The Coven Awakens (Hollow Hill Academy #1)

1. Audrey

Chapter 1

Audrey

E ven though hours had passed since I’d left the hospital and its dingy rooms behind, I could still hear the buzz of the fluorescent lighting. The metallic rattle as the train chugged along the tracks did nothing to dim the annoying ringing in my ears. Though it was better to focus on these mild annoyances, than on the words I was doing my best to forget. The ones burned into my mind and heart alike. Words which would stick with me forever. I tried closing my eyes, but it only made it worse, as it took me right back to the room with the elderly woman, one who looked at me like she couldn’t wait until I was gone.

This was my first thought when I regained consciousness. It’s funny, I hadn’t wondered who she was, or where I was, or even why my entire body felt like it had been run over by a steamroller. The thought which had consumed me was why she looked at me like I’d angered her—like she wanted me gone from her sight—but if that was the case, why was she with me?

I didn’t know if there was a good way to find out your parents were dead. Maybe it was while you were sitting on a comfortable couch with your hands wrapped around a cup of cocoa; it would be when they had lived long, happy lives and were ready to go. But I could tell you a really fucking terrible time to find out your parents were dead. And it was when you were lying in a hospital bed, and you had just met your mother’s grandmother for the first time. Especially when she was a cranky old woman who interrogated you more than she comforted. Before I even had time to process what I had heard, she told me I would leave at the end of the week.

Leave home, leave college, leave my friends.

Honestly, there were a lot of words I hadn’t understood. Talk of an inheritance and legacy I didn’t care about. I didn’t care about money, where I was going to stay, or what I was going to do. My head pounded, and not even begging her to leave made her stop talking.

There had been no comfort in her gaze as she looked down her nose at me and told me everything would make sense soon enough.

Sense? The last thing I remembered before I woke up was sitting down to dinner with my parents. I’d been so busy with college classes and work, so I hadn’t seen them in a few weeks. But my memories of the meal were fuzzy, and this woman barraging me with questions and orders wasn’t helping things.

Once she had finally left, with the reminder she would return at the end of the week to collect me and my things, exhaustion swallowed me. It engulfed me so quickly I was sure the whole thing had been some sort of nightmare, but when I woke, the buzzing of the lights filled my ears, and I knew I was still in the hospital. Still alone. The nurses had been sympathetic, but were insistent, I needed to stay until I was well enough to be released.

Of course, the old woman was waiting at the hospital doors the day I was let go. The two young men with her bundled me into the back of her town car before I realized their intentions, and once I was inside, no amount of demands, or throwing my weight against the child-locked doors, helped me escape. It hadn’t taken long for me to notice we were not headed to my home. The woman—and that was all she was to me, as I refused to call her my great-grandmother—reminded me primly I had a train to catch, then was silent for the rest of the journey.

My plans for escape when we reached our destination were dashed as the car pulled up to the train station. The young men had pulled me out of the car while ignoring my struggles and pleas. The exertion tired me out so quickly I was practically limp as they carried me onto the train and into the private room where we now sat. Well, one sat across from me, the other stood out in the hall, presumably just in case I made it that far.

I tried to ask them questions and tried bargaining. I had even threatened a bit, but the man seated across from me had sat there, stone-faced and silent, ignoring me. Finally, I gave up, closed my eyes, and tried to get some sleep. It was then the buzzing had returned to haunt me. It filled my ears and sunk into my brain until it was all I could think about, and I was sure if I opened my mouth, the sound would spill out.

I had become so enveloped in the buzzing—so distracted and captivated—I hadn’t heard or felt the train come to a stop. The man across from me now stood looking down at me, and his hand shook my shoulder roughly. Swiping his hand away with a hiss of annoyance, I looked out the window and tried to guess where we were. Far from London—I knew that much. I did not know how long the train ride had been, but the air outside was now full of fog, and blended into the gray sky.

At least the weather matched my mood.

The man reached for me again, and I slid quickly across the seat, rising to my feet. “Stop shaking me! I’m awake!” I knew as I snapped at him it wasn’t my smartest decision, but nothing else had worked. The grin he gave me was infuriating, and I briefly considered punching him in his stupid teeth. But all that was likely to accomplish was an injury to my hand, and I was still nursing too many wounds to be adding so carelessly to their number.

He didn’t speak, instead he motioned with his head for me to leave the carriage. His counterpart stood next to the door and glared at me like this was all a big inconvenience.

