rigidity, counting the seconds until I could step away.
When we separated, he handed me a small velvet pouch. “Your travel token. It’s attuned to your signature only.”
I pocketed it without looking inside. Portal tokens were standard for new students, enchanted objects that would transport me directly to Widdershins’ receiving grounds. Mine would be expensive, no doubt, customized with our family crest and various protective enchantments.
“Thank you. I should finish getting ready.”
He dismissed me with a nod, already turning back to his books.
I managed to maintain my composure until I reached the safety of the hallway. Only then did I allow myself a single, shuddering breath. The weight of the invisible pendant seemed to increase with every step I took toward freedom.
Back in my room, I closed the door and leaned against it, closing my eyes. Eighteen years old and still being treated like a child. Still being monitored, controlled, molded into their perfect little heir. But not for much longer. I’d figure out how to escape one way or another.
I moved to my desk and retrieved the one thing I hadn’t packed yet; a small photograph, worn at the edges from years of handling. In it, two boys stood arm in arm, grinning wildly at the camera. One was me, skinny and awkward at ten years old. The other I had no recollection of whatsoever.
I traced his face with my finger, wondering who the boy in the picture was and what had become of him.
It was undeniable proof that some of the dreams I had must’ve been memories.
But I guess I was just too young for them to stick.
It had been more than eight years since we moved to the new estate and I still couldn’t recall the boy or any other friends I’d had at our old house.
But I supposed that’s what years of intense magical training did to a person.
When my brain needed to be full of spells and incantations, memories were tossed aside and forgotten to make room.
I tucked the photo carefully into the inner pocket of my jacket, close to my heart. It was one secret I’d managed to keep from my parents all these years. And it felt important, though I wasn’t sure why.
I glanced at the clock on my wall. Fifteen minutes until the portal opened. Fifteen minutes until I could finally breathe.
I grabbed my bag and took one last look around my room. Despite packing nearly everything, it still looked perfectly pristine, exactly as my mother preferred it. No evidence of personality, no signs of rebellion. Just another beautifully decorated cage.
As I headed downstairs, I found my mother waiting by the front door, a small basket in her hands.
“Some refreshments for your journey,” she said, handing it to me. “And a few potions for focus and clarity.”
“Thank you, Mother.” I took the basket, knowing I’d dump most of its contents at the first opportunity. Her focus potions always left me feeling hollow and compliant.
She touched my cheek, her fingers cool against my skin. “We’ll see you at Samhain for the family gathering. Not a day sooner,” she added with a meaningful look. “Your studies come first.”
I nodded, relief flooding through me. No surprise visits. At least there was that small mercy.
My father appeared behind her, his face solemn. “It’s time.”
We walked together to the garden’s edge, where a small stone circle marked our private portal space. The air already hummed with magic, the veil between worlds thinning as the appointed hour approached.
I removed the token from my pocket, a small obsidian disc carved with our family crest, and placed it in the center of the circle. It began to glow with a soft blue light.
“Remember everything we’ve taught you,” my mother said, her voice tight with emotion that seemed more about losing control than losing me.
“I will.” For the last time today, I lied.
The portal flared to life, a swirling vortex of blue and silver light. Without looking back, I stepped forward, my bag clutched tightly in my hand.