Twilit Mage

Chapter 44: The Alchemist

Mercury found her way back to her room safely, refusing to let go of Precious the entire way. Even when they were back on her bed she didn't want to put her down, wanting nothing more than to hold onto this long-lost part of her for a little longer after all the years of separation. But of course that wasn't an option. She had a job to do.

Her mother didn't pick up the phone. Mercury knew she shouldn't worry about that, but it felt weird enough. At this time of the day and week she was always getting ready for one of her night shifts, and she always had her phone ready in case something happened. But this time it didn't even ring. It went straight to voicemail.

Had she turned it off? But why should she? Had something gone wrong? Was her phone broken or the battery dead? Had they changed her shift?

Or...could she be busy with something else?

~ ~ ~

"I do hope," Hecate said with a strain in her voice, "that you know I'm breaking every single law I know to do this."

The woman in front of her sighed, smiling as her dark curls spilled into her face in a motion that was still the same, still familiar after all these years. She had aged, of course. She was no longer the young woman from back then. But the core of her, the essence, was unchanged, still exactly the same as that day in college when their paths had first crossed.

"I appreciate it, Hecate," Regina Day said. "I knew I could count on you."

Hecate gritted her teeth, giving a sharp inhale. Something clenched and knotted together in her chest. That sentence...

She had thought she would never hear that sentence again in her life. She had hoped she wouldn't. And yet here she was.

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, putting on her professional face, the one that hid all pain and fears behind a cold, ever-angry mask. "I have no time for formalities. Tell me what you came for before someone walks in and catches me talking to someone who doesn't exist."

"Don't worry, I don't have much time either." Regina reached out to pat Hecate's hand in an ever-familiar gesture, but Hecate flinched away. "I have a shift coming up. But after hearing all the news I got worried, and so I came to you."

After all these years, all these years of getting over the loss. All the years of finally making these wounds heal, and now she was back, acting like nothing had happened, and it had all, all been for nothing.

"Of all people," she scoffed, trying to show all her anger, only the anger and not all the vulnerabilities and messy emotions thinly hidden underneath. "Because you definitely couldn't talk to your daughter herself like the ideal parent you are."

Regina sighed. "That's not it," she said. "Mercury is a beginner mage. And knowing what's been going on lately, I feel like I need someone strong to protect her."

Then don't go to me, Hecate thought. I'm not strong. I've never been strong in my life.

"Then go to the principal," she said out loud. "I'm sure he'd love to see you again and help you out."

"Yeah, I thought about that." Regina closed her eyes. When she opened them again they were dark and melancholy, her smile warm and gentle but wistful and filled with nostalgia. "But Sullivan isn't the best friend I've had here." Her eyes met Hecate's, quiet and velvety. "That's you."

How could she say that? How could she say that?

"So what? This isn't something you'd ask a friend for. This is something for the strongest one."