Chapter 22

Roz had hurried over to her best friend's house after the urgent call. Sabrina sounded worried on the phone, indicating that their conversation needed to happen in person. That didn't bode well for the conversation. Roz also didn't know what she would be walking into. Not that long ago they spoke on the phone and everything seemed fine. She was filled with fear on the drive to the Spellman home. It did seem suspicious that when they hung up Sabrina said she was going to see Nick and not long after she got a frantic call from her friend. Had she seen Nick? If she did, what exactly did he tell her? How much did he tell her?

Her heart was racing as she drove down the long stretch of road that led up to the Spellman home. She needed to stay calm. She could be overreacting. But what could have Sabrina so upset? Why did she need to see her now? What was it that couldn't wait? She parked her car in the driveway and took a few deep breaths before getting out of the car and heading to the front door. It was eerily quiet and that was saying a lot considering she was at a mortuary run by witches. She went to knock on the door, but paused for a moment. She wanted to turn around and run. Whatever was waiting for her on the other side of the door couldn't be good.

The thought was fleeting and moot because a second later, the door swung open and she came face to face with Prudence. There was something different about the way the witch was staring at her. Usually Prudence didn't hide the fact that she was disgusted with her. It was the look Prudence reserved for all of Sabrina's mortal friends. Even after years of living among them and a trip to Hell, Prudence still had a disdain for non-witches. But today, that wasn't the look Roz was getting. It still wasn't a joyful look, but also something was a little more…accepting?

"Um, is Sabrina home? She called me and asked me to come over," Roz said.

Prudence looked Roz up and down and nodded. "They're all in Sister Zelda's office," she replied. "Follow me."

Sister Zelda? Roz didn't hear Ms. Spellman referred to as Sister Zelda often, but when she did it usually had to do with their church. She followed Prudence through the house. The last time she had been in this part of the house was when her grandmother passed away. They would have to pass the parlor that Nick laid in for weeks as he recovered from his time with the Dark Lord trapped in him. It wasn't her favorite part of the house.

Roz paused when she saw the table he laid on, fighting for his life as he bled from the deep wounds inflicted on him - both physical and mental. It was where she got to know Nick. She saw what he had been through, his darkest nightmares. And he had seen hers. She unwittingly shared her darkest fears and secrets with him through her unwittingly became a bearer of secrets. Roz knew that Nick knew her secrets and apparently he knew Billy's. There was no doubt in her mind that he also knew everyone else's. When you think someone is in a coma, you tend to say whatever is on your mind. They all should have known it would come back to them.

Prudence knocked on one of the double doors to the office to announce their arrival.

"Come in," Zelda could be heard saying from inside the room.

Prudence opened the door and held it open for the other girl, waiting for her to walk in. But Roz didn't move. She was frozen. What was she about to walk into? Everything felt off. Her heart was racing as she continued to stare at Prudence. The witch looked into the room then back at Roz. She let the door go and walked over to her.

"You have to trust me," she whispered. "It is absolutely dire that you go into that room. However, you are not to show any fear. Is that understood?"

"What?" Roz asked, completely confused. "Telling me not to be afraid is a little scary."

"I cannot say more, but you have to trust me. I'll be right behind you. Come." Prudence walked back over to the door and held it open for Roz once more. She motioned for her to enter with a nod of the head and Roz's feet began to move as if they had a mind of their own.

Roz walked toward the office slowly. A million things were running through her mind as she approached the threshold. as she turned the corner, she could see Zelda sitting behind her desk with a serious expression on her face. Both her hands were flat against the desk and a black box right in front of her. Hilda stood behind her with a hand on the back of Zelda's chair. Her expression showed more concern. Ambrose sat on the edge of the window sill in the back left corner of the room. All eyes were on Roz when she stepped into the room.

"Miss Walker," Zelda greeted, "Mister Scratch has brought it to our attention that you are hiding a little secret. He says he was made aware of something very…concerning." Zelda's eyes shifted to the seat in front of her and to her left.

