“Okay, okay,” his apologetic tone has me turning around again, “I’m sorry. Yes, Cobi and I are close friends, and I know there is a weird thing with you and him, but I’m not sure what it is between you two, and to be honest,” he grins, “I don’t want to know. I’m my own person, and if Cobi wants to remain my friend, he won’t complain when I become yours.”
He winks, and I have no idea whether he’s being real or this is all a ruse. I want to use magic, to find out if he’s being honest, but we’re forbidden to use magic on other students or teachers for emotional or controlling purposes. Even my dad couldn’t save me if I did that. Plus, not everyone is capable of that kind of magic, and I don’t want people knowing I am. Still, I don’t want to turn down a potential new friend, not when he hasn’t actually done anything unkind to me…well, not yet.
“I guess we’ll be spending a bit of time with each other over the next couple of weeks, and it can’t hurt to have someone else on my side,” I say smiling at him.
Chatting with Lucas makes the remainder of the hour pass quickly, and as I walk towards my first class of the day, hoping to get some extra study in before the others arrive, I feel cautiously happy.
“I see you’re still here.” The happiness vanishes the moment those words come out of that mouth.
“Jacobi, I’m heading to class. Let me pass,” I order. My voice doesn’t waiver, yet I know he’ll still ignore me.
He places his hand against the wall with his arm stretched across the front of my body, effectively stopping me leaving, and as it’s still early, we’re the only people here. I knew I shouldn’t have walked around the back of the building near the running track, but honestly, I didn’t think anyone else would be around.
“I thought Mrs Donovan had more balls.” He tuts, and his gaze runs the length of my body. “You smell like rubbish.”
“Have you finished behaving like a six year old, Jacobi?” I berate him, and his eyes flare.
It does something to me, something it shouldn’t, and all at once I’m angry with myself.
“I didn’t want you to come back,” he whispers, his warm minty breath ghosting across my face.
I tilt my head up slightly, and our faces are only inches apart. “If it makes you feel any better, I would rather be in Tartus right now,” I reply and weirdly a flare of pain flashes in his eyes.
“Maybe you could do with being institutionalised, Juni,” he says, daring me to reply with his eyes and knowing there was a time, when we were young, when I was always Juni to him.
“Don’t you call me Juni,” I hiss at him, and suddenly he grabs the back of my head, hard, and tightens his grip in my hair. It’s painful, as is the kiss he slams down on my lips, and the pain and regretful pleasure it brings war within me.
Just as quickly as he initiated it, his lips leave mine.
“I hate you, Juniper. I always have.” With that parting shot, he walks away while pain reverberates in my head from the hold he had on my hair, and it also reverberates in my heart. I’m not sure where that pain comes from, though.
My entire body tingles from the kiss with Juniper. I can still feel her on my lips. I was stupid. Why did I do it? I knew the consequences. She’s only been here a short while, and she’s already under my skin. I can feel the darkness within me, taking over the man I truly am. Why am I letting this happen?
I quickly make my way back to my bedroom and lock the door behind me. The pain in my head is almost blinding, but when I look in the mirror, I can just about make out the swirls of blue veins cascading outward from my lips. What has she done to me? The witch has me under her spell, and I couldn’t break free even if I tried.
I want to scratch my lips off. I want to tug all my hair out. I can’t bear what is happening to me. I collapse on the ground breathing heavily. My entire being is changing. Why does she do this to me? Why can’t I be normal and not something feared, just because of one girl?
I’m gasping for breath, and as the blue veins spread over my body, they drown me in their power. I lose my sight, my vision going to a place where only magic exists. It’s a drug, a powerful intoxicant, and I can no longer stop it from taking over my entire body. Juniper is my drug. She transforms me like no one else in this world. One kiss from her, and I’m a different person. Tomorrow I’ll feel hungover and sleep all day, but at the moment, all I can do is allow myself to become what she makes me. When I find out who linked us, I’ll kill them. No wizard or witch should be controlled by another in this way.
The transformation completes, and I stand up and stare in the mirror again. I don’t recognize the person before me. Juniper isn’t aware of what she does to me, but it’s why I despise her. So many incidents have occurred between us in the past, but it always comes back to this. She makes me a truly magical being. Looking towards the window, I flick my wrist and the glass in the frame disintegrates. Rising up, I float in the air before surging out into the sky and away from Caspian Academy. I don’t know where I’m going. My soul is guiding me; for evil or good, I don’t know. It’s fate’s decree now.
Over fields, I float, shielded from the human eye by my magic. I can feel I’m getting closer to my target. Will it be for good or evil this time? I don’t remember their faces the next day. Whatever judgement I give to those I visit is wiped from my memory. Eventually, I land in a field close to a house in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know where I am, but I can sense Juniper all around me. She’s been here…her heart is here.
Please, let this be for good.
Easily pushing my body through the locked door of the house, I make my way up to the room where I sense my target is waiting. Her shallow breaths sound out in the cavernous room.
Juniper. Again, she’s all over this place, her smell, her very soul. I wish I could see where I am, but everything is blurred. My vision has been taken, and I’m being guided by the person I’ve been sent to find.
Her breathing becomes more laboured, and I fear the worse. She’s dying. I’m here to take her from the world. An overwhelming need to fight against what is happening hits me. Who is the person lying here in front of me? Who is she to Juniper? I don’t know who she is, but I do know losing her will devastate Juniper.
Reaching out I lay a hand on her body, over the blankets. She won’t feel me. My targets have no idea I’m ever there. Memories from her life flash through my head, and I feel myself swaying in the air as I watch them. A child with her parents. Happiness and laughter everywhere. Then it changes. The father disappears, and it’s only the mother and daughter. There’s a sadness about them. The daughter grows. I watch as she turns into a young woman. A woman I recognise, Juniper, and I know instantly the person I’m here for is her mother.
I try to fight the spell, but I can’t once I’m under. I can’t stop it until my task is complete. I can’t do this. No matter how much I despise Juniper, I don’t want to devastate her in this way. I’m not a monster even if I look like one right now. What cruel fate has bound us together, forcing me to do this? I’ve taken lives before when Juniper has changed me, but I’ve always believed it was only those who deserved to die for the crimes they’ve committed. Not her mother, though. There’s no crime evident here unless someone has changed the rules and love has become one.