A Witch's Undoing

Chapter 4: Neil

It was a crisp summer morning at the Kranz Manor. I stood in the gardens, savoring what little peace I would be allowed to have today. Between Theodor's anger and Lilian's defensiveness, I wasn't in the most favored of positions.

I took a deep breath. 

No matter. I had things to take care of first. I quietly slipped into the kitchens where Beth and Chelsea were already preparing breakfast. They stopped in their steps as soon as they saw me.

"Good morning, Grandmaster. Anything we can help you with?" Chelsea addressed me first. Even after two years of frequenting the Kranz household, Beth still seemed too terrified to talk to me. She glanced around the room frantically like a trapped mouse.

Contrary to popular belief, it didn't delight me that people feared me. It was practical, certainly, but not particularly pleasant.

You get used to it.

Eliah muttered absent-mindedly.

No, thank you. I replied.

"There is actually. As both of you know we have a new guest staying with us indefinitely. Beth, I believe Theodor assigned you to her, did he not?" I tried to ease her with one of my smiles. It caused the opposite effect. Her mind was whirling.

"The witch you mean" Chelsea went back to stirring porridge. She wasn't thrilled about Lilian but wouldn't dare to question Theodor in the slightest. I found it funny that he had that much authority for her when she was the one changing his underpants more than a decade ago.

"Yes. The witch. I'm guessing you've never had a witch as a guest before"

Chelsea snorted like I had said a bad joke. She was growing tired of me, wishing she could chase me out with a broom.

I turned to Beth instead.

"We want her to feel welcome. Witch or not, she's just a girl in need of a shelter".

That caught Beth's attention. She had been just a girl once when the Kranz took her in. A poor orphan. She began twisting her fingers in worry.

"Cut to the chase". Chelsea shot at me across her shoulder.

"I noticed at dinner yesterday that you have quite a few pieces of dishware made from Brasstern, platters, sauce cups and such. As you very well know, witches get burned at the touch of that metal".

Chelsea had no reaction. Beth started gnawing at her lip, feeling guilty for not thinking of it ahead of me.

As if someone could think ahead of me.

"Luckily, Lilian had not touched any directly", for that to happen, she would have to actually have eaten something, "but let's not wait for any injuries".

Neither of them said anything.

Alright then.

With my mind I snatched the wooden spoon Chelsea was stirring with and clashed it against the pots in the corner. The sound made Beth jump. Chelsea finally turned around and looked me in the eye.

"Get rid of it. Anything Brasstern that Lilian might touch. I want it gone." I snarled.

Chelsea squared her shoulders. I had to give her credit, not many dared to consider talking back to me.

"You are not the head of this house".

"He's certainly not" Theodor's voice came in from the door. I hated that I could not hear him before he approached. I wanted to deal with this matter quietly. More than that, without realizing, I had gotten too used to listening to him. Losing access to his mind felt like losing a sixth sense. My balance was off. "But he's right. Get rid of it. Please".