Thirteen Witches of St. Enda's Hall

The Calm Before

Dinner continued in relative silence.

Lana and the teachers chatted along quietly while the girls kept their eyes down.
Lorel finished her meal rather early, waiting quietly to be excused until Syllinas noticed her figiting and sent her off.

"Demi, may I be excused?" I asked, pushing my plate away.

"Of course, Hystorian. Are you well?" She replied in mild surprise.

I usually stick around for seconds or deserts.

"Of course!" I smile, trying to seem warm. "Mother, may I take Lorel her dessert? It's her favorite."

"Please do. Offer her a pick-me-up after you've allowed your friends to pick on her the whole day." The leader of the coven drawled with a bored sense of superiority.

"I brought you cake." I sighed lightly as entered Lorel's room.

"None of you knock in this house. Is it because you always know who's coming through the door?" She wonders curiously.

"Usually." I shrug. "We do knock to be polite-"

"You have no reason to be polite to me." She cut in.

"I still brought you chocolate." I deduced after a moment of silence.

"I'm not really feeling well. Nerves, I guess."

"Too nervous for cake? You must have really changed then." I laugh dryly.

"Not so much, but yeah.. I tried." She admitted sadly.

"Can I ask you one thing?"

She looked over to me, prompting me to go on.

"How? I've studied so much since first coming here. Not only magic but species as well. How did you.." I paused, taking a semi-deep breath. "How could you have done what you did? If I really had been your mate, that is.."

"You still are.." She frowned.

"Things didn't work out how I wanted them to." She continued after gathering her thoughts. "At least you won't have to worry about loving a monster anymore."

"Was that really your choice to make?"

"It never was, Storia." Admitted the sorrowful shapeshifter. "I'm sorry for thinking any differently. I was a fool-in-love kid who thought I could change our world before I found out I was too small. I should have known it was bigger than me. I was too full of myself."

"Exactly, how much time did you spend with Kenzing in the basement?" I say light-heartedly. "You're starting to imitate her stories, you know?"

"Goodnight, Storia." She smiled genuinely, her teeth seeming to shine even in the dimly lit room. "Thank you for the pie."

"Goodnight, Lorel."

"Storybook? To what do I owe the pleasure?" Chloe wondered as she answered the knock on her door.

"I hope I didn't wake you. I brought you some tea." I offered her a cup and revealed the kettle I had been levitating behind my back.

"Come in." She sighed as she stretched out some. "I've had troubles sleeping a lot. It's gotten much better since I've arrived here."

"I've had too many sleepless nights to count in these walls." I admit with a sense of sadness. "Lana is so sure I'll out grow it."

"Perhaps you will." The auburn beauty suggested before trying her tea.

We sat in comfortable silence as we sipped our beverages. I had also brought a small plate of cookies from the kitchen.

"May I ask you a question before I go?" I wondered as the liquid in my cup thinned. "An educational one, if not a little personal."

"You may ask me anything, Hystorian." She smiled with honesty, clearly more content.

"The Voodoo King.. What do you know about his deals? If anything, that is."

"I've never made one personally. As far as I know, he stopped before moving into the school about two years ago. He's used to practice Serpentine Sorcery."

"Serp- You mean, a genie?"

"Yes. Genies were fabricated by mortals but the idea behind them originally came from Sepentine Sorcery. Most witches know of it. They're more than well-known for making bad deals." She smirked. "The agreements set almost always secretly favor the caster rather than those making wishes."

"Why so curious? Why wouldn't you ask the lady of the house these questions, if she's down the hall?" The young woman asked, curiousity dancing in her eyes. "Or perhaps the lady of Luxemburg's herself?"

"I have a terribly suspicious feeling I won't be getting answers from Miss Volkrum." I think aloud. "I'll leave you to rest. Thank you."

"No need." Her eyes nearly sparkling with assurance. "It is what I'm here for, you know."

"Goodnight, Chloe." I smiled as I stepped into the hall.

"Safe dreams, Hystorian. Oh, and thank you. For the tea." She returned my gesture as the door shut behind me.