Chapter 81

Anila’s POV

“Tonight, we will be having class outside in the open field,” Professor Howl announced.

Murmurs erupted around the class; excited whispers as everyone tried to figure out why we would be having classes outside. I looked at Damien who didn’t look as shocked as everyone else and something told me that he already knew what we were doing.

“Professor Howl, why is that?” A girl asked in the back of the classroom; her hand was raised as she spoke.

Professor Howl focused his attention on her and then smirked.

“It is a surprise. Now off we go,” he said hurriedly as he walked toward the door and pushed it open.

Without another word, we all rose to our feet and walked with Professor Howl out of the classroom and across the academic center. We passed by many different classrooms, some louder than others, and as I walked by a specific room, I could feel the threads of my mate's bond with Harley. My bond with him was stronger since he had marked me. I hadn’t really had the time to explore that bond or think too much about it.

If I thought too much about it, then I would start to internally freak out. I knew Xaden was going to be upset when he found out that I was bonded to another. I didn’t even want to think about how Zach would react.

Damien had been surprisingly calm though; I wasn’t sure if he even noticed that I wore the mark of two. Or if he had, maybe he just didn’t want to say anything. The thought that he could be internally dying inside didn’t sit right with me or either of my spirit animals. It was strange having so much going on inside of me and feeling as if it was all out of my control.

And yet, I was in more control than I ever had been.

We continued walking across campus until we reached the open field; I knew they used this field for sporting events. There were bleachers on the outskirts of the field, and I wondered what kind of sports were going on there.

I nearly stopped in my tracks when Professor Howl neared an area on the field, and I noticed dozens of wooden brooms lying on the ground. I honestly wasn’t sure what they were for, but the excited murmurs and outbursts from the other students said that whatever was happening was exciting.

“Are we really riding brooms?” A student asked with excitement oozing off his face.

Others looked just as excited, but I had a tight knot form in the pit of my stomach. Broom riding? I thought that was just a myth. Not something witches and wizards actually did but seeing the brooms lying on the green grass and the smile on Professor Howl’s usually serious face, said otherwise.

“Broomstick riding is usually something we teach during the 3(rd) year. Considering you are mostly all in your 3(rd) year, and it’s a gorgeous night, I figured we should give it a go.”

“But Professor Howl…” a girl said, her hand raised high in the sky.

“Yes, Julia?” Professor Howl asked, eyeing the girl.

“This is Anila’s first year. Is she riding a broom as well?”

I felt my face flush with embarrassment as everyone turned their sights on me. I wanted to step backward and hide away from all their curious gazes but before I could, Professor Howl cleared his throat loudly, drawing all their attention away from me and toward him.

“Anila is a different type of student, and I was ordered by Principal Rapport to test her to the best of her abilities. So, yes. She will be partaking in these lessons as well.”

There were murmurs of disapproval.

“Now, everybody is to grab a broom. There are different sizes. Pick the size best suited for you,” Principal Rapport ordered.

Sarah was the first to walk towards the brooms. She walked around them for a moment before her eyes fixed on a specific one. She grabbed it and held it toward herself. Satisfied with the size, she smirked, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and walked aside. But she made sure to give Damien a “look” and me a scowl as she passed.

Damien rolled his eyes, and he grabbed a broom as well. It was like second nature to him; he found a size without having to look at the others. He then looked at me and motioned for me to follow him.

I did so, well aware that others were watching us.

“You want the broom to at least go up to here in height,” Damien told me, motioning to the top of my shoulder. “You don’t want it too small because you’ll fall off and you don’t want it too big or else it’ll be difficult to maneuver while in the air.”

I nodded, trying to follow along with his words.

He tested a few brooms and once he found a suitable size he handed it to me.

I smiled my thanks to him.

“On with it!” Professor Howl ordered the others. “All of you must find a broom!”

That seemed to have broken the trance they were all in while staring at me. They scurried to the brooms and each student found one.

Once everyone had a broom in hand, Professor Howl had us stand in a line, arm's length apart. I had a nervous bubble in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t sure what to expect by being on a broom. I was terrified I was going to fall off and break my neck.

“The first rule of broomstick riding is never let the broom drive itself. Much like a horse, you must be the one in charge. Is that understood?” Professor Howl said, staring at each and every one of us while clutching his own broom.

