Teen Witch's Survival Guide: Chapter 7

This entry is part 7 of 9 in the series Teen Witch's Survival Guide

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I love my family. My brothers and I always get along, despite their loud, obnoxious nature. Having a dad to take care of me is a breath of fresh air when I’m normally so alone. But two weeks is the longest break I can remember them taking between hunts. Since Quince turned eighteen, at least and started going three years ago.

And it’s nice. But I’ve had one lesson with Hawthorn since they’ve returned.

“Lean! Breakfast!” Quince calls up the stairs.

“Coming!” I yell back as I scan my room for any escape.

I needed to get to Hawthorn today. I was a bird trapped in a cage; well fed and confined to a space far too small.

“Lean!” Dad calls.

“In a minute!”

I grab my bag thinking, I’ll just have to push my way through.

Downstairs, the kitchen is a whirlwind. Jacob and Quince dodge around each other to fill their plates with food, Dad setting out various dishes.

“Morning, Sunshine,” Dad says. His tone sounds flat.

I smooth out my hair and shirt in response.

Quince hands me a plate, and I take it without question.

They move around each other like they are one coordinated being, but I maneuver awkwardly.

Breakfast passes in a blur. My brothers chat among themselves, with Dad joining in. They don’t seem to notice I’m silent.

“Going somewhere?” Jacob asks when he sees my bag.

“Out.”

“Out where?”

“The Market. To see my friend.” I say, the lie tastes bitter and unpracticed.

“But we went to the market yesterday. Don’t you want to spar with us today?” Quince asks.

No, I don’t.

“We can go sparring tomorrow.”

“You should really focus on training if you want to come with us,” Jacob says.

“I still have a couple of years,” I tell him.

They glance at each other.

“What?”

“Well…”

“Lean.” Dad starts, “We were thinking, it might be nice for you to come on missions with us.”

“But I’m not sixteen yet.”

“We’ll be there to protect you. It could be more hands-on training for you.” Jacob says.

“And you wouldn’t be here alone anymore.” Quince chimes.

I stare at them. I open my mouth, but no words form.

“What do you say?” Dad asks.

“Can I have some time to think about it?”

“Of course,” Dad says.

“Okay. Yeah.” Finally escaping the conversation, I inch towards the door, as if trying to escape a predator’s gaze without notice. I need to see her.

***

I pace back and forth. Hawthorn sits in the grass, calm and angelic, as the sun shines through her hair.

“You can’t go.” She says.

“Obviously! But what do I do?”

“Just…buy yourself some time. We’ll figure it out.”

I take a deep breath and drop down onto the ground next to her.

“Yeah. Ok.”

She lets the silence sit for a few seconds.

“Not to stress you out more, but I wanted to discuss something.”

I fidget with the hem of my sleeve as she continues.

“Two weeks from now is the solstice. Laria wanted me to invite you…” She trails off.

“What happens at a solstice festival?” I ask. My voice cracks with a nervousness I’d rather leave behind. Hawthorn is a kind soul; this event can’t be evil.

“Every witch in the realms gathers at the festival of the sun! And new witches are granted status if they’ve honed the skills to prove it. It’s basically a big party, but with magic.”

“It sounds nice,” I say, a little disbelieving. “I hope my family leaves by then.”

“You could sneak out. You have to go.”

“Why?”

“I thought, maybe, you could do the test with me.” Hawthorn buttons and unbuttons her sleeve frantically. “I know it’s soon, but you’re so gifted, and if you don’t try, you’ll need to wait a whole six months.”

“Do you think I’m ready?”

“It’s just a series of trials, testing different magic. It’s perfectly safe.”

I stare out at the grotto, filled with vibrant flowers. I listen to the singing of the wind, and if I really focus, I can feel the roots in the earth like a phantom limb.

“Yeah, I’ll do it. Let’s train.”