Candles and Broomsticks

The Cold Frost of Winter

Winters lived and breathed in an autumn aesthetic. It was quite iconic really... Her auburn hair, her brown and red clothing, her matted grey nails. Everything about her fit the painting I had built in my head of the autumn time witch. Her cold brown eyes showed the biting morning air. The tap of her fingers on the desk were the October showers. 

"Raven." Her voice was melodic and enchanting. The finishing varnish on the autumn hymnal painting. "Do you know why I called you here?"

I leaned against the wall and she gestured for me to sit. After a moment I complied and sat down. I placed my hand in my lap and watched her carefully.

"Not the slightest clue." I raised an eyebrow. "Have I done something wrong?"

"Not yet." Her matted red lipstick was a lead twirling in the wind. I wondered when it would hit the ground. "I'm sure you are aware of the prophecy foretold at your birth."

"Ah, that," I smiled and crossed my legs. "I am aware."

"And what do you think of it?" She asked, leaning forward. The leaves on the tree were shaking.

"I haven't given it much thought." I lied. "Not all prophecies come true, do they?"

"Are you aware that all your teachers with the exception of Sanderson have requested you are moved up a year?" She felt threatened. I felt shocked. I sat up and gripped the desk.

"Have I done that well?" I asked. She nodded and took out a file.

"They gave you the end of year tests instead of the beginning of year tests like the rest of the students were taking. You scored at least ninety-eight percent on all of them. They want to test you on next year's content too. You may very well be forced to graduate and find a coven much sooner than you anticipated." She smiled thoughtfully. "If Sanderson allows it."

"What..." I continued to grip the desk. "And you think the prophecy..."

"Look." She gave me the warmest smile she could muster. "I believe in prophecies. I believe in the oracles. I have no wish to get the fates against me. I want to take you in as my apprentice."

"As your..." I blinked and wondered why she would embrace this. "I don't even want..."

"It would cause me much more stress if you didn't." She reached and took my hand. "Raven, you seem to be one of the most brilliant witches our time has seen. You have the potential to be a brilliant leader one day, and I want to be a part of that. Over the years, I want to shape you to become a leader no one will forget."

Years. The prophecy said I would lead this year. I didn't want to lead this year. This seemed like a loophole. An alternative. Somewhere where I would have a false leadership position without causing a revolution. I gripped the arms on the chair.

"Can... Can we keep it a secret?" I asked. "From the teachers and the students? Or at least can the teachers pretend they don't know around me? I really don't want people to think I'm trying to take your position from you as High Witch. That's not my goal. I don't want people to look at me and just see a prophecy."

"Of course." In her eyes I saw relief and peace. She must have been worried I'd come with a thirst for revolution. "Though it's nothing to be ashamed of. Several students here have prophetic fates. "The first day of school I had a scared girl called Daphne come to me saying death would follow her wherever she went. Though no one's seemed to die yet. Hopefully she'll take that outside the school and save us the paperwork."

I forced myself to laugh with her but I already knew I had to find this prophecy. There must be records in the library. They were public knowledge. I needed answers and I needed proof before I went to Sanderson.