“Then why for the love of the first witch does Lily look at me as if I am covered in pox? Nothing I do or say phases her. Gods, any other woman would be crawling on their knees at this point.”
Seren let herself enjoy the feeling that swirled in her at Roxie’s supposed plight. “Probably because she knows she can do better.”
Roxie whirled, her mouth hanging open as she took in Seren and then Tisi next to her. Her face turned scarlet as she jumped back, nearly knocking Arabella over.
“What is that?” she shouted, pointing at Tisi.
Seren bent down and pet the top of her head before she stood and fixed a glare on Roxie. “Her name is Tisiphone. She’s my familiar.”
Roxie turned, eyes wide and nearly bulging. “Your familiar? That is a damn snake, Seren, and it’s the size of a damn house.”
“She’s perfect.” Seren beamed.
“Absolutely not. She just got here, and she already has a familiar. That’s not fair!” Roxie whined.
Arabella wrapped her arms around Roxie and hugged her from behind which seemed to soothe her.
Seren shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “You should leave Lily alone. She’s clearly not interested, and anyway, Arabella and I are busy right now.”
Roxie’s green eyes brightened and her lips curved up in a smile that was much too mischievous. “First of all, dark little sister, Lilyisinterested, just playing really hard to get. Second, what sort of busy are you two up to?”
Seren opened her mouth to tell her it was none of her business, but Arabella interrupted her, “Calder Darkmore awakened my magic with a wand he and Seren stole because he thinks I’m the vessel.”
It was physically impossible for Roxie’s eyes to get any bigger as she whirled on Ara. “Calder Darkmore? Wand? Vessel? Ara, is this one of your fantasy dreams about him? You are always pining after him from afar when I’ve told you countless times to go talk to him. He’s obviously interested by the way he stares back. Honestly, you two are kind of creepy about it.”
Despite the fact that Arabella’s cheeks were bright red she sighed. “It wasn’t a dream, Roxie.”
By the time Arabella finished the story, Arabella and Roxie sat on the bed, Juniper curled up in Roxie’s lap while Seren sat at Arabella’s desk, irritation building in her by the moment.
Roxie clapped her hands together. “All right, so we'll just have to figure this out.”
The fact that Roxie was eager to help nearly made Seren draw back. Seren stamped down the feelings that threatened to consume her. She had never experienced that kind of loyalty, that friendship. She wondered if Lily would do the same for her.
“I have to go to Transformation. Professor Musgrove looks at me like she would happily toss me out at the first opportunity, so I intend to not give her a reason,” Seren said.
Roxie's mouth twisted in disgust. “She is the absolute worst.”
Tisiphone opened her eyes without lifting her head and looked at Seren with understanding before closing them once more causing a whirlwind of pride to build inside her. She had never known this type of understanding with another creature or person before and she found it was invigorating to understand and be understood.
Without another word, Seren turned and left her sister.
Professor Musgrove’s thin face seemed to fall slightly when she witnessed Seren entering her classroom. She was a severe woman in her mid-forties with silver already lining her midnight hair. Her dark eyebrows were constantly knitted together and her thin lips pulled into a frown. Seren wondered what had happened to make the woman so chronically unhappy.
“Transfiguration is one of the most difficult classes you will face throughout your time here at Calami. It takes years of dedicated work and intimate knowledge of the world we live in to achieve even the most basic of transfigurations. Most first years will be lucky should they even achieve a simple flower stem by the end of the year. However, I do not tolerate laziness in my class, ladies. I expect excellence at every turn and anything less will be strictly dealt with.”
“Now, proceed with the steps you were taught in the previous two classes and attempt to conjure the beginnings of your flower stem.” Her muddy brown eyes met Seren’s as she said the words as if she took enjoyment in knowing Seren was newer to this world and had to fight for every step that her peers knew without trying.
Seren would be damned before she asked anything of the foul woman. Instead, she gave her a small smile and turned her attention to the glass vase in front of her. She doubted it was as hard as Professor Musgrove made it seem. Otherwise, what would be the point of it all? If a Calami witch couldn’t achieve even a rose then what good were they in their service after graduation? They would be expected to take placements that served the wealthiest and most powerful citizens of Lynoria. While much of the time the jobs were a waste of their talent, it was still expected that they were the best in their field.
Seren took a steadying breath, careful not to let it show. She wouldn’t let this woman see even a hint of weakness. A rose. What made up a rose? Of course, there were the thorns. It always fascinated her how people used roses to embody love. Roses weren’t romantic, they were brutal. To pick one meant knowing pain first, and its beauty only second. She supposed that was the truth of people. They took even when it hurt to do so.
Seren lifted her palms. She would never let things like humility and expectations hold her back. She would also take what she needed, but she intended to avoid the pain of it because one should only take when they know they are strong enough to weather the pain.
A gasp from the seat next to her ripped her from her thoughts. Seren blinked several times, shaking off the daze she had wrapped herself in only to find a single, perfect black rose sitting in her vase.
“Professor Musgrove,” the witch next to her stammered.
“What is it, Lydia?” Professor Musgrove twisted to peer at the mouse of a witch sitting next to Seren.
