We all sat in the foyer awaiting the arrival of Sabrina. My mother stood at the top of the stairs absolutely livid. No one dared utter a word in fear of setting her off. My Aunt Hilda and I both sat at the bottom of the stairs bracing for the worst. Ambrose occupied a chaise off to the side staying eerily silent. It was the calm before the storm. The front door shut before Sabrina even bothered looking up. "Aunties? Are you here? I need—" My mother's voice boomed from the top of the stairs cutting her off, "I frankly don't care what you need, Sabrina. But I'll tell you what I need. An explanation. For why a Spellman was practicing necromancy on a mortal boy in Greendale." Sabrina stopped in her tracks looking taken aback. "She knows everything, love," Aunt Hilda explained softly. "And why, in Satan's name, she would drag other witches into her reckless, stupid, selfish plans?" My mom continued. "I did it for Harvey," Sabrina defended. Ambrose and I shared a look before rolling our eyes. Sabrina would never just accept her wrong doing and bow out gracefully. "Did you? And tell me, did he ask you to do it? No, because no one in their right mind would do what you did. How did you even know what spell to use? Ambrose and Nicole say they didn't give it to you," My mother questioned. "We didn't," Ambrose said simply. Sabrina's eyes flitted to me briefly before she answered, "Ms. Wardwell." My heart stopped. There went any hope of my mother and Lilith ever seeing eye to eye. I felt my mother's cold gaze land on me as she descended the stairs but I refused to look back. "She gave it to you?" She asked cooly. "No, No, I... took a book from her office," Sabrina clarified. "Oh, so you're a thief, as well as a murderer," My mother frowned. "Murderer?" Sabrina questioned, furrowing her brow. "You killed a witch, didn't you?" Mom shot back. "Just for a few minutes," Sabrina reasoned. I noticed Aunt Hilda shake her head out of the corner of my eye, her eyes red brimmed with tears. "This is not a joke, Sabrina. You've thrown off the balance," Mom chastised. "Not me, Agatha and Dorcas. They killed Tommy. This wasn't some natural disaster. I was undoing what witches did," Sabrina defended, sounding more and more like a petulant child. "All you did was make things worse," My mother said in disbelief. "I'm going to fix this, I am going to save Tommy," Sabrina told us. "Fix what? There's nothing to fix and he can't be saved. It's done, Sabrina. He belongs in the ground and that's where he's going," My Mom told her. "Not if I pass over into mortal limbo and bring his soul back. I'm half-mortal, I can go there," Sabrina argued. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was complete madness. No one would willingly go to limbo. Between the lost souls and the soul-eaters that hunted them it was a desolate and cursed place on the edge of death itself. "I just need someone to anchor me here on the physical plane," Sabrina continued digging herself deeper. My mother took a deep breath centering herself, "Sabrina, I have just spent the very last of my credibility with the High Priest...begging, begging him to let us clean up your mess, to take care of this atrocity ourselves, to save our family in the eyes of the coven. We're standing in a grave, young lady, all of us, and you want to dig it deeper?" Sabrina cut in raising her voice, "I don't care about the High Priest, Aunt Zee. I care about what's right. And about Harvey. And his brother. I'm going to cross over." I could practically see the rage rolling off my mother's shoulders as she towered over Sabrina. "You're not capable of the magic required to cross the barrier." Sabrina shook her head angrily, "You don't know what I'm capable of." They were in a full on shouting match now as my mom cut in, "You're a 16-year-old child, not some grand magus!" Sabrina countered, "And you're not my mother, Zelda, so stop acting like you are!" At that Ambrose and I both shared a wide eyed glance. That line had been crossed and there was no taking it back. "Oy! You do not speak to your Aunt Zelda like that, not ever!" My Aunt stood chastising Sabrina. Never in my life had I heard Aunt Hilda sound so stern. I couldn't see my Mother's face but I knew she had tears welling in her eyes. I could see her hard exterior slowly cracking. "It's fine, Hilda. You heard her. She's not a child, and I'm not her mother. She's a grown-up witch now, and it's time she learned how the world, the realms, really work. Everything has a price. Edward learned that lesson. I learned it. It's your turn now. Try to save this mortal, even if it rips the membrane to pieces. But don't pretend it's not for selfish reasons and don't come crying to me when it all blows up in your face," Mom said with finality as she turned and made her way back up the stairs. Tears now flowed