“My sources have found no truth to her claim. She left you six years ago to fulfill the prophecy. Even if she’d been pregnant at the time of her disappearance, the child would be no more than five years old. She would have had to leave her in someone else’s care and, from what we’ve found, your mother didn’t have any known associates.”
“Besides Tweedledum and Dumber, that is.” I shuddered at the thought of her associating with the likes of them in any way, shape, or form. Graves cocked his head, clearly not understanding the reference. “Never mind. So it sounds like she lied about that too?”
“Ms. Reed, your mother…wasn’t well. Her hatred for you was so blinding, she would have said anything to hurt you. I’m truly sorry for the pain she caused you.”
I didn’t believe him for one hot second. He’d been the one to strike a deal with her. He’d give her the prophecy, and she’d give him the Council. It wasn’t for her to try to kill me on multiple occasions. It wasn’t for her to double-cross him when all her attempts failed. It most certainly wasn’t for him to kill her.
Graves went on. “There are a few changes taking place at Clearwater I want you made aware of. First, Arts & Crafts has been canceled.”
I dropped my jaw. That was the only class I liked. “Why? Couldn’t find someone to replace Professor Layden?”
“No need. Witchcraft has been banned in our world. It’s too dangerous, too unpredictable. Look what it did to your mother.”
Was he serious with that statement? Being a powerful witch hadn’t been what killed her. The man sitting across the table had been responsible for that. She’d handed him the Council when she shoved a tree branch through the heart of the now ex-head of the governing body. How had Graves repaid her? He’d snapped her neck.
And I hated him for it.
Granted, she’d never win any mom-of-the-year awards, but she was still my mom.
“You outlawed spells?”
“The Council has made it illegal to practice witchcraft of any kind. It’s brought nothing but negative consequences to our world. The magically enhanced are a direct result of the craft’s unpredictability. The witches responsible had no idea how destructive it would be to a young elemental to have their powers forced to manifest before they were ready to control them.”
“I thought my mom was the only one who magically enhanced them, purposely tried to destroy them because they weren’t purebloods.”
“Regardless of the reason behind the enhancements, the root of the cause was witchcraft. Most covens have been disbanded. Those resisting the order will be brought in front of the Council and tried for treason. Anyone caught practicing the craft will be dealt with accordingly.”
Holy history repeated, Batman. It was the Salem Witch Trials all over again. Did we learn nothing from what happened to Cressida and the rest of our kind? Had those trying to wipe out the entire race of elementals succeeded, none of us would be here today.
“The MEs were a direct result of dark magic,” I clarified, trying to reason through this insanity. “Ban that, but don’t ban all magic. That’s like making it illegal for anyone to drive a car because someone somewhere ran a red light. One has nothing to do with the other.”
“It’s already done. That type of sorcery may be allowed in the Nelem world, but not here in ours. I need your help ensuring this is enforced.” He took his time nailing us both with that piercing stare. “You can be sure this message remains positive. You two are the most powerful students at the academy.”
“Us?” Vanessa squeaked out. “Daddy, you know I’m only a single, and she’s…” She paused and shot me a cool, sideways look dripping with envy. “Not.”
“Sweetheart, you’re the most popular girl at Clearwater. You’ve got a great deal of influence over the rest of the student body.”
I swallowed my snort. Vanessa Graves was anything but popular. An ice queen with stone in place of a heart. A manipulative beyotch with fake friends just as manipulative. A spoiled brat who expected the world to serve her instead of the other way around. All that added up to her being just about the least popular girl at Clearwater.
But she definitely had influence at the academy, mainly due to her daddy being the head Council dude now.
“And you,” he went on. I stiffened, pretty sure I didn’t want him to finish his thought. I wasn’t popular. At all. Students ran in the opposite direction for fear they’d be sucked into the vortex of chaos I called my life on a daily basis. He checked his phone, keeping his attention on the screen. “You’re the prophecy. Need I say more?”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” I retorted lightly. “Are you expecting a call?”
He set it back on the table without answering the question. “Can I count on you to do the right thing?”
“Of course, Daddy.” Vanessa reached across the table. When Graves rested his hand over hers, patting it as he would a dog, I shuddered. Seriously weird dynamics.
“That’s my angel.”
She beamed at the compliment. I shuddered again.
“Is that all?” I moved to slide off the chair, anxious to get out of his hellhole before whatever evil was calling to the darkness inside me popped up.
“No. There’s one more thing I wanted to share with you, Katy.” He motioned for Hoodie to join us. Shock ripped through my body when he grabbed a very distinct leather duster off the back of the chair on his way over. The closer he came, the more I readied myself for yet another fight of my life. I recognized that gait, how he favored his right side after I’d taken out his knee during one of our epic battles. I know why he wore leather gloves and held his left