I thought about sitting back down and refusing to move. I could sit on the train all the way back to London, then find some way to get to my home. But like he could hear my thoughts, the asshole inside the carriage stepped forward, and I was forced to move toward the door to avoid him touching me.

This fucking sucked.

Without knowing where I was, I couldn’t run. I didn’t have my wallet or phone. I didn’t have any water, and when I looked out the window, I’d seen no buildings other than the train station. What kind of train station wasn’t in a town? I needed to keep my wits about me and find the best time to escape. My great-grandmother hadn’t told me where I was going, and for all I knew, it was to some kind of insane asylum. There had to be a way out. I just needed to be patient.

My two shadows stepped in close as we exited the train, like they expected me to bolt. We were the only people on the platform, and as soon as we had alighted, the train chugged back into motion. It pulled away and left me stranded.

Again, the brief thought of escape crossed my mind; I could grab onto a carriage handle and let the train whisk me away. But before I could put my plan into motion, a hand cold as ice wrapped around my upper arm, and I was tugged harshly toward whatever future awaited me.

I quickly discovered the train station wasn’t on a road either. There was nothing on the other side except a set of wrought iron gates attached to two stone pillars, without even a fence extending from them. It was one of the more bizarre things I’d seen. If the gates and the pillars themselves hadn’t been in such good repair, I would have thought they were part of some abandoned ruin.

Two words were worked into the iron.

Hollow Hill .

The name meant nothing to me. I was sure I hadn’t heard it before, but it sounded like the sort of despair-filled name they would have given an old asylum before the wars. The sort of place my great-grandmother would abandon me, so no one would ever find me. Though I wasn’t sure why she was going to such great lengths to get rid of me. My parents hadn’t been rich. They had been firmly middle-class—a mortgage, both worked, with cars which were over a decade old.

A shove on the small of my back sent me stumbling forward, and I barely caught my hand on the gate and avoided cracking my head open on one of the bars. As soon as my hand touched the metal, I felt it heat, not burning, but definitely uncomfortable. When I tried to pull my hand away, my fingers wouldn’t open, and my hand wouldn’t let go of the bar. Panic surged through me, stronger than it had all day, and I almost wrenched my shoulder as I tried to pull my hand free.

I ignored the scoff from behind me, as it was clear the assholes would not help. They had probably drugged me on the train and were enjoying watching me hallucinate. Maybe they didn’t work for that spiteful old woman; maybe they worked for this institution, the one I was about to be locked inside.

“Push forward.” The voice was gruff and filled with annoyance. I wasn’t sure which of the two it was, as I hadn’t heard either of them speak before now. Part of me was surprised to find out they had voices at all. I focused again on the growing heat against my palm, and followed the instruction, pushing my hand forward against the bar. The gate opened, much to my surprise.

Once the gap was wide enough to let the three of us pass through, the feeling of heat disappeared, and I could pull my hand off. I cradled it against my chest and took a deep breath before I braved a look downward to inspect how badly burned I was. Instead of an angry red mark, my skin was its pale, usual self. I turned my palm over and back again, as I looked for any sign of the heat or discomfort, but there wasn’t even a hint of redness.

There was a shove to my back, and I was forced to move forward through the gates toward a dirt path which led into the mist. It wasn’t a road—it didn’t look wide enough for a car—and I couldn’t see what was on either side of it. I couldn’t see more than a couple of feet in front of me.

My hesitation must have grated against the last strand of their patience, because I felt another sharp shove, this one accompanied by an annoyed growl.

Not wanting to end up flat on my face or worse, I slowly followed the path with my hand cradled tight to my chest, as my instincts screamed that my brain was wrong and I needed to protect it from further injury.

The fog swirled as we moved through it. Eddies and currents twisted into shapes, which fed the fear steadily building in my chest until it roared. Anything had to be better than this, even running and getting shot in the back. What kind of cruel bastard tortured someone in this manner? My fear became panic, and my breaths were now gasps—shallow and uneasy. My mind spun and whirled, just like the mist.

Just when I was sure I couldn’t take anymore, I stepped out of the fog and my foot struck flat stonework. I was now standing facing the front of a large building, exactly like how I’d expect an old asylum to appear. Other buildings were visible, as well as the impression of trees, so many trees. But the fog stopped at the tree line, as though something—or someone—was keeping it away from the buildings. And all of this was set beneath a twilight sky.

Desperate finally to make my escape, I turned to run, only to have two hands slam down on my shoulders. One on each side held me in place as we faced the ominous building, and no matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t shake them off. I was so busy trying to escape I missed the sound of the door opening. The sound of high heels on stone was swallowed up by the sound of my heartbeat thundering in my ears. It wasn’t until a hand came to rest lightly on my chest I stopped my struggle to turn forward again.