Roz followed the path of her gaze. She hadn't noticed earlier, but Nick sat in the chair closest to her. He wasn't looking up. His had his right ankle resting on his left knee as he tapped on the side of his shoe with his fingers on his left hand. His right hand was extended over the armrest and held onto a petite, pale hand. Sabrina's hand. Sabina was rubbing her thumb over the back of Nick's hand as if she were trying to calm him with the gentle motion.

Roz wasn't sure what she was expecting when Sabrina looked up at her. What secret had Nick told them that it required an entire room of witches to gather? For the look that Sabrina was giving her, only one secret came to mind.

"What did you tell them?" Roz heard herself asking out loud.

Roz stared down at Nick, but he stayed silent as the pace of his tapping quickened. She couldn't believe this was happening. She had trusted him and he ran straight to the Spellmans - not even just Sabrina, but her whole family. Now she was being interrogated as if she had done something terrible. The longer he stayed silent, the angrier she got.

"Seriously? You can't even look at me?" she spat angrily. "I trusted you, Nick. My choices are mine to make. I expected the things I tell you to stay between us."

"I couldn't lie to Sabrina," was all Nick said, his eyes still cast downward. "Besides, you shouldn't have known."

Before Roz could question what Nick meant, Ambrose hopped off his perch. "Rosalind, what exactly do you remember about what happened between Theo and Billy?" the warlock asked.

Roz looked over at Ambrose. Why was he bringing that up? What did Nick mean when he said she shouldn't have known? He had said something similar this morning as well.

"Billy kissed Theo," Roz replied. "Some of the guys on the wrestling team saw and attacked Theo. That's when Harvey and Nick jumped in. Sabrina saw it all happen too."

"Yes, she did, but we knew she would remember. You, on the other hand, should not have."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because Ambrose and I casted a spell to wipe that memory from everyone's minds," Prudence responded as she went to stand beside Ambrose.

"But Nick and Sabrina remember."

"Because they're witches," Ambrose replied. "The specific spell we casted wiped the memory of mortals. We thought it was important someone remembered what happened, so we left the memory fully intact for witches and warlocks to recall."

"But I remember."

"And that's why we're here," Sabrina said softly. "Roz, Nick told me because…well, we think that you might be…one of us."

Roz looked around the room, all the Spellmens were staring at her with serious looks. "This is a joke, right?" she laughed. When no one's expression changed, she stopped laughing and shook her head. "No. I…I can't be a…no. My dad's a preacher. There has to be a mistake."

"There's no mistake," Ambrose said. "I've been doing spells like this for over a century. If you were mortal, you wouldn't remember at all."

No, Roz thought. There had to be an explanation. Something. Anything. "My cunning," Roz said quickly. "Maybe it's because I have the cunning."

"We considered that," Hilda said. "We took into consideration that every Walker woman for the last several generations has developed the cunning at sixteen."

"The same time witches would be having their dark baptism and fully coming into their powers," Zelda added. "It is our belief that your family has been one of the many witches that hid in plain site during the trials of the Greendale Thirteen and continued to hide by not cultivating all their powers. All except one: the gift of sight."

"Love, we know this is a lot to think about," Hilda said sympathetically.

"Yea, it is," Roz sighed. "I…I can't be a witch. Harvey…this is going to crush him."

"He'll understand," Sabrina said.

"He didn't when…" Roz stopped herself when she realized what she was saying. The damage had already been done. She saw her friend's face deflate. "Oh, Sabrina, I didn't…I'm sorry."

Sabrina just smiled. "It's ok, really. I know this is a lot to take in. In three years, you only found out that witches exist and all of a sudden you're supposed to accept the fact that you might be one. It isn't easy, but we're here for you. We all are."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Roz took another deep breath and let it out slowly. "So, how are we supposed to find out if I am or not?"

"That's where I come in, cheri," an unfamiliar voice said. Roz turned around to see a tall, slender Haitian woman wearing a karabela and a matching head wrap at the door. "This is the child?" she asked as she looked Roz up and down.

"I'm not really a child. I'm 18," Roz noted.

The woman laughed. "I like this one. She has spunk." The woman stood in front of Roz and stared into her eyes, examining them intently.

"Roz, this is Mambo Marie," Prudence introduced. "Ambrose and I met her last year when we were hunting down my father."

"I am a Voodoo Priestess." Roz scoffed, causing Marie to raise a brow. "You do not believe? Even with your gift, you do not see what is right in front of you?"

