Page 74 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Skinny jeans and a t-shirt.”

“Oh. So like,actuallycasual?”

“Yes Sage, actually casual. You’ll look fine in whatever you wear. Dorcas will probably wear something haute couture because she’s just… extra, Lilli will wear something cosy but very pink, Gemma will wear jeans and a jumper as she hates to be cold, and I’ll wear skinny jeans and a band t-shirt or something.”

“Okay… okay… casual and comfy I can definitely do!”

“Don’t overthink it. The aim is to relax and have fun.”

“Fun… right.” She was wearing the same expression she used anytime she tried to play both registers on the piano, like she was in physical pain and embarrassed about it.

I shoved her towards her dorm and continued walking to my own, “I’ll see you tonight. I won’t be offended if you sit with your friends.” She mumbled something before going inside.

* * *

“‘Oíche Shamhna Shona Daoibh’ students, now that the feast is over and we have all gathered under the night sky let us all kneel before the altar and, for a moment, honour our dead, in a two minute silence.”

We all stood on the field, our collective breaths mingling in the cold night air as we watched our headmistress cross to a purpose-built platform near the water’s edge. My mother lowered her head and all the students sank to our knees. I cast a water repellent over my knees before touching the grass, to which Dorcas sniggered. I closed my eyes and as the quiet of nature settled over me, I thought of my sister. Rosy cheeks, laughter, doing each other’s hair, the smell of her strawberry shampoo, the way she’d climb into my bed every single night and clasp her tiny hand over mine, how she said my name… Addie-line… I smiled and placed a hand over my heart. Every beat for her.

“Like our ancestors before us we light our wheel, the symbol of our sun, to burn away the old to make way for the new. Samhain marks the end of a bountiful harvest, one which we have shared this evening at our feast, and the beginning of darker times. May the triple Goddess guide you through the winter.” With those words, she raised her palm up to the sky. A flame, vivid in colour, burned brightly there. She blew a single breath towards the flame, it sparked and grew into something much more. Spreading rapidly along the wheel into a circle, large and perfectly spherical it glowed in the darkness. She did like to show off, even if the majority of students likely believed it to be nothing more than parlour tricks and not the gift she possessed… theEmber of Hades.

All the students rose back to their feet and applauded. My eyes scanned the crowd and spotted Sage standing awkwardly with her room mates. I needed to ask her what was going on there, though I’m sure whatever it was wouldn’t surprise me with Marsha Knob head and Silva Greenwood for room mates. Utter bitches. I watched as my mother bowed, to which I resisted rolling my eyes and instead told Dorcas I’d be right back.

I made my way over to Sage’s group. Amelia was bickering with a slender witch I had seen in dance class… Melanie I think her name was.

“Sage.”

She turned to me and relief flooded her face, which caught me off guard. I wasn’t used to people being relieved to see me. It made my chest and stomach feel quite peculiar. “Adeline, hi!” She squeaked, though she seemed rooted to the spot.

I looked over her companions with nothing less than the disdain they deserved. I noted they were leaving a healthy distance between themselves and Sage which made me quirk a brow at her. She shook her head with a silent pleading look.

“Would you like to join us?”

“Why would she want to join you?” Silva asked, giving me a look which she would want to remove, before I removed it for her.

“Oh, more intelligent conversation? Funnier, prettier, wittier, more entertaining… need I go on?”

Marsha clicked her tongue and shook back her braided hair. “You’ve got some nerve Adeline Alva.”

“That’s true, but how so… do tell?”

“My fathers position on the board… and my position on the swim team all gone, ring any bells?” She was becoming positively shrill. Sage looked at me wide-eyed.

I took a moment to examine my nails, “Can’t say it does Martha… though I certainly wouldn’t be announcing mine and my father’sincompetenceto the world if I were you… though,” I looked her over slowly, “I most definitely am not you. Good night ladies… Sage?” I marched off back towards my room mates who had already set out some picnic blankets and beanbags around an inappropriately large bonfire near the lake.

Sage trailed after me, it was the first time in a while she didn’t walk beside me and I wondered at the change.

Forty-One

Adeline

“And there in the doorway stood the headless Lady Gwyn!” Dorcas said with a flourish. Lillian was pale in her chair, she visibly shuddered and took a swig of her fruity cocktail. Dorcas cackled, bowing in her seat and nearly falling into the fire. I snorted into my whiskey & coke mix.

“So Sage!” Gemma began, “what did you do for Samhain in the states?” I looked at Sage who was settled into a beanbag at the side of me. She was wearing ripped jeans and a thin sweater with a leather jacket over the top. Perfectly acceptable and comfy. She looked at Gemma slightly nervously but pushed her wild curls out of her face and sat up straighter.

“Well nothing like this actually, at home my mother would light a bonfire and we’d burn our fears, though sometimes our high school would also have a Halloween Dance.”

“Ooo a ball! How romantic!” Lillian declared, her words were already slightly slurred and a dreamy look had crossed her face, “I’d love for us to have a ball… Adeline, tell your mum to throw us a ball.”

---