[Intermission, Part 2] Movie Days

Sunday, 8:54PM at Sunny Heights Apartments, Springfield

"Good morning, class. My name is Ms. Snick, and I will be covering your Literature course in the absence of Mrs. Flung... not that any of you hormone-horny cunt-gobs are even listening to an introduction more boring than boorish, less titillating than the twats and twitchers in your trousers- Hell take it all!"

Juniluny Snickerbottom was not as ready as she wished she was. She stared daggers into her own eyes; not even her favorite piece of furniture could bring her confidence or cheer for the heady task at hand. The man-sized vanity mirror, trimmed in gold and tinted silver in its reflection, showed all that she was: a thick halfling doing her damndest to appear to be a little person of Earth. She practiced her lectures in her underwear: her heavy F-cup tits, Ds on a human, were all but bursting out of her lacy, rose-studded bra while her wide hips strained against the matching pink thong. The room behind her reflection was mostly barren: an old-fashioned wooden chest gilded in brass contained her wardrobe and, on command, would grow hundreds of tiny legs and slowly walk to wherever she wanted to put it down. A plain white futon was splayed messily on the floor. Outside the room, the rest of her dingy apartment-“spacious” for one of her kind, the ape-like landlord had promised-remained unfurnished.

She rubbed her chest through the bra, wincing in discomfort. Her stocky build was all the rage in hobbit culture, but the human world proved far less accommodating for a girl with a torso and tits so mismatched by human standards. Her black hair was a mess, framed by the huge, pointed ears of halflings, but all this would be hidden by glamours and an expensive, tailored suit come Monday morning. Her plan had been so simple, perhaps too simple: she already cursed the venerable Mrs. Flung with maladies toned down from their usual strength, forcing the Literature instructor to take a few weeks off. The halfling warlock had also managed to sneak into Ashcroft to drop off her fake ID, fake job history, and fake reasons for preference of her as a sub over simply cancelling the class. It only struck her this morning that she might not find her targets quickly... and that would mean maintaining the cover identity.

What does this sodding Academy even teach?! To think I’m supposed to talk about the colour red for half a bloody day over some tripe called “The Heart of Darkness”-which, contrary to the title, has nothing to do with umbral anatomy-and also find that twat Gorbachev and this John Newman kid... to Hell with it. “Maybe I ought to shut the kids up and play a movie,” she muttered to her reflection.

“We have very strict policies about movie days,” her reflection replied.

Reality quivered, and the Cabalist reached into the dark seed at her core. Cabal magic was as personal as it was ritualistic; the correct finger motions for most, the right syllables for the good, the right sigils for the strongest, but every spell required a bit of the caster’s heart, a crumb of their being, to truly flourish. Juniluny was under attack. Worse, she had been trapped in her own brand new apartment... even with its brand new traps and snares. None had gone off, and now the real version of her home was very far away.

She touched the darkness in her heart and lashed her fingers into the proper shapes-circle, spear, horns, dharma, war-as her hands remained at her sides. A quasi-physical sheath coated her body and set her skin to glow a fluorescent purple; her defenses were up, but the enemy remained hidden. She held her breath as she looked about for threats. The barrier encompassed her bedroom and barely any inches beyond; an intimate opponent, then. Fool; I excel up close most of all! “Pray show yourself... before I reveal you most painfully.”

“You were sloppy,” came a feminine voice.

A gentle tap on the floor to Juni’s back. She glanced over her shoulder and saw it: her fake Academy instructor I.D. card. As far as she knew, it was supposed to still be planted in her fake file at Ashcroft, just as she had left it only two days ago. Juniluny swallowed hard. This wasn't the Order's style... and she didn't know much about John Newman, but she knew he was male, at least. The Gorbachev, then... or the witch that kept her master's hand so detached from this town. But the Gorbachev's just some young strumpet... likely not to know where to look... “You’re the Witch of the Academy, then,” the halfling declared, clicking her tongue before and after. She reached into her mind with the clicks; their noise vibrated with a subtle wave of groping, invisible senses removed from her body. They passed over all that was in the room before her target was found: the fistful of shadow cast by the futon’s pillow. Somehow, she was there. Juni did her best not to look directly at the innocuous spot.

“Sharp, for a halfling... and more, Earthbound? You're a curiosity... which means you might survive this interview." Juniluny tried to figure what she knew: a witch, this mage had been called. A euphemism, or was she truly just a human kitchen mage? Witches came in plenty of flavors... but mostly they needed incantations, ingredients, familiars. Spontaneous magic was not their forte, which explained her familiarity with Juniluny's wards. "Why poison one of our faculty to then try and walk in as a substitute? You already entered our grounds once... and distracted the Order, which I always appreciate. But why?”

