Arithmetic and Animation: Sorcery After School, #2

By Lainie Davis

Frannie is thrilled to be away from her overprotective mother and ready to dive into her studies at Rune Academy, where young necromancers like her are trained. But her excitement is short-lived when she discovers a ghostly problem in the Academy graveyard. Emma, a long-buried witch, seeks Frannie's help to return to the land of the living and attend school like a normal girl.

 

With the support of her best friends, Chloe, Amy, and Hayden, Frannie sets out to help Emma. However, things take a dangerous turn as they uncover a sinister plot to sabotage the school. Frannie and her friends must unravel the mystery and unmask the culprit before it's too late. Join them on this magical adventure filled with friendship, courage, and a touch of the supernatural.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Phantom Pen
• Release date: Mar 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224272785

Book preview

FRANNIE

I yawned and stretched as I woke. Soft golden light peeked through the curtains, spilling sunbeams across the floor of my dorm room. It was a new day at Rune Academy, and I couldn't wait to see what magical lessons waited for me. With a hop out of bed, I quickly dressed in my school uniform and ran a brush through my black hair. Thoughts of potions and spells danced in my head.

Then my phone buzzed on my nightstand. Hello? I pressed it to my ear.

Frannie, sweetheart, how are you? Mom's voice was like a warm blanket except with worry underneath. She was always worried.

Hey, Mom. I'm great. Rune Academy is amazing, and I've made so many friends. My words bounced with joy, but I kept the part about the spooky ghosts we'd seen and fought to tuck it away in my mind. No need to give her any more gray hairs. Like I said, she worries. Too much.

Remember, dear, if it gets to be too much, you can always come home, she reminded me gently.

I pictured the worried look that always creased her forehead and said, I know, Mom. But remember, you agreed I could stay for a whole year, right? Everything is fine here, really. I crossed my fingers, hoping she wouldn't sense the secrets I was keeping.

Francesca, it's just that your safety is so important to me. She trailed off, and I grimaced. If she knew about the dangers lurking around, she'd have me home before I could say necromancer.

Mom, I'm learning so much, and did you know Headmaster Howe is a necromancer? Everyone here is so nice. Please don't worry. I tried to sound extra cheerful to convince her.

I hoped reminding her that Mr. John was just like us would put her at ease. Necromancers weren’t well-liked in the supernatural world. Especially among vampires.

All right, my brave girl. Just promise me you'll be careful, she said finally, and I could almost see her hugging herself, wishing she could hug me instead.

Promise, Mom. I love you. My heart gave a hard tug.

Love you more, Frannie. Take care, she said before hanging up.

I put down my phone and took a deep breath, letting out a laugh. Rune Academy was my chance to learn and grow, and no way was I going to let fear stop me—not from Mom, not from ghosts, not from anything.

With a little bounce in my step, I hurried out of my dorm and down the hall to Chloe and Amy's room. I raised my hand and gave three quick taps on their door.

Come in, Amy's voice sang out from the other side.

I pushed the door open and peeked inside. Their curtains were wide open, allowing sunlight to spill across the room, touching everything with gold. Chloe stood in front of a mirror, trying to tame her fiery-red curls into something that looked like she hadn't battled a windstorm. A spell book lay open on her bed, but she paid it no mind.

Morning. Amy greeted me, her smile wide and bright as she pulled a rainbow-striped sweater over her head. She twirled around, making her golden curls dance like they were having their own party.

Hey. I grinned back. You two ready?

Trying to be. Chloe gave up on her hair. It sprang back up, defying gravity. But this mop has a mind of its own.

Looks great to me. It was wilder than a patch of untamed thorny bushes, but still, it was beautiful. Chloe just rolled her eyes, but she was trying not to smile.

I’m ready for breakfast. Amy slipped on a pair of pink shoes that matched her sweater perfectly.

Me too.

Me three. Chloe grabbed her bag and closed the spell book with a snap. Let's go eat.

We left their dorm, our footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway as we made our way to the cafeteria. The smell of fresh bread and sizzling bacon wafted toward us as we neared, and my stomach growled so loudly I was sure it echoed off the stone walls.

Sounds like someone's really hungry. Amy poked at me, and I shrugged, my cheeks warming a bit.

Can you blame her? Chloe pushed open the doors. After yesterday's potions mishap, I'm surprised any of us have any energy left.

Let's just hope today is less explosive, I said with a laugh, stepping into the bustling room filled with the chatter of students and the clinking of dishes.

After filling our plates with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, we sat at our usual table near the windows. A moment later, Hayden slid into the seat next to me, his tray loaded with pancakes drowning in syrup. Morning, everyone. He grinned like he had just won a prize.

Hey. I greeted him, my fork already diving into the fluffy eggs on my plate. Chloe gave him a nod as she took a cautious bite of toast. Amy was too busy arranging her fruit in a rainbow pattern to say anything.

Got Potions first thing. Hayden smeared butter over his pancakes. Can't wait to see if Eaton's got another weird concoction for us to mix up today.

Hopefully, nothing that turns our hair green again. My hair had taken on the color of grass for two whole days last week.

Speak for yourself. Chloe waved her fork. I wouldn't mind trying something that could help me control my magic better.

Something less sparky? Amy finally looked up from her food-art masterpiece.

Exactly. Chloe giggled and kept eating.

After breakfast, with our bellies full and our spirits high, we made our way out of the cafeteria. The hallways buzzed with students chatting about their upcoming classes. We headed toward the potions lab.

Hope Mr. Eaton has something fun planned for us today. We pushed open the heavy wooden door of the classroom. The room smelled like herbs and something tangy that tickled my nose but couldn’t figure out what it was.

Hayden pulled out a stool for himself and sat down with a flourish.

Amy took the seat beside him, giving the potion instruments laid out on the table a wary glance. Let's just keep our eyebrows this time. She caused Chloe to giggle.

I settled next to Amy, pulling out my notebook and pen. The rows of bottles filled with colorful liquids on the shelves around us seemed to promise that, no matter what happened, it would be an interesting class. Chloe moved to the end of the table beside me.

As soon as Mr. Eaton cleared his throat, all eyes in the class turned to him. He stood at the front of the room, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. Good morning, students, he said. "Before we dive into our potion-making today, I have