Chapter 5
After the world's fastest showers, putting my insulin in the fridge and exploring a bit more of the dorm, we make our way to the dining hall, following the directions Rune gave us. The walk around campus right now is so peaceful, since there aren’t a lot of people here.
Mainly just the upperclassmen, grad students, and faculty.
I’m enjoying getting to explore in a calmer environment.
I've had trouble with my anxiety for as long as I can remember, even before being diagnosed with diabetes, which certainly made it worse. I’ve seen numerous magical doctors over the years who all said it “may” get better when my magic settles.
I’ve seen almost as many human doctors that just offer medication in varying doses. However, nothing has helped.
“Do you feel like your magic is already stronger here?” Marsh asks, using Air to make a small tornado in his hand for demonstration.
Though most witches can use all four elements to some degree, every witch has at least one specialty.
Most of the time your true magic doesn’t reveal itself until about a year after your initial magic manifests.
It’s nature's way to keep untrained witches from blowing up themselves or others.
Marsh has always favored Air, although Earth was always my strongest.
Shooting a small stream of Water at his face, I give him a cheeky smile. He dries his face on his shirt sleeve as he glares at me. Ignoring the stare, I reply, “I do. Maybe it’s because back home we had to be careful not to use magic around all the humans, and here we are free.”
Reaching the entrance, Marsh pulls open the large doors, and the cool air of Manor House smacks us in the face.
It’s August, so it’s still unbelievably hot.
North Carolina is humid, especially here on the island surrounded by water, but it’s not quite as bad as Louisiana.
Following the halls, we make our way to the cafeteria.
Marsh grabs my hand as he goes to push open the door to the dining hall, something he’s done before we would step into a new situation ever since we were kids.
The door opens up to a massive room, and it looks oddly similar to the dining hall from Harry Potter, with a few noticeable differences.
There are no candles floating near the ceiling and the food doesn’t magically appear on the table.
Here, there are buffets that line the wall to the left, and round tables fill up most of the space.
There is even a modern soda fountain like you’d see at a fast food restaurant.
It’s a fancy touchscreen one too, with all the different flavors of Coke.
There are dozens of tables but less than twenty people here, so it’s almost eerily quiet.
The smell of food suddenly hits us and our stomachs make matching growls.
Marsh drags me over to the buffet and hands me a plate.
The line-up isn’t as full as I’m sure it will be when everyone is on campus, but there are still a surprising number of options: burgers, pizzas, several kinds of pasta, sushi, and what looks like a roast dinner. Oh, this place is gonna spoil me.
Marsh makes a beeline for the sushi, while I head straight for the roast and potatoes.
Potatoes in any form are my weakness. We fill our plates and make our way to the closest table.
Marsh’s plate is filled with different types of sushi and kimchi.
I have roast and potatoes, sweet corn, and cabbage plus some hot water cornbread.
Joys of being in the south still, southern food.
We don’t speak as we tear into our food until I realize neither of us remembered to get a drink. “I’m gonna go grab drinks; what do you want?” I ask, standing.
“Vanilla Coke if they have it. If not regular is fine,” he replies between bites.
I nod that I heard him and head to the drink station.
I grab two glasses, but they don’t have straws so I will have to make sure to remember which is which.
The rate at which a non diet drink will make my blood sugar sky rocket is insane, so Diet Dr Pepper for me it is.
I’m pushing buttons to pour my brother's Vanilla Coke when I sense someone walking up behind me. I don’t hear them but I can feel the small amount of magic pulsing off them.
Sending magic pulses out is a way that bitchy witches try to show how much ‘stronger’ they are than others.
Unfortunately for whoever is behind me, I can barely feel their magic.
“You must be a freshman.” A man’s scratchy voice comes from behind me, and I turn with my brow raised but an unimpressed look on my face to see who the stranger could be.
Obviously not all supes are attractive, just like genetics with humans, but I’ve never actually seen anyone that's this level of gross-looking until now. This guy is maybe five foot five, which is uncharacteristically short for most supes but definitely below average for any man, and I am already one of the shortest witches I know. His dull brown hair is noticeably greasy, falling into plain brown eyes that are staring daggers at me. Stained and disheveled clothes make him look even more unflattering. He’s sneering at me, waiting for me to reply.
