I awoke to the alarm ringing and registered that I had fallen asleep in my clothes and probably looked like a racoon. I sighed, forcing my sore self out of bed to prepare for the school day. I was still tired.

I knew I would be bombarded with questions from Leo. I just hoped he wouldn’t bring it up to the others. They are not meant to know; one of the few reasons my magic locked down is because of them—their ‘safety’, as Nixon put it.

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On Wednesday, the second period was always blank. Usually, we would go to a nearby diner to grab a long lunch before the afternoon lessons.

“Sorry, I don’t feel good today. I had a takeaway last night. It's not settled right,” I lied to Quinn.

She gave me a ‘all good’ and left the building. I fled to the library, hoping Leo would not find me. I had evaded him so far today.

He wanted answers, but was I ready to give them?

Short answer, no. I had been told to keep this to myself for so long… I’m worried.

I settled down at a table on the second floor; three tall bookcases surrounded it. I hoped it would be a while until he found me, or better yet, not at all. Pulling in my aura, I continued to read the book I started yesterday.

I waited.

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As my leg bounced in anticipation, my senses twitched; he was searching for me. His essence was cast out like a wide net, and I bit my lip, debating.

‘He will ask you eventually. Sooner or later,’ a pesky voice piped up in my noggin.

I hated that it was right. I let my essence reach out and touch his, and slowly, he started to get closer.

“You are not an easy woman to find,” he huffed, sitting beside me. I instantly put the book down and turned my attention to him.

“Good, I don’t want to be found,” I sassed.

“Obscuravale,” Leo demanded.

The silence grew between us as the veil closed.

“What did your mum mean by a ‘lock’?” Leo probed.

“Did you ask the others?” I probed back.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because judging by how your brother took to you fainting, not many people know about it,” he theorised.

“Answer my question,” he restated.

I looked down at the table, thinking of a way to explain. It was true; Alex had never seen me faint from using my magic. Leo was smart.

“When a witch has committed a heinous crime. Do you know what they do?” I started.

“Yes, a council decided to lock away… their powers…” he trailed.

Looking into his eyes, he started to put two and two together. Hopefully, he was not getting five.

When a crime has been committed using magic (mostly murder), a council will lock away someone's powers, so they are less of a threat in a mainstream prison. They meet their grave early if they fight it or try to use magic and push through the lock. It can only be removed if the person(s) that placed it there removes it.

I swallowed, “It’s not a full lock on my magic, but recently, it’s been getting harder not to fight it… I have been trying to find a way around it…”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“And the others don’t know about this?!” his voice started to rise.

“Calm down, and no, they don’t. It's for the best. For everyone.”

“For the best?” he exasperated.

“You don’t understand,” I lamented.

“Then make me,” he pleaded.

I shook my head, refusing to let the tears accumulate, I was frustrated. It brought back memories I didn’t want to remember. After a moment, I took a deep breath, sniffling.

“They are scared. They fear me, what I can do without thinking about it. If the others knew…I don’t want to lose my family.” I could not stop the tears from falling this time, they streamed down, the weight of reality and years of holding this in, finally took its toll.

“I just don’t understand how someone could resort to this. There are other ways,” he consoled.

Placing a hand on my shoulder; he pulled me towards his chest and held me in his arms. I let him and nodded in agreement into his hoodie.

“I know,” I whispered brokenly, “I tried. Goddess knows I tried.”

I wept, releasing the pent-up frustration and heartache. After a short while, my sore eyes protested, and my sobs relented. I calmed down but still stayed cuddled to his chest.

“How long?” he whispered, “How long have you had this lock?”

“Too long,” My voice sounded raw, my throat protested the talking.

He pulled back and looked at my red-eyed, messy face. I wiped the tears away to make myself a little more presentable.

“Since my rite of passage, a few days after my Enmagica. Four years ago,” I told him honestly.

“And this Nixon? He’s the one that put it on you?”

I nodded at this question.

“He is very persuasive. My mum and I went along, thinking it was best.”

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“And he’s never eased it off?”

“No. He made it stronger,” I sniffled.

Leo looked away from me, and I could see the anger in his eyes.

“That’s why your magic is hidden?”

“Yes. Hopefully, my mum will convince him to take it off. Or at least ease it.”

“Don’t you normally have a circle on Thursday nights?”

“Yeah, this week we are meeting at Quinn's house.”

“Are you sure that’s safe? For you, I mean… with the fainting and all.”

“No, circles are fine. As I said, it's not a full lock. If I don’t force or push against it, I will be fine.”

“That’s what happened last night. You pushed too hard.”

I sheepishly nodded. It had been a while since I fainted, testing my limit was a past time I ventured alone.

“I will be there. If you need me,” he offered.

I looked at him and smiled, “Ah, what a hero,” I joked.

My smile dropped, “Thank you. And I’m sorry about your hoodie,” I apologised.

His grey hoodie was now wet from where I had been leaning.

He smiled at me, “Anything for a lady in distress,” he vowed.

I giggled.

I felt reassured and a little braver. A small weight had left my shoulders. I felt better than I had done in days.

The bell rang loud: lunchtime.

“Revelora,” he stated.

Getting up, he held a hand to me, “Come on, let's get some food.”

I smiled at him, taking his hand. We left the library.

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Thursday night came around quickly. I did feel grateful to Leo; letting loose some emotions helped, and I was almost back to my usual self. Sighing, I recalled the week, writing an entry into my book of shadows (BoS).

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10th March

This week has been a wild one.

Grandma’s BoS was glamoured and hidden in a nook under the floorboards at Devan’s place. Which has NO diary entries?

Grandma’s necklace: also glamoured further below it… I still have no idea what to do with it. Should I return it to her grave? But it is rightfully mine… There will be spells and recipes in there I may able to use.

