Witches in Training (#2 in the Witches Trilogy) [rewrites ongoing]

Chapter Six: Several Proposals, All At Once

VERA

"So how are we getting there again?" I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

Louis looks at me like I'm brain dead. "We fly...?" His wings unfurl, beating the air gently.

"I can't fly." I say irritably.

He blinks at me for a moment. "Can't you?"

"No."

He shrugs. "Well, you can run there."

"It's all the way across!"

Louis gives me a sideways look. "Stay behind, then."

"No!"

He looks exasperated. "Then?"

"You could fly me!"

The colour rises in my cheeks as he smirks. "That desperate?" He asks, folding his arms. Russell rolls his eyes as if used to his brother's antics.

"Shut up, fairyboy." I growl.

"Hm. That's funny. Your sister calls me that too."

"You deserve it." I mutter. "Fine, I'll get there myself."

"Do you even know where it is?" Louis says, launching himself lightly into the air and hovering a couple of inches off the ground.

"I'll figure it out."

Louis' smirk grows wider. "You really don't like me that much?"

"Loathe you." I tell him, starting out the door.

"Wait, don't be an idiot." Louis says. I stop and turn around, wondering if he's had a sudden change of heart. Of course, I should have known better. He points at the window. "You'll get caught it you just stroll out the front door." I roll my eyes, mutter under my breath and cross the threshold, slipping out the window. Fortunately, my new classroom is on the first floor.

Russell watches me and sighs. "Louis..."

"What?"

"Vera, get back here."

"Why should I?" I call back.

"You'll fly there."

"I said I can't fly!" I yell.

"You don't have to be able to." Louis mutters. He reaches into his pocket and brings out a small glass phial. As he does, the sleeve of his hoodie gets pushed up and I see something odd around his wrist: a girl's beaded bracelet.

"Is that jewellery?"

"Shut up." He tells me, but his cheeks are slightly pink. "Get back here."

Eyeing the phial cautiously, I comply. When I'm back in the room, Louis uncorks the phial and makes to shower its contents over me. I step back. "What's that?"

Russell smiles and takes the phial from his brother. "Ever watch Peter Pan?"

*

A minute later, I'm flying. True, I'm also glittering with gold pixie dust, but I'm really flying.

"This is amazing!"

"Who, me?"

"Narcissist." Russell and I say at the same time. Louis smirks and, angling himself expertly, gently descends in front of the Training Centre. With a little less finesse, I land, stumbling. Russell lands lightly as well, folding in his wings.

"Who, me?" Louis says innocently again, heading into the building. I roll my eyes and stare pointedly at his back as Russell and I follow him.

It's a new sight. I've never been in this section of the Training Centre, where the more experienced train. There's a wider range of training facilities, more damage-resistant structure, more advanced technology. All the corridors look the same to me, but Louis and Russell lead the way confidently. As Louis' blondish-brown head disappears round the corner and the brothers enter a room, closing the door behind them, a familiar girl's voice yells, "yo, fairyboy! This is for you."