Page 74 of Group Studies

Officer Keres nodded. “I understand now. Your surprise is expected, but we’re not building on what you did in Metaphysics. We’re exploring a new vein this evening.”

I bobbed my head a few times. Professor Garnet motioned to a set of gray yoga mats standing out on his colorful floor. We sat, facing each other, close enough to reach out and touch.

Officer Keres pulled up a chair. He sat backward in it, looking down at us. “Tell me about how you controlled Alrick.”

My mouth went dry, and my gaze flicked to Professor Garnet’s tight smile. He gave me a stiff nod.

“Ah, well,” I began, my pulse racing, “Alrick and Ram cornered me, and I couldn’t take it anymore. He threatened my friends.”

“I’m not here to judge you,” Officer Keres said. “I don’t care about your justifications, only how it happened.”

I squirmed. “I so badly wanted to be safe and keep my friends safe. I reached out and made it happen.”

“And how did you feel?” Officer Keres pressed, sitting forward. “Magic is inherently tied to our emotions. This is the key to replicating your actions.”

I tried to work some moisture into my mouth. It felt amazing, powerful….and I’d loved it. But I wasn’t sure if I should admit that. “Ah, it felt good. Like I had control over something.” My voice went up like I was asking a question at the end.

I fidgeted.

Officer Keres smiled. “Yes control, that’s understandable. When people touch you with their magic, you can shut it off. Another type of command. We’ll be doing much practicing and exploring in Metaphysics. Your tutoring, however, will explore this new ability, changing a person's base instincts.” He scratched his chin. “Alrick won’t even talk about you. Your magic is obviously working without leaving a trace. It’s impressive.”

I looked up at him. “It’s black magic.”

The officer raised his eyebrows. “Black magic’s defined by those making the definitions,” he said carefully. “Taking away someone’s free will is wrong, don’t misunderstand me, but to what purpose is the question we’re exploring tonight. And every evening until I’m satisfied.”

A shadow fell over Professor Garnet’s face before his tight smile returned. I didn’t understand why he was siding with Officer Keres, this wasn’t like him, was it? We’d not had a moment, just the two of us, since he’d thrown the white sheet over my head. It felt like years ago now, even though it had only been a few days.

“Would it make you an evil person to force Professor Garnet to say, clap his hands?” Officer Keres asked innocently. “I mean, he does it to start and finish every class. He’s one of the worst offenders of the habit I’ve ever met. If he likes to do it anyway, would it hurt to help him along?”

I bit my bottom lip. “I guess as long as I had his permission?”

Officer Keres beamed at me. “Exactly. This is exactly why the MA’s investing in your future, A. May I call you, A?”

I wanted to shake my head, but I’d already started nodding.

“Great,” Officer Keres stood. He turned his chair around and backed up. “Professor Garnet says you have no control.”

I didn’t look at the professor. I hated it when he exposed me in Metaphysics and I hated it just as much now.

“You're constantly building magic,” Officer Keres continued. “Though destroying those clasps must have taken a lot out of you. Are you, um, boiling over for lack of a better analogy?”

I squinted at my hands. “I’m not at the moment.”

“Perfect,” Officer Keres said. “Then I want you to make Keith stand up.”

“I, ah,” I started to protest but Professor Garnet caught my attention.

“I give you permission to experiment on me, regardless of the result. I’ve held myself in check through several accidental transfers of yours now. I trust my self-control more than anyone else.”

I shook my head as he trapped one of my hands between his.

My magic stirred.

“What we were trying before wasn’t working,” Professor Garnet said softly. “I wanted you to control your magic and use it like I used mine, but clearly, it doesn’t work like that. I was too stubborn to admit it.” He raised his voice slightly. “Instead of holding back your transfer, think about the rainbows you sent into Alrick. Condense a single thought into a tiny prism and gift it to me.”

I almost started laughing. Were things less evil if you rephrased them in positivity? ‘Gift it to me’ was still forcing him to bend to my will.

Professor Garnet reached into his pocket and pulled out a small clear crystal on a gold chain. He handed it to me. I studied it. Instantly, the symmetry of its sharp angles calmed me. The rainbows it made against the gray yoga mats reminded me of my magic. My shoulders relaxed, though my heart beat faster.