Chapter 13 Meet the Squad. #2
“Fixed how, Jack?” I repeated, digging my nails hard through the fabric of his top.
“What the fuck, get off,” he tried to wrench his elbow from my grip.
“Answer me,” I hissed, refusing to release him, a hot anger rising within me. “What has been done to me?”
I heard the door of the landing we were on open before a throat was cleared behind me, but I was too consumed by anger and a need for an answer from Jack.
“Mable helped to protect you from any enchantments you were under. She placed protective enchantments to break any others already placed upon you and prevent you from being influenced by outside sources,” he squeaked out, looking at me wide-eyed.
Selene’s protective enchantments had prevented me from fully experiencing the bond; was whatever Mable had done to me affecting the bond further now?
The throat was cleared louder, and I released Jack and frustratedly turned to whoever was interrupting.
“May I ask what’s going on here?” A woman, tall with jaw-length brown hair, one side tucked behind her ear, and a strong, imposing build, asked.
“Jack was just explaining that when I was unconscious and unable to consent, someone took it upon themselves to place enchantments upon me,” I answered. Jack shifted uncomfortably on his feet beside me.
“It was for your own good,” he defended.
“I’m not a child, I decide what’s good for me or not,” I snarled.
The woman nodded, “Can’t say I disagree. I’m Sergeant of Squad Eleven, Kathrine, I prefer Kat.” She held her hand out to me.
I stepped forward and gave her my hand to shake.
“I think I’m here to see you,” I said.
She smiled.
“You can leave us now, Jack,” she instructed.
“Fine by me, you’re crazy,” he said as he barged past me, and I almost lost my balance.
Kat reached out and firmly gripped him by the shoulder, stopping him from leaving.
“I don’t care whose son or grandchild you are, you never speak to a member of my squad like that and,” Jack lurched forward, bending in half at his waist and squealed, twisting in pain as she expertly pressed something in his shoulder-neck region, and took hold of his arm pulling it behind his back and him into an upright position again, “if you ever so cowardly assault anyone in my presence again, I will break something of yours,” she warned.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he cried out.
She released him with a shove towards the stairs.
“Get out of here, your behaviour will be going in my report,” she said.
She turned back to me, and something about her felt familiar.
“Something on my face?” she asked with an easy smile, like she hadn’t just manhandled and threatened my rude cousin.
“Are you a shifter?” I asked. From what Arvid had said, I had assumed everyone in the Witching Command centre was, well, a witch, and Kat didn’t have the stereotypical yellow eyes of a shifter, but her presence gave very much shifter energy: strong, calm, in command.
She laughed.
“My grandfather was, yes. I guess we have that in common — we’re both part shifter and Flores,” she answered.
“Maybe that’s why Lady Flores put me with you,” I said.
Kat shrugged.
“I’m sure that likely had something to do with it,” she agreed. “C’mon, I got your room set up for you, and it would be good for you to meet some of the squad before dinner.”
I followed her through the door out of the stairwell and into a corridor of rooms.
She waved to her left, “That side is for squad twelve, we’re here to the right,” she explained as she led me down the corridor and to a door in the middle.
“This is you,” she said as she opened the door for me, and I walked in.
The room was small but functional, a bed sat under a narrow window, a desk to the side and a chest of drawers against the wall next to the door.
On the floor at the foot of the bed was a large rucksack, a pair of boots, and a pair of running shoes.
“I got you all sorted in terms of kit. The drawers should have everything you need clothes-wise, but if you’re missing anything, just let me know.
On the desk is a toiletries kit, and the toilets and showers are directly opposite the stairway doors.
We have to share with twelve, but we’re both female-only squads, so it’s clean but crowded in the mornings,” she explained.
“Thanks,” I said, not really knowing how else to respond. I was still reeling from the revelation that Mable had put enchantments on me.
“It’s nothing, do you have any questions?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered and turned to her, “Do you know what enchantments were placed on me?” I asked.
“I don’t know exactly. If I had to guess, I would assume anti-tracking, maybe some form of protection from manipulation. I can try to find out exactly for you, but it might be above me,” she answered.
“Please, if you could, I really want to know,” I said.
“I get that enchantments should never be placed on someone without consent, and why it would be upsetting to learn, but why are you so concerned? It would not have been anything harmful,” she asked.