"Witches cursed my family," Roz stated.

"If a witch were to curse you, we would not give you a gift as precious as sight. We do not give, we take. There are ways to see if you are one of us. There is the witch's mark. These two men would strip you down and search every inch of your body for the mark."

Roz looked over at Nick and Ambrose, both who looked extremely uncomfortable. "Why them? Couldn't Sabrina or Hilda look?"

"Our kind is ruled by a patriarchy," Zelda said solemnly. "Even with the Dark Lord no longer in power, we still must abide by our traditions. Ambrose and Nicholas would act in lieu of the counsel and be the ones to carry this out. It is not recognized by the church if a woman finds the mark."

"That is absolutely sexist!"

"And unnecessary to bring up," Nick stated. "I've already said I'm not doing it."

"Nor will I," Ambrose added.

"That brings us to our second test," Marie said.

"What are you going to tie me to a post and drown me?" Roz joked bitterly.

"We could, but then I would have more souls to tend to and I'm already quite busy," another voice said.

The voice sent chills down Roz's spine. She didn't recognize the voice, but she knew it didn't belong to someone with the best of intentions. Even though she didn't recognize the voice, it still sounded vaguely familiar. Like a whisper in a dream. Or a nightmare. In the corner of her eye, she could see Nick's face turn pale, his breathing became shallow, and his grip on Sabrina's hand tightened. His annoying tapping had also stopped.

Roz could hear the clicking of heels against the hardwood floor as their latest guest walked toward Zelda's desk. She couldn't have been much older than Roz or Sabrina. She wore a black dress with flecks of gold in it. Her dark brown hair was in a bun and held together by a clip that unsettlingly looked like a skeletal hand. Her brown eyes stood out against the paleness of her skin.

"What is she doing here?" Sabrina asked. Roz noticed her friend was also tense. "I thought we agreed she wouldn't be called until we found out."

"That's not a very nice welcome for old friends."

"Friends?" Sabrina laughed. "Yea, I don't think that's what I would call you."

"Seriously Sabrina, even after I took care of your boyfriend for you? I thought I would get a little appreciation for keeping him alive in Hell."

"Wait," Roz interrupted. "Lilith?!"

"See, that's more of a greeting I'd have preferred," Lilith smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Roz asked.

"My job of course. As the new ruler of Hell, I am required to ensure the devotion of all witch-kind."

"You're going to make her sign the Book of the Beast? When said beast is currently trapped in Father Blackwood in Hell. Wouldn't this just give him more power?" Sabrina asked.

"A lot of good questions. Nicholas, was the struggle harder when people would pray to the Dark Lord?"

"Yea, screw you," Nick spat. He finally looked up, pure hatred in his eyes.

"I offered and you declined. That's why we don't get along now after all that time together."

"We don't get along because you tortured me for a year."

"You agreed to house the Dark Lord."

"I didn't agree to getting carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey," Nick shouted as he jumped to his feet. Sabrina was quick to her feet as well, holding onto Nick's arm in an attempt to keep him from doing something he'd regret. "I didn't agree to that behemoth Orion trying to murder me like something out of Game of Thrones because I wouldn't have sex with you."

"Oook, I can't believe I'm saying this, but can we get back to me possibly being a witch and not this weird non-, almost demonic sex triangle? I'm not even going to ask why Lilith suddenly now looks like a teenager," Roz said, desperate to change the subject. "Let's say I agree to this test and it turns out that I am a witch. Why is it so important that everyone had to gather her to tell me about it?"

"Because it's a sign," Nick replied. "When I was in Hell, Edward warned me about disrupting the balance of power. Lucifer set off a chain of events that is going to forever change the mortal, infernal and the celestial realms. And by forever change I mean destroy them along with every being within the realms - both mortal and immortal."

Roz stared at Nick. "It's that dream isn't it?" she asked barely above a whisper.

Nick nodded. "The fact that you even know I've had it confirms that it's you," he said.

"I'm sorry, what dream?" Ambrose asked.

"Is that why we're friends?" Roz asked, completely ignoring Ambrose's question. "Because I know about it? Were you just keeping an eye on me?"

