36. The Proving Grounds

The Proving Grounds

Time to Shove Someones Face Into the Dirt

T he Proving Grounds look like something out of an old movie. Dusty, worn-out, and basically abandoned, except for the occasional shifter throwing weights around or a gargoyle flexing like they're auditioning for a strongman competition. But today? Today, this place feels more like a gladiator pit, and guess who gets to be the main event.

I stand dead center, sand under my boots, adjusting the brim of my hat like it'll help block out the hundreds of eyes glued to me. Seriously, it's like these people have nothing better to do than watch two witches throw down. But hey, I'm not here to disappoint.

Sebastian and Derek are off to the side, keeping their distance because if they even think about stepping in, the challenge ends, and we both lose. I can't afford that. Not today. Not when I'm this close to finally shutting Kyla down.

I tug at the brim of my conical hat—cute and functional, thank you very much—keeping my wand tucked away in my sleeve. I'm trying to look calm, collected, and not like my heart is about to burst out of my chest, but I can feel the tension creeping up my spine. I shake out my hands, trying to release some of that nervous energy. I've got this. I've got this.

The crowd is practically buzzing. Everyone's watching, waiting for the moment I either light Kyla on fire or she hexes me into oblivion. Honestly, burning her at the stake is sounding more appealing by the minute.

But let's focus. Why am I here, again? Oh right, because Kyla's the literal worst. Let's recap, shall we? First, she steals my grimoire. Then she turns Sam, my supposed best friend, against me. As if that wasn't enough, she slaps a binding hex on Sebastian, treats him like her own personal puppet, and physically abuses him just for kicks. Oh, and don't forget that she coerced her buddy Miles into forcing Derek to shift in the middle of class.

I mean, what even is her deal? I've been trying to figure it out for three years. Three years! And the best I can come up with is that she's still salty because on the first day of high school, I happened to perform a spell she was planning to show off. I didn't know, but apparently, that was the day I became her mortal enemy. Like, get over it, girl.

The brim of my hat casts a shadow over my face, but I can't help the smirk that spreads across my lips as I think about all the crap Kyla's pulled. This is it. She's finally getting what's coming to her.

Movement at the edge of the grounds catches my eye, and I watch as Kyla makes her grand entrance. Of course, she's walking like she's strutting down a runway, her wand already out, her smirk practically glued to her face. I swear, she looks like she's rehearsed this in front of a mirror.

She locks eyes with me, and that smirk only gets bigger. She's practically radiating smugness, and it's making me want to hex her into next week. But patience, Zaria. Patience.

As she walks past Derek and Sebastian, her eyes linger on them like they're shiny new toys she's about to claim. My hands curl into fists at my sides. Not today, Kyla. Not. Today.

I can't help but let my mind wander to the insane number of things she's done to me over the years. The theft, the betrayal, the manipulation. And for what? Because I beat her to a basic spell three years ago? Get a grip.

The air around us feels heavy, like the tension could snap at any second. The crowd goes quiet, and suddenly, it's just me and Kyla standing in the middle of the Proving Grounds. This is what I've been waiting for.

Finally, we're going to settle this.

I watch as Sebastian and Derek head to the sidelines, taking seats with some of the other students. I can see Derek's wolf pack nearby, probably still buzzing about the whole "shifting in class" incident. Sebastian, on the other hand, settles in like he's front-row at the theater, giving me an encouraging nod. I smirk. This is it.

Kyla, ever the dramatic villain, saunters forward, her eyes gleaming with the arrogance of someone who thinks they've already won. As she approaches, she tilts her head, fake innocence plastered on her face. "So, Zaria, where's your wand? Surely you're not foolish enough to try and face me without one?"

I tilt my head back, smiling sweetly, though my words are sharp as glass. "Oh, don't worry. It's right here." I tap my sleeve where my wand is tucked away. "But if I need to use it against you , I'll be disappointed. Pretty sure I can counter whatever basic spells you're packing without breaking a sweat."

There's a collective "ooooh" from the crowd, and I catch Derek shaking his head, clearly amused. Kyla's face hardens, but she tries to laugh it off, though it sounds more like a nervous cackle. "You think you're clever, don't you? Without your wand, you're nothing. You're just stalling because you know you can't win."

I shrug, trying to look casual, but inside I'm buzzing with adrenaline. "Stalling? No, I just want to see what you've got. If this is all you're bringing to the table, I might as well get comfortable."

