Malisandra Bloss and the Rise of Blackburn

By Brianna Nieto

Mal is just your average 16-year-old girl, or so she likes to pretend...

Magic is real and after four generations of fear, acceptance, war, and hope, there is fianlly peace between witches and mortals. Mal, lucky to be born during such a time chooses to live life as a mortal, forever renouncing the practice of magic to be a normal girl. That is until one night when she accidentally raises the dead while in the middle of performing a school play.

Mal now forced back into the world of magic refuses to give up the promise she made to herself, ignoring her nature for the sake of her pride. That is until she runs into a familiar undead face...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brianna Nieto
• Release date: Mar 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393492016

Book preview

Chapter I

The Magnificent Malisandra

MAGIC IS REAL.

It is a part of everyone’s life ever since one brave witch made his kind known to humankind bringing in the First Generation of witches to live among humans. All over the world witches were loved and adored, but many witches kept quiet about their true nature, which would later work in their favor. During the Second Generation both witches and humans could no longer coexist.

The Third Generation suffered the most as it was a time of chaos and because of this two organizations rose from the ashes of society, ushering in a time of peace in time for the fourth generation. Ever since humans and witches alike have come to set their differences aside and accept one another, for the time being.

Many legends and heroes were born from these four generations, along with a prophecy. A prophecy that will be fulfilled by a young witch who was fortunate enough to be born during the Fourth Generation.

In Blackburn, Virginia, one of the first urban areas to modernize one of its neighboring colonial homes. With its upward curved roof and exterior walls that were swallowed by various plants from the garden that surrounded the house. In the kitchen of this unusual home was a woman who hums as she grinds up herbs before pouring them into a small ceramic bowl.

To the people of Blackburn this woman was known as The Glorious Jade, known for her healing herbs and potions. However to her family she is simply Jade, but is more commonly known in her household as Mom.

The hem of her skirt barely kisses the floor below her as she turns to face her three children sitting at the kitchen island.

Nate, she says to her second oldest holding the bowl in front of him. What would this potion be good for?

Nate leans back in his seat. It can help ease the mind for a good night’s sleep.

Very good son. Jade smiles approvingly as she turns to her youngest. Daphne, if I were to forget to add lavender and twistroot, what would this potion do?

Daphne meets her mother’s eyes and smiles.

Correct! Jade says with pride in her voice. If the twistroot were not added in then this potion could put someone into a deep coma. The lavender, that is just for smell.

Bing!

All three of the family members turn their heads to Jade’s oldest, Mal, who was so wrapped up in her phone she didn’t even notice her name being called.

Mal. Jade says patiently.

Bing!

Jade sighs as she puts a hand on her hip. Mal.

Nothing.

Nate and Daphne snicker as their sister continues to remain oblivious.

Malisandra! Jade says firmly, no longer holding any patience in her voice.

Mal finally looks up from her phone, surprised by her mother’s sudden use of her full name so early in the morning. Yeah Mom?

Jade lowers her head in defeat. Were you paying attention to anything I was saying?

Why? Mal asks. It’s not like I need to know this anymore.

Yes, you do. Jade asserts herself. "Just because you don’t practice anymore doesn't make you any less of a witch. And witches need to know their potions."

Bing!

Mal looks back down at her phone.

Give up on her Mom. says Nate. We lost her, she’s gone to the mortal side.

Don’t you mean the dark side? Mal says as her thumbs blur over the touch screen keyboard.

Nate rests his arm on the back of his chair. Considering how I’m being initiated into a coven called the Obsidian Circle, I figured that would be a little hypocritical of me.

Which reminds me, says Jade, Mal you’ll need to meet with Daphne after school, Madame Lenore should have your dresses ready by then.

Mal looks up from her phone and smiles as she gets down from her seat. Daphne, middle school, dress, got it!

Where are you going? Jade asks watching her daughter sling her school bag over her shoulder. We’re not done with the lesson Malisandra.

Benny is getting close to the house, I don’t want to leave him waiting. says Mal as she walks around the kitchen island to give her mother a kiss on the cheek.

Don’t forget. Jade says sternly as Mal makes her through the living room to the front door.

I won’t! Mal calls out as she opens the door and steps outside onto the stone path that leads through her mother’s garden. From flowers to trees, both magical and non-magical, the garden was full and overgrown with life. Mal has never grown tired of the colorful landscape, something about the chaotic way the plants grew due to the magic spoke to her.

Stepping underneath the ivory archway that separates Mal’s home from the neighboring street, she steps on to the sidewalk waiting for Benny at their regular spot. The trees lined up on the opposite side of the street danced with the wind along with Mal’s hair that matched the falling red leaves. She couldn’t help but smile, today was going to be a good day, or at least that’s what Mal was hoping for.

Hey Mal, said a familiar voice from behind.

