“No, I’m not sure.” I glance back at the book to see what else I need. “But I think he can help. Dark magic is kind of his thing. And we’ve…we’ve been talking.”
“Callie.” Eliza crouches down. “He’s the devil.”
“I know. And he’s my uncle. Maybe I’m stupid, but I really believe being related means something to him.”
“Yeah, it means that he wants to manipulate you.”
I don’t know how to explain what I feel. It’s crazy, and the more I try to rationalize it to myself, the crazier it sounds. “I’ll be careful. I’m just going to ask him some questions, and then you’ll wake me up.”
“Are you sure this will even work?”
“No,” I tell her honestly. “Though if anything, I’ll have a short little power nap.” I add the final herbs to the pot and get up, brushing my hands on my shirt. “I need potion vials and candles. I’ll be right back.”
I slink into my room and grab two potion vials, a handful of votive candles, three glass jars, and the water bottle that I left on my nightstand from this afternoon. I dump half the water into the pot and arrange it on the jars. I stick the candles underneath and use magic to light them.
I hold my hand over the pot, tempted to use magic to heat the potion, but Pandora reminds me that I have to use the heat from the candles for a reason. Letting out a sigh, we start mixing up the herbs for the potion that will bring me back.
“I never realized you could make a potion like this,” Eliza says, looking at my little setup. “It’s like spellcrafting on a budget.”
I smile. “I used to do that in my dormitory at the Academy. We obviously didn’t have cauldrons in our rooms, and sometimes you’d need a potion in the middle of the night.”
“The glass never gets too hot?”
“Oh, it can. We preferred using cans of soup.”
“We meaning you and Kristy?” she asks.
I nod. “And the twins. The four of us roomed together every year since I got there.”
“You missed a few years, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I was almost eleven when I started at the Academy. Everyone else starts when they’re six.”
“Interesting.” She goes to the window and looks out at the yard. “Can witches perform magic that young?”
“Some can.” I hold my hand over the potion and move my index finger in a clockwise motion, stirring it. “I started doing magic on accident when I was three, but I’m not a full witch.”
“What about normal stuff?” She turns and looks at me. “Stuff nons learn in school.”
“We learn that, too. The first few years at the Academy aren’t much different than regular school, actually. Kindergarten there is the same as kindergarten at Thorne Hill Elementary, with a few lessons on magic thrown in there.” I sit on the edge of the bed, waiting. “I think the Academy taught us more, to be honest. Obviously, we learn magic, but we learned how to do taxes, how to manage a household, and classes on finances and budgeting were mandatory our senior year. You had to pass regular geometry before you could study sacred geometry, and if you didn’t get a B or higher in English, you couldn’t move on to Latin, which was required before advanced spellcasting.”
“Very interesting.”
I nod. “We really did learn a lot, with a mix of that regular stuff necessary to live along with the magic.”
“Sounds intense.”
“It was. That’s why it’s a boarding school. We were in class most the day.” I let my eyes fall shut, thinking back to my Academy days. Life was so much simpler then.
“Even the young children stayed overnight?”
I shake my head. “No, not until they’re older. Kindergarten through third grade keep hours like they would in public school. Then it slowly gets more intense until you turn thirteen.”
“The potion is ready,” Pandora says, voice echoing around us.
Inhaling, I get up and carefully pour the potion into the vials, keeping the corks off to let it cool. After rinsing out the pan, I add the ingredients and start the second potion.
“When the time is up, what do I do?” Eliza asks.
“Pour this in my mouth,” I say, wrinkling my nose. “Slowly, so I don’t choke. Pandora will be here helping.” I open the window and move the vials to the sill, letting the chilly, evening air help cool them. A few minutes later, the second potion is done. I set it on the windowsill and hold up the sleeping potion, which is a deep amber color.
“Somnum,” I say, holding the potions up. They glow for a brief second, and then the light fades away. Risking burning my hands, I grab the other potions, not having the time to waste waiting for them to cool.
“Surgit.” I enchant the potions, bringing the elements of the potion to life. “Okay. Here goes…” I force a smile and give Eliza the waking potion. Then I lie on the bed and down the sleeping potion like a shot. It slides warm down my throat, taking effect almost immediately.