The Curse (H. Academy Series #1)

Professor Darth stared at the red egg, and the rest of us held our breaths. My heartbeat reverberated through my veins; strong and steady. Without even fully thinking about it, I glanced up at Thar, who was in return looking at me. His expression was one of concern.

“Eugene.” Darth grabbed the bowl and threw the red egg in the marble sink built into his dark oak table. “Another egg.”

Eugene jumped immediately, shaking out of the trans, and handed another egg to the professor. Amma latched onto my arm, holding me stronger with each second.

Professor Darth broke the egg into the bowl, then took a new, clean needle, “Now give me your finger.”

Eugene’s throat bobbed as he held out his hand. Darth grabbed it and pulled it over the bowl. He pricked Eugene’s finger and let the drop fall into the bowl.

The drop splashed across the surface of the egg yolk, colouring it slightly. The rest of the egg remained its normal colour. I stopped breathing for a few seconds.

Darth let Eugene’s hand go, “That’s truly something.”

Thar immediately turned the key under the door handle, locking us in. Amma’s nails dug into my skin. Morta came closer to us.

“Is the room secured?” He asked.

“Yes.” Darth put his palms against the table. “Eugene?”

“Yes?”

“Will you kill the black ooze for us, please?”

Eugene opened his mouth, but the words stuck on his tongue. He wanted to protest, tell Darth that white magic was useless against the ooze, but he’s just realised the same thing we all have.

“Yes, Professor Darth.” He switched places with Darth and stood right in front of the glass container on the table.

He put both of his hands on the glass, careful not to touch the runes drawn over it. The black ooze, simmering lightly under the glass up until now, sprung into action. It tried to approach Eugene, but it couldn’t touch the spelled glass.

Forgetting my senses were still open, I got slammed by the sudden burst of magic, my head spinning. Energy spread through the room, and the black ooze went wild right before it burst into flames. A screeching sound broke my eardrums. Everyone covered their ears as the black ooze burned before us, turning into ash slowly, but surely.

Eugene removed his hands from the glass and stared down at them with some kind of wonder. Darth had the same look in his eyes, accompanied by parted lips. I met Thar’s gaze; full of realisation and concern.

“Well, that settles it.” Darth looked up. “We’re cursed.”

“Shit.” Morta cursed. “I’m way more scared now than this morning.”

“Okay.” Thar took a step forward, glance jumping between all of us. “I want you all to go back to your rooms and do nothing for the next twenty four hours.”

My first instinct was, as always, to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped me.

“Eugene will stay.” Darth said.

Eugene looked like he was about to pass out.

“Yes, Lange will want proof.” Thar nodded. “Jade, can you promise me something?”

Something inside me cracked at that question, but I managed a nod.

“Can you do nothing for the next twenty four hours without protest?”

I swallowed my heartbeat, wondering what in the world I had still to do except stay put until someone smarter and older dealt with the situation in my stead.

“Yes. We’ll stay in our rooms. I promise.”

“I don’t think I’m ever leaving my room.” Amma snuggled into my side.

“What are you going to do?” I asked with some hesitation.

Professor Darth cleared his throat.

“Professor Adara and I are going to convince Lange that the students in this school are in immediate danger, and we’re not sure whom we can and can’t trust. Then, we’ll take the curse off and defend this school against all enemies, human or not.”

Relief unravelled inside me, taking up all space.

“I’ve wanted to hear someone say that ever since I arrived.” I breathed.

Morta let out a chuckle, “Right?”

“We’ll need to evacuate the students.” Darth said suddenly.

“Yes, thank you!” Amma shouted.

I looked up, “Shouldn’t someone stay?”

“We will stay.” Thar said. “If we can arrange it, you’ll be evacuated.”

Now I wanted to protest, but my phone buzzed right then. When I saw the message, everything inside me stilled.

Dad was texting me.

Meet me in the Headmaster’s chambers in 15 minutes.

“Guys...”

“What?” Amma leaned over my shoulder and read the message. “Crap.”

“What?” Thar was in front of me in a second.

“My father wants to see me. Right now.”

Thar glanced at Darth for a second.

Darth pursed his lips, “You should go talk to your father, Jade. It might be important.”

“Demons-are-about-to-attack important?” Morta mumbled.

I let out a chuckle, “He’s in the Headmaster’s chambers. Guess his own burning down was more symbolic than I thought.”

Darth let out a gurgling sound that might have been a laugh, “It seems you were right, Jade. Something smells like treason in here.”

My gut squeezed.

For the first time since I found out my father might be behind this, I wished he wasn’t.

“Alright.” I stood up. “I have to go, I guess.”

“Do you want me to escort you?” Thar asked, surprising me.

“Please.” My voice almost cracked. Almost.

