2

After her first few weeks teaching at Hexside, Lilith found herself comfortable in a routine. Each day she would wake up, dress, go to the school, prepare, teach for a few hours, eat lunch, teach a bit longer, and meet Miss Blight in her office to train her. Despite her initial fears, she found teaching to be completely enriching. Particularly when working with Miss Blight.

The youngest Blight was living up to Lilith's expectations and then some. She was skilled, practiced, kind, patient, and committed to bettering herself. There were many things about the girl Lilith related to when she looked back on her Hexside years. Like Miss Blight, Lilith was on the school Grudgby team, preferred to read by herself over spending time with friends, and was entirely determined to become the best of the very best. The mentor often caught herself resisting the urge to become attached to the child because of these things. She knew her own work involved dangers that made keeping distance from everyone imperative. If Amity was going to pursue her line of work, in which she would undoubtedly thrive, Lilith knew she had to nurture her independence and resiliency above all else.

The professor was sitting at her desk, repeatedly glancing at the clock, when she finally heard the all-too-familiar three knocks on her door. She took a deep breath before looking up from the papers she was grading. She impatiently looked forward to the last session of her day each day. Deep down, she knew this was not because it meant her day would end soon.

"Come in,"

"Good afternoon, Professor Clawthorne," Amity stepped into the office and shut the door behind herself. She stood patiently, her hands behind her back, after entering.

"Please, have a seat," Lilith offered her a brief, soft smile as she sat her papers to the side. "Good afternoon, Miss Blight. Have you received your test scores?"

"Yes," the student retrieved a collection of papers from her shoulder bag.

Lilith took the papers into her hands and laid them out in front of herself. Using her magic, she lifted each one, one at a time, to inspect. She was unsurprised to see perfect scores again. Her apprentice worked hard to maintain perfect grades and it showed.

"Very good, Miss Blight," Lilith returned the papers to their neat stack before passing them off to the student. "Tell me, how has your day been?"

"It has been a…good day," Amity answered, her voice unusually flat. Lilith tilted her head to the side ever-so-slightly, debating whether or not she was going to inquire about the tone shift. She was used to the girl gushing about a new spell she learned or a fact about the isles' history she heard. It was rare that she was anything but bright and pleasant.

"Has it?"

"Yes," Amity swallowed thickly and Lilith took a slow, deep breath.

"Is there anything you would like to share with me?" Lilith poked one more time, hoping the child would open up. Concern began to bubble in her chest. She pushed it down.

"I just…I did poorly on my potions exam," Amity's cheeks turned a familiar pink as she withdrew the exam from the stack of papers. "I messed it up."

Lilith's brow furrowed. She saw nothing less than perfect scores on each paper. Not saying a word, she held out her hand to take the exam back. She peered down at it, confused by the 100/100 marked at the top.

"Miss Blight," she spoke carefully. "Forgive me for not understanding. It appears you received a perfect score."

" After the curve," Amity stood, reached out, and flipped the packet to the third page. On the third page, a small red mark had been made, indicating a mistake. She had misspelled an algae needed to make a potion.

"I see,"

"I understand if you would like to switch apprentices. There's still time to find someone better," Amity's face was growing increasingly red, her eyes darting around the room.

Lilith sat the test down and clasped her hands in front of her before leaning back in her large chair. She knew Miss Blight was a perfectionist, but she was unaware of the extent. She also felt nervous about Miss Blight's offer for her to find another apprentice. Miss Blight was the best in the school by several points. There was no one better. Even if her grades weren't impeccable, her perseverance and attitude made her the perfect match for Lilith.

Not wanting to startle the girl, Lilith took another slow, deep breath before standing up. This maneuver had the opposite effect as Amity hugged her papers and began walking to the door. Lilith, understanding the girl thought she was kicking her out, walked past her quickly, blocking it off. She didn't miss the way Miss Blight jumped backward, appearing afraid for a moment.

"Miss Blight," Lilith shook her head. "I do not want another apprentice."

"Wh-what?"

