Journey of a Girl

The Purple House: Chapter Six

Dawn was just a hope when Lilith removed the lock and banged on Credence's door.

It would be a long day, but each hour that passed brought Lilith closer to her reward.

She had prepared two more cups of tea, but only one had an enchanted blend, a simple calming mixture with a dash of gullibility. Lilith knew it would take more than a day to properly prepare Credence, but if she kept the girl pliant and docile, by the time Credence realized what was happening it would be too late.

"Get up, girl!" Lilith shrieked, hitting the tea tray against the door. She conjured another window to spy on Credence and saw the girl sitting up in bed, confused and half-asleep.

"Is it morning," Credence groaned. "It doesn't feel like—"

"Doesn't matter what time it is! Do as you're told and open the damn door!"

Lilith closed the spying window and waited. The door cracked open and Credence peered down at her host, but did not move to allow the witch inside her room. It was an odd reversal of the first time they met, but now Lilith knew the great reward Credence would bring, so the witch spoke with a little more civility.

"Morning tea," she mumbled, her patience reaching its end just as it began.

"Why?" Credence asked, still groggy but instantly cautious of Lilith's generosity. "Are you going to punish me?" Hastily she added, "I didn't mean to harm you. I'm sorry."

Lilith wanted to drop the tray and throttle the girl.

"A witch never says 'sorry'. Let me in so we can discuss what you did."

Credence opened the door and the old witch ducked under her arm and into the room. There was no proper table for tea, so Lilith sat the tray on the bed and plopped onto the stool beside it. She patted the blanket in a motion that meant for Credence to join.

It was like seeing a bear in a dress, this abrupt etiquette coming from Lilith, and Credence kept her guard up as she took her seat across from the witch.

This is a trick, Credence thought, knowing Lilith could read her thoughts, she means to poison me.

"I mean nothing of the sort," Lilith snapped. "From one witch to another, I only want to show a bit of gratitude."

"Gratitude? For what?"

"Not taking my life, of course." Lilith dropped an old sugar cube into her cup. "You could have, you know. Could've ended me right there, but you didn't. I like my life, and don't wish it to be done just yet, so here I am, to—" The words were caught in her throat, so Lilith coughed to free them, "—here I am to congratulate you on a blow well struck."

Credence took the cup Lilith offered her and eyed the steam rising from it.

"I don't know what I did."

And Lilith wouldn't be the one to tell her. If Credence had displayed a true commanding of the wind, a power Lilith struggled in vain to produce, what did it matter? It didn't, to Lilith. She would never give Credence the satisfaction of understanding her own self—not until Lilith had the girl firmly under heel.

"We'll discuss that some other time," Lilith said, making Credence frown.

There was an echo of Credence's childhood in that answer, for it was a thing often said by her parents when they wanted to withhold secrets. Just as it did at home, the reply troubled Credence.

"Just remember I showed you kindness today," Lilith continued, "instead of seeking revenge."

Ah, so that was it. That was the reason for this uncharacteristic courtesy. Lilith was trying to spare her hide. It wasn't a surprise to realize the witch was merely laying the groundwork for Credence's future pity after discovering how fierce and powerful her apprentice really was.