Then, there’s Leo…

Unexpectedly, we have gotten close and quickly. Is he the one haunting my dreams? If he is, then why do I feel nothing? No spark? No instant love?

There is still so much we don’t know about each other. But he knows the one thing Seri doesn’t: the lock.

Goddess, I even cried ON him! It was an ugly cry, too…So embarrassing!

Although, he is a distraction… I think I can rely on him… I need an ally to remove this lock!

Blessed Be, Lexandria.

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Putting the pen down, I took a breath and closed the book. The black pouch holding the necklace caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but want to admire it again.

A knock at my bedroom door made me jump. I say, “Yeah?”

“It’s nearly time to go, Lexi,” Mum’s head peaked in, “I have asked Leo and Freya if they would like a lift,” her eyes glinted cheekily, “You can take Leo in your car.”

“Mum!” I bleated.

She chuckled and left the door ajar. Getting up quickly, I followed her down the stairs to see Alex, Freya and Leo already there. I noticed a lack of fur and a metallic taste. He finally cleansed.

“We can all fit in my car,” she decided.

Too damn right we can all fit.

Arriving at Quinn’s house, I mentally prepared myself for a clash with Nixon. I felt a hand on my shoulder before we got to the door.

“You’ll be alright.”

Leo’s words of encouragement were whispered into my ear, and he squeezed my shoulder lightly. Turning to the side to look at him, I smiled slightly and nodded as my mum knocked.

Nixon answered the door.

He looked older than his years; his hair was greying almost gracefully, with a short beard to match. His eyes showed wisdom like Quinn’s, reflecting the same caramel. You could see why he was the prominent coven leader, and his presence demanded attention. A confidence no one could match, looking relaxed and comfortable. He was good with words. It was hard not to trust him and his decisions.

He welcomed us all in as he usually would. I could see the others in the kitchen.

“Alex, will you take Freya and Leo to the others? Lexi and I need to speak to Nixon,” Mum asked warmly as she stood near Nixon.

As they left, Nixon directed us to his office space. I worried my lip as I followed. He closed the door and obscured our conversation.

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“I hope you have had time to calm down, Isobelle?”

“I have a clear head if that’s what you mean.” Mum ushered me onto the chair while they stood facing each other.

I knew to stay quiet.

“This has gone on for too long, Nixon,” she gently intoned, “We need to give her freedom.”

“I agree, but I am concerned she will not be able to control her magic.”

“We’ll not know until you let her try. The last review was just after my late husband passed. Emotions were running high after we found out how he died.”

“Hm, yes, I remember.”

So far, so good; they were staying calm. My eyes were playing tennis watching both speak in turn.

“It’s time to take off the lock.”

Nixon regarded me before replying, “I don’t think we should be hasty now. Do you remember why we put the lock on in the first place?”

Mum glanced at me, taking a moment before offering an alternative, “Ease it then. I do not want her fainting from using a tiny bit of magic. Not to mention the nosebleeds…”

“Please, Nixon. I do not want to lose my daughter too.”

He nodded yes at the request. I silently breathed a sigh of relief. Some freedom is better than none.

He came behind the chair, and I leaned forward slightly. I felt him pull back my t-shirt so my upper back was showing and held a hand over the scruff of my neck. I closed my eyes and relaxed as much as possible, not resisting.

I could see it in my mind’s eye. A rectangle of dark blue, filled just shy to the top with red. It represented how much of my magic was locked. I concentrated and melded my magic into a ball. It felt like chains around it, almost squeezing, blocking me from touching it.

“Ready?” Nixon asked.

My mum kneeled and grasped my hands, soothing them with a thumb.

I replied, “Yes.”

His magic flooded in, twirling around the sphere I created. He drew many Sigils on my back, ones I didn’t know. Something broke like guitar strings.

Like chains. And I was able to breathe a little easier.

He stopped, withdrawing his magic and let go of my neck. Again, my mind’s eye showed that same blue rectangle, but the red was less; it occupied three-quarters. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. My mum had her watchful eyes on me, smiling.

“Relax, Lexi,” she coaxed.

I did.

The world didn’t implode. My senses reached further, and I flexed my hands into a cup. With little resistance, a red flame appeared, and I held it, feeling giddy and smiled.

“Lexi,” Nixon’s voice caught my attention. I closed my hands, and the flame died out.

“Do you understand why we cannot erase it?”

I nodded my head, “Yes. I do. Thank you for this.”

My mum opened her arms, and I enjoyed the contact. After a moment, I realised.

“The others will notice the difference…” I spoke out loud.

“They may. However, we can put it down to grieving and chakra blocking,” he informed a great plan.

I smiled and nodded. Nixon took down the veil and opened the door for us.

“Right,” Nixon entered the garden and rubbed his palms together, “Who’s ready for pizza and a Chakra lesson?”

I greeted Seri and Quinn with a hug.

“Let’s go!” Quinn chirped.

We walked down the street to a park entrance and went through the tree line. It was a shorter walk, about ten minutes due east.

Quinn set up as she did before. This time, we had six candles for the new addition of Leo. I gestured for Leo, standing next to me, to do the honour of lighting the candles. He smirked and clicked his fingers, and all six ignited with a blue spark in sync.

“Was the click for flare?” I joked.

“Yes,” he admitted, getting laughter from us.

As the energy began to climb, I noted that my magic was climbing higher than before. It still lagged slightly, but the difference was like night and day. Next to me, A heavy blue poured from Leo, surpassing everyone. He looked free and joyful. It made me smile.

My energy after the circle was substantial. We decided not to wild swim, and a question from Lathen confirmed my earlier worry.

“How come your magic has grown?”

I smiled and recited the words of Nixon.