More than Magic: Semester Aboard (42 page)

Then someone knocked on our door. Kaitlyn
would have had to climb over or under my hammock to get out, so I
got up and felt my way to the door.

"I love watching people stumble around in the
dark." I recognized TS’ voice as he spoke, but it was a bit harsher
than usual. He must have been a wolf.

"Excuse me for not being able to see."

"You'll have your wand back soon enough."

I made it to the screen door. "Careful. My
roommate's awake."

"Non-magics can't hear me in wolf form, don't
worry," TS said without lowering his voice.

"Who's there?" Kaitlyn called.

"A couple friends." I could just see Thomas’
silhouette.

"Want to come to our cabin for a while?"
Thomas asked.

"Sure..." Now I was worried. Why did they
want me at their cabin? "I'm going to go for a while, ok?"

"Have fun," Kaitlyn said. "I'll probably be
asleep when you get back."

"Ok!"

I went out the door and stopped short when I
remembered that there were steps. It was almost too dark to make
them out. I felt around with my foot to make sure I knew where they
were.

"Is something wrong? Do you think he'll come
into my cabin?" I asked, gingerly stepping down.

"No, nothing like that," Thomas said. "Your
cabin is still claimed by the last people who slept there. It's
perfectly safe."

"We're just going for a hike," TS said. "And
you're making me nervous fumbling about like that. Help her
out."

Then I was grabbed and picked up. I let out a
startled cry and grabbed instinctively for whoever was holding
me.

"Relax, I've got you," Thomas laughed.

I realized then that I had my arms wrapped
around his shoulders. I hoped I wasn't blushing. Could he see well
enough in the dark to see if I was blushing? Even with the light
from the moon and the stars I could hardly see him.

"This is a problem I didn't think of," he
continued. He lowered his voice. "We're going to get you a new
wand, but I didn't think through the fact you can't see right
now."

"Well, you can't carry me," I said. The truth
was I was quite comfortable in his arms. Too comfortable. I was
afraid that if he held me any longer I'd end up doing something
awful like resting my head on his shoulder. I was almost
disappointed when he set me back down.

"You can just ride," TS said.

"Ride?"

"Hop on."

"You're kidding."

"You need a wand," Thomas said softly, "but
can't see well enough to walk. You might as well take a ride."

I could see TS just well enough to figure out
where his back was. Still not sure if they were joking, I put my
hands on his back and tried to figure out how to climb on. Thomas
solved my problem by lifting me up again. He took my hand and held
me steady as I tried to settle in. It was sort of like riding a
horse, but I wasn't sure what to do without reins and a saddle.

"Just hang on right here," Thomas said. He
guided my hand to the scruff of TS’ neck. I couldn't tell if his
hand was actually lingering on mine or if it was just wishful
thinking.

TS slowly started walking. It was odd, but I
tightened my legs and hung on. We headed down the wooden path, but
I had no idea where we were going. The candles were already burned
out and the overhand blocked out a lot of light.

"Steps," TS said.

That was all the warning I had before I
pitched forward. I managed to catch myself and lean back as he
practically bounced down the steps. I realized that we were off the
path and heading for the trees.

"We're going into the jungle?" I asked
nervously. "Our guides said it's too dangerous!" They had said we
weren't even allowed in unescorted during the day. We weren't
supposed to get off of the wooden path at all at night.

"For non-magics. You're riding a werewolf,"
TS said. "There's nothing in this jungle that's going to mess with
me."

"It would have to get through me anyway,"
Thomas said. "And there's nothing here that could mess with me,
even if it wanted to."

"Are there any magics that are stronger than
vampires?" I asked.

"There are. But we're faster."

I swallowed nervously. I couldn't imagine
something stronger than a vampire. "But there aren't any that are
faster?"

"No, there are," he said, before I could take
comfort in that. "But...we're stronger," he said with a weak
chuckle.

We continued on in silence. It was dark,
truly dark. I had thought that it was dark in the desert, but I had
been able to look up and see stars. The canopy of leaves above us
was so think that I couldn't see a single star. I wasn't sure if I
had ever been somewhere with literally no light anywhere in sight.
The fact that I was moving made things even eerier.

