When I look over at Mr. Daniels his eyes are exceptionally dark. I repress the urge to shudder. I don’t like the way he looks right now— as if he could murder someone within the blink of an eye. “There isn’t any other way to be rid of the mark? There has to be a spell here, Val.”
“I’m doing the best I can Max. It’s not that simple.” Valdine says as she traces a fingertip down the raised scar. “Does it hurt?” She asks me.
“No.”
“My touch or nearness doesn’t affect you in the slightest?”
I shake my head to her question.
“Interesting. Max, come here please.”
Mr. Daniels straightens up and is about halfway across the room when my skin gets hot. My heart trips against my chest and my palms feel clammy. Valine beckons him closer and tells him to reach out to touch my arm.
I feel on edge because the closer he gets the worse my body seems to react. Then when he places a hand on my forearm, I let out a shriek.
“Try not to shout, dear.” Valdine says.
“I—I can’t help it.” Tears are pouring out of my eyes and down my cheeks.
Mr. Daniels takes his hand away and the look he gives me is one full of hurt in those black eyes of his. “This is my doing.” He turns sideways, his hands balling into fists. “I cannot seem to touch her without causing physical harm.”
“What about blood?” Valdine questions.
Mr. Daniels shakes his head, “If you think the symptoms are worse now, they’ll be torture if I were to drink from her or give her my blood to heal her.”
I swallow hard. “What does this all mean? Can’t this spell or hex, whatever, go away?”
Valdine doesn’t meet my gaze. “It’ll fade eventually over time, but the only other option is if you practice magic and become a witch.”
“Absolutely not!” Mr. Daniels snaps and my gaze flickers to his face and how he’s filled with rage as he stares at Valdine. “Dakota is notbecominganything.”
“We knew this wouldn’t be easy Max.” Valdine’s voice is soft. “We knew there was bound to be trouble from the minute you saved her from your brothers.”
“Those blood suckers are no brothers of mine.” Mr. Daniels says, spitting at the ground. “Just as those witches are not your sisters.”
I sit up, curling my knees up to my chest. “I don’t want to learn magic. It feels wrong.”
They both look over at me, but it’s Valdine who speaks up. “You’re not being forced into anything dear. It’s entirely yourchoice. But know that the mark will take a long time to fade away.”
Reaching up I touch the scar. “What about school? My classmates will start to ask questions. I can’t wear a scarf, it’s against the dress code.”
Mr. Daniels takes a step toward me. “You will take a leave of absence while Valdine tries to come up with a covering spell. She will look after you.”
My hand falls to my lap.
Valdine nods and moves toward the door. “I’ll go inform the teachers right away. I’ll tell them you weren’t feeling well and needed to rest.”
When it’s just us two alone in the infirmary, Mr. Daniels clears his throat rather loudly. “I apologize for what happened to you.”
“It’s not like we meant for it to happen,” I say, tucking my knees beneath me once more.
“Weshould not have happened,” Mr. Daniels mutters.
I look up at him, swallowing hard. “And yet we did.”
“If the school board finds out…I could lose more than my job, Dakota.”
I have to look away from his intense stare. “I know.”