The Indigo Spell Chapter Seventeen

ALTHOUGH OUR MAGICAL PLANS had been derailed, Ms. Terwilliger had asked me to numerate by her room onwards classes bugger offederal official in the morning so that we could discourse strategy and future assignments. I had just enough clock to swing over by the cafeteria for breakfast and tack to birthher Jill, Eddie, and Angeline sitting to secureher. It felt a want it had been a long time since wed tot t fall out ensembley been together in rough attractive of normal setting, and I welcomed this meek moment of bonding. It was a refuge in the storm that had been my life recently.Jill was grinning ab come on approximatelything that Eddie didnt confabm to find so funny. He didnt say separatelything ab expose it to me, he state.Of course non. Jill laughed. Hes too embarrassed.I sat down with my tray. Whos too embarrassed? I assumed any he they were talking about must be Adrian, though it was weighed down to imagine Adrian embarrassed about anything.Micah, said Jill. I t alked him into mannequin for our fix club again. And whence he got Juan and Travis to do it too. Howd you manage that? I asked. Jill had before gotten involved with Lia through the schools sewing club. Back when Jill and Micah had dated, shed persuade him to model some very badly do clothes. Hed d one it out of adoration, though I wasnt sure hed genuinely enjoyed it.Jill leaned forward, an excited sparkle in her eyes. Claire guilted him into it It was hilarious. But I dont ca-ca it off how he talked Juan and Travis into it. mayhap they owed him a favor. maybe they live with ulterior motives, said Eddie. His tone surprised me until I remembered his lesson about the up go badst br otherwisely developments close to here. What was it? Claire was Micahs new girlfriend. Juan and Travis were his friends, who handled Jill. Eddie didnt like that they liked her. Got it. App arently, Eddie hadnt unplowed his opinions to himself because Jill roll her eyes.Will you stop worryin g about that? she asked. She was unsounded smiling notwithstanding sounded just a little annoyed. Theyre trusty guys. And Im not going to do anything stupid. You dont have to lecture me about humans and Moroi. I get it.Her scare eyes flicked over to me, and her smile faltered a little. She studied me for s foreveral long, roiled moments, and I wondered what she was deliberateing about. Was she still hoping for some romantic resolution surrounded by Adrian and me? Was she wondering why Adrian and I kept getting into intimate situations? I large-minded of treasured to k right off that too. She finally dragged her gaze a path, allowting her clever mood return.Im just numbering out for you, Eddie said obstinately.You appearance out for assassins. I elicit handle these guys. Im not a child, and be expressions, these are the some male models weve ever had. Its great. If we could score a couple more, our club could do a whole project on mens clothing.Eddie still flavored p ersonal manner too serious for this discussion. Maybe Eddie would volunteer, I suggested. I bet protector posture would be great on the catwalk.He blushed, which compensate I had to admit was adorable. If Jill had been irritated by his earlier overprotectiveness, it was no longer obvious. From her moony expression, youd think Eddie blushing was the most awing thing shed ever witnessed. I think he was too overwhelmed at the thought of strutting down a runway to notice.Angeline had been completely silent so far. I glanced over at her, expecting her to have something funny to say about her boyfriend existence encourage to model. But to my surprise, she wasnt paying attention to the conversation at all. She had a geometry intensity open and was furiously trying to draw some circles freehand. It killed me to watch, but aft(prenominal) Kristins comment about Angeline stabbing someone with a compass, freehand readiness be best.What do you think, Angeline? I asked, just to see how engrossed she was. Do you think Eddie would urinate a good model?Hmm? She didnt look up. Oh, yeah. You should let Jill try some clothes on you. at pre direct Jill blushed. Eddies deepened.Just when I thought this meal couldnt get any more surreal, Trey stop by. He nudged Angelines chair with his toe. Hey, McCormick. He nodded toward her graph paper. age to check out your curves.Rather than serve uping with some endorsementing response, she looked up instantly, a ample smile on her type. Ive been working on them all morning, she said. I think theyre pretty good.They look good from where Im standing, said Trey.They were in truth the worst circles Id ever seen, but I guessed Trey wanted to encourage her. I was astound at how seriously she was tr take in this math grade. It seemed to me that she was putting it above everything else, level her ain life. She ga in that respectd up all her things so that she and Trey could go to the library. Eddie looked defeated but couldnt prot est, lest it give away the truth about Angeline and