seventeen
and the truth comes out.

"PRUDENCE, I NEED TO talk to you," Selene declares, storming into one of the many bedrooms at the Academy of Unseen Arts. Prudence is standing on a stool, wearing a white-gold dress, and the other Weird sisters are adjusting it. Selene then eyes the other Weird sisters, shifting uncomfortably. "Alone."

"I'm being fitted for my Feast Day dress," Prudence points out.

"Does it look like I care?" Selene raises an eyebrow before motioning to Dorcas and Agatha. "Shoo. I need to talk to Prudence alone."

Prudence rolls her eyes, glancing at her sisters before nodding. They scurry out of the room, closing the door behind them before Prudence crosses her arms. "This better be good."

"I think you weren't supposed to be chosen as Queen of the Feast," Selene informs. "I get these- these feelings about certain things. Those feelings were telling me it was supposed to be Sabrina. That's why I was so confused when you were chosen as Queen. Now I think I know why."

"Why?"

"Lady Blackwood did a spell to ensure you'd be chosen as Queen," Selene breathes. "She wants you and me dead."

"What a blasphemous creature you are," Prudence remarks in disbelief.

"I've noticed how my father treats you like a daughter," Selene states, having seen how protective Faustus is over Prudence. "What if you actually are his daughter? That'd make us sisters."

Prudence grows confused, but Selene continues. "I mean, it makes perfect sense. Lady Blackwood would see you as a threat to her children's inheritance."

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Prudence questions, but Selene simply shrugs.

"Why else would my father take care of you?" Selene counters.

"Because he's charitable."

"Wrong," Selene shakes her head. "If he legitimized you, you could easily lay claim to the Church of Night, this school, everything. But that would leave me and Lady Blackwood's children with nothing."

"Stop this," Prudence demands, not wanting to hear another word. "Please, stop this."

"If Lady Blackwood has even the smallest belief that you're my sister, then it would be a very good thing if you were scarified at the Feast of Feasts," Selene breathes. "Look, I know how it sounds. But Lady Blackwood was just at my house, and she kept going on and on about how you and your sisters are plotting against her babies. She said she needed to hurt you before you hurt her."

"Do you have even a shred of proof?" Prudence asks curiously. "Besides Lady Blackwood's hysterical ramblings?"

"No, but I have a theory," Selene answers, before holding up her hand. "I also happen to know that my stepmother was holding the lottery box. It would've been so easy for her to rig it. Also, there's the fact that I was cursed a few days ago. I thought it was you, but what if it was Lady Blackwood?"

She then takes a step closer to Prudence. "Look, I know you've completely bought into this Feast, and you think it's the Dark Lord's will. But I think it's the will of a crazy pregnant witch who wants to make sure her children get everything. She'd be murdering you, and getting away with it. So, at least consider what I'm saying. Please."

"If I were to entertain this fantasy of yours, how do you suggest we proceed, Handmaiden's girlfriend?" Prudence sighs, making Selene smirk.

"We're going to prove it."
——

"Father Blackwood, Lady Blackwood," Sabrina greets them a few hours later as them, Selene, Prudence, Agatha, and Dorcas gather at the Spellman's house for a dinner that evening. But little do Faustus and Constance know that it's a trap.  "Please, come in. Happy Thanks... um... Feast of Feasts."

"Blessed Feast," both of them chirp as Sabrina leads them into the parlor, where Selene, the Weird sister's, Ambrose, and Zelda are seated at the table.

"Wow," Constance beams upon seeing Prudence. "Prudence, you look stunning. You must be filled with such-"

"I'm filled with ecstasy, Lady Blackwood," Prudence cuts her off. "Yes."

"Shall we eat?" Sabrina questions as her, Faustus, and Constance take their seats.

"If I may," Faustus speaks up once everybody has sat down, making everybody pause. "Thank you to Queen Prudence for the sacrifice she makes tonight, for the coven."

Prudence nods before Constance turns to Zelda. "And where is your sister Hilda?"

"Given her disenfranchised status, I didn't think it was appropriate for her to join us," Zelda shrugs. "Also, she's making dessert."