Nick shook his head and took a step toward his friend. "Of course not. We're friends because you're an amazing person. But that amazing person can also be a spectacular witch."

"What does me being a witch have to do with any of this?"

"You'll be able to see it coming," Sabrina answered. "Your ability to see things that aren't just in the past or the present is vital. It's a lot to ask of you, but you can help save us all."

"What if I can't? What if I fail?"

"It will be a risk we have to be willing to take," Prudence said.

"Cherie mwen," Marie said softly, taking Roz's hands in her own. "I have traveled a long way from home just to meet you. Your Nana Ruth wanted to protect you so she told you a ti manti - a small lie. If you do not believe me, she can tell you herself."

Marie gently tapped Roz's forehead with her middle and index finger. Immediately, Roz gasped and her eyes widened as her mind flooded with images only she could see. Sabrina took a step forward, worried for her friend, but Nick stopped her. Somehow he knew that interrupting whatever was happening would have dire consequences. They all had no choice but to wait until Roz came back to them. It took a moment, but she finally let out a long sigh and almost fell over as she regained her consciousness. Nick caught her and helped her into the chair he had been sitting in.

"Welcome back," Marie smiled. "Do you believe me now?" Roz nodded. Marie's smile grew as she clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! So, we will proceed, no?"

Roz looked up at Sabrina for reassurance. Sabrina took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Ok," Roz said finally. "What do we do?"

"It's a very simple test, especially for a seer," Zelda said as she ran her hands over the black box sitting on her desk. "You will stay here with Mambo Marie and Prudence and they will conduct the test. This is not only to confirm whether or not you are a witch, but to see where we can hone and improve your skills."

"Then what?"

"Then we discuss how we can stop the end of days," Lilith half-joked.

"Can Sabrina come with me?" Roz asked.

"I'm sorry, darling, but this is something you're going to have to do on your own," Hilda responded sympathetically.

"We should get going, " Prudence said. "The sooner we find out the better."

Roz stood and immediately pulled Sabrina into a hug. She held back tears as she tightened her hug. She was afraid. How could she not be? Her life was about to change dramatically. Everything she knew about her life and herself was about to change. Then there was Harvey. How was he going to react? Would he accept her? Or would he leave her like he had Sabrina? Despite the gravity of the situation, all Roz cared about was Harvey and how this was going to affect him. How would it affect their relationship?

"It's going to be ok," Sabrina whispered to her friend. She released Roz and gave her a smile. "We'll be here waiting for you."

Roz nodded before turning and following Marie and Prudence out of the house. Nick and Sabrina waited for everyone to clear the room. She turned to her boyfriend and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. He hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. The last few days had been stressful, exhilarating, and tiring all at the same time.

"She'll be ok, right?" Sabrina asked against his chest.

"Of course she will," Nick reassured his girlfriend. "This is a good thing. In the end, she can save us."

"But she's going to have to tell Harvey. He left me because I'm a witch."

Nick frowned as he let out a heavy sigh. "Harvey's a damn fool for letting you go, but I have to say, I'm kind of glad he did."

Sabrina smiled up at her boyfriend. "So am I." She rose on the tips of her toes and gave him a soft kiss on his lips.

"Harvey will be fine. He knows Roz. He'll know that she didn't know what she was or she would have told him. I just feel bad for blabbing her secret."

"Hey, you did the right thing. If she had said something about what Billy did, that can set off a chain of events that could lead to people going crazy or worse: another Greendale witch hunt."

"I guess you're right."

"I am right," Sabrina teased. Her smile slowly faded as she stared up at him. "Nick?"

The look she was giving him was one he knew too well. Something was weighing on her mind and her heart. This was beyond concern for her friend though. This was something else.

"What's wrong Sabrina?" he asked.

"There's nothing else you have to tell me about last night, is there?" she asked.

She wanted him to tell her about the conversation he had with Roz before the incident with Billy and Theo. In all honesty, she thought that's what he had come to talk to her about when he knocked on her door this evening. She was more anxious than anything about what they could have talked about that led to Roz crying on his shoulder. She didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but there was something he was hiding. She held her breath as she waited for his response.

"No," he said easily. "nothing at all."