Excerpt: Book of Mirrors

Gavin took me up to Redding Falls again to start my training. He said the water’s energy would help me focus my power.

But would I be able to do it? Would I completely humiliate myself in front of him? What if I failed? Would I lose him then? I think that bothered me the most. But if I didn’t even try…? I’d lose him for sure.

“Ready?” he asked as he slung the bulging backpack over his shoulder.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said as I slowly fell in line behind him.

But who was I kidding? I wasn’t ready for any of this! I had barely a grasp on the fact that I was a true-born witch. I didn’t know the first thing about actually practicing magick and casting spells and all that. Harnessing the energy around us is how Gavin explained it. Acted like it was easy, a piece of cake. Sure! Maybe for him…

But me? I fingered the smooth stone in my pocket. Alex had given it to me for strength and protection.

********************

“At least take this,” Alex said, shoving a polished black stone in my hand.

“What is it?”

“Onyx. For courage and strength. And for protection.”

“What do I need protection from?” I asked.

“Not what, but who.”

I laughed. “Are you serious? Gavin’s harmless,” I said and gave Alex a playful punch in the arm. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, silly.”

Alex didn’t smile. “I wish I didn’t, but…You’ve changed, Izzy.”

I started to protest, and he reached out his hand, like he was going to touch my face, but then he let his arm fall to his side. I lowered my eyes.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I was afraid he was right. That I had changed. Not physically of course, but mentally at least. Sometimes I felt almost as if I’d been drugged, like I could search every corner of my brain for some piece of information and it would elude me over and over again. If I pushed hard enough, I could see just a glimmer of knowledge behind the thick wall of mud, but then it was gone before I could even give it words.

I closed my hand around the stone and rubbed my thumb across its smooth surface. Everything around me sharpened as if I’d just cleaned the fingerprints and smudges off of a pair of glasses. I could make out each individual black and grey thread of Gavin’s bag as I watched it bounce against his back.

I blinked a couple of times. Weird.

Gavin turned toward me. “These rocks up here can get pretty slick. Better take my hand and watch your step until we get to the top of the falls.” He held his hand out and smiled as I grabbed hold of it.

This was what I needed protection from?