CHAPTER SEVEN

True Power of a Witch

Gia

I was taken aback by Zach's request. What did he want to show me in his room? And why was I feeling flustered at the thought of the both of us alone in his space.

I was a tiny bit curious to see what his personal space would look like. Was he into weapons like most warlocks were? Or was he a reader instead and his library was full of books on how to make everyone around him extremely uncomfortable? 

"Why should I trust you?" I asked him, we were still standing close and I could smell his sandalwood scent.

"You shouldn't," Zach said honestly, "But I think I might have something that'll help you,"

I looked outside the window. The sun was just setting outside and the clouds were the color of a day old bruise.

He wanted to help me? This was someone who'd all but told me he would still sneak out of school grounds even if it meant I would be killed in the process.

I took a step back, my lips setting in a determined line.

"We only just met, and I don't trust you, I'm not going anywhere with you."

His eyes burned into mine, and he smirked at me.

"What if I say you don't have a choice? Remember that your being alive kind of depends on me,"

I tossed my long red hair over my shoulder and crossed my arms over my chest, the room was still and quiet like a tomb. It felt like we were cut off from the rest of the world.

"Your father really wants me dead, you'd be doing exactly what he wanted if you got me killed, and I get the feeling you don't like to do what he wants," I pointed out, attacking the one weakness I knew he had.

Freaking daddy issues.

Zach took it good naturedly and chuckled. The sound was deep and humorless, "I'm really starting to see why he wanted you dead Gia,"

I frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He threw up his hands and laughed, "You're like an angry little badger, always ready to pick offense at the slightest provocation,"

"I meant it in a good way. You don't look it but you're a fighter and you definitely know how to wiggle your way in and out of situations. You're a wildcard, not like the rest of these people. It's a good thing in my book. It means you won't allow yourself to be controlled."

My nose scrunched up. He'd just called me pathetic a few moments ago and now he was kind of complimenting me?

I sighed, suddenly feeling tired. Trying to keep up with this dude was a roller coaster.

"What do you want Zachary? I don't want to spend the rest of my stay in this school worrying about you sneaking off and having me executed as a result,"

Not when I had better things to be doing like finding out more about my family line and what it was that they did that was so terrible that it resulted in everyone detesting me on sight. Just because I bore a name.

Zach snapped his fingers under my nose.

"Hey, where did you go to for a second there?" 

"Nowhere Zachary," I said and pushed his hand away.

He leaned forward a little bit so that we were eye level "You know, you're the only one that calls me Zachary,"

His voice was low and raspy. "I kind of like it,"

I shivered and cleared my throat, was he flirting with me? Or just making conversation?

I decided to just go straight to the point. "What can I offer you to make you stay within school grounds?"

"Are you sure you can handle my request?" His breath fanned over my face and my heart rate picked up, he was close enough for me to see the flecks of green in his hazel eyes,

"I…uhm…I'm sure we can come to an arrangement that you like," I stuttered and chewed on my lower lip.

I was already picturing myself having to bring him meals or bribe him with offers to do his laundry or some mundane task he'd use to lord over me.

But he just remained silent, before finally saying, "I'm looking for answers, to certain questions,"

"Are those answers outside school grounds?"

A dark shadow crossed his expression and he looked away, "I have some things to do here for now, I'm looking for an…object."

I shifted my stance and narrowed my eyes at him,

"And after you find this object?" I asked tentatively, 

"I'll still have to decode it, and it could take me weeks to do so."

I understood what he was saying. He was giving me a timeframe of safety. I huffed, I could take a few weeks of relative peace of mind, it was better than the contrary.

"Fine, you search for your object but I'll keep an eye on you, because I still don't trust you," 

He rubbed his chin with a pensive expression on his face,

"Hmm,"

I refused to look away, his eyes were sharp and calculating. It was a negotiation, and I wasn't going to back down until I got what I wanted.

"Fine, you can tag along, I could use the help,"

I nodded, I was walking into something I didn't fully understand, and with limited knowledge. But for the time being I could breathe a little easier and not worry about Zach escaping from school grounds.

"Shake on it," I stretched out my hand. His lips curled in bemusement and he accepted the handshake.

His palm was warm and dry. The point where our skins met made my skin tingle. There was something about him that made a part of me react, I wasn't sure why or how this was happening, but it was there all the same.

"How are your wounds?" I asked him after we broke the handshake,

I'd noticed he was still standing a bit awkwardly.

He rolled his shoulders and tugged on the neck of his shirt.

"I'm fine, it looked worse than it felt," His smile was brittle, "So now that we've established a truce I think we should…"

He was interrupted by a sharp voice calling out my name.

"Gia Carvel,"

Both our heads swung toward the entrance of the infirmary.

The owner of the voice looked like someone straight out of a Coventry. She wore a black dress with a high neckline buttoned at her throat. Her face was bare of any make up and her skirt was full and hung a few inches above her ankles to reveal the buckles of her boots.

She stood ramrod straight and her grey hair was tied up in a bun so severe and tight looking I felt sorry for her poor hair line.

"Gia Carvel?" She repeated glaring at me.

I wilted under the pressure of that stare, everything about her commanded respect and authority and I was immediately intimidated.

"Yes?" I squeaked.

She observed me up and down, her lips tightened at the corners, "I'm Theresa Hershel. The student body-teacher liaison for the witches. You're to come with me at once."

I looked to Zach but he was looking anywhere but me, "Why do I have to come with you?"

Her expression told me she didn't take kindly to being questioned. "You just won the challenge did you not? I'm here to guide you on your responsibilities as the new coven leader, and introduce you to the rest of the witches. We should've done that immediately after your duel but you decided to faint,"

She harrumphed as she said this, "They used to make them tougher in my time. I don't know what kinds of witches we have these days,"

"Oh," My heard started to pound in my chest. I almost wanted to apologize to her for falling below expectation. She had that effect.

Kaius had told me something like this would happen. It was supposed to be a ceremonious coronation of some sort.

"I'll be on my way Gia, come find me when you're done with your witch business," Zach spoke up, before I could respond, he was already moving away.

I watched him leave with a surprised look on my face. We'd just agreed to help each other out and he was just leaving me alone with this woman that looked like she'd never cracked a smile a day in her life.

She clicked her tongue in disapproval as Zach walked away,

"You could keep better company young lady. You're the head of the St Gordon's coven now. You shouldn't' be fraternizing with just anyone,"

I bit my cheek from the inside to avoid blurting something out.

Zach must have had a really bad reputation if despite being the High Septon's son, I was still advised to be staying away from him.

Still my face must have given me away. Theresa Hershel's brows pinched together and she spoke slowly, 

"Witches and warlocks don't get along, but we like to use each other. Be careful,"

What was it with everyone in this school and mysterious warnings?

She turned aside and spoke as she walked away,

"It's time for you to be introduced into the coven, there isn't much time. The solstice approaches and we need the new leader to perform the ritual that renews our magic every year,"

Ritual? Magic?

Was Zach right? I had no idea what I'd just gotten myself into.

"Come along now!" Theresa barked over her shoulder, jolting me into actin and I scurried after her, heading toward my new life as the head of the coven of witches of St Gordon's.