Red Rose Academy Year Four, page 5
Professor Eastey rushed up beside me. “Rose, wait.”
Hot, angry tears blurred my vision. “I don’t want to hear it, Professor.”
He gently clasped my arm. “He’s not himself.”
I stared at him as if he came from the planet Saturn. “Don’t you know I realize that?” I wiped away the hot tears from my cheeks and took a sobering breath. “He’s my friend. At least, he was. And now he’s acting like a pious asshole.”
“Yes. You need to get his soul back.” His statement caught me off guard.
I gave him a wary look. “What?”
“Your destiny is unfolding, Rose. I have seen it.” His voice had a mysterious tone.
I stared at him blankly. “I don’t understand. What do you mean, you’ve seen my destiny?”
“Come with me.” He escorted me into his classroom, where Valentin was leaning against the wall waiting for us.
Professor Eastey cast his gaze over Valentin. “Ah. Good. You stayed. You need to see this, too.”
He opened the door and motioned for Valentin and me to enter. The first thing I noticed was a crystal ball on a round polished table in the center of the room with a single chair at it. Seriously? A crystal ball? What was next? Reading tea leaves?
Professor Eastey grabbed two more chairs and placed them around the table. “You don’t believe in crystal balls, Rose?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
“Hmm. You should. My wife is quite gifted in seeing the future in them.” He sat down in one of the chairs and then motioned for us to do the same.
My eyes rolled back in my head so far I almost pulled something. Meanwhile, Valentin hardened his face, not giving a hint of whether he believed in the fairytale or not.
Valentin and I sat in the chairs opposite Professor Eastey. The crystal ball emitted a faint glow. The ball itself seemed to contain swirling mists within, ever-shifting, never settling. Even though I wasn’t a believer, it still gave me goosebumps.
Professor Eastey’s face softened as he looked at the ball, his fingers brushing its cool surface with a loving, gentle touch. “This, my dear students, is no ordinary crystal ball. It’s an artifact that has been in my wife’s family for generations. It can provide glimpses of the future, but remember, the future is always in a state of flux, depending on what happens in the present. What you see in one moment may not come to pass if the path you’re currently on changes.”
I gulped. That actually made sense. “How does it work?”
The professor glided his palms across the ball. “You must clear your mind and focus solely on the ball. It might show you something, or it might not. Sometimes, in fact, the future is best left unknown.” His last few words haunted me.
Maybe we shouldn’t look.
Before I could say anything, Valentin leaned closer. He gripped the edge of the table as his irises reflected the swirling mist in the ball. “I want to see.”
“Very well. Gaze into the crystal ball, boy.”
Valentin took a deep breath and stared intently into the ball. At first nothing happened, but then the mist inside the ball began to shift and coalesce, forming first patterns and then images.
I saw a vast forest, dark and foreboding. Suddenly, it disappeared and changed to the inside of a stone building with an altar. On the altar was a shadowy figure. My heart clenched, and I gasped when I recognized them.
It was Valentin, chained and struggling. Around him were cloaked figures, chanting in an unfamiliar language. Were these shadow demons? The scene shifted again, showing a large, gothic church, its windows aglow with eerie green light.
“Be calm, Rose,” the professor reminded me. “This may or may not come to pass.”
The images faded and returned to swirling mist. Valentin pulled back, his face pale. “That’s… That’s where my brother is. I’m sure of it.”
I stared at the Professor. “Was that the original St. Louis Cathedral?”
“Yes. Deep in the bayou.” Professor Eastey looked between us. “Remember…I cannot stress this enough…the future is not set in stone. These visions are merely possibilities.”
Pleasepleasepleaseplease don’t let shadow demons capture Valentin.
I hesitated, then whispered, “I want to see too.”
I focused on the ball and saw myself standing in front of a massive door adorned with symbols I didn’t recognize. As the door slowly creaked open, an overwhelming darkness threatened to consume everything. But I stood firm, a blinding light emanating from my hands, pushing back the dark.
A soft voice pleaded, “Rose, help us.” It was my mother.
The vision ended abruptly, and I gasped, pulling back from the table. I exchanged a look with Valentin, both of us wondering about the significance of what I had seen.
I blurted, “That was my mother’s voice.”
The professor nodded. “Yes. I know.”
“Is she in the darkness?”
“Perhaps. Or it could be a ruse. The demons you are facing can make you think or see anything they want you to. Especially Balthazar. He will offer you your most longed-for prize but always at a great price. Never trust him. If you do, you’re doomed.”
“And Grayson?”
“He has made the wrong choice. That much is clear. But not even my wife can see what will happen to him.” He clasped both our hands. “The path ahead is fraught with danger, but also hope. Remember all that you’ve seen and let it guide you, but do not ever let it utterly dictate your actions. If you do, you could indeed wander onto a dark path.”
We sat in silence, contemplating the glimpses of the future we had witnessed, each lost in our own thoughts about the journey ahead.
I knew deep down in my heart that all paths led to St. Louis Cathedral.
