✔️ Salvation (Kakashi x OC) (Standalone)

29.3

Written: 11/15/24
Word Count: 1,638

"The High Priestess...came to your school?" I echoed. "Patty? That High Priestess?"

Talia nodded. "I didn't know she would care about what the trainees were up to. I'd never even seen her before. And I didn't know she was there. It was just a regular day."

I could see the memories trapped behind her dark eyes. The whorls of hair along their temple—like swirls of textured paint or frosting on a cake—fluttered briefly, then lay back down as delicate as the landing of a butterfly's wings. She was both charming like a beau from Beauty and the Beast as well as graceful—long legs moving as swiftly as a crane's. The idea that a person like this—so beautiful, so charming—could be neglected and made to feel incorrect...just for existing. It was maddening. Beyond maddening.

It was unforgivable.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling their talons squeeze into the backs of my hands just a little tighter.

"I was summoned to the office, and there she was," Talia said, still stuck in that trance. I could practically see the school's office in the shiny expanse of her irises. And who would be waiting on the other side of the door? A redhead who only shops goth apparel. "I didn't know who she was, and she didn't tell me right away. First, it was just a few random questions: Do I like school? How are my classes going?"

"Must have been weird," I murmured.

Talia nodded, letting out a deep sigh. At last, their breathing calmed. "I didn't know what was happening, but I was sure I'd done something wrong. The only thing," she gave a rueful smile, "the only thing I could think of was that they were gonna take Evangelion away from me. Somehow, I figured that was against their precious rules. I was in—dread. Just waiting for this woman to mention it."

"Did she?"

"No," Talia said, lips twisting like they wished that had been what it was. "It was about my...my version of magic."

"...music, right?" I asked, trying to keep up.

Talia's fingers slowly unclenched. "Yeah." Her eyes met mine. "I started working exclusively with the High Priestess and Third Degree Ginnie."

"Is being called 'Third Degree' very high in rank?" I thought of the strawberry blonde with the muscular shoulders. The elusive Ginnie.

"It's very high in rank. The only next step is to become High Priestess, but..." Talia shrugged, "our coven only has one."

I furrowed my brow. "Is that weird?" Did witches not rule by one? I supposed that was the point of the Elder's Council, right?

"Usually, there are two," Talia replied. "Two Priestesses or Priests or one of each."

"Is there a reason why...?"

Talia gave a helpless little shrug. "I'm not sure. I thought Ms. Ginnie would be the next High Priestess and rule at Ms. Patty's side. I'm...not sure why she isn't. I don't want to think it's because—" Talia stopped themselves. A crinkle appeared between her brows, and she refocused. "I didn't do anything weird for them. I was actually—surprised. I'd always thought the way I looked at magic was...wrong. I thought any elder in the Coven would despise me for it and kick me out.

"But no matter how much I tried to hide it—it still came out. Sometimes. Music is part of summoning," Talia explained. "Summoning songs are like hymns. It takes a choir. The notes mix together, each voice adding to make the summoning stronger. Purer. I would...I would use a piano as accompaniment. The spells would...sharpen. Grow more potent. And when I did them on my own, a simple rain summoning would turn...violent. Or sometimes it would just get really heavy."