I turn to find another partner, only to have the blood in my veins freeze as I hear one of those piercing, gut-wrenching screams.
Tom was the only student who lost his magic that I was around for. The others all happened when I was somewhere else. But even though I’ve only heard it happen once, I’ll never forget the way he shrieked, and the moment I hear Tandy—I know what’s happening to her.
I whip around, and the rest of the class stops what they’re doing to stare as the willowy girl falls to the floor, screaming in agony.
Tamlin rushes to her, calling over her shoulder as she does. “Someone get the healers! Now!”
Kendal’s nearest the door, and she books it, headed straight for the infirmary. All the other students are huddling in fear, unsure what to do, how to help. Despite this being the fifth time this has happened, none of us are prepared, and my gut is heaving so hard my breakfast is about to reappear as Tandy writhes on the floor.
Tamlin’s power is this magical web or rope made of energy that she can use in various ways. Right now, she wraps it around Tandy, trying to do something—stop her powers from being ripped out, maybe, or ease her pain—but it doesn’t seem to be working. A guy and girl run up, dropping to their knees beside Tandy. I think they’re her friends. They start trying to soothe her and to get her to listen to them, to calm down, but she’s having none of it. She’s in too much pain. She just keeps screaming, a sound that seems to be ripped out of her along with her magic.
Oh fuck, I might actually vomit.
Tandy suddenly goes limp, like a puppet with its strings cut, and lies on the floor, eyes glassy, chest heaving.
Jesus. Poor Tandy.
I know that sounds condescending, but I really don’t have any other words for it. This is so fucking awful.
“Oh my God.”
The voice belongs to Alyssa, and judging from her tone, she isn’t just scared and horrified like the rest of us. She sounds… vindictive.
I turn to look at her and find she’s staring right at me, a dangerous glint in her eye.
“You did this,” she murmurs.
“What?” My voice is flat, disbelieving. Great one, Alyssa, I clearly stole Tandy’s magic when I wasn’t even doing anythi…
Oh.
Oh, fuck.
Just a few minutes ago, I was somehow imitating Tandy’s magic. The whole class saw it. That’s why Alyssa thinks it was me.
“You did this,” she repeats, advancing on me.
Her blonde hair is a little wild and disheveled, and I see it in her eyes now. She is scared and horrified, maybe even more so than anyone else in this room. But the vindication is there too because she thinks she found the culprit.
Me.
My heart, which has been racing ever since Tandy first screamed, skips a beat and then thuds heavily in my chest. This can’t be happening. Surely no one will actually believe that I—
“You took it from her!” Alyssa yells, pointing a shaking finger at me. “You stole her magic!”
Well. This is just great.
Chapter 14
My gaze darts around the large room as more of my classmates turn to stare at me. I realize I’m surrounded, cut off from Professor Tamlin, who’s still trying to help Tandy—not that my classmates planned it this way, but it’s sure not helping that they’re all clustered around me right now.
Their faces are pale and sweaty, their eyes wide, chests heaving. It’s only first-years and second-years in class today. The third-year students are gone. My friends are gone. Everyone who’s left is in a state of panic and fear.
That’s when it hits me just how much danger I’m in.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“I always knew you were a snake in the grass,” Alyssa hisses.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cristina preparing some kind of spell, which is especially concerning because her power is disintegration. Jesus. I really don’t want to lose a fucking limb before I can clear all this up.
“You’ve been out to get us, all of us, from the start! What, was winning the Trials not enough for you? You needed more magic? More attention?” Alyssa’s voice is becoming high-pitched, reaching hysteria.
I clear my throat, trying not to let my panic show. “Um, Professor Tamlin? A little help?”
Tamlin’s busy with Tandy, who’s regained consciousness and is groaning pitifully. But she looks up when she hears me, and her