Chapter 337: Hollis Hall
The fourth and fifth floors of Hollis Hall were home to witches alone, warded against normal students. Not that they weren't aware the floors were there, but instead felt no desire to visit. The entire campus was like that, places where the ordinary and the magical existed side-by-side, but never met, at least for the normals.
I peeked inside the room calling my name and found myself pleasantly surprised. Yes, it held two beds. Mom insisted I have a roommate my first year. Something about making connections with other witches. But I was pretty sure she really just didn't want it to look like I was getting special treatment. In all honesty, I should have been housed at Gray Hall, the home of the elite. Not all covens were as wealthy as mine, and not all as powerful. Some had more money, some stronger witches, but it was a rare few that had a combination of the two. And though the thought of being segregated with the rich witches no matter their abilities was kind of horrible, I'd taken a look online at the dorms and amenities and had to suppress a sigh of regret I wouldn't be living there.
But this room wasn't so bad. I looked around as I entered, at the wide common space, the bed next to the door already covered with a homey quilt. The one across from it under a large window almost groaned, piled with my stuff. To the right was an open door, the bathroom, I assumed. On the left was a wardrobe next to my bed. I eyed it with some trepidation, wondering if I'd be able to cram all my clothes inside. Not that I was much of a prissy princess, but a girl had to have variety.
Charlotte rolled my two suitcases to the side of my bed and pushed the handles back inside before dumping the second backpack next to the stack of sheets, comforter and pillows, box of personal items and one smaller suitcase full of clothes already waiting for me.
I turned to the weregirl, feeling suddenly awkward. What was she planning, to sleep at the foot of my bed?
Her hint of a smile told me she knew exactly what I was thinking. "I'm in the single across the hall," she said. "Miriam insisted you have a witch roommate." I could tell from the tone of her voice she disagreed with my mother. Charlotte had no problem sharing her disapproval.
It was one thing I really liked about her. If she said something, she meant it and didn't care who heard her.
"Okay then." I looked around, not sure what to tackle first, eyes drifting to the neatly made bed across from me. "Wonder what she's like."
Charlotte's shrug was so subtle if I didn't know her so well I would have missed it. "A witch," she said.
Helpful. Seriously, I'd heard some horror stories from well-meaning coven members who stopped by over tea during the summer to share with me how terrible their roommate experiences were.
Those conversations always ended with a hand pat, a weak smile and a, "I'm sure it will be different for you, Sydlynn."
Now that I stood here in my new room, the one I'd be calling home for the next nine months, those stories came rushing back.
"What if she's, you know. Weird?" I hugged myself a little while Charlotte watched me with her ice blue eyes. Why did I always get the impression she could see right through me?
"Then you'll get along, I suppose." Charlotte just made a joke. Amazing.
"Thanks a lot." I dropped my arms, did my best to relax. There wasn't much I could do about it now, anyway. Not when the sounds at the door told me my new roommate just arrived.
I turned slowly, forcing a smile, praying silently she was reasonably stable. Only to find my tension disappearing in a rush as two familiar faces smiled back at me.
Tallah Hensley stepped forward immediately, the young leader of the Hensley coven hugging me with great enthusiasm. Her sister, Sashenka, hung back while Tallah and I embraced.
"I'm so happy to see you, Syd." Tallah leaned away, though her hands still gripped my upper arms, white teeth flashing against her glowing dark skin. "It's been fun talking over the last few months, but I was hoping to run into you here, face-to-face."
We'd done our best to keep connected after Mom's trial was over. I genuinely liked the Hensley sisters, though Tallah was the most open and forward of the pair. I always got the impression Sashenka felt like her sister overshadowed her and hoped her time at college would help her to feel more independent.
I exchanged a quick hug with Sashenka, very happy to see her. "I can't tell you how relieved I am you're my roommate."
Her smile was a little nervous, but Sashenka nodded with enthusiasm. "Tallah requested we be together," she said. "I hope you don't mind?"
"Not even a little." I suddenly felt a whole lot better. This year might end up fantastic after all. I had my first witch friend at college already and I'd only been here a half hour.
"I have to run off to talk to Miriam then hurry back home." Tallah kissed Sashenka's temple as though she was her mother and not her sister. I felt how close they were and then a pang of need to see Meira. "I wish I could stay longer, but please make sure you Skype me, Syd." She waved as she headed for the door. "Have a great first semester, you two."
I grinned at Sashenka as Tallah disappeared. "You've been here longer than me, looks like. Unpacked already?"
The smile on Sashenka's face was gone in a heartbeat. "I... yes." Her energy shifted all of a sudden, from cheerful if nervous to downright awkward. What the hell?
