Chapter One
"Welcome…to the Big Orange!"
The moon reflected on the lake not so far down. The Halloween moon glowed a violent yellow, that both my three aunts and I loved. We glided on our brooms, our feet almost touching the bushy trees. My aunts laughed as their cackles filled the air. I joined in as I heard car horns and lights take over the night skies.
"Get ready to land ladies!" Aunt Vi yelled.
We all nodded and waited for the cue for when we could land and get to our apartment. It was only days ago when Aunt Vi, Georgia, and Lera had decided it was time to leave Oregon, Salem and head to Queens, New York. It was a quick decision since the neighbors kept wondering why cats were dancing on our roof. Our explanation was that the cats were stoned. I snapped back into reality as I realized I was the only one who was in the sky. I pointed my broom down and I landed minutes later.
"Took you long enough!" Aunt Georgia chuckled. "You rotten little rascal."
The rest of my aunts joined as they pushed past me. I was used to the insults. I've been called everything in the book ever since I was eight. That's when I learned to be quiet. If I didn't they would turn me into a rat and use a torture spell on me. I shivered at the thought as I let my broom follow me as I walked on the muddy ground. Leaves cracked under my boots.
"My feet are killing me!" Aunt Vi whined.
"Walkin' is for mortals." Aunt Lera flipped her bushy blonde hair. "We should be teleportin' to this apartment." Aunt Lera's squeaky loud voice scared some of the birds away.
"Agreed. My hair is fizzing in this humidity!" Aunt Vi moaned.
"Fine. We're teleportin'." Aunt Lera smiled as she grabbed both of her sisters hands.
I was about to grab hands with Aunt Vi when she moved her hand. I gave her a quizzical look.
"You can walk." Aunt Vi hissed as the rest of my aunts joined in, they suddenly faded. Leaving me in the dark. My green eyes widened as I heard an owl hoot. I grabbed my light brown broom and began searching for a sidewalk.
"This," I began. "is going to take awhile." I whispered to myself.
It's been two weeks ever since I've landed in Queens. I woke just minutes ago. I rubbed my eyes and scratched my back.
"Ouch!" I yelped. I rubbed my the top of my head. I hit my head on the ceiling! This is what I get for sleeping in the attic. I went on my knees and began climbing to the ladder. I dropped down and hit the wooden floor boards in the hallway. I sighed, my aunts were still sleeping their snores had engulfed the air.
I tip toed down the stairs. Making sure I didn't make a sound. When I reached the bottom, the smell of pancakes and bacon dragged me closer to the stove. When I stepped out of the trance, I realized it was Aunt Lera who was cooking.
"Hungry, you little rat?" Lera snorted.
I shook my head. I wasn't going to fall into the same old trap Aunt Lera did every day. I was starving though I could even feel drool about to fall to the floor. I wiped the spit away as I sat at the breakfast table.
"Bored again, Jean?" Aunt Lera sneered.
"I always am…" I grumbled.
"How about attending Robin T. Wood Academy?" Aunt Lera asked as she tossed some pancakes onto a yellow plate.
"You're seriously letting me go to school now?" I jumped out of my seat. I just knew my green eyes were glowing with happiness.
"I've read in 'Being a Single Parent with One Kid and How to Deal with it'. It's a very good book. Inside, it explained that kids your age have to learn to make your brain bigger. So, you can get a job and the heck out my house!" Aunt Lera said as she poured syrup all over the hot steaming pancakes.
"Interesting. Go on. I'm listening." I grinned. It was the first time in months that I smiled. I sure felt good to show off my dimples.
"So, why not send you to a school! I don't want to teach you neither do my sisters and besides you're a Demi-Blood. You can't do any real magic without a license and you need to be a Genuine Blood to do full magic." Aunt Lera put a giant glob of butter on top of the cooled pancakes.
"What's the catch?" I gave a stern look at my aunt. Everything that's good for my aunts has to have a magical catch.
"Oh, nothing. You just have to ace your tests at the end of year. It's nothin' big, rodent. I'm sure you can use, 'Half Spells for Half Witches' and automatically get good grades." Aunt Lera sniggered.
Ace my tests and exams? Get good grades? I didn't know a thing about public schools especially, a private one! I know how to study, write, and read. I don't even know if homo sapiens do all that stuff! I don't even have any friends.
"Oh, quit the thinking, Jean! They're boys there to help you! Lots and lots of boys." Aunt Lera giggled. "Oh, and possibly some annoying girls that will get in the way but, you can zap them into little flies and step on them. I used to do that…" Aunt Lera sighed heavily.
"So, when do I start?" I asked, eager to know.
"This man named Dean called and said you were supposed to be there by eight o'clock and not a minute late. He also mailed this outfit! It's hideous but, since you are I'm sure it'll go well." Aunt Lera nodded.
"Aunt Lera! It's almost seven fifty! How am I supposed to get to school now? By broom?" I stood.
"Teleport at the back of the school. I'll go with you. I always wanted to see a young man." Aunt Lera grabbed a fork and a knife and sat down at the breakfast table. "Aren't you going to get dressed? Or do you want to go in your jammies? I wouldn't mind…" Aunt Lera swallowed a piece of pancake as she began to cut another. It was a frightening sight! I grabbed the box on the table and ran upstairs with it. It's amazing what one evil aunt can do for you!
The school uniform fit me fine. The shirt was all white and stopped at my shoulders. The grey jacket rested on the white top as the school's mascot was on the right sleeve. The skirt that stopped just above my knees was grey and white and went perfectly with my grey socks. My black shoes made me look a few inches taller. This was a good look. The white brought out my green eyes but, my red curly hair was getting in my way of seeing correctly. I fixed my jacket and grabbed the books and backpack that I had gotten also in the big brown box.
"You're going to school like that?" Aunt Georgia sneered from behind.
I turned to face my chubby aunt. She was shaking her head.
"You should be wearing make-up." Aunt Georgia snapped. "You look like a red headed mule."
I backed away from my aunt. She wasn't going to mess up my face with that blush, lipstick, and mascara that was tested on animals.
"Would you look at the time!? Bye," I ran down the stairs bumping into Aunt Lera.
"What's the rush? Is the Pizza Hut man here?" Aunt Lera asked.
I turned and looked back at Aunt Lera. "It's time to go." I said quickly. I held Aunt Lera's hand.
"Okay. Georgia, make sure to tip the Pizza Hut man!" Aunt Lera yelled in my ear as we both faded.
I felt all bubbly inside when I saw half my body missing. Then my chest, and hands. I opened my eyes. As I looked in amazement. I was at the back of my new school. The school was mostly brick which looked like my old house in Salem.
"Enjoy yourself. I'll pick you up at four." Aunt Lera said as she faded.
What was I supposed to do now? I looked around as I spotted four teenaged boys leaning on the brick wall and smoking cigarettes. They were even staring at me. I smiled and waved at them. Some of them laughed. The rest just put a cigarette in the air and wiggled it. Were they asking me to smoke with them? How sweet of them. I always pictured hominids would be gentle, sweet, nice, caring, and generous. All I did was shook my head, no. I waved good bye and continued to the front of the school. I gasped.
"Please don't tell me this is an only-boys school?!" I whispered.