Sunlight pours in from the balcony of the hotel suite. As her eyes open she finds a tall, dark, handsome character sharing the bed. Her heads rests on his bare chest, and his muscular arm snakes around her. His eyes flutter open, and he greets her with a smile.
"Good morning, my beautiful wife."
Her eyes fall to the sparkling ring that is secured on her finger.
"You seem quite pensive," he calls her out as the lines on her forehead draw into deep furrows.
"I am just contemplating the fact that the honeymoon phase has to end at some point."
"It has only been a couple of days. I think we can give it more time before we have to lend too much worry to the subject."
"Please mollify your optimism a bit. At some point we both must return to the real world."
"This is the real world, Hecate. This is reality."
"I have obligations," she reminds him.
"You do not have to return to your obligations, if you so choose. I have the means to support us."
"My work is important."
"Then let's hash it out. You must return to school, and I cannot join you."
"Unfortunately not."
"I will secure a flat nearby, and we will canoodle every chance that we can."
The guilt washes over her, "There is something I haven't told you."
"About boarding school?"
"About myself, Cameron. I am…"
He cuts her off, "Magic?"
She falls silent as he studies her with his deep, knowing eyes. She tilts her head, "Yes."
"The magic within you is obvious. How else do you explain my becoming so utterly bewitched by you?"
"That is not what I meant. I am…"
He cuts her off as he presses a kiss to her lips, and brushes her hair from her face.
"We are not finished with this conversation," she warns.
"You seem to forget that despite my youth I have come across people from all walks of life. Musical talent can be found all over the world. As you know I am somewhat of a child at heart. The world is full of magic if you choose to see it. I know who you are."
"It is not that simple."
He places his hand against her jawline, "Not everything must be complicated. You are a witch, and I am in no way dissuaded that I love you, because of that fact."
The shrieking infant secured in a bassinet that is positioned less than a handful of feet from her bed abruptly awakens the potions mistress. She sluggishly rises from her bed. She finds it impossible to stifle her yawn as she reaches the basinet. She rubs her eyes as she reaches for the squawk monster. Her timepiece reveals to her that they have been secured in their beds for less than an hour. The fussy newborn growls in discontent. Her diaper proves to be dry. Hecate sinks into a chair with her daughter in tow. She gently caresses her cheek in an attempt to calm her. Zephyra shoves her long delicate fingers into her mouth. Hecate watches her skeptically.
"Certainly you cannot be hungry."
Zephyra's face is red, and her brow is furrowed as she howls like a wolf at the moon. Soon the little one furiously sucks as if she truly is a ravenous beast. Hecate's eyes grow heavier with each passing moment. Eventually her daughter returns to a slumber, and she returns her to her bassinet. She begins crying the instant that she is put down.
Before long she isn't the only one in tears. Hecate rocks Zephyra back, and forth in hopes she will soon return to a slumber. The two week old baby stares up at her defiantly. The dark circles under Hecate's eyes clash with the color of her orbs.
"It is evident that you are offering the opportunity to grow my patience. I was not looking for such an opportunity, Zephyra. My goal was to get intimately acquainted with the backside of my eyelids. Have you considered such an endeavor?"
Zephyra yawns in response.
"If you wish to continue your pursuit of being an owl I must considered relegating you to a tree."
Zephyra wriggles in her arms. Hecate shifts her weight onto her chest. The little one presses her ear against her heart and listens intently. Hecate begins to rise from her seat. The attempt only infuriates her captor. HB outwardly groans as she plants herself on the seat once again. Knuckles wrapping at her door offer reprieve.
"Even if you are Satan himself, please enter."
Her door pushes open, and Dimity appears before them clad in two-piece pajamas with an assortment of balls printed all over them.
"You would not offer your child to Satan," Dimity counters.
"Can you be certain of that?" She taunts.
"Off to bed, please. You are utterly intolerable with no sleep."
"What do you suggest that I do with the tiny terrorist who will not allow such endeavors?"
"Relinquish her to me."
"What do you plan to do in five minutes when she insists that she is hungry again?"
With the wave of her hand Dimity makes a pacifier materialize. "She is not hungry. She is sucking for comfort. How strong is your opposition to giving her this?"
"It does not at the current time outweigh my desire to sleep."
Dimity pries the little one away from her mother. Zephyra's eyes open wide. She does not threaten to scream as Hecate vacates her seat. Dimity rocks the little girl as Hecate sluggishly crawls beneath the safety of her bedclothes.