Thar nodded and unlocked the door.

“We’ll meet in our dorm, right?” I glanced at Morta and Amma. “All of us?”

“Of course.” Morta nodded.

“Jade.” Bella whispered, making me look at her, “Can I stay there tonight? Please. I- I’m not sure if my protection spell-”

“Sure.” I sighed. “Tell Leon to come, too. I think it’s better if we’re all in once place. Dean? Eugene?”

“We’ll come, too.”

“Yes.”

I nodded one more time, and followed Thar out.

The Headmaster’s chambers were in the teachers’ quarters in the southern building, and we had to leave the main building, cross the lawn, and walk through the intricate hallways of the southern building to reach our destination. A sufficient amount of time for awkwardness.

“Jade, listen-” He began once we were in the backyard. “If there is an opportunity to leave the school, I think you should do it.”

The sun was beginning to set, colouring everything pink and orange and red. The sky looked like it was on fire. I stopped walking. We were alone. He was alone with me.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, Professor Adara.”

“Jade.” He stood in front of me when I tried to continue down the path. “I’m serious about this. Darth and I will try to get your father to evacuate-”

“I know.” I cut in. “Now let’s get to my father before he sends hellhounds or something after me.”

I pushed past him and headed for the building.

“I’m sorry.” Thar said, making me stop.

“For what?”

When I looked at him, he had a funny expression on his face, like he didn’t know how to respond exactly. I wondered if he wanted to talk to me about my recent... misdemeanours.

Thar looked down, “For telling you that you can’t come to me.”

I glanced up, my lips parting, “Why?”

“Maybe you would have come to me with this demon-catching issue.” He looked up. “And I want you to know that if you ever suspect something – anything – you can come to me with it. You can trust me, Jade.”

“I know that.” I nodded, “I’ve always known that.”

“I’m also sorry-” Thar took in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry if you thought I wasn’t doing enough. I just didn’t want to be reckless with something this important.”

I offered a small smile, “Yeah, well, I’ve been a bit reckless lately.”

Thar met my gaze, and something flashed in his dark eyes. He would never overtly talk to me about it; he would never admit that there was something else about my behaviour bothering him.

“Just-” He spoke. “Just don’t get hurt, please.”

I smiled, ignoring the pang of sadness in my heart, “You’re the only one hurting me.”

His mouth went slack, and for a second, I saw everything written out clearly in his expression. Sadness, confusion, regret. And I wanted to comfort him, tell him I understood.

“You’re late.”

My father’s voice made me jump, and I turned around in place, facing him. He stood at the entrance to the main building, his hands crossed on his chest, fists hidden under the black robe. His hard expression looked peculiar as he glanced between me and Thar. Shit. Fuck.

“Vice Mage Montgomery.” Thar cut in, voice proper, emotionless. “Your daughter hasn’t done a single homework since she’s arrived to the Academy.”

I took in a sharp breath, ready to protest, when I realised this was probably in my best interest. Him telling my father I was a slacker. Also, it was true. Amma was in charge of homework. She wasn’t too happy about the arrangement, so Morta and I simply did no homework.

My father ignored him, but the way his lips twitched let me know he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Come with me, Jade.” He turned away from us and continued to the building.

“Alright.” I hurried, glance jumping to Thar one more time.

His expression told me everything. Be careful.

I inhaled and followed my father through the building. I kept squeezing my fingers on our way through the empty hallways, too aware of my own heartbeat, irrationally thinking my father could hear it, too. He moved with an elegance I’ve always envied in a way – like there were no obstacles for him in this world, nothing he couldn’t remove or weave through.

He opened the door to the Headmaster’s chambers, and headed for the table without holding the door for me. I grabbed it before it slammed into my face and walked in.

The room was oval-shaped, with three large windows right above the oak table and bookshelves lining the walls, broken only by candleholders. It was grand and crowded. My father sat in the crimson-coloured office chair and gestured at the simple wooden chair right on the opposite side. I sat down, my heart in my mouth.

“The Headmaster told me I should use this room if needed.” My father stacked the papers in front of him on a heap. “I suppose my own office burning down warrants a change of scenery.”

“I guess so.” I murmured, wondering if asking him about the Headmaster would be too obvious.

“There is something you need to know, Jade.”

Sweat gathered at the nape of my neck.

“Oh?” I sounded like a dying chicken.

“And I want you to know it before anyone else.”

“Special treatment?” My mouth was way quicker than my brain. “Are we bonding?”

My father didn’t smile, “These are serious matters.”

“Of course.” The seat ate me up. “What’s up?”

I couldn’t believe I just asked my evil mastermind father what was up.

“I’m arranging the students’ departure from the Academy tomorrow night.”