"You are my apprentice and I would not like another. We will continue to work together for as long as you desire," Lilith elaborated, her nerves on fire. What am I doing? She thought.

"Okay," Amity nodded slowly, taking in her mentor's words.

"We do, however, need to discuss this score," Lilith led the girl back to where she'd been seated on the edge of one of her chairs. She sat down on the small couch beside them and patted the second seat. Her eyes watched closely as Miss Blight nervously walked over and sat down beside her, her eyes cast downward. "Miss Blight?"

"Yes Professor?" The girl looked up.

"You received a perfect score on this exam. You missed a partial point on one question, yes. However, taking that into account, you still tested above the target goal for your age and abilities," Lilith watched as Amity looked back downward, a single tear falling onto her pant leg.

The professor felt a familiar pang in her heart as the crack grew larger. Seeing her favorite student so defeated, especially by something so minuscule, caused her chest to ache. She didn't understand how someone with so many skills and abilities could lack so much confidence. Miss Blight was due the respect of every other witch in the school but she did not demand it. Instead, she lived as herself and continued to raise her bar, always chasing the moving target.

Resisting the urge to just pull the child into a hug, Lilith cautiously placed a hand on Amity's shoulder. The girl's muscles tensing startled the professor, who began to withdraw the touch, only to be shocked again when Miss Blight placed her hand on top of hers to stop her. The warmth of Miss Blight's touch caused a wave of emotion to wash over the professor, who sat silently for a moment. While she sat, Amity finally looked up at her.

"I just want to be perfect. I have to be perfect."

The desperation in Miss Blight's words brought Lilith back to her youth.

"Mom is going to kill me," Lilith groaned as she walked back to her locker with her less-than-perfect test score. She had lost two points over a mixup. Something must have distracted the young witch during the exam as she answered question nineteen as if it was asking about the same potion as question eighteen.

She collected her items and made her way to the front doors of the school, her ears flattened from the anxiety. Just as she reached the stairs out front, her younger sister jumped off the railing and landed by her side, ruffling her curly red hair. She didn't have the wit to respond, her heart sinking to her stomach as she tried to predict the many ways her mother, Gwendolyn, would punish her for missing the mark. The fate that awaited her at home was exactly why she was so determined to be the very best.

"Hey," Edalyn stepped in front of Lilith, who promptly ran into her. She was surprised when Lilith didn't push her out of the way, but instead just stopped, clearly in a stupor. "What's up, sis?"

"Nothing," Lilith shook her head and continued walking.

"Nothing?"

"I'm fine," Lilith muttered, picking up the pace. The sooner she got home, the sooner things would be over.

" Lilith," Edalyn moaned. "I know when something is up. Why won't you tell me?"

Lilith continued to ignore Edalyn, who pried the whole walk home. Upon reaching the house, the older of the pair turned to the other. Her expression was somber as she reached up to tuck Edalyn's lighter red hair behind her ear.

"I think you should go in through your window," Lilith spoke carefully.

"What? How do you expect me to do that, exactly?"

"I know you climb up and down the ivy and bricks to sneak in and out," Lilith rolled her eyes.

"But why are you asking me to go that way?" Edalyn froze, her face paling. "Is Mother mad at you for something?"

"I missed two points on my exam," Lilith sighed. "You know what's coming. You need to go and avoid her tonight."

"I won't let you go in there alone!"

"I'm older and I won't let you go in with me," the older sister shook her head. "Edalyn, it'll be better for both of us if you just go. Please."

"I'll be on the stairs. You can't stop me if she goes too far,"

"Just you wait and see!"

After Lilith heard Edalyn's window slide open and shut, she took a deep breath and reached for the door handle. She steeled herself as she stepped into the home. She could smell something cooking in the kitchen and heard her mother humming from the other room. Despite how the scene may have seemed to an outsider, Lilith knew it was a facade and meant to disarm her.

"Oh, Lilith, is that you?" The mother's shrill voice came from the kitchen. Lilith swallowed, her throat rapidly tightening, and began walking across the main room.