The crowd gasps, and Kyla's fake smile vanishes completely. She clenches her wand so hard her knuckles turn white, and I can see the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Her composure cracks as she snarls, "You'll regret this, Vexx."

Without another word, she flicks her wand, and a bright beam of magic shoots toward me. It's quick, I'll give her that, but not quick enough. I take a single step to the side, and the beam of light fizzles out as it hits the ground where I was standing.

I let out an exaggerated yawn. "Wow, Kyla. All that power, and your aim is about as good as a one-eyed goblin at a dart board."

The crowd erupts in laughter, and I can see Kyla's face turning red. She waves her wand again, casting another spell—something with a lot more heat behind it—but I easily counter it with a quick flick of my wrist, no wand needed. The magical energy dissipates like smoke in the air.

I'm having too much fun now. I straighten my hat, loving how it makes me feel centered and focused. "Look, I'm not saying you don't have power, Kyla. You do. But your execution? It's terrible. I didn't even have to counter that last one. Just a sidestep, and poof, nothing. Do you even know what you're doing, or are you just waving that wand around and hoping for the best?"

The crowd's "oooohs" grow louder, and I can see her eyes narrowing into slits. Her breath is coming faster, and I know I've hit a nerve. Good. This is exactly where I want her—angry, reckless, and losing control.

Kyla raises her wand again, muttering something under her breath, and a swirling ball of fire hurtles toward me. I grin and raise my hand, the spell flickering out like a weak flame in a strong wind.

"You're really bad at this," I say, my voice dripping with mock sympathy. "I almost feel bad for you. Almost."

Her rage is palpable now, a simmering volcano ready to blow. Perfect. The more emotional she gets, the sloppier her magic becomes. And me? I'm just getting started. Every time she throws something my way, I swat it aside like an annoying fly.

My heart's racing, but not from fear. No, I feel empowered, like I've tapped into something deep inside of me. I'm not just here to defend myself anymore. I'm here to win . To take everything Kyla's thrown at me and turn it right back on her.

"You know," I say, keeping my tone light and teasing, "I almost expected more from someone who's been talking so much about how she's the ‘best witch' at this school. But all I'm seeing is someone who's a little too big for her broomstick."

That does it. Kyla screams in frustration, her face twisted in fury as she hurls another spell in my direction. I easily deflect it again, barely even trying at this point.

"Today's the day you get put in your place," I whisper to myself, knowing that Kyla's about to see just how outclassed she really is.

I step forward, ready to take this to the next level.

Kyla's frustration is boiling over, and I can feel the shift in the air. It's dangerous. She's not just throwing out petty spells anymore. This time, it's something deeper—darker. I narrow my eyes, keeping my guard up, watching as her magic twists and churns with a kind of reckless abandon.

Then it happens. Her next spell comes flying at me, and I realize a second too late that it's forbidden. The spell crackles in the air, black tendrils of magic spiraling toward me, more lethal than anything she's thrown at me before. I don't have a choice.

I reach for my wand.

With a swift flick, I counter the spell, the force of it pushing me back a few steps. The crowd gasps, and for the first time, I see real fear in their eyes. Kyla just tried to kill me.

No one's allowed to interfere. Not Sebastian. Not Derek. Not the principal. No one. But I can feel their panic radiating from the sidelines.

Kyla sneers, her wand still raised, eyes filled with fury. "You're really full of yourself, Vexx. Thought you could handle this without your wand?"

I meet her gaze, my heart pounding, but I refuse to let her see any fear. "Oh, I can handle you just fine," I say, my voice steady. But I know I need a different approach. She's reckless, and I need to throw her off her game.

"Do you want to know how I did it?" I say loudly, enough for the crowd to hear. Kyla falters, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "How I broke your binding hex on Sebastian?"

Her expression twists into something between rage and curiosity. She tries to keep her voice steady, but I can hear the edge. "What are you talking about?"

I smirk, knowing I've hit a nerve. "I know you're dying to figure it out. Master warlocks and witches have been stumped for centuries. And yet, I did it." Kyla's face hardens, her lips pressed into a thin line. She doesn't say anything, but I can see the calculation in her eyes. If she asks me how I did it, everyone will know what she did to Sebastian. And if she doesn't, she'll never know how I undid her spell.

Her magic flares again, more erratic now. She's losing control, her anger fueling her attacks. The ground beneath me trembles, cracks forming as it begins to crumble. I stumble, just barely regaining my footing, but Kyla is already striding toward me, her eyes wild.

