Sticking my hand out the window, I mimicked the way Lizzie when up and down like riding a wave and smiled from ear to damn ear.
“Here we come, Liz.”My voice was too quiet for her to hear over the roaring wind that launched our hair this way and that.“Here we come.”
Two-Into The Night & Into The Grove
Temps
Loomingontheedgeof the water just outside of Rockport was an intimidating building up on a hill.Thick trees surrounded it on the three sides that didn’t face the ocean, and it stretched up into the sky like something out of a horror movie.I could see Dracula himself walking out of those imposing double doors at the front, and the building didn’t lack for Gothic architecture.Steeples aplenty topped each turret-like tower, and there was a large bridge that connected the grounds to the road we were on.
“Jesus, it’s like going to fucking Hogwarts.Minus the transphobia, I hope.”Lizzie pulled the car through the exterior gate that led into the school, and I had to agree with her.
The place was exactly what you’d imagine an academy for witches and magical practitioners to be like.However, it was more somber than I would have thought.The sky here looked like it was going to rain at any moment, the sun barely getting through the clouds, and the fall leaves were left to pile up along the sides of the slim road.
A heavy weight in the air settled over me, and as we pulled up to the parking area just before another gate, it was far from what you’d call modern.Still, that held a certain charm.Stepping onto school grounds felt like stepping back in time and across the ocean.
A veritable Victorian England theme park.
“Temps, if I have to walk on fucking cobblestones, you’re buying me new shoes.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes, starting for the trunk of the car to get my stuff.“We’ve been to Salem a million times because we’re so close, and you’ve never complained then.”
Lizzie responded with something, but I was so distracted by the sights around me to hear more than the tone of her classic sarcasm.The school was gorgeous, and through the gate ahead, I could see a set of stairs that led up into a mist that appeared to be perpetually hugging the ground.It smelled like wet leaves and fresh earth, and if I peered through the parking lot toward the back of the academy, I could make out an ancient graveyard.
This was exactly the kind of vibe I was looking for.I was ecstatic, picturing all the long dark hallways and enormous libraries filled with more books than I could conceivably read in a single lifetime.Though I’d try.
“Are you even listening to me?”
Lizzie was up in my face then, and I yanked myself back, my butt hitting the trunk of the car.“Sorry.I was thinking about what’s inside.I’m just—”
“Let me guess.You’re thrilled because this is something out of a dark academia wet dream?Yeah, I figured.”Lizzie turned over her shoulder, glancing up at the massive structure where we were headed.“I’ll hand it to you.A witch school right outside of Salem that’sthisin love with Gothic architecture is pretty damn cool.I just hope they don’t have some dumb no-alcohol policy.”
“We do not, in fact, Ms.Chamberlain.Though that applies to functions outside of class, not during.”
Both of us jumped slightly at the sound of a new voice.When I peeked around Lizzie, an older woman, probably in her forties, stood with her back to the gate just a few steps from us.I definitely didn’t hear her approach, and I had a feeling she hadn’twalkedup to us.
“And you are?”
Ugh, leave it to Liz to be less than subtle.
Chuckling, the woman stepped forward, extending her hand.She was poised, effortlessly graceful, and I was captivated by her yellow eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to those of a hawk.Her salt-and-pepper hair was pulled up into a severe bun, and she wore a tweed suit in dark charcoal with a purple silk button-down beneath her slimming jacket—peak English professor vibes.
“I’m Professor Owens, dean of Night Grove Academy.I’m here to escort you both to your room.”
Did she say room?As in one?A singular room.That I have to share with Lizzie.Lizzie.
“Umm, I’m sorry, did I hear you correctly?Are we rooming together?”My heart beat furiously against my ribs, ready to break the damn bones so that it could get the hell out of here, and I was nearly about to help the thing out.Being dead seemed less problematic than rooming with my too-stunning stepsister.
Looking over at Lizzie, she just smiled, and it was way too knowing for my liking.Which, of course, could mean only one thing.She’d done this.Goddamn it.
“Yes, of course.Your request to room together was honored immediately.I assumed that Ms.Chamberlain had told you.”
I rolled my lips between my teeth, trying to steady my breathing as I considered the fact that I was going to be spending a lot more time with my stepsister, and this time, I didn’t have the constant vigilance of my mother to rely on when it came to Lizzie's behaving.Any time we were alone, she teased me, pushed buttons that she really shouldn’t have, and that waswiththe potential to get caught.Without it, I didn’t know what she would do.
Or if I’d be able to keep myself from following suit.
“Eh, must’ve slipped my mind.”Lizzie looped her arm through mine, pulling me forward.“But this’ll be great.I could never have my sweet Temps too far away.I’d miss her way too much.”
On the surface, that sounded sweet as pie, but I could hear sin snaking around in the background.
