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Mistress Krauss paced her office, her blue robes flowing behind her as she passed several gargoyles gifted to her when she’d taken the job. She looked at the large map of the grounds which sat framed on the wall above her desk. The willow tree stood lifeless at the center of the map.
“What to do,” Krauss said aloud, pacing back around her desk and over to the fireplace where a fire cracked and hissed. “What to do...”
Her mind swarmed. She was nervous when she’d taken the job as headmistress, knowing what had happened to the last one, but she had convinced herself that evil would not return to the academy—but here it was.
She paced faster.
Mona is in a girl’s body, a mortal’s body.
She calculated every risk and let it play out in scenarios.
I could kill her, but then the poor girl’s body who she’s inhabiting will die, plus it won’t solve the problem. Mona will always find a way back. She always did. I must find a way to trap her soul.
She sat at her desk and conjured a steaming cup of coffee, sipping it while delving into her thoughts.
I could threaten her. No, won’t work. She has nothing she cares about...unless. Lara Ash. Could she possibly still care about the girl who was her only friend?
She sipped her coffee, her head hurting.
What is she planning? If she wanted to lead a revolt against the school, then she could have done it. No, she’s waiting for something more...something much more destructive and permanent. But what? She talked about not being able to win again? But she wasn’t leading a fight to the academy. Unless she wasn’t referring to me personally, but me as a Harvest Moon Witch?
Her eyes widened.
Of course! She doesn’t want to just take the academy. She wants to start a bigger war. To do that, she’d need two witches with binding powers like...
“Katarina and Angelina,” she said, finishing her thought aloud, her cup trembling in her hands.
She wants them. She needs their power—maybe even Lara’s, but would she hurt her again? Last time, she regretted it, even if she tried to mask her regret as vengeance. Mona loved Lara Ash, that much was always known. Then again, Lara coming back...it was never an accident, but she didn’t remember coming back?
Or did she?
Mