The Breaker (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #2)(16)

While Natalie was busy clutching her injury, Renmark shot a fast-moving stream of light toward her head. Incredibly, Natalie grasped Renmark’s magic from the air and redirected it toward the far wall of the classroom. The blast skimmed past the shoulder of poor, trembling Billy Foer before disintegrating into nothingness.

Renmark smirked. “A nice trick,” he commended, not waiting for her to recover as he fired several more in her direction.

The strain was evident on Natalie’s face, but Alex was left in awe of how much more powerful she had become over such a short time. Seeing her snatch Renmark’s blows from the air sent a jolt of envy through him. That was the missing gateway between his potential and his ability. If he had a tutor like Renmark, anti-magic would probably come just as effortlessly to him as magic did to Natalie.

A stray blast caught Natalie on the side of the leg, freezing the limb. She toppled, hitting the ground with a thud, raising her hands in the motion of surrender he had taught them. Renmark stared down at her with a victorious grin. She had tried her best, but it hadn’t been enough against Renmark’s strength and ferocity. He barely looked fazed; there was no sweat on his brow, no discomfort on his face. He looked as fresh as the moment they had stepped into the classroom.

Jari rushed forward and helped Natalie onto her one good leg. Her other would need time to loosen.

Suddenly, Renmark’s attentions shifted. “You.” Renmark pointed in Alex’s direction.

Alex glanced quickly at Natalie, whose face fell as she saw what was happening. Jari propped her up, leaning her against the wall, out of Renmark’s sight, as Alex stepped up to the line drawn across the flagstones. He swallowed hard. This, he expected, was not going to go well.

“Begin!” Renmark roared.

A bright bolt of energy conjured by Natalie erupted from Alex’s hands, taking him by surprise. Jerked into action, he lunged forward, motioning to send it toward the professor. It barely reached Renmark before fizzling out feebly. A second bolt flew from Alex’s palms, and he pretended to twist his hands in the correct manner. Renmark flicked it away easily with a bored look.

Glowering, Renmark sent spirals of liquid gold toward Alex, his hands barely moving, the conjurations sparkling with a mist of amber energy as they moved swiftly through the air. Alex did his best to get out the way, ducking and sidestepping, trying hard not to reach for the familiar icy comfort of his anti-magic, wanting badly to blow Renmark’s magic away in a flurry of snow and hail. Looking briefly over Renmark’s shoulder, he saw the strain gathering on Natalie’s face as she tried desperately to help him, snatching away what magic she could and sending balls of energy flying toward the professor’s head. But it was clear Professor Renmark wished to make another example of one of the students—and that student happened to be Alex.

Alex almost thought it’d be worth it, to take the hit and get Renmark to stop, but Natalie obviously wasn’t willing to let that happen. Cheeks flushed and mouth set in a grim line, Natalie turned and flourished with her hands, forging shapes in the air, bringing her magic to life.

Blow after blow, a hail of magic swarmed toward Alex, until all he could see was golden light in a glittering screen before him—a veil of gauzy magic, sputtering and exploding as Natalie soldiered away. Renmark appeared irked by Alex’s sudden improvement, his yellow eyes intensely suspicious, and he took his spells up a notch accordingly. The change was palpable. The room grew hot, the bolts of magic seeming more solid as they whistled past Alex’s ear, the magic itself glowing brighter, becoming more streamlined and precise. This wasn’t beginner-level playtime anymore, Alex knew, as he narrowly dodged a sleek-looking blade aimed directly between his eyes.

It had become too much for Natalie. Alex could see she was about to crumble, after he stole another glance at the wall. He raised a hand toward her, gesturing for her to stop. She shook her head weakly, her hands continuing to twist.

Without notice, the hazy galaxy of magic between student and teacher dissipated. A nervous-looking boy in a blue cap stood on the flagstones, looking up at the space where the screen of ferocious magic had just been. His lip was trembling, and his eyes were wide with fear.

Renmark turned to address the boy, annoyed by the interruption. “What is it?” he snapped.

The boy said nothing. Instead, he ran up to the professor and gestured for him to bend so that he might say something into Renmark’s ear. Puzzled, Renmark did so. The boy whispered something rapidly. Renmark nodded a few times as he listened intently.

Alex glanced at Natalie, who was already staring in his direction, looking utterly panicked. Glancing back at Renmark and the messenger, Alex had a gut-wrenching feeling that the moment had come—Natalie and Alex were about to be called to the Head’s office. The Head had finally discovered Finder was missing, and wanted revenge. Alex wasn’t sure why, but he was convinced the Head knew he and Natalie were responsible, and that they were about to face the consequences of their actions.

Renmark stood, and Alex braced himself for his name to be called. Moments passed with painful slowness, but his name remained unspoken as the boy took off across the floor and out the door.

Renmark frowned, looking perplexed. “You are dismissed,” he said absently, waving a hand at the students, his eyes following the boy’s exit. “But don’t get used to finishing early. I do not normally permit such liberties,” the professor growled. Muttering under his breath, Renmark disappeared out into the hallway, letting the door slam behind him as he left the confused class alone within the chamber.