Undercover Witch Academy: Second Year: Undercover Witch Academy, #2

By Rachel Medhurst

Magic comes, magic goes.

The whole academy might just kill me before I've even finished the first term, let alone the first year. With student's still losing their magic, I have to team up with my enemy, Dracian Dread, to find the culprit. What type of witch could be using a powerful spell to steal magic? And why did everyone keep pointing the finger at me?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Medhurst
• Release date: Sep 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393731832

Book preview

Undercover Witch Academy: Second Year

By Rachel Medhurst

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Copyright 2019 © Rachel Medhurst

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Please note that the author is English so spelling is in British English.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Undercover Witch Academy: Third Year

Copyright

Author

Chapter One

What do you mean you can fool anyone? Mrs Hinley said, clicking her bright red nails on Professor Seaton's desk as she leant against it.

Clearing my throat, I questioned my choice of words. Okay, so maybe I shouldn't have claimed that I was the greatest Illusionist witch of all time. It did sound a little arrogant, especially considering I was in the headmaster's office to proclaim my innocence of draining other witches of magic.

Let's concentrate on why we're here, Seaton interrupted. We know that you have an extraordinary gift, Alishia. We want to encourage you to use that gift, but obviously we need to rule you out as a suspect.

Why did the students have to be so careless with their magic? Surely, they must have got themselves into situations that led to their loss? 

I understand, but I'm not sure how I can prove to you that I didn't do it? I had an alibi for the others, but I was in the thick of it when that girl went down yesterday.

I had to admit to myself that it did look suspicious, especially after a boy had killed himself right in front of me. The whole of the school would blame me for his death as well as the students losing their magic. I had to stay strong and focused if I wanted to be smart enough to clear my name.

The professor rubbed his stubble as he got up from the wooden chair behind his desk and went over to the stone fireplace. An ancient mirror hung above it, the glass stained with a bizarre dark colour.

Looking down into the flickering flames, Seaton shook his head before he glanced at me. Show us how your magic works, Alishia, so we can understand you. We invited you to the academy with the view to help you use your abilities to become an agent. I have every faith that you can build on what you've lost. However, there's no point in me wanting something for you, if you don't want it for yourself.

Licking my lips, I dropped my gaze to my shoes. They were plain black with a slight heel. Very formal to go with my uniform. Well, my skirt. I still had on my T-shirt and leather jacket. Had to rebel somehow.

Did I want to show them who I really was? Was I ready to put myself out there and declare that I did in fact want to become an agent? After I had dealt with Dracian and his murderous ways. He might have been there for me, but I had to remember what he had done.

I want to become an agent, I said slowly as I looked between them. I’ll show you how I use my father's creation to gain magic. Hopefully, you'll see that I don't need to steal the magic of others.

Mrs Hinley pushed away from the desk and came to me, her eyes searching mine. We trust you, Alishia. We've run tests on your magical imprint. Well, we couldn’t quite trace your imprint because your own magic doesn’t leave one, but there wasn’t any trace of the others’ magic within you. If you had stolen it, we would’ve been able to tell. However, the academy board will want more evidence.

Crossing my arms over my waist, I thrust out a hip. And what evidence can I provide?

My insides burned at the injustice of my predicament. I had come to the academy for a fresh start - and Dracian chasing - but so far, I hadn't been able to do anything productive. Even Dracian was slowly winning me over to his side, which had to stop. He had killed my parents, I had to avenge them.

Show us what you can do. I’ll write a report, Seaton said. After that, we may ask you to help us with the investigation. It will be good training for you.

Nodding, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my zapper thing - I had to find a proper name for it - and held it up.

Professor Seaton came over, his gaze glued to the plastic contraption. It looked a little like a Taser gun, probably built on the same principle. 

What's that? His voice was gruff as he reached for it.

Snatching it away, I tutted at him while wagging my free finger. I wouldn't if I were you, unless you want to be a chargrilled witch steak. This thing will fry anyone who touches it. Anyone but me.

Mrs Hinley blew out a held breath as she watched me with her painted eyes. She blinked slowly, her head shaking back and forth. You are a wonder, child, she muttered. Please, show us how it works.

Part of me was too afraid to press the button in front of them. I had never shown anyone other than my father what I was capable of. Would they think I was a crazy-arsed witch, wielding electricity, or would they take me seriously? I know I would doubt me if I wasn't already me.

