Hiding from the Shadows

Chapter 2

Two weeks and nine book orders later, I finally have a basic grasp on witchcraft. There are three types of magic: Elemental, Shaping, and Enlightenment. Elemental deals with the elements, Shaping is the manipulation of your surroundings, and Enlightenment deals with the works of the mind. Under these three classifications of magic, there are many branches. Each branch has its own set of skills. Different branches have different amounts of skills. A witch only has the ability to practice within one classification of magic, but can practice several branches. There are exceptions for everything of course, but that's the basics.

With the help of Saar, I figured out that my magic type is Shaping. In one of the books, there was a way to figure out what type of magic you have. It has to do with your blood since that's mainly where your magic is stored. All I know is that I put a pinprick of blood on a piece of paper and Saar helped me draw some symbols. There was some glowing, and after Saar said that I have Shaping magic.

Now that I know my magic type, Saar is trying to get me to join a coven, but I'm being my stubborn self. If I were to simply get a mentor, then it would just be one on one. A coven is an entire group of witche, and I really don't want to deal with that.

So, now all I need to do is find a witch mentor in the city without making it known to all that I am a witch. Yay.

In case you didn't know, my name is Dae, I'm 19 and living in Glawridge City. I graduated high school and moved away from home just over a year ago, and now I'm working several part time jobs, such as working as a barista at Uptown Coffee, dog walking, and art commissions. Not the most stable life, but I get by.

In the past year I've drifted away from my parents. It's not like we don't talk, because we do. They'll call me every few weeks, and we talk for ten, fifteen minutes before we say our awkward goodbyes. We weren't really that close before I moved out anyways. It might have to do with the fact that they adopted me when I was 11, but I think it has to do more with my experience with parents.

Right now I'm heading to the library. It's a nice quiet place where it's basically against the rules to talk, which is perfect for me. And the Glawridge Library allows pets, so I can bring Saar with me.

I push my book through the slot in the desk to return it as Saar jumps out of my bag and onto the desk.

"Hello there, kitty," Ms. Kerry says. She pets Saar behind the ears before he sneaks off to some corner to nap.

Ms. Kerry is the library receptionist. Of all my time coming here, I've never seen her not at her desk, or even anybody else in her place. I'm almost convinced that she lives here. Almost.

I'm searching the fiction section for the sequel to the book I just finished. It should be around here somewhere, but I don't know if it's checked out.

A group of voices moves toward me, and they're not being very quiet to my annoyance. I try to ignore them, but the sound of Saar's voice catches my attention. I stop my search for the book and listen, trying to discern what they're saying and if they're actually talking Saar.

"-and that is how I masterfully escaped the pet catcher! Unfortunately, he got me later that day when I was taking a nap."

"Wow, tough luck," a voice says. Yep, they can definitely understand Saar.

"I know," I hear Saar say. "But I did end up finding my witch."

"Speaking of your witch," another voice says, "where is she?"

"She should be right around here," Saar says.

"Right, okay," the second voice says skeptically, drawing out the words. "How about we wait here while you go get her."