Under the Moon - Book 1 in the Bewitching Moon Series

Chapter 3

"Can you please explain this video, Marabella?" the principal asked me, gesturing to the video that has been going viral.

"Jake made me mad and I shoved him, nothing more."

"Yes, well I think it's highly unlikely that you would be able to shove him that hard, and you know there could be severe consequences if we found out you were lying."

I jumped up, slamming my hands on the desk. I had to make this act look real, even though I was most likely going to get a detention afterward.

"Are you applying that I might be a witch?! How could you? All I was trying to do was defend myself! And what power would I have anyway? Super strength? That doesn't seem very magical." I poured out all my rage into that speech.

"I can't deny that this seems a little suspicious, but I am willing to let it slide. But if any more mishaps happen, I will report you." I sat back down in my chair.

"For now you will be getting a detention for the trouble you have caused, not to mention straight-up yelling at me to my face."

There it is, the detention I knew I was going to get. I tried to stop the smile that was forming on my face from predicting the principal's next move. I was also especially glad that I was so far off the hook with this whole mess.

"Yes, I understand," I said.

"Good, now I suggest you head to class."

"Yes sir. Thank you." I got out of my chair, grabbing my backpack on the way as I left his office. It wasn't until I was in the halls before I breathed a sigh of relief. This could've ended worse.

***

Sitting in a classroom filled with fools for an hour wasn't one of the best experiences of my life, and I was glad to leave when the time was up. I really have to make sure I'm on my best behavior so I don't end up back there.

As I walked home to school, the chilly autumn air carried leaves of all colors down the streets. I loved autumn, it was always so pretty this time of year.

"Hey mom, I'm back!" I shouted as I walked in the door. I headed up to my bedroom, and as soon as I closed my door I started using my telekinesis to unpack my bag and get my desk set up so I could do homework. As I was removing the stuff from my backpack, I noticed a white slip of paper in one of the side pockets made to hold water bottles. I willed the paper towards me so I could read it.

All the slip of paper read was the name Aiden and a phone number scribbled at the bottom. I chuckled to myself, this guy was smooth if he managed to put this in my bag without me noticing.

I decided that I would call him later, I needed to start my homework, I was already behind with that hour-long setback.

***

"Hey, who's this?" a voice answered on the other side of the line.

"The person who you left a slip of paper in their bag." I decided not to tell him who I was immediately, but I knew he would guess anyways.

"Oh hey, Marabella! I was starting to think that you would never call."

"And what if I never found that slip of paper?"

"Well you did, so it doesn't matter."

"Yeah, sure, so what are you up to?"

"Nothing much. You?"

"Same, I just finished my homework."

"Oh shoot, I should probably start mine."

"Dude, it's like six, how have you not started your homework yet?"

"I just wasn't in the mood man. But I promise that I'll start it now."

"Yeah, go do that."

I heard a knock on my door.

"Hold up, my mom wants me." I tapped the hold button on my screen.

"Come in."

"It's dinner time. Who are you on the phone with?" Mom says as she walks in through the door.

"Just a friend."

"Ok, well come down when you're done. Don't want dinner getting cold."

"Ok mom, I'll be down in a bit." I tapped the hold button once again.

"Hey, I actually have to go."

"It's ok, I needed to start my homework anyways."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and put my phone down on my desk before walking down the stairs. My powers weren't strong enough for me to be able to levitate myself, so for now I had to use good old fashion walking.

Mom was just laying dinner out on the table. It was shrimp and snap pea stir-fry. It wasn't my favorite but it was pretty good. I liked the shrimp, just not the snap peas.

I sat down, levitating my fork to pick up a piece of shrimp and bring it towards my mouth. I was definitely really lazy.

"So, I heard you got a detention today."

Ok, great. I was going to try and hide this but I guess there was no use. Mom can see through all my lies.

"Um...yeah,"

"Care to explain why?" she asks in a more demanding tone, clearly expecting an answer.

"I, uh, got into a fight...then yelled at the principal."

"Marabella! You know better than that."

"Ok! But Jake was being a jerk and the principal accused me of being a witch!" Shit, I said too much. Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut?

"A witch! Marabella! What did you do?! You know you have to be careful about hiding your powers. You could get killed!"

"I know, I know! I just lost control and shoved Jake a bit too hard...using my telekinesis." I then took out my phone and showed her the video that had gone viral. Mom took a deep breath, putting her elbow on the table and pinching her nose with her thumb and pointer finger.

"Marabella, you need to be more careful. I don't want you to die, plus I could get killed for raising you."

"I'm sorry mom," I said.

Mom looked toward the window.

"Why don't you go meditate under the moon in your favorite spot, to control your magic."

"Yeah, I will, thanks, mom."

"Your welcome sweetie." We ate the rest of our meal in silence.

***

I walked out down to the beach. No one was here because it was so dark. I used the dim light of my phone screen to find the entrance to the small cave I like to meditate in. The tide had just gone down so the ground was still a bit damp. I didn't care I just sat down by the entrance of the cave. I looked up at the moon, feeling my eyes glow and fill with golden warmth. I wasn't sure if all witches could do this, but when the moonlight reflected off my eyes, my hazel eyes would turn into a liquid gold color. My irises actually seem to move around like liquid.

I closed my eyes and focused on the magic flowing through my veins, controlling it. Before I would try to focus my telekinesis on levitating myself, but it never seemed to work. This time I worked really hard to focus my magic, feeling it flow through my veins. I could feel myself move a tiny bit, but that drained all my energy and I had to stop.

Panting, I got up and left the cave, making my way back home so I could sleep.