Twilit Mage

Chapter 54: Hecate

"Mom!" Mercury burst out before she could stop it, quickly blushing and clamping a hand over her mouth. What was she saying? Of course her mother wouldn't recognize her. If she could even hear her at all.

Thankfully, she apparently couldn't. The young woman who would once become Regina Day was focused entirely on the girl in front of her, the very same girl who now slowly looked up from her book to take a careful peek at her through the tinted glasses.

"I am," she said, her voice quiet but hostile. "Do you mind?"

Young Regina blinked in surprise, then she smiled. "Not at all," she said. "I'm just curious. You always read pretty complicated books, or is it just me?"

Hecate returned to her book and shrugged, visibly uncomfortable with the attention. "Maybe so."

"What are you reading right now?"

Clicking her tongue, Hecate lifted her book enough for Regina to read the cover, making her raise her eyebrows in surprise. "You read that? But it's so complicated, and you look so young...You're a freshman, aren't you?"

Hecate flinched as if startled. "How do you know?"

"A lucky guess." Regina laughed. "I've never seen you here before, so..."

Hecate pulled up her shoulders and disappeared behind the book. "Maybe you haven't noticed me is all."

Laughing, Regina took a step closer, looking her up and down in a way that made Hecate squirm under the gaze, struggling to hide her demonic features. "I don't think so," she said. "You look so unique, I'm sure I would've recognized you!" She moved towards the bench. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"Cut it out."

Regina paused. "Cut what out?"

"This friendly act." Hecate clicked her tongue. "You don't need to flatter me. Just say what you want from me and be done."

"But..." Regina stared at her in utter, genuine confusion. "I don't want anything. I'm just interested."

"Do you pity me then? The poor, sad girl who's always alone?"

Regina laughed again, shaking her head. "There's nothing sad about being alone as long as you're not lonely."

Hecate looked up. Her expression lost the slightest hint of hostility, looking a little surprised, almost hopeful. Then she shut down once more. "Do I look lonely to you then?"

"No. But you do look like a smart person who's worth getting to know." Without waiting for an invitation Regina sat down next to Hecate, peering at the book in her hands and ignoring the obviously demonic appearance of the fingers holding it. "Are you an alchemy major?"

"Yes, but–"

"Me too! I'm not a freshman though," Regina added with a laugh, "as you can see. I'm a senior. Although I'm still a year older than the seniors because I waited a year to go to college after high school."

Hecate narrowed her eyes, then she clicked her tongue in defeat and mild curiosity. "What for?"

"Working," Regina said with a sigh. "College is so expensive these days."

Hecate didn't reply. Awkward silence fell, but for some reason Regina wasn't fazed by it at all. "Anyway," she said at last, "I'm Regina. Regina Cole. What's your name?"

"None of your business."

"That's a weird name, but nice to meet you!" Regina laughed but quickly turned serious again when Hecate sent her a glare. "Come on, and what's your real name?"