Page 71 of Magic in the Woods
It was anger bubbling up in my blood, forcing its way out of me. Flames shot out of my fingers, the crowd of witches diving out of the way. My throat felt raw as my voice box vibrated, a scream climbing up my throat and out of my mouth. She didn’t get to take this from me—the family I’d found. That was mine.
The smell of burnt hair met my nose before the smoke cleared, and I took several steps back, turning my hand to look back at my fingers. They were uninjured. There was no black char, and the skin wasn’t even red.
The cavern was silent. Not even the sound of breathing met my ears. Everyone froze in place, staring at me, their eyes wide and their mouths open even wider.
I’d just created fire magic. I wasn’t supposed to be able to do that.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Dafni
Matilda stood on the stage;her eyes were just as wide as everyone else’s. The bottom of her dress was gone, her legs red with white blisters bubbling up from her skin. I needed to work on my aim.
“No!” Matilda’s shriek blew all the lantern flames around the room sideways, dimming the room before the flames returned upright.
I looked back up at the stage, at my mother now on her hands and knees as she looked out at the crowd, her wet hair draped over her face. It was almost sad to see her like that, crumbled up in front of the witches that worshiped her. She’d been nothing but strong and dominating every other time I’d seen her. Intimidating my grandmother, intimidating and belittling me every chance she got.
Matilda turned her head, speaking to Robinson in words I couldn’t hear.
He looked at the Velkans and Brooke, walking over to where they stood, backing them into the wall, near the entrance of the cavern, his index and middle fingers pointed at them. Emily clung to Annabel, who tucked her daughter behind her body, shielding her from Robinson. As soon as he had them trapped, he turned, guarding them with his back, nodding to Matilda.
“Enough!” Matilda screeched, quieting the cavern. She stood slowly, limping as she walked to the edge of the stage, her eyes glued to me. “There is nothing that will please me more than to see you fail tonight, daughter.”
Mother turned, moving slowly toward the empty seat that’d been Gideon’s for the last two evaluations. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Robinson look behind at the Velkans before taking a step toward Matilda, conflicted about whether he should stand guard or help his Prime.
There was a flash of black hair and a white collared shirt.
Gideon.
I kept my eyes on the stage, my senses alert, as I watched him hand something to Luke…it looked like pieces of paper. Gideon disappeared just as soon as he’d appeared, leaving the cavern. Luke looked down at what Gideon had given him and passed it to his mother. Annabel looked down at her hands, moving slightly behind Luke so she could get a better look without Matilda or Robinson noticing.
I saw her look up, at me.
“Let’s move on with tonight’s competition,” Matilda announced as soon as she’d settled herself in the chair. “It’s an important night for the Academy and, in turn, the Coven. I’m sure my daughter won’t try anything again…and put her beloved family at risk.”
Robinson stood a little taller, puffing his chest out.
“Young Gideon, whom I’m sure will be here shortly, will be choosing a partner,” Matilda continued. “Someone powerful. Someone who in turn will create powerful witches who will one day call the Academy home.”
Bouncing ringlets caught the other side of my periphery.Petunia.She was sitting in the front row, a determined look on her face.
“Robinson, explain the task.” Matilda slumped back in her seat. Having spent the last year frozen and being engulfed in flames seemed to have weakened her.
Robinson took a step forward, away from the Velkans, clearing his throat before he began. “You’ll see there are work benches with burners set up.” He motioned to the benches I’d seen when I’d walked in. “There are cauldrons beneath the tables and ingredients located in the baskets along the wall our earth elemental witches sodelicatelycrawled through earlier this month.”
I stood on my tiptoes, looking at the baskets overflowing with glass jars that I’d missed when I’d entered the cavern.
“You will have one hour to make a potion. One of the most challenging potions a witch can create.”
The witches around me were silent, anticipating the naming of the potion. I already knew what it would be…so long as Gideon had told me the truth.
“Rage.”
A collective gasp echoed throughout the cavern.
“Rage is one of the strongest emotions. It encompasses feelings of anger, irritation, and resentment. For a witch to create rage would signal their power, their ability to sway the strongest emotion we possess. Not all of you will be able to create rage.” He looked directly at me. “In fact, I’m not sure any of you will.” Robinson stood a little straighter. “You have one hour. Begin.”
The witches began pushing, and I tripped over my own feet as the witches rushed toward the work benches. Finding an empty burner, I lifted the heavy cauldron up and onto the top, grunting as metal hit metal causing a screeching sound.
