Chapter 3

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Several weeks had passed since Agatha's failed attempt to take over the school yet their lives still hadn't returned to normal. After her brush with death, Hecate was slowly on the mend under Ada's watchful eye and care. The events surrounding her mysterious phenomenon in the Great Hall hadn't been brought up again after the Great Wizard took his leave. Yet, Hecate couldn't help but feel that she was missing something important. Ada's recent behaviour had told her that much. She knew something was bothering Ada, but every time Hecate had tried to speak with the older woman, she had given her a weak excuse about having to finish paperwork, or that she had an urgent call to make. The first few times, she thought nothing about Ada's behaviour, but as the weeks went on it was starting to frustrate her to no end. Ada had always told her there was no one she trusted more with her secrets. When they began their relationship, they always promised to be truthful and open with each other, but it seemed Ada had forgotten all about their promise, and about her as well it would seem.

Tapping her fingers on the table, she couldn't stop herself from looking at the clock on the wall noticing that her wife was already twenty minutes late. They had arranged this evening for weeks, and she refused to believe that Ada would forget about today of all days. With each second that past, it seemed that she had. Hecate could feel her heartbreaking while telling herself that Ada probably had a reasonable explanation for her lateness, but as the candle in the centre of the table continued to burn, she couldn't stop the first few tears from falling. She thought she had known heartbreak in the past, but it was nothing compared to what she was currently feeling.

Ada hadn't even left her a note to tell her where she was going, which was what hurt the most. Only yesterday, Ada has informed her to meet in her office at eight o'clock. So, when she had turned up to find the room empty except for a romantic table set for two in the centre of the room, she couldn't stop the feeling of disappointment that Ada wasn't waiting for her.

Hecate reached up to brush the tears from her eyes. She refused to sit here feeling sorry for herself. Standing up, she was determined to find Ada to see what was more important than celebrating their fifth anniversary. She was about to transfer herself from the room when the office door opened to reveal Ada.

"Where have you been?" Hecate softly demanded. "You're twenty-" she turned to look at the clock, "no thirty minutes late."

Ada's eyes seemed to widen in realisation as she took in Hecate's elegant knee-length black lace dress, and her long black hair that was curled to one side complimented with a silver diamante rose slide in grip.

"I'm sorry, Hecate. I lost track of time." Ada apologised looking into Hecate's eyes, seeing the faint tear tracks that seemed to have engraved themselves into her makeup. "I know it's no excuse…"

"It isn't. We have had this night planned for weeks, Ada. What could have possibly been more important than spending our anniversary together?" Hecate asked trying to understand what was happening to the woman she loved. "You haven't been yourself for weeks. I'm starting to worry about you."

Ada knew it was time to tell Hecate everything, but she had hoped to prolong it for another few weeks, not wishing to ruin their anniversary, but it seemed their special day was already ruined thanks to her lateness.

"I'm fine, Hecate." She reassured with a small smile, "but we do need to talk. I was hoping to wait until after our anniversary, but it's only fair you know the truth as to why I was late this evening."

Hecate felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach at Ada's words knowing that whatever it was she had been hiding from her it was serious.

"Are you leaving me?"

"No! How could you think such a thought?" Ada scolded as she reached out to take Hecate's hand.

"I just thought… well to be truthful I don't know what to think anymore. I thought you were growing tired of me."

"Oh Hecate, I could never grow tired of you. You're far too dear to my heart, and I can't bear the thought of my life without you in it."

"Then I don't understand…"

"Perhaps we should sit down while I fill you in."

Hecate nodded and let Ada lead them over to the couch in front of the fire. Sitting down, Ada continued to keep a hold of Hecate's hand hoping it would give her the strength to reveal everything she has been keeping from her partner. She only hoped she would forgive her for her actions.

"I don't know where to begin."

"The beginning is usually a good place to start." Hecate joked with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Ada saw the hurt that she had caused reflect in Hecate's brown eyes, and she hated herself for being the cause of her pain.

