Candles and Broomsticks

Secrets with Sanderson

I was still holding onto Daphne when Taehyung came back with Professor Sanderson. I looked up at the body. Her arms hanging down, her white blond spilled off of her like spoiled milk suspended in the air, on its way to fall down and splatter across the kitchen ground. I thought I was going to be sick. Daphne was still shaking violently. 

"I think she's in shock." I shook her but she didn't even blink. "Daphne? Daphne, can you hear me?"

She slowly nodded. Sanderson came closer knelt nearby. I watched him and judging by his face I knew whatever he was about to say would either snap her out of it, or drive her over the edge. I loosened my grip on her and she blinked and looked at Sanderson.

"You know your friend is dead up there?" Sanderson nodded up to the girl in the air. Daphne nodded. "What's her name?"

"M-Moira." She looked up at Moira wide, watered eyes. Her eyes consumed her face. "Her name was Moira."

"And what happened to Moira?" Sanderson asked.

"We... we came out into the woods. The party was a bit overwhelming. She was shaken up by initiation. There was someone out there." She pointed towards the dark, empty wood. I looked at it like if I stared hard enough the figure would appear. It was all a blur of shadows, flame light, and trees swaying softly in the wind.

"He said... I don't know what he said. It wasn't clear. It might have been Old English. We've all only had one Old English lesson! I don't know what curse he did to do that to her. I don't know if it's part of some ritual. She... I don't know!" Daphne seemed stressed and it was hard for her to speak over her tears. 

Sanderson stood up and pulled Taehyung aside. They spoke in hushed tones and both looked extremely alarmed. I tried to read their lips, but it wasn't any use in the dark. Daphne looked up at me.

"Don't I know you?" She asked. "Which class do we have together?"

"I don't pay attention." I smiled in an apologetic way. 

"Potions with Sanderson over there." She mused. "He always calls on you. That's why you and his assistant are here together, right?"

"Right." It was the simplest answer I could give.

"What are we supposed to do? What if they think I killed her?" She shook me as she spoke. "Go ask him what to do."

"They look-"

"Please!" She begged. I nodded and stood up. I walked towards the two of them and they stopped talking and waited for me to reach them.

"What do you think happened?" I asked.

"It looks like a ritual to take the magic from a witch." Sanderson said grouchily. 

"Why would someone do that?" I asked.

"There are numerous reasons." Taehyung mused. "They may need a large amount of power for a bigger ritual. There are also certain cruel advantages you get from taking another witch's power. Extended life. Heightened power. Sometimes new strange powers are created. None of it is natural and it kills the witch involved."

"Should we get Headmistress Winters?" I asked. Taehyung looked over at Sanderson who was staring up at the floating body.

"No." He answered. "We need to stop the news from spreading if we ever want to catch who did this."

"No offense Sanderson... but why is that our job? Shouldn't we let-"

"No." Taehyung grabbed my arm and I looked at him with alarm. He seemed to be very passionate about keeping this secret. "If we tell the headmistress she may inadvertently tell our culprit. Tell Daphne to go home, get some rest, and not tell a soul about this. We'll need your help with the body."