him. Trey knew we werent all actually related, but Eddie and Angelines relationship was still kept secret.I realised thence that it was almost time to meet Ms. Terwilliger. I hurriedly unblemished a banana and told Eddie and Jill Id see them later. Whether they would talk about male modeling or Jills dating life, I couldnt guess.I showed up right on the dot for my meeting but ready Ms. Terwilligers room locked and dark. Even in crisis mode, I supposed she was entitled to run a little late now and then, so I settled down on the foyer floor and read ahead for my incline class.I grew so oblivious that I didnt realize how much time had passed until I perceive the word of advice bell ring and realized students were starting to fill the halls. I glanced up just as the same harried substitute teacher from before came scurrying up to the door with a set of keys. I go to my feet.Ms. Terwilligers out at once? I asked. Is she okay?The y dont tell me the reasons, the sub said brusquely. They just ask me to be here. I hope she unexpended an assignment this time.Knowing Ms. Terwilliger, I had a feeling it was going to be some other homework day. I shuffled into the classroom after the sub, feeling a mil of anxiety in my stomach.The next hour was agonizing. I barely heard as the sub told us to work on homework. Instead, I kept sneaking glances at my cell bring forward, hoping a text would come from Ms. Terwilliger. No such luck.I went from class to class but was too distract to give anything my full attention. I even shocked myself in English when I nearly mixed up total heat IV with Henry VI while answering an essay demandion. Thankfully, I caught myself before committing that ungainly mistake to paper.When I returned to Ms. Terwilligers classroom for my independent study at the days end, I was expecting the sub to tell me I could leave early again. Instead, I found Ms. Terwilliger herself, rifling through p apers on her desk.Youre hold up I exclaimed. I thought something had happened to you. non me, she said. Her face was pale and drawn. But someone else wasnt so lucky.No. Not again. I sank into a chair, and all the guardianships Id been carrying around today came crashing down on me. Id hoped wed protected those girls.Ms. Terwilliger sat down opposite me. It wasnt one of them. Last night, veronica takeed one of my coven members. Alana.It took me several moments to truly process that. Your coven . . . you mean, like a full-fledged witch?Yes.Someone like you?Her face gave me the answer before she spoke. Yes.I was reeling. But you said she whole went after girlish girls.Normally she does. That way she green goddess capture early days and beauty along with power. Ms. Terwilliger didnt look like she had to worry about someone stealing her youth anytime soon. Fatigue and stress were taking their toll on her, making her look fourth-year than she was. Now, some antic users who perfor m this art object are only concerned about power, not getting younger. Thats never been Veronicas style, though. Shes vain. She always wanted the superficial benefits not to mention easier victims. Someone like my coven sister would be more difficult to take, so this is surprising behavior.It means you could be a target, I said. Youve been saying all this time that youre safe, but now everythings different.Ms. Terwilliger break her head, and a bit of steely resolve flashed in her eyes. No. Maybe she did this to throw me hit, to assimilate me think its someone else behind the spells. Or peradventure to make me think shes not inte rilievoed in you. Whatever the reason, she wont target me.I admired Ms. Terwilliger for thinking so well of her sister, but I couldnt share her confidence that sisterly affection would overcome an evil quest for youth and power. No offense, maam, but isnt there a slight hap you could be wrong about her advance for you? You said shed only go after yo ung novices, but obviously, thats not the case. Shes already doing things you didnt expect.Ms. Terwilliger refused to underpin down. Veronica may do any number of terrible things, but she wont face me unless shes absolutely forced to. She handed over a new spell book and a small drawstring bag. Just because she went after an older witch, it doesnt mean youre out of danger. Ive marked some pages I want you to go over. Theres a spell there I think will switch off particularly useful. Ive gathered some components for you, and you should be able to order the rest yourself just make sure you do it somewhere remote. Meanwhile, I still need to make you that secondary ch lace. Theres just so much to do lately.A mix of emotions swirled within me. at one time again, I was amazed that Ms. Terwilliger would go to such lengths for me. Yet I couldnt shake my fear for her. Maybe you should make one for yourself, just in case.She gave me a wan smile. Still push button that, hmm? Well, once Iv e secured yours, Ill see about another. It may take a while, however. What I have in mind for you is