The Wisher: 2

The Halloween ball decorations were beautiful. Headmaster looked nice in a tux Melody had to admit. Before the ball, Melody gathered all her courage to march back into his office and accept the position of his advisor. Of course, Belinda didn’t like that. She even accused Melody of trying to get under her skin, but the truth was Melody was trying to keep her head above water.

“You look lovely tonight, Advisor,” Kent spoke and smiled. She searched his face for any traces of anger.

“You’re being kind to me,” Melody observed.

“Anger, Advisor. It consumes you. I learned along time ago that kindness and forgiveness go hand in hand,” Kent replied while smiling.

The double doors opened and in marched a boy with brown hair and eyes. His smile was warm. “Advisor, this is Collin Evans. He knows the lay out of the building like the back of his hand. He’s our protector.”

“Hi,” Melody spoke shyly.

Kent watched them. It felt as if his heart had broken. He shook his head, shaking that thought. “Get a grip, Kent. She’s your advisor. Be realistic,” Kent scolded himself.

“May I have this dance?” Collin held out his hand.

“I- sure.”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s just a bit intimidating, isn’t it? I know the academy is for adults, but I feel like a teenager again,” she confessed.

Collin grinned. “That’s the magic of this school.”

Heels were clicking very fast. Melody looked up and gasped when she noticed Belinda had her wisher. “Belinda, please put down the wisher,” Melody tried to reason.

“I wish Headmaster and Melody would disappear!” Belinda shouted.

Screams all around her. Belinda grinned. “If anyone has anything to say, be careful.”

“Belinda, what the hell?” Collin stepped up to her.

“Where’s Caden?” She demanded.

“I- don’t know.”

“Right here!” Caden answered from behind with his wand. “Go! Find them!” Caden shouted to Collin.

Melody and Kent had been wished into a tree. “Headmaster? Are you okay?”

“The first thing I’m doing is firing her,” Kent muttered.

At the sound of growling, Kent held on tighter. Melody looked down. It’s a werewolf. “Houston?”

“Melody?” The werewolf transformed back into himself.

“Melody?” Kent was confused.

“He- he was Shawn Paul’s servant with me,” Melody explained. At the name of Shawn Paul, Melody thought she saw ang flash through his eyes.

“He says hello,” Houston grinned evilly.

Kent tried to wish him away, but that didn’t work. “No, Headmaster!” Melody shouted.

“Advisor, what are you doing? He’s clearly going to eat us alive!”

“No,” Melody grabbed the wisher and threw it at him.

“What the hell?”

Houston laughed when nothing happened. “Does your precious headmaster know about your little secret power, Melody?” Houston taunted.

Kent looked from Houston to Melody. “What is he talking about, Advisor?”

“No time right now.”

Melody shot out poison from her fingers at him. Kent gasped.

Houston fell and closed his eyes. “He – he’s not dead,” Melody looked over at Kent, but he was looking at her if he was scared of her and that stung.

“Advisor, you have an illegal power. I have to take you to the miistry of magic and misuse.”

“But I didn’t-”

“Advisor, do you trust me?”

Melody nodded.

Once at the ministry, no one said anything. “Someone start talking to now!” Grimshaw Lincoln barked. Grim was Kent’s older brother. The thought popped into Melody’s head.

“Grim, I need you to be reasonable here,” Kent begged.

“Reasonable? Kent, the girl has an illegal power and I’d like to know how she got it,” Grim was eye her suspiciously.

“It- it’s not what you think,” Melody’s eyes were pleading.

“Tell us your story, Miss Marks,” Grim ordered.

*Flashback

Shawn Paul stroked her face. “That’s right, Melody. Look me in the eyes. I can give you everything!” Shawn Paul plunged the needle into her veins and Melody screamed.

“The power of poison. It’ll always call me to you. A power you don’t want.”

Melody looked him in the eyes. She didn’t cry or beg. “I’ll find away to reverse it,” Melody challenged.

Shawn Paul grabbed her by her neck. He ran his lightning staff across her face. “I could disfigure your pretty little face right here, right now, Melody.”

A chill ran down Melody’s spin but she wasn’t going to let him win. “And how would you like it if I used your own lightning to destory your hand?” Melody retorted.

When Melody had finished her story, she looked up to see Grim. No emotion on his face, but Kent was wearing a mixture of emotions. Pride, anger, confusion and fear.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you have an ilegal power, Miss Marks. Hands on the hot plate.”

Melody shook her head. Grim pushed hand down on the plate. She screamed.

“Grim! Would it kill you have to some basic human emotions? She’s traumatized enough!”

“Kindness and patience are luxuries I can’t afford, Headmaster.”

Grim put the cool wand on her hand and the wound disappeared. Kent wrapped it gently.

“Come on, Advisor,” Kent looked back with one warning look to his brother.

The Wisher: Chapter One

Nervously, Melody knocked on the Headmaster’s door. It read Headmaster Kenton “Kent” Lincoln.

“Miss Marks, come in, please,” he smiled warmly at her. She searched his face for any signs of cruelty.

“Miss Marks? Are you alright?” There was genuine concern in his voice.

He tiled his head like he was trying to figure her out. “I- I mean you wanted to see me, Headmaster?”

