I was normally not so hot tempered.

Usually, the irritation could be brushed aside, but when it came to this Abigail. Her tone. Her pitch. The exact way it lifts off her lips seemed to latch on like tar. It echoed in my head, pulling out this horrid mass from within. Feelings. Emotions I buried in the depths of my very being.

"Arshawl?" A timid voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Eir Arshawl?" I looked up to see a boy in his teens. With frightened brown eyes and trembling lips, he did not seem to be one to approach first.

Though, approaching a lady without her consent is ill-mannered.

"You are?" I voiced as I tilted my head. Seconds flew by and a frown plastered itself on my face as I waited for the boy to answer.

"It's," he stuttered, "it's Oliver. Oliver Hensley." I nodded in approval as he finished. Just as he did, my brows pulled themselves together as I watched him shrink uncomfortably.

With a sigh, I swung my arm. It sliced through the air and hit Oliver's slouched back. He yelped in surprise as the impact pushed him a few step forward. "Pull yourself together, boy. Must you slouch like that?" I said as I watched Oliver stumble about.

"And stop stuttering. It's unflattering." I stated as he replied with a highpitched 'yes'. A pitch as high as the sky. Impatiently, I watched the boy to readjust his stance. Awkwardly, he shuffled about before he finally stopped.

I gaped as I stared at his back, now as straight as a ruler. His shoulders cinched together. It seemed as though they've been hideously morphed with his neck. My eyes then trailed down to his legs. His feet were bent in such and uncomfortable angle that I winced; and his chin. Goodness. His chin was parallel to the walls, facing straight towards the sky.

What on earth was he looking at? Was he speaking to the ceiling?

"Relax." I said as I placed a hand on his shoulder. Patiently, I waited for him slacken his awkward stance. As he did, I resumed again. "Now, shoulders back." I started as I applied weight to my hand. Gently, I pulled them back. My hands then traveled to the arch of his back and pushed his chest up.

"Chest out; and for heaven's sake, put your chin down." I huffed as I abruptly forced his head down.

Taking a step back, I examined my work. Now, Oliver stood tall, albeit a bit restless. His towering height made an impact, but his eyes wavered back and forth. Anxious. Timid. Nervousness practically oozed out of of the boy.

I frowned as I gathered the tiniest speck of power. Enough for the charm to bear. My eyes felt hot as the power accumulated within them. I watched his unsteady irises as I tried to see into his mind.

After all, eyes are the windows to the soul. I searched with the intent to understand why the boy was so unhinged. I tried to look for a memory or an experience; but instead, I saw something else. In the depths of this child's mind, a figure pace back and forth. Unnerved.

Oh, how times have changed. To see a pup out in the open mingling with humans. Especially one so weak. They used to be so secluded. So frightened to be hunted down. No wonder he seemed so skittish.

Oliver squirmed under my watch. He opened his mouth only to close it again, a motion that went on for quite awhile. With the realization that I had caused this odd behavior, I pulled back.

"Do you have something to ask of me?" I asked with the intent to steer the conversation back.

"Yes!" He squeaked. "Ms. Abigail told me to bring you to the cafeteria. For lunch." Oliver rambled off weakly. I grumbled as I remembered the events that transpired inside Abigail's office, its very doors stood behind me.

After being stuck in that dreadfully suffocating room, those two shooed me off once a bell resounded throughout the edifice. 'Go get some lunch,' they said. 'We have a lot to discuss,' they said.

How dare they use me as a pretense to chat over tea. They kept me in that horrid office for hours on end, only to throw me out for losing interest. With their boring exchange on the weather, who in their sane mind would not.

Oliver shuffled uneasily and I turned to look at the agitated brown haired pup. "Very well. Lead the way." I said as I took a few steps forward, pausing to look at the motionless boy behind me. "You are going to lead the way, yes?"

He nodded furiously and ran towards me. An action that sparked a sense of familiarity within. I stifled a laugh as I recognized who - what - it was. The action had reminded me of the excited puppy William picked up in the 1600s. A stray that absolutely would not leave him alone.

I mean, the boy is a werewolf so it is not that farfetched.

A small laugh escaped my lips as our quick walk led to a set of steps. The unusual sound had made Oliver curiously face me. "No. Do not mind me." I coughed as I avoided his eager eyes.

Above us, laughter echoed. A joyful atmosphere radiated from the second floor. Underneath all the loud voices, the clinking of dinnerware was faintly heard. We seem to have reached our destination.

We started walking up the steps, my breathing turned heavy as we did. By the time we reached the peak, I held onto the railing for support. "Are you okay?" Oliver asked, worry laced in his voice. I nodded my head and feebly waved a hand in dismissal, my bracelet shimmered under fluorescent lights as I did.

It has been awhile since I had walked, but who on earth would design sunch freakishly tall steps.

I panted as I ran a hand through my long black hair. With my eyes shut, I focused on my breathing as perspiration formed my forehead. After few more breaths, a sigh escaped my lips as I regained my composure.