A woman stood in front of me, with a surprisingly warm smile on her face. Her thick black hair was swept back in the sort of intricate knot I would expect to see a bride wearing, but that wasn’t what drew my attention. The dress she wore was skin-tight and covered in gems—blue and white, in all different sizes. She literally glittered in the moonlight. Once she saw she had my attention, she lowered her hand back to her side.

“Audrey, I am glad you made it here safely. We’ve been expecting you. There is nothing to worry about. Why don’t you come with me to my office? I am sure you have a lot of questions, and I will do my best to answer them. Although I am sure you will have more questions by the time I am done.”

There was something about the tone of her voice, or maybe it was the way she was smiling at me, but this was the first time I felt calm or safe in days. It was like my tension melted away with every word she uttered. Unable to find my voice, I simply nodded, and the hands lifted off my shoulders, no longer needing to hold me in place.

The woman turned, so she was now beside me, with her arm hooked through mine. As though we were in some sort of regency novel and about to go gossiping in the garden. Under her guidance, we were soon up the stairs and inside the building. It looked like something out of a gothic horror novel, all dark wood and even darker paint. But my attention remained on her, even though she wasn’t speaking.

The gems on her dress were warm against my arm. I wasn’t sure if the warmth came from the gems themselves, or if they were heated by her skin. Either way, they sparkled and reflected the light as we walked down the hallway. I looked for a pattern among them; was it some sort of design, or were they placed randomly? Maybe I needed to step back and look at them from afar?

I was so engrossed in the gems on the dress I didn’t notice we’d stepped into a room until the door shut behind me. The theme of dark wood and black walls continued into the office, but a raging blaze in the fireplace granted it a warmth the common areas lacked. The woman guided me to her desk, showing me to a plush chair before she circled to the other side.

“I know you likely don’t believe me now, Audrey, but we are glad to have you here at Hollow Hill. Though I’m sorry we are meeting under such dreadful circumstances.” There was something about her, she sounded so sincere. “Now, your great-grandmother warned me you likely know very little about what we teach here. Normally, I would ease you into classes and the student body as gently as possible, but unfortunately, the semester is halfway through, and all the covens have already been formed.”

The word snapped me out of my almost-hypnotic state. Covens? What was she talking about? I must have heard her wrong. The long day of travel, the stress, and now feeling safe in a cozy, warm room. Maybe I needed to sleep before I tried to deal with exactly what sort of institution I had been sent to.

“I can always go back to my college. I don’t mean to be a bother, and if classes have already started, then I will be behind. My great-grandmother kept talking about tradition and legacies, but really, my parents never believed in that sort of thing, and neither do I.”

The frown which marred her features looked serious. “I am afraid I can’t let you leave, Audrey. Your lack of education about your abilities makes you a danger to everyone around you. You aren’t the first student who has come to us like this and there are protocols in place. There is a lot to go through, and I know you’ve had a hard day.”

Hard day—that was what she called being kidnapped? And what the hell did she mean by my abilities? She talked about this place like it was a school and not some institution, but I wasn’t convinced, and I’m guessing it clearly showed on my face.

“All you need to know for now, Audrey, is that you are the youngest in a long line of witches. I know you don’t believe me, but I told you there would be a lot more questions by the time I answered yours. The professors here will help explain things too. There is one coven in the school which still has a place available. We will give it a week to see if your magic is compatible with theirs, otherwise I will need to come up with an alternate arrangement. Witches without a coven do not fare well here, I am afraid. Not that it can’t be done, but given your situation, I think it is far too dangerous.”

Witches? Covens? I was still in the hospital in London, clearly. All of this was some sort of feverish coma dream. The woman who claimed to be my family must have been a nurse or someone else that my brain was trying to place within a bigger picture. I couldn’t keep the laughter from bubbling up at the absurdity of all of this. But the frown the woman wore deepened, and she shook her head.

“I know this is a lot to take in, Audrey. But I promise, over the coming weeks, this will all make more sense. There is going to be a lot of information for you to absorb, but I am here to guide you where needed. My office is always open to students, any time of the day or night.”

I wanted to thank her for the offer, but realized she hadn’t told me her name. There wasn’t a plaque on her desk either. “Thanks, I guess, Miss...” I let my words trail off and hoped she would introduce herself.

