Page 24 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

The fire’s glow had softened to embers, but its warmth still clung to the room. I sat curled up on the couch with a pile of ancient books and papers strewn around me like the world’s most disorganized library. I’d been reading all night, losing myself in the swirling script of old tomes that Twobble had gleefully dumped in my lap with a cheery, “These should be a light read.”

The thing was… I stayed up all night completely engrossed when I knew very well that I should be exhausted and sleeping soundly under the covers while a vamp, elf, goblin, some gargoyles, and a warlock guarded the cottage.

But I just couldn’t.

There was a shift happening.

If I hadn’t tumbled into Stonewick, I might have thought it was a little perimenopause dumping its symptoms on me.

But now I knew that wasn’t happening, and I was just turning into a witch.

No biggie.

A person turned into one, right?

Like a werewolf?

I could blame the sudden hot flashes on being around Keegan, my memory problems on being scared to death by an evil Warlock, and my inability to sleep on the idea of a new life. Not perimenopause or whatever it was my primary care doctor gleefully chatted about a few weeks ago.

No, I liked the idea of this kind of big change much better.

I was going to be a witch.

As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, I blinked and stretched, feeling the familiar stiffness of having sat in one position for far too long.

Okay, so that might be age-related, but I glanced at the clock to confirm that it really had been hours.

I didn’t feel tired. Not even a little. It was like some unseen current of energy was coursing through me keeping me alert while I absorbed everything I could from these books.

From the kitchen, the soothing sound of humming drifted in.

Stella was busy baking. The scent of cinnamon and freshly kneaded dough coursed through me like a reassuring blanket.

Outside, I could hear the faint murmur of voices, but this time, I wasn’t scared to death of anything lurking beyond the walls.

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 her element, 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…”

“Oh, no.” Stella pressed her lips together. “The Academy is a living thing, much like the town. We have very little say in what either does. Their mission is to preserve Stonewick’s way of life. Once the Academy sensed danger, it chased most everyone out and shut its doors.”

My brows lifted in surprise. “Chased everyone out?”

“Oh, yes. It was quite a sight.”

“Were you here for it?”

“I’d just arrived in town when it happened…when everything happened,” she said softly, glancing outside to see Keegan and Nova returning from their walk.

I frowned, the weight of her words settling over me. “Why would it do that? I thought it was supposed to protect Stonewick by training new witches and magical folk. That’s what it looks like in the books I’m reading, anyway.”

“It did,” came Nova’s voice as she entered the kitchen.

Keegan trailed behind her and nodded.

Nova looked refreshed with purposeful steps. “But Academy is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living entity tied to the ebb and flow of the town’s magic. When the balance tipped, the Academy went dormant to preserve its strength. Shadowick managed to get its tentacles deep enough to warrant its closure.”

I blinked. “So, it’s just…sitting there? Like a magical fortress on lockdown?”

Keegan nodded with a grim expression. “The Academy sensed that its power could be used against Stonewick if it fell into the wrong hands. So, it did what it had to—sealed itself off, waiting for a time when the balance could be restored, and a new headmistress or headmaster could be appointed.”

“And no one’s tried to open it since?” I asked, incredulous. “There’s a literal well of magical knowledge just sitting there, and everyone’s been okay with that? Last night, I read about a library that’s there, and an alchemist lab, and…”

“It’s not about being okay with it,” Nova said. “It’s about respecting the Academy’s will. It won’t open until it deems the town ready—and that means more than just knocking on the front door.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “So, let me get this straight. We have this massive resource that could help us fight Gideon and Shadowick, but it’s locked up tighter than Fort Knox, and we have no idea when or if it’ll open.”

“Precisely,” Keegan said.

“Great,” I muttered. “Just great.”

Twobble chose that moment to saunter into the kitchen, munching on what looked like a leftover scone. “Ah, the Academy,” he said around a mouthful. “Good times, good times. Well, for those who got in, anyway. And it was a pity for those who couldn’t get out.”