"If it isn't Oliver." A silky voice bounced off the walls. "I believe I told you that a runt doesn't have a right to be here or have you forgotten?" Oliver flinched under the threatening tone. His once towering figure now shrunk into this shivering ball.

"And looky here, is that a human friend I see? Nice to see that you've finally learned your place." She taunted. Human. The word bounced around in my head. I frowned and pushed myself off the handrail as a hollow laugh lifted off my lips.

Oh, how I dream to be a normal human. That is, if an immortal monster, such as myself, even is one.

"You have something to say?" I turned to see a blue eyed woman, a scowl etched on her beautiful face. She was nice to look at, no doubt; but her head did not seem to be in the right place.

Her crystal blue eyes glittered with mischeif. Like a child that had found a new toy. With that childlike impishness, she sauntered over. Each step she took echoed in the hall. It silenced all the laughter and chatter from before.

The exuberant atmosphere was now long gone, replaced by tension in the air. Nervous murmurs flowed into my ears as the girl stopped in front of me, a cup in her hand. "I only have business with the runt. Now, fuck off."

She arrogantly cocked her head to the side, the ponytail swayed as she did. In response to my silence, her graceful features morphed into this chilling lopsided grin. An expression that would have sent shivers down anyone's spine.

Compared to that old dog Cerberus when it joyously teared me limb from limb, she looked like a cute puppy. Ears folded and tail tucked, a puppy that shook like a leaf as it tried to look tough.

Ah, yes, she looked like a chihuahua. A small blue eyed chihuahua.

I sighed and turned to Oliver, fear radiated from him in waves. It did not take a mathematician to realize that they belonged to the same pack. A frown settled itself on my lips as Oliver cowered. Just as quickly as I fixed his posture, Oliver had reverted back to his old stance.

Seeing that they've hid for so long, one would think that they'd keep a low profile. So as not to invite hunters.

"I said, fuck off." A cold liquid mush enveloped my bodice and I turned to see a cup over my head. I blinked, unable to fathom what had happened. "Run off to your dear daddy, why don't you? You seemed really close. You even held each other's hand today. What? Too scared go to school without papa?"

I frowned as I felt the sticky muck dripped off my dress. It dropped in lumps, one by one. In silence, I stood there. For awhile, only the sound of this horrid slop falling off could be heard as she waited to see my response.

The girl took great efforts to welcome me here. This effort must be paid three fold.

Wordlessly, my fingers grazed her shoulder, swiftly overcoming this pup's inhuman reflexes. Her eyes darted my hand. Frantic. Perhaps wondering how it got there. She seemed untrained. Inexperienced. Defenseless.

I hummed as it repeated the cycle ritualistically. As if I were removing some piece of dust. My movements were slow. Hypnotic. I watched as she entered a trance before I took a step forward, enough to make her tall figure hide me from the rest.

I felt my powers pool around the tips of my fingers as I fully place a hand on her shoulder. A simple hex ready to be cast. I inched closer and whispered. Low enough, only she could hear. With power imbued with my words, I started the spell.

"With this line of blood I trace." From her shoulders, my hand followed a path to her neck, leaving a black ash-like trail. A line visible to only those trained enough to see.

"Destiny will change its place." Inch by inch I creeped to her jaw. Gently. Tenderly.

"Jagged needles. Poisoned thorns." I traced the bone to her chin. My fingers lingered as I did.

"Fill this life full of mourns." An eerie smile etched on my face as my powers overflowed. Unable to handle its strength, my charm faltered. It had been overpowered for just a second, but that was enough for her to see my eyes flash its unearthly purple hue.

"Eir!" Warren frantically yelled. I quickly glanced down to see Warren below the steps, a deep frown on his face. I hummed as I detached my fingers from her chin. He must have finished that tedious chat with Abigail, and came to fetch me.

Well, I have been gone for quite a while.

With a snap of my fingers, my eyes watched her as revert back from the hypnotic state. Confused and dazed. With worry laced eyes, Warren glanced to the child. Concerned towards the child that had wronged me.

Alas, you were all but a second too late Warren.

"Come now, we best be off. I desperately need to take a bath." I said as I shrugged off Warren's inculpate looks. With my hand on the railing, I glided down the steps.

"Ah yes," I started as I turned to Oliver. "It was nice meeting you all." A small smile graced my lips at the stunned pup. His eyes wide in confusion. I stifled a laugh and turned toward the woman, my smile tauntingly grew as I did.

"Good day," I curtsied and turned to walk in line with Warren's steps. My lips formed a thin line as I felt his heavy stare. His accusing eyes drilled holes on the side of my head.

"Stop that, the child will not die." I said in a monotonous manner, uninterested. His face openly showed what he felt. It distorted, unable to chose whether to believe me or not.

No doubt, I did not utter a lie. The child would live.

"Should she have the goddess Tykhe on her side." I mused to myself.

————
Hello,

I've tried to write my first spell. It did take me quite awhile to do. For that, I apologize. Please do tell me what you think though.

Also, thank you for reading! Though this chapter is quite long, I appreciate that you've read until here. Should you have any notes or questions, do not hesitate to tell me.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Titania