Chapter 57

It was time for punishment.

After classes and before dinner, Headmistress Millington met Ramsey and me at the front doors with two snow shovels, two pairs of gloves, and a no-nonsense look. "I expect you both to work together without any problems or magic. This is work. Remember dinner in one hour."

With a wave of her hand, the locks and gears disengaged and turned, and the huge doors opened to a wintery nightmare tinged with the salty sea. The sky rippled with heavy clouds, and several feet of blinding-white snow lay on the ground - with more falling. This was the first daylight I'd seen in months and quite a while before that since the academy had no windows. The glaring light watered my eyes and speared to the back of my skull.

"Haaaate," I hissed, throwing my hood over my head.

Ramsey chuckled as the headmistress swept back inside and closed the door behind her.

I spun around to face him. "Something funny?"