Sadelle woke up groggy and disorientated, then remembered it was her turn to serve the hourglass that day. Dorothea insisted that non- Black Widows serve the hourglass, so she could instil a feeling of superiority in the coven from a young age. Sadelle hated it but today she had realised she was on with Mirina. She still hated it, but to a lesser extent.
She dressed quickly and hurried to Mirina's room. They could not be late. Mirina was rushing out the door.
"Sorry Sadelle I can't talk I have to..." panted Mirina.
"...Serve the Hourglass." Sadelle finished for her.
"You too? Oh that's good.... We'd better get a move on." Mirina began quickly walking down the corridor.
.: How did the meeting go? Do they know now?:. Sadelle asked on a distaff thread, her face not giving anything away.
.: They know now. Benci and Cinta trust them. We need to work together, I know all about Glacia. You are supposed to meet with Rael tonight:.
They got to the "room" that served Dorothea and her coven. It had a door woven with spells into it which would ensnare and slowly devour any non black widow. Sadelle knew. She had seen it, seen the poor shells of flesh, minds trapped. Seen the slow decay of a body without a mind, without soul. She shivered and from Mirina's face, the girl knew why she shivered.
They waited outside for two minutes. At exactly one minute to 6.00 am, Dorothea opened the doors. The third girl was nowhere to be seen. Sadelle read the sympathy she felt for her reflected in Mirina's eyes. Dorothea looked them over, eyes dismissing them instantly. "Where is the third girl?" she asked coldly, flicking her thick black hair with practised ease. Normally used as a flirtatious gesture, she felt no need to impress inferiors.
"I don't know Priestess." Sadelle replied deferentially.
"Hmm, I know you, a Queen... have you served the hourglass before?" Dorothea had a certain calculated interest in her words and demeanor.
"Twice before, Priestess." Sadelle said, striving for an emotionless tone.
"Today you will receive the chance you have been waiting for. Your task is to hunt down my errant witch, you and ...." Here Dorothea paused delicately, looking at Mirina.
"Mirina...?" Supplied Sadelle quickly.
"...Yes you and Mirina will find where this errant witch is, while she is supposed to be serving the hourglass. She will pay for her disrespect. Find her within the half hour and be rewarded... Fail....and I will not be so pleased." Announced Dorothea with a predatory glare.
"Oh... You will need these to knock on the door. We will let you in when you return." She added before dropping two rings onto the floor, then swirling back into the darkened room behind, closing the door in their faces.
Sadelle looked at Mirina, who had gone a nasty pale white colour.
Mirina slowly picked up the rings.
"What will we do?!" she whispered.
Sadelle had been thinking that one over. They needed allies, and they needed them fast.
.: You talk to Cinta and Benci. I will talk to Yaslana and Rael:. She sent to Mirina, watching the younger woman's face lighten with hope and determination.
.:Rael! I need your help and I need it now!:. She sent quickly.
.: Wha... what for?!:. Rael sounded sleepy. Sadelle would have laughed if this hadn't been her life on the line.
.: I need to find the witch who was serving the hourglass this morning with Mirina and I:. She sent, a bit desperately.
.: How long have you got?:. Rael sounded ...different. Something had changed.
.: Half an hour:.
.: Do you even know her name?:. Rael asked to Sadelles horror.
.: No... no we don't!:. Sadelle was about to turn to Mirina, who was herself busily instructing the Arcerians when Rael's spear thread suggested something.
.: Yaslana. Ask Yaslana:.
Sadelle didn't stop to ask. If Yasi knew something she needed to know.
.: YASI! I need to know the location of the witch who was supposed to serve the hourglass this morning and I need to know NOW!:.
She was completely unprepared for his response.
.: Well then. Ill have her ready for you to take to Dorothea in just a little while:. He sounded amused.
.: WHAT?! You know where she is?!:. Screamed Sadelle along the mindlink.
.: Come on Delle, why do you think she was late? :. He laughed coldly along the mindlink. She was chilled by his next words.
.:She chose to play this game, knew what I would do. She lost:.
