Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(7)

“I’ve gotta go,” he whispered.

“Take care, son,” his father said.

Not trusting himself to respond, Decker nodded and rose. He left the kitchen and summoned his shadows, returning to the dorm room to grab a knife before letting the Dark take him to the newly Dark soul.

Hopefully, there was more than one. He needed more Darkness, if it was going to consume him.





Chapter Three





Autumn tossed and turned all night and rose early for breakfast. Plopping down across from Jenna - the first face she recognized - Autumn sat in a daze for a few minutes. Her painkillers sometimes took awhile to wear off in the morning. A woman emerged from the direction of the kitchen to set a huge plate full of food before her.

The scents nudged her awake. She dug in, hungry.

“We only have a half-day today!” Jenna told her, excited.

Autumn looked up from her breakfast. She preferred food to talking in general, more so when she was sleepy. Jenna was waiting for a response.

“Okay,” she said.

“Have my coffee,” Jenna said, placing the mug before her with a grin.

Autumn accepted it gratefully. There were a dozen teens at the table, most of whom she didn’t know. Beck was at one end, talking to Tanya. Amber was right about him and blonds. Jenna was ten times prettier than Tanya, but it was Tanya who had Beck’s attention. By the blush on her face, he was flirting with her.

Jenna and Adam sat across from Autumn. She tried not to notice the way they sneaked looks at each other. It made her want to roll her eyes and tell them to get a room. She drank her coffee and ate more pancakes instead.

As her body woke, Autumn found herself interested in more than the food. Beck had a presence unlike anyone else’s. She wondered why his magick was different. The orientation book hadn’t discussed a lot about the actual magick, only that it existed.

“New girls!”

Amber’s voice jarred her. She twisted from her seat at the table to see the cheerful woman. Today, Amber wore jeans, snow boots and a bright pink sweater. Something about her made Autumn smile every time she saw her.

“We’re starting in five minutes. Same place as last night,” she announced. “Beck, you’re joining us.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.

Hearing the amusement in his voice, Autumn glanced at him. He was an odd character, one she wasn’t sure she wanted to figure out.

The cook emerged in time to bring Autumn a refill on her coffee. She ate as fast as she could then rose when Jenna did, mug in hand as she trailed the two girls and Beck down the hallway to the classroom where Amber reviewed their orientation books the night before.

It took her longer to navigate the hallway with the coffee and cane. Amber waited for her to sit down before closing the door. The other two girls were giggling at something Beck said. Annoyed by it, Autumn ignored them and focused on sipping her coffee.

“Everyone grab one,” Amber said, passing around a small box.

Autumn peered into it curiously and took one of the amulets. It looked like quartz crystal. She set it on her desk and watched the other two girls take theirs. As Jenna touched hers, it flared light purple. Tanya’s turned yellow-orange.

“Is mine broken?” Autumn asked, puzzled. She lifted it and shook it. It didn’t change colors.

“Beck, help them out,” Amber ordered, crossing to Autumn. She lifted the crystal amulet. It flared bright blue for her. When she set it down, it faded again to clear quartz. “Try again.”

Autumn picked it up. Nothing changed.

Amber reclaimed the box and thrust it at Autumn. “Try another.”

The next one didn’t work for her either.

“I’ve never seen that happen,” Amber admitted. “I’ll research it. In the meantime, watch the other two, okay?”

Autumn nodded. Beck held Jenna’s in one hand and what looked like a hair in his other. He wrapped the hair around the amulet. The purple flared again. The light in the center of the stone faded, until it resembled simple amethyst. He handed it to Jenna.

“Your amulet is basically your soul,” Amber said.

“Your what?” Jenna asked.

Autumn gasped. Beck glanced at her then back curiously. She didn’t hear Amber’s explanation; she was focusing on the fact that she might not have a soul. She toyed with the clear amulet, willing it to come to life. It didn’t.

Beck crossed to her, frowning. “Weird.” He pulled Amber’s chair up to Autumn, smacking his knee against hers as he sat. “Ow, God! Feels like your knee is made of metal!” he exclaimed, rubbing his.

“It is.” She flushed, as much from his nearness as his words.

His face grew pink. He sighed. “Have a freebie.” He held out his hand.

She eyed it.

“You’re in pain, right? I can sense it.” The words were as casual and borderline arrogant as everything he said. His calming aura kept her from being irritated at him.

Instead, Autumn placed her hand on his, not certain what might happen. Soothing warmth trickled into her. She tensed, and it stopped.

“Relax,” he said, glancing up at her from the crystals. “It’ll go where the pain is.”

She hesitated then let the strange magick proceed. It was not wholly unfamiliar, no more than Beck or Amber.