Bewitched

Two days later, I stand on the pathway leading up to Henbane’s residence hall, Nero at my side.

I’m not entirely positive that this is real, not until I open my notebook and see the printed housing instructions with my name on them taped in my pla

I head up the pathway toward the front door.

This time, as I approach the lamassu, I pause to touch one. I don’t know why I love these half woman, half beast statues so much, but I get a thrill when I realize they’ll be guarding me every day.

I drop my hand and head the rest of the way up to the front door. The dark water-stained door is fitted with an elaborate bronze knocker held between the pointed teeth of Medusa. Like the lamassu, this is another threshold guardian.

As soon as my hand closes over the doorknob, the metal Medusa moves, the snakes in her hair writhing, and her metal lips part.

“Welcome home, Selene Bowers,” she says.

For a moment, I smell rosemary, lavender, and mint, scents associated with protection. Women’s voices whisper in my ear, and one of them laughs, the sound morphing into a cackle.

And then, whatever witchy ritual that was, it’s done. The phantom smells and sounds vanish, and the Medusa head freezes back into place.

I push the door open and enter the building, Nero following behind me.

Women’s voices fill the space. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

To my left, there’s a living room and a kitchen for spellwork. Beyond them is the house’s actual kitchen, where food prep is handled, and across from it is our dining hall.

To the other side of me, there’s a library, an atrium, and a hallway I know leads to a study room and the Ritual Room. And straight ahead is the main staircase.

Just like the harvest party, the building slowly goes quiet as the witches catch sight of me and Nero.

Right when the silence is about to feel awkward, Charlotte, a witch I recognize from Peel Academy, leans out of the kitchen and shouts, “Welcome to the family, Bowers!”

Several other women follow suit, calling out their welcomes to me. My shoulders, which had tensed, now relax. Whatever caused that silence, the women here moved past it to make me feel comfortable.

“Thanks,” I call out to Charlotte and the others.

I cross the foyer and head up the stairs with my familiar at my side. The wooden stairs creak as we climb them.

I step off on the third floor and head to my right, my eyes sca

Room 306.

The door has been propped open. Inside, there’s a single twin bed and a blue velvet chair next to it. Pushed against the adjacent wall is an empty bookshelf. Next to it is a large window that looks out onto a gnarled oak tree.

Across from my bed rests an ancient-looking desk with an equally ancient lamp. Sitting on the center of its surface is a massive iron key.

I walk over and pick up the key.

This is a joke, right? I mean, how am I supposed to put this on my key chain without looking like some old-timey prison warden?

I glance at my door with its ornate bronze doorknob and the large keyhole above it.

All right, so this isn’t a joke. The coven just hasn’t updated their rooms’ locks in a century or so.

Really hoping those lamassu do a decent job protecting this place because my lock obviously does shit.

I pocket the key anyway.

“What do you think?” I say, glancing down at Nero.

My panther looks out at the room, then rubs his face against my leg.

My eyes sweep over the place. “I’m glad you approve. I love it too.”

OceanofPDF.com