Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

T he tension in the dining room was quiet, almost like a jet flying overhead right before a sonic boom as my friends’ gazes bore into me, their expectations weighing on my shoulders like lead.

Finn’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury and desperation. His jaw clenched, muscles twitching beneath taut skin. Everything about his posture screamed “Choose me!”—from his clenched fists to the way he leaned forward, as if ready to snatch me away from Jaxon at any moment.

Twyla’s face was a mask of concern, her brows furrowed and lips pressed to a thin line. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, a silent warning flashing in her eyes. Don’t do it, don’t trust him , her expression pleaded.

Valentin and the headmaster stood like statues. Their expressions were neutral, but I caught the slight tightening around Valentin’s eyes and the barely noticeable twitch of the headmaster’s fingers. They were trying so hard not to influence me, but their stillness spoke volumes.

As for Kamaron, he paced back and forth, fingers raking through his shock of white hair. Indecision was written in his every step and gesture. He muttered under his breath, weighing pros and cons that I couldn’t hear.

As the cacophony of their expectations threatened to overwhelm me, something deep inside me shifted. A calm settled over me, drowning out the noise.

I took a deep, sobering breath. The scent of magic—ozone and spice—filled my lungs. Time slowed almost to a stop as I made my choice, logic finally bowing to the insistent pull of my heart.

“I trust you, Jaxon,” I said, my voice stronger as I handed the bracelets back to Rose. “Show me how to use these, Rose. Time to play the game on my own terms.” The words hung in the air, heavy with finality.

I stretched out my wrists, palms up and vulnerable. My skin prickled with goosebumps, my muscles tensing involuntarily as I braced for pain. Memories of past agony flickered through my mind, but I pushed them aside.

My eyes locked with Jaxon’s, searching his face for any hint of deception. But all I saw was relief, determination, and something softer that made my heart skip a beat. “I trust you,” I whispered again, as much to reassure myself as him. “Please don’t make me regret it.”

I heard a sharp intake of breath from someone—Finn or Twyla, probably. I didn’t look away from Jaxon. This was my choice, for better or worse.

Rose stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. The bracelets clinked softly in her hands, a sound that once would have sent ice through my veins but now merely caused my heart to quicken its pace.

Her eyes, warm green flecked with gold, met mine. There was a gentleness there, mixed with determination. “All you have to do is say these words,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. The air around us went still and silent, as if the very room was holding its breath.

“By moon’s light and shadow’s might,

Let chains of magic take their flight.

Bracelets break, release the power,

Return to me in this hour.”

The words hung shimmering in the air. I could almost taste the magic on my tongue, electric and wild.

“You don’t even need to say them out loud,” Rose added. “You can just repeat them to yourself.”

She held one of the bracelets over my wrist. I could feel heat radiating from it—or perhaps it was just my own nerves setting my skin ablaze. My hand trembled despite my resolve.

“Are you ready?” Rose asked, her voice gentle but firm.

I swallowed hard, trying to moisten my suddenly dry throat. “Y-yes,” I managed, the word coming out shaky and barely audible. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the scent of magic. My teeth clenched, jaw tight as I steeled myself for what would come next.

With exquisite care, Rose placed the first bracelet on my wrist. It snapped into place with a soft click, like a hospital band. I flinched instinctively, but...nothing. No pain. No torment. No searing anger coursing through my veins.

Rose’s eyes searched my face, concern evident in the slight furrow of her brow. “Does that hurt?”

I blinked in amazement. “No,” I breathed, shaking my head in stunned disbelief. “Not at all.”

“Good,” Rose nodded, a small smile at the corners of her mouth. She gently secured the second bracelet. “Now—repeat the spell. Do you remember it?”

I nodded, my heart thundering in my chest in a wild rhythm that echoed the ancient magic I was about to attempt. With a shaky breath, I closed my eyes, centering myself.

As I began to recite the incantation in my mind, something unexpected happened. Each syllable didn’t just resonate in me—it ignited. A tingling sensation sparked at the base of my spine, chasing up to the nape of my neck and spreading through my limbs like wildfire.

A soft clatter jerked me back to awareness. My eyes flew open, widening in disbelief at the sight of the bracelets lying on the floor, innocuous and ordinary, as if they had never been magical restraints at all.

Gaping, hardly daring to believe what I’d just witnessed, I licked my dry lips and repeated the spell again. The words felt different this time—charged, potent. To my amazement, the bracelets rose into the air, floating with an ethereal grace and settling back onto my wrists with a whisper-soft touch that sent shivers cascading down my arms.

“I... I can’t believe it,” I stammered quietly. I stared at my wrists in awe, turning them this way and that. The metal felt cool against my skin, but there was also something more, an energy thrumming beneath the surface, a power I could feel in my very bones.

