Whispers at Witching Hour

Chapter 75

Musical inspiration: Sisters Of The Moon – Fleetwood Mac (2015 Remaster)

Zelda was fine with Dr Cee joining them for their family day since he would soon be an official part of the Spellman house. Hilda looked so utterly happy with him, Zelda envied her a bit for her joy and simple, uncomplicated relationship. No lies, no hiding, no pain. Where had they gone wrong? How could it be that their relationship seemed to consist only of these things nowadays?

Sabrina and Ambrose brought out the karaoke machine, not expecting Zelda to play the piano because she rarely ever did. She had played a lot when Sabrina had been younger, but at some point, she had stopped and did not even know why. With singing, she knew why she refrained from it, but the piano was different. Had she started denying herself any form of joy?

Hilda and Dr Cee volunteered to open the "concert" with a cheesy duet, gazing into each other's eyes like love-sick idiots and being almost a bit too happy for Zelda's liking. They were singing "Up Where We Belong" and it did not even sound that bad. Their voices complemented each other just like their personalities did.

Sabrina was sitting with her on the loveseat and appeared to have noticed her aunt observing the happy couple. She scooted a bit closer, wanting to make her aunt feel less lonely without having to pressure her into disliked displays of affection in front of everyone.

"You know auntie Zee, if you just told the others, Lilith could be here too...", Sabrina whispered.

Zelda dismissed the comment as the song ended and gestured for Sabrina to take over the imaginative stage. Of course, the girl had chosen another Fleetwood Mac song, knowing how much her aunt loved them.

She started singing "Sisters of the Moon" and Zelda closed her eyes as soon as her niece got to the chorus. Lilith's face appeared behind her eyelids, making her smile softly, then Marie, giving her a warm feeling. The faces started spinning around her head at a growing pace until her eyes shot open again.

It felt like her conflicted feelings were ripping her apart. On the one side, her soulmate Lilith, she loved with all her heart but who brought nothing but trouble, on the other side Mambo Marie with whom she could have a simple relationship like Hilda. She wanted everything with Lilith but could not have anything. With Marie she wanted anything but could only have fraction of everything.

Some more performances followed such as Ambrose's interpretation of "Highway to Hell", which was hilarious, and Hilda's solo of "Downtown". The time passed so quickly with all their laughter, feeling empowered as a family by their bonding time.

Soon it was evening, and they settled to watch the classics like "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and "Dracula". Though Zelda found the former was more sad than anything else. In the meantime, she had gotten into her nightwear, pulling her robe tighter around her shoulders. About halfway into the first film, she sensed herself sinking more into the couch, giving up her upright posture to lean on the armrest, supporting her head.

She was just about to doze off when she suddenly remembered something. Fuck, how could I forget? I need to get going!

Hurriedly, she got up and told her family she had forgotten something important at the Academy and needed to go this instant. Her family looked at her confused, but nobody said a word of opposition due to the sincerely stressed state of Zelda.

Within a blink, she was gone, teleporting to the Academy only dressed in her nightgown and robe, where she was awaited by Mambo Marie. The voodoo priestess tutted at her, eyeing her up and down with a smirk.

"En retard pour notre premier rendez-vous?", she teased making Zelda blush in shame.

She started explaining nervously. "I apologise, we had a family-thing and I-"