I looked at the wooden stick in my hands and frowned; it was strange to compare this to a horse. A horse was a living and breathing thing, a broom was not… or at least I didn’t think it was.

I thought about my wand and Damien’s wand; they were so lifelike in their movements to a point where it seemed as if they had minds of their own. But they too were nothing but pieces of wood with pretty gems on the manmade handles. I wasn’t understanding how any of this worked and I was feeling way out of my element.

“Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite simple,” Professor Howl continued. “One hand should be gripping this part right here….” He wrapped his fingers around the part just under the broom's straw brushes. “This is how you steer. You pull it in one direction, and you tilt your body slightly, your broom will listen and turn with you. You do the same with the other direction as well.”

Students examined their own brooms and wrapped their hands around the same area.

“Your other hand should be here,” he said, wrapping his other hand around the area just under the first area. “It’s used for extra support and to keep you on the broom. If you fall and you keep your hand gripping this, it will save you from falling entirely and you might be able to get back on your broom without injury.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, but I remained quiet.

“Lastly, you will want to sit toward the center of the broom, right here,” he said, motioning for the center of the broom. “You’ll want to ensure enough room behind you and in front of you. That’s what makes the size of the broom so important.”

Professor Howl demonstrated this by getting on the broom and gripping it in the right areas. All the students stared at him in amazement, and he wasn’t even in the air yet.

“As you know, we use the Latin tongue for spellcasting. It is our ancestorial language and therefore, most of our spells and curses are in the Latin language.”

Most nodded, already knowing this information.

“Can someone tell me what the Latin word for ‘Upward’ is?”

“Sursum,” Damien whispered to himself.

I wasn’t surprised he knew the answer already.

It was Sarah who raised her hand first and Professor Howl nodded for her to answer.

“Sursum,” she answered confidently.

“That is correct, Sarah. Great job,” Professor Howl praised, making Sarah beam and then give me another scowl.

I had to stifle an eye roll.

“As always, we speak our spells clearly and with confidence,” Professor Howl continued to explain. “You must think of the thing you want to accomplish and set that intention with each spell cast. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Professor,” everyone said in unison.

He nodded and then he turned away from us; in a loud and assertive tone of voice, Professor Howl yelled, “Sursum.”

Then, before our eyes, the broom lifted off the ground and he went airborne. My mouth dropped. He flew through the sky effortlessly and he actually looked as if he was having a good time. I had never seen so much life in Professor Howl’s face before but even from the ground, I could see that he was coming to life and a thrill was coursing through him.

My heart hammered heavily in my chest as I watched him zoom through the sky. All students had their eyes on him, and they looked just as excited and pleased.

“Woah! Look at him go!!” Someone yelled, pointing at the sky.

“He’s so fast!”

“He makes it look so easy!”

“I can’t wait to try that!”

Professor Howl flew back and as soon as his feet hit the ground, the broom settled along with him.

“To land, you just point the broom downward and allow it to fly in that direction. Tug it back to slow it and once your feet are on the ground, the flying is over, and you’d have to say the spell again if you wish to return to the sky.”

I could feel the excitement radiating off of everyone.

“Now off you go,” Professor Howl ordered, waving us away. “I want you all in the air. Once everyone is off the ground, I will join, and our flying lessons will continue.”

One by one, everyone mounted their brooms, and I could hear them all yelling the spell just before they took off into the sky. My mouth nearly dropped at the sight of them.

Damien held back until we were the only two left. Professor Howl gave us both a look and Damien turned to face me.

“It’s a lot easier than it looks, I promise,” he assured me.

“You’ve done this before.” It wasn’t a question at all; I could tell from his confidence that he’s probably done this a lot. Damien nodded and mounted his broom.

“Just follow my lead and stay close,” he told me. But when he saw the panicked look on my face, he stepped closer, his body only inches from mine and I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks from his nearness. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Anila,” he promised. “Trust me.”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Sursum!” Damien shouted and soon, he was joining the others in the sky.

I looked at Professor Howl and he gave me a nod.

“Ready?” he asked, remounting his broom.

I swallowed the tough lump in my throat and gave him an uncertain nod as I mounted my broom.

My hands trembled as I took hold of the broom and in a shaky breath I said, “Sursum!”

I was buzzing into the air before I could even grasp what was happening.