NERVEWRACKING, THE TENSION WITHIN the room could be cut with a knife as Corey removed the thick black hood from the top of her head. She stood before the council, her shoulders squared as she hid her anxiety the best that she could. Everyone around her knew it was too soon for the redhead to be going through the trials. She had barely mastered her own birth-given powers, and here she was having to excel in the Seven Wonders and hope to make it out of them alive.
The council stood before her, each member looking solemn and remorseful. Somehow, the only witch in the room that held any confidence that Corey would make it out of these trials alive was Madison. The blonde stood in the corner with her small black cat pinned tightly against her chest.
"The Seven Wonders. Usually we move from easiest to hardest." Myrtle paced back and forth as she spoke. Her hands moved as she made a faulty attempt at shaking the palpable stress from the air around her. "But since we're doing things a little differently this year, let's begin with my personal favorite. Telekinesis."
On the table before Corey stood a single candle stick. Quinten leaned forward, his short stature placing him only a few inches above the wick as he lit the candle. He took a brisk step back, his eyes landing on his feet as he distracted himself. Corey let out a sigh, a slight shake in her shoulders catching her off guard.
"Remember your intention," Cecily bowed her head at the girl as she spoke, the quiver in her voice echoing through the otherwise quiet room. Corey closed her eyes, her hand reaching out towards the beckoning object on the table. As quickly as she could collect herself, she felt the cold metal of the old brass candelabra in her palm. There was an audible gasp and the redhead's eyes flew open as she wrapped her delicate fingers around the candlestick holder. She pulled it towards her face for a moment, blowing out the candle.
Myrtle nodded once, her hands finding their place behind her back as she continued to pace back and forth. The room that was once filled with an anxious energy now began to bubble up in excited whispers. The only voice Corey couldn't hear was Madison's, the blonde choosing to instead keep to herself. She watched the other girl from afar, swallowing hard.
"Concilium." Myrtle continued. "Commonly only known to the public as mind control. It's a tricky little craft." She stopped for a moment to pivot and change directions. Her stride slowed to a stop as she approached the young witch. "When properly exercised, can bend the strongest of wills to your desire." She took the candle from the redhead, passing it back to Quinten.
Corey scanned the room, her eyes landing on Zoe who was leaning against the grand piano in the corner of the room. Her lips turned upward in a smirk as the brunette's gaze met her own. It didn't take much for the young witch to sit at the piano bench and play a soft melody; what seemed to be a natural inclination for the girl as the song rang out into the room. As Corey's eyes left the brunette, a sour chord broke out— a sign that it had been the redhead silently guiding her all along.
Again, a sharp gasp broke out, followed by quiet murmurs as Quinten stood behind Corey in shock. If it were anyone else practicing Concilium without a care in the world, he was sure they would have done something much more drastic. And yet, here was Corey, channeling her own musical talent through her peers.
"The next task is Transmutation." Myrtle's voice broke through the tension once again. Before anyone else could let out another word, Corey popped from one side of the room to the other, her hand suddenly cradling Madison's chin. The blonde jumped as she let out a quiet shriek, startled by how quickly the redhead appeared at her side.
"Show off," she muttered, dropping Ophelia onto the floor below her. The cat let out a quiet hurumph as she landed on all fours, shaking the energy out of her fur. The room was quiet once again as Corey's hands fell to her sides, looking at Myrtle for her next task.
"Hidden in this house are items belonging to former Supremes." The older woman's voice projected across the room. "Corinna, divine in the pebbles the location of the item which belonged to Mimi DeLongpre." Corey's head tilted slightly as she watched Cecily dump a chalice full of pebbles onto the same table that previously housed the candle stick.
The witch walked back to the table slowly, taking in a deep breath as she approached. She stood there for a moment, looking at the pebbles before her with a quizzical turn of her brow.
She thought it was a joke, even knowing that she had conquered three of the seven tasks without any effort. All she saw in front of her was a pile of rocks. She looked up at the council, her expression unchanging as she looked back at the table. Finally, she closed her eyes, her hand hovering over the pile.
Queenie's room.
Hidden behind a pile of books and journals.
Mimi DeLongpre's broach.
"It's in the Queenie's room," Corey spat out. Her lips moved faster than she thought they would. "Southwest corner of the house, up the stairs." She opened her eyes, her attention moving to Quinten who looked at her with his mouth open just enough to catch a passing fly if there had been one. "Second door down the hall, beneath the dresser."
Again, Myrtle nodded, though she didn't say anything. She turned to Kyle, who stood in the doorway. On her signal, he went off. Silence took over the room again as the coven waited for the floppy haired boy to return. Corey could hear him fumble down the stairs as he rounded the corner, re-entering the room with the item held above his head in triumph.
"The antique broach belonging to Supreme Mimi DeLongpre, given to her on the night of the great ascension." The words left the redhead's lips with an air of confidence, her head tilted upward in a challenge.
"Correct." Myrtle looked from Kyle to Corey, a quiet sigh leaving her lips as she continued. "The next task is pyrokinesis. Obviously, Corinna, this is your bailiwick."
"Whatever that means." Madison muttered.
"It's my birth-given power," Corey let out a chuckle as she raised her hand slightly. Behind her, the fireplace broke out into a controlled flame. She smiled, the excited chattering returning to the room around her. It didn't last long, however, as Myrtle spoke once again.
"Vitalum Vitalis." Suddenly, it seemed like the air had been vacuumed from the space around them. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop as Corey's brows contorted into confusion.
"Do I really need to prove that I can bring something back from the brink of death? I already brought Madison back to life, isn't that enough?"
"You brought Miss Montgomery back with the assistance of two other witches." Quinten spoke quickly, as though the explanation had been obvious all along. "This task you must prove you are capable of completing on your own." He waved to Spalding, who entered the room with a small mourning dove.
The crunch was audible as he snapped the bird's neck before holding it out for the redhead. The coven erupted into a squeamish panic as Corey stood in her spot, mortified. She didn't know if she wanted to scream or vomit, but she held her composure to the best of her ability.
She reached out a shaky hand, taking the delicate bird and pulling it close before muttering an incantation to herself. It took longer than she had hoped, but the dove began to flutter and stir within her palms, the life returning to the animal as though it had hit a window and stunned itself for a moment. She passed the bird back to Spalding, who in turn opened the nearest window and let the dove return to its life outside of the academy.
Still, Corey's hands shook violently. She tried to regain her composure, keep herself from panicking and losing her focus. However, just as she had before, Myrtle interrupted her once more.
"The descent into the netherworld will be your final test." The woman reached her hand out, pointing to the rug to the redhead's side. "Getting to hell will be simple for a girl of your talent."
"Is that a gay joke?" Corey scoffed, only partially joking with the older woman. She found a seat on the rug as she watched Quinten, with the assistance of Kyle, bring in a large hourglass. They placed it down on the same table the other objects had rested on before. Myrtle chose to ignore the redhead's comment, finishing her duties and warning the girl of the consequences of her next and final task.
"If your soul hasn't returned to your body by sun up, you'll die."