Hellfire ought to burn her before she can spring another trick, either way. A witch was no match for a Cabalist; every spell stole something from Juni, surely, but that made her twice as fast as the usual Order wage-mage and, surely, faster than a witch. Just need to sneak it in- “Oh, well you know how selective del shinos vey cala deeeeee-!” Juniluny's eyes went wide: before her, less than a foot from where she was standing, now existed a pillar of living shadow. Her eyes traveled up the dark length of the presence before her... and then down to where that sudden presence was extending a bare, human-looking arm to viciously pinch her tongue out of her mouth. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck-! The incantation was incomplete, but some of its power had still been chambered within the Cabalist's mind. She couldn't totally immolate the enshrouded creature before her, but the extended human hand, **** and naked, could easily be amputated. She channeled those words she achieved, tugged on her internal darkness, and flourished her hand before the enemy's arm... and watched as her spell fizzled into a brilliant, beautiful puff of purple and blue bubbles. The explosion thereof engulfed the arm, as the hellfire should have, and perhaps gently tickled and moisturized it before continuing upwards to pop harmlessly.

Snickerbottom's ears dipped as fear settled in place. No... i-it can't be... this is no witch! What the Hell is this?!

"Dare try to cast another pittance of Cabal trash in my presence again... and I promise you will never die." The voice was filtered through the shroud of darkness that engulfed the witch; it scratched and crackled and boomed in the tiny barrier.

The threat was clear; Juniluny had been bested, and tears welled in her eyes as an old, helpless anger seeped into her. She nodded even as she fumed, and her tongue was released.

"What does the Cabal want with the Academy?"

"You know I cannot tell you-" A sense of ****, and the barrier around Snickerbottom visibly fell to the ground to shatter like illusions of glass. Juni knew the witch's meaning: her defensive spell hadn't been countered, but simply attacked with enough **** to level the entire building. The witch didn't even move or speak to do it, sending the hobbit's gut into knotting with fear. "I'm not here for the Cabal."

"Refreshingly forthcoming. Then what are you after?"

Juniluny pursed her lips nervously. This is all falling apart... c'mon Juni, think! How the Hell can you get one over on this crazy powerful bitch? Preferably without the Master knowing... "A young lad; just one." The shadow began to grow- "I mean, just one lad! Also one lass! But just those two, I swear on my homes away from home!"

"Do not waste my time with lies again, halfling." Snickerbottom nodded vigorously. "If you need random victims, we may barter... by which I mean you shall pay dearly for them and for wasting my time."

"N-Not random... just two particulars."

A pause. The darkness throbbed. "Who?"

No sense in hiding it anymore... but lo, if that old codger finds out I betrayed his orders... Sighing, Juni whispered, "That's one boy named John Newman and... a girl going by Danielle Kislev." It wasn't a lie; the Gorbachev was using that name. But I sound so damn suspicious... please, just don't question it and find out about the treasure hiding under your hook-nose you accursed wrinkle-nippled-

"Newman?" Juniluny blinked at the darkness... and shuddered. Did it just... grin? "Newman... interesting. Why?" The halfling bit her lip, but the shadow cut off any chance to answer. "No, no, nevermind... so be it. Maintain secrecy, bother no other students, and hurt no further faculty members... and you may have them."

Juniluny blinked into the black aura for three beats of silence. "You... you're letting me get on with it then?"

"Do you usually question such benevolence?"

"Every gobstopping time-" The shadow intensified, quivering like fire. "... m-ma'am."

"Yes, I am allowing your... hunt... provided that you target John Newman first."

Shit... she must know too- of course she knows! Fuck, who is this witch?! "I... well, I need to find him first, 'course-"

"He's in your first period tomorrow... wait. You... chose to target Mrs. Flung without knowing that?" The shadow almost sounded impressed. "The halfling's luck is no myth..."

"I'm more than luck and vinegar, I'll have you- Wait, why are you suddenly chummy about my plans?!" Juni's ears perked up. "I don't plan to give 'em back, you know!"

The darkness chuckled. A chill ran through Juniluny... though she couldn't have known that the reason was the witch marking her invisibly. Unbeknownst to the Cabalist, she was now tagged... and wherever she went, the witch would know. "Tread carefully... Ms. Snick. The Academy holds yet more threats beyond my command... and you flirt with them on this mission of yours."

The hobbit swallowed hard... but she couldn't keep the grin from her face. Whatever game she's playing at... she's underestimating me. Sure, she's goddamn crazy strong and sickness fast... but these brats are nothing to worry about. They may have killed Yarrick... probably Tara too... but neither was very stable, nor half as bright as I. None of them will figure me out before it’s too late: my guard's up, my plan's foolproof... and I got the Academy's only real threat backing me! The whole thing just got cake-easy. "I think I can wrestle just fine with some teenage mage."