"Yes, Mother."

"I spoke to your professor today," Gwendolyn stood over a boiling pot, stirring it very slowly. "What's this I hear about you receiving less than 100 on an exam?"

"I…I made a mistake," Lilith whispered.

"Lilith Clawthorne does not make mistakes," the older witch tutted, pausing her stir. "You were being foolish and allowing your true stupidity to show."

Lilith had long since learned not to speak unless being asked a direct question, much less argue with her mother's observations of her. She felt her muscles tighten, her ribs straining as she tried to inhale.

"You need to answer for yourself. Right. Now." Her mother's tone was shifting, significantly angrier now.

"Mother, I," Lilith began but it was too late.

Gwendolyn, tired of her daughter's pandering, pulled the ladle of boiling soup from the pot and flung it at her child. The hot soup burned Lilith's pale skin, and she screamed in response to the searing pain. Unable to process what was happening, Lilith fell to the floor, trying to cover her blistering face. Her mother slowly walked up to her, pointing the hot, metal ladle at her.

"Please," Lilith cried for mercy that she never received.

The witch shook her head, attempting to wash away the memory in her mind. This was not about her and her wretched mother, this was about Amity Blight. She couldn't, however, wash away the gut feeling that Miss Blight could be returning home to something similar. It would be quite the leap, but even a "milder" form of abuse and punishment caused her stomach to twist in knots.

"I have an idea," Lilith slowly stood from the couch, brushing off her dress. "I would like to change things up this afternoon."

Amity swallowed nervously, her stomach sinking. Lilith could see that she was still afraid and decided to elaborate.

"Miss Blight…I too have a history of perfectionism. I would like to help you with that tonight," the professor smiled softly. "I know you and I know you will remember the spelling error in the future. I am more so worried about your response to this error. Perfectionism, despite how helpful it seems on the surface, will undermine you if you do not get a handle on it now."

"You're right," the girl stood up, her eyes still cast downward. "Where are we going?"

"How about…I surprise you?" Lilith asked and the student nodded, not sure what the right answer was.

Lilith brought her apprentice to the front of the school and signed her out with the front office on apprenticeship business. Amity walked quietly beside her, afraid to ask any further questions about her professor's plans. She knew that she deserved whatever punishment was in store for her dramatic reaction to the test score and trusted Lilith to come through.

Upon stepping outside, the older witch lifted her staff into the flying position. She patted the front of it and Miss Blight blushed furiously. She had never ridden on a staff with one of her teachers before and certainly couldn't fly it herself. Sensing her nervousness, Lilith offered another gentle smile.

"I will be steering. I do not feel secure about you riding on the back. So, if you are okay with riding with me, I would much prefer you to sit here. A leg on each side…please," Lilith patted it again and Amity quietly stepped up to the instrument.

She climbed over it, gripping it with her clammy hands and closing her eyes. Lilith gently climbed on behind her. The older witch excused herself as she placed her long, slender arms around her student and gripped the staff in front of her. She knew, with the student wrapped in her arms, if something were to happen that she could catch her and keep her safe. If she was on the back, the safety of the ride would decline rapidly.

The staff rapidly rose into the air, causing Amity's stomach to drop. Lilith was swift and smooth in her steering, however. Despite the speed of the flight, which was alarming, Lilith was very skilled and conducted the white staff perfectly. Amity focused on her breathing, trying not to think too hard about how soothing Professor Clawthorne's touch was. Despite fearing what was to come, she felt somehow safe in her professor's arms. She couldn't remember the last time she was held by another witch.

They flew out to the forest and the staff began to tilt downward, meaning they would land soon. Amity wondered if they were going so far out as a way to mute her cries for help during the punishment. When they landed in front of a disgusting, old shack she realized that this was exactly why Professor Clawthorne took her so far out. Her entire body began to shake as they stepped off the staff and her teacher began a spell circle.