Gone was the oppressive weight I’d come to associate with magical bindings. In its place was a lightness, a sense of potential crackling at my fingertips. I flexed my hands, watching in wonderment as tiny sparks of magic danced between my fingers.

A laugh bubbled up from deep within me, equal parts joy and disbelief. I felt free, yes, but more than that, I felt powerful—incredibly, unexpectedly powerful. It was as if a door had been flung open inside me, revealing a vast reservoir of magic I never knew I possessed.

“Is this really me?” I whispered, both thrilled and slightly terrified by the implications. The air around me hummed in response, singing of possibilities I was only just beginning to comprehend.

I looked up at Rose, then at Jaxon. “It worked,” I breathed, a smile breaking across my face. “It really worked!”

The room seemed to collectively exhale, the tension draining away. Jaxon’s eyes shone with pride and something deeper, while Rose beamed at me. Even those who had doubted looked pleased by the successful demonstration.

For the first time in what felt like ages, hope blossomed in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, we had a chance after all!

Rose rubbed my arm. It was warm and comforting. “Remember,” she said, her voice was low and steady, “when you wear these bracelets, you won’t be able to use your magic, but it’s only temporary, to fool the others. You can break the spell at any time, but they won’t know that.”

I exhaled slowly, still feeling danger circling me like vultures. “Okay,” I murmured uncertainly. I wanted to make sure I still had control over the bracelets and mumbled the spell again. The bracelets fell onto the ground.

The headmaster’s voice cut through the air, sharp and authoritative. “Simon is expecting Peyton in less than an hour. I suggest you head out to Ravenwood Estate. We don’t want them to know that you came to Red Rose Academy, so Ethan has procured a car for you.”

My gaze darted to Jaxon, seeking his reassurance in this moment of uncertainty. What I saw made my breath catch in my throat. His eyes truly captivated me—deep, dark pools that looked like they held entire galaxies within them. They blazed with an intensity that made my skin prickle, a potent mixture of fierceness and unwavering protectiveness directed solely at me.

A lock of his blondish-brown hair had fallen across his forehead, softening his otherwise warrior-like appearance. This small, vulnerable detail contrasting against his overall powerful presence—his broad shoulders and strong jaw—made my heart flutter in my chest like a trapped butterfly, its wings beating frantically against my ribcage.

Jaxon’s gave me a slight nod, almost imperceptible, but in that small gesture, I saw his utter faith in me, his unwavering promise to stand by my side no matter what came next.

The warmth of his belief in me was violently at odds with the cold dread pooling in my stomach, but I swallowed hard, trying to summon even a fraction of the courage I saw reflected in Jaxon’s eyes.

“Well, I guess I’m ready,” I said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. They felt hollow, a lie I was telling myself as much as anyone else.

Suddenly, Twyla was there, her arms wrapping around me in a fierce embrace. The scent of fresh daisies from her crown enveloped me, reminding me of simpler times. “I still can’t believe this is happening, Peyton,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Be careful.”

I squeezed her back, trying to memorize how safe I felt in her arms. When we parted, my eyes stung with unshed tears.

Kamaron stepped forward, his hug warm and brotherly. As he pulled back, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. “You’ve got this, Peyton—oh, hey, you need this,” he said, grinning. “Why don’t secrets ever get auctioned?” I shook my head. “Because they always go for more than they’re worth!”

Jaxon snorted and rolled his eyes, but I caught a hint of a grin tugging at his lips. Despite everything, I felt a smile spread across my face. Kamaron’s joke was beyond terrible, but it was still a balm to my frayed nerves, a touch of normalcy in this surreal moment.

Finn stepped forward, closing the distance between us. His warm hands landed on my shoulders, his grip firm and grounding, an anchor in the storm of my doubts. I inhaled sharply, catching the scents of pine and earth that always clung to him, remembering all the times he’d been there for me.

“Don’t be afraid to shift, Peyton,” Finn said, his voice low and urgent. His eyes, the color of sun-dappled leaves, burned with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “Even if it means you burn that place down. Do whatever you have to do to protect yourself.”

A rippling sensation moved through me, equal parts thrill and terror. Finn had always pushed me to embrace my power. His unwavering belief in me made something fierce and primal stir in my chest.

I didn’t like the idea of burning down Ravenwood Estate. That wasn’t the goal—finding the Dragon Nexus was. But Finn’s protective fervor warmed me all the same.

Rose squeezed my hand, her fingers intertwining with my own. “You’ll be fine, Peyton,” she assured me, her voice steady and calm. “You’re strong.”

Valentin put his hand on my shoulder. His touch was light compared to Finn’s. “Find the Dragon Nexus, then call in the cavalry. Don’t focus your attention on what goes on in there. It’s not a good place, Peyton. Be careful.”

His words deflated some of bravery I had finally managed to muster, and my breathing quickened, shallow and rapid.

The reality of what I was about to do lit a fire in my belly. I really was walking into Dante’s Inferno.