"How well can you see in the dark?" I had to
ask. TS hadn't stumbled once, even though I could feel him hopping
and stepping over obstacles. I hadn't heard anything that sounded
like Thomas tripping either.

"Me?" TS asked. "Nearly as well as Tom
can."

"Looks like broad daylight to me," Thomas
said. "The only reason I know it isn't is because it isn't
bordering on painfully bright."

"That's amazing."

They both laughed. We probably walked for
another five minutes when TS stopped.

"You smell that?"

"Yeah," Thomas said. "Been hearing it
too."

"What?" I asked.

"We're being watched," Thomas whispered.

A shiver raced up my spine. "Watched?
Not...not Nathaniel?"

"No, no," Thomas said quickly. "They've
spotted us though; we may as well stop here."

I got the feeling that we were waiting for
something. A couple of minutes ticked by and I grew increasingly
nervous. I couldn't shake the fear that if something happened I'd
be totally useless. TS wouldn't be able to fight if I was on his
back and I'd be helpless if I wasn't.

"Why do you come here?" an unfamiliar voice
asked. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"For a wand," Thomas said. "We want to see a
dryad."

Suddenly a horrible snarling hiss came from
way, way too close to me. TS tensed and growled.

"You will not hunt in our territory
blood-drinker," the stranger snapped. "Your kind is not welcome
here."

For a moment I thought TS was going to lunge.
He started growling so fiercely his entire body shook. I couldn't
believe that I was as afraid as I was considering everything I had
already been through. Somehow the fact that I couldn't see at all
made things so much more terrifying. I didn't even know what sort
of creature we were facing.

"Show your teeth again, wolf, and you will
meet my claws," the stranger hissed.

"We just want a wand," Thomas said
tightly.

"Very well."

An entire minute passed without a sound. TS’
shoulders relaxed, just a bit, and I wondered if the stranger had
left.

"Stupid bloody werejaguar. I'd have him by
the throat before his claws-"

"Tethys," Thomas said, "forget it. With any
luck he'll be back with a dryad and we'll be out of here."

TS started grumbling to himself and shifting
his weight back and forth. A couple more agonizingly long minutes
went by and I felt TS move again.

"Relax," Thomas whispered. "She isn't going
to stake me."

"You never know."

Before I could wonder who 'she' was, a woman
spoke. "You are in need of a wand?"

Nobody said anything and TS gave his
shoulders, and me, a little shake. "Y-yes," I said quickly,
"please."

"Very well. Take any branch already
fallen."

I started to thank her, but Thomas
interrupted. “Hang on, you're not going to choose a wand for
her?"

"Why? She is not of my grove."

"The same sun nourishes all groves, doesn't
it?" Thomas asked.

The woman laughed. "And I suppose you claim a
grove, blood-drinker?" I heard a whispery, raspy hissing sound.
When it stopped the woman laughed again. "Your attempt to speak my
tongue amuses me. But, I have misjudged you. Give me your hand,
witch."

I nervously held out my hand in the direction
of the voice. Bony fingers started poking and prodding my hand. It
felt like a cross between a bad massage and a medical exam. Then my
hand was released.

"Wait here."

A few moments later TS snorted. "What a
helpful bunch."

"Hey, she is helping at least," Thomas
said.

"What did you say to her?" I asked. "Do you
speak uh...dryad?"

Thomas laughed. "I honestly have no idea what
anything I said means. It was a series of statements that establish
that I have dryad connections. Dryads tend to be very..."

"Introverted?" TS suggested.

"I was going to say private. Not a lot of
dryads enjoy interacting with other species. I don't think they
spend much time with each other either, but they've got a..." he
chuckled, "a deeply-rooted sense of community. If you can prove
that you're 'in' then they'll usually help you as if you were a
fellow dryad."

"How do you have dryad connections?"

"Natsuki's a dryad," Thomas said.

"Who is-oh!" I remembered. "Jon's wife?"

