He answers me in a measured, even tone.
“Knowledge is a powerful thing. Then, as now, there were many groups who did not believe that magical schools should be inclusive, or that practices should be shared.
“Elmwood Academy was forced to close after it was attacked by one such group, and the faculty and students were taken hostage.”
WITCHES DON'T GET COLD
Maggie
“Your Creator issocool,” sighs one of the vampires to Hallie, as she gazes out at the lake over her broomstick.
“Yeah, he’s pretty great,” Hallie glows with pride. For a moment, her feet leave the ground. “Ooh! Did you guys see that!”
“Good job!” I smile at her.
After Tudor Thornblade’s Vampiric Arts lecture, the vampires are excited to work on their flying. To my surprise, I’m pretty excited too. I know I should probably be working on that potions assignment, but flying is just so much more fun.
It’s strangely bright, even though it must be well past midnight. I wonder if there’s some sort of enchantment over the grounds that makes the moon shine brighter. I take a moment enjoy watching the dolphin shifters leap gracefully in and out of the water, the mermaids occasionally rising up to complain that they’re making too much noise.
“I guess this could be worse…” I whisper to myself.
“Um, excuse me, this isawesome!” Hallie says, hovering a few inches off the ground. “And you’re getting quite good at flying, Maggie!”
The other vampires add their agreement. They’re still working on their hovering, but I’ve managed to go a few feet into the air and move forward and back. Much better than at our last class.
“It’s easier because I’m a witch, probably,” I shrug. “I’m sure you’ll all be way better than me once you get older and your powers age.”
Today we learned that witches get better by learning, but vampires increase in power as they age, with the oldest vampires having unbelievable abilities.
“Look at you, absorbing all this information,” Hallie grins at me. “Still planning to go to that normal college once this year is done?”
“I…”
“Hey, look,” one of the vampires says, pointing toward the tree line of the clearing. “The wolf and panther shifters!”
We all turn to watch. The panthers are roaming around the lake as the wolf shifters come out of the forest. I remember the altercation in the dining hall and silently pray that nothing escalates. The biggest wolf shifter, with a gray coat that glistens in the moonlight, bows his head to the panthers and steers his pack away.
“Smart Alpha,” says the other vampire. “They can’t afford much more trouble from the panthers.”
“How do you know so much about the shifter conflicts?” asks Hallie.
“My Creator was one of the northern vampire clan who allied with the panthers,” she says, tossing her hair back with a smirk. “She helped to capture the wolf shifter Alphas at Arundel, and threw them in the Cave.”
An impressed hush settles among the vampires, but I don’t understand.
“What’s the Cave?” I ask. I picture some big bear cave in the woods.
“You don’t know what the Cave is?” the vampire says, but she looks delighted to have the opportunity to explain. “It’s a massive, underground prison. It’s really old, but it’s run by the Triple Council now. That’s where they lock up all of their enemies.”
“The Hecate witches ally with the northern vampires to lock up evil witches sometimes,” adds Hallie.
“It’sancient!” says the other vampire. “Nobody even knows how old. Could you imagine being stuck in there?”
We all look back over at the shifters. The panther shifters have disappeared into the forest, and the wolves are refreshing themselves by the lake. One of them looks familiar, and I can almost smell cedar and campfire. I get a pleasant tingle on my skin that has nothing to do with the chill of the crisp night air.
“Hang on, you guys, I’ll be right back” I say, directing my broomstick towards the water.
They watch me go without comment.