Mal turns to see her oldest friend and neighbor three houses down, Benny Rodriquez.

Hey! Mal greeted as the two began to walk towards school. She turns to face Benny only to see him staring right at her, like she was waiting for Mal to say something.

So? He asks anxiously.

So, what? Mal asks back.

So, aren’t you excited for tonight? Benny asks, enthusiasm lighting up his deep brown eyes.

Mal smirks and rolls her eyes. Yeah, I’m about as excited for tonight as I am to hear about your date with Rosie Day.

Benny’s eyebrows quickly furrow. What’s that supposed to mean?

It means I’m waiting for you to tell me that you’re not going to call her. Mal teases.

Benny raises a brow. "Initiation Night is way more exciting than my dating life."

True. sighs Mal. It’s less predictable too.

Yeah, well just don’t tell Safiya.

Don’t tell Safiya what? says Safiya Wolfhart, Mal’s best and closest friend, as she walks up to the two. Don’t tell me what? She asks again looking directly at Benny with an arched eyebrow.

Benny throws his hands up in defense. Why are you singling me out?

Safiya raises her brow a quarter inch higher, which was enough to get Benny to confess. Fine. I don’t plan on calling Rosie Day back.

Damnit Benny! Safiya curses followed by a deep sigh. I hope this won’t make chemistry awkward.

Mal turns to Safiya with her hand to her chin and quizzical look. Why would it be awkward? Isn’t she just your lab partner?

Safiya shrugs. I did warn her that Benny might do something like this.

Ignore her! Benny quickly interjects. Mal’s just trying to avoid talking about tonight.

Oh yeah, today’s Initiation Night! Safiya looks at Mal with stars in her eyes. What are you wearing!

You guys I really don’t want to talk about tonight. Mal says begrudgingly.

Oh come on Mal, pleads Benny, You’re only going because of your brother, it’s not like it’s about you.

Exactly! says Mal it’s supposed to be about the initiates, but so long as I’m there it won’t really be about them."

Benny and Safiya share a look, concerned for their friend as they knew exactly what Mal was talking about.

Fine then, sighs Benny, Keep all your witchy secrets to yourself.

Mal smiles at her friends as the three continue making their way to school. Once they step through the gates of Blackburn High, home of the Knights, where Benny says his goodbyes to the girls. Safiya and Mal wave to Benny as they watch him meet up with his other friends.

The two girls go into the school building, entering through the cafeteria where students' voices bounce off the walks and echo throughout the lunchroom. Mal and Safiya took their usual seats near the end of the cafeteria right by the windows where Mal pulls out her phone to check her notifications.

As she scrolls through her social media, Mal can feel Safiya’s eyes drill into her skull.

Reluctantly Mal puts her phone on the table and gives in. What about tonight do you want to talk about?

Safiya claps her hands together. Yay! Okay, the dress, I at least want to see the dress!

Mal smiles. You want to talk about the dress of all things?

Safiya nods confidently.

Alright. says Mal as she picks her phone up and swipes through her photos. But I want it on record that my mom picked it out.

Mal holds her phone out in front of Safiya who’s eyes take in every pixel of the picture. Wow! It’s so pretty!

Yeah it is pretty, Mal says, retracting her arm to look at the picture herself once more. Pretty far from being subtle.

Really Mal? Safiya’s expression drops. I know you’re not excited about tonight, or any social event involving witches, but what's wrong with the dress? It’s a pretty dress!

You don’t see it? Asks Mal. The designs, they totally resemble my magic.

Safiya, confused, reaches for Mal’s phone to get another look at the dress. Again, what’s wrong with it.

My mom is clearly trying to make it appear as though I still practice magic.

Safiya sits back in her seat. I don’t know Mal, maybe you’re just looking too into things.

Mal put her phone back in her pocket. "Trust me, I’m not. Family appearances are everything to that woman."

Safiya’s attention drifts from Mal to the back of the cafeteria, near the corner where the vending machines were. Speaking of family.

Mal looks over her shoulder, following Safiya’s gaze to see, standing opposite from where the girls were, her cousin Xan Maxwell talking to Larkin Pierce.

What are they doing together? Safiya asks.

Mal couldn’t help but wonder the same thing as she watched her wallflower cousin talk to the school’s quarterback. The two ran in separate circles and seeing them so close was almost unnerving but Mal couldn’t look away from Xan. The look of concentration on her cousin's face, paired with whatever it was that Larkin was saying to her, it made the two oddly suspicious.

Mal continues to observe the two and Xan’s dark eyes meet Mal’s and an image of a boy with no eyes suddenly flashes into Mal’s mind just as the bell for first period rang.

Mal is frozen by what she saw, remains in her seat as students pick up their things and begin making their way to class. As all the students stood up from their seats, Xan and Larkin were no longer in sight.

