The Bitter Reign

All Hail the Queen

Britney stared in the mirror at the neo-gothic figure that stared back at her. Chills ran up and down her spine, neo-gothic, she looked the part but remained herself, the head witch in charge. She turned to the side, admiring the way the black lace hugged her curvy body. She was channeling 2001 Britney Spears, and that was exactly what she wanted. She fixed her hair into a tight braid that fell down her back and donned a black satin headband. With a final look of approval she set out.

The sound of her designer stilettos echoed through the hall of apartment building as she strutted to the elevator and hummed a wordless incantation to set the events of her day into motion. The expectant ding sounded just as she arrived and the doors parted without her prompt. When the doors opened again parted four young women clad in black waited with held breaths.

"I love the braid," Britney eyed the first of them to speak, Henderson, as she handed Britney a steaming latte, "it's so chic." Henderson finished, grinning stupidly from ear to ear. As the de facto leader of this coven Britney expected the admiration of her peers, but Henderson's devotion was near obsession. She wore a dress nearly identical to Britney's and had a loose braid of died blonde draped over her shoulder.

Britney took a sip of the latte and immediately spit it out all over Henderson's black dress, "What is this?!" Britney demanded.

"It...it's pumpkin spice, your favorite," Henderson stuttered out.

"With nutmeg." Britney said in a quiet voice that stung like poison. She shoved the cup at Henderson who paused drying herself to catch the latte before it hit the ground.

"That can't be I specifically requested no nutmeg," Henderson pleaded as she smelled the discarded latte.

"Try this one Britney," Britney turned to find Williams, a stout but stylish girl with mousy brown hair and full lips. Her tweed skirt suit screamed money and that was only reason Britney had invited her to join the coven in the first place. She held a familiar white cup to Britney, "I haven't taken a sip yet and it's just the way you like it," Williams said with a wink at Henderson. Britney took a cautious sip and with a sigh of relief she gifted Williams with a warm smile.

Shifting her gaze to Henderson Britney noticed that her number two had stopped drying her dress and regarded Williams with her mouth ajar. She approached Henderson and with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand the stain was gone. Henderson met her gaze and Britney leaned in and whispered, "Be careful. She might take your spot." With that she gave Henderson the smallest kiss on the cheek, she felt a flinch as their skin touched and a wave of satisfaction washed over Britney as she smelled Henderson's rose perfume sour. Observing the look of despair Britney couldn't help but notice how pretty Henderson actually was. Her heart shaped face and little button nose sparked what could've been jealousy in another person, but Britney wasn't the type. She pat Henderson's shoulder and passed the twins, White and Black, so called because they joined the coven at the same time and were basically joined at the hip. Their matching dresses were simple and classic just what Britney expected. They bowed and followed in line as she locked arms with Williams and walked into the glaring sun.