freely down Sabrina's face and I hoped to Satan she felt even an ounce of the pain she had just put my mother and Aunt through. Without saying a word Aunt Hilda left wandering aimlessly towards the kitchen. Ambrose turned and looked as if he wanted to stop her but the damage had been done and there was nothing either of us could say to bandage the wound Sabrina had left. I felt a lump form in my throat when Ambrose turned back to Sabrina even his eyes glistening with tears. "No one will help you, just as Aunt Zee says," Ambrose told her solemnly. "You're wrong, Ambrose. There's someone," she muttered. Ambrose scoffed, shaking his head. Shooting one last look at Sabrina I looped my arm through Ambrose's. "C'mon, Cousin. I need some air," I told him softly. I didn't know what Lilith or the Dark Lord's plans for Sabrina were. But I wouldn't be part of it. Later both Ambrose and I sat curled up together on the porch nursing a bottle of the strongest liquor we could find. "Honestly, Cousin, I can't believe how reckless Sabrina is being," Ambrose shook his head pulling the blanket around us. I took a swig from the bottle and sighed, "Did you hear the way she spoke to Auntie Hilda and Mom? How upset they looked?" He studied my face for a moment, "I'm not sure what we can do to fix this.." I shook my head passing him the bottle, "I don't think there's anything we can do." We sat for a moment in silence looking out into our cemetery that stretched out until it disappeared into the Greendale wood. I felt a knot form in my stomach thinking that Lilith was out there somewhere helping Sabrina create a further mess than the one she'd already placed us in. That paired with the fog that had fallen over my mind from the alcohol began to make the world spin and I couldn't take it anymore. "I think I'll call it a night, Cousin," I told Ambrose, placing a kiss on his cheek. He smiled sadly before wrapping the blanket tightly around my shoulders. "It'll all be alright, 'Cole. Go get some rest." Without having to be told twice I walked inside bare feet padding up the stairs. Only when I got half way I recognized the sound of sobs echoing through the house. On pure instinct I ran up the stairs only slowing when I realized they were coming from my mother's and aunt's room. The door was only slightly ajar and gold light seeped out illuminating the hallway. I creeped forward slowly so as to not alert them to my presence. I stepped forward just enough to see both women seated at the edge of my mother's bed. Her voice trembled as she spoke and I had never heard my mom sound so broken. As I stepped even further into the light I noticed the deep lashes marring my mother's exposed back. A mix of emotions ran through me causing the slightest misstep that caused a floor board to creak. Immediately my Aunt shot up, wiping the tears from her face. In an instant she was out in the hallway pulling the door to. "Oh, my sweet girl. You shouldn't have had to see that," Aunt Hilda sniffled cupping my face in her hands. "She needs me, Auntie," I told her simply, trying to side step her. Her grip became more firm, "Your Mum is in a delicate state right now. If you want to help, why don't you be a dear and go fetch my medical bag, yeah? It's down in the greenhouse on my gardening bench." I studied my Aunt for a moment. Everything in me wanted to burst through the door and rush to my mother's side but the more rational part knew my emotions would get the better of me and that's not what she needed. So with a simple nod I let my legs carry me numbly back down the stairs. I quickly gathered Aunt Hilda's medical supplies along with my Mom's cigarette case and lighter and delivered them to her. Once safely in my room I shut my door locking it. My emotions were now a raging inferno inside of me. I knew who was to blame for this and it wasn't Sabrina. It was a true sadist one who didn't care about who he hurt or the wanton chaos he spread. All the lingering glances and late night calls made complete sense after what I had just seen. Faustus Blackwood finally had his claws in my Mother. He had taken my Father from me and now he intended to steal her away too. He would break her down until she was his to control. The world began to spin as this realization washed over me. I let the blanket fall from my shoulders as everything seemed to be closing in around me. Even my skin began to feel too tight and I dug my nails into my arms leaving angry red scratches in their wake. The candles scattered about my room roared to life with an unseen force and I tried desperately to breathe but it still felt as if I was suffocating. I knew where this would lead if I didn't calm myself and I really didn't want to burn our house down but the four walls just kept constricting further and further in. The flames began to creep higher and