Page 95 of Magical Melee

Keegan and Nova continued to walk the grounds to ensure nothing else had decided to crawl out of the woods in the dead of night, which I greatly appreciated.

I pushed the book off my lap and stood with one last stretch before wandering into the kitchen. Stella was in herelement, rolling out dough with practiced ease, her sparkly apron catching the morning light.

“Morning, darling,” she said without turning around. “Or should I say good morning to the newest night owl of Stonewick?”

“So, that really is a thing?” I chuckled.

“Sure thing. Tea Shop is closed today, by the way,” she said brightly.

“Are you sure? Really?” I asked, feeling bad she might close on account of me.

“Yeah. I need a break. Plus, we went through a lot of teapots yesterday, and I need to take the day to place some orders.”

I grimaced. “Sorry about that.”

She frowned with a quick shake of her head. “It’s not your fault. Don’t ever take the blame for things that are out of your control.”

I liked this woman…err, vampire…or whatever.

“I’ll try to remember that.” I leaned against the counter, watching her work. “Is this a witch thing? Because I haven’t slept a wink, and I don’t feel the least bit tired.”

Stella laughed softly, and her eyes twinkled once her eyes met mine. “It’s not uncommon. As your magic awakens, your body begins to rely on different energy sources. Sleep becomes… optional. But there’s nothing like sawing a few logs now and then.”

“What about you? As a vampire?” I asked. “In some of the chapters I read overnight, it said that vampires didn’t sleep much, and something about the daylight?”

She smiled and nodded. “I still sleep. It makes me feel human. Could I go without it? Sure. But I like closing my eyes and drifting off. It’s not like my brain stops functioning because I’m a vampire, and the way I see it, my mind needs to clear out now and again with sleep.”

I nodded, lifting my brows. “And the sun?”

“Direct sunlight isn’t great. I’ll get sunburned. A really bad sunburn.” She winced. “But if I just cover up with a good shawl, I’m generally okay. Unless, of course, I roast, then my skin might fall off.”

I stared at her, uncertain what to say next.

“Kidding.” She winked at me. “I’d probably just incinerate.”

And I realized she wasn’t kidding this time.

She cringed. “I like snow. Nothing better than a good cloud covering. That will always take the edge off.”

Stella pushed a cup of tea toward me. “Don’t worry. This tea won’t turn any strange colors on you. It’s just plain old chamomile.”

I grinned. “Good. I’ve had my fill of surprise brews for a bit.”

As I sipped the tea, my mind drifted back to several books I’d been reading.

Stonewick Academy kept resurfacing. The texts mentioned it as a cornerstone of magical learning, a place where witches, warlocks, and other magical beings once gathered to master their craft. Truthfully, it sounded like the exact place I needed.

And yet, the darn place was locked up like a fortress.

“Stella,” I said, setting the mug down, “what’s the deal with Stonewick Academy? It’s mentioned in almost every book as if it’s the central focus of this town.”

Stella’s smile faltered, and she turned back to her dough, her movements slower now. “Stonewick Academy was a beacon,” she said quietly. “A place of learning, yes, but also a sanctuary. It was once the heart of our magical community.”

“What exactly happened?”

“It shut itself down over a century ago,” she said, her tone tinged with sorrow. “No new students have been admitted since. The Academy closed its doors and sealed its grounds, locking away its knowledge and power.”

“How can an Academy do that? Was it the principal or…”