"Very well. It started after you were nearly killed in the aftermath of saving the school from Agatha. You'll remember I had to leave you to speak to the Great Wizard. Well, while you were resting in our rooms, I informed him of your mysterious phenomenon in the Great Hall to see if he knew anything as to what had caused it. You said yourself that witches don't glow, so I hoped his greatness would have some answers, but he was just at a loss as I was, Hecate."

"I thought you said that it was nothing to worry about…"

"And I stand by what I said, but the Great Wizard seems to disagree. We don't know if this was a one-time event, or if there could be any lasting consequences on how it could affect you in the long term."

"I've been feeling fine, Ada," Hecate argued seeing Ada' raise an eyebrow in disbelief. "Well as fine as I can be."

"Hecate, I'm not blind, I know your heart is still weak thanks to that spell Agatha used. Even the simplest task of walking down a corridor leaves you breathless."

"Well, it's a good thing I don't walk much; isn't it?"

Ada shook her head slightly, "The point I'm trying to make Hecate is this; you're pushing yourself too hard. I told you to take the rest of the term off, so you would have the whole summer to recuperate."

Hecate's eyes softened slightly, "I appreciate that you want to take care of me, Ada, but that still doesn't explain why you were late this evening or why you have been distant over the past few weeks."

"I've been trying to research to see if I can find any answers as to what caused you to 'glow,' but there haven't been any past incidents recorded from what I can find. His greatness is also looking into it for me, but I haven't heard any word from him since he left my office that day."

Hecate brows furrowed in concern, "What did he say to you when you told him about the glow, Ada? He must have said something otherwise you wouldn't be spending all your free time to look into this."

"Hecate…" Ada whispered only for Hecate to cut her off.

"Tell me, Ada, please, I need to know." She pleaded.

Ada took a deep breath feeling a lump in the back of her throat, but she wouldn't let her tears fall. She needed to be strong for Hecate.

"His greatness believes that the occurrence could be linked to your emotions. In your need to save the school and me, every feeling you felt that day could have been one of the many factors in enhancing your magical ability thus making you glow."

"So, what you're saying is my emotional state is what caused my magic to get out of control?"

"In a sense, but it's just a theory. There's no proof."

"Yet the Great Wizard seems to have already made up his mind," Hecate muttered. "Next he'll be saying I'm a danger to you and everyone in this school." She said bitterly seeing Ada bow her head. "He has, hasn't he?"

"Hecate."

The younger witch pulled her hand from Ada's grasp and stood up in anger. "Now, it's all starting to make sense! The extended leave of absence, the teacher's following me around, you not wanting to be around me for long periods of time! Don't think I haven't noticed! It's almost as if you no longer feel safe in my presence! After everything I have done for this school, the Great Wizard, she said mocking his title, "thinks I'm a threat!"

Ada could feel an electric charge fill the room that seemed to grow with each word Hecate said in anger. 'Please no.' she thought desperately not wanting the Great Wizard's fears to be confirmed.

"You know that isn't true, Hecate!" Ada argued standing to her feet; it was then she saw the faint red glow start to surround Hecate's body. Not pinkish purple that Miss Drill had informed her of, but red. She would try to wrap her head around what all of this meant later, but first, she needed to calm down the younger woman.

"Hecate, please you need to calm down," Ada said softly trying not to let her worry show. "I know you would never hurt me or anyone in this school! I trust you with my life."

"Yet, you still kept me in the dark!"

Ada shook her head in denial, "I was going to tell you eventually, but I had hoped I would have the answers first." She said placing a hand on Hecate's arm, causing her to pull her hand back letting a small wince of pain when she felt an electric charge go through her.

Ada looked down at her hand in shock to see a small burn on the palm of her hand.

"Ada?" Hecate asked worried as she reached out to take Ada's hand in her own.

Ada braced herself for another shock, but when none came, she looked up at Hecate, to see the red glow was now faint pink like Miss Drill had witnessed.

