The book of shadows:
Chapter 2:
The entire assembly filed out at once, causing a riot at the doors.
I had the good sense not to try and get mixed up in this mob so all I did was bide my time and text Alice to make sure she knew that it was over and that she didn't need to pick me up since I fancied a nice walk, or rather dash, through this monsoon to clear my head. She resisted slightly, going on a little how I always keep changing my pathways and how I'm such an Aquarius with leo rising - whatever that meant. I shut her up a little - she may be older then me but she damn well doesn't have my vocabulary - as I spotted the two men from the speeches - Light and Ryuga - split up after the cerimony a little too fast for it to be normal. Obviously there was tension, a lot of tension in these two guys so I ducked out of the fire door in order to get out of there and get some perspective on my situation. Ok, what do I know?
1) Ryuga is intelligent and, by the look in his eyes, mad enough to try and find out my secret.
2) He is in my year.
3) Gossip is ripe in this place.
4) He's a little strange.
Ok, time for a plan to rid myself of this pest. How about spreading a rumour that will distroy his reputation so that he has no choice but to transfer? No, he would probabilly find out who started it and then find out my secret quicker. Also he looks like the sort of guy who doesn't care about his reputation. So a magical cure? I want to avoid that course of action as much as possible so it doesn't draw too much attention to my witchy weirdness. Ok, so then logically there's only one cure for this vermin and that is to put up with it. At least for now. Fine, I can do that. Maybe. Perhaps. Can I? Whatever.
"Hey light!" The dull almost bored voice of Ryuga snapped me out of my plans as I saw the two ready walking close to each other in order to begin a some drab conversation probabilly about how clever they are or how rich their daddies are. Nothing new to me but who knows? It might be slightly intresting. I stood a few meters away, in hearing distance and pulled out a magazine so any on lookers would think I'm mearly doing a reading an article or something while I listened in like some sort of ninja spy. I need to get out more. "uh, nice meeting you!"
"No the pleasure was mine!" was the reply and I was apsolutly dissapointed by the lack of substance in the conversation. Surely they could of just boasted a little? Or a small insult directed at us working class insects? But Ryuga just walked away and I thought that would be the end of it till a fancy, chauffeur driven car opened it's door to him like he was the bloody president or something.
Ok, he's the rich boy then. Didn't see that one coming.
"Well, I suppose I'll see you on campus!" Ryuga got into the car and seemed quite at home in the padded car as he was in the assembly, or not. To me it looked weird. I mean I suspected Light of being the pampered one not Ryuga so what the hell? Hang on a minute, Ryuga is the name of that pop star isn't it that litrally EVERYONE is talking about? Sounds like an alias to me, but why would he have an alias? Maybe for safety? I doubt it, if he get's his chauffeur to drive him around like a blinking neon sign for a hit. So what? Then I caught a look at the glass. Bullet proof? Ok, now that's suspicous. But he drove off before I could start asking questions.
"Yeah, take care!" was it me or did Light seem distracted? Moderately intresting. Anyway, I had to take the bus to my job at the local coffee house downtown. The pay isn't that good but it's safe and hygienic so I guess that makes up for it. The rest of the day was spent taking tips, polietly but firmly refusing offers for dates and taking in the scent of fresh ground coffee beans. Then home, sweet home and the prospect of a refreshing bath and a comfortable bed. Of course, first there's the cleaning to be done, dinner to be cooked and study that I have to do so the bath and bed are a little distant but with a little beginners magic.
The house was empty when I came home apart from Ambroise, my black cat. Ok, maybe I should explain before you get your pitchforks out. See, every witch has a black cat given to her by the owner of the family cat when her magic presents itself. That cat is her guardian, or more litrally her protector. Ambroise can't talk but she does have some skills that normal cats don't. Like being able to move through the shadows to places in a type of teleportation or being able to grow into the same size and weight as a adult lepard to protect her ward. They can use limited magic, like healing minor wounds with their drool or instantly knowing if it's ward is in trouble or not. Anyway, like normal I fed her and rubbed her head while soothing her with a few words of praise. I really wanted rest but for now I had to do my chores.
"Clean up this room, with a mop and a broom!" I recited as a few more drops of finite energy leaked out to work my magic. Of course, magic has it's price and the currency for spellcraft is energy. The more complex a spell, the more energy you loose. That's why it's damn near impossible for a witch to ressurect the dead or stop the ageing process all together due to the amount of energy that is required being way too much for one witch to possess. As if on que, my knees began to quake from under me and I fell into the plush sofa in the living room in about twenty-seven seconds flat - bad pun sorry. For about ten minutes I watched the re-animated broom and mop dance a beautiful ballet of cleaning across the floor till it was spotless while Ambroise tried to catch the mop with her claws like the idiot she is.
"House be clean, sparkle and gleam!" I was nearly knocked out with this spell as the rush of energy made me feel woozy and light headed. I decided to have a power nap before trying again. After all, I don't want a repeat of Grandmother Agatha's mistake when she maxed out her power trying to remove a boggart from her wardrobe. Poor Agatha was turned into a petrified mummy after all of her mojo was used up. It took weeks to get rid of the smell, according to Alice, who was only eight at the time. Fortunetly my Grandad was still alive and could look after his children after Agatha died so they never had to go through life as orphans. He died a few years back of old age but he was a tough old bastard, and a kind grandfather to me so that was sad. So I curled up and let Ambroise nest by my legs for a while till my strenght came back.
It was six o'clock by the time I woke up and I was famished. I raided the cuboards and decided to make pasta today and pizza tommorow. The wait for the food was unbareable but it finally stopped cooking and I was able to finally eat. I, of course, put aside a little for Alice but I scoffed as much as I could in order to regain the energy I had lost during the day. Then it was two long, boring revison sessons with a gap in between so I could get a cup of tea before bath and bed.
My life is so exausting. And boring.