Womby's School for Wayward Witches Series, #6-10

by Sarina Dorie

bleached

covered. Her bed was bigger than mine and covered in a multicolored quilt. I

room that was foggy? I felt as though I was falling into a jumble of images and sensations. Feathers brushed against

drawings, some in pencil, others in ink. Fantasy

and the good-looking dancers. I don’t know

Thatch cursed him with some kind of memory-altering spell that made

be under her influence. He’s been lying to me about something, but I don’t know what. I’m afraid he’s going to hand me

young and beautiful. Perhaps my affinity had released her suppressed siren magic when she had coerced me into helping

bed and

abruptly died away. My ears rang in the silence. Jeb stood, purple light emanating from his palms. White sparkles flickered above our heads before fading away. His voice thundered across the room. “This meetin’ ain’t over. While this matter is bein’ investigated, we got ourselves another pickle. Ahem. Mr. Puck.” Puck stood and stepped forward. His puff of blond hair was even more wild than usual. “Okay, guys, don’t shoot the messenger, but here it is: Sebastian Reade taught an elective, but the subject matter is essential for students for the spring exams. They need to know the basic grammar and pronunciation of foreign languages so they can pronounce spells correctly. The Latin helped students in Evita Lupi’s zoology and animal-magic classes and Grandmother Bluehorse’s herbalism and plant magic. The Gaelic, Fae dialects, Old English, and other languages were useful for Felix Thatch’s alchemy and potions and for Vega Bloodmire’s spells, charms, hexes, and wards classes.” He drew in a deep breath. “When situations come up and teachers need a substitute that often falls on Jeb, Khaba, and myself. Currently our principal is seeing to other duties off campus trying to raise funds, Khaba needs to focus on security and investigating Sebastian Reade’s death, and I’m still juggling schedule changes.” He allowed that to sink in. “Oh no,” Vega said with a moan. “So you’re asking us to fill in for the foreign language teacher?” Jackie Frost’s tone was as chilled as her Elementia affi...

turned smug. “I’ll do it if you attest to my innocence. And Felix’s.”

couldn’t figure out why they’d hired me back. I flipped

jovial man I’d grown to love. It couldn’t be a coincidence the wind had opened the shutters, smelling like Derrick’s affinity, and my sketchbook had turned to the page showing Derrick. Icicles skated through me. I wrapped my arms around myself. Derrick was haunting me from afar, reminding me of what he’d done, that he’d try to kill me again. For all I knew,

She wore my mom’s Kiss Me, I’m Irish apron while my mom instructed her in pie making. Chase towered over my petite fairy godmother, her brilliant orchid hair making the auburn of my mom’s appear dull by comparison. Even when my mom made us all kale smoothies for breakfast, Chase said, “I’ve never had so many good foods in my life!” The other girls sipped their smoothies without protest, but they weren’t quite as enthusiastic. I could tell Imani was trying hard not to retch. Kale wasn’t my favorite either. “It’s still better than school food,” Hailey said. “I love kale,” Chase said. “My mom used to make me kale smoothies all the time! She used to grow it in her garden.” I wondered if her mom had used magic in her smoothies to make her complacent. “You’re so good with herbs in Grandmother Bluehorse’s classes, I always assumed you were Amni Plandai, not Elementia.” I said. “My mom is. Was.” Chase pushed her half-finished drink aside, her smile fading. “She had an affinity with herbs.” No one spoke. The other girls sat around the breakfast table, eyes downcast. As usual, I had said the wrong thing. Mom placed her hand on Chase’s shoulder. “When did it happen, dear?” “Last year in the spring. The farm is out past Lachlan Falls. When the house caught fire, she got out okay, but she didn’t want to leave the goats to burn in the barn, and she ran in after them. The roof collapsed on her.” She covered her face and sobbed. “I didn’t even know it had happened until two weeks later be...

the packaging tape, but there wasn’t one. My address had

there

you.” “Sasquatches are good at wards,” Pinky

wife glared

standing, and he hadn’t offered her his chair. Silas didn’t seem to notice his wife or her animosity. Periwinkle accepted the seat, which now placed her beside me. I considered giving my seat to

usually were about whether they were a

thought

yelling and throwing spells.” She stared at the floor, flinching

here?” No one answered. Thatch slid closer to the door. “Don’t even think about it,” Periwinkle

windows high up in the wall. Plants hanging from the ceiling in baskets reminded

wardrobe and the bed. She

imaginations run wild wasn’t going to help. “The principal is

air smelled like lemon cleaner and lavender.

joking. “You can’t use any perfume, makeup,

deflating my

fingers. “I

she not?” Elric shook his head. “Drank from my wines?” Elric shook his head again. “She isn’t like other Witchkin. She has willpower.” Me? Ha! If it hadn’t been

off. On most days, I would have jolted upright in a panic and rushed to get ready so I wouldn’t be late for homeroom.

we have to dump out the entire potion and start over.” “Look at my uniform.” Becca waved a hand over herself. For the number of holes in her black sweater, gray-and-silver skirt, and white blouse, she might have been attempting

striped