In a few seconds, the decrepit building shimmered. When the illusion fell, it revealed its polar opposite. Now, instead of a water-damaged swamp house, she faced a brilliant cottage covered in colorful shrubbery and surrounded by a lavish garden inside a stone wall and gate. She felt her jaw drop as Lilith began walking towards the gate, unlocking it with another spell circle.

"Come along," the professor didn't look backward and Amity had to jog to catch up.

"Where…where are we?" The student marveled at her surroundings as the professor unlocked the front door, revealing an equally gorgeous indoor space.

"Welcome to my home, Miss Blight," Lilith nervously turned to face her apprentice, opening her arms and gesturing to the brightly lit, warm space around her.

"What…what is my punishment, Professor?" Amity decided to just ask and get it over with, as Professor Clawthorne was drawing things out.

"Wh–" Lilith's face dropped suddenly and she felt her stomach twist at the realization. Her apprentice thought they were coming all the way out into the woods so she could properly punish her. She sighed softly at the confirmation. It appeared as though her suspicions of the source of Miss Blight's perfectionism were accurate to some degree. "Miss Blight, I did not fly you here to punish you! I…I want to help you."

"You want to help me be better," Amity nodded knowingly, her expression void of all joy.

"Here is what we're going to do," the professor began. "If you would like, of course. We are going to go out into my garden, pick some fresh fruit, lay out one of my blankets, and read whatever we please from my library."

"Wh–what?" Amity looked up at her professor, her eyes widening. That sounded lovely to her.

"Follow me," the older witch turned and began walking down a hallway. Her student dutifully followed.

As they walked through the house, Amity couldn't resist the urge to look around and absorb her surroundings. She had wondered what Professor Clawthorne was like outside of the school but it never occurred to her that she would be like this. Everything was so bright and homey. At school, her professor was dark and demanded respect. She could be quite cold and kept her distance from others. Her decor, on the other hand, was so light and pretty. It was all very…feminine and creative.

When they stepped into the library, Amity gasped loudly. She had never seen so many books in one home. Professor Clawthorne gestured around her, pointing out where the fiction books were and where the history books were. The student stood frozen, inundated by the information she was gathering, as her professor pulled a book from her desk and returned to the doorway.

"Choose a book of your liking. I will change into something appropriate for the garden," the professor nodded once, not waiting for Amity to respond, before leaving the room.

Amity walked through the room after Lilith left, her eyes scanning the book spines. She was familiar with many of the titles, a big reader herself. As she walked through the space, she tried to wrap her mind around her professor's plans. While Professor Clawthorne had never done anything to display cruelty, she certainly had never offered such a personal gesture. Amity was acutely aware of the fact that her professor's home was essentially hidden from society and that much of the furniture was laid out to be utilized by no more than one person. There was rarely more than one chair in any given space.

She paused in front of the fiction shelf, her hands shaking as she gazed over the books. Her mind wondered if she should choose a potions book and study anyway. For all she knew, this was a test to see how willing she was to study. The student sighed and stepped away, walking back to the non-fiction half of the room. She quickly returned to the potion books and found one on the history of the Boiling Isles' algae and fungi. When she slid the book off the shelf with a shaky hand, she heard the sound of footsteps.

Standing in the doorway wearing round glasses, a pastel green sweater, a flowy floral skirt, and slip-on shoes was none other than Professor Clawthorne. The professor's usually straight hair had been pulled back into a loose bun at the base of her neck. A few loose strands framed her elegant face. Amity couldn't stop herself from staring with wide eyes.

"No, no, no, no," the teacher shook her head as she approached the girl. She pulled the book from Amity's hand and placed it on the desk behind her. "We will not be studying tonight, Miss Blight. Please choose a book you will enjoy ."

"I…I do enjoy studying, Professor."

The older witch simply stepped past Amity to the fiction books. She skimmed the titles with her finger, her eyes searching for something. When she landed on the familiar title, she grinned and pulled it from the shelf. She had seen her student read through the series The Good Witch Azura multiple times over the months and noticed she never read beyond book four. She wondered if the student knew there was a fifth book. Amity's eyes somehow grew even wider at the sight of the book.

