04 - Getting To Know You
"So how old were you when that happened?" Asked Imogen
"About four!" Constance's comic timing was spot on and the two women roared with laughter. It was such an unusual sound in the bleak corridors and dungeons of the castle. What was even more unusual was that one of the women was Constance Hardbroom. Imogen had only arrived two days ago, but since they'd called a truce, they appeared to be fast becoming the best of friends. They'd been chatting and laughing in the library for almost two hours. It was late in the evening and both women were drinking a large, steaming mug of coca.
"I didn't realise that you had such a wicked sense of humour." Imogen spoke honestly.
"There was never really a time and a place for it I suppose. I know what you're thinking, but it's my job to be the bad guy, to discipline and educate. Your teaching style is vastly different to mine, and our subjects are vastly different too." Constance knew she was being defensive, but it was truthful. The girls couldn't have it easy all the time, it would never teach them anything.
"You know, you could lighten up occasionally?" Imogen ventured with a smirk. Constance was about to protest, but took one look at Imogen and they broke out into laughter. Constance drained the last of her drink and left it on the coffee table.
"Well, I'm calling it a night, see you in the morning Imogen." Constance leaned over and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Night Constance." Imogen was left with a warm and contented feeling in her soul, long after Constance had gone to bed. She stayed up another couple of hours, simply relaxing in the armchair. Morganna had gradually gotten to know the PE teacher and was curled up beside Imogen's feet, purring in contentment. This was probably the first time Imogen had relaxed in a number of years. She loved her exercise and her camping/adventure holidays, but the chance to actually sit and have a rest to too good an opportunity to miss. And Imogen was revelling in it. The chance to get to know Constance better was another opportunity she was determined not to waste. This woman was becoming a good friend, instead of the tyrant she liked to portray. Imogen tried to spend the hours she had to herself sorting through her feelings. She'd finally acknowledged to herself that Serge had been right. The closer she was getting to Constance the harder it been to deny it. She'd fallen for the potions teacher hook, line and sinker. She didn't know why, when or how, but the butterflies in her stomach or the feeling of her heart skipping a beat every time she walked into a room were a good indication. Imogen couldn't believe that she was thinking this way so soon after her break up with Serge, but she had known it wasn't right well before then. When they had met on the camping trip there was an amount of sexual desire. Imogen had been without a partner for some time and he was handsome, charming and interested in her too. After a few dates it had revolved pretty much around sex and not much else. Somewhere in her subconscious a desire to be loved and in a proper fully satisfying relationship had emerged and Constance had been the object of her desire for more than six months. Imogen gently woke the sleeping cat and went up to bed, Morganna following her every move.
After a few days they had gotten themselves into a simple routine; Imogen managed to keep up with her exercise routine by running in the woods at daybreak, an aerobics session in the afternoon, capped off with yoga in the evening She'd tried to get Constance involved, but hadn't quite managed to yet. Constance also got up at the crack of dawn and exercised her magic. Imogen had laughed when Constance had first told her, but once she'd alluded the routine to warming up and down before physical exercise Imogen had realised that it was very important. She'd even sat in on a couple of sessions. Constance's magic still amazed her. To zap something into oblivion with her fingertips, and then in the next instant create a bouquet of flowers, it was awesome to watch. They continued to talk about their childhoods, why Constance felt the fear of god when Heckity Broomhead was around, and what made Imogen come to a witch school to teach. They also continued to tell jokes and laughed until they cried.
Imogen had even got into reading again, and was trying to make her way through the non-spells and non-witch section. She sat in the library with Constance who was studying. They sat in companionable silence, occasionally one or the other would get up and make some tea and perhaps bring out some biscuits. Sometimes their eyes met across the room, brief courtesy smiles turned into lingering lustful glances. Something was happening, the atmosphere was gradually changing, becoming heavy with desire. It was becoming increasingly harder for the women to deny or at least set aside their feelings. The more they laughed, the closer they become. Goodnight pecks on the cheek turned into a warm kiss on the lips. Morganna refused to leave Imogen alone, Constance couldn't understand why, but Imogen had a feeling the cat was sizing her up.
Imogen was extremely curious as to what Constance was studying. She always seemed to be so engrossed in what she was doing (apart from the times she'd been caught staring at her). One afternoon she brought out tea and some cake that she'd made earlier that morning. The smell of freshly baked cake hit Constance's nose. She inhaled the smell and put down her book and pen.
"Mmmm that smells wonderful. What have you been up to?" Her tone was light and playful, seemingly grateful at the interruption.
"Well, I hope you don't mind. I made one of my favourite cakes, my mum's recipe. I know you don't really eat cake, but I thought you could at least try a bit." Imogen had worked very hard on the cake, she wasn't a particularly good cook, but she could do cakes. She was desperate for Constance's approval. Imogen felt there was little else she could do to impress the woman, so baking the cake was only thing she could come up with.
