The Witching Hour

Chapter Twenty

At the top of the tallest turret of Primrose Academy, Vivienne sat. She'd climbed up here with her own two hands. She only fell once, and caught herself with a wind enchantment.

The sun set cold and dim behind the fog, barely visible through the thick layers of fallen cloud. It was louder up here, with the wind rushing and the crows calling in their ugly scratching voices. It was louder, but it was a better kind of noise. Vivienne welcomed the sound, as it drowned out her thoughts.

Now his name flew from her mind. His face stayed, and the feeling of his presence, naked above her. She shuddered. Disgusting. He was disgusting.

Pulling her sleeve down over the blood, she pushed him out of her head. Think about Sarah, she told herself. She remembered Sarah's hands, tough and calloused, against her back. She remembered her face, and her lips against Vivienne's. Vivienne laughed. She swore aloud. It was louder than she should have, but not loud enough for anyone to hear.

She could say anything up here and no one would hear her. She cursed again, grinning. Sarah was much better than Owen at kissing.

Usually Vivienne's body and mind were in different places. But up here her body could join with her mind. There was nobody to perform for.

I'm going to kill Owen, she promised herself. He is going to die. I'm going to bite a hole in his neck and then throw him off the turret.

These violent thoughts were what kept her from really hurting somebody. Better to enjoy the idea of it than actually do it.

I'm going to put a knife in his neck and twist it. I'm going to rip his throat open.

Vivienne sobbed.

I'm going to burn everything he owns. I'm going to make his friends fear me.

Vivienne heard the rain before she felt it, pattering on the turrets and dripping down the spires. Slowly it soaked through her thin uniform and glued her hair to her cheeks. She stood up, raindrops falling on her wet skin, and faced the sky.

She screamed, and she relished the thought that no one could hear her.

"Vivienne?"

Vivienne gasped and jolted upright.

"Claire," she sighed, relieved.

"You've fallen asleep on your classwork again," Claire chuckled.

Outside the windows the rain poured in torrents. The other girls were all asleep in their beds, and Vivienne took a deep breath, awakening from the intensity of her memory.

"You okay?" Claire asked. "Wanna go for a walk?"

"Sure," Vivienne said reluctantly. "Just a quick one though. I have to finish my essay."

"If we're making our walk quick it's because you need sleep," Claire reprimanded.

Vivienne smiled at the word our.

"Fine," she said.

It was dark outside, and the moon hung overhead, not yet full but no longer halved. The rain drowned out all other noise.

"What if we get caught?" Vivienne asked, even though she didn't really mind.

"Whatever," Claire said. "We'll say we saw someone sneak out."

She looked over at Vivienne, and in the cold air she breathed with her lips parted. Vivienne imagined a conversation in a universe where Claire felt the same way. I could kiss you, she would say. And then Claire would kiss her.

"I'm really happy right now," Vivienne said honestly. She caught her breath, biting her lip as she watched Claire's face.

"I'm glad," Claire said. "Me too."

The rain fell harder on their cheeks.

"Wanna jump in the lake?" Claire asked. "We're already soaked. It wouldn't make a difference."

Grinning, Vivienne took off her jacket. "I'm going to push you in," she promised.

"I'm going to jump in before you can." Claire stuck her tongue out. She undid the buttons of her coat and took her shoes off.

As soon as Claire stood up Vivienne shoved her off the dock. Claire came up laughing.

"How dare you," she said. "I'm still wearing my socks."

The water, rippling with raindrops, glowed under the light of the moon.

Vivienne sat down at the end of the dock and let her legs dangle off the end. Her toes barely brushed the water.

"Get in," Claire urged.

"But it's so pretty up here," Vivienne complained.

"Fine," Claire said. "Pull me up."

Grabbing hold of Claire's arms, Vivienne pulled her up onto the dock.

"I didn't think you were so strong," Claire said.

"I can carry you on my shoulders," Vivienne said with an eye roll. "Of course I'm strong."

She dipped her toe in the water and felt the energy surging up to her hands. She felt the water coating her fingers, and she pointed to Claire, splashing her.

"Magic is illegal," Claire said. "Remember?"

"So is being lesbian," Vivienne said without thinking.

It wasn't technically illegal. But so many people believed it was wrong that it might as well be.

Claire's mouth opened. "You're lesbian?" she asked.

"Shit," Vivienne swore.

"Are you?" Claire asked. "I'm not against it, it's just hard to believe."

Vivienne didn't answer the question. "Why is it hard to believe?"

"Because you had a boyfriend, Vivi!" Claire exclaimed.

"Oh." The blood rushed to Vivienne's cheeks. "He wasn't really my boyfriend. He never asked."

Claire stayed silent. The rain was lighter now, more of a drizzle, and the moon glowed brighter on the surface of the lake.

Vivienne opened her mouth to say something, but her friend cut in.

"Can I kiss you?" Claire asked, looking straight into Vivienne's eyes.

Shocked, Vivienne nodded. How could this be real? How, in any universe, could Claire feel the same?

Claire's eyes flicked between Vivienne's eyes and her lips. She leaned over and kissed Vivienne, quick and light, before scooting away.

"Sorry," she said.

"Don't be," Vivienne managed. Her voice was a little higher than she would've liked.

Before Vivienne could stop her, Claire reached over and shoved her into the lake.

"There," she said smugly. "Now we're even."