She gets close enough to whisper, her voice venomous, "When I win, I won't bother binding Sebastian and Derek again. No, I'll throw them off the school roof. Let's see if they can heal from a shattered skull." I freeze, my blood running cold. "I'll just tell people they were so depressed after watching you die that they decided to jump." Her smirk is pure malice. "How tragic."

She raises her wand, muttering a killing curse. My instincts kick in, and before I know it, I've cast an invisibility spell, disappearing from her sight. She hesitates, confused, searching for me as the crowd watches in stunned silence.

Enough. I'm done with this perfect princess.

Something surges inside me—dark, powerful, and undeniable. It's like a force is pulling me forward, something magnetic and unstoppable. All my senses sharpen, and the darkness around me doesn't feel like a threat anymore. It feels like an ally, whispering promises of vengeance in my ear.

I'm done holding back.

I step back into view, my voice low, deadly. "You really don't get it, do you, Kyla? You think you can take what's mine, hurt who I love, and walk away unscathed? You're a spoiled princess playing with magic she barely understands."

Her eyes widen as I raise my wand, the air around us crackling with energy. "You want to see what real power looks like?"

The crowd is still. The tension is suffocating. But I don't care. The only thing I care about is making sure Kyla pays for everything she's done. For stealing my grimoire. For betraying me. For using Sebastian and trying to manipulate Derek. For thinking she could crush me.

"You're about to learn what it means to face a real witch, and not the grimoire stealing thief that you are, the perfect princess who only knows a handful of spells, cheats her way through classes and manipulates people into her own twisted sense of perfection." Her magic lashes out again, but this time, I don't even flinch. I deflect it with a flick of my wrist, the spell fizzling into nothing. My wand alone has more power than Kyla has in her whole body.

Kyla looks at me, truly afraid now. She knows she's losing.

I step forward, my voice steady, dripping with venom. "If you want a villain, Kyla, I'll give you one. There's a devil on my shoulder where an angel used to be and it's telling me to do very bad things." She stumbles back, her wand shaking in her hand, but I don't stop. I can feel the darkness settling around me like a cloak, promising vengeance, and I'm more than willing to pay the price. I raise my wand, ready to show Kyla once and for all who she's dealing with. "This is my turn. My reign. And I'll be damned if I let someone like you take it from me."

Sweat beads on my brow, but my grip on my wand is firm. Kyla's panting, trying to mask her fear, but I can see the cracks in her facade. I know her better than she thinks, and right now, she's teetering on the edge of losing control.

"Is that all you've got?" I ask, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Because if it is, I'm really disappointed. I expected more from the witch who stole my grimoire."

Kyla glares at me, her fingers tightening around her wand. "Shut up, Zaria."

I let out a low chuckle, taking a few steps forward. "Or what? You're going to try and kill me again? Go ahead, Kyla. Give it your best shot. You've already crossed the line. What's one more forbidden spell to add to your list of crimes?"

Her eyes flicker with uncertainty, and I know I've hit a nerve. She's angry, but she's not thinking straight anymore. She's insane, dangerous—but I'm ready for whatever she throws at me next.

But I'm tired of this. Tired of the lies. Tired of the games. It's time to end this.

Raising my wand, I cast the spell I've been saving for the right moment. The air shimmers as the words leave my lips, " Veritas Incan ." The truth incantation is subtle, like a whispered command woven into the air, but its power is undeniable. Kyla doesn't realize what I've done yet, but she will soon.

"Let's try something new, shall we?" I say, twirling my wand between my fingers. "Since you're so proud of your grimoire, why don't you recite five spells from it?" Kyla flinches. Just a tiny movement, but I don't miss it. The crowd is eerily silent, every pair of eyes fixed on us. No one moves. No one dares to interfere. "Come on, Kyla. Just five spells." I give her an almost sweet smile, mocking her. "You spent so much time on it, didn't you? Surely you can name five spells that you wrote."

Her lips part, but no words come out. She knows. The truth incantation is wrapped around her like a vice, and she can't lie her way out of this one. I can see the panic in her eyes as she struggles to come up with something—anything. But she didn't study my grimoire. She didn't care about the work I poured into it. She just slapped her name on it and thought that would be enough.