“What do you mean, couldn’t get out ?” I glanced at Stella, thinking Twobble was up to his jokes again. “I thought everyone was chased out?”

“Well, some didn’t run fast enough.” Nova shrugged. “And some were traitors.”

My eyes widened. “Are they still inside?”

“Well, I suppose…” Nova frowned.

“But the Academy had its reasons. I’m sure it was quick. Painless,” Stella explained.

A chill ran through me. “Wait. What?”

Twobble winced. “I don’t know about painless . I saw some of those dungeons, and if the Academy was mad, then…”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been there?”

“Not as a student, of course,” Twobble said, plopping onto a stool. “But I’ve sneaked in a time or two. Let me tell you, that place has secrets even the books don’t mention. Of course, it was before it shut down. Every time I’ve tried since, the building blasts me a mile away.”

Keegan’s eyes narrowed with a warning. “Twobble.”

“What?” Twobble said innocently. “I was just exploring. No harm, no foul.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky the Academy didn’t decide to turn you into a statue for your trouble back then.”

“Statue?” I asked, glancing at Twobble.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, grinning. “The Academy’s got defenses. You wouldn’t believe the number of magical creatures that guard that place. You think the cottage has some cool monsters protecting it. You should see the Academy. It’s like a zoo but with less popcorn and more empirical dread.”

“I noticed a fox statue out back. Was that a living…”

“No. Keegan just liked that statue at the hardware store,” Twobble said with a laugh.

“Lovely,” I muttered, taking another sip of tea. “So, what does this mean for me? Should I be preparing to break into the Academy or something?”

Nova shook her head. “The Academy will call to those it needs. If it deems you worthy, you’ll know.”

“Worthy,” I repeated, the word tasting bitter. “I’ve barely understood what it means to be a witch, and now I’m supposed to be worthy?”

“You’ll get there,” Stella said, her tone encouraging. “You’ve already come farther than most would in your position. Something that I would have thought should have taken months has been a week.”

Keegan crossed his arms, his gaze steady. “The Academy’s doors may be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare. Your connection to Stonewick is growing. When the time comes, you’ll be ready. If those doors open, you’ll be prepared.”

“Assuming we don’t all get turned into magical statues first,” Twobble quipped.

Frank snorted, and I couldn’t help but laugh despite the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.

“Fine,” I said, setting my cup down. “If the Academy wants me, it knows where to find me. Until then, let’s figure out how to keep Gideon and his lackeys from burning this place to the ground.”

“That’s the spirit,” Stella said, sliding a fresh scone onto my plate. “And remember, Maeve. The Academy may be silent, but its legacy lives on.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant yet, but as I bit into the warm, buttery scone, I decided I’d figure it out.

One step at a time.

But first, I needed to do something I’d been dreading. I needed to contact Alex and tell him to include Celeste in whatever Thanksgiving plans he had coming up.

I’d hoped she’d come to the cottage to celebrate, but I certainly wouldn’t take that chance with everything going on.

Besides, he’d already started flaking out when it came to our daughter, and this would be the perfect opportunity for him to step up to the plate.

I glanced around to see the others preoccupied. Stella was still in the kitchen, Nova and Keegan were deep in conversation on the porch, and Twobble was rummaging through cupboards for snacks. It was the perfect moment to slip away unnoticed and text the dreaded ex.

Frank, ever my vigilant companion, looked at me questioningly as I stood and quietly made my way toward the cellar door. I lifted the hatch and let out a sigh.

“Stay here,” I whispered, reassuringly patting his head. “I’ll be back soon.”

I didn’t know why, but it felt like a tether pulling me close, and it would be the perfect place to scream or cry after I texted Alex.

The dog’s brows pulled tighter, with his wrinkles sagging lower.

“I’ll be right back,” I whispered to Frank.

He huffed softly but stayed put. His dark eyes watched me closely as I slipped through the opening and descended the creaking wooden steps, but I never imagined what awaited me.