"Yeah. She taught me...well, like I said, I
have no idea what it means. But basically it's a little speech that
you can't learn from anyone but a dryad. And a dryad would never
teach anybody who doesn't deserve to know it. From what I
gather...ah, she's back."

"Here, take your wand," the dryad said.

I reached out blindly and a moment later felt
a stick. I grabbed it and, despite the fact I couldn't see a thing,
it felt perfect. It was odd, but I could almost picture it as I
balanced it in my hand.

"Test it," she prompted.

"No fire," Thomas said.

I thought I heard a satisfied sound from the
dryad. But Thomas didn't have to worry. I knew exactly what spell
I'd cast. I aimed my new wand boldly at my face and gave it a
go.

"
Mar
!"

The world lit up. I didn't think it was any
brighter than when I cast it with my last wand, it may even have
been a bit dimmer. That didn't matter though, I could see again. We
were deep in the jungle surrounded by thick foliage.

"It works?"

Then I saw my first dryad. A tall, lithe
woman was standing, watching me, just a few feet away. She had dark
brown skin, and I was almost positive that her hair was green.
There was no doubt that she was an elemental; I could see movement
in her eyes as she studied me.

"Yes. Thank you."

She nodded once, then turned and sprinted off
into the trees. Then I saw the werejaguar and my jaw nearly
dropped. Like TS, it was obvious that he was no ordinary jaguar. He
was huge! The fangs hanging out of his mouth looked like something
a saber-toothed tiger would have.

"Go now," he growled. "And remember my
warning."

"I will," Thomas snarled.

I climbed off of TS and the three of us
started walking back, I hoped, in the direction of the lodge.
Nobody spoke. I could hear TS growling softly and Thomas looked
mad. Or hurt. I had to recast my spell a couple of times and was
worried that it was wearing off faster than it had with my old
wand. Not long after the third time I realized that we were on a
dirt path and I could see the wooden one in the distance. We were
back at the lodge.

Chapter 24

It wasn't until we got to the door of my
cabin that I realized I was locked out.

"Should I knock?" I asked. "I don't want to
wake up Kaitlyn."

Thomas tugged experimentally on the door. "I
could always yank it open."

"Which would wake Kaitlyn," TS said. "Not to
mention destroy the door."

I thought of how easily the vampire woman had
snapped the ship's railing and shivered. Thomas could probably rip
the entire door out of the frame with a flick of his wrist.

"Not necessarily," Thomas said. I could tell
from the way he was eyeing the door that he didn't mean it.
"Well...I'm not sure what to do."

Inspiration struck. "Can I unlock it?" I
asked, giving my wand a flick. "I mean, I am a witch."

Thomas thought for a moment. "Unlocking...I
think that's air. I know it isn't fire."

"What's the word for an air spell?"

"
Ahn
." He gestured to the door. "May
as well give it a try."

I tried. Multiple times. "
Ahn
," I said
again, getting frustrated. At last I lowered my wand with a sigh.
"I can't do it."

"Don't worry," Thomas said. "It's always
harder to start a new kind of magic."

"Guess you're with us again," TS laughed.

We started walking to their cabin. I was
discouraged by my lack of success. Then my night vision spell
started to fade too. "
Mar
," I practically growled.

As the world grew light again I noticed that
Thomas was looking at me in concern.

"Are you alright?"

I sighed. "I feel like this wand isn't as
good as my old one. My spell keeps wearing off faster and I don't
think it's as strong. And the lock didn't even budge! I made sparks
the very first time I picked up my first wand."

"Don't worry, this wand is better, I promise.
Dryads are extremely good at choosing wands. It always takes a bit
of time to break in a new wand. As soon as you do you'll see that
it's better. Not to mention you're a few days out of practice.
Magic always gets a little weaker if you don't use it." He rested a
comforting hand on my back. "Trust me."

I was tempted to ask what learning magic had
been like for him, but decided against it. My conversation with TS
had me worried about Thomas. And I was sure the werejaguar had
upset him. We reached their cabin and stopped in the side with the
two beds.

"I was planning on sleeping in a hammock,"
Thomas said. "Pick a bed."