Chapter
Eight
All the warmth of Professor’s Eastey’s classroom evaporated, and the murals of the moon and stars on the ceiling and walls began to darken. I hugged myself as a chill descended over me, my gaze drawn toward the crystal ball on the table. I had been wrong to doubt it. What other secrets lay hidden within its depths? Could it tell us where my parents were being held?
Valentin sighed audibly as he leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. “So… What do we know?”
Professor Eastey lifted a single eyebrow. “I know that you will start cleaning immediately.”
Valentin slowly straightened up in his seat with an expression that clearly said you-can’t-be-serious. “Really?”
Professor Eastey harrumphed. “You didn’t think I was joking, did you? You can start with the shelves. You’ll find a dust rag in my cabinet next to the door.”
Valentin shot me a this-sucks look before resignedly pushing back his chair and heading over to the cabinet.
I watched Valentin, wishing I could help ease his pain. “And what are we going to do?”
“We are going to practice magic.” Professor Eastey picked up the crystal ball, carefully put it in a velvet-lined case, and shut the lid.
He picked a white candle up from his desk and got a little bottle off one of his shelves. “Shadow demons are pure evil, so it’s imperative we start with something that is pure goodness.” He set the white candle down where the crystal ball had been. “This candle is made of beeswax, but I believe that to fight this evil you will need to use some essential oils to help you remain calm. This is lavender oil. It helps you stay tranquil. Never give into fear when fighting shadow demons, Rose. Do you understand me?”
I nodded. “What happens if I do get scared?”
He sighed as he lit the white candle—the flame illuminating his handsome face. “It is an opportunity for them to start tearing you apart. If your mind is tangled with fear, you will not be able to perform a spell, and you will be at their mercy.”
Valentin moved the dust cloth over the ceramic and glass jars on the shelf roughly, obviously listening intently to Professor Eastey. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to break something. I’m sure the professor knew he was eavesdropping on our conversation, but he kept focused on me and didn’t call him on it.
“Shadow demons are not like ordinary foes, Rose. They are not like men or even other supernaturals. These creatures were never born, but made in Hell. You need to forget all the other spells you have ever learned, because none of those will work on them.”
I scowled. “Then how do I fight them?”
“I’m going to teach you some new spells that you can use to fight a shadow demon. The first thing that you need to remember is that they are born of darkness and fear. They thrive in the absence of light, both literally and figuratively.” Professor Eastey waved his hand, extinguishing every source of light in the room except for a single candle. Its flame flickered but refused to go out, casting long shadows around the room. “The first spell we’re going to learn is the Light Conjuring Spell.”
I thought back to what I had seen in the crystal ball. “Wait. Was that the spell I used in my vision in the crystal ball?”
He avoided eye contact with me, and I wondered if he had seen more than I had in the crystal ball.
He cleared his throat. “Yes.” He clapped his hands. “Now, the first thing you need to know is that this is not just about conjuring light, but embodying hope and resilience in your magic.” Professor Eastey raised one hand. “Etheraro.” A radiant orb the size of a billiard ball materialized and hung suspended above his palm. “Practice this. The brighter your light, the weaker the shadow demon will become.”
Valentin had stopped dusting altogether. He seemed mesmerized by what the professor was saying and doing.
“Professor, what about the Aura of Banishment that you taught me a while ago, against Balthazar and Ari? Will it keep the shadow demons out?”
“It can, if you have time to gather all the ingredients. Shadow demons are much faster than other demons, faster even than Balthazar.”
“Oh,” I said meekly. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
As if reading my thoughts, he gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Rose. There are other spells you can use to make a protective circle. That’s what I’m going to teach you. But to cast them successfully, you must be calm and not afraid. If you’re not…well…you’d better have all the ingredients handy for the Aura of Banishment.”
He looked at me. “Speaking of which, let’s review—what is the spell for the Aura of Banishment, and what ingredients do you need?”
The spell was engraved in my brain. A thrill ran through me as I spoke the words—
“In this circle, safety dwell,
Banish all who wish me ill.
Iron, stone, sage, and salt,
In your presence, demons halt.
Bound by blood and bound by spirit,
Evil forces shall not near it.
As I speak, so shall it be,
Aura of Banishment, protect me.”
My voice was full of power and confidence. Once again, those same tingling sensations rolled over me when I said the words. It was as if the spell unlocked power deep inside me.
Professor Eastey smiled, and his eyes twinkled with approval. “Very good. And now, the ingredients?”
I took a deep breath, wanting to get this right. “Salt, because it’s a universal purifier. Iron filings and obsidian stones, which are used for grounding…”
“And?” He drawled out the word.
Crap, what had I forgotten? I slapped my forehead after a moment. “Oh—yes. Sage. How could I forget? I’m sorry.”
His lips thinned in response, making me nervous.
“Oh, and something personal of mine. Like a lock of hair or something similar.”
He cocked his eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
“The first thing you do is make a circle with salt. Next, you light the sage, allowing it to fill the circle. Then put the lock of hair or whatever in the sage. Then you sprinkle the iron filings north, south, east, and west.”
“Very good,” he nodded slowly. “And did it work?”