I paused, waiting for more. Sashenka just shifted from foot to foot, no longer meeting my gaze. Um, hello? What happened?
"Guess I have my own unpacking to do." I turned slowly from her, expecting her to say something. Anything. But Sashenka just bobbed her head, spun and rushed from the room.
"Lovely." I sighed and rolled my eyes at Charlotte. "Any clue what I did?"
The weregirl's gaze went to the door, face thoughtful. "No," she said.
Sometimes she frustrated me so much I wanted to shake her.
"Fine," I snapped, good mood shattered, hopes for a happy year fading yet again. "If you don't mind, I have unpacking to do."
Charlotte's expression flattened out and she nodded. She covered the distance from me to the door in three strides. I heard another door open and close firmly, presumably across the hall.
Whatever. She could be as pissy as she wanted. I didn't ask her to come here.
Having fun yet? Gram's magic wrapped me up, amusement obvious.
I snarled to myself as I kicked one of the heavy suitcases. Yeah. Sure. Peachy keen.
Demon child, she sent. Have some faith. In yourself. In this new adventure.
I sank to the corner of my bed, struggling with tears. I don't really need to be here, I sent back. I could just come home.
Gram snorted. Like you've ever quit on anything in your whole life. Don't start now.
She was right. And it's not like I hadn't faced worse. It was just... I was hoping things would be different. Better. But so far, same old.
Whiner. Gram's tone was mild, but the accusation cut.
Yeah. Guilty.
She left me with a hug and a promise to keep me posted if anything happened in Wilding Springs. Like anything catastrophic requiring my particular skill set to deal with it. I could handle catastrophic, oddly. Had been through enough messes, disasters, near world-ending experiences that being in danger was the norm for me. This having to fit in stuff? I always sucked at it, no matter where we moved to, how many places, how many new schools.
And yet, this was different. I'd be with other witches, so the natural repellant nature of my power wouldn't be in play, the awkward feeling normals had around me no longer an issue. The students I'd be in classes with would be just like me.
Yeah, time to pull it together. So my roommate might not like me and was just pretending so her coven leader sister wouldn't know. Big deal. I could handle it.
I shoved one of the boxes to make more room for myself and had to catch it before it fell. Still, a few things tumbled out, retrieved by my magic. Two photos, one framed in silver, the other in black, hovered before me and I found myself smiling again at last.
The first was of Liam and me, standing under the archway at Wilding Springs High. Prom. He looked hot in his tux and vest, silver satin tie matching my shimmering dress. As much as my memory of prom from the year before had sucked, being dumped by Brad when my lack of power no longer attracted the football hottie, this year's graduation, mine and Liam's, was so much fun I actually hadn't wanted the night to end.
The other, chunky black frame rough around the edges, made my stomach tighten in a good way, my heart melt. Quaid sat on his motorcycle, dressed in delicious leather, the smirk I used to hate and now loved on his handsome face. I took it out of the air, ran my fingertips over his face, felt the connection between us thrum as I focused on him. The picture of Liam settled in my left hand then and, as I looked back and forth between them, I missed them both terribly, but in different ways. I knew Liam would love it here at Harvard and wished he could have joined me. As for Quaid, I just wanted to feel his arms around me, the way our power melded together, the caramel yumminess of him when he kissed me.
My need for Quaid was strongest. On impulse, hoping he was here on campus already and no longer at the summer training camp, I reached down the connection to him.
And found him laughing. But about what? Before I had a chance to explore further, his humor shut off abruptly, his public mind now closed though his magic reached out, full focus on me.
A tiny hint of worry at what he hid from me was crushed under the rush of love he sent my way.
I miss you. I wish it didn't come out so soft and fragile. Whiny. I hated whiny.
I miss you too. He didn't seem to have the same problem expressing himself. Are you at school?
I looked around the room, sighed. Just arrived. Are you here yet?
Not yet. A foreign touch of magic, just a thread, stirred along our connection, but Quaid abruptly cut it off. I'm on my way. Should be there in the morning.
Who are you with? Yeah, way to sound needy and jealous, Syd. But Quaid just sent more love.
I'll introduce you to the bunch when we arrive, he sent. You'll like them, Syd. I already told them all about you.
That made me feel better. I can't wait to see you. Not whiny this time. Just true.
Me too. I love you.
Heart singing, I hugged him with my power. I love you, too. So much.
See you the second I get there. Again that touch of foreign power. I have to go.
Yeah, me too. I'm sure he knew I was lying. See you soon.
His magic released me gently as he left. Why then did it hurt so much when he was gone?
***
