Infernal Academia

Chapter 46 - Pharmine's Folly: Part 1 (Blackwell Offices)

The office was practically silent, save for the ticking of the clock and the muted clicking of the newton's cradle sitting on the desk.  The man behind it simply stared at the apparatus, following the suspended ball bearings with piercing green eyes as he idly twiddled a pen between his fingers.  There were papers to sign off on and digital meetings to go to, but today, he had nothing but time.  Seagulls were screeching outside, creasing his dark brow.

The phone rang.  With a sigh, he reached over and pressed a button.

"Yes?" he asked in a cool, collected voice.

"Sir?  Your mother is here," spoke secretary through the speaker.

He gave a low, drawn-out sigh.

"Send her on up."

Leaning back in his seat, he returned his attention to the newton's cradle.  His mother always had a habit of turning up at the most inopportune moments.  She said she only wanted to check up on him, but every time she visited, she brought with her platitudes and pleadings.  He was getting tired of it.

Over at the other end of the office, one of the double doors creaked open, revealing a tall woman dressed in a white sweater.  She nervously crept inside, whereupon she held her handbag to her chest and regarded her son with a concerned eye.

"Stefan..." spoke Sheila Pharmine, clutching her bag nervously.

With a sigh, Stefan Blackwell picked a small remote off his desk and hit a button, causing the office doors to lock.  Pressing another, the lights turned on as blinds slowly covered the windows, cutting the office off from the rest of the world.  With a nod to his mother, she reached into her sweater and pulled off a black pendant.

At once, her skin darkened to the colour of coal dust as a pair of stony wings burst forth from concealed flaps on the back of her top.  Her hair went white and a halo-esque horn sprouted from her forehead and curled around her head.

Stefan followed suit and removed his own Cloaking Charm.  Uncloaked, the two Fallen stared at each other from across the room.

"Yes?" he asked, leaning his head on his hand.

"How are you doing?  You still haven't called," Sheila said, stepping over to the chairs in front of the desk.

"I'm too busy for that.  I thought I already told you this."

Sheila sunk into her chair.

"Well... The Spring Festival is soon, and-"

"I don't celebrate Hell holidays anymore.  It's not the same without Dad."

Stefan glanced over at the sole decorative item on his desk. a single framed photograph.  It was a single framed photograph of three smiling Fallen; him, his mother and his late father.  His heart twinged at the sight of it.

"Stefan... Please, you need to let this go.  Let him go," she sighed.

"Oh, like you did?" he suddenly snapped, narrowing his eyes.

"Let's not start this again..."

Folding his arms, Stefan leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes.

"Five years.  Dad was barely cold in the grave and you just moved on without a thought," he hissed spitefully.

She looked shocked, taken aback by her son's sudden outburst.

"Is that how much his love meant to you?! That you'd just replace him like that?!" continued Stefan, slamming his fist against the desk.

"St- Stefan, look, Melanie and I... We were both in a bad place, alright? She had just gotten divorced and... one thing led to another..." replied Sheila, gazing down at her shoes.

Suddenly, she looked up at him, her eyes moist with tears.

"Wh- What about Adeline?" sobbed the Fallen, "What about your sister?"

He paused, his breath catching in his throat at the mention of his stepsister's name.

Stefan wanted so badly to not care about her, but when he first met the young Glutton, he couldn't help but take a liking to her.  She was a sensitive little thing, always following him around and asking him questions about things she didn't understand.  Despite his best efforts to remain distant, Stefan still spent a lot of time with Adeline, helping her learn English or trying to teach her to swim.

He even gave her a nickname.  Jelli.

Swallowing hard, he shook his head and turned his attention to his computer.

"Adeline's not my sister," he stated in a cold, robotic tone.

Eyes wide, Sheila wiped her tears away and stood up, fists shaking.

"... Melanie and I will be in town for a couple of days.  At least come with us for dinner...?"

He didn't look up from his computer.

"I'll think about it," Stefan replied, reaching for the remote.

Her shoulders slumped as she took a deep breath and redonned her Cloaking Charm.  Stepping over to the doors, Sheila glanced back at her son for a moment before she shook her head and left the office.

As soon as the doors shut, Stefan buried his face in his hands.  

"Damn it all..."