Genevieve bit her lower lip in frustration as she caught sight of a group three just as they were making their way up the steps of the Munroe household.
She recognized two. Mary, obviously. But also Mr. Erickson who she remembered talking with at the PTA meetings. The third, another blonde, looked to be around her Lily's age, like Mary. Determination was written across all of their features. Aside from the grim seriousness, the witch sensed something familiar, something magical, radiating from one of them...
Mary! She had to be another witch! Who else could it be?
Genevieve dove inside an alley. The heaviness of her breathing surprised her. They wouldn't recognize her with her new appearance, but she couldn't risk revealing anything that could lead back to Lily. Whatever else had happened, she loved and cared for her daughter-mistress unconditionally.
She cradled her stomach again. Not only her either.
Genevieve searched her purse for a small mirror, then gathered the energy within her before pouring it into its surface. Earlier Lily had taught her a spell, in case she couldn't break in. She whispered the incantation for remote viewing and the swirling colors resolved into a view of Luna's messy room.
“We should torch this place once we're finished. Purge this corruption. Just too bad people are too squeamish about burning witches nowadays.” The third spoke, shattering Genevieve's immediate impression of her as only another student.
“All of this is evidence, so until we've sorted out what is important try not to disturb anything. Mary could you come here and go over these notes. I think they're spells, see if you recognize anything Luna may have used.” Mr. Erickson's entire countenance had changed. He was methodical and moved like he was at a crime scene rather than a teenager's room.
The witch wondered how many more lies and deceptions hid underneath the surface of their little town.
“Oh...uh, Sure,” Mary had felt something icy crawling up her neck for the past minute or so. She screwed her body trying to find its source. Perhaps it was nothing.
“Directed aura, essence of feminine lust,” the girl's tone was hollow and without emotion as tried to hold the paper that Mr. Erickson had handed her as far away as she could. Sensing something here, Genevieve shifted her view so she could read the scrawly notes and memorize the spell. “Luna accidentally used it on me.”
Whatever it had done, it dredged up too many memories and the witch watched a teary-eyed Mary return it to Mr. Erickson.
“So, is there a reason one of Luna's friends is spying on our house.” That had come from behind! Genevieve immediately spun around, clicking shut the makeup mirror and ending the spell.
Despite not being much taller, Miss Munroe seemed to tower over her. Her blue eyes were cold and narrowed, a silent 'well, explain yourself?' visible in them.
“Not at all, Miss Luna's mom,” Genevieve replied sweetly and innocently, “one of our teachers, Mr. Erickson, asked me to hand my notes from today's class to her,” she lowered her eyes as if ashamed and allowing the tendrils of influence her voice carried to make her lie a truth, “Luna skipped it. Said she had something else to do.”
Looking up again, Genevieve smiled inwardly when she saw Miss Munroe's distant gaze as she nodded along.
Then it slowly disappeared, her expression instead becoming furious. “What are you and my daughter doing using magic. Tell me. Now.”
The flickering aura of power Genevieve could suddenly sense from Luna's mother felt weak. It was as if her magic had atrophied over time from disuse, turning from a roaring fire to a candle flame. But it was still there and Miss Munroe called on it.
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