Books 7-9: The Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers

By Lisa B. Diamond

The Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers box set of books 7-9. Join twins David & Ashira in exploring the Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers, a private school for young witches and wizards. At a magical school, you never know what is going to happen next!

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. B. Diamond
• Release date: Jul 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223020530

Book preview

Prologue

Ashira was sitting on her bed, leaning against her soft turquoise backrest. Her new pair of bronze-rimmed glasses were perched a little too low on her nose. She had a large book of fairy tales on her lap. The book had been a holiday present from her great aunt, who had found it in a bookstore in Scotland the previous summer.

Ashira loved fairy tales, and this book was filled with beautiful illustrations, a few of which Ashira had attempted to reproduce using pastels on her sketchpad.

Her twin brother, David, walked into her room without bothering to knock. What are you doing? he asked. He was wearing his navy constellation pajamas and his short brown hair still damp from his shower.

Trying to decide how to bring my book to school tomorrow. It's so big... Ashira said, lifting the book off of her lap. The book itself was easily the size of an encyclopedia.

Make it lighter, her brother suggested.

As Ashira sat up, her long red hair fell around her shoulders. Both twins had a smattering of freckles across their noses, as well as a similar smile. I guess I could. Usually we only make up spells related to schoolwork.

Or, getting us out of trouble, her brother reminded her.

Yes, that too, she said sheepishly. What three powers do I use? Air, wind, and earth? Or, air, wind, and the sun? What do you think?Ashira and David were not ordinary third grade students. The twins went to a special school, a school for training students how to control their budding magical powers. The name of their school was the Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers.

In basic spell lessons, their teacher had taught them that they needed three powers as the base for each spell, along with the command line.

Probably the first one. Air, wind, and earth. You want it to be lighter and float above the ground, not heat up.

Good point. Um... How about... she paused as she pulled her crystal necklace out from under her shirt, focused and said, Powers of air, earth, and wind, make this book as light as a feather now to begin.The book gave a POOF! sound as it fluffed itself up and floated back down to the bed.

Cool! breathed David.

Thwack! went something across Ashira's wrist.

Ouch! she said, as she dropped her crystal necklace.

What happened? asked David in a confused tone. Why did you say ouch?

Something just smacked my wrist!

I didn't do it! her brother declared, backing away.

What else could it have been! What's that... she asked nervously, as she saw a typed letter appear in the air in front of her.

The letter unfolded itself and began to read itself:

"This is your first warning. Your parent or guardian has alerted the school that you are performing magic without permission. While we at the Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers want to encourage our students to be creative in their learning, we also realize that magic can be dangerous and should not be performed without adult permission, and usually supervision is required. You must bring this notice to school tomorrow morning signed by yourself and your parent or guardian to show you understand these terms. Kind regards, Director Powers.

Did you just get into trouble? David said, his eyes wide.

The piece of paper floated down to Ashira's bed as she burst into tears.

1 – In trouble

B ut it was his fault ! Ashira whined the next morning, as her mother signed her paper for school. She hadn't slept well. She had never really been in trouble at school before yesterday and was quite nervous.

"How exactly was you performing a spell your brother's fault?" Mrs. Rosen asked her daughter, as she packed their school lunches.

He told me to make my book lighter so I could carry it to school... she said miserably.

What book? Oh, not your new fairy tale book? You are not taking that to school! her mother said sternlyBut that's what I got into trouble for! I wanted to make it lighter, so I could carry it in my backpack. I wanted to show Rebecca the beautiful pictures! she protested.

Rebecca can come here and see your lovely new fairy tale book. Or, really, your lovely old fairy tale book, as it's quite old. Anyway, that is beside the point! You are not taking it to school!

It's all David's fault, Ashira said mutinously, frowning, as she pushed her glasses up her nose and her bangs out of her eyes.

I need to trim your bangs tonight, and later this week we need to get your glasses adjusted again, her mother said, kissing her on the forehead.

It's still David's fault...

No, it is not your brother's fault. He didn't force you to cast a spell. You pulled out your crystal and said the words all by yourself. If he had been involved in any way, such as by saying the words with you, he would have received the same letter, Mrs. Rosen said firmly.

Oh, Ashira said, exhaling. How did the school know anyway?

I have several protection spells over both of you. One of them alerts me and the school if you attempt to perform magic without asking permission first, or without being assigned by your teacher.

Oh.

David peered around the corner, hoping his sister wasn't still mad at him. But what if bullies are chasing us?

I have taken that into account as well, his mother assured him.

Is that why we didn't get into trouble before now? David asked anxiously.

Most likely, Mrs. Rosen replied.

Ashira pouted and went upstairs. I'm going to read one of my stories before we have to go to the bus since I can't take it with me! she announced, storming up the stairs and slamming her bedroom door behind her.

Why does she get away with slamming her door and I don't? David asked.

Oh, honey, she doesn't, his mother said, smoothing his hair. She waved her left hand, muttering a few words under her breath, and David heard the sounds of a door coming off of its hinges.

I’m trying to read up here! yelled Ashira indignantly.

The bus will be here any minute. Do you want to risk missing it? Mrs. Rosen called up.

The Salem Academy bus arrived promptly at its scheduled time. If one of the twins missed the bus, they could always take a travel stone to school. The only problem with taking a travel stone is that you normally felt as if you were being punched, rolled out flat for pizza, and all ready for toppings when you arrived. Although the twins had discovered that taking a vitamin C throat lozenge did help to minimize the effects.

I don't care! Ashira yelled.

You'll miss sitting with Rebecca, her mother called back, hoping to lure Ashira downstairs in time for the bus.

She doesn't get on until the last stop anyway! Ashira yelled back.

Okay, suit yourself, Mrs. Rosen finally said, shrugging her shoulders.