The flush which immediately suffused her face made me feel a little better. It was a slight flaw in someone who otherwise looked so perfect, even if they were talking a bunch of nonsense. It made her more relatable and made it easier to humor her.

“You can call me Tatiana. My position here at Hollow Hill is as a guidance counselor. It is my job to help new students settle in, as well as provide other students with insight about the path that lies ahead. Soon you will see the world of possibility which lies ahead of you, Audrey. With the knowledge you gain here, you can do anything, be anyone, and go anywhere. I promise you; you are exactly where you need to be.”

She was so earnest it was hard not to believe her, and all I could do was nod. But this all seemed so crazy, and I was still hoping I was going to wake up at any moment. Then my parents would be okay, waiting for me, and this nightmare would be over.

“Are you hungry? I can have some dinner brought in if you wish. Or I can have you shown to your room, and you can get some rest?” Being offered a choice helped calm me down a little. It wasn’t a choice to leave, which was what I really wanted, but it still helped me feel more in control. I couldn’t remember if I had eaten today, but I wasn’t hungry.

“I just want to shower and to get some sleep.” Surely, sleeping would make it easier to wake up from this, and if it wasn’t a nightmare, at least I would be one day closer to my freedom. Also, I could find my way out easier in the daylight; the mere thought of stumbling around in the foggy darkness was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

The woman, Tatiana, nodded as she rose from her seat, coming around the desk. I stood to meet her, not fighting the odd feeling of comfort as she took my arm again. “I promise Audrey, things are going to seem strange, but Hollow Hill is the best place for you. If you open yourself up, you will learn to do incredible things here.”

It was now feeling a bit like a sales-pitch, but I didn’t want to argue with her. All I needed to do was bide my time, and at least here I was away from the awful woman who claimed we were family. Even the thought of being in a room with her again made me want to run.

I was sure I would regret not paying more attention to where I was being led, but it was just an excuse to explore once I’d rested. We ascended four flights of stairs, and my calves burned a little, as while I wasn’t unfit, I did little stair climbing. I saw no elevators, so it looked like I was going to have to get used to it quickly.

Each hallway we walked down looked the same. And the door we stopped in front of was the same as every other door. There wasn’t a number, there wasn’t any sort of marking. I knew I was going to get absolutely lost.

Tatiana took an old-fashioned key from her pocket, unlocked the door and pushed it open, then handed it to me. “The other members of the coven have been told to welcome you. One of them will bring you to breakfast in the morning. After that, there is some testing you will need to go through. It is nothing you need to study for, and it will help us work out the best path for you moving forward. For now, try to get some rest.”

While she may have meant it to reassure me, my heart still thudded at the thought of what exactly a witch test might entail. Was it going to be like the witch trials? Drowning and finger pricking? If anyone tried to set me on fire, we were going to have a big problem.

I took the key from her and nodded silently. I needed some time alone. Time to process everything that happened today.

“The bathroom is the door there,” she said, pointing at one of the five doors spread along the wall of the room she had opened.

The living room was larger than any I had been in before. Couches circled a fireplace, and bookshelves took up every wall except for one, where a small kitchenette stood. There was no television—but that didn’t bother me much—as I was sure it didn’t fit in with the whole gas-lamp gothic aesthetic they were rocking.

“Your room will be the door at the end.” She motioned to another door while she stayed in the hallway.

I wasn’t sure why she hadn’t entered the room, but I didn’t question it. Shower. I needed a shower. Exhaustion already gnawed at my bones, and I wanted to be clean before I fell into my bed.

“I will leave you be, but don’t forget, my office is always open. I will see you at breakfast, Audrey.” Thankfully, she didn’t wait for an answer.

I shut the door after she left and turned to face my new home. It smelled of smoke from the fire, as well as oddly herbal. It wasn’t unpleasant, just different, but that was another thing to add to the list for tomorrow. My first stop was my bedroom, where there were two suitcases waiting at the foot of a four-poster bed. Towels were folded on the green bedding, almost like a hotel. Not wanting to unpack, I picked one up and slipped into the bathroom. My eyebrows rose at the black stone. There was an enormous bathtub in one corner, and I could hear it calling to me. But I wasn’t sure when my new roommates would come back, and I wasn’t ready to see more people today. Instead, I turned to the large shower and turned it on, at least this school offered good water pressure and hot water.

I tilted my head back and let my mind drift. Thoughts of my parents blended with plans for my escape from this place. Though neither was something I wanted to dwell on, so instead I let the warmth of the water lure me away. I washed away the day of travel as I tried to relax.

Tomorrow was a fresh day. I could worry about things then.