“I feel different, and I don’t have any reason to really trust anyone here,” I said in a vague answer.
“Different how?” she asked.
“I’m not sure, I just feel it,” I lied.
She nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll see what I can find out. But in the meantime, if you experience anything distressing, tell me.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
“Great, some of the girls are excited to meet you. If you’re up for introductions?” she asked.
I wasn’t, but it didn’t feel like I had much choice, and I reminded myself that if I wanted to get home, I needed Arvid’s help, and that meant I needed to get him answers.
I wouldn’t be able to do that if I refused to interact with anyone.
Kat seemed nice enough. I liked how she handled Jack, but that was probably because I thought he was spoiled and pompous, and how was I related to someone like him?
“Sure,” I said.
“Right, I’ll show you to our common room. It’s nothing special, but it’s our space for socialising, relaxing, eating outside of the mess hall,” she explained as she led me further down the hall to the end of the corridor.
She opened the door to reveal three women sitting on a beat-up couch in front of a worn coffee table. On the edge of the room was a small kitchenette-type area where I could see a kettle and sink.
The three women stopped their conversation as we entered.
“Guys, this is Persephone,” Kat introduced me, and I cringed at the name.
“Percy, please, call me Percy,” I instructed.
“Rea,” one of the women said, introducing herself and standing up to approach us. She had dark hair tied back in a tight bun. She was older, more like my father’s age, than that of Kat, me or the other women. “The blonde over there is Talia.” The girl waved awkwardly.
“Hi,” she said.
“And I’m Melina,” the other brunette answered.
“Come, sit with us,” Rea instructed.
“I’ve got some paperwork to get through, but I’ll be back for dinner,” Kat said and turned to leave, and I was a little miffed that she was leaving me with strangers before reminding myself that Kat herself was a stranger I had only just met.
I took the space that Rea had been occupying at the end of the couch, and Rea sat on the coffee table in front of us.
“So, Percy, what have you been up to since you got here?” Melina asked, turning her attention to me.
I felt sick, like I used to when I was a child in school at the end of summer breaks, when we had to stand up in class and describe what we had been up to over the break.
My throat would feel tight, and I’d forget anything interesting I might have done.
I hated being under so much direct attention, especially when a response was required.
“Unconscious for the most part. I only woke up this morning,” I answered.
“Shit, we heard you were injured, but I guess we never thought it was serious,” Rea said, leaning forward, interested.
“What were you doing before you came here?” Talia asked.
“Seriously?” Melina said.
“Sorry,” Talia was quick to apologise, “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories. I just meant what was life like within the royal House,” she explained.
“How does that make it better?” Melina asked her.
“You know Tal didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure Percy isn’t offended,” Rea interjected.
And suddenly all eyes were on me.
“Most of my time was spent at Sanguis Academy, and I enjoyed my time there a great deal,” I answered.
“You lived with Selene Borealis there, right?” Melina asked.
I nodded.
“What is she like in person?” Melina asked.
“How is that any better than what I asked?” Talia asked, frustratedly.
“Right, enough,” Rea interjected, “Percy, you don’t have to speak about any of that,” she reassured, probably thinking she was saving me from reliving some terrible trauma that Selene had made me endure. “Why don’t you tell us about where you’re from. What House did you grow up in?”
“I’m from an independent community, technically on House Maria land,” I explained.
“That’s unique,” Talia said encouragingly.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I agreed. Everyone was always so curious about us, had all their own preformed ideas about us, I was almost used to it from my time at Sanguis Academy. “It’s just home to me.”
“Are there other witches there?” Melina asked.
“We have an enchanter, but they weren’t of Flores,” I explained.
“What about your mother?” Talia asked.
“Died,” I answered.
“You had no Flores witch for guidance?” Rea asked, her face expressing her sympathy.
“It was just me and my mother’s books. I did fine on my own,” I explained.
“Every witch needs those of their coven as they come into their gifts,” Talia said, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I shook her hand off me.
“I’ve done just fine without the coven so far,” I snapped. “It’s not like anyone cared about me before now, and it’s not been easy to find other Flores witches. Before today, I didn’t even know there was still a coven.”
“I keep putting my foot in my mouth,” Talia said.