“Yes, I did. I read your files but before we get into that, I have to explain exactly what The Wishing Star Academy does. This school is for adults who are having trouble controlling their powers. Belinda Mays is our power granter. Bethany Bills is our assistant Headmistress but, you will mostly only be dealing with me,” Kent informed her.

Melody nodded. “Am I in trouble, Headmaster?”

“Of course not, Miss Marks.”

“With all due respect, Headmaster, what am I doing here then?”

“I’m getting to that,” Kent replied kindly and patiently.

“Usually, first year students and last year students are allowed to pick the job they wish for but you haven’t done so. I’m offering you the chance to replace my previous advisor. You would work directly with Belinda. You’d inform her of the powers to grant and you’d work with the students, fixing schedules and advising them on protocol in classes,” Kent breathed.

“Um.”

“You don’t have to take it, Miss Marks, but it is recommended.” Kent rumaged through his drawer and pulled out a wand that was shaped like a star. “This, Miss Marks, is a Wisher.”

“I’m a wish granter and Wish Granter’s advisor is his greatest ally.”

“Not a Genie? Wish Granter?”

“That’s right, Miss Marks. A genie can only grant three wishes and they’re known for their trickery. A wish granter may grant unlimited wishes. However, intent is what matters when you make a wish. Be careful with your words and never make a wish when you’re angry. I’ve found that when we’re angry, we sometimes make wishes we never intended to make.”

“You’re dismissed,” Kent said gently. Before Melody could exit, Kent called her back. “The Halloween Ball tonight is a great place to make friends,” he reminded her.

Melody took off to the cafeteria. She sat down.

“What did the Headmaster want? Did you get into trouble?” Belinda taunted.

“No. He- he wants me to take the position as his advisor,” Melody answered honestly.

Belinda chuckled. “That’s a mistake.”

“Why is that a mistake?’

“Because you’re going to screw it up just like you screw everything else up!” Benlinda retorted.

“You know what Belinda, I wish you would just go away or get lost!” Melody shouted losing her patience.

Right before her very eyes, Belinda disappeared. There was gasps all around.

“Melody, we have to take you to the headmaster. He can fix this,” A kind voice took her hand. Caden. Her best friend. The warlock that the Headmaster didn’t trust.

Caden and Melody knocked on the door and talked at once. “One at a time!” Kent said patiently.

“I- wished Belinda away!” Melody admitted.

“You did what? I don’t have time to yell at you right now. I wish to find Belinda!” Kent spoke to his wisher.

The wish took them to a ditch. “Belinda! Melody ran to her bit Belinda held up her hand. “Don’t come near me, Melody. “

“Belinda. It was an accident.”

“I don’t care. Please don’t come near me.”

Back at the school, Kent turned to Melody and Belinda. “Miss Marks, Miss Mays. My office now!” Kent demanded.

“Miss Marks, I gave you guidelines. I’m very disappointed in you and you, Belinda. You provoked her. Pack your things.”

“Headmaster-”

“Headaster, wait. She.. she didn’t provoke me. I lost my head on my own. Please don’t be unfair and fire her.”

“Fine. One more chance, Miss Mays and Belinda? I hope you’re thanking your lucky stars that you have a loyal friend like Melody.”

After Kent dismissed them both. Belinda tapped Melody on the shoulder. “Thank you for standing up for me, but that doesn’t mean we’re friends,” Belinda stormed off.

The Phrogger

Mary Ellen turned the key. After all night at the library, she was exhausted. She loved books. It’s what made her want to be a librarian. Her sister was the best selling thriller author.

Mary Ellen stopped. Her dishes. They had been done. She lived alone and she was single. No kids and her sister rarely visited her ever since she moved to New York.

Don’t call out hello Mary Ellen reminded herself. Her trash had been taken out and someone cooked.

“What the hell? Maybe I just did all those things,” She reasoned with herself. She didn’t believe in ghosts and even if she did, this was a fantasy novel where a ghost could easily do such a thing.

She heard what sounded like footsteps in her attic. She froze. She had no pet to blame that on and she knew there were no mice. “Okay, Mary Ellen. Your brain is tired. You- it’s near Halloween, “ She was desperate now to find any logical reason as to what was happening.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Mary Ellen screamed. She went to grab her phone but the intruder took it without saying a word and broke it. She was trapped now. She didn’t have a landline or an AI to call for help.

She ran to the bathroom. The intruder banged on the door. Mary Ellen covered her ears. “Think, Mary Ellen. Your sister writes about these situations every day.” She told herself.

“People think their homes are safe, but sometimes they hide the very monsters you’re afraid of. By the way Mary Ellen is a beautiful name.”

A chill went through her. He knows her name. What the hell? He has been in my home. That realization brought on another chill.

“What- what’s your name?” Mary Ellen asked, feigning the courage she did not feel.

“Where is the fun in that? It ruins the mystery, doesn’t it. “ He kicked the bathroom door open.

Mary Ellen looked at his hands. “No weapons.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I don’t need a weapon to terrify you,” He grinned.

Mary Ellen tackled him to the ground and ran outside. She had to get to safety to call for help. The stairs. She could trick him back she thought.

She turned off the lights. When he ran after her, he fell twisting his ankle.

A neighbor hearing the commotion came out. “Are you alright? I called the cops,” the friendly neighbor told her.

The cops took the phrogger away. She never found out his name and never wanted to know. This is the way she took her power back. Her home once again felt safe to her after he was locked away.