Page 110 of Mistaken Magic

"Youhave ten minutes to get a drink, bathroom, or anything else,"Brackentold me as he moved down to the center area and began cleaning up the mats. "ThenI'mgoing to teach you how to deal with magic."

Thathad my complete attention. "Yeah?I'mgood."

Hawkecame out of the changing room and started helping. "Howlong you keeping her,Bracken?"

"Onehour today,"Brackensaid. "Fromthere, we'll see how it goes."

Hawkenodded. "Wedon't want her walking back alone.CanKeirreally dispel well enough?"

"Ican,"Keircalled as he made his way out.

"Hecan,"Brackenpromised. "Nowyou boys get out of my classroom.Rain?"Hepointed at the ground. "Tieyour hair into a bun.Youwon't want it in the way for this."

"What'sthis?"Iasked as the room began to empty.

Brackenjust chuckled and walked away.Yeah, clearlyIwas not getting an answer to that.IwatchedKeirandHawkeleave together, something about that making me a little anxious.Theentire middle area had been cleared, leaving nothing but a wooden floor.Notthe best footing,I'dbeen taught, butI'dwork with whatIwas given.

ThenBrackenpicked up a single stick and moved to the edge. "Thereare three ways for a trueLegacyto prevent magic.Thefirst is iron, and it's not something students are encouraged to carry in school.I'vegotten an exemption for you, but if you abuse it, you will be right back here for another week, amIunderstood?"

"Yes, sir,"Iagreed.

Brackenpointed to a rack by the door. "There'sa keychain there.Pickit up when you leave, because that is not the option we're working on today.Now, the second way is to have a charm or enchantment that will negate a spell.Liamtold me he offered you his own charm and it went off.ThatmeansHarper'sspell got through.Wehave no way of knowing how serious it would've been, but it's gone now."

"Ok, soI'massuming that's not what we're doing today either?"Iasked.

"It'snot," he agreed. "Today, you are going to learn the hardest way to keep a fae from enchanting, conjuring at, or cursing you - by interrupting it."

"What?!"Igasped. "How?"

"Forevery bit of magic we do, we must first visualize it.Morepower means more effect.It'sone way of being strong.Control, however, is the key.Themore control a person has, the morepredictable the result.Thefaster they can make it happen.Themore specific the effect.Controlis nothing more than managing the magic to obey the way we want it to instead of the way we feel it should."

"Ok?"Iwas keeping up so far.

"Theless control a fae has, the longer it will take for them to activate their power.Tryingto figure out what they want to happen, imagine how it will look and the way it will be released, is all the time you have to stop them.Seconds,Rain.So, to practice this,Iwill be casting at you.Thespells will not hurt, but there will be a lasting effect.Whenyou leave here, everyone will see just how many times you were hit with magic."

Igroaned. "Ok, andIjust rush you or something?"

"Apush, a distraction, or startling me will break my 'casting,' for lack of a better term.Now, how far away wasHarperthis morning?"

"Onlya few feet,"Iadmitted.

Brackenmoved closer untilIgestured that was about it.Thenhe lifted his hand. "Areyou ready?"

Ipulled in a breath then nodded.

"Thenstop me," he ordered.

Hisbody tensed andIrushed in, trying to shove at his arm.Itdidn't work.Iwas a half-step away when something popped over my head and a torrent of tepid fluid rushed down my body.Inshock,Igasped, turning to look, only to find bright pink... paint?Likesomeone had dumped a glass of it over my head, and it was soaking through my clothes!

"Oh, that's gross,"Imoaned.

"Thendo better," he said. "Reset."

Itried again, jumping and yelling to spook him out of his control this time.Thepop over my head was softer, but it still came.Evenworse, the powder that rained down around mesparkled.Halfof it drifted to the floor.Hangingmy head,Ichecked, and yep, that was glitter.

"Youjust glitter bombed me?"

Theman's expression finally cracked and a laugh broke free. "Ohyeah.Thisis the most funI'vehad all week."

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