"Forgive me if I am wrong, but wouldn't you prefer to read this ?"

" You have the fifth book?"

"I have all of them if you'd prefer another," Lilith gestured to the shelf behind her. While she had hoped the student would be happy to see the familiar titles, she did not reveal that she purchased them shortly after seeing Miss Blight read them. She knew it was unlikely Miss Blight would ever know she read them, but she wanted to understand her apprentice better.

"No…this is perfect."

"Wonderful!" Lilith squeezed Amity's shoulder then and waved for her to follow as she left the room.

The pair walked to the kitchen where Lilith pulled several glasses from the cabinets before opening her fridge and pulling out a pitcher of what appeared to be a tea of some kind. She placed the items on a tray and asked Amity to carry her book before walking her to a glass french door in the dining room. The student opened the door for the professor, still in awe. They stepped out onto a patio just adjacent to the main garden. It was covered by a lavender and ivy-decorated pergola and was filled with pretty, light rattan chairs and decorative pillows. The space was classy and eclectic at the same time.

The student continued to stay quiet as her professor retrieved a small basket with a blanket in it and began leading her through the main part of the garden. She listened intently, wishing she had her notebook, as Professor Clawthorne described each plant in great detail. Her affection for the foliage was clear. She touched each leaf gently and was deliberate with each fruit she plucked and placed it in the basket. While listening to the older witch teach history lessons in class was one of Amity's new favorite things, she sensed this particular lesson would surpass it.

Once they'd looped through most of the rows of plants, Lilith brought the girl to a massive tree that appeared to be nearly wilting over a small stream. Its branches hung limply, leaning in one direction and creating a gentle shade. The professor gently placed the tray of beverages on the ground before pulling the blanket from the basket and laying it out on the grass. She carefully smoothed it out before laying the tray on it, kicking her shoes off, and walking around to sit on it. She patted the spot beside her, smiling up at Amity.

Amity sat the books down before pulling each of her boots off and placing them neatly at the edge of the blanket. She cautiously sat down, repeatedly glancing up at the professor out of fear she was doing something incorrectly. Lilith, on the other hand, watched with gentle eyes as she noticed how nervous Amity was about relaxing. She was uncertain at first but now knew this was likely a very important lesson for the girl.

After the student was seated, without saying a word, Lilith picked up her book, stretched out on her back, crossed her ankles, and began reading. She hoped her student would follow her lead and permit herself to experience the afternoon off. Amity picked up her book and cautiously mimicked her professor's relaxed actions.

"Please, if you are hungry or thirsty, help yourself," the professor didn't look away from her book when she spoke and Amity nodded.

The pair laid in peaceful silence, the only sound being chirps of various birds and the turning pages in their books. Amity couldn't help but steal glances at her professor. She had never seen her so relaxed…ever. She was just so different. It wasn't only the lack of punishment for her poor marks she found so astonishing. It was Lilith's entire persona outside of school. She wasn't sure what it was about the change, but she enjoyed it.

Lilith looked up and caught Amity's curious eyes. She offered another kind smile and pushed herself up, laying the book face down. Still not speaking, she poured the tea into each glass and passed one to Amity, who gratefully accepted it. Amity watched as she pulled the fruit basket closer and began picking through it. Once again following her lead, Amity pushed herself up and sat cross-legged across from Lilith.

"How do you feel now?"

"I'm afraid," both witches were surprised by Amity's vulnerability but Lilith was especially grateful.

"Afraid," Lilith stated simply, contemplating the response. She handed a handful of berries to the teenager. "Afraid of?"

"I don't understand why we aren't studying," Amity sighed, partially avoiding the question and popping a sweet berry into her mouth. It was delightful. "What will I tell my parents?"

Her face paled upon the realization and Lilith felt her chest tighten in response to the girl's frightened expression.

