Chapter Four: Cry for Help
X X X
Cecilia's first week at the Sanctum Sanctorum was going fairly well.
According to other's opinions, of course.
She hadn't set anything of great magical importance aflame. Only a carpet from the 1600s that belonged to a English monarch that had been exiled. A few books that had attempted to eat her face and a foul-mouthed table mat.
Stephen had assured her that he had hated that carpet anyway.
"That mat had it coming," Stephen said as Wong cleared the dinner table. "I don't know where it learned so much foul language."
"Your predecessor always served guests with that mat," Wong called from the kitchen. "It must have picked it up from them."
Cecilia smirked as she made her fork and knife fight in the air. The first thing she had asked to learn was how to make objects float, and Stephen had obliged her. He had tried to make her research how to do it herself, but that was when she had some issues with the library. And the face eating copies of the Book of Cagliostro and its brother the Book of Blackstone.
"Cecilia?"
"Yeah," Cecilia looked over at Stephen. He was watching the fork and the knife with mild interest.
"Please don't use your magic at the dinner table."
"You should talk," Cecilia said. "You didn't eat anything. Wong is probably crying at your rudeness."
Stephen laughed before leaning back in his chair.
"Cecilia, you do not want to see what I eat."
Wong re-entered the room. Holding a tray of tea and assorted cookies. He looked over at Stephen with an annoyed expression.
"Master, please don't lean back at the dinner table."
Cecilia snickered and let her utensils float down to the table. This was one of the few bright spots in her time here. She was still nervous around Stephen. She realized how powerful he was over the past few days, and he seemed to be able to accomplish any magical feat. He seemed to always be studying or performing spells beyond her imagination.
It scared her, if she was being honest.
She knew her powers were unnatural. Reading late at night she had been trying to figure out where her powers came from. This was on top of the reading she had to do for her studies. Some of those books made her want to throw herself out the window. Concepts were being referenced in some books and explained in detail in others, it was like a investigation of sorts.
It had kept her busy, and away from her own thoughts.
Against all presumptions, she was allowed to use her laptop. There was even internet. This had allowed her to research the Whitney. No one had died, there were no injuries. Two security guards had gone missing following the fire, and were considered persons of interest. Learning this had taken a huge weight off of her chest.
She took a cookie off of the tray, noticing the variety that had been presented. Before the tray had only held matcha cookies. When she had asked Wong about what else he could bake he had taken this as a challenge. Last night, there had been baklava and a kind of rice pudding.
Taking a bite she felt a wave of shame. Staying here had required her to attend three meals a day, not including tea. She wasn't used to so many meals and eating multiple times a day. A month ago snacks were out of the question.
Feeling eyes on her, she finished the cookie and turned to Wong. Prepared to deflect unwelcome conversation.
"Was this an almond cookie?" she asked as she wiped her hands on her napkin. She stood up, prepared to leave and go back to her room. The two men were looking at her.
"Macadamia," the man-servant said. "I will save some of them for tomorrow's tea."
"Great," she tried to smile as she turned and left the room. She could hear whispers behind her, but she didn't stop walking.
The layout of the mansion was much clearer to her. As long as she kept her focus on her room and didn't become sidetracked she usually made it to her destination. Sometimes when she was trying to avoid Wong's watchful eye she drifted off course. He always managed to find her peering at objects in cases or trying to force drawers open.
Making it to her bedroom she shut the door behind her. Turning the lock behind her she walked to her bed and sat down. Taking deep breaths she looked up at the ceiling. She turned her gaze and looked over at her desk. Her cardigan slipped off her shoulders as she moved over to her homework.
She sat down in her chair and picked up a book on herbalism. Pulling her knees to her chest she began to read.
Comfrey, or Boraginaceae, has several medicinal uses. It is most often used as a pulp on wounds or coughs. It can be used for more serious ailments such as hemorrhages or torn ligaments.
X X X
Looking over at the clock on her desk, she noticed it was three o'clock. Groaning she picked herself up from her chair and walked to her bed. Yawning into her hand, she looked down and almost screamed. Her hand was almost see-through, and had a sort of glow around it. Casting her eyes around the room she saw herself lying in the chair by her desk.
"Oh, shit." Cecilia looked at herself in despair. Was she dead? Were the cookies laced with poison? Did she unconsciously get so fed up she de-brained herself at her desk?
"Okay, we're just going to go back into our body." Cecilia reached out and touched her body's forehead, she felt her hand sliding in and felt a sudden jolt shake her. Looking around she found herself sitting at her desk. Book on the floor. "What the hell was that?"
X X X
She laid in bed until she knew the rest of the house was awake. Despite the size of the Sanctorum somehow she could always hear Wong cooking or Stephen cursing his cloak for various pranks and tricks.
As much as she didn't want to admit it. She enjoyed the presence of the cloak. A sentient cloak that had much personality as herself or any other human. It always managed to appear whenever she needed it.
Determined to ask someone about what had happened to her she changed quickly out of her clothes from the previous night. Pulling on a t-shirt dress with some difficulty she headed downstairs. Stopping by the entrance to the dining room when she heard her name.
"The actions of her mother were despicable, master, but you must keep your anger in check." She heard Wong set down a heavy plate. "The poor child has seen enough of it, from what I have heard from you."
"I don't understand how it was allowed to happen," Stephen's voice was deep with suppressed emotion. "There were clear signs in all of her records."
"We both know that doctors make mistakes," Wong was clearly trying to reason with Stephen.
Cecilia was growing upset. Why was Stephen talking about her mother like this? How had he even gotten access to her records? Her mother had done everything for her. Sacrificed a better job to have her. Raised her as best as she could.
"You're right." Stephen sighed. A cup was placed down. "No wonder she barely eats, she never had someone to tell her to. I don't know how I'm supposed to help her."
She heard Wong move a chair.
"It is our duty to do what we can. As her master and her guardian you must try and support her as well as you are able. I will help you guide her, and try and become someone she can speak to with confidence."
The chair shifted as someone stood. Plates began moving once again and she could smell the food.
"Would you like some breakfast, Miss Cecilia?"
She froze. Taking a breath she entered the room. Several high-backed wooden chairs surrounded a light wood dining table. Stephen was sitting at the head of the table. Wong was pulling the tops off of dishes.
"How long have you been standing there?" Stephen's voice was cold.
Cecilia clenched her fists. "My mother was not despicable."
Stephen took a deep breath. He stood and moved towards her, a stern look on his face. "I know that you don't see it as others do, Cecilia. But your mother was abusive-"
"My mother was not abusive!" She felt the flames begin in her hair. How dare he. He had no idea what her mother did for her.
"She hurt you, Cecilia," his voice was low.
The stove in the kitchen caught flame. A pan that had been sitting on the stovetop flew in the air and smacked into the ceiling. Wong entered the kitchen and stopped the fire. Cecilia glared at Stephen, her heart tight in her chest. The next second a large bowl appeared over her head, tipped, and soaked her to the bone.
"Are you serious?"
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Author's Note:
I would like to apologize for the wait. I was not feeling well and I was working on some of my original work. I hope to update more regularly now. I will try to update once a week. Its a nice break from some of my other work.
To everyone that has followed and favorited my story thank you! Also thank you to my reviewers who are all very sweet.
If you want a happy story you came to the wrong place! Just kidding it will be happy. Sometimes. Maybe. The villain or villains will be coming soon. . .