Page 40 of Elmwood Inclusive Magic Academy
“Maybe I’ll enchant the dolphin shifter instead,” Persephone giggles. “What do you think, Gwen?”
“Oh, don’t drag me into this…”
“Well, that’s enough enchanting for me today,” Maggie yawns. A precious, quiet sound that’s barely audible. I picture her wrinkled nose and the ache in my stomach intensifies. “I’m going to bed. See you all tomorrow!”
“See you, Magpie!”
The mermaids continue down the hallway. At least two of them. Ideally, I could catch just the one I need. But when have things ever been ideal?
I wait until the smell of cinnamon dissipates, then I come out of the shadow.
“Hey,” I whisper to the three dark figures left in the hallway.
They turn. The vampire, the long-haired mermaid, and…
“Can I speak with you?” I ask Gwen.
Gwen squints anxiously. “Um, me? Why…”
“It’s important.” I try to soften my gaze, but I know from the nervous expression on Gwen’s face that I’m failing miserably. “Please. Alone?”
“No way,” Persephone interjects, placing herself in front of her sibling. “There’s no way you’re speaking with them alone!”
“Shh!” I put my hands out, palms down. “Keep your voice down. Ok, I’ll speak with both of you-”
“All three of us,” Hallie adds, excitedly.
“Fine, all three of you. But let’s go to the east wing. I’ll explain everything there.”
“What are we doing in the fortune-telling classroom?” Hallie asks, wandering around the empty, dark classroom. She taps on a large glass ball.
I’m not in the fortune-telling class, so I have no idea what they do in here. I don’t even know if any of this really works, butI’m desperate. I find an empty table in the middle of the room, with enough moonlight coming in through the large east-facing window. I take a seat, and the other three join me hesitantly, Gwen across from me.
“First, you have to swearneverto tell anyone about this,” I start solemnly. I look at each of them in turn, pausing longer at Persephone.
“What! I can keep a secret!”
“She won’t tell,” Hallie taps her fingers impatiently on the plush satin table cloth. “What’s going on? Is this about…the other night?”
“Ooh! What happened the other night?” Persephone asks.
“That’s not our business, Percy,” Gwen breaths, their voice barely audible. They shift awkwardly in their seat.
“No, no, it’s not about that,” I say. “It’s about…”
I sigh. I’m not good with words in general, and I hadn’t fully thought this through before bringing all three of them here.
You’ve gotten this far, might as well.
I steady my breathing and ground myself in my seat. Unconsciously, my fingers drift to the wooden ring I wear around my neck.
“I need to know if I have a fated mate.”
Persephone’s eyes widen and turn gold. Hallie’s mouth opens slightly, revealing her two sharp fangs. Gwen clutches their sealskin pouch, knuckles even whiter than usual.
I breathe in deeply. “I know that fortune-tellers can sometimes confirm…details about such things. It’s ok if you can’t tell me a name, or anything concrete. Any information would be…helpful.”
“Most shifters have fated mates,” Persephone says eagerly, a grin across her luminous face.
