fourteen
the gray room.

"FOR THE FINAL challenge, both Mr.Scratch and my daughter's knowledge of demonic conjuring will be put to the test," Faustus explains the next day as Selene and Nicholas stand inside two complex conjuring circles, having their own plan. The coven watches them, having no idea what's about to happen. "As we well know, the more complex and exact the sacred geometry used, the more impressive the demon they'll be able to summon and safely contain within the circle's circumference. In your own good time, Nicholas, Selene."

"We're ready, Father Blackwood," Nick informs as they both step out of their circles. He then looks at his girlfriend, sucking in a nervous breath. "You ready to do this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Selene assures, making eye contact with Sabrina, who's sitting in the front row. She nods before Selene and Nick use their powers to connect their circles to create one big one.

"What are you two playing at?" Faustus demands, watching them in confusion. "Sever your circles at once. This is not within the rules of the challenge."

"Conjuring demons to attack me and Sabrina isn't in the rules either," Selene counters, making every witch and warlock in the audience gasp in shock.

"I beg your pardon," Faustus huffs, surprised his daughter would say it with such an accusing tone. "What are you accusing me of?"

"I'm not accusing anyone in particular," Selene corrects him, looking around the room at all of the familiar faces. How could any of them do this to her and Sabrina? "But I know somebody in this room has to be responsible. Demons don't just conjure themselves. So me and Nick are gonna get some answers."

She then joins hands with Nick, and the pair begin chanting the safest and most efficient conjuring spell they know. "Vos evoco, formidabiles reges. Ubi dolores habitant!"

And when they finish it, the demons that came after her and Sabrina appear in the circle—Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Purson.

"These greater demons were sent to kill or harm me and Sabrina Spellman," Selene quips, still holding Nick's hand. "Was it someone in this room?"

But the demons simply laugh at her. "We are not pawns of the filthy little covens of Satan, girl. Neither are we pawns of Satan. We are not commanded. We are kings. And we wish death upon the half-spawn witch and her protector and the chaos they engender! They must be stopped!"

"Stopped from doing what?" Nick asks, looking at Selene in concern. What could her and Sabrina possibly do that's so bad? And how would demons know what they're gonna do in the future? They can't scry, like witches can.

"The half-witch can't ascend!" One of the demons yell as Sabrina jumps out of her seat, moving so that she's standing next to Selene.

"In what way ascend? What are you-"

"Enough!" Faustus yells before banishing all three greater demons. He then looks at the three teenagers in front of him angrily. "And you three. I want you in my office, immediately."

He then ushers them, Ambrose, and Prudence to his office. He tries to slam the door behind him, but Freya slips into the room before he can. She closes it behind him, looking nearly as displeased as him.

He then takes a seat at his desk, slamming his hand down on it to make a point. "You put all of your classmates at risk. And did you find the answer you were looking for, Selene?"

"Yes, actually," Selene smirks at her father, unfazed by his attitude. It's not the first time she's seen him angry from her actions, and it certainly won't be the last. "Nobody conjured them. That means they came here with their own agenda."

"Their demons," Faustus points out, knowing firsthand that most demons are dumb as a doorknob. "Ascribing motivations to them is folly. And there is still the matter of Top Boy to be settled."

"Not quite yet," Freya licks her lips, moving so that she's standing in front of Selene, Sabrina, and Nick. "Somehow, you girls always find yourselves in trouble. And you, Nicholas, always find yourself being dragged into their problems. I will be watching you three very carefully from now on, and if you do anything like what happened today, you'll immediately be expelled."

Nick and Sabrina fall silent, fearful of the older witch. Selene, however, scoffs. "Are you threatening me?"

"Selene, she's your superior," Faustus snaps, embarrassed of his daughter's behavior.

"She's also yours," the redhead shrugs, never breaking eye contact with the older witch. "It doesn't give her a right to threaten me and my friends. I was just trying to protect Sabrina."

