The Enchanted Ones

Chapter 1 ✨

“I still don’t see why you want to take a self defense class,” Irin  said, as she ran a hand through her brunette locks. Swirls of magic spilled from her fingertips, her hair pulling itself up into a flawless ponytail. “We literally have magic. We don’t need this muggle stuff.”

Kath snorted as she took a sip of her tea. “Irin, how many times do I have to tell you, calling them muggles is disrespectful.” Kath checked the street sign to make sure they were still on the right path before they crossed. “Rowling’s book was so inaccurate. Please use ‘non-magic people’.”

“Definitely not as catchy as ‘muggle’.”

“And we can’t always rely on our magic, you know,” Kath said as the gym came into view. “Especially with laws around magic use getting tighter. I’m surprised your dad hasn’t lectured you on it yet.”

“Oh, he’s tried,” Irin sighed as they walked into the building. “A silencing charm really does the trick on that.”

Kath chuckled, throwing her empty cup away as they walked into the class. The room was set up with pads on the floor and mirrors all around,as well as a few punching bags along a wall. A few women were already stretching and doing some warm-ups. Kath and Irin found their places in the back of the room and started their own stretches before the instructor got there.

Irin pulled her foot against her back and leaned towards Kath. “You start teaching your classes tomorrow, right?”

“Yep,” Kath said with a wide smile.

“How long ago was your bag and lesson plan packed?” Irin asked knowingly.

Kath blushed. “Only like...a couple of days ago.”

“Well, I’m happy for you,” Irin said with a wink. “You’ve always been too smart for your own good and now you can prove it.”

Kath opened her mouth to reply but the door swung open and a tall woman with long, windswept red hair walked in. The breath left Kath’s lungs as she watched her take a long swig from her coffee, slender throat bobbing as she drank. She slipped what looked like a police academy sweatshirt over her head, Kath’s eyes catching the glint of a small gold coin on a necklace as it settled between her breasts, and suddenly Kath felt parched.

“Yummy,” Irin said, knocking Kath’s hip with her own when she caught her stare. Kath blushed and pulled her arm across her chest in a stretch.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kath said airily.

“Do you forget I’m a soothsayer,” Irin  whispered, eyebrow raised. “Jeez. Katherine Moore, you thirsty bitch-”

Kath cast a quick incantation to block her mind and Irin  blinked, shocked at hitting the sudden mental wall. Kath raised an eyebrow at Irin  with a smirk.

“That’s what you get for trying to read my mind,” she said, stretching out her other arm.

“You witch,” Irin said with a smile.

“Hello everyone,” the instructor said, as she took her place in the front of the class. “My name is Linette. You can call me Lin in short. Welcome to Self Defense 101.”

Kath sighed and smiled a little as her eyes landed on the redhead. Linette. What a nice name. Complimented her muscles.

“We’re just going to get started today with some easy stuff,” Lin said. Lin’s brown eyes made contact with Kath’s and her whole body felt electric. Lin smiled, her gum showed up in an adorable manner as she stretched her arms over her head.

Kath blushed and looked away, catching Irin’s knowing eye instead.

“Shut up,” Kath whispered. She copied Lin’s stance in the mirror, fists up in front of her face in a boxer’s stance as they began the class.