The dinner goes by smoothly, and everybody makes small talk. But Sabrina, Selene, and the Weird sisters are anxious, wanting to get to dessert, because the dessert is actually a truth cake. Once Faustus and his wife have eaten the cake, they'll be able to get the truth out of them.

"And now, for the piéce de résistance, my Aunt Hilda's brown butter marchpane cake with brandied currants," Sabrina smiles, carefully setting the cake in the center of the table.

"Mmm, looks delicious," Constance admires the cake. "But I want to save room for later."

"Don't be ridiculous," Selene shakes her head. "You are eating for three after all."

She then looks at her husband. "Faustus?"

Everybody looks at him questioningly before he shrugs. "When can one be gluttonous, if not on the Feast of Feasts?"

"Oh, I agree," Sabrina nods. "Heartedly."

Sabrina and Selene then cut the cake, handing out the pieces to everybody at the table. Once Faustus and Constance have eaten their fair share, Sabrina speaks up. "As a recent convert, Father Blackwood, I'm curious, why did you decide to reinstate Feast Day after my father outlawed it?"

"When I became High Priest after Edward died, the Dark Lord revealed that I must return to our centuries-old traditions," Faustus frowns. "Sometimes, the old ways are better."

"What a divine revelation," Constance comments, as Selene shifts uncomfortably in her chair.

"So, what do you think about this year's Feast Day, Lady Blackwood?" Selene pipes up, picking at her plate, but making a point not to eat any cake.

"Oh, I'm thrilled by it."

"That's great," Selene nods enthusiastically, before turning to Prudence. "I hope you've had a great couple of days. I'll miss you when you're gone." She then turns to the table. "Will you guys?"

"In body and soul," Ambrose sighs, making a point not to make eye contact with Selene. He has no idea what to say to her after the other night. "Mostly body."

"I'll miss you so much," Agatha lets out a choked sob.

"Me, too," Dorcas adds.

"I won't," Constance admits, surprised by her own words.

"And why is that?" Prudence demands.

"You're a stain and we're better off without you," Constance gasps as the words leave her mouth, immediately realizing her mistake. Selene can't help but smirk in amusement, glad that her theory isn't so far fetched.

"Constance, Prudence is our queen," Faustus points out in confusion.

"No, she's not my queen, she's a bastard," Constance retorts angrily.

"When was the last time you casted a spell, Lady Blackwood?"

"The night of the Feast Day lottery," Constance answer's Sabrina's question, wondering why she's not lying. "I enchanted the ballot box to favor Prudence as queen."

"I knew it!" Selene's face lights up before she picks up her glass of champagne.

"Why would you do that?" Faustus whispers, staring at his wife in disbelief.

"Because she and her slut sisters are your seed," Constance accuses. "Because you are a voracious slut yourself and that means trouble for my children."

He seems appalled by her words, and once the anger passes, she seems apologetic. "I'm sorry, husband. I'm not sure why I'm unburdening myself like this."

"It's because your queen requested a special cake for her last supper," Prudence informs.

"Aunt Hilda's truth cake," Sabrina clarifies, unable to hide her victorious grin as her and Selene high five each other. "One bite and you cannot lie."

Faustus bites down on his tongue before he glares at his face. "Constance, how dare you interfere with the Dark Lord's will. Have you any idea the scandal, the blasphemy you've brought upon the church?"

Constance flinches as the cup in his hand shatters. "I'm sorry."

Prudence frowns at the woman before she turns to Faustus. "Are you my father, then?"

He gapes at her, trying to avoid answering the question but not even he's stronger than the cake. "I am."

"And my mother?" Prudence raises an eyebrow.

"Dead. She threw herself in a river because I would not marry her. I had just found out Emilia was pregnant with Selene, and I wanted to marry her. Emilia was the love of my life."

"I see," Prudence nods somberly as Selene raises a confused eyebrow.

"And how did my mother die?" She asks.

"Emilia killed herself," Faustus answers, tears shining in his eyes. "She jumped from a bridge. I thought it'd be easier for you to believe she died from cancer."

