I Pledge my Soul

Chapter 2- An interesting turn of events

Zelda stepped over the threshold of the front door and swept her gaze around the room, alert for signs of trouble. All seemed in order at first, the lobby appeared empty and she closed the front door behind her. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, still trying to come to terms with Father Blackwood's proposition.

'I'm so sorry to disturb you, I was wondering if you could assist me?'

Zelda's eyes snapped open and she pushed herself away from the door, startled by the sudden, unfamiliar voice. She looked towards the staircase, where a strange woman in a long black leather coat and large sunglasses was slowly descending. Zelda's eyebrows raised slightly at the sight of this woman sashaying towards her, hips swaying with effortless seduction. Even Zelda felt herself becoming hypnotised despite her shock at finding a stranger wandering around her house.

The woman stopped in front of Zelda and removed her sunglasses, revealing piercing blue eyes that sparkled like the sun on the ocean's surface, rooting her to the floor for the second time that day.

'I was just looking for the powder room and got a little lost, your house is truly magnifi-'

'And you are...?' Zelda interrupted the woman as she finally regained her senses and composed herself.

'Oh, of course. How rude of me. I'm Mary Wardwell, Sabrina's teacher at Baxter High, but I'm here to make some funeral arrangements.' Lilith dabbed at the corner of her eye at the last part, trying to seem as convincing as possible. She offered her hand to Zelda to shake. Zelda ignored the hand until it fell limply to Lilith's side and an awkward silence followed as each woman observed the other, silently trying to assert dominance. Zelda broke her gaze first, cursing herself inwardly. Never in all her life had her authority been challenged and successfully undermined . Something about Mary made her heart beat a little faster, though she couldn't place her finger on what exactly.

Trying to recover from this defeat, Zelda pushed her shoulders back in an effort to appear even taller than the slightly shorter Mary.

'And where is the woman who presumably let you into my house?'

'The basement, I believe.'

So, Hilda was up to something, thought Zelda with trepidation. Leaving a client (however true that claim was) alone before disappearing to the basement? That could only mean trouble.

The two women continued to stand in silence until Zelda cleared her throat and moved suggestively towards the front door. Lilith took the hint, maintaining her almost mockingly polite tone of voice.

'Well, I believe I have abused your hospitality long enough. I should really be going,' Mary said, as though leaving was her idea all along. Zelda let out a humourless laugh, incredulous at her rudeness. After all, who was she really? A simple, weak mortal, useful only for teaching similarly simple, weak, mortal teenagers.

Mary put on her sunglasses once again, despite the late hour and therefore lack of sun, before walking out of the Spellmans' house, taking care to bump her shoulder against Zelda's as she brushed past her. For some strange reason the contact, though minute, caused a heat to rise up Zelda's body; a flaming riot made itself known on her cheeks, much to her dismay. As Mary walked past, Zelda found herself deeply inhaling the simultaneously bitter and sweet scent of apples and she released an involuntary shiver.

Zelda hurriedly closed the door behind Mary who had turned around and opened her mouth as though to speak; she didn't have the time to comprehend what had just happened yet, she had to find out what in Satan's name Hilda had done this time. She smoothed down her dress and purposefully made her way to the basement as she converted her embarrassment into anger and irritation. Hilda would be lucky to sleep anywhere but the Cain Pit tonight.

~~~

Making her way back to Mary's cottage on the other side of the woods, Lilith was content with her night's work. She patted her pocket to make sure that the nail clippings, hair, and fabric from one of Sabrina's dresses was still there; all she needed to do make Sabrina the perfect puppet on a string.

The mother of demons smirked as she recalled her exchange with Zelda moments ago. She felt particularly triumphant over her victory. The Dark Lord had warned her that Zelda would be difficult to break, but it was clear that despite her mortal persona, her interest in Lilith had been ignited, something Lilith could use.

She was slightly disgruntled that Zelda had refused to shake her hand. Aside from the fact that it was rather rude, it meant that Lilith could not cast a connection spell allowing her to better read the ginger witch's thoughts and emotions in the future.

That was one thing that Lilith found incredibly strange; she could sense anybody's presence, read their innermost thoughts, emotions and state of mind from a mile away if she wished, even Father Blackwood's. Not that he was particularly strong willed, just excessively egotistical and obstinate. However, it seemed that there were two beings who she was unable to read; Satan, and Zelda Spellman. A mere witch, practically mortal compared to Lilith's invincible demoness self.

Why?, she wondered. She was lucky to have finished collecting the doll parts when she did: the lack of warning before Zelda's arrival home had made the demoness feel intensely vulnerable and weak, only spurning her desire to overpower Zelda in a battle of will, which Lilith won by a small margin.

One thing was for sure, she thought, as Mary's cottage came into view and the ground beneath her feet changed from earth to gravel, her business with Zelda was far from over. In fact, it was just beginning.