章 6: I'm A Witch!

"Uh, guys," I said, stopping them before opening the secret entrance. They turned around and looked at me, as I gestured to my hands. "I might sound crazy, but I swear I just felt something in my palms."

"How can that be? The book said it would happen at exactly midnight and way past that," Dee countered with disbelief.

"Unless,-" Bina interjected,"-unless the clock is wrong. I mean, it's been years since the doors have been locked, and do you think anyone came in here just to service a clock?"

"Well," you could see the consideration on Dee's face, "you have a point. But how far could a clock get behind in the span of eight years?"

Standing there staring at my hands, I felt another tingle. "I don't know, but I just felt it again. Just like last time, but stronger. I think maybe we should wait a couple more minutes." I piped in.

"Yeah, good idea. How about we go sit." Bina suggested.

We quickly walked back and sat in our respected chaise lounges. We sat facing each other staring at my hands. I leaned forward to put my elbows on my knees, and put my hands out to the center of us.

There it was. Another, but stronger tingle. "There it was again. Did you see or feel anything?" I asked. They shook their heads and continued to stare at my hands.

This was torture. I swear I felt something, but here I am. Looking like a mad woman.

"Hey, I understand you might really want to be a witch," Dee spoke, breaking the tense silence, "but maybe it's just some sort of psychological pain. Like, how sometimes you think you might be sick when you're really not, but you worry yourself so much that you actually make yourself sick. Maybe it's-"

Just then a small purple glow shot from the palms of my hands. It slowly grew until it engulfed the entirety of my hands making us gasp.

"What were you saying, Dee?" I quipped with a smirk. Her mouth was wide open in shock, speechless. My hands were still glowing, albeit not as bright. "How long do you think this will last? We can't walk back to the parlor with my hands looking like this! We could be seen, and can you imagine the chaos it would cause? I mean look how cool this is, but what are we going to do!?!" I was freaking out at this point. "And we need to get to sleep, or we're going to be so tired tomorrow.'

"Hey, hey, hey. Elle, it's ok. Breathe. Just because YOUR hands are glowing, doesn't mean you don't have help. Dee and I are here for you. We'll figure this out together. We've got this. You're ok, it's alright," Sabina soothed as she pulled me into a hug to comfort me. Dee joined in to show her support as well.

"I love you, guys." I said with a shaky voice and teary eyes. "What would I ever do without you?"

"Panic, obviously," Dee teased.

"Dee! Really?" Bina scolded, but I smiled. Bina sighed and pulled back from our hug, looking me in the eyes. "Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, and look, my hands are almost back to normal." I said as I raised them up to eye-level. "Do you think we should stay until they're done? Or should we head back now? I can hide them in my dress."

"I vote to go back. I feel as if I'm going to pass out right here and now if we don't." claimed Dee.

"I agree," Sabina said, "I'm exhausted too."

"Alright, I'll follow you two. That way if we do run into anyone, you can stand in front of me as an extra shield to hide my hands."

On our way back I felt something else. Not a tingle like before. No, this was like someone was watching us. More specifically me. But no one else could be around here, could they? That would leave…

My head shot up and looked out the windows…

***

-Unknown POV-

Why did they stop? Argh, I wish I could hear what they were whispering to each other. Oh, wait they're headed back into the library, and I glance up at the moon. It's almost midnight. If she is Princess Estelle, her powers should show any minute now. I look back through the window and the three are sitting staring at the one's hands.

A few minutes pass, and there it is. The bright glow of a witch. A violet witch. I knew it. She's Princess Estelle. Now, I'll need to keep tabs on her. Should I make contact? Not yet. Maybe tomorrow at the ball.

As I keep watching the trio, they start to hug. They must be close. Especially for the princess to trust them enough to sit by her side and see if she's a witch. I wonder what their relationship is to her.

Anyways, they're leaving now, so I should get back to the inn and check on Nero. I take one last glance at the young women in the library. I wonder what she looks like up close and in the light.

***

-Estelle POV-

I search the windows, and about to look away when I see a movement. At the very end of the row of windows there was a partial figure staring back at me. My eyes widened in fear, and just as quickly as I saw it, it left.

Oh no, oh no, oh no. This is bad, very bad. Should I say something to the girls? No, if I do, they might panic, and I don't want to scare them. At least not until I know for sure whether that figure is a threat or not. I mean, maybe it's another witch. Maybe she knows about my lineage, and if it is, I don't want to expose her identity to people she may not want to know. But if it is a threat, I'm going to tell them right away. For now though, we need to make it back to the parlor without being discovered and get some sleep.

We're almost back to the parlor and it doesn't seem that we'll be seen. As we enter, we all say our goodnights and head to our makeshift beds. My father offered to have a room renovated with three beds so we didn't have to set up the parlor every time we wanted to have a sleepover, but we turned him down. We had to explain to him how it was much more fun to set up and felt more 'authentic' this way. I remember he only shook his head at us with a chuckle.

I took one last look at my hands, and there was only a slight glow on my palms. I hope they will be back to normal by morning. I don't know what I will do if they're still glowing.

I laid down, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, and I was comfortable under the pillows, I fell asleep.

***

-Unknown POV-

Shit. She saw me. How could I be so stupid. I should have just left as soon as I confirmed it was her. Oh well, too late now. At least my headache is gone. As soon as she absorbed the magical static, it vanished as if I never had one to begin with.

I make my way back over the castle wall, and back to the inn. Let's see what tomorrow brings.