A minute later, Ashira walked down the stairs, holding the book in front of her with one hand, and grabbing her second waffle with the other. She carefully made sure none of her waffle crumbs came near her fairy tale book. She quickly read the last page of the story, closed her book, and gave her mother a fierce hug, before grabbing her school things and heading out the door.

David was waiting at the end of the driveway. Are you still mad at me?

Ashira turned towards him, stuck out her tongue, and turned away.

2 – Bits of the Hood

David, and his best friend, Sean, waited impatiently in line to get off the bus at school. David preferred to be first wherever he was going, a trait which usually made his sister crazy as it involved leaving her behind. She was often yelling at him to slow down.

Ashira and Rebecca happened to be at the front of the line to get off the bus, as Rebecca had sat near the bus door since she was the last stop. The girls strolled through the Dragon Foyer and waved at Mrs. Ball, who was the main assistant for the Elementary School wing. She was a tall, sweet-natured, African-American woman with long black hair and a lovely smile.

Ashira and Rebecca had barely reached the watercolor painting of the white dragon, which was the doorway portal for the Elementary School wing, when David and Sean tried to walk in front of them.

Hey, there, boys, called out Mrs. Ball. Haven't you two heard the phrase, 'Ladies, first?' she said to David and Sean.

She isn't a lady, she's a girl, and she's my sister, so that doesn't count, David protested.

Well, you are also cutting in front of her, which is impolite. Wait your turn, young man, Mrs. Ball said with a smile.

David and Sean moved aside to let the girls go first. As the girls walked through the picture, Ashira caught a glimpse of a red cape at the end of the hallway.

She shrugged and almost stumbled over a basket in the middle of the hall. The basket was a large wicker one, with a red-checkered cloth covering the top.

Ashira picked up the basket and found it to be filled with freshly laid brown eggs (which were still warm), a pound of homemade butter, fresh poundcake, and homemade strawberry jam, along with a half dozen blueberry muffins.

That looks good! David said, helping himself to one of the blueberry muffins. As he picked it up, it vanished, along with the rest of the basket.

The four children exchanged glances.

Probably one of the bigger kids playing a trick on us again, Sean volunteered. Earlier in the year, a group of high school bullies called the Dusk Warrior gang had played mean pranks on some of the Elementary School students.

But, I thought they couldn't get in here... protested Rebecca, feeling it was unfair if a bully could get in when her own brother couldn't. Rebecca's brother, Jack, was in high school.

After the high school bullies had played their prank, the director placed a wall preventing any middle or high school students from entering the Elementary School wing through the back hallways. The white dragon picture in the Dragon Foyer only allowed elementary students to enter the Elementary School wing, thereby preventing any middle or high school student access to the Elementary School wing from the front of the building.

No one but elementary school students and faculty are allowed in the Elementary School wing, Ashira stated, as if quoting from a brochure.

Do we have time to go ask Mrs. Ball? Rebecca asked hopefully.

David and Sean looked at each other. They wanted Mrs. Ball's advice too, but they didn't want to admit it. All four children trusted her.

They began to walk back down the hallway towards the entry into the Dragon Foyer, when they heard the school warning bell announcing they needed to be seated at their desks in two minutes or be considered late. The four of them turned back around to see a long ax on the ground in front of them. The ax had a worn wooden handle with a shiny metal blade, as if it had been sharpened recently.

David reached down to touch the blade, to see if it was real. He ran his finger along the shiny metal and exclaimed, Ouch! as a thin line of blood appeared on his finger.

I guess it's real, said Sean, as the girls stood and stared at David and the ax with their mouths open.

A loud snarl emanated from a few feet away. The four students looked up to see a wolf, baring its teeth at them.

3 – Disbelief

The wolf had a shaggy gray and white coat. The animal was nearly a hundred pounds of muscle, teeth, and fur, and it was coming towards them.

David, Ashira, Rebecca, and Sean slowly began backing up. None of them spoke.

David tried to think if they could outrun the wolf and get into the Dragon Foyer before it attacked. Sean tried to think of a spell, any spell, to say. Rebecca felt frozen. Ashira put her hand on her crystal. The wolf disappeared.

Where did it go? David demanded, as the four of them stared at an empty hallway.

Several elementary school students streamed into the hallway, running to their classrooms.

I don't know. But we need to get to our desks before we're counted late, Rebecca said, as if waking up from a trance, her eyes still wide.

Yes! We can't be late! I can't be in trouble again! Ashira cried.

The four of them joined the throng of students and ran to their desks.

Ashira sat at her desk miserably. She wasn't used to getting into trouble at school. What if her teacher, Mrs. Dray, hated her now? Would she have to switch schools? She couldn't bear the thought of leaving the Salem Academy and going back to her old school!

Good morning, class, began Mrs. Dray. Several of you have forms which should have been signed by a parent and must be returned to me this morning. If you have one of those forms, please put it on my desk , unless you have already done so. In light of the number of you who have had a form signed, I feel that we need to go over a few rules this morning, began Mrs. Dray.

Ashira wasn't sure if she felt better or worse at being one of the many students filing up to Mrs. Dray's desk and placing her signed form on it.

As students of the Salem Academy for Young Sorcerers, you are here to train your budding magical powers. We strive to do that in school in a safe and nurturing environment. You are not allowed to do magic outside of school unless you have been assigned homework by one of your teachers, or unless you have your parent's permission.

Their teacher paused as she looked around the room.

In the past, there have been some parents who have felt that the magic we teach here is akin to card games and other tricks, and have asked their children to display their magical powers in entertaining their friends or family. We at the Salem Academy do not feel this is beneficial to yourself or anyone else. If your parent gives you permission to use your magical powers, there must be a good reason which can be explained to the Board of Magic.

The Board