Chapter 60_ Tov not Tovenaar

I thought my eyes were malfunctioning at first, but it was real what I was seeing.

Mackenzie had her skin on the floor all shrunk and dried up.

It wasn't her whole skin but the one on her hand down to her arm.

She was quite taken aback when she saw us. It was obvious on her face that she wasn't expecting us anytime soon and didn't want us to see her in that position.

"What..?" Mia continued to mumble now taking a few steps back.

I was just too shaken to move or stagger in fright. This was too unbelievable and unexpected.

Mackenzie stood up immediately, using her other hand to cover the peeled one.

She bent her head a bit and I thought I saw shame on them. " I'm sorry you guys had to see this" she muttered.

" See what.? Mackenzie, what's going on with you?" Mia asked with a shaky voice.

She seemed to be the only one to have regained her voice because I couldn't even form a complete sentence in my head to even pour out.

Slowly, Mackenzie removed the hand that was placed on the peeled one and we saw more of the horrific sight. It was as if her flesh was cut away leaving an open wound

"This.." she held out the hand closer to us.

I almost stumbled away as a shot of nausea overwhelmed me.

"Ever since my powers, I have been having these side effects. My flesh peels off occasionally following a severe itch on my hand... I'm sorry I've been hard lately, this is what has been eating me out" she finished and the fright, the nausea, my legs that refused to move before, all of it

changed.

I walked to her as fast as I could and took her peeled hand, holding it tightly in mine.

My eyes were beginning to tear up, poor Mackenzie. Why was she going through so much? Life had been hard on all of us really.

One thing we needed now was to stick to each other and become the strength every one of us needed.

"So, what do you do when it happens? I've never seen such on any part of your body before. I mean, we bath together every morning yet, nothing"I said affectionately now caressing my hand over the unpeeled spot in the same hand.

Anyone with good hears after hearing my thick and shaky voice, would know about the cries hidden at the back of my mouth and the tears threatening to fall of my eyes.

"Usually, it heals on it own. So, I only need to wait this one out too." she placed her hand on my own that was on her other hand and smiled like a person going through a lot. She smiled a smile that represented her pitiful state right now. " Don't worry Medusa, it will pass"

"I don't understand how it would heal on its own" Mia spoke for the first time after Mackenzie confessed her sickness to us.

Was that what she was supposed to say right now? I expected her to come over and join me in giving reassurances and love to the poor girl.

Sometimes, I don't understand what was wrong with Mia, I really don't..!

One time she would act like the best friend you could ever had, the other she would showcase such cold attitude that would make you wish she wasn't your friend.

"It just happens, it had not been severe like this before. I only get bearable itching and then would find some skin in my fingers, it had never happened that it would fall off before " Mackenzie replied Mia calmly.

I could tell she was tired and hated what was happening to her, it was obvious in her calm tone and patience in which she was explaining to us. I knew how the normal Mackenzie would behave.

Mia tried to hide her faint scoff but I saw it, I caught it before it disappeared on her face "So it just heals on its own? Is it cancer? I was not aware you had the ability of a healer too" she supplied.

Why the queries?!

"Mia! Stop it. That is not important now, we need to find solutions to make this go away for good. There is no use arguing now, Mackenzie is sick" I tried to be reasonable and send some sense into Mia.

"Yes, you're right. We need to find help, maybe from the elders in the school. Let's go to the dean now, he would be a good help" Mia motioned for me and Mackenzie to get up and I stood immediately.

Going to the dean for help would be a good idea. If the dean doesn't have answers, he would help find one.

Mackenzie's sudden interjection stooped us "Wait, no need to bother the dean" she said to us and I looked at her as though she had just said the most unreasonable thing in the world.

Of course, her interjection was unreasonable. She needed help and now, it was certain this was more than us. There was nothing we could do to help, the dean was the only choice.

Or wait, I understood Mackenzie. We've been frequenting the dean's office and being a bother way too much. "Oh, you don't want to bother Dean Androcles, I get you. The old man would probably sleep and dream of us all the time. We have been in

and out of his office more than any newbie had" I said and Mackenzie nodded immediately.

"Yes, Medusa. You're right, I don't want us to continue to bother Dean Androcles" she affirmed.

I sighed, I understood her point so.

"Teacher Hadleigh maybe?" I suggested..

"Yes, no bargaining anymore. Teacher

"Teacher Hadleigh it is" Mia said and came over to

grab Mackenzie's hand but Mackenzie pushed her away aggressively. Mia tumbled and fumbled before falling, her buttocks flat on the tiled floor in the room.

She sat on the floor horrified and her eyes under the glasses blaring with fire that threatened to shoot at Mackenzie anytime soon.

"Uhmm, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to" Mackenzie pleaded then she held her head with her two hands, eyes closed and looking unsure.

My mouth was opened, I was clueless because what happened just now was as funny and unexpected as it was unbelievable.

I didn't know if I should be horrified Mackenzie had been aggressive or if l should laugh at the way Mia's butt landed on this the floor.

