When The Witching Hour Strikes

Chapter 20

We entered the office of the headmistress with caution. There was no telling what her reaction would be, fear and trepidation working their way into my system. We stood silently for a moment before our companion cleared his throat to announce our arrival.

"Ah, there you all are. Take a seat there's plenty of room for you all. Now, how exactly did this all go wrong?"

Holding onto Alvin's hand, Kalen recounted the events that had transpired.

Once he had finished, the headmistress began to whisper orders to the fae guards around her. Then, with a grave look she began to speak to us in her light melodic voice.

"After hearing of these events you are all excused from lessons for a week. You will each be attending individual therapy lessons to work through what you have all gone through. They will be sent to you via letters under your doors. These sessions will be good for you. Now go to bed all of you. You'll need the rest for what's to come."

And with that we were dismissed, left to our own devices. I wandered back to my room and promptly fell fast asleep.

I woke to find a parchment envelope had been slid under my door. The sun was beginning to glide towards noon and it was high time I got out of bed. Everyone was already in the dining hall when I walked in, and all eyes were on me. I reached our table and sat down. The chattering fae all around me resumed and I breathed a sigh of relief. As conversation flowed, or tried to, I thought of the letter under my door. Doubtless it held the time and place I would need to meet the therapist. It would be a relief to let all the emotions from the past year out to someone who would understand. I loved my friends, truly I did, but some things were better told to a stranger who didn't know the emotional baggage so well. I got up from the table and made my way to my room. I sat down on the bed and fumbled with the wax seal. It bore the emblem of the academy, with my name and room written on the front. I broke open the envelope and on a thinner piece of parchment was written:

To Miss Ellie Quinn,

Your therapy session is scheduled for 3 hours past noon a day hence in the east wing room 802. Please be prompt.

Yours,

Gael Gardner

Secretary of the academy.

-The next day-

I woke early, my brain fizzing with emotions and trying to settle my nerves before I had to go to therapy. It should be easy to find, after all it had been over a year since I first came to the academy, scared witless. I had left the note on my bedside table and proceeded to get ready for a run. It would clear my head for a while and my body would appreciate the workout even though we had walked lots during the past few days my legs were itching to run the familiar track through the grounds surrounding the academy. The first thing I saw was the lush green grass and patches of flowers within it. I itched to get out there and stretch my sore limbs. Sleep was amazing and all, but I needed to work my muscles. The release that came from running was sweeter than any nectar for butterflies from flowers. I don't know how long I ran, I just ran until I could run no more. I made my way back to the academy taking my time and admiring the beautiful foliage around me.

After my run I bathed and prepared to go to lunch. The dining hall was beginning to fill, fae trickling in from whatever lessons they had attended. Lessons. I was grateful to be free of those, even if only for a short while. We ate in a comfortable silence before I realised my appointment and looked at the old grandfather clock at the front of the hall. It had just struck five minutes until the third hour past noon. I needed to leave immediately.

Excusing myself from the table I left the room and made my way to the east wing. The room was easy to find, with gilded letters on the door. I knocked thrice, and a voice responded.

"Come in, the door is open."

I gingerly opened the door and walked into a simple yet elegant office. The walls were polished wood with bookshelves running along them, the floor a thick carpet and a high vaulted ceiling. As I gazed in wonder at the room, the therapist cleared his throat.

"You must be Ellie. Please, take a seat and let's begin our session."

I sat down not knowing what to expect but trusting the headmistress and her instincts. He began by asking me general questions about my childhood and how I came to be in the fae realm. For the first time in over a year I spilled everything out. The entire ordeal last year when Raisie and Cordelia were captured and then the capture of Alvin just recently. He seldom interrupted, leaving me to tell the story as I wished to.

"You've carried many burdens, and you're still so young. Are there any recurring dreams or visions you've had that you feel might be important?"

I hesitated before answering. There had been dreams, but mostly I didn't understand what was going on. It would be best to tell him right?

"Well, there's been a few I suppose. I mostly don't remember much, but one dream in particular keeps happening and I don't know why."

"Do go on, even if it is a small thing it may yet be of some importance."

I began to tell him about the dream. Or nightmare if you will...

A/N: Sorry for the wait, life and uni caught up to me quickly and I wasn't feeling creatively inspired. I will try to get up the next chapter within two weeks. Vote and comment if you want to. 

Dedicated to the amazing @KatrinHollister  who is writing an incredible book called Rune Mage, 10/10 recommend it. 

Have an amazing day/night/evening/morning wherever you are. 

<3 Much love, 

Char xox