"How dare you," Selene scoffs as Dorcas and Agatha speak up.

"Are we your daughters, too?"

"Hmm? No, you're just orphans," Faustus exclaims as Selene turns to Prudence, surprised to find that the girl is crying.

"Prudence?"

"So you were right, Selene," Prudence cries, her voice cracking. "The Dark Lord doesn't want me to be his queen."

She gingerly squeezes Prudence's hand as Faustus stares at his daughters blankly. "The coven must meet straight away. To redraw for a new queen-"

"Oh, hell no," Selene cuts her father off. "If the Dark Lord really wanted us to celebrate the feast, then this whole debacle wouldn't of happened. You're going to outlaw the feast or everything that was revealed at this dinner will come to light in front of the entire coven."

"Whatever happens, I want to wear the dress," Prudence sighs. "And-and sit on the throne of skulls. Can I, please, Father?"

Faustus considers it for a moment before nodding. Him and Constance are quick to dismiss themselves, but Selene catches him before he can leave.

"Daddy, there's something else," Selene informs cautiously. "Constance didn't just make an attempt on Prudence's life. She also tried to curse me a couple of days ago. I almost had my hand burned off, and then I almost killed Prudence."

Faustus' eyes widen at this, and he heaves a sigh. "Okay, what do you want me to do about it?"

"Nothing," Selene smirks. "Yet. But as soon as those babies pop out of her stomach, I want her to burn for her sins."
——

"I've been fasting for days," a witch named Mildred informs Selene a few hours later at the Feast of Feasts. Selene is sitting next to Nick, holding his hand tightly and Sabrina and Zelda are sitting on the other side of him. Prudence is sitting at the front front of the church on the throne of skulls.

"Good for you?" Selene deadpans, not completely sure how to reply. The doors to the church then open and Faustus and Constance take their spots next to Prudence.

As they do so, Nick leans down to whisper in Selene's ear. "Can we talk after this?"

"Yeah," Selene nods, gently squeezing his hand.

"Brethren, sisters, a very unholy night to you all," Faustus greets the entire coven. "Each year, the Feast of Feasts commemorates the selfless sacrifice that saved our coven. However, tonight, I must be the reluctant bearer of dark tidings. In an unexpected turn of events, through circumstances entirely out of our control, Prudence Night cannot fulfill her duty as Queen of the Feast."

The entire coven begins to whisper, and Selene feels herself relax. But then Mildred jumps angrily to her feet. "Blasphemy! We're ravenous. We must feast!"

In response, Faustus tries to calm them down. "Moreover! Moreover! The Dark Lord has revealed to me, that this year, there shall not be-"

He cuts off as Mildred raises a blade above her head. "Freya lives! Praise Satan!"

She then cuts her own throat in front of the entire coven. Selene gapes at the woman as she falls to the ground, dead. Selene watches anxiously, wanting to believe that her coven can do better and not become cannibals. But then everybody turns to Faustus, who has turned white as a sheet.

"All Hail, Mildred!" Faustus shouts. "Queen of the Feast!"

"All Hail, Mildred!" The coven echoes as Selene, Sabrina, Zelda, and Nick watch in horror. "Queen of the Feast!"

The others then grab various weapons, attacking the woman's body. Over the commotion, Selene makes eye contact with her father, hoping he'll do something to stop this. But he doesn't stop, he joins them.
——

Selene can't bare watching them, so she quickly excuses herself from the feast. She then runs back to the Spellman household, hoping the cool air will help with the wave of nausea that's passed over her. She's so hazy she doesn't even notice Sabrina walking behind her until she walks in the front door after her.

"Selene?" Sabrina breathes, making the girl stop in her tracks. "What would have happened if it was me who was selected queen and not Prudence? Would you have let them do to me what was done to Mildred?"

"No," Selene whispers, unable to believe Sabrina would think she'd ever let that happen.

"But if it was the Dark Lord's will?"

"I would never let anybody hurt you, Brina. Not even the Dark Lord. I will always protect you."

UNEDITED