13. Ethan

Chapter 13

Ethan

I can’t help the smile when I read Wick’s text.

Wick: I hope you’re having a lovely day

Ethan: It’s better now

Wick: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Ethan: Same. But first, finals! Wish me luck.

Wick: All the luck!

Florence and I just have to get through the final practical exams, and we’ll be free until December. My legs bounce under the desk as we finish grading the written exams from yesterday. At least I attempt to grade. My mind keeps wandering back to Warwick. At midnight, my grandmother will either drop the barrier or face my wrath. I snort at my ridiculousness.

“What are you laughing about?” Florence chuckles as they ask.

“Being dramatic in my head.” I push to my feet. “Ready to set up the labs? I need to move.”

“Finishing up the last essay, riiiight now.” They make a mark and slash an A on the paper before placing it in the pile with the others.

“Everyone did great, right?” I ask. “We’re damn good teachers.”

“Heck yeah, we are!” Florence lifts their hand and I slap it for a high five.

“With the trouble makers gone, Tanner should be able to ace this part, no problem,” I say, making my way to the back of the room with the lab tables.

I spray the tables with disinfectant and clean them off, taking away any impurities while Florence gathers bottles. I help them set the stations. One for each of the seven potions everyone needs to complete.

This is my favorite part, watching everyone take what we taught them and put it together. We’ll still see everyone next semester, since Florence and I are the only potion teachers at Hex University. Other professors think teaching potions is boring. I think it’s basically chemistry, but with magical ingredients and I love chemistry.

“I love watching you get all excited,” Florence says as we place the last ingredient on the far far table. Part of the exam is identifying components, preparing them, and making the potion just right. We have cauldrons and beakers and stock pots, anything and everything to make potions and the student choses their preferred way.

If Florence got to choose, they’d use a cauldron over an open fire out in the woods. Personally, I’m happy to make magic in a kitchen rather than pull out other supplies. I just need a pot or pan and can get going with just about anything. I can’t wait until the students get to the highly advanced classes where we throw out everything we learn in 101 and 201 and learn how to improvise. It always puts a smile on my face when I tell them none of that is necessary, especially if you’ve been paying attention and realize that everything can be used for different purposes.

The door to our classroom opens and hallway chatter spills in when all four of our students arrive on time. Early, in fact. Okay, not that early, but early for them. Florence and I walk up to the front to greet the students.

“Everyone have a good night’s sleep?” Florence asks as they pass out the graded exams.

“I got an A?” Tanner asks. His eyes wide as he stares at his paper.

“Yep, good stuff, too,” I say. “Everyone ready to get this day started?”

Tanner chews on a fingernail. “I’m ready, but nervous.”

“Same,” Courtney says with Darla and Phillip mumbling as well.

“Don’t be too nervous,” Florence says.

“Exactly! The lot of you are excellent students and I expect you to pass easily. With the other two gone, there’s no one here to sabotage anyone anymore.”

Tanner relaxes and nods. “You’re right. I’m ready!”

“That’s what I wanna hear,” I say. “Let’s go.”

Florence leads our students to the back while I take up the rear. Everyone lines up in front of the first table for directions.

“Take a deep breath,” Florence says.

“And let it out,” I say. We do this a couple of times until the jittery energy in the class dissolves. “Start wherever you want and follow the directions on the card.” I lift one of the cards. “When you’re finished at the station, call for one of us, explain what you’d done, then demonstrate the potion is correct.”

“Everyone got it?” Florence asks.

The class nods and we release them to start. Florence and I sit on top of one of the unused lab tables to watch. They have three hours for seven potions and a few have to simmer for at least an hour.

Tanner is smart and moves through all the stations, reading all the cards before he starts. He chooses the one with the longest simmer time, gets it started, then moves on to the next longest. Courtney must realize there are different simmer times and rushes to check them all before going back to where she started. The other two sticks with where they’re at, but I know they’ll figure it all out in the end.

“What are you wearing to the masquerade party tomorrow?” Florence asks.

“Dunno, probably just a mask. I don’t want to really dress up. That’s never been my thing.”

“I know, but you’d look cute all dressed up for your demon,” they whisper as they lean their head against my shoulder.

My demon. “I should be figuring out the stupid memory spell.”

“We’ll get it all worked out, Ethan.” They squeeze my hand as Darla and Phillip both call out for their first potion.

“I’ll take it.” I hop off the table and make my way to the pair, who eagerly tell me everything before downing the concoction. Their eyes change colors and I declare they passed the first potion test, a simple glamor.

I catch my reflection in the window when I make my way back to Florence, noticing the thin chain around my neck. I never take off the pendant because it keeps the rampant magic in check. Or so that’s what my grandmother told me when she begged me to wear it and permanently fused it on. She’d told me it was a safeguard before I was bound to someone. But what if that’s not what it is?

I settle back on top of the table. “What if this is the memory spell?”

Florence eyes the pendant I pull from under my shirt. It’s a sapphire teardrop wrapped in wire. I can’t remember when my grandmother gave it to me, but I’ve worn it for years.

They finger the pendant. “I always forget you have this.”

“Maybe it’s made to be forgotten. Which would make sense if it’s really a memory charm.”

“What if it’s what Cordia said, but also a memory spell?” Florence asks. “We can’t leave you vulnerable. I don’t think magic can actually tell time. What if it thinks it’s time to tear you apart now and not a year from now?”

“Are we sure the magic will rip me apart?” I kick my legs, needing to move again. Sitting still hurts and I jump off the table. “I’ve been told all my life the magic is too much for me, but is it?”

“You don’t remember.” Florence meets me on the floor and paces with me.

“Apparently not? I don’t remember the magic being so bad I needed—” I wave to the pendant.

“You almost died, Ethan. I was spending the night, and you started… vibrating? I’m not sure what to call it. Your eyes went to the back of your head and you got so hot we had to get you into the shower to cool you off, but nothing worked. Not even cooling spells. Sparks flew from your fingertips. Cordia took you outside because you were destroying the house. The healers said if we didn’t contain the magic, you’d die sooner than expected without a bond. I offered myself, but Cordia said she wouldn’t bind children together.”

It takes me time to process everything they said. “I don’t remember any of that.”

“Maybe it was too traumatic? Maybe the pendant does affect your memory, but do we want to put your life on the line to test the theory?”

I pace, but my thoughts are interrupted when Tanner shouts that he’s ready. I rush over so I don’t have to face Florence. Of course, my answer to their question is yes. Yes, I’d put my life on the line to test the theory, but I’ll be smarter than that.