Witch In A Flash

Chapter 56

The next morning, I was up before the sun, my mind too restless to let me sleep any longer. I padded to the bathroom, the castle still quiet in the early hours. The water from the shower felt different against my skin, like tiny currents of electricity were dancing along with the droplets. It was both invigorating and unsettling, reminding me of how much had changed.

When I stepped out and wiped the steam from the mirror, I took a long, hard look at myself. But the girl staring back was still a stranger. My body was still as toned, as muscular, as I was in the hospital – a far cry from the girl who had always been a bit too scrawny, a bit too self-conscious. My skin was indeed flawless, with not a single scar or blemish to be found.

But it was my eyes that caught my attention the most. I hadn't noticed in the hospital but they were more blue than they had ever been. The green had seemed to almost vanish from them, the color intense and almost unnatural. It was as if the lightning that struck me had found a home in them, illuminating them from within. As I stared, I swore I could see tiny bolts of lightning flickering in my irises, like living energy trapped just beneath the surface.

I leaned in closer, almost mesmerized by the sight. It was beautiful, in a way, but also terrifying. What had that lightning done to me? Who was I now? The questions swirled in my mind, but no answers came. Just the same, unrecognizable reflection staring back at me.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to look away. There was no point in dwelling on it now. Today was the first day back, the first step in figuring out this new reality.

Breakfast wasn't ready yet, but I was starving. The hunger gnawed at me, more intense than anything I'd ever felt. It was as if my appetite had drastically increased overnight, and the thought of waiting for food seemed unbearable. I decided to head downstairs toward the kitchen, hoping the walk would distract me and that the elves would have some food already prepared.

But as soon as I started to run down the stairs to the common room, it happened again. One moment, I was at the top, and the next, I was at the door to the common room, as if I had teleported. My heart pounded in my chest, but even that felt off—it was beating faster than I knew was possible, like a drum racing out of control.

I froze, trying to make sense of what just happened. Had I really just moved that quickly again? It still didn't seem possible, yet here I was, standing by the door, my breath coming in shallow, rapid bursts. My body hummed with energy, like I was a live wire, and it scared me. I wasn't sure how to control it.

I took a few steadying breaths, trying to calm the storm inside me. I needed to be careful, to figure out what was happening before I did something reckless. Slowly, I reached for the door handle, forcing myself to move at a normal pace. This was going to take some getting used to, but I couldn't let it overwhelm me.

I walked carefully through the castle, each step deliberate as I made my way toward the fruit portrait by the kitchen. The usual energy of the castle felt different now, like I was sensing it on a completely new level. The magic in the walls, the ancient spells woven into the very stones—I could feel it all, pulsing faintly beneath my feet.

When I reached the painting, I tickled the pear, watching as it squirmed and giggled before transforming into a door handle. I grasped it, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.

The kitchen was as bustling as ever, with house-elves darting about, preparing food for the day. The smells were heavenly—freshly baked bread, sizzling bacon, the sweet aroma of pastries—and my stomach growled loudly in response. A few of the house-elves looked up, their large eyes widening in surprise when they saw me, but they quickly went back to their work.

I found a spot at one of the counters and started helping myself to whatever I could reach. A plate of warm, buttery croissants, a bowl of fruit, and a tall glass of pumpkin juice appeared in front of me almost immediately, as if the house-elves had anticipated my arrival. I ate quickly, trying to satisfy the gnawing hunger that had been building since I woke up.