Scholomance 9 by Logan Jacobs (read books for money .TXT) 📕

“And what do you do when life’s unwavering gaze has its hold on you, Vanessa?” I whispered.

“You either run or face it,” she said in a faint voice, “and by Satan, I’d sooner die than run from my fears. Since I was a little girl, I’ve been taught to stare danger dead in the eyes.”

“I’m not surprised,” I said. “I have a feeling you were already born with a remarkable spirit, and with Theodora as your mother and teacher… I genuinely believe there isn’t anything you can’t do.”

“Thank you, Cole,” she said as she looked back at me, and her gaze was steady and penetrating.

After a few moments of staring at one another, I smiled, and we didn’t say another word until the other familiars came padding or flying from their hunt. Meanwhile, the women slowly began to slip out from their tents to join us. Their faces were red and their eyes droopy with sleep, but when they saw our loyal creatures carrying an abundance of treats to choose from, their faces quickly lit up.

I spotted various goodies, including wild rabbits, baby boar, elk strips, golden ducklings, and plump juicy doves. Everything was already marinated with fresh, salty blood, and my stomach growled as I looked at their spilling insides and shredded skin.

“Wow,” I said before Alexander perched himself on my shoulder. “You certainly outdid yourself this time, didn’t you?”

We figured you deserved a treat, Alexander chuckled in my head. After yesterday, you’re going to need your strength.

“Thanks, man.” I grinned, and my stomach rumbled even louder as I pictured the cooked, juicy meat melting in my mouth. “We really will need our strength for this next fight.”

“Alright, let’s stop diddle dawdling and prepare these raw meats,” Vanessa suggested in a firm voice. “Then we’ll get a move on.”

Vanessa lifted her wand in the air and spun it around in three perfect circles above her head, and suddenly the tents were gone, and a giant burning pyre with a heavy black cauldron appeared before us. The thick metal pot hovered above the burning wood, and I could already see bubbles brewing on the surface.

As the water grew hotter, Revna used her ancient, wild spell to carefully skin each animal before we hoisted it over the sweltering pot. The animal chunks were cut using the ‘secare’ spell by Morgana, and portions of various meats were tossed inside the cauldron at random. Vanessa cast another inaudible spell under her breath, and soon, the air smelled like a thick creamy carnivorous stew.

“Hmmmmm,” Penelope moaned before she licked her lips. “I’m starved.”

“I’ll bet,” Vanessa replied as she used her wand to magically stir the stew. “After what I heard last night, I can imagine several of you need… replenishments.”

The women who visited me late at night didn’t say a word, but I could see the corners of Akira’s full purple pout were desperate to etch into a smirk. Instead, the raven-haired beauty turned aside and coughed like she was suppressing a small laugh.

Morgana discreetly nudged the black-haired witch in the ribs, and her blue eyes focused on the impromptu breakfast instead.

“Smells so delicious,” Morgana said in an overexaggerated voice, and we all knew she was just trying to change the subject.

“Indeed,” Vanessa replied in a stoic tone.

Once the meal was finally prepared, we began to dig into our fresh kill, and we ate as much as we could before we prepared ourselves for the journey ahead. I had no idea where we were exactly, but I knew the compass was still pointing us in a steady direction. Every time I lifted the withered wooden lid, the needle continued to aim northwest, and I decided it would be best to travel by foot. The dragons had been helpful beings, but I knew it would be best to keep low to the ground and remain as inconspicuous as possible.

I couldn’t say why exactly, but I sensed something about the vast, blue skies. I felt like their thick clouds and unpredictable wind would be a dangerous route to take.

“Alright,” I said before I licked my lips. “Let’s get moving.”

“Sounds perfect,” Vanessa responded before she waved her wand, and everything she’d summoned into existence disappeared in the blink of an eye. “Lovely.”

I nodded in Vanessa’s direction before I led the women forward and followed the compass. We walked onward, and the familiars who traveled by ground treaded alongside their masters while the others flew liberally in the sky and kept a lookout.

“Be careful, Alexander,” I said when I gazed up at his dark, hefty body. He continued to dive over and under clouds, and sometimes I could feel his magnetic spirit, ready to take on the entire fucking world.

I am careful, he replied in a soft voice. Don’t worry about me, Cole. Worry about you and your women.

“Just remember, we have no idea what kind of dangers could lurk high in the skies,” I said, and I knew I sounded like a worried mother.

I know, he responded in my head. I won’t travel any higher than the clouds. Promise.

“Good.” I nodded before I looked down at the compass, and unexpectedly, the silver arrow began to whirl in racing circles. “Whoa… what the hell?”

This was different from anything it had ever done before. Up until now, the compass felt like a peaceful artifact, ready to gently guide us along our way, but now I was feeling an unfamiliar presence radiating from it.

“What’s wrong, master?” Revna asked.

“It’s the compass,” I said as I raised my hands in the air, and everyone came to a sudden stop. “It’s doing something odd…”

“What?” Vanessa demanded impatiently. “Be more precise, for hell’s sake.”

“I don’t know,” I began with furrowed eyebrows. “I’ve seen it spin before, but never like this. It’s going mad.”

“Do you feel a warning presence