"I'm fine, Hecate," Ada reassured with a smile as she watched Hecate tenderly inspect the palm of her hand.

"No, you aren't. I never meant for this to happen." Hecate whispered, placing her hand on Ada's and sent a pulse of magic to heal the burn.

"It was an accident." Ada showed her when Hecate removed her hand from her own. "See, no harm done."

"It still shouldn't have happened. Perhaps, the Great Wizard was right about me after all. I'm more like Agatha than I thought."

"Don't you dare say that, Hecate! You are nothing like, Agatha!"

"But I hurt you…"

"Unintentionally," Ada replied. "I know you would never hurt me. What happened here was an accident. So please, stop blaming yourself."

"How can you stand there and have so much faith in me, Ada."

Ada reached up and cupped Hecate's face in her hands smiling softly. "If you wanted to hurt me, you would have done so long before now," she whispered brushing a tender kiss on her lips.

Hecate on instinct wrapped an arm around the smaller woman's waist and pulled her closer causing a low moan to escape her throat as she felt Ada's hand move to the base of her neck holding her in place pressing her mouth harder against her own. Ada's tongue darted between her lips, smooth, soft and oh so inviting caused a ripple of desire to flow through her. The passion and desperation took her breath away.

The seconds ticked past before they finally broke for air as both women tried to get their breathing under control. After a few moments, Ada opened her eyes, to see the pink glow that had surrounded Hecate earlier had returned, much brighter than before.

"Hecate, you're glowing," Ada whispered in awe at how beautiful she looked.

"What?" Hecate asked letting go of Ada and looked down at her hands, noticing that she was indeed glowing. "How?"

"I have no idea, but it seems your emotions are indeed playing a vital part. Earlier you were glowing a faint red when you were angry, yet when you healed my wound, the glow changed to pink, which I'm going to guess is to do with love and protection considering it was the same colour Miss Drill saw when you were trying to save the school."

"This is impossible," Hecate whispered in disbelief as the glow began to fade before disappearing altogether.

"Not impossible. I've always known you were a powerful witch, and that your magical ability was unique. I guess I was right in my assumption."

"My magic has always been… normal." Hecate argued.

"Yes, but It seems that something has triggered this part of your magic to manifest itself."

"You don't think it could have been Agatha's spell?"

"It's possible. Your magic may have tried to fight back to protect you and may have triggered the dormant side of your magic to become active. Of course, that is just speculation at this point."

Hecate unconsciously placed a hand over her heart, trying to sooth away the tight pain she started to feel growing across her chest. The action didn't go unnoticed by Ada.

"Are you alright, Hecate?"

"I'm fine." Hecate gave a small smile as she waited for the pain to pass.

"No, you're not," Ada said seeing right through the lie. "It's your heart isn't it?"

Hecate reluctantly nodded knowing there was no point in denying it.

Ada frowned in concern hoping it wasn't Hecate's new source of magic that was causing the strain on her heart. She didn't want to think about the worst-case scenario if that were the case. They needed answers and fast.

"I'm scared, Ada," Hecate whispered in a small voice. "I don't know how to fight this."

Ada pulled Hecate into her arms, feeling the younger woman cling to her tightly and bury her head into her neck.

"When two people love each other, they fight through everything together. Every doubt, every challenge, every pain." Ada whispered, pulling back slightly from their embrace. "Whatever happens, nothing will ever stop me from loving you, Hecate. We'll find the answers and get through this together."

Ada's words filled her with hope. If they could find the answers, then perhaps they would know what they were up against, but Ada had no luck so far, which left them with only one option.

"There may be someone who can help us, but you won't like who it is I'm going to suggest."

Ada suddenly felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, hoping Hecate wasn't suggesting who she was thinking of.

"Who?" Ada asked dreading the answer when she saw a faint trace of fear in Hecate's eyes as she nervously whispered the one name Ada hoped she would never again have to hear.

"Mistress Broomhead."