I step closer, lowering my voice so only she can hear. "You're nothing but a fraud, Kyla. And now, everyone's going to see it." She tries to cast another spell—this time one of those reckless, dangerous ones. I flick my wand, and in a flash, I'm invisible, her spell missing me entirely. Seriously, how many times are we going to repeat this? "Pathetic," I mutter as I reappear behind her. With a swift movement, I pluck her wand right out of her hand. She gasps, stumbling forward as I kick her square in the chest. Kyla falls to the ground with a grunt, her body hitting the dirt hard.

I stand over her, wand in hand, and the anger that's been simmering inside me for so long finally boils over. "What kind of self-centered person goes around acting like the world owes them everything, huh?" My voice is cold, but the fury behind it is undeniable. "What kind of person binds a vampire—turns him into a puppet—and abuses him just because she can?" Kyla looks up at me, her face twisted with anger and fear. I can see the crowd leaning forward, hanging on every word, but right now, it's just me and her. "You steal something as important as a grimoire— my grimoire—and you showcase it to the world like it's nothing, like you earned it. You didn't. You never did." I can feel my magic pulsing through me, stronger than ever, as if it's feeding off the truth I'm speaking. "You're not special, Kyla. You're just a spoiled brat who got a taste of power and thought she could take whatever she wanted. Well, guess what? You're wrong. You're not invincible. And today, you've lost."

Kyla's trying to get up, but I'm not done yet. I crouch down next to her, my wand pointed directly at her chest, my voice dropping to a near whisper, though I know the crowd is still straining to hear every word.

"What kind of person does that, Kyla? What kind of person is so desperate to protect their fake life, their perfect little world, that they'd kill to keep it?" She opens her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. "You want to know how I broke your binding hex on Sebastian, don't you?" I smirk, leaning in closer. I let the silence hang in the air for a moment, watching her squirm, before I speak again. "Do you know why I've gotten smarter, harder, Kyla?" I tilt my head slightly, mockingly. "Because you made me. You turned me into this. You forced me into a corner, made me the bad guy in your head, and now? Now I'm ready to embrace it." The crowd is completely silent. Everyone is hanging on my every word, waiting, watching. Even Kyla's little minions are frozen, unsure whether they should be afraid or loyal.

"This power I have," I continue, stepping back and twirling Kyla's wand between my fingers, "it's not something you can take from me. It's mine. It's always been mine." Kyla's lips tremble. She's trapped, and she knows it. The truth incantation is still wrapped around her like chains, keeping her from lying. She can't even speak without risking exposing herself. "And here's the thing," I add, my voice dropping lower. "I'm not a villain. But you? You made me one. So now I'm going to show you what it really means to face a witch who's done playing nice." Her breathing is ragged, and I can see the desperation in her eyes. She thought she could win this, thought she could walk all over me like she's done to everyone else. But now she's realizing that she's the one about to be crushed. "I'm not some trick you can play, Kyla. I'm not wired like you. I'm not a fake. And this game you've been playing?" I shake my head, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "It's over ."

I flick my wand again, casting another spell to push her back as she struggles to her feet. The crowd gasps as she stumbles, barely able to stay standing. "You know, if I really wanted to," I say, stepping closer, "I could finish you right here. I could destroy you, Kyla. But that's not what this is about." She looks up at me, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. "I don't want to kill you," I say, my voice cold. "I want you to live with the knowledge that you lost. That everything you thought you had—the power, the control, the lies—it's all gone."

I toss her wand to the ground at her feet, watching as she scrambles to pick it up, but before she can, I slam my foot down on it, shattering it into pieces.

The crowd gasps, and Kyla's face drains of color. "No..." she whispers, her voice barely audible.

"Oh yes," I reply, my tone dripping with satisfaction. "Your wand, Kyla. That's what I wanted. Because a witch without a wand? She's powerless."

Kyla looks up at me, her eyes filled with hatred, but there's nothing she can do. Not anymore.

I turn to the crowd, raising my voice so everyone can hear. "This is what happens when you think you're above everyone else. When you steal, when you lie, when you hurt others to protect your own fake little world. Kyla thought she could take what was mine, thought she could break me, but all she did was make me stronger." I look back down at Kyla, my eyes blazing with victory. "So, go ahead, Kyla. Walk away. But know this—you'll never be the same. And neither will I."

With that, I turn on my heel and walk away, the crowd basically in shock. Behind me, I can hear Kyla's ragged breathing, her broken wand lying in pieces at her feet.