“Yes, I’m a freshman. Not that there’s any plausible way that’s any of your concern,” I finally reply, my tone utterly bored and disinterested.
Turning back to the machine to fix mine and Marsh’s drinks, I dismiss him.
I can feel his magic building, but honestly, I almost feel bad for him because it only feels like a gnat.
Grabbing our drinks, I turn to go back to our table.
While I'm not good at dealing with confrontation, I won’t be a doormat either.
“What kind of loser gets to school this early?” Is this idiot serious? Are we still in preschool? How childish can one grown person act?
“The kind that doesn’t have to answer you.
I’m not sure what your deal is, and to be blunt I don’t care, but I suggest you solve it.
Preferably somewhere away from me.” I go to step around him and he blocks my path, grabbing my arm.
I yank myself back, being mindful of the drinks in my hand, looking over his shoulder and locking eyes with Marsh.
He stands up, but I give an almost imperceptible shake of my head to stop him from coming over.
If I don't get this guy to bounce quickly, Marsh will set him on fire. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.
I stand up tall and face the little mouse, because frankly, that’s what he reminds me of.
We stare each other down and I let my magic out; it builds quickly and surpasses his within the blink of an eye.
Then it keeps building. I know my magic is stronger than most; it’s why Marsh and I have worked so hard learning to keep it bottled up.
Even at sixteen our magic levels were stronger than everyone we knew, even our teachers’.
I pull on my magic until I feel it surrounding me, I can feel my hair floating outward like a lion’s mane framing me.
Mouse’s face goes even paler than it was originally.
“You’d think if you were going to come harass someone, you'd make sure you could actually win.”
It’s like a switch flipped somewhere in my mind. I went from slightly annoyed at this stranger’s audacity, to so irrationally angry that it’s worse than anything I’ve ever felt.
Marsh ignores my silent signal and comes to stand beside me, also pulling on his magic, and our magic swirls together.
It pulses throughout the dining hall. I tilt my head at the guy who is now literally shaking.
“You could have come over and introduced yourself politely, however you chose to insult me with your pathetic attempt at power bullying.” Moving in sync, my twin and I raise our hands, while Mouse grabs at his throat.
I feel a rush of power, but I can’t seem to turn it off. It’s like we aren’t in control anymore.
Maggie?
Marsh, what’s happening?
I don’t know! I can’t pull my magic back in!
Another pulse goes out, dropping the two of us to our knees. Mouse runs off hurriedly, and a part of me wishes I could escape this too. I really need to learn his name. We both scream as another wave of magic hits us.
Mags! What is going on?
I don’t know! It hurts, Marsh!
I don’t know why I can hear him in my head now, nor why I feel like our magic is stronger than ever.
“Marshall! Magnolia!” I glance up through the fog of pain to see Dean Foster kneeling in front of us. “Both of your full powers have been unleashed. They’ve merged together and it’s making them stronger. You both need to pull back!”
“We don’t know how!” Marsh grinds out.
“Take a deep breath and center yourselves, feel where your magic resides in your chest. Pull it back in; it’s part of you, so it will only listen to you!” It doesn't really feel like the magic wants to listen to my silent plea, almost as though it’s having too much fun to be contained.
We both inhale and turn to face each other, clasping our hands together and locking eyes. Breathe Magpie. With me. In and out. Look at me. We can do this.
I feel my magic pulling back and wrapping around me like a straightjacket. It doesn’t want to be locked down again, fighting against being reeled in. Marsh, however, seems to have gotten a handle on his. I feel my magic pulse out again, stronger this time, knocking over both Marsh and Dean Foster.
My vision is starting to go black at the edges, and it feels like I’m no longer in control of my magic; as though it’s taking over me.
Maggie! I can hear the desperation and panic as my brother screams through our mental bond.
My eyes roll back suddenly and everything goes dark.