I press this button and the charge of electricity filters into my body. Demonstrating by pushing the button, I steadied myself as my muscles clenched before releasing. The charge shot through me, making me shudder.

That will kill her! Mrs Hinley gasped as the sound of electric voltage buzzed through the room.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I focused on assimilating the current into my veins so it could transform into magic. Once my body was ready, I opened my eyes and put the zapper away. The teachers stared at me open-mouthed as I reached out and created a bunch of flowers, offering them to Mrs Hinley. As soon as she took them, they melted away to nothing.

They're not real, she muttered.

Shaking my head, I bit my tongue. Well, duh, I was an Illusionist witch. Everything that I created fell apart at some point. Nothing I did was real. Why did that thought make me want to give up now? I may as well have had my gravestone engraved already. Alishia Jones - useless witch who couldn't even spell a real bouquet of flowers.

Ugh, depressing.

Can't you see? Professor Seaton's eyes were wide as he tapped his finger across his chin. Your ability to cast magic, but not leave an imprint, is priceless.

Maybe I wouldn't be useless after all. He had seemed impressed with the way I could handle Toby, the familiar, and not leave my magic behind. 

You can change the face of agent investigation, help other Illusionist witches become phenomenal in a field they've never had access to before.

I would like that, I muttered, trying not to show the burst of excitement that exploded in my chest.

Mrs Hinley took my hand and closed her eyes. Feeling into me, she used her own magic to test mine. Pushing against me, she somehow analysed what my imprint felt like.

How long does it last? Her eyes opened, staring directly at me.

Clearing my throat, I gently took my hand away. Sharing my secret was hard. I hadn't told anyone outside my family about my magic, except Isabel. How did I know I could trust them? Would they ship me in to the institute? 

It drains as I cast magic, so it will last all day if I don't do any spells. The size of the spell makes the difference in the length of time I have magic in my body. Wringing my hands before me, I watched Mrs Hinley as she went back to the desk.

I've heard enough to convince me that you're innocent, Professor Seaton said. You may leave.

My heel was turning when the sound of an alarm blared from the corner of the room. We all looked at the speaker before Seaton snapped to attention.

That's the fire alarm. Rushing to the door, he threw it open.

Mrs Hinley was close behind, dragging me with her. As soon as we entered the corridor, the smell of smoke filtered up my nose. The fire was real this time. 

Go, evacuate all students. Pointing towards the entrance hall, Seaton rushed back inside his office.

Mrs Hinley looked down the corridor, towards the teaching rooms. Classes were still suspended so there shouldn't have been anyone in the rooms, and yet, she hesitated. 

I'll go and check the classrooms whilst you find out where the fire is coming from, I offered. 

A gust of smoke billowed out of a classroom nearby. Mrs Hinley burst into movement, running towards it, her high heels clacking on the wooden floor. Following, I put an arm over my mouth to protect myself from the billowing smoke.

You need to get outside, Mrs Hinley ordered when she noticed that I had followed her.

I might be able to help! My reply was met with a frown. 

Shaking her head, Mrs Hinley placed a hand over her mouth and peeked through the glass of the classroom door. A gasp escaped her before she coughed, bending low to rid herself of the smoke she'd inhaled. 

I can use water, I shouted over the fire alarm. 

The sound of rushing students poured from the entrance hall. Footsteps alerted us to company. When Dracian reached us, Mrs Hinley grabbed my arm and pushed me towards the door. 

Do the spell from out here, now.

Looking through the glass, I searched for the fire, but couldn't see it. The whole room was full of smoke, the cloying cloud making it hard to see anything.

It might have started upstairs, Dracian said. I'll go see.

Before either of us could respond, he had run towards the stairs that led to the classrooms above.

Mrs Hinley attempted to shout at him to return, but he was gone. 

Coughing, I turned to her and grabbed her wrist. I have to go inside. I can't put the fire out when I don't know where it is.

The high-pitched whine of sirens came from outside. Mrs Hinley took my arm and pulled me away from the classroom. When we were down the corridor, she pushed me towards the entrance hall where several students were trying to get out of the front doors.

We both plunged into the crowd, following the flow out of the building. Some students were coughing, including me. My insides quivered as I stumbled down the steps and turned to look at where the smoke escaped from several windows. My heart almost stopped when I spotted the flames on the second floor. The glow of orange came from two of the windows.

It's the infirmary! someone shouted.

Shit, there were several people in there,