WitchCraft Academy (The First Book)

The next couple of days zoom by in a blur. It doesn't take long for everyone to realize that Nico is missing, and the entire school goes into panic mode. Nico's family and The Sisters even reach out to human rangers to search the mountains and woods surrounding the school in hopes of finding him. Axel assures me that his body won't be discovered, but the guilt is consuming both of us.

With the intense search efforts and heightened security at the school, I haven't had the opportunity to sneak out and gather more supplies for Silas. Honestly, I'm desperate to uncover more about this mysterious warlock, so I decide that tonight is the night. I gather some snacks and food from the school kitchen and pack them into my backpack along with my walkman, portable DVD player, and a case filled with movies and CDs. I also grab an extra pillow and blanket as well.

Waiting for Juniper to drift off to sleep, I quietly snatch my backpack and tiptoe out of the girls' dormitory. Stealthily, I descend the stairs and make my way through the secret passageway. Following the dimly lit tunnels, I finally emerge into the forest. Retrieving a small box from my pocket, I open it and release a floating ball of fire that illuminates the path leading to the cabin.

I sprint most of the way, a shiver running down my spine as I imagine being alone in the dark woods at night. Relief floods over me as I reach the front door and find Silas sitting by a cozy fire. I drop my bag and bedding to the ground, closing the door behind me as I settle down next to Silas, basking in the warmth of the fire.

"I did not think ye to come back," he says, his gaze fixed on me as I thaw my frozen fingers by the fire.

"Of course, I wasn't going to leave you out here all alone," I reply, a smile spreading across my face. "I brought food, entertainment, and warmer bedding."

"Thank ye," he murmurs, still staring at me. I feel a sense of unease and decide to get up, grabbing the backpack and handing him bags of cereal and chips, along with a container of mixed fruit.

Then, I hand him the DVD player and turn it on. The screen immediately displays the main menu of The Breakfast Club. He nearly drops the device in shock, but I manage to catch it just in time.

"What sorcery is thee?" He exclaims, his bright blue eyes wide with astonishment.

"It's not sorcery. It's an 80s movie," I explain, trying to contain my laughter as I press play.

"How didst those people get inside thee magical box?" He asks, giving me and the DVD player a puzzled look back and forth.

"Again, it's not magic. It's technology. More like science. They aren't actually inside the screen. They recorded it almost thirty years ago," I explain to him.

"Thy time is so strange," he replies in a bewildered voice. "What do ye do with it?"

"You watch it. It plays a story for you," I explain.

"Why did ye not join me sooner?" He asks, placing the DVD player on the floor next to him as we sit together in front of the fire.

"A kid from my school went missing. Many people have been searching for him, so it's difficult to sneak out," I tell him, gazing into the fire, hoping to bury any emotions related to Nico.

"And this is someone you care about?" He questions, and I nod.

"We were kind of together and had an argument right before he disappeared. I feel really guilty about it," I say, concealing some of the truth from him.

"I hope he is found," Silas says, and I offer him a faint smile without replying. Deep down, I know Nico will never be found alive, and I can't help but feel responsible. If only I had slept with him, Axel wouldn't have come to the treehouse, and they wouldn't have fought. I've done everything else, so why am I so hesitant about having sex?

Because I don't want to with Nico. He used to be sweet until he practically called me a slut, but he was also incredibly dull. I can't lose my virginity to someone I find boring, which is why I couldn't sleep with him. I don't mean to speak ill of the dead because I still feel terrible about his death. Axel, on the other hand, has locked himself in his room, drowning his sorrows in heavier drinking since then.

I show Silas how to operate the DVD player and the Walkman player, which currently has a Nickleback CD inside, before preparing to leave.

"Allow me to accompany ye back. It's a dark night, and it's not safe for a lady in thy woods," he says, grabbing his cloak and wrapping it around himself before stepping out of the cabin into the cold darkness.

"Thank you, Silas. These woods give me the creeps at night," I tell him, wrapping my jacket tighter around myself as we follow the ball of fire back. "What's it like in your dimension?"

"Most different," he says, walking very close to me, our shoulders touching. "We lack magic boxes, and women do not wear trousers like they do here. The witches also rule in my time, not the humans."

"Where are all the humans?" I ask curiously.

"In scattered villages. There aren't many humans left," he responds casually. "It's strange that yer world seems mostly human."

"Because it is. Witches hide in secret here," I explain to him.

"Why?" he asks as we stop outside the tunnel leading back to the school.

"Because... Well, I'm not sure why. It's always been that way," I respond honestly. "Thanks for walking me back."

"I will see ye soon?" he asks, raising an eyebrow at me and standing way too close, his scent of spearmint filling the air.

"It's hard to get out now, but I'll be back when I can, with more food," I say.

"Worry not about food. Yer food is strange here, I can hunt for myself. I just want to see ye again," he says softly, and I'm glad I already put the fireball back in the box so he can't see me blush.

"I'll be back when I can," I tell him again, entering the tunnel alone and walking through the secret door into the main hallway. I notice Axel at the bottom of the boys' stairs, passed out drunk, and I sigh.

"Come on, up you go," I grumble in frustration, attempting to lift him but finding him too heavy. He groans in response. "Axel, if you don't drag your sorry ass up these stairs and into your dorm right now, I'll kick it for you myself."

He groans again but manages to stumble to his feet. I hook one of his arms around my shoulder and wrap my arm around his waist, practically dragging his intoxicated body up the stairs. When we finally reach his dorm, I expect him to collapse onto the bed, but instead he stands there, swaying from side to side. I quickly fetch a glass of water from the sink and make him drink it.

"Thanks," he mumbles, his words slurred.

"No problem," I reply.

"Yep. I know you can get away with a lot here, but if The Sisters caught you like this, they'd kick you out of the school for good. Maybe send you to rehab," I say, only half-joking.

"I killed someone, Em," he whispers, his words heavy with alcohol. "I didn't particularly like Nico, but I never intended to hurt anyone either."

"I know. It was an accident," I assure him, unsure of what else to say. It's a secret that weighs heavily on both of us. "We have to try to move on, though."

"How?" He asks, his sad brown eyes fixed on me.

"I have no idea," I sigh, sitting on the edge of his bed. "But I can't leave you alone in this state. You could choke on your own vomit or something."

He rolls his eyes and lies down on the bed next to me. "Have a little more faith in me than that."

"I don't know if I can right now," I reply honestly.

"I won't argue, but only because I don't want you to leave. Come lie down with me," he says, lifting his arm to make space on the pillow.

"Axel..." I start, but he cuts me off.

"I promise I won't try anything. I just want you to be here with me for a while," he says, his voice surprisingly innocent. I sigh and lie down next to him. He immediately wraps his arms around me, and we fall asleep together almost instantly.