"The thing is, I have done some calculations and evaluations on my own and have gotten to understood that the itching and scratching only surface whenever I use my powers too much. I'm

sorry Mia" she turned to Mia who was still on the floor " You grabbed me that way and I was unstable so, I reacted without thinking" she pleaded but Mia didn't answer, she was on the floor and still in the same position as she had been with widened eyes that were not blinking.

I tried to scold Mia to make Mackenzie feel less guilty "You see Mia, you shouldn't have grabbed her that way. It was too harsh and tight" I said demonstrating the way Mia took Mackenzie's hand even though I knew there was nothing harsh and tight about it.

I Understood Mackenzie's impulsiveness. "Oh, will you shut up?" Mia hollered at me.

Little miss Mia finally found her voice and the first thing she said was aggressive. Mackenzie should have toss her even further so she doesn't just fall on her butt, so she tumbled from falling on her butt till her mouth hits the floor.

I ignored her and turned to Mackenzie, she was the one in need of my attention now, not Mia. " So the solution is limiting the use of your powers?" I asked Mackenzie.

"Yes" she nodded with affirmation.

I actually thought Mackenzie had been using her powers way too much also.

Maybe it was for everyone's good that she reduces the usage of her powers because it was starting to seem like power abuse to me.

Sitting beside her and returning my hand to hold hers.. " Then for your health and wellness, please reduce the usage of your powers" I advised.

Unlike Mia, Mackenzie was the type to take to advice without arguing. She smiled dryly and mouthed a ' Yes ma' to me and I laughed out loud.

Maybe this wasn't as bad as it seemed. I was especially happy Mackenzie had opened up and we got to know the reason behind her grumpy attitudes and freak outs. I had feared we were gradually loosing her. Mia finally stood up and dusted her dress that settled on her butt. "I feel like I need new roommates " she fumed as she went into the rest room to wash up for the night.

"So, how do we take care of this?" I asked Mackenzie glancing down at her peeled skin which was still opened.

She removed her hand from mine "I told you it would go away eventually. It heals on its own" she reminded and motioned for me to allow her privacy.

"As your grace pleases" I said playfully as went over to my bed, also getting off my dress to shower for the night.

I was not a fan of night showers but it was my excuse to have a private discussion with Tovenaar.

There were so many questions in my head that I want to ask him.

Mia came out of the shower few moments, later wet and wrapped up in her towel.

I went in and set open the shower and allow the water slime from my hair down to my body. After playing with the shower a bit, I went to the bath tub and prepared a soothing bath soak. The school had

delivered a pile of lavender and calendula some time ago for our baths but we had not made use of any of it.

We preferred bathing under the running shower than laying in a tub but the bath tub would soon be my most favorite place because it was the only place comfortable enough to have talks with Tovenaar.

I settled in the tub and played my hands in the water like I did before. I tried summoning Tovenaar but he wouldn't answer me.

I tried again and again up to no avail, he just wouldn't show up.

Frustrated, I cursed and was about to get out of the tub when his annoying voice spoke to me.

"Can a man not have his beauty sleep without a silly crone meddling? Worst, she's cursing now" he said while allowing the sarcasm in his voice fly around the rest bathroom.

What was I thinking trying to summon the second annoying jerk? I think soon, he Would win over the post of first annoying jerk while senior Katz would second.

"Why did you not respond my summons?! I have been calling you for ages" I seethed.

His reply was as silly as always " It's not ages girl, it was approximately two minutes, five seconds and two breaths" he said.

Seriously?!

"Whatever Mr. Analyser, why didn't you answer my summons promptly?" I repeated

"You don't talk to the master of third level wizardry in that manner" he scorned.

"Was that why you did not answer my summons? You felt your ego got hurt?" I asked unbelievable.

"No"

"Then why?"

"I didn't because I told you to call me Tov but you've been calling me Tovenaar since the beginning of the day. I heard everything in your head enchantress" I heard Tovenaar let out and immediately I felt irked and wished he wasn't in my head then l'd deliver lashes on his butt.

"I heard that girl" he said again.

I don't know how a person who told you his name was Tovenaar would get provoked that you called him Tovenaar, which was his name. " But you told me your name was Tovenaar. You only said I could call you Tov and I don't want to" I said, flabbergasted.

"Okay, Lady Al Gore, call me Tov not Tovenaar

Lady Al Gore?

"It's Clarke dummy" I corrected. " Okay Tov, are you satisfied?!"

He chuckled in my head before answering "That sounded better, goodnight to you. I believe you have a class tomorrow" he said like a father coaching his kid.

"That's none of your business, I did not call you here to annoy the hell out of then bid me goodbye" I was quick to say but got no replies from him.

"Tov...? Tov.. ?" I called continuously but it was fruitless, he was gone.

That... That.. I couldn't find the proper words for him insolence right now!

I took my towel from the towel hanger and opened the door to find the two girls fast asleep. Just how much time have I spent in the restroom?