Witch of Iria

A way to vanish

I smother my yawn as I watch Mistress Celeste flapping a fan in front of her face. Does she think I can't hear her? Her nasty smile is hidden and I think she looks all the better for it. I glower at the room, irritated by the rich teal of the walls. The room is some hellish parody of a tea party, with miniature tables filled with twinkling china bone cups that could break at the slightest movement. The ladies look much the same, as if one well-placed shove would shatter their bones.

I can sense the bags under my eyes. I spent a large part of the night seething at Idris and the other part trying to recreate that magical knot from memory. All I got for it was a headache and a bad mood. It didn't help that Suzanne barely said a word to me this morning. Naomi probably warned her off me.

My magic simmers under my skin, annoyed at the stupidity of this. I've been ignoring Finn today and he seems inclined to do the same. He just nodded when he took me to this horrid tea party, which is for his sick sister. If she ever appears.

"This must be a shock for you," Celeste says, her eyes malicious behind her fan. "From twigs to ballrooms."

A blonde woman giggles beside her, her yellow dress clashing horribly with her hair. Deanna save me.

"The lack of power is more shocking," I answer with a saccharine smile. Lest she forget what I am. She blinks at that and her eyebrows pull together.

"I suppose," she says stiffly, rolling the last word in her mouth. She turns away as if I'm too boring to talk with and I sigh in relief. The blonde woman gives me a curious glance before joining her china bone friends.

The Lord of Iria chats with Finn in a corner of the room. I can see Finn gesturing with his hands, that charming smile in place. His father reacts warmly, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. My thoughts go to my mother and I can't remember a single time she was like that with me. But as my mind strays, I suddenly feel watched. I glance upwards and notice the Lord staring at me. His eyes trace my face, as if looking for something. I give him a tight smile which he barely returns.

He's an odd man. I can feel the prick of the executioner's axe when he looks at me and yet he seems more intrigued than anything. Or maybe it's a look of yearning. Finn just ignores my gaze. At least Idris isn't here yet. I have to think positively. 

My positivity dies a sudden tragic death when he enters, dressed up in a lilac shade which washes him out. Whoever makes his clothing choices should be fired. I can feel my anger ratchet up again, my magic sizzling under this dress. He looks wicked and pale in the afternoon light. The fragile tea cups shiver as he walks towards his father, Grindel at his heels. I would say Grindel is like a dog at his master's heels, but just like before he resembles a crow. A puffed up black bird with a high collar like a priest.

They ignore me as they strut towards the Lord and Finn. So it's like that. I stroll to an empty seat as far from them as possible and attempt to focus on the knot. My back hurts from the stone-like cushion. I'd take the forest floor over this.

What's wrong with Finn's sister....Elise. I turn the problem over in my head. Black veins. She'll be here soon, barely able to move. I thought it was cruel to move her but apparently this was how it had to be. We aren't allowed in her bedroom.

Black veins...something about that is familiar, as if I'd seen it before. Something slithering through the darkness, stalking through the trees-

"Are you ever going to talk to me?"

I jerk my head upwards and Finn is before me, his face repentant. I sigh, my memory lost in the recesses of the past. The Lord of Iria is talking to Idris now and his dark head moves this way and that. Grindel shoots me a venomous look.