Whispers at Witching Hour

Chapter 79

Musical inspiration: Night Time, My Time – Sky Ferreira

After having taught a class, Zelda returned to her office at the Academy. She had sent Marie off to take some time for herself for once since she needed time without disturbance to focus on the new curriculum anyway. Marie had told her today they could now stop the rituals as there had been no more of the black liquid seeping from her skin last time – A sign the spirits could not extract more body memories.

Entering the room, she felt she had stepped on something and bent down to pick up whatever it was. She found a mostly intact fresh rose and had a closer look. What was odd about it was that it was burning in an azure shade, almost like... hellfire.

Some of the students must have experimented with their new powers and dropped it when they visited my office, she reasoned and placed the flower on a nearby cupboard. Sitting down at her desk she took in the mass of papers, books, and scriptures she had to work through and was already exhausted from just looking at it. I better get going then.

Zelda worked through it step by step and completely lost track of time. Figuring out how to use Hecate's powers was more compelling than she would have thought, and it turned out to be quite different from their satanic customs. Maybe this was a new beginning, a new era of witches even.

At some point, Hilda came in carrying a tray with some much-needed food. She had not even realised she had not eaten a decent meal all day.

"Oh, you're a goddess-send, Sister", she scoffed and put away some papers, "Who knew reforming a curriculum would yield so much paperwork?"

Hilda put the tray on the table and leaned in a bit. "I, um... I did make a bit extra, you know, in case Mambo was around", she scanned the room from the corner of her eyes, "Is she around?"

Hilda could not help but notice how close Zelda seemed to be with Marie as well as her frequent absence, so she put one and one together...

Zelda sent her a cryptic look Hilda had a hard time deciphering. Was it a threat? Or amusement? Or something else?

"Is there something you want to ask me, Sister?"

"Not at all. Nothing. You have been spending quite a few nights at the Academy."

"Working late. There's always some problem to quash", Zelda explained casually.

She had just realised what impression Hilda must have had of her late-night meetings with Marie. No one would believe her if she told the truth; they loved the gossip too much. Although it was not entirely wrong but also not quite right.

It made her feel only worse about sharing kisses with Marie. Hilda did not know she was back together with Lilith, and she certainly would side with the demoness considering how much she had liked her, and them together. It was no use, they needed to tell the family rather sooner than later. Today? Tomorrow? She needed to talk to Lilith anyway. Zelda was still very much hurt about how they had left things last night, but she wanted to settle this conflict once and for all.

Then one of the students came rushing into the office in an obviously distressed state, calling her for help. Leading the Academy made her feel she belonged, like she had a real purpose. People looked up to her as their High Priestess and trusted in her abilities.

Entering the students' dormitory, she immediately sensed something was off, even before she noticed the stranger with the gas mask standing right in the middle.

"Who are you?"

Nothing.

"Declare yourself! How did you get in here?"