The others, though, hadn’t really done as much, aside from the tutoring. Melody wondered if they were sleeping badly because they were away from her at night, but then she thought that maybe some of these hexes had been directed to their quarters in the shifter dorms too. She would have to ask the teachers when they came to look for other curses and hexes.
Even as she thought it, she could hear Mrs Hardinger’s strident voice telling the other two teachers the spells that she had already found and eliminated. Rather than settling in for the night, Melody went out to greet them.
“Melody, I thought I told you to get some rest?” the older woman chided.
“Yes Ma’am, but I had a couple of ideas that I thought were important enough to share.” She turned to look at the two teachers. “The men in there are barely conscious, could you look for something to do with lethargy as well please? And could you also check their quarters in the dorms. If they are attacking us here with this kind of rubbish, and I’m sending most of them back to the dorms to sleep, then it wouldn’t surprise me to find that their rooms there are hexed as well.”
“Oh yes, that’s a good point, Melody. Now why didn’t I think of that? It should have been my first thought. Can we look for an obfuscating hex as well please, gentlemen? I suspect that one might be cast directly on Melody if it was affecting me during our interview earlier.”
“I’m so sorry to be all this bother,” Melody apologised.
“Not at all, young lady,” said Professor Simmonds. “As your teachers, we’re here to aid and guide you, and if that means protecting you from a little high spirited magic, then it is our honour to do so. I will have a look through my books later and see what I can find on blocking small spells.”
“We’re going to have to step up our training, Melody, if this is the level of attacks that you are facing,” said Mr Phelps. “You need to get a basic shield up and around you and hold it there. Some of these hexes should not have been able to attach to you in the first place.”
“Now Ted,” chided Mrs Hardinger. “We’ve talked about that. You know what my thoughts are on it.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t change the fact that she needs to learn this. I know it’s not her fault, but she still has to keep trying.”
Melody yawned, come to think of it, she was feeling pretty tired herself.
“Ah yes, there it is, hold still Melody, it’s attaching to you right now,” said the professor.
Melody froze, wondering what was going on. She felt a tugging in the back of her head, and then there was a small pop.
“Got it, it’s always easier to catch the little blighters when they’re in the process of ensnaring a new victim,” he explained. “That was indeed a lethargy hex attaching itself to you. Given that it wasn’t there when you left, it must be quite recent indeed. Mrs Hardinger, would you be so kind as to ask Toby to have a little scout around and see if he can pick up any scents? They’ll probably be masked again, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”
“Yes, of course, John, that’s an excellent suggestion.” Mrs Hardinger turned and walked several paces away, her familiar stepping up to her to confer with her. Then he stripped before Melody could turn away, shifting into a black panther and blending with the shadows once more.
“Even with that hex gone, I’m still done in. I just wanted to say thank you to you both for continuing to support and protect us. Not all of the staff do, so we really appreciate it. I’m going to say goodnight now, I really need some rest.” Melody yawned again.
“Good night Ms Bestia,” said the professor.
“G’night Melody, we’ll work on your shields some more this week,” Mr Phelps told her.
She nearly moaned on the spot, but waved her thanks to them all and headed inside.
“Right you lot, wakey, wakey. The teachers are outside lifting a stack of hexes from the cottage and then at some point they’re going to come and check your quarters in the shifter dorm. There was some sort of lethargy hex cast on us while I was at counselling, so we’re all exhausted. I suggest that we call it quits for tonight. I know that I can’t take any more of this, so I’m heading to bed. Good night everyone, tonight, I don’t care if you sleep here or there, just no fighting,” she told them, before heading into her room.
A few minutes later, she was in her pyjamas and crawling into bed. The door to her room opened and Dean came in. He waited until she was settled and then turned out the light, the same as he’d done just about every night since he’d moved in with her. He got dressed in the dark, and once again Melody found herself wishing that she had their enhanced senses so that she could see him, but the room was completely black.
“I can do this with the light on if you’d rather?” Dean purred, and Melody jumped, caught.
Just because she couldn’t see him, didn’t mean that he couldn’t see her straining for a look! She hid her face in her hands, and he chuckled.
“Tomorrow night then,” he teased, as he got into bed beside her. “How’s your back?”
“It’s a little better. Nick thinks that unless I’m stupidly active, the wounds should stay closed now.”
“Yeah? That’s great. How would you feel about a little hug then? I missed you this evening, even if I
