Arabella Marudas
Thesoundofsilverwarescraping across plates and cups being lifted and set back on the tables filled the air along with the cacophony that was a hundred students all speaking at once.
Ara had just lifted a mug of hot chocolate to her lips when Seren sat in front of her. The beautiful silver comb that held back a curtain of her sister’s dark hair drew her eyes immediately.
“Renny, is that–” She stopped herself as Seren gave her an ugly glare that turned the words to ash in her mouth.
Silence engulfed them as she wrapped her hands around the mug and let it warm her from the chill that ran through her at the way Seren’s eyes cut through her.
She toyed with her own augere, a delicate silver bracelet, the design eerily similar to Seren’s comb. The clasp was sculpted into a rose and the chain that wrapped around her thin wrist was crafted to appear like vines extending from the rose.
Her sister’s augere was instantly recognizable to her as when she chose her own last year, the comb had been hidden near. Her fingers had nearly brushed it before being called to the bracelet just beyond it.
“Seren,” she started again, forgoing the familial nickname.
Seren’s eyes narrowed even further, her smooth brow furrowing. “Speak, Arabella. Say what you will say so that I may finish my breakfast without further interruption.”
Ara frowned at her sister’s tone. A soothing wave of calm came over her and she sighed at Cal’s gentle and reassuring presence. This connection between them was both terrifying and thrilling. It came and went, sometimes just a feeling and sometimes full conversations, though he seemed able to shut her out completely when he wanted to. Usually when she asked about the grimoire. His downright refusal to talk about his obvious emotional connection to the book was troubling.
Two place settings appeared next to them as Roxie and Lily sat next to each sister. Roxie snatched a sausage from Ara’s plate despite her own filling with food at that very moment.
Lily hid her smile behind her teacup, those strange purple eyes not leaving Roxie’s face.
The tension between Ara and Seren grew thicker as neither sister met the other’s eye. Ara wasn’t quite sure why Seren was upset with her, but she would give as good as she got. Seren’s moods could be as mercurial as the churning sea, especially when it came to Ara.
Lily sipped her tea, her eyes darting between them. “Has something happened? A sisterly spat perhaps?”
Roxie grinned at the other witch’s casual intrusiveness and Ara noticed a softness to her friend’s smile that spoke of something more.
“It’s nothing.”
Both sisters spoke in unison before snapping their mouths shut and pursing their lips, the movement remarkably similar to each other.
“You know, I’ve never quite noticed a resemblance between you two until just now,” Roxie said as she studied Ara and Seren and nodded. She pointed between them with a sausage. “Yes, see. The same stubborn jut to the chin. Those proud pulled-back shoulders of a person who couldn’t possibly be in the wrong. The unnerving ability to cut their eyes in such a way as to reduce the average person to rubble. Oh, they’re doing it to me right now.”
Ara stopped glaring at Roxie and turned to Seren. She smiled, recognizing the same face their father had complained about getting from them both. Seren held her glare a moment longer before softening, a tentative smile appearing. The tension from earlier gone through Ara wasn’t sure why it was there to begin with.
Lily cleared her throat and nodded toward the staff table. “It would appear that my aunt has an announcement.”
The great hall quieted as soon as the Headmistress stood. There was no need for her to call them to attention. As a woman of few words, each one she parted with made an impact on her charges.
Roxie and Ara turned around in their seats to listen. Ara perched her chin on the back of the chair, acutely aware of Cal’s attentive presence in the distant recesses of her mind.
“It has been many a year since the Trinity War tore our world apart,” Headmistress Sinclair said, her voice deep and serious. Not even a rustle sounded as all listened.
“Unity between witch and wizardkind is now more important than ever before. It is with that in mind that I announce the Winter Solstice Ball between the witching and wizarding schools of Lynoria.”
The headmistress grinned as chaos broke out. Witches squealed to each other about what they might wear and who they might dance with. Order was restored when Madame Cuorvo stood and banged her metal-tipped cane three times on the stone floor, the sound echoing like a gunshot through the hall.
“I trust that you will conduct yourself with all the comportment befitting a lady of Calami.” the headmistress said, but grinned and winked as she continued, “But do not forget to have fun.”
Roxie turned to them all and announced, “We’re going shopping.”
Ara sighed. “You and Lily will have to go without us. We can’t leave the grounds.”
“Surely something can be done? A day pass? Lily, can you ask—“
“No.” Lily’s voice was firm and held no room for argument.