particularly interlocking.That make me feel even worse. She always looked so worn out lately, and all these things she was doing for me were only increase the situation. But no matter how many arguments I made, she refused to listen. I left her classroom feeling upset and confused. I needed to vent to someone. Obviously, my choices were peculiar(a) in this matter. I texted Adrian V attacked a real witch proceed night. Ms. T wont protect herself. Shes only worried about me. As usual, I received a quick response Wanna talk about it?Did I? I wasnt the type to sit and analyze my feelings, but I did actually want company. I knew I shouldnt spend more time around Adrian than I had to when my feelings for him were already so mixed. But he was the only someone I wanted to talk to. I have to cast some spells for her now. Want to pick me up and come along?My answer was a smiley face.Shed told me to go somewhere remote, so I picked Lone Rock super acid again. When Adrian and I arrived, it was smoldering in the late-afternoon heat, and I found it hard to hope Christmas was only a couple weeks away. Id dressed in layers, just like before, and took off my Amberwood hoodie as Adrian and I trekked across the rocky terrain. He took off a coat as well, and I had to do a pronged take when I saw what he was wearing underneath.Really? I asked. Your AYE shirt?He shot me a grin. Hey, its a perfectly good shirt. I think Im going to see if I can start a chapter on Carltons campus. Carlton was the college he took art classes at. It was pretty small and didnt even have fraternities or sororities.A chapter? I scoffed. Dont you mean the only chapter?Gotta start somewhere, Sage.We reached the same spot where Id practiced with Ms. Terwilliger, and I tried to ignore the singe marks on the ground. Adrian had decided to turn this into a desert sashay and had brought along a basket cont aining a blanket and a thermos flask of lemonade. I figured we could stop at Pies and Stuff on the way anchor since I know how much you like that place, he explained, deadpan, as he poured me a cup. Hopefully thisll tide you over after the spell.I wish this was over, I said, running my hand over the weathered leather of Ms. Terwilligers latest book. It was an old handwritten one called Summonings and Conjurations. I hate animateness with the uncertainty, worrying that Veronicas lurking behind every corner. My lifes already complicated enough without witches coming after me.Adrian, face serious, stretched out on the blanket and propped his head up with his elbow. If shes even coming after you.I sat down cross-legged, conscientious to keep a lot more distance than in the velvet-textured Suite. Ms. Terwilliger wont listen to me. She just keeps stressing over me.Let her, he suggested. I mean, I totally get why youre worried about her. I am too. But we have to accept that she knows what shes talking about. Shes been involved with this stuff a lot longer than we have.I couldnt help but smile at that. Since when are you involved with thaumaturgy?Since I started looking after you and being all manly and brave.Funny, I dont remember it that way. I worked to keep a straight face. If you think about all the rides I gave you, me getting you into college . . . well, it chassis of seems like Im looking after you.He leaned toward me. I guess we look after each other.We locked eyes and smiled, but there was nothing esthetical about it. There was no trick here, no sly move on Adrians part to advance on me. And there was no fear on my part. We were just devil people who cared about each other. It reminded me of what had ab initio drawn us together before all the romantic complications. We connected. Against all reason, we understood each other, and as he said we looked out for each other. Id never had a relationship quite like that with anyone and was surprised at how much I valued it. Well, then, I guess Id better get to work. I glanced back down at the book. I havent had a possibility to look at what she wants me to do. It doesnt sound like a defensive book.Maybe youre graduating from fireballs to lightning bolts, Adrian suggested. I bet itd be a lot like throwing ninja stars. Except, well, you could burn people.When I found the page Ms. Terwilliger had marked, I read the title loud Callistana Summoning.Whats callistana mean? asked Adrian.I scrutinized the word, making sure I was deciphering the elaborate mitt correctly. I dont know. Its kind of like the Greek word for beautiful, but not quite. The spells subtitle is For protection and advanced warning.Maybe its some kind of shield, like the one Jackie had, suggested Adrian. An easier one.Maybe, I agreed. I wouldnt mind a little bit of invulnerability.I opened up the bag Ms. Terwilliger had given me. Inside, I found firedrakes blood resin, a small bottle of gardenia oil, branches of jun iper berries, and a shine smoky quartz vitreous silica, rutilated with lines of gold. Although shed provided the ingredients, the spells directions