“Well, neither Ari nor Balthazar could get to me. However, I don’t know about the shadow demons. They weren’t concentrating on those of us within the circle.” I glanced nervously over at Valentin, who had his back turned to us. I lowered my voice. “They were focused on Dimitri.” A chill swept over me as I noticed Valentin shift uncomfortably. His shoulders slumped and he bowed his head.
Great, he must have heard me. I had to learn these spells so we could rescue his brother.
Professor Eastey sat back down into his chair, peering intently at me. “You are a very gifted witch. Your vampire blood makes your magic even more powerful. I believe you will be able to master these spells with practice very quickly. Do you still have all the ingredients for the spell to practice at home?”
“Everything but the salt.”
“You can take mine. Just remember to replace it.”
“I will, thank you.”
He gestured for me to turn over my palm. “Now, let’s move on. I want you to practice the Light Conjuring Spell. Take a breath and focus.”
I inhaled and exhaled and then turned over my palm. “Etheraro.” Tingles swept over me and ended at my palm, which then turned warm. An orb of light appeared, marble-sized, floating just about my skin.
The professor smiled. “Very good, Rose. Very good. But that isn’t the only thing you can do with this spell. You can also make the light bigger.” He held out his palm again. “Watch—Etheraro.” The same white orb formed above his palm, but then he put his other hand above the orb and began moving them slowly apart. The tiny white globe expanded, growing bigger and bigger and brighter and brighter, casting its brilliant light into every corner.
I had to shield my eyes and took a step away from the professor.
Suddenly, the orb shrank back to its original size. I had to blink several times before the dots floating around my pupils faded.
Professor Eastey grinned like a Cheshire Cat. “Pretty powerful stuff, eh?”
I rubbed my eyes. “It was blinding.” I glanced over at Valentin who looked to be blinking away black spots too.
Exhaustion was settling over me, and I couldn’t fight back a yawn.
Professor Eastey chuckled softly. “Are you getting tired, Rose?”
My cheeks heated up like a hot stove. “I’m sorry. Performing magic sometimes takes a toll on me.”
A touch of concern filled his eyes. “Yes, it’s been a long day. But this last spell is vitally important for you to learn.”
Something in his voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up.
I searched his face, looking for answers. “Why?”
“First, tell me how you feel right now.”
I took a moment, trying to put the feeling into words. “I feel powerful, but also... kind of dizzy. Like…like I drank too much coffee.”
He nodded. “That’s that surplus magical energy within you. If left unchecked, it can lead to feelings of disorientation or even result in unintentional bursts of magic. This is why the Grounding Spell is essential.”
My eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Grounding Spell?”
“Exactly,” he said. “Consider it a way of safely returning energy back to the Earth, like a lightning rod.”
I looked down at my hands, thinking of the dangers of my unchecked power. “So it’s to bring closure after a spell?”
“Indeed,” he continued. “More than that, the spell helps us forge a bond with the Earth, reinforcing our connection to the source of our powers. My connection is with the moon and the stars. By doing this spell, you’ll discover what you connect with the strongest. Plus, it clears the mind, acts as a shield against unwanted energies, and reminds us of the discipline our craft requires.”
“So how does this spell work specifically in terms of the shadow demons?”
“If you’re not grounded, the other spells will be weaker, making it easier for the shadow demons to strike.”
“That’s not good.”
“No. But you’re powerful, Rose. You must believe in your abilities.” He glanced over at Valentin, who had stopped dusting and was standing still with an expression of confusion on his face. The professor sighed. “Valentin, are you finished?”
“Not quite.” Valentin jumped slightly, then shook his head apologetically. He went back to his task of dusting, but his progress was painfully slow; it looked like he wasn’t going to finish today.
“Have a seat, Rose.” Professor Eastey sat cross-legged on the ground and motioned for me to do the same. “Shadow demons can easily disorient you, making you lose touch with reality. This spell will help you stay focused. Place your hand on the ground and connect with the Earth’s energy. Draw from its steadiness and strength.”
I crossed my legs like the professor and placed both my palms onto the floor.
“Now, close your eyes and say ‘Traeom Tormitus’,” he said.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I said the words out loud, a low rumble vibrated through my palm. A warm wave of energy surged through my body as clear visions of mountains, pine trees, and all the colors of nature filled my mind. I felt like I was part of the Earth and her vibrant energy surged through me like a roaring river, filling me with her strength, her power, her fury.
“Open your eyes,” Professor Eastey said.
I did as he asked and saw he had a white aura floating around him, while mine was as blue as the sea.
He gestured with his hand. “Ah, so your powers come from water. It is a powerful gift. You must learn to tap into it.”
“And how do I do that?”
“By practicing grounding each day. In time, you might even be able to call upon water to help you with a spell.”
“You mean I can draw on water, out of the ocean or a river?”
“Yes, but it takes practice and great power. I believe you have the power already, but you need to hone it with practice.”
He snapped his fingers. “Valentin, please come join us. I suspect a snail would have cleaned my shelves faster than you.”
Valentin lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Professor.”
