A Class of Conjuring

As soon as we opened the door to the outside, we had to dodge students stumbling into the building, some cut and bruised, a few of the younger students crying. My hippie field missions instructor raced by us, covering a cut above his eye, his headphones resting around his neck. Challis was obviously hellbent on causing as much terror as possible. I just didn't understand why another witch, warlock, or wizard didn't stop her.

Six icicles slammed into the ground at my feet, and I looked up to see Challis laughing at me from across the courtyard. She raised her hands to cast another spell, and as the snowballs raced in my direction, Braeden pushed me away. The snowballs smashed the door behind us. She glared at me but didn't cast another spell in my direction. Instead, she went after the others.

I moved back to my feet, helpless. "Find cover," Braeden said. But I didn't. I wasn't running.

"We've helped everyone we can," Oliver said. "We're going to have to fight that bitch." His face was red, and sweat raced down his temples. He had his computer in one hand and was stabbing at buttons on the screen with the other. We moved further into the courtyard where several students laid motionless. A few cried for help while others looked to be in shock. Several instructors entered the courtyard and began casting spells, but their challengers were too powerful. Challis cast spell after spell, taking out most of the instructors. My Hexes and Potions instructor appeared, and Edius took him out immediately, trapping him inside a whirlwind.

Kyler raced by, his hands raring back. "Terra aperta!" he yelled and shot his hands forward. A small hole opened in the ground beneath the whirlwind, sucking the whirlwind down. The instructor, dazed, fell silent. Kyler rolled across the grass, barely avoiding a half dozen lightning bolts cast by Edius. Edius flew away, charging after less seasoned witches and warlocks.

I grabbed my wand from the sleeve in my pants and yelled for the others. "Which of you has fought Edius in the past?" I asked. We needed experience on our side. Everyone raised their hands except Braeden.

"He kicked our asses," Kyler said. "He's too powerful for the students and most of the teachers." I glanced around and several of the instructors were running to buildings.

"Their magic is dark," Ruby said. "That's why we're unable to defeat them. The best we can do is keep them busy until other help arrives."

Edius swooped in and laughed, turning his attention to Ruby. "Hello, my dear," he said. They locked eyes, and he seemed to have the same expectation of her that he had of me. Ruby raised her hands to cast a spell but stopped. I watched, and waited but she did nothing.

"Ruby," I said. "Take him out."

Ruby did nothing, only stared at the man.

Oliver, Kyler, and Braeden cast a spell at the old man, but he blocked the spells with ease, sending the spells crashing against the crystal buildings. We were screwed.

"Fools," Edius chided. He turned to Challis. "Finish off the students, but leave that one to me." He pointed at me. "I'll need her later." He glanced at Ruby again and at that moment, I knew they had met before. He could have killed her where she stood, yet he left her alone.

Edius flew away, disappearing into the clouds. Challis cackled and fired a fireball in our direction. The fireball missed its mark, and I realized it had been a joke, taunting us. She then went after the other students, creating chaos and confusion. "Here!" Nicolette called to everyone. She created a spell-blocking shield big enough to hide our small group. The others stepped beneath the shield. I didn't. I stayed in full view of Challis. Daring her to attack me. Remembering what Edius told her. "Dispel her!" Nicolette yelled at me. "Use your fire magic!"

I stared at Nicolette and then looked at Challis, a smile working across the witch's lips. She cast a fireball at my feet, but I refused to move. Ironic. I couldn't destroy her, and she couldn't destroy me. We were at a stalemate. I could hear the others yelling for me to run or take cover, but I knew I was safe for now.

The guys stepped from Nicolette's shield and began casting spells, firing ice, fireballs, and tornadoes at Challis. Using his earth magic, Kyler tossed a slab of the sidewalk at Challis. But one by one, Challis brought the others to their knees. I thought for sure I was about to lose the four men I cared for the most.

"Attack that bitch!" Nicolette screamed once more. But I couldn't. And for a moment I considered Challis was actually using my powers against everyone, the powers she'd stolen from me. "Challis!"

I turned on my heels to see Aurelius approaching, a spell already forming in his hands. He wore a magnificent robe with adorned shoulders. His hat was covered in half-moons. For the first time since we met him, he looked like an actual wizard. He cast his spell at Challis, hitting her and sending her backward. Challis composed herself and fired back. Aurelius easily defended himself, catching the spell and dropping it to the ground. He stepped on the spell with his large foot, smiling back at Challis.

Incensed, Challis screamed in defiance and prepared her next spell. She pulled a wand from her belt and twirled it in small circles.

"Challis," a sterner voice called. I turned in the opposite direction to find Headmaster Eliphas entering the courtyard. He had also donned his official wizard attire. Challis moaned. An opponent she had no power to defeat. Challis moved away quickly but found the wherewithal to attack one last powerful instructor. She sucked the power from the woman and the woman collapsed to the ground. And then she turned a trick I'd never seen before. She brought her hands over her head and chanted, pulling moisture from the clouds. She cast the spell quickly, avoiding Aurelius' attempt to stop her, and froze every student and teacher in the courtyard. The courtyard looked like a winter wonderland. Seeing the ice had no effect on Headmaster Eliphas or Aurelius, Challis flew off over the buildings, her cackling like nails on a chalkboard. With Challis gone, Aurelius and Headmaster Eliphas broke the spells holding everyone in ice. The two men stared at the devastation around them.

"This has to stop," Aurelius said to Headmaster Eliphas.

"I've done everything I can," Headmaster Eliphas replied. The two men obviously disliked each other.

I looked around the courtyard at the damage and the people struggling on the ground. Students helped teachers and teachers helped students. Everyone but me had been hit by a spell, and I was the only one unable to fight back. The witch who had been called the chosen one had been defenseless against Challis and Edius. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with anyone.

"You did everything you could," Kyler said, which was untrue. I did nothing and could see I did nothing based on Braeden's disappointment. It was beginning to look like old times.

"You two," Headmaster Eliphas said to Braeden and I. "In my office." He then turned his attention to Aurelius and the others. "Clean this disaster up while I talk to these two." Aurelius obviously didn't like being told what to do by Headmaster Eliphas, and I wondered how long it would be until the two had a battle of their own.

The faces around me told me everything I needed to know. Challis and Edius had attacked because of me. But it made no sense that Edius left me behind, knowing I had no power to stop him from taking me if he wanted. It also made no sense that he was within feet of Ruby and let her retain her powers.