Mal? Safiya asks. What’s wrong?

It takes a second for Mal to shake off this chilling sensation in her chest, like she just stepped into a freezer. Mal grabs her things and stands up from her seat.

I think Just saw- Mal started, but thankfully Safiya cut her off.

You saw your cousin talking to Alison Chang’s boy toy.

Mal just looks to Safiya as the two giggled over Safiya’s attempt at making Mal smile, which of course, in its own way, worked.

I can’t believe she posted that for the whole school to see. Larkin has to be aware of it right? Mal says while getting up.

Please, Safiya scoffs, He’s probably the one who told her to post it.

Mal soon says her everyday goodbye to Safiya as they go their separate ways. While Safiya was off to her Pre-AP Algebra, Mal quickened her pace to get to her favorite class.

Theater!

As Mal steps through the door decorated with red paper made to look like curtains, she scans the room looking for one specific person. Seeing as they weren’t in class yet Mal went ahead and to her seat next to Margo Cullensfield, a new friend to Mal as the two bonded over the summer during theater camp.

Don’t you look happy, Mal teases as she takes a seat next to her friend who was displaying a very glum expression.

Margo lets out a deep sigh. Turns out requesting that you don’t be in the play, is just a waste of time.

Miss Ashley gave you a part? Mal asks.

Margo meets her friend's eyes with no light behind her own. Worse. She made me my sister's understudy.

Both girls turn their heads to the front of the class where a small group of students were going over their lines for the upcoming play The Crucible. And in the center of that group was Jolie Cullensfield, a natural born actress who, unlike her sister, has a love for being in the spotlight.

Like she even needs an understudy. Say Margo. Jo would never miss a chance to be the center of attention.

Didn’t she already have one? Mal asks, turning back to Margo who lets out another sigh.

Miss Ashley has this preconceived notion that just because my twin sister is talented at acting, then that must mean I am equally as talented. Margo rolls her eyes. Complete B.S.

Mal pauses for a moment. But, aren’t you good at acting?

Well yeah, but that doesn’t mean I want to do it. Margo explains.

The bells ring and Mal turns to face the front just as the classroom door opens where Frederick d’Meyes, the most perfect human being if there ever was one. At least that’s how Mal saw him seeing as she’s had a crush on him since middle school. He was also Mal’s only reason for having any interest in theater.

Freddie! Jolie calls out over from her group. Over here!

Mal’s heart drops as Fredrick turns his eyes to Jolie and walks over to her.

I don’t like your sister, Mal sighs as she sits back against her seat, not that she really had anything against Jolie.

Margo lets out a soft laugh. Would it make you feel any better if I told you she sores so bad that our dad added an addition to the house.

Honestly...yeah, it does kind of help. Thanks Margo!

Margo let out another laugh just as Miss Ashley began clapping her hands together to grab her students' attention.

Good morning everyone! says the perky teacher with a sing-song voice. With the play coming up soon we will work on our lines for those who were given parts, that includes understudies. Everyone else can continue working on props, we’re three trees and a house short.

Students began to move around, the actors moved to the back of the class where a small prop stage was while the stagehands moved to front, dragging out paints and aprons.

Margo groans as she sets up. I just had to be the daughter of an actress."

Mal smiles at her friend as she heads to the back of the class with the others. She picked up a paint brush and started painting the bark on a tree. Mal watched the actors as they went over their lines, Jolie gave her best performance of Elizabeth Proctor and Mal couldn't help but smile seeing Margo stand in the background with a lack of interest. Jolie and Margo were identical twins, but because of their hair and different choices in style, a total stranger probably wouldn’t be able to tell.

Margo spots Mal watching her and teasingly wiggles her eyebrows while making kissy faces. Mal looks to Margo confused until realizing Frederick was now going over his lines. Mal suddenly forgot the brush in her hand as she was now lost in his performance. The way he so effortlessly became the part, no longer did he stand as Fredrick, but as John Proctor, telling his wife to forget the rumors. Mal felt as though she had truly been transported back in time through Fredrick’s words.

Ugh, you should've been there Safiya! Says Mal now in her history class with Safiya who smiles happily for her.

So you finally talked to him then? Safiya asks excitedly.

Mal’s smile quickly fades. Well...no.

Wow. I’m disappointed in you Mal. Safiya says while shaking her head.

Mal simply shrugs. I don’t know, maybe it’s best we never even become friends. Why ruin a good thing you know?

"Because you spent your whole summer at a camp you have no interest in for him." Safiya explains. 

Mal opens her mouth with a response just when the bell for the last class of the day rings. A few straggling students take their seats just as Mr. Duchanne walks in shutting the door behind him.

Good morning class, how is everyone today? He asks only for his students to groan, letting the teacher know how tied they all are.

Awesome! He says with a smile giving everyone two thumbs up to the class. "Well