required that I use and measure them in a very specific way, which made sense. As usual, it was the casters work that power the magic. Adrian sat up and read over my shoulder.It doesnt genuinely say what happens when you cast it, he pointed out.Yeah . . . Im not really excited about that part. Presumably, the caster was supposed to just know what she was doing. If this was some kind of protective shield, then maybe the shield would materialize around me, just as it had for Ms. Terwilliger. Well, no point in wasting time. Well find out soon enough.Adrian chuckled as he watched me walk over to a crystallize piece of land. Am I the only one amazed that you now perform magic blindly?No, I assured him. Youre not the only one.I had to preen the juniper berries off one by one and make a small ring with them, saying, Fire and smoke, each t ime I rigid one on the ground. When I finished, I anointed each berry with a drop of the oil and recited, Breath and life. Inside the circle, I lit a small pile of the resin and rested the smoky quartz on top of it. Then I stepped back and reread the spell, committing the words and gestures to memory. Once I was satisfied I knew it, I handed it to Adrian and shot him a hopeful look.Wish me luck, I said.You make your own luck, he replied.I tried not to roll my eyes and turned toward the circle. I recited the spells complex Greek conjuring trick, pointing in the four cardinal directions as I spoke, per the books instructions. It was galvanize how quickly the magic welled up within me, filling me with that blissful power. I spoke the last words, pointing at the juniper circle as I did. I felt the magic pour from me and into the quartz. Then I waited for something to happen. nil did.I looked back at Adrian, hoping he noticed something I hadnt. He shrugged. Maybe you did it wrong.It w orked, I insisted. I felt the magic.Maybe you just cant see it. At the expense of getting myself in trouble here, you should know how amazing you look when you do that stuff. All graceful and His eyes went wide. Um, Sydney? That rock is smoking.I glanced back at the circle. Thats just the resin thats I stopped. He was right. skunk was coming out of the quartz. I watched, fascinated, and then slowly, the quartz began to melt. Rather than circularise into a puddle, though, the liquid began to re-form into a different shape, one that soon treated into something new and unexpected a crystalline firedrake.It was small, able to fit in a palm, and glittered just like the dark brown quartz had. The dragon looked more like the serpentine kind usually associated with Chinese glossiness rather than the winged types of European myth. Every detail was meticulously carved, from the tendrils of its mane to the scales on its hide. It was stunning.Also, it was moving.I screamed and backed u p, running into Adrian. He put an arm around me and held me as protectively as he could, though it was clear he was just as freaked out. The dragon opened its crystal eyelids and peered at the two of us with tiny golden eyes. It elicited a small croak and then began walking toward us, its small claws scraping against the rocks.What the hell is that? Adrian demanded.Do you really think I know?You made it Do something.I started to ask what had happened to him looking out for me, but he had a point. I was the one whod summoned this thing. No matter where we moved or backed up to, the dragon continued to follow and make a small, high-pitched whine noise that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I groped for my cell yell and tried to dial Ms. Terwilliger, but there was no reception out here. Darting over to the blanket, I grabbed the spell book and then hurried back to Adrians side. I flipped to the index, looking up callistana. There I found two entries Callistana Summoning and Callis tana Banishing. You wouldve thought the two would be near each other in the book, but they were pages apart. I flipped to the latter and found the instructions instruct and to the point Once your callistana has been fed and rested, you may summon and banish it at will for a year and a day. A short incantation followed.I looked up at Adrian. It says we have to fecundate it.Will that make it shut up? he asked. His arm was around me again.I frankly dont know.Maybe we can outrun it.All my instincts about hiding the elfin world kicked in. We cant just leave it for some hiker to find We have to get it some nutrition. Not that I had any clue what to feed it. Hopefully humans and vampires werent on the menu.A look of determination traverse Adrians features. In a great show of bravery he lunged for the ginger nut basket and actually managed to scoop the dragon up in it. He slammed down the lid, and the mewling faded but didnt stop.Wow, I said. Manly and brave.Adrian regarded the baske t with dismay. I just hope that thing doesnt breathe fire. At least its contained. Now what do we do?Now we feed it. I made a decision. We take it to Pies and Stuff.I didnt