Page 9 of A Drop of Anguish
“Oh, that sucks. What kind of classes are you moving into?” Janet asks.
“Level-six potions and level-four non-magic combat.”
“Ooh.” Lola hops onto my shoulder. “That combat class gets kinda intense. Even Elite students have to take it before graduation.”
My stomach sinks. “Well, that’ll be fun.”
“But you’ll do great in potions, I bet,” Janet adds.
“Yeah, maybe.” It’ll be challenging, but maybe that’s a good thing. In my two weeks off of school after ourordeal, I spent hours and hours in my parents’ studio, working on more potions than ever before.
My parents tried to get me to open up about my few months at this school, but I wouldn’t give them much. Potions, though? That we talked about for hours. They even offered to make me an apprentice if I was that interested, but the truth is I’m not interested in a future career. I’m interested because 1) it gets my head out of the dark places and 2) it’s a means to an end.
Potions are my only grasp on power. My only way to protect myself. I need it.
They didn’t understand why I was determined to come back to Shadow Hills, and it’s not something I could adequately explain. Mostly, I just refuse to run away.
The Akrasia Games are going to begin again, with or without me. Mr. Vandozer may not be here anymore, but there is one connection to the games left here.
Corrine.
My old witch roommate keeps to herself now, and I rarely see her, but she still attends this school, and she faced the jinn and contract moments before I did.
I told the authorities, whom I saw that night. There are at least three students with connections to the Akrasia Games now, but Corrine is my best bet. I intend to keep a close eye on her.
“You okay?” Lola flutters in front of my face, and I jerk back with a stiff laugh. She tilts her head.
“I’m fine!” I laugh, but my smile fades quickly.Kind offine.
There’s a lot on my mind and heart. I miss Liz. I’m angry that I missed the chance to give her justice. And I miss Jarron.
He and I were always more than—whatever you would call us.
We were childhood best friends before he manifested his demon side and hurt my sister. And though I was beyond pissed at him for that night, he made up for it and more during our weeks together at this school. He protected me, defended me, helped me, cared for me. And most importantly, listened. He actually cared.
If only he’d picked me from the beginning instead of my more beautiful sister.
I shake my head from those dangerous thoughts. “I have to pick two new electives too.” I leave out the demon language class since that’s a more complicated explanation than I’m willing to go into right now. “But the good news is, she gave me the rest of the day off while I look through the catalog and decide.”
“Nice!” Lola chirps.
“Have you decided anything yet?” Janet asks.
I shake my head. “I haven’t even opened it.”
“Well, without magic, you’ll have a few limitations,” Janet says, tapping her finger against her chin.
“Right!” Lola says with a wiggle of her wings. “Like I’m in musical incantations where we learn to weave magic into music. It’sreallycool. But you’d need some magic to get in.”
I tap my finger against my lips. “Right. Yeah, that does sound cool. What other classes are you in?”
“I’m in divination,” Lola says, her chest puffed out.
“Really? You never told me about that. That’s so cool!”
She shrugs, but her grin tells me she’s proud of it.
“Have you seen anything? Made any prophecies?”
