A sudden sharp rapping at the door set Hecate's heart to hammering at a rapid beat. She swung the door open in frustration, preparing to berate the insufferable fool who dared disturb her at this late hour.
"How dare you – Ada?"
Hecate's eyes widened, as if frightened. She searched Ada's face for any reason for alarm; surely there was some catastrophe brewing if she were here at this hour.
"What's happened?" Hecate asked breathlessly, tugging her dressing gown tighter around her body.
"A very good question," Ada answered calmly.
Hecate frowned, confusion addling her weary mind.
"Come inside," she offered, deciding from Ada's relaxed and serene expression that there mustn't be anyone in imminent danger.
Hecate closed the door behind them and waited patiently for Ada to explain. Ada's eyes flitted to Hecate's long, loose locks flowing down her shoulders. Her hands forever ached to run her fingers through those dark, silky tendrils no matter how many times she had been treated to this softened side of her Deputy Headmistress. Hecate shifted her weight from one foot to the other and cleared her throat quietly, appearing suddenly uneasy under her intense gaze.
"How could you, Hecate?" Ada asked with more gentleness to her tone than her words themselves belied as she held up the empty vial of powder.
Hecate swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. Her cheeks drained of their color, and her lips parted slightly.
"I-I…" she stammered. "S-sorry. I just… I know I said too much. I never should have told you…"
She shut her eyes tightly for a moment as she willed her whirring thoughts to untangle.
"Don't worry, Ada," she said, her voice quavering slightly as her gaze dropped to the floor. "I would never let my… feelings get in the way of my duties here at the school."
It was Ada's turn to be taken aback with confusion.
"I wasn't questioning your feelings, Hecate," she said gently, stepping forward to take Hecate's hand carefully into her own. "I was questioning why you thought it prudent to try and hide such a thing from me."
To be continued