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“But the Miriamic Messenger only prints Imperium propaganda,” Grant complained. “They’ve already branded the coven’s divide as the Miriamic Conflict.”
“Then we’ll be subtle, until it’s time to make noise,” Everly said. “My classes teach that improving your own magic makes the community stronger. When it comes to magic, one plus one does not equal two. Put two witches together, and their magic is more powerful than two witches on their own. I can speak on this concept all day. My students will side with us.”
Lucas nodded. “This is a good place to start. Has anyone else made progress?”
Talia shook her head. “Chloe and I were both denied internships with Professor Richards. We might be able to get into the archives room ourselves, but there’s a wait list.”
Mandy raised her hand. “Grant and I found a few mentions of demons in old newspapers. The most recent one that involved killings was eighty years ago, during the Great Supernatural War. A group of college students summoned a demon thinking he might be able to help the coven during the war, but he slaughtered them all. He killed a few others before the priestesses vanquished him.”
“Do you think it’s the same guy?” I asked.
Mandy looked uncertain. “Based on the news reports, this demon killed people himself. It’s different from what Lucas said happened to Professor Perez. But maybe he learned from the past and changed up his tactics.”
“Keep looking into it,” I suggested. “See if you can find out how the priestesses got rid of him.”
Mandy nodded firmly.
“How’s it going with the Executors, Miles?” Lucas asked.
“Grant and I staged a fight, like we talked about,” he said.
Grant rubbed his neck. “Yeah, one hell of a fight. You didn’t have to go that hard, you know.”
Miles shrugged. “I had to sell it. The recruiters bought it. I’m in, but I haven’t started my training yet. I’ll let you know if I get anything—”
He cut off when a high-pitched squeal filled the room. Magic began flashing across the walls, pulsing red.
I shot out of my chair. “What is that?”
Mandy shot a nervous glance around the room. “Someone’s trying to get through our ward!”
“How’s that possible?” Lucas demanded.
“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “The spell was iron-clad.”
Lucas formed a battle orb in his hand and swung the door open. I rushed behind him. We were prepared to defend ourselves. I reached the end of the hall and turned the corner. When we stepped outside of the ward, the alarm stopped. In fact, the whole hallway seemed to vanish. Behind us appeared a solid wall. I’d never guess there was something hidden there at all. Isa batted at the wall, and her paw went through it.
Our friends followed us, and it looked like they were ghosts walking through the wall. We looked up and down the hall but saw no one.
“This ward is strong,” Mandy insisted. “It only lets our allies through. If anyone else finds our entrance, it should feel like a solid wall. I don’t know why the alarm is going off.”
“We should figure it out before we continue,” I stated. “We don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
Lucas nodded in agreement. “In the meantime, we should go back to our dorm rooms.”
“I need to check a few books in the library,” Mandy said. “It might just be a flaw in the spell.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” Everly offered.
Everyone quickly dispersed, but Lucas and I turned back toward the ward.
“Mandy did a good job,” I said. “I don’t get it.”
“I can’t even tell the ward’s there,” Lucas agreed.
“But I can,” a woman said. She stepped around a corner, and a fat black cat waddled beside her. I went rigid as Headmistress Verla approached us. “Your ward is good, but mine is stronger. I was notified the moment you cast your ward, and I overheard everything.”
“Headmistress…” I started.