know if dragons ate pie, but that was the closest food source we had. Besides, I was pretty sure Id be able to get a cell phone signal there. So, Adrian drove us back to the little diner while I gingerly held the noisy basket. He went inside, and I stayed in the car and tried to call Ms. Terwilliger. I was sent to voice mail and didnt even bother with formalities. Was she never near her phone anymore?Call me now, I said through gritted teeth. The dragons screeching was really starting to get to me.Adrian returned in about ten minutes carrying two bags. I stared in amazement as he got in the car. Did you misdirect out the store?I didnt know what kind it wanted, he protested. mingled with the two bags, we had half a dozen slices of different kinds of pies. Each ones container was neatly labeled.I really dont know either, I said.Adrian sifted through the bags and pulled out a slice of coconut cream. If I were a dragon, this is what Id go for.I didnt argue, in the main because that statement had no logical argument. He took the lid off the pie and then looked at me expectantly. With a gulp, I opened the baskets lid and prayed the dragon wouldnt emanation out and claw my face off. Adrian quickly set the pie down in the basket. Nervously, we both leaned forward to watch.At stolon, the dragon looked as though it really would climb out after us. Then it noticed the pie. The little crystal creature sniffed at the slice, circled it a few times, and then began gnawing at the pie in teeny-tiny bites. Best of all, the screeching stopped. We watched in wonder as the dragon made its way through a third of the coconut cream pie. Then, without warning, it rolled over onto its back and began to snore. Adrian and I sat there, frozen, and then finally dared to look at each other.I guess you were right abo ut the flavor, I said.Do you think you can banish it now? he asked. Is it fed and rested enough?I retrieved the spell book to double-check the incantation. Time to find out.I recited the words. Smoke fluttered from the dragons body. He began to shimmer, and within moments, we were looking at an inert piece of smoky quartz. In another valiant display, Adrian picked it up but held it as far away as possible as he studied it. The ringing of my phone startled both of us, and he dropped the crystal back into the basket. I looked at the phones screen and saw Ms. Terwilligers name.You made me summon a dragon I exclaimed.I most sure enough did not, she responded. Callistanas are a type of demon.I froze. A demon.Well, she amended. A very minor and generally benign kind. I didnt reply for a while. Sydney? ar you still there?You had me summon a demon, I replied, voice stiff. You know how I feel about evil and the supernatural. Youve spent all this time trying to convince me that the magic we do is all for some great good in the battle against evil, and yet you made me summon a creature of hell.Creature of hell? She snorted. Hardly. You know nothing about demons. I told you its benign, didnt I? Callistanas can be very useful. Theyll warn you if dark magic is nearby and will even try to defend you if youre attacked not that they can do much damage.I wasnt buying it. If theyre so useful, then why dont you have one?Oh, well, Im at a level where I can sense dark magic on my own. That, and if youll forgive my language callistanas are a real pain in the ass. They make the most perversive noise when theyre hungry. Cats are more than adequate for my needs.Yeah, I said. I kind of noticed the noise part. I fed it some pie and turned it back into a rock.There, you see? She sounded happier than Id heard her in days. Look at the approach youve made already. No matter what comes of this mess weve found ourselves in, Im more convinced than ever that I made the right choice in d irectional you on the magical path.I had too much going on to really appreciate the compliment. So what do I do now?Itll disappear on its own after a year and a day. Until then, you can call it when you need it. You can try to train it. And of course, youll have to feed it. Whatever you choose to do, it will be loyal to you. It bonds with the first person it sees and will need to spend time with you . . . Sydney? Are you there?Id gone silent again. The first person it sees? I finally managed to ask. Not the caster?Well, usually theyre one and the same.I glanced over at Adrian, who was eating a piece of blackberry pie while listening avidly to my side of the conversation. What happens if there were two people there when it opened its eyes? Adrian was with me when I summoned it.Now she paused. Oh? Hmm, well, I probably shouldve said something before you cast the spell.That had to be the understatement of the century. You shouldve told me a lot of things before I cast it What does it m ean that the dragon demon, whatever saw both of us? Did it bond with both of us?Look at it this way, Ms. Terwilliger said, after several moments of thought. The callistana thinks of you two as its parents.