"Alright." Constance wasn't really keen, but faced with Imogen and her pleading eyes, Constance didn't have the heart to disappoint her.
"What? Really?" Imogen had thought that Constance would have with a bit of pushing, but she hadn't expected her to agree straight away.
"You really must stop being so surprised. It's your fault I'm 'loosening up!' " They laughed together while Imogen sliced the cake.
"Tell me about what you're studying. Are you taking exams or something?" Imogen was pleased she had managed to get the question in.
"I'm studying for my Witches Higher Teaching Certificate. There are ten parts and this is the last one. There is no qualification in teaching higher than that." There was a strong hint of pride in her voice.
"Why do you want to do it? Are you going to leave?" The thought of Constance leaving now was non-negotiable, Imogen didn't think her emotions could cope with it.
"I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. Not that I ever doubted it anyway. Even after this I shall keep learning. Where that will take me I don't know. I have nothing that keeps me here really, so if I have to leave then I will." Imogen's face fell on the statement. If she carried on talking like this it wouldn't be long before Imogen would give Constance a very good reason to stay. Then again, she may have all the more reason to leave. Anyway, what about Amelia and Davina and her classes?
"You can't leave, you have friends..."
"Not really. Amelia and I get on well enough, but at the end of the day she's my employer. I wouldn't invite her round for a social dinner." That was the last straw, Imogen needed to know if this burgeoning....friend/relationship...whatever it was, was worth the effort. If Constance didn't think enough of her then perhaps she should go to her mother's for the rest of the holidays.
"What about me?" Imogen hadn't meant to have sounded so desperate, her voice was meek, very unlike her. Constance didn't say a word for a good thirty seconds before she went over to Imogen and towered above her with her hand out. Imogen placed her hand in the one offered and was helped up from the settee. They were practically nose to nose. Constance lowered her head and kissed Imogen's cheek gently. Constance held either side of Imogen's face and kissed her on the lips, searing a feeling onto both their hearts that could never be recreated. Imogen responded immediately, there had been no time to think. Almost as soon as it began it ended as Constance suddenly realised what she had done. She took a long, silent look at Imogen and fled the room. Imogen sat back on the sofa, her brain doing overtime trying to work out what had just happened. Somewhere in the back of her brain one thought kept working it's way round; at least she had her answer.
end of chapter 04
"So how old were you when that happened?" Asked Imogen
"About four!" Constance's comic timing was spot on and the two women roared with laughter. It was such an unusual sound in the bleak corridors and dungeons of the castle. What was even more unusual was that one of the women was Constance Hardbroom. Imogen had only arrived two days ago, but since they'd called a truce, they appeared to be fast becoming the best of friends. They'd been chatting and laughing in the library for almost two hours. It was late in the evening and both women were drinking a large, steaming mug of coca.
"I didn't realise that you had such a wicked sense of humour." Imogen spoke honestly.
"There was never really a time and a place for it I suppose. I know what you're thinking, but it's my job to be the bad guy, to discipline and educate. Your teaching style is vastly different to mine, and our subjects are vastly different too." Constance knew she was being defensive, but it was truthful. The girls couldn't have it easy all the time, it would never teach them anything.
"You know, you could lighten up occasionally?" Imogen ventured with a smirk. Constance was about to protest, but took one look at Imogen and they broke out into laughter. Constance drained the last of her drink and left it on the coffee table.
"Well, I'm calling it a night, see you in the morning Imogen." Constance leaned over and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Night Constance." Imogen was left with a warm and contented feeling in her soul, long after Constance had gone to bed. She stayed up another couple of hours, simply relaxing in the armchair. Morganna had gradually gotten to know the PE teacher and was curled up beside Imogen's feet, purring in contentment. This was probably the first time Imogen had relaxed in a number of years. She loved her exercise and her camping/adventure holidays, but the chance to actually sit and have a rest to too good an opportunity to miss. And Imogen was revelling in it. The chance to get to know Constance better was another opportunity she was determined not to waste. This woman was becoming a good friend, instead of the tyrant she liked to portray. Imogen tried to spend the hours she had to herself sorting through her feelings. She'd finally acknowledged to herself that Serge had been right. The closer she was getting to Constance the harder it been to deny it. She'd fallen for the potions teacher hook, line and sinker. She didn't know why, when or how, but the butterflies in her stomach or the feeling of her heart skipping a beat every time she walked into a room were a good indication. Imogen couldn't believe that she was thinking this way so soon after her break up with Serge, but she had known it wasn't right well before then. When they had met on the camping trip there was an amount of sexual desire. Imogen had been without a partner for some time and he was handsome, charming and interested in her too. After a few dates it had revolved pretty much around sex and not much else. Somewhere in her subconscious a desire to be loved and in a proper fully satisfying relationship had emerged and Constance had been the object of her desire for more than six months. Imogen gently woke the sleeping cat and went up to bed, Morganna following her every move.
