The Familiar (24 page)

34

I can’t be sure who’s more startled, but as we stand there in the crowded room staring at one another, it’s almost as if we’re alone in another place, or another time. It feels surreal, like I’m dreaming, but I feel my feet on the cold marble floor, and I know that this is really happening.

“Andy… You have made an interesting choice,” says Sybil, her echoing voice breaking the silence. I glare at her luminous blue eyes, too stunned to say anything. She smiles at me, obviously amused by my muteness. “You may proceed to the greeting room,” she says, as she points her sparkling wand at us. The cracking sound reverberates across the room, as her wand emits a lightning-like beam, hitting Andy and me simultaneously. This time, I do not feel lightheaded or weak, instead, I feel like I’m weightless, floating inside a shiny bubble. The sensation lasts only for a few moments, then the bubble bursts, and I’m standing in a small cozy sitting room next to Andy. We are alone. The only sound in the room is our breathing.

Andy takes off his gauzy white robe and wraps it around my shoulders, trying not to violate me with his eyes. I cover my naked body, and look up at Andy. “Did you know?”

He shakes his head vehemently. “No, Hazel. I’m just as shocked as you are…”

I feel weak in the knees, and shuffle over to one of the armchairs, trying not to tremble as I sit. I feel confused, and look at Andy for answers. “So, you were here the entire time? How’s that possible?”

He pauses, shaking his head, as if he still can’t believe this is happening. I stare at his brown eyes, and he finally speaks, his voice cracking with uncertainty. “This place… is enchanted… A long time ago, one of its founders cast a spell, enabling the Academy and Camp Chameleon to coexist in the same place but in different dimensions. That’s why we never crossed paths… until now.” My mind is throbbing, and as the information sinks in, I feel the sting of betrayal.

“So, it’s just a coincidence that my best friend happens to come from a family of witches? Am I supposed to believe that all of this just conveniently fell into place?” I ask him loudly, feeling the anger rise from deep within me.

He shrugs, looking at me innocently. “I have no idea if it’s a coincidence or not. But believe me when I say that I’m just as surprised as you are. When my family escaped to Safe Harbor, my mom knew it was enchanted. That if we moved there, nobody would be able to find us… But there was no way for us to know if there were any other witches living there. Don’t you think it would have made life a bit easier if we’d known the truth all along?”

I think about what he says, trying to make sense of it. “So, your mom is a witch and your dad is a wizard?”

He shakes his head. “No, just my mom. That’s why we left Cuba. Her coven felt betrayed that she was marrying a human, like it would somehow endanger their existence. They even threatened to take me away from her. So we fled to the one place she knew they couldn’t find us.”

As I listen to his story, I feel the anger inside me start to subside. Mom took refuge in Safe Harbor for the same reason, to hide from her previous life. So how can I be angry with him for doing the same?

“Have you always known that you’d be a wizard one day?” I ask, glancing up at him curiously, like he’s someone completely new, standing before me for the first time.

“My mom wasn’t sure if I would inherit her powers… But yes, I knew about my background, and I was aware that one day I might have powers,” he says, inching his chair closer to mine.

My heart feels heavy, the gravity of it all filling me with too many emotions. My eyes well up with tears, and I turn away from Andy, avoiding his once familiar gaze. He takes my hand gently in his. The warmth travels up my arm, making me tingle all over.

“Hazel, it’s me… I’m still the same guy you left back at Safe Harbor. Nothing’s changed, except, well, now I’m a wizard and you’re a shape-shifter,” he says with a slight grin on his face. I can’t help but giggle, as I gaze at him adoringly, the dimpled smile making me feel like I’m at home again.

“You know, I really did miss you,” I say, slightly embarrassed by my admission. He pulls me close and embraces me, his strong arms pulling me against his chest. I lean in, feeling his heartbeat on my cheek, and suddenly as if by magic, everything just falls into place.

“I think I missed you more,” he whispers in my ear. I smile and say nothing, letting him have the last word.

