Twilit Mage

Chapter 29: Rewind, Repeat

Bonnie took the news that Mercury had been rejected rather lightly. After Mercury had told her the whole story she started to laugh, saying she hadn't suspected much from old man Sullivan anyway, and almost looking joyful to find that the initial plan had failed. When Mercury asked her what she was so happy about she only laughed again, beckoning her deeper into her office and looking around to make sure no one else was listening.

"You know," she whispered when she was absolutely sure they were alone, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Sullivan's not the only one who has glamorized perfume in this school."

Mercury's heart skipped a beat as she perked up, a spark of hope lighting up inside her again. "Really?" she asked. "Who else?"

"Oh, you know, just our resident alchemist who has all kinds of scary and restricted chemicals." Mercury looked at her in incomprehension, and Bonnie grinned and leaned closer. "Hecate, duh."

"Wha– Ms. Solstice?" The spark of hope in Mercury's chest flickered out and died. "But then I don't stand a chance! She...hates me, after all..."

"I know, I know. Hecate hates everyone. But," Bonnie said as she draped an arm around Mercury's shoulders, speaking close to her ear, "it's not like you have to ask her."

Mercury flinched. Why did that phrasing sound scary? No way, Bonnie had to be talking about something totally harmless and just happened to have picked the wrong words. "Oh, okay...So you will?"

"Me?" Bonnie laughed, but a shadow flitted over her eyes. "No way, she hates me even more than you."

"Then who...?"

"Nobody." Bonnie narrowed her eyes with a twinkling smile, whispering like a conspirator letting someone in on her secret plan to overthrow the authorities. "I'm talking about sneaking into her lab and borrowing some of her perfume. It's not like she'll notice one tiny bottle missing from all her millions and millions of potions and chemicals."

Mercury tensed up, stepping away from Bonnie's arm and staring at her in open horror. Sneaking into a lab? Taking something without permission? No way. That was... "But that's stealing!"

"It's borrowing. You'll put it back after using it, it's not a problem." Bonnie still had that mischievous look to her, and Mercury was starting to like it less and less, shrinking back at her daringness. This was even more risky than Raoul's vague idea. If she hadn't even agreed to that one, how could she let herself be roped into this? Problem or no, it was still illegal and they'd both be dead meat if anyone caught them!

"I can't...Sorry, I have to draw the line here." Mercury inched back towards the door, violently shaking her head. "I just...I'm not a burglar. Thanks for the idea, but, um...sorry, no. I think I'll just...just..." A lump formed in her throat at the thought. "I'll just...try to fit in with my own strength."

She'd never manage that, she knew. But that was a matter of fear. Breaking into someone's lab to take things without permission was a matter of right or wrong.

Bonnie gave her a look as if to ask her if she was really sure, then she nodded, her smile turning kind and reassuring once again. "Okay," she said brightly. "I'll try to get my hands on some for you, then. Hang in there!"

~ ~ ~

Mercury thought back and forth, barely registering where she was going as she returned to the dorms. Anxiety had settled in her gut, forming a cold, nervous knot that made her nerves jitter and her limbs tremble and her mind go in circles. Something had to be done. Something needed to change. No, a lot of things. She needed to catch up. She needed to learn to control her magic. She needed to stop frightening people by accident. And she needed to ditch her bully status and show everyone she wasn't the delinquent they thought she was, deserving to be banned from half her practical classes. Somehow. Somehow.