"What time is it?" Amity startled, glancing at her scroll. It was after 1600. "Oh no…oh no, oh no, oh no. Professor Clawthorne, it was highly generous of you to bring me here and share your things with me. My parents were expecting me home over an hour ago. They're going to want to know why I was late and what happened. This is not good."

"Wait," the teacher stood beside her and placed her hand on Amity's arm. "Please. I had the office staff call your father before I signed you out of school. They know you are with me. You are welcome to leave any time, however, please don't do it out of fear of repercussions."

"You told them about my test?"

"I did not," the professor looked sheepish now as she realized she would have to expose a white lie. "I may have told them we were working on your quarterly project. It was not a lie…I do believe this will serve your future studies. Though, I know your parents may not fully understand and didn't need the minuscule details."

"Why did you do that?" Amity asked softly, feeling just as nervous about her professor's understanding. She couldn't comprehend why the woman would preemptively cover for her. It wasn't as if she knew what was in store for Amity if they knew the truth.

"Have a seat, Amity," Professor Clawthorne sighed, now sitting cross-legged to mirror the way Amity sat before. "Amity, you must make time to rest and relax. If you spend every waking hour working towards perfection you will exhaust yourself. You will burn out and you will not thrive. As your mentor, it is my duty to ensure you thrive. I am also fairly familiar with your parents, and Blight Industries…I imagine you experience a tremendous amount of pressure at home. I am… sorry for my dishonesty. However, I truly do believe I made the right decision here."

Amity felt her eyes begin to water with fresh tears. Her professor was entirely right about the pressure and no one else had ever acknowledged this before. She was uncertain of the stuff about resting, but she simultaneously didn't want their time by the stream to end.

"How about the two of us make something to eat and I fly you home?"

"You don't have to feed me,"

"It's my pleasure," Lilith picked up the basket and slid her shoes back on while Amity put her boots on.

The two witches walked back to the house and into the kitchen. Lilith discarded the basket, making a mental note to retrieve it before bed. She had Amity take a seat on one of the two stools at her island. The student watched patiently as Lilith tossed together a salad of some kind. Her professor was, unsurprisingly, very confident and comfortable in the kitchen. Something was soothing about the scene to Amity, watching her professor put together a meal after an afternoon of reading and snacks. Her mother, Odalia, would never.

Lilith served both salads and sat directly beside Amity. She appeared to be deep in her thoughts for a moment. Deciding to go out on a limb, she turned and smiled at her student.

"So, what do you think of the start of book 5?"

"You've read The Good Witch ?"

"You got this one from my library," Lilith giggled, more relaxed around Amity than she'd been around anyone in a very long time. "Which, by the way, because I've read it, you're more than welcome to borrow."

"Oh my…" Amity felt her chest tighten with affection for the gesture. "I… thank you. My mother doesn't like that I read these. I may have to keep it in your office."

"Why?" Lilith couldn't refrain from snorting at the comment. Of course, Odalia doesn't like them.

"She…she says the relationship between Azura and Hecate is disgraceful," Amity mumbles, her cheeks pink, and Lilith's jaw drops.

"That's why you don't have the fifth book?"

"She is under the impression I burned the first four as well."

Lilith sat and digested everything Amity shared with her, chewing her food as an excuse to pause. It hadn't occurred to her that Amity's parents could be homophobic. It was becoming increasingly rare on the Isles but was far from extinct. Of course, Amity's traditionalist parents were overly concerned with such hateful ideologies. She looked at her student, knowing such comments could have a hefty impact on her should she be interested in female and gender non-conforming witches. She could see Amity's glassy hazel eyes and feared that it was too late. Like Lilith as a teenager, she'd already internalized her parent's beliefs. As much as Lilith swore herself to privacy, she couldn't seem to stop herself from opening then.

"I haven't had the time to participate in romantic relationships myself," Lilith spoke slowly. I'm not sure I'm particularly interested either, she thought. Amity looked up at her, her eyes widening. "However, I've…I've always been particularly attracted to feminine witches myself. The feelings a witch can have for another witch when in a partnership…nothing about it could ever be disgraceful. It's quite beautiful, as a matter of fact."

