Prospero shifted awkwardly. “No one, witch or regular person, has been immune to my gift before you.”
“That doesn’t make it okay that you tried to erasemymind.” Ellie pushed away from her; thinking about what she’d done was enough to make Ellie’s anger return.
“If anyone here learns that I was over there or that I hid you…”Prospero looked smaller somehow, her fear evident in her expression. “You don’t understand, Ellie.”
“You could’ve tried trusting me.” Ellie slid backward, so there was more space between them.
Prospero said nothing at first. Then she offered, “I am not used to trusting people.”
“Try harder,” Ellie retorted.
They sat there for several silent moments. Then Prospero stood and held her hands out. “You won’t be able to reach your room unaided. Let me help you.”
Ellie knew she was right, but she had the rare opportunity of having a Prospero at her side who wanted to make amends, so she asked, “Tell me something about you, and I’ll take your hand.”
“No one here likes me much,” Prospero said lightly. “Except Cassandra, the Prophet of Crenshaw, and Scylla. Sometimes the current chief witch. Walt.”
“That’s about other people.” Ellie folded her arms over her chest. “Try again.”
“I like you…?”
“The kiss before trying to mess with my mind already clued me in on that,” Ellie said, unable to stop the laughter from her voice. “Not subtle.”
Prospero smiled briefly. “I was born in the 1800s, and my husband beat me regularly. When he realized that my friendship with another woman had become… clarifying for me, he beat me until I was near dead. If I hadn’t been a witch, I would’ve died that day. Crenshaw saved me, and I’m terrified of losing this town.”
She said all of it in a quicker than usual pace, but her voice was flat, as if explaining something mundane. The combination made it all the more heartbreaking.
Ellie took Prospero’s hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. She was well aware that some men, even now, found the thought of a woman finding happiness with another woman terrifying. The thought that someone as strong as Prospero almostdiedover love made Ellie’s hearthurt. She couldn’t fathom living in a world where marriage to a man was theonlychoice; she couldn’t imagine a life where death was a not-insignificant possibility for being a woman who loved women. She knew her history; she knew some countries—and parts of her own country—were still backward on gay rights, but it boggled her mind to imagine it being the only lived reality for the confident woman in front of her.
Until she became a witch.
Prospero slid an arm around Ellie’s middle again, holding her upright.
Ellie said only, “You are far braver than most people realize, you know?”
They made their way to the classroom door before Prospero paused. “Could I transport us to the resident quarters?”
“I thought you were already doing—”
“With magic,” Prospero clarified.
“Sure.” Ellie rested her head against Prospero’s shoulder briefly. This was a level of exhaustion she hadn’t known existed before magic, as if the act of speaking was the extent of her ability.
Barely a moment passed before they were at the end of the hallway where Ellie’s room was. She didn’t try to step away as she admitted, “Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could make it up the staircase evenwithhelp.”
“That’s why Scylla suggested I help you. Translocation is easier than walking for me. Most witches can’t do so easily, but I have to be able to do so for my work.” Prospero half shrugged as if to dismiss her own talents. With a wry laugh, she added, “I’m most useful at being forgettable and escaping awkward situations.”
Later, Ellie would blame it on her exhaustion or Prospero’s confession, but in that moment, she simply said, “Oh, I don’t know. You’re pretty good at kissing, too.”
Prospero stilled like she was afraid of an attack, and Ellie glanced at her.
“Does that mean I could kiss you again, Miss Brandeau?”
“Just to be clear: I’m not totally forgiving you, but…” Ellie gave a small shrug.
Prospero escorted her to the door of Ellie’s temporary room.
Ellie added, “I’m only here until this absurd Remedial Magic thing is over, but when I go home, Iwon’tforget you. You know that.”
