WitchCraft Academy (The First Book)

Axel and I spend hours honing our skills, practicing fireballs and lightning bolts, directing them toward the stubborn rocks that trap us in this dimly lit tunnel. Despite our efforts, the rocks barely budge. So much for trying to get out of this place by the end of the night.

"I'm tired," I admit, settling against the wall on the sleeping bag and small pillow that Magnus had used. I hate the idea of curling up in the same sleeping bag as him but it's getting cold out.

Axel reaches for the backpack and hands me a pop-tart and a bottle of water before getting one for himself. "Me too. I don't think there's anything else we can do. At least we gave it a shot," he says. We've decided not to discuss the events with Mr. Gtimshaw out loud, just in case Silas astral projects in here and spies on us.

"Well, I guess all hope is lost," I say dramatically, exaggerating my voice.

"Does that mean you're going to let me die?" Axel jokes.

"Most likely," I joke back, offering him a small smile. We eat in silence for a while, passing the water bottle back and forth, conserving as much as we can.

As I ponder our sleeping arrangements, the cold seeping into the room, I realize there's only one pillow and one sleeping bag for the both of us.

"You can have the pillow and sleeping bag. I'll be fine here," Axel says, as if he can read my thoughts.

"Are you sure? I feel bad," I express, feeling uncertain. It's getting pretty cold in here for springtime and we have no real heat aside from the one small torch on the wall.

"Of course. The cold doesn't bother me," he reassures, smiling at me as he lights up another cigarette.

"Okay," I finally concede after a prolonged moment of hesitation. I climb into the warm sleeping bag and close my eyes, attempting to sleep, but rest eludes me. My mind is consumed with thoughts of Silas's betrayal. I was foolish enough to trust a stranger from another realm and even fall in love with him. Now, countless lives hang in the balance. I try to hold back the tears by squeezing my eyes shut tightly. I keep seeing flashes of his lips upon mine and us smiling and laughing together. I trusted him so much…

As I lay there, time seems to blur, and eventually, I become aware of the faint sound of Axel's chattering teeth amidst the silence. I knew it would be too cold for him, he should have just listened to me.

Opening my eyes, I glance up at him, observing as he desperately tries to warm his hands by breathing into them, his breath visible in the cold air around him.

"Come on. I can't let you freeze to death. That would give Silas too much satisfaction," I say, sitting up and partially unzipping the sleeping bag to make room for him.

"It's okay, I'm fine," he insists, attempting to suppress his shivering. I roll my eyes at his stubbornness.

"It's not like we haven't slept together before," I tease, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips. "Unless you were too drunk to remember."

"I may have been very, very drunk, but I remember it clearly. I remember holding you in my arms all night," he says softly, causing my cheeks to flush crimson.

"Just hurry up before you freeze," I urge, diverting the topic.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he finally climbs into the sleeping bag with me and zips it back up. I shift over to make space for him, and we end up in an awkward position, lying face-to-face, our breath mingling in the small space. I feel his icy hands brush against my arm and nearly jump out of the sleeping bag, yelling in surprise.

"Sorry," Axel mumbles, attempting to keep his hands away from me and by his side.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the weight of Silas's betrayal presses heavily on my heart. Unable to hold back any longer, tears well up in my eyes, and before I know it, they start to stream down my face.

Axel's expression softens, and he instinctively pulls me into his arms, offering me solace and comfort. I bury my face in his chest, seeking refuge from the pain and confusion that Silas's actions have caused.

In the safety of Axel's embrace, I let my tears flow freely, my sobs muffled by the fabric of his shirt. He holds me tightly, his touch gentle yet firm, providing a sense of security that I desperately need in this moment of vulnerability. He runs his hands through my hair and kisses the top of my head multiple times, just being here for me.

We stay like that for what feels like an eternity, his warmth enveloping me, his heartbeat a steady rhythm against my cheek. Gradually, the weight on my shoulders begins to ease, and a sense of peace washes over me.

Exhaustion eventually takes its toll, and as my tears subside, I find myself drifting into a peaceful slumber in Axel's arms. Our bodies entwined, we seek consolation in each other's arms as we fall asleep.

In my dream, I find myself walking in a beautiful meadow with a bright summer sky. As I walk, I notice Ethan approaching me, and I realize that he must be dreamwalking, which is his rare gift.

"Hey, how are you guys doing?" Ethan asks, and I happily embrace him as I approach.

"We're okay. I haven't had much to eat today, just a pop tart, but we're getting the hang of using fireballs and lightning bolts," I reply confidently. "What's happening out there?"

Ethan proceeds to explain that the Sisters were under mind control, but Miss. Reed created a potion to help them. However, they continue to pretend to be brainwashed around Silas and his uncle. Most of the students haven't noticed anything different, but Mr. Grimshaw, who taught them battle magic, will help me escape after class tomorrow.

"After class?" I ask, surprised. "I was hoping for tomorrow morning."

"We need to act normal and not raise any suspicions. They have powerful magic that even I don't know about, and I'm a magic nerd when it comes to this kind of thing. The Sisters are in the dark here too," Ethan explains, his expression grim.

"Okay. We'll figure this out. We'll find a way to send them back where they came from," I say confidently.

"Ember... we can't. They'll just keep coming back for this world. We have to get rid of them for good," Ethan responds, avoiding eye contact.

"You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting!" I protest, raising my voice. "We can't kill them! It's not right!"

"It wasn't right for them to kill Nico, Taylor, Phoenix, and Sophia either, Ember! The Sisters believe they can't strip the powers of a warlock from another realm because they can't return foreign magic to our earth. There's no other way," Ethan argues, his voice filled with regret. He hates violence. "If you can, try to stay out of this. Your emotions are too involved, and we can't afford that right now," he says, fading away, leaving me in a dark, dreamless sleep.