"You're…you're?" Amity's eyes widened. She was afraid to make any accusations.

"Yes," Lilith smiled fondly at the girl. "I suppose that would make me like Azura and Hecate."

"I am too," Amity whispered. "I haven't told anyone that before. Professor, I had no idea. You…you are…truly amazing."

Lilith reached out to squeeze her student's shoulder.

"I could say the same about you. Please, eat. I don't want my apprentice to be hungry."

After finishing their food, it was growing late. Amity stalled leaving by slowly helping Lilith clean the kitchen. Once they finished, Amity took it upon herself to unload the fruit onto Lilith's decorative fruit basket and into the proper fridge shelves. Lilith watched patiently, not used to other witches utilizing her things in her space. Despite years of feeling overly protective of her space, this felt different. She trusted the girl.

The two shut off the lights and Lilith donned her cloak before bringing the girl back to her staff outside. She double-checked her protective charms before helping the girl onto the staff. After Amity was secure, she climbed on and wrapped her arms around the girl again. Amity's hair smelled sweet, like flowers, to the point that it was almost distracting. Lilith suppressed the warmth that overcame her as she rose into the air and began the trip towards the Blight manor. She never wanted to let Amity off of the staff if it meant keeping her safe in her arms.

Whoa, Lilith, where did that come from? The witch surprised herself.

Upon arriving, the two slowly dismounted in the driveway, and Lilith walked Amity to the door. While standing there, she realized her hair was still up and unraveled it, closing her cloak around her body to not expose her less professional appearance to whoever came to the door. She used a spell circle to put her glasses away. The witch turned to face Amity, placing her spare hand on the student's shoulder again.

"Miss Blight," she cleared her throat. "I updated my protection charms to let you into my property should you need anything. I do not care what time of day. If you need somewhere to go, you are welcome at my home. You will be safe to enter, even if I am away."

"Th-thank you," Amity's heart pounded in her chest at the idea of visiting her professor again. She was surprised by Lilith's generosity.

"I will stay here until you are inside," she spoke again and began knocking on the large door.

When it opened, she was surprised to be face-to-face with none other than Odalia Blight, instead of an abomination acting as a butler. Odalia hadn't changed very much since their Hexside years. The woman was of shorter stature, like Amity, and was much curvier than the tall professor. She colored her hair bright green and was still wearing her business attire, even after 1800 hours. Lilith and Odalia were never particularly fond of one another. Despite her newfound adoration for the woman's youngest daughter, Lilith observed Odalia to be self-righteous and self-entitled. After her findings that day, she felt rage begin to simmer in the pit of her abdomen.

"Oh! Coveness Clawthorne," Odalia spoke with a superficially chipper tone, bowing her head. "I was not expecting a visit."

"I felt it was important to fly Miss Blight home," Lilith spoke smoothly, her political persona switched back to "on."

"I hope she wasn't a bother this evening," the mother glowered at her child and Lilith felt her chest tightening.

"Miss Blight is a wonderful apprentice and never a bother," Lilith shook her head curtly. "Thank you for sharing her for the evening. She is making tremendous progress and is well on her way to a future in the Emperor's Coven."

"Oh…alright," Odalia spoke awkwardly. "You must be on your way. You both have an early day tomorrow. Have a good evening, Coveness."

"You as well," Lilith nodded one more time and turned to Amity, resisting the urge to snatch the girl back onto her staff and take off with her. "Thank you for this evening, Miss Blight. It was a privilege to work with you on this project."

Amity whispered a thank you and bowed her head, for her mother's sake, before watching as her professor took off on her staff. Her mother grabbed her wrist then, bursting the bubble Amity had been secured in all night and yanked her inside once the professor was out of sight. She sighed, defeated. She should have known that even Professor Clawthorne's reassurance that she would not be protected from her mother's wrath. Amity wasn't aware of it yet, but her mother's behavior was never truly about her, to begin with.