The Book of Fire and Smoke

1987

Seven was considered unlucky to witches. Mainly to the witches outside of the Toussaint family that likes to steer clear of him. As the seventh and final child, people considered Oliver to be unlucky, a bad omen; an accident.

The Eldest was Embry, only to be twenty years old. He was perfect and everyone’s favorite. A level ten witch and very gifted in magic. He was the first out of all of his siblings to get accepted into St. Merlin’s years ago and made both mother and father proud. At the time, every prestigious magic school from all over the world wanted Embry Toussaint to be their student, (He’s going to assume for bragging rights). He was smart, handsome, and extremely arrogant, yet he was still everyone’s favorite.

After Embry, there was Will. He’s the second eldest (he’s nineteen) and just as smart as Embry, but he’s more subtle than he is. Will was like their mother, calm, kind, quiet, and kept to himself (obviously Oliver’s favorite out of all his siblings). Will was also accepted into St. Merlin’s at the same time as Embry, but he didn’t brag about it as he did. He almost seemed a bit sad to leave their old high school, while Embry was happy to leave. Will graduated at the top of his class and is currently a teacher at St. Merlin’s.

After Will, then came Alton. Alton was the exact opposite of Will and Embry (and taller too). He was the troublemaker. Kicked out of several schools in two years and he’s only sixteen. Yet, Alt was a level seven witch but uses his magic for “different” reasons. According to Alt, “what’s the point of being a level seven if I can’t raise a little hell.” A little being the understatement of the century.

Two years after Alt was the eldest girl Varia. Everyone is pretty much afraid of Varie. Varie likes to wear all black with skulls, chains, platform boots, and sometimes spikes and studs on her clothes. She’s the same level as Alt, but her specialty is divination and tarot readings. She even has an Amethyst necklace that hangs at her throat, and a pentagram necklace as well, both are for protection. The second eldest girl was Ophelia. Ophelia was pretty (according to some of the boys in Oliver’s school). She always dressed in pretty pastel colors, with Oxford Mary Janes, and frilly white socks (something that a little girl would wear for Church). If you wanted Oliver’s opinion, it just makes her look like an overgrown toddler (even though she’s only thirteen) and she’s a level six witch, where spell casting and healing is something that she takes pride in.

The youngest girl was Persphone. She was pretty tall for an eleven-year-old. She’s athletic and loves fashion. She’s also skilled with a paintbrush. As the youngest girl, she was also their mother and father’s favorite. They’re little “princess” that could do no wrong. Percy is a level five witch. Just like her sister Ophelia, she’s mostly good at the healing arts.

And then there’s Oliver. A level two witch, and the youngest. Funny enough, all of his older siblings got accepted into St. Merlin’s, while Oliver was stuck at his mortal school and stuck at being a level two (he didn’t mind). Even at the age of ten, he could tell that no one wants him around. Hell, he doesn’t even know which craft that he’s good at, or what his powers are. All he knows is that he’s forever doomed to be “cursed”.