Imara needs a familiar, but what she ends up with is the toughest kitten in the magical world.
Imara has lived a life separate from her family. She wasn’t shunned, just never acknowledged. The seventh child of a seventh child, she had had the bad taste to be born a girl. Her father’s family had no use for a girl, so she was sent to a city where the populace didn’t use magic. Now that she is grown and entering college, she has chosen the best magical college in the country. It just happens to be located in her birth city. When family begins to encroach on her education and someone threatens her life, can her new familiar do as he promised and keep her safe, or will Imara have to use what little magic she has learned to keep herself alive? Either way, things are going to be unpleasant. Excerpt: “Imra, we need a calm-down at twelve B. There is a wild mix of something going on.†Imara looked at him with a weary gaze. “Come on, it’s my last night.†“This is your job, Imra. Your last night to do it.†She made a face at Death Keeper Thomins and got to her feet. Most of the students in her high school were not fortunate enough to find a job at the repository of the dead. Being an Apprentice Death Keeper had let her save up, and when she was ready to apply, she had gotten into the most prestigious magic college for three provinces. The next day she left for her new school to learn the basics of charms, spells and magic in general. For that night, she had to find out what was going on in twelve B. She smoothed her cassock and lit the lantern outside the door. With a sense of finality, Imara hooked it onto her staff and walked through the repository, past the active graves until she reached what was supposed to be the newly silent. Imara walked down the rows of those who had been retired by their families, their knowledge no longer required. Her lantern illuminated the three specters floating above their resting places. “Good evening, lady and gentlemen. Is there any particular reason for your rising?†She approached them and set the lantern on the grass. She folded her hands in front of her and waited. Madame Gregoria Limack floated toward her and extended her hand. Imara mimicked her gesture and smiled as the specter made contact. We worked out that you are leaving us. We wished to give you a proper send off. You have been a treasure to watch as you grew into the young lady before us. “Thank you. I will be sorry to leave, but I am very excited to go to Depford College.†One of the men floated forward and touched her arm. We are excited for you, as much as we are able. We wish you luck, and we wanted to offer you a gift. She blinked at Mr. Frimaldi. “Thank you for the thought.†Mr. Exeter grinned and touched her shoulder. We managed to arrange it with a little help. “Well, Imra, you seem to have made an impression on our guests.†She turned to see Thomins approaching. He was grinning, and he had a small object in the hand not holding the lantern. “You are in on this?†“They asked me when we were moving them. They wanted to give you something and forced their families to chip in. It was hilarious.†As a Death Keeper, he always sided with the guests. They were the ones he had to work with, after all. She stared at the spectral and physical gathering around her. “You threatened your families?†Madame Leemra laughed silently. We did not give them all our secrets. They may have decided to retire us, but that does not mean we have been drained of all knowledge. We are not leaving until we are good and ready. Imara sighed. “You didn’t have to do anything.†Thomins smirked. “They wanted to. This is a letter to the Dean of the College. There is also a small box with a letter in it. They are yours with the compliments and best wishes from our locals.†She took the gifts and looked and them with stunned amazement. “Thank you. Thank you all so much.â€