THE APPRENTICE III

11

"Hey, Hazel!" Christine squealed and gave her a tight hug, then let go. The sorcerer gasp a bit at the sudden tonal shift. "Look at you! I haven't seen you since you were a kid! You're all grown up,"

"Me?" She forced a smile on her face and pushed her sour mood aside. She gestured to the bride. "You look stunning. I wish you both the best,"

"Oh! Well, my husband is actually a huge, huge fan! Of you and Stephen, actually. He wouldn't stop bothering me!" She looped her arm around hers and began to approach the bar area. "Where's Stephen? Stephen!,"

"Oh, I actually have to go." She gently pulled away and frowned. "It's a little urgent. But I'll see you again, yeah? After the honeymoon. Tell him we can go for dinner,"

"So soon?," she pouted.

"Sorry, I just...it's important." She lied and cringed, and the woman gave a nod.

Heskit caught up to the woman just in time and accompanied her as they made their way outside. He saw her lip was quivering and her brows were scrunched in thought.

"How'd it go?,"

"What'd you expect? He's Stephen." She recalled bitterly and shook her head. "He basically called me crazy. I hate him,"

"Wait, what?" Heskit pulled away. He shook his head a little. "He said that?,"

"I knew we needed more time, 7 weeks apart wasn't enough. I should've waited a few months." She was disappointed in herself and grabbed onto a post to fix her heel. "You know what? Fine. He wants me gone? I'll be gone. He can have the sanctum. I'm taking Fluffy and I'm moving out. He just holds me back, anyways,"

"Okay, Hazel, wait." Heskit positioned himself in front of her and held her shoulders. There was a bit of a commotion to their left, but he ignored it. "Don't get me wrong, I would enjoy your staying with me, but... do you think this is wise?,"

"And he wasn't gonna let me, too." She continued on, clearly too preoccupied to be listening to whatever he was saying. "Does he think he has control? I'm a master, like him. I've been a master for longer than he has. He thinks I've been staying with him cause he felt like...like I felt like I had to? Please,"

"Hazel." Heskit stepped in front of her to get her attention and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Do you think this is wise?,"

"What, moving out of a house with a temper-tantrum throwing maniac who doesn't even want me there? Yeah,"

"Taking such a dramatic step away from your father." He corrected the narrative and crossed his arms. "You're both hard-headed, arguments are bound to take place. You may both need each other,"

"I don't need him." She shook her head stubbornly and raised a brow.

He opened his mouth to speak until they whipped their heads to metal clanging in one alley and the couple exchanged worried looks.
They took small and light steps towards the sound.

"Look, guys, I was just mugged two weeks ago. I don't have any money." A shrill and fear stricken voice pleaded deep within the isolated alley.

"Hey, leave him alone!" A voice that was slightly familiar called.

She turned to Heskit and he stepped back to give her the signal to handle it— she needed to let off some steam. He was just glad it was a healthy outlet.

"What are you gonna do, nerd?" A man taunted and a few laughs broke out.

Hazel's heels clicked against the pavement and she breathed out.

"Guys, get the fuck away from him. It's too early for this shit." She sighed and three men in black hoodies quickly turned to her.

Their eyes doubled in size and they made a run for it when they recognized her. They threw a broken bottle to her direction, but someone's hand caught it.