An Odd Sort of Magic

Chapter Two

“All in due time,” Ms. Shelling assured the frigid girl, and at the same time, Jayan left the scene, zipping through space and time. This time, when she landed, she knew where she was. It was the hallway to the art room. Vanessa and Ms. Shelling were talking in hushed tones. “You must keep an eye on her, Vanessa. Remember your promise.”

“I don’t see what such a young girl can do to hurt you and your mission,” Vanessa reasoned.

“She has abilities far beyond those of my other students. If she were to discover my secret, or yours, she may use it against us.” Ms. Shelling was close to panic, “watch her by choice Vanessa or I’ll be forced to assign you to her without your consent.”

Vanessa sighed, “I’ll watch her, but only for your sake, and because I am under oath. I do not wish to die, not now.” She nodded one last time, and watched Ms. Shelling rush down the hall. Another flash, and Jayan surfaced, panting and looking wild. Vanessa’s eyes were still closed. The young girl’s watch showed only a minute, if that, had passed.  Jayan realized with a jolt that she had just witnessed what Vanessa had been thinking about, in this case pondering over a few memories.

“Shut your eyes,” Vanessa commanded, aware of Jayan’s movement. Jayan quickly shut them, preparing for the flash, but none came. An hour passed, and Vanessa tapped Jayan, who opened her eyes to see that her new ‘friend’ was standing. She got to her feet, nervous. Was Vanessa aware that she had looked into her mind? But Vanessa said nothing about it; she just told Jayan to follow her and left the room, Jayan on her heels. They went from room to room. Now that it was 8o’clock-ish, people were getting up, and they occasionally saw someone. Activity’s varied from room to room. In some, Jayan watched Vanessa practice her magic, and in others, they studied battle techniques.

It seemed like hours before Vanessa finally said, “lunchtime. Almost everyone will be there. You don’t want to miss it.” She paused, “unless you’d rather stay here?” Her smile was tight and cold, not at all friendly. Jayan blinked, confused, but she followed Vanessa out of the room anyway. The halls were still confusing, and Jayan had to walk fast to keep up with Vanessa. She didn’t want to get lost. The table was indeed almost full, although Ms. Shelling was not present. Just like at dinner, Jayan slipped into the seat between Arianna and Catrina, who were both eating quietly. Grabbing the nearest ham sandwich, Jayan devoured it, glancing at the girls on either side of her. After swallowing the last bite, she turned to look at Arianna, whose perky face looked rather forlorn.

“What’s up?” she asked quietly, barely daring to disturb the girl from her reveries.

Arianna looked up, “Oh, just thinking,” she forced a smile, “and how are you? Figured out your power yet?” she asked.

“No, but Vanessa said I should with a little time.”

“Vanessa,” Arianna scoffed, “a teacher’s pet.” After that, she wouldn’t talk at all, and Jayan gave up trying. She followed Vanessa back to the yellow room. She had to find out the secret, and fast. It didn’t sound pleasant. As Vanessa meditated, Jayan copied what she had done the first time she had entered the room. She closed her eyes slowly, and felt satisfied when she saw the blinding flash. This time, the Vanessa was between the 9 and 11 year old Vanessa’s she’d previously seen, not quite 10, but close.

“So you’ve sworn your duty and faith to me, my dear. Are you ready?” Ms. Shelling’s eye’s glinted maliciously, “you know of the magic here, but do you know why?”

“No,” breathed Vanessa, her expression hungry.

“It is because,” Ms. Shelling practically snarled, “all my students are oddities of the magic world, like me. We were cast out, and they turned their backs on us. So I bid my time, and gathered students. Over time they will see their oddness, and I will sway them to my side. And soon after, you and I will lead an army to defeat every last one of those miserable people who left us in the dark!” Vanessa laughed coldly, no sign of fear, or even shock on her face. Her expression was simply cold anger. This memory was much shorter than the others, and it shocked Jayan most of all. When she surfaced, Jayan gasped. She was breathing heavily, her mind racing.

Vanessa looked up, “what’s wrong?” Then her eyes narrowed, “You saw it, didn’t you?” Jayan nodded. “Do you know how much trouble I’ll be in if Ms. Shelling finds out?”

Jayan shook her head, “Can I do anything?”

“No,” Vanessa sighed, “she’s too powerful. But there is one way you could avoid being dragged into this. You could renounce your powers, and let them leave your spirit. You’d be cast out of this school, and you’d escape the fate of the others.”

Jayan knew in a heartbeat what to do. She didn’t want to risk her life, and so, she renounced her powers. At once she and her things were on the sidewalk. She started to run; looking back only once at the house she had known would bring trouble.