After a few days they had gotten themselves into a simple routine; Imogen managed to keep up with her exercise routine by running in the woods at daybreak, an aerobics session in the afternoon, capped off with yoga in the evening She'd tried to get Constance involved, but hadn't quite managed to yet. Constance also got up at the crack of dawn and exercised her magic. Imogen had laughed when Constance had first told her, but once she'd alluded the routine to warming up and down before physical exercise Imogen had realised that it was very important. She'd even sat in on a couple of sessions. Constance's magic still amazed her. To zap something into oblivion with her fingertips, and then in the next instant create a bouquet of flowers, it was awesome to watch. They continued to talk about their childhoods, why Constance felt the fear of god when Heckity Broomhead was around, and what made Imogen come to a witch school to teach. They also continued to tell jokes and laughed until they cried.
Imogen had even got into reading again, and was trying to make her way through the non-spells and non-witch section. She sat in the library with Constance who was studying. They sat in companionable silence, occasionally one or the other would get up and make some tea and perhaps bring out some biscuits. Sometimes their eyes met across the room, brief courtesy smiles turned into lingering lustful glances. Something was happening, the atmosphere was gradually changing, becoming heavy with desire. It was becoming increasingly harder for the women to deny or at least set aside their feelings. The more they laughed, the closer they become. Goodnight pecks on the cheek turned into a warm kiss on the lips. Morganna refused to leave Imogen alone, Constance couldn't understand why, but Imogen had a feeling the cat was sizing her up.
Imogen was extremely curious as to what Constance was studying. She always seemed to be so engrossed in what she was doing (apart from the times she'd been caught staring at her). One afternoon she brought out tea and some cake that she'd made earlier that morning. The smell of freshly baked cake hit Constance's nose. She inhaled the smell and put down her book and pen.
"Mmmm that smells wonderful. What have you been up to?" Her tone was light and playful, seemingly grateful at the interruption.
"Well, I hope you don't mind. I made one of my favourite cakes, my mum's recipe. I know you don't really eat cake, but I thought you could at least try a bit." Imogen had worked very hard on the cake, she wasn't a particularly good cook, but she could do cakes. She was desperate for Constance's approval. Imogen felt there was little else she could do to impress the woman, so baking the cake was only thing she could come up with.
"Alright." Constance wasn't really keen, but faced with Imogen and her pleading eyes, Constance didn't have the heart to disappoint her.
"What? Really?" Imogen had thought that Constance would have with a bit of pushing, but she hadn't expected her to agree straight away.
"You really must stop being so surprised. It's your fault I'm 'loosening up!' " They laughed together while Imogen sliced the cake.
"Tell me about what you're studying. Are you taking exams or something?" Imogen was pleased she had managed to get the question in.
"I'm studying for my Witches Higher Teaching Certificate. There are ten parts and this is the last one. There is no qualification in teaching higher than that." There was a strong hint of pride in her voice.
"Why do you want to do it? Are you going to leave?" The thought of Constance leaving now was non-negotiable, Imogen didn't think her emotions could cope with it.
"I just want to prove to myself that I can do it. Not that I ever doubted it anyway. Even after this I shall keep learning. Where that will take me I don't know. I have nothing that keeps me here really, so if I have to leave then I will." Imogen's face fell on the statement. If she carried on talking like this it wouldn't be long before Imogen would give Constance a very good reason to stay. Then again, she may have all the more reason to leave. Anyway, what about Amelia and Davina and her classes?
"You can't leave, you have friends..."
"Not really. Amelia and I get on well enough, but at the end of the day she's my employer. I wouldn't invite her round for a social dinner." That was the last straw, Imogen needed to know if this burgeoning....friend/relationship...whatever it was, was worth the effort. If Constance didn't think enough of her then perhaps she should go to her mother's for the rest of the holidays.
"What about me?" Imogen hadn't meant to have sounded so desperate, her voice was meek, very unlike her. Constance didn't say a word for a good thirty seconds before she went over to Imogen and towered above her with her hand out. Imogen placed her hand in the one offered and was helped up from the settee. They were practically nose to nose. Constance lowered her head and kissed Imogen's cheek gently. Constance held either side of Imogen's face and kissed her on the lips, searing a feeling onto both their hearts that could never be recreated. Imogen responded immediately, there had been no time to think. Almost as soon as it began it ended as Constance suddenly realised what she had done. She took a long, silent look at Imogen and fled the room. Imogen sat back on the sofa, her brain doing overtime trying to work out what had just happened. Somewhere in the back of her brain one thought kept working it's way round; at least she had her answer.
end of chapter 04