At this, Freya bites down on her lip. She knows the Dark Lord tasked Selene with protecting Sabrina years ago. "I will let your actions slide this time, but don't let there be a next time. I won't be so generous then."

She then leaves the office, making a point to slam it behind her. Selene seems to snap out of her attitude at the loud sound as her father frowns at them. "If today made anything clear, it's that none of you are capable of holding that office, so I'll be making that appointment myself. And though it might be an unconventional, controversial choice, I, Faustus Blackwood, am naming Ambrose Spellman as new Top Boy."

"But I-" Sabrina starts, only for Prudence to speak up.

"But Ambrose teaches here! He doesn't even go to this Academy!"

"A technicality easily remedied," Faustus shrugs it off as Selene beams at Ambrose. If her, Sabrina, and Nick can't have that position, she's glad he can. "From this moment on, Ambrose is relived of his duties as a teacher and is admitted as a full-time student to the Academy of Unseen Arts. Now out of my office, the pack of you. Except for you, Ambrose, you stay. I wish to discuss your future."

"Good job," Nick smiles at Ambrose, giving him a sideways hug before he heads out of the room.

Selene, on the other hand, gives him a quick kiss on the lips, truly happy for him. "You deserve this, Ambrose."

She then walks out of the office, closing the door softly on her way out. She finds Nick in the hallway, waiting for her with a grin on his face. "Do you have anywhere to be right now?"

"Nope."

"Great," Nick grins, threading his fingers through hers before pulling her towards the front door. "Because you and me are going to Dorian's Gray Room. Technically, it's a warlock's-only club. But who cares?"

"Not me," Selene wiggles her eyebrows playfully as the pair make the short walk to the club in a comfortable silence. She then heaves a sigh. "Wait a second. Full disclosure, I know Sabrina cheated on the first challenge. I just figured I should tell you-"

"I'm not mad," he cuts her off softly as they walk into the club. People stare at Selene as they take seats in a booth in the corner, but she shrugs them off. "That had 'Weird Sisters' written all over it. So, what would you like to drink?"

"Hmh, what's the witchy version of a gin and tonic?" Selene questions, never having been to a warlock's club before. But she's been to plenty of mundane clubs, and knows that a gin and tonic is her favorite alcoholic drink.

The owner of the club then passes by, and Nick flags him down. "Dorian, we'll have two slow gin fizzes."

He eyes Selene cautiously before turning to Nick, having a rather strong British accent. "Nicky, dear, we don't typically serve her kind in the Gray Room."

"Will you just get us the drinks, Gray?" Nick retorts, not wanting to make a scene. He just wants to enjoy the night with Selene.

"I'll make an exception," Dorian decides, looking Selene up and down. "Because you're both so... beautiful. What's your name, dear?"

"Selene," the redhead introduces herself with a warm smile, offering the warlock her hand. She gets a good look at him now, and finds that he's actually very handsome. He has emerald eyes, tan skin, and blonde, curly hair. And he's wearing a formal shirt that looks like it's from the 1800's, but he manages to pull it off. "I'm the High Priest's daughter."

"Hmh, a beautiful name for a beautiful witch," Dorian nods, shaking her hand gently. However, the second their hands touch, Selene gets sucked into a vision, one where Dorian is kissing her. But before she can see anything else, she pulls away from Dorian, covering up the fact that she just had a vision. She knows it's a vision of the future, but why would she ever be with him? What'll happen to her, Ambrose, and Nick in the future? Her mind is racing as Dorian's smile widens. "I'm Dorian. Dorian Gray."

"Uh, it's nice to meet you," Selene deadpans as he goes to make their drinks. Nick then puts his hand on her thigh comfortingly.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little cold," the witch pulls her jacket on as Dorian returns with their drinks. He hands the drinks to them with a smile before disappearing to go take care of other customers. She then raises her glass. "To a new year and to new beginnings."

UNEDITED