Muted Magic: Edsword's Academy of Magic #1

"Hmm?" she answers, eyes forward, stiff expression, perfect hairstyle, impeccable clothing.

"You never told us where we're going." The guy on the other side of my mom on our aisle in the plane gives me a weird look. "Fuck off," I say, and he shakes his head and turns back to his book.

My mother gives me a knowing look. "Don't." she scolds. I smile sweetly. "Sorry," I say, giggling silently.

She rolled her eyes, then sighed and put a hand to her cheek. Answering my earlier questions, she mutters, "I can't tell you now where we're going. You'll see for yourself."

I huff and lean back. A seven hour plane trip to god knows where, no luggage whatsoever, a judgemental seat partner, and a refusing-to-give-out-information mother. What a day.

I settle back into my seat and look out the window. At least the view is beautiful. I smile to myself and decide to fall asleep. Five hours to go, I think, as I drift away.

...

"Alone. Alone. Alone. You'll always be alone." Echos sounded in my ears as I ran down a blank hallway, empty and colorless. "Where are you?" I tried to shout out, but no sound came. "Stop saying things, come and find me!" I try again. No sound.

I sink to my knees helplessly. Tears are streaming down my face, my fingers are clenched. "Who do you think you are?" The same voice hissed into my ear. I snapped my head towards the voice but there was no one there. "Special? You aren't anything. We both know that."

"You're wrong!" I shriek. But again, I don't make any sound.

The voice, whatever it was, was mimicking me. I stood up, trembling. "You can't get to me! You're nothing!" I cry out, and this time I push my hands out in front of me, close my eyes, and scream.

...

"Mia, honey, wake up. We're here." My mother looks down at me, still sitting down. "The plane landed a few minutes ago. We're ready to go. " I nod and smile half-heartedly. I had an unsettling dream, I remember that part. But I can't remember the dream itself.

"Mom," I start to say as I stand up in the aisle, but a little boy starts pushing at the back of my legs. "Start moving, weird lady!" he whines. I give him a cold look. I don't like kids like that. "Oh, I'm so sorry. He's impatient." A stout little woman of about 39 years old comes up to me as I'm walking to the front of the plane. I give her a grimace and say nothing. She notices because she flushes visibly. "Okay hun, go on," she ushers me forward and I nearly trip.

"Watch where you're going!" the guy in front of me yelps as I step on his toe.

"I'm so sorry--" I start to say but then I recognize him as the guy who gave me weird looks when I was talking to my mother. I huff and look away. He sighs loudly. I glance forward and he's already gone. Good riddance, I smirk.

I'm glad to be out of the plane and with my mom, eating at a small vegan restaurant just outside of the airport.

My mom chews her tofu and salad with a weird expression. "Is it good?" I ask, leaving my plate of cauliflower pasta untouched.

"It is, but I'm confused as to..." she trailed off, her weird expression replaced with a mixture between confused and thoughtful. All of a sudden, she stands up and beckons me to do the same.

She looks down at my untouched plate and sighs. "Mia, why haven't you eaten?"

I shrug. "I don't feel hungry. Probably those peanuts on the plane." She shakes her head and motions for me to follow her.

Standing outside in the cold air makes me shiver. "Are we in Alaska?" I ask, rubbing my arms. My mother doesn't answer. I tap her.

"One sec, Mia. I'm asking where it is." I roll my eyes. Where what is? I have questions. I need answers.

Instead of worrying about whatever the hell is happening, I pull out my phone and power it on. A slew of messages from my best friend Nadia and my boyfriend Tristen pop up. I click on Nadia's first.

I giggle. "i was kidnapped by mom and she took me to this random place in alabama"

Not even two seconds later a reply pops up.

I smile. I love Nadia. "Mia, come on. our ride is here." I look up hastily and put my phone back into my pocket.

I pull up short in front of a small black car that has "Edsword Magicinary" written on the side. "What is "Magicinary"?" I ask my mom.

She shakes her head. "Not here. Get in the car."

I put my hands up. "Ok, ok." I keep that comment to myself, though.

The inside of the car is strangely large, like it had been magnified. Whoa. This is awesome.

"Mom, can you tell me what's going on now?" I beg as she sits down next to me, legs crossed and lips pursed.

"Yes. Mia, you don't remember this because I had to erase this incident from your mind in order to help you adjust properly--"

"Wait. Adjust properly?" I interrupt.

"Yes. Adjust properly to your new school. Now, --"

"New school? Why? What about Tristen and Nadia?"

She sighs. "Stop interrupting me, Mia. Let me talk first."

I put my head in my hands and motion for her to continue.

"Now, as I was saying, there's a reason I took you here. I didn't have a choice, frankly, I thought this would never have happened. The fact that you were born mute told your father and I--" she chokes at father, who died two years ago in a fishing accident. He drowned, and that's all I know.

I raise my head.

She shakes her head. "The fact that you were born mute was a relief. Because," she looks me dead in the eyes, "You need the ability to talk in order to do magic."

I suck in a breath. "Magic? Are you insane? Have you gotten a fever?" I lean forward and try to put my hand against her forehead. She waves me off. "No- Mia, no. I'm being truthful here. Now that's all I have to say for now. Madame Colfry, that's your headmistress, will tell you more.

I sigh.

Looking out the window, I remember that I haven't responded to Tristen's texts.

I pull out my phone and stare at my lockscreen for a few moments. The picture is me, my father, and my mother at my 10th birthday. Two years before he died. I push away the intruding thoughts of missing my dad and unlock my phone. I click on Tristen's messages and am happily surprised to see that I have 12 unread messages.

I shouldn't be happy! he's worried about you! I mentally scold myself before turning to read the messages.

I smile at that one. I love his cat. Ginger is a sweetheart and is quite unlike her name. She's brown and soft and really sweet. Tristen knows I like her, so that's such a thoughtful request. I tilt my head as I read the next nine messages.

I blush.

The last message says "Mia, it feels like you're ghosting me :("

I pout my lip and type a quick response.

Unlike Nadia, his message doesn't come up right away. I lock my phone and put it back inside my pocket.

I look at my mom, who has leaned her head against the window and is looking out. It's raining, so the soft pitter patter fills my head and makes me feel sleepy. I yawn, and my mother jerks up.

"Oh. Mia, we're here," she says, craning her head to look further outside the window.

I shuffle over so I'm leaning over her. She looks down at me. "God- Mia, can't you wait till we get out?" I shake my head.

"Alrighty folks, here we are." I jolt at the sound of the cab drivers voice. I give nod. "Righty-o, now get on with it. I'm Aidan Lee, I'll be your tour guide for today."

"Wait, you work for this place?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Sorry miss. I don't understand none of that sign language. You might have a difficult time here in Edswords."

I scoff.

"None of that, Aidan. She'll manage just fine." my mom, ever the hero, butts in.

"Ah yes, Ms. Beckett. Haven't seen you in a quick minute. I'll suppose Madame Colfry will be waitin', and she don't like to be kept very long, you see."

"I remember that. Mia, come on, get out of the car." I smile. "Okay mom." I say in response, nearly stumbling face forward into a tree before Aidan grabs my arm and plants me upright. "You better be careful, lady. Don't wanna get a concussion before the term starts."

"Term?" I ask. "Mom, what the heck is going on here?" She gives me a loot that says plainly, "I'm not the one to be explaining any of this."

I sigh and follow Aidan onto the path to a future that I'm sure would change my entire life.