higher as I backed slowly into the nearest wall sliding down. I hadn't lost control of my magic since I was young but it was quickly spiraling out of hand. Burying my hands in my hair I let out a frustrated scream that sent out a wave of magic. Pieces of furniture and various things around my room went toppling over. The wicks from the candles were extinguished leaving me in complete darkness save for the silvery light of the moon shining through my window. I pulled my knees to my chest, slowing my breathing and gathering my thoughts. I wouldn't let this happen again. I would burn the High Priest, his damned Coven and his precious academy to the ground before I let him take someone else from me. I would dance in their ashes and send them scattering into the wind. Hell hath no fury like a witch scorned. I didn't even bother to clean up the mess made by my outburst as I set about my room changing my clothes. I picked up my dagger off the floor, slipping it into my belt. "What happened here?" Lilith questioned breathlessly. I couldn't bring myself to answer as I sat on the edge of my bed lacing up my boots. When she was met with silence Lilith flicked on a light taking in my appearance. "Are you alright? Darling, where do you think you're going?" She asked, concern evident in her voice. "To kill the High Priest," I said simply. She looked at me in disbelief for a moment, "To kill the High Priest? What- you can't. You'll get yourself killed." That sent me reeling in my already fragile condition. "I can't? You don't think I'm capable?," my voice cracked as I said it but I immediately hardened myself, "Then stand back and watch." As I moved to step around her she clasped my arms firmly trying to keep me in place. "Nicole, listen to me. I know you're more than capable but Blackwood has an entire coven behind him. Not to mention the repercussions if you just waltz in there and murder their High Priest," She reasoned. I couldn't believe her. After everything she would really stop me from getting my revenge? After pushing Sabrina down the path of night and continuously enabling her? Anger ignited in me once again. "So anytime Sabrina wants to go off half cocked it's alright? But when it's me you want to hold me back? Stand aside, Lilith," I spat shoving her away from me. My heart clenched at the look of hurt on her face but even that didn't stop me from seeing red. When I moved to push past her she caught my wrist in an ironclad grip. "I won't let you do this because I refuse to lose you. No other reason," She explained firmly. After receiving no further protest she tugged my wrist causing me to stumble into her embrace as her hands came up to cup my face capturing my lips in a possessive kiss. Finally my anger melted away into sadness and desperation as I let hot tears stream down my face. I fell further into her, deepening the kiss and giving in. When we parted she rested her forehead against my own, brushing the tears away with her thumbs. "Soon you'll have everything you desire. Even Blackwood's head on a spike if you wish. Soon they'll all bow at our feet. But until then I need you to be patient, my love, and let's not do anything irrational" She whispered softly, pulling the dagger from my belt. All I could do was nod letting out a shaky breath. After washing my face and putting everything back in its place I settled in bed next to Lilith. Instantly she wrapped her arms protectively around me. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me, Darling," Lilith murmured into my hair. Finally being able to think rationally I pulled back slightly. "Sabrina? You were helping her weren't you? Did she actually cross over?" I frowned. Chuckling at my rush of questions she kissed the mark on my wrist, "She did. But don't you worry your pretty little head. She was unsuccessful in bringing the Kinkle boy's soul back. Everything is being set right." I thought for a moment about the meaning behind Lilith's words. "You mean she's going to tell Harvey? At this point that's the only thing left she could do without making an even bigger mess.." I rambled, biting my lower lip. "I have everything handled, my love. Stop worrying," She soothed as her thumb came up to pull my lip free from my teeth. I nodded slowly, feeling the exhaustion take over me, "Fine but only because I don't have the energy to argue at the moment." Her blue eyes darkened as she leaned in for another lazy kiss. "I knew you were going to be a handful," She murmured against my lips. I smiled sleepily, "I promise life will always be interesting." Lilith's laugh was rich and I felt it in her chest causing me to burrow deeper into her arms. "Sleep now, love. We have plenty of work ahead of us," She whispered, lulling me to sleep. I still didn't know what Lilith had planned but I would be with her through it all.
