Chapter 3 #3
The test had taken twice as long as the original testing, and when Mia left the exam room, Cleo handed her a brownie in a little box.
“You earned this today. I just sent off your answers, and your results will be transmitted to your trainer—Mary Alice, correct? I hear there was a mix-up on the testing announcement and everything went to Abigail instead.”
Mia wanted to give a snarky reply, but she could see it wasn’t Cleo’s fault. And she was so tired. “Yes. Is anyone here to pick me up?”
Levi came through the door. “It is I, your trusted squire and driver, ready to take you home. The gang—well, most of it—is waiting at the academy. We’re having a watch party for the results.
My parents want to make sure I asked about the results.
They’ll be posted at midnight on the coven’s website as usual, correct?
” This question he aimed at Cleo, who blushed and nodded.
He took Mia’s arm and bag. “I’ll take this one off your hands.
I bet she falls asleep in the car before we get home. ”
“Take care of her. Dark forces are around this week,” Cleo said as they headed out the door.
The warning was chilling, but at this point Mia just wanted to be home.
As he walked her into the car, he kept his arm around her.
“You look like shit. Sorry the test was so hard on you this time. Coven leadership is nasty. No wonder Trent refused to be part of the mentoring program. He would have been set up for life. They pay crazy money, but you have to be like them. Cold and unfeeling.”
Clouds formed over them on a perfectly clear day. They looked up and saw lightning bouncing from one cloud to the next.
“I’ll shut up and we’ll get you home.” He helped her into the passenger side of his Jeep.
Typically, it took her ten minutes to get home from council headquarters, but Levi did it in half that time.
He didn’t even park, just drove straight to the front door.
Abigail was waiting for them as Levi helped Mia get out of the car.
Sitting on the couch, Mia felt strength coming back into her body. When she’d left the test, she’d felt like a wet noodle, drained of any energy, even with Abigail’s lunch. Now, she started to feel like herself. Grans put a cup of tea in her hands.
“Drink all this before you even try to talk.” Grans’s voice shook a little, and Mia looked up into her eyes.
“I’ve been monitoring your vitals, and the witch almost killed you there at the end.
I’m ready to do the same to her. I’m filing a formal complaint with the coven.
You’re a kitchen witch. You weren’t training in battle magic. ”
Abigail rubbed Grans’s shoulders. “I think she’s more than just a kitchen witch, Mary Alice. Mia, don’t worry about anything today. Just drink that tea.”
Mia followed orders, but instead of getting energized from the tea, she immediately fell asleep.
As she started to wake up, she heard voices around her.
Blinking, she saw she was still downstairs and a group encircled her.
Damien, Grans, Abigail, Christina, and Levi sat around the coffee table, making a circle with her and Mr. Darcy on the couch.
Muffy lay on the floor by Grans’s chair, watching Mia.
She slowly blinked and sat up, stretching as she did. The darkness outside the windows told Mia she’d been asleep for a while. She checked her watch. It was late. The results should be arriving any time. “Can I get some water?”
Levi handed her a bottle from a cooler he’d set up next to him. “We can’t leave the circle until you’re back to normal. I’m hoping that’s soon because I need to use the restroom soon.”
“Gross,” Christina said, but she smiled. She was sitting between Levi and Abigail, so either they’d patched up their fight or Abigail was trying to make that happen by putting them in close proximity to each other. “How are you feeling, besides thirsty?”
“Good.” Mia quickly took inventory of her body from her head to her toes, like she’d learned in yoga. “Better than good. Whatever was in that tea worked.”
“That was just a sedative to give your body time to recover. Whatever you’re feeling, that’s all you.” She glanced at the laptop. “Thirty seconds to the announcement. You’re right on time.”
Mia sipped her water as she watched the center of the circle. This time, a woman who looked like she’d stepped out of a Bridgerton TV show appeared in her living room.
“Mia Malone, you have passed your test with flying colors.” The historically dressed woman smiled at her.
“Your next test will be scheduled in six months. Congratulations on reaching level five. You’ve been working hard and this testing proves it.
Make sure you talk to your coven leadership about what type of role you desire to serve in our organization.
We see big things coming your way. Thanks for all your hard work, and welcome to your next step as a coven member.
Participation. A bank deposit will show up monthly based on your test level. ”
With an arm flourish and a twirl, the witch filled the room with sparkling stars and disappeared. The stars lingered.
“This isn’t happening.” Mia groaned and leaned back into the couch. “I don’t want to be level five. I was hoping I wouldn’t even hit level four.”
“Wishes and horses,” Grans said, then repeated, “wishes and horses.”