We all get up and follow Rita into the next room. She makes me stand with her by the window and instructs me to look outside and find something small to focus my attention on. I pick a pretty red rose in a thorny bush out by her front gate.
“Have you found something yet?” she asks.
“Yup.”
“Good. Now, I want you to imagine an impenetrable container around the thing you’re looking at.”
I do my best to follow Rita’s instructions. In my mind I picture a clear glass bubble surrounding the rose, imagining that it’s so strong nothing could ever break past it, a glass that it’s impossible to shatter. It’s difficult to visualise the bubble with my eyes still open, so I close them, and it really helps. Something inside of me tells me that it was the right thing to do, like the ball of magic in my belly is singing in praise.
Rita lets out a low curse, and I hear Gabriel and Alvie step up closer to me. Wondering what’s going on I open my eyes, and when I do I see that the red rose is shimmering among the dull green leaves of the bush. I drop my concentration in shock and the rose returns to its normal colour.
Rita laughs. “It wasn’t the rose you were focusing on, was it?”
“I’ve never seen a student get that on the first try before,” says Gabriel, amazement in his voice.
“Did I do that?” I whisper.
“Yes you did Tegan, you fucking lucky magic having bitch.” Rita answers, her expression thoroughly amused. “Now try it again on something else, something in this room.”
My eyes lock on the old television set in the corner. Rita seems to follow my gaze because she says, “Oh no, not the TV Tegan, something that isn’t in danger of blowing up.”
I look for a non-electrical object and settle for a cushion with an intricately embroidered picture of a Persian cat’s face on the front. I close my eyes, picturing the cushion in my head and I try to do the exact same thing I did with the rose.
After about thirty seconds I ask, “Is it working yet?”
“No,” Rita answers. “You’re over thinking it this time, you need to relax and not anticipate any results, just visualise.”
So I visualise, and it only takes a moment before Alvie claps in glee and I find the cushion surrounded by a warm, shimmering, vibrant glow.
“This is all really interesting Rita, but how is it going to help me contain the magic inside of me?”
Rita lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s all about practice you impatient trollop. Once you figure out a process for containing different objects, all you’ll need to do is go through the exact same pattern when you want to contain your own magic. It’s safer to do it with small objects before trying it out on your body, just in case something happens to go awry and you let the wrong thought into your head. Magic is both a gift and a curse. If you’re lucky enough to have it then you need to be responsible and learn how to control it, so that you don’t unintentionally hurt someone.”
I raise my hands in surrender. “All right, all right, no need for a lecture.”
Rita smirks. “Whatever. So this is your homework assignment. Practice for a few minutes before you go to bed each night for the next few days and then we’ll see about moving to the next level.”
“There’s a next level?” I groan.
“Oh there are many,” says Alvie, “and you’re going to have to commit a lot more time than a few minutes a night if you’re going to become a proper witch.”
“I have no intention of becoming a proper witch,” I reply defensively. “I just want to learn how not to make crockery go flying across the room when I’m trying to eat a meal.”
Rita and Alvie eye each other mischievously. “You won’t be complaining when you realise how much power you could wield,” says Rita. “It’s hard work at first, but once you get the hang of things you’ll be flying. Perhaps even literally,” she grins. “That’s when magic can become addictive, so you’ll have to learn how to find a balance.”
“You’re not putting my mind at ease here,” I complain, then I glance up at the clock. It’s already six and I’d been planning on going to see Ethan early before the club gets busy.
“I better get going,” I tell my friends. “But I’ll practice like you told me to and then I’ll come to see you again.”
“Got a hot date or something?” Rita asks with a smirk.
I shoot her a rueful glance. “If by hot you mean fiery, ergo, dangerous, then yes, I have a very, very hot date.” I answer, shrugging into my coat.
“Some girls have all the fun,” Rita winks, as I say goodbye to Alvie and Gabriel and pat Wolf on the head. The big dog stands up immediately and trails me out the door.
My mind whirls with the possibilities, as I walk down the dark street with Wolf. Magic. I have the potential to use magic just like Rita. Just like my mother. The idea makes me feel closer to my long lost parent somehow. I’m almost at Finn’s house and I’m still in a daze, too caught up in my own thoughts to be watchful of what’s going on around me. I don’t pay attention to Wolf as he becomes tense and begins to growl low in his throat.
Which is silly, really, really silly. Because a moment later something hard and solid whacks me on the head. I feel somebody’s arms fold tight around me and drag me down the pathway, just before the darkness enfolds me completely.