Page 55 of The Holy Academy of Witches

My chest felt tight at being asked about her. I wished I could talk about her… scream her name till I was blue in the face. She lived and she laughed and she was real and she was my little sister.

Adeline: Unfortunately I didn’t learn any of those instruments by choice. My parents are… strict. Yes, I play very well but only because I was forced to practise every day. Though I do love the piano and violin. So, I’m grateful for those two at least.

Good for you, channelling your anger into sport is probably the best thing you could do. And no, I wouldn’t recommend unsanctioned fighting at the Academy… not unless you want to get kicked out.

My sister’s name was Florence. She loved it when I played piano for her. She was… wonderful. x

Teddy: Well your parents sound like dicks. No offence. It goes without saying that you don’t mention the fighting, yeah? Lol

Florence is a beautiful name, she must take after her sister.

Adeline: Smooth x

Teddy: ?? promise you won’t say anything about the fighting?

Adeline: Why? Will you tell everyone my secrets if I tell yours?

Teddy: Nope. That isn’t my style.

Adeline: Good. It isn’t mine.

I won’t tell a soul Teddy.

Teddy: It’s been nice to talk to someone who understands.

Adeline: Agreed x

Twenty-nine

Adeline

Iwoke up the next morning having actually slept, only a few hours… but still, a dreamless sleep was something of a rarity these days. As I dressed for the day, I pondered whether it was down to not performing any dark rituals the previous evening - for fear of my mother knowing - or due to the truth swapping with Teddy. It had been surprisingly freeing to tell someone about my sister, even if that person was practically a stranger… A blonde stranger with defined muscles and eyes that could drown you, not that I thought about him beyond our back and forth messaging.

I checked my appearance in the mirror before heading out for my first lesson of the day - Rituals with Professor Hershaw, a lesson I shared with Sage. She hadn’t turned up at the music room yesterday for our usual study session, which had been odd. I’d wondered if she was practising for her trial; my own was in a couple of days, but I was as ready as I needed to be. I had actually sighed when seeing the group I had been assigned to. It wouldn’t even be a challenge. Maybe there was something to Teddy’s idea of fighting to get out your frustrations?

I pushed through the heavy wooden door, the golden plaque adorning its surface readingRitualsin a swirling, almost ineligible font. My senses were immediately smothered in the usual smell of honey and cinnamon on entering the classroom. Soft classical music filtered through the space and Professor Hershaw danced between the low round tables and bean bag chairs, passing around various items to the few students who had already arrived.

I chose my usual spot, a well-worn wing back armchair in the far corner near a tall dark bookcase, preferring my own space, which Professor Hershaw always allowed me - one of the many reasons she was my favourite teacher.

“Good Morning, Adeline!” she said brightly, as I crossed the room.

“Good morning Professor, how are you?”

“Oh, I’m well thank you,” she smiled warmly, “excited for this morning’s lesson… We have Professor Biggle joining us for a bit of a collab!”

“Oh?” I gave her a questioning look as I settled in my chair, crossing one leg over the other.

“Yes! In fact…” she spun on the spot and clapped her hands with delight, her strawberry blonde hair swinging behind her with equal excitement. “Here she is now! Beatrice!” She called, waving her over as though the classroom were much larger than it actually was.

As Professor Biggle made her way over, grumbling, my phone chimed loudly from my pocket. “So sorry Professor, my apologies. I didn’t realise it was even switched on.”

“Nonsense, class hasn’t started yet I’m hardly going to tell off my best student for that.” She winked at me before turning back to Professor Biggle.

Teddy: Guess who’s gonna kill his room mates?

I smiled to myself before another message popped up, a picture. I clicked it and stilled.

A selfie of Teddy filled my screen. It was the first time I’d seen him up close since the moment we met. I felt like my heart had stopped. My memory hadn’t done him any justice… Not. At. All. I stared at the picture, eyes roaming over every pixel of his smiling face, my stomach clenched. His hair was messy, but in that way that suggested it was meant to be like that, a strand at the front had fallen near his eyes… those eyes. They were slightly crinkled at the corners with the lopsided grin that had one cheek dimpling. He had one hand raised, his thumb pointing to his chest. The attached caption read: ‘This guy!’

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