I flinch at the unexpected sound of twinkling behind me, turning my head as I pull away from Andy. On the wall behind us, a door has materialized. On it hangs a set of brand new clothes for both of us. For me, a sleek white uniform with gold threading and an embroidered collar, and for Andy, skinny white pants with a long fitted jacket and simple white shirt. His jacket has the same embroidery on its collar as mine; in the lining, there are compartments for his wand and other accoutrements. I jump up and shriek, feeling a bit like Louise as I grab my new uniform, holding it up, as I primp in front of the oval mirror in the corner. I turn away from Andy, and let his cape fall to the ground. Even though he’s probably staring at my naked butt, I don’t dwell on it; instead, I toss the garment up and let it drift towards me until it snaps, adjusting to my size perfectly. I smooth it down, and turn. Andy is awestruck, ogling me till my cheeks blush.

“Wow, that’s pretty cool!” He grins with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and points his wand at his clothes hanging on the door. The outfit is swiftly enveloped by a swirl of sparkles, and after a
poof
sound, they disappear into thin air. When I look at Andy, he’s already wearing them, his old clothes are nowhere in sight.

I scrunch my nose at him and pout. “Show off!” Even as he laughs hysterically, I can’t help but notice how handsome he’s become. Whatever they’ve been doing at the Academy has matured him, his body is rippled with lean, sinewy muscles, and he even looks a bit taller, as he stands with his posture straight and proud. His bronze complexion stands out next to the whiteness of his clothes, and his hair falls perfectly on his strong jaw. I catch myself gawking and feel my cheeks getting hot once again. When he’s finally done laughing, he sidles over and offers me his hand.

“Shall we?” I take his hand in mine, feeling the electricity between us. The door opens, and we take a deep breath, before walking through. Somehow, the seemingly mundane action feels symbolic of our new lives together, a renewed relationship with a brand new sense of purpose.

At the other side, is a grand ballroom with a high ceiling, ornately tiled floor and several magnificent crystal chandeliers, the crystals, shimmering as the light bounces off. There is a long table with an elegant spread. The room is filled with people, laughing cheerfully, voices booming with excitement as they become acquainted. I scan the faces, recognizing many of them, and then I spot Louise across the room. She’s glowing, her golden hair creating a halo around her head. Next to her, stands a tall, strikingly handsome guy. His dark brown hair is groomed impeccably, and his muscles bulge in all the right places, an air of confidence exuding from him.

Andy follows my gaze and catches me looking at Louise and her companion. “That’s Vlad, he’s one of my friends here at the Academy,” he says cheerfully. I grin, finding it amusing that Louise would end up with a friend of Andy’s.

We hold hands, weaving through the throngs of people to cross the formidable room. Louise spots us through the crowd, jumping while waving excitedly. The noise of chatter and laughter is almost deafening, but suddenly I hear something out of place, almost like the hum of a large machine. I pause and pull Andy close to me, just as the lights go off and the room goes black.

People are screaming, and the only other thing I can hear are the chandelier crystals above my head, like giant wind chimes echoing through the room. Andy holds me tight, almost cutting off my circulation with his grip. My face is leaning up against his collarbone, and his heart beats against my chest, thumping a mile a minute. The lights flash, and for a moment, I can see Louise in Vlad’s arms. She looks scared, scanning the room frantically. We meet eyes for a second, and then it’s dark again. The screams pierce the room in small stabbing bursts. I pull away from Andy, craning my neck out into the darkness, listening for any clues as to what’s going on. Andy’s body tenses, and I know he’s on alert mode, grasping my back firmly with his forearm. His warm breath grazes the side of my neck, almost tickling me before whispering, “Hazel, stay close.”

The words are barely out of his mouth before all hell breaks loose. The lights flash on and off, frenetic surges, like a nightclub in full swing. Sounds echo and bounce from all directions, a confusing jumble of screams, footsteps, crashing objects, breaking glass and the electrified zaps of wands as they emit incandescent beams across the room. It’s one of those beams, a molten purple laser that almost hits me on the cheek, but Andy’s reflexes save me, his weight pushing me down towards the floor, so the beam whizzes between us, missing me by an inch. As we fall to the ground, I look out into the flashing room, and for an instant, I catch a glimpse of Akiko through the crowd, her pale face frozen with fear as she stands alone by the entrance. My heart stops and I let out a blood-curdling scream, hoping that Akiko can hear me.

“Akiko! Get down! Akiko! Get down!”

But I can tell by the way her expression remains unchanged, right before darkness prevails, that my efforts have been futile. Just before we hit the floor, Andy grabs me, wrapping his arms around my chest, and leaning his body over so that it’s him who hits the ground first, absorbing the brunt of the fall while cushioning me with his chest. He groans slightly on impact, “Ugh!” as the hard tile smacks his back.

The shock wears off and I frantically push myself off his chest. “Akiko… she’s my friend. She needs me!”

But it’s too dark to see anything. The room like an inky cavern, only brief reflections of light allow nightmarish glimpses of the crowd. As I attempt to fumble to my feet, Andy clamps onto my wrist with his hand.

“
No.
Hazel, it’s too dangerous.”

I try and pull myself from his iron grip, but it’s impossible. “Andy, let go! I have to do something!”

His hold eases slightly. “Wait. Let me help.”

I can feel him reach into his jacket, cold metal brushing up against the tips of my fingers as he lifts his wand inconspicuously. A series of barely audible chants drift from his mouth while he traces the contours of our bodies with the radiance of his wand. Whatever it is he’s doing, doesn’t take long. My skin from head to toe tingles and my pores seem to be radiating the same glow as his wand. I look up at Andy, momentarily transfixed by the ethereal shimmer emanating from him.

He gazes straight into my eyes, his irises like pools of honey against the sunlight. “It’s a force field. It should protect us from harm… But it may not last too long, so we better hurry,” he explains, grabbing my hand protectively.

“Okay, let’s go,” I reply, yanking him towards the entrance, hoping that Akiko’s stayed put.

Running into the darkness is disorienting, but the faint glow from our bodies, helps us navigate through the crowds, dodging as best we can, but occasionally bumping and bouncing off some faceless person. The lights continue to flash, and though the screams remain constant, the intensity seems to dwindle as the minutes go by.

When we’re nearing the other side of the room, jostling through the last few bodies before reaching the entrance, the hiss and crackle of electricity approaches us from behind, so loud and intense, that I’m compelled to look over my shoulder even though I know the force field is there to protect me. At first, I can’t tell what it is, but as the shadows shift I spot it: a slate black plume surrounded by sparks, shooting across the room towards us. It looks so horrifying, that I can only guess that it’s the harbinger of death. With every step, I whip my head back and forth, looking ahead and behind as the plume nips at our heels.

Finally a flash reveals Akiko’s trancelike stare, her body motionless like a ghoulish zombie in a horror movie. I scream, but my fear renders me mute, and nothing comes out of my mouth. Andy’s voice booms across the room, “Get down!” as he tries to warn her.

But it’s as if Akiko is deaf to everything around her, the shock, killing her senses. Just as we’re about to reach her, only a few arm lengths away, we’re slammed. The plume hits our backs so hard it feels as if a car has rammed into us at full speed. The force lifts us off our feet, but the shield around our bodies prevents us from absorbing the effects of the spell. As we’re flying though the air, careening towards the floor, I catch sight of the plume, now heading towards Akiko after bouncing off of us. I scream and this time my voice echoes loudly, a shrill, high-pitched, “Nooo!” escapes.

My eyesight is spinning, and even though the sensation of falling is blurring, I’m lucid enough to catch snippets of clarity, a chandelier crystal glimmering in the shadow, a shuffling foot as someone runs past me, shards of broken glass glinting on the floor. It’s during this onslaught of imagery that I spot the wink of a gem encrusted cufflink, and the satiny sheen of a perfectly knotted cravat, right before I hit the ground with a thump, crumpling like a fallen rag doll. As I lay on the floor, stunned by the impact, the acrid smell of burning hair jolts me out of it. I push myself up on my knees, and this time, it’s my turn to be shell-shocked. My limbs are slack and my mind numb as I watch Akiko twitching, her body consumed by the electrical plume. Wisps of smoke flow from her orifices, even her pores, before finally collapsing on the cold tile floor, lifeless. I hear a scream from the other side of the room, “Akiko!” and in my confused haze I actually think it sounds like Samir. But I ignore it, knowing that it
can’t
be him.

I crawl on my knees, big wet tears cascading onto the tiles as I inch my way across the floor. When I reach her body, silky black strands of hair cover her face, and I sweep them aside with my hand. It’s at that moment, as her hollow eye sockets stare back at me that I know she’s really dead. I collapse from the inside out, all I can do is cry; long, ugly, wails escape my lungs as my face crumples with sadness. My fingers caress her cheek, and for an instant, I think that maybe I can bring her back to life. I hover my hands over her face and heart, willing my power to heal her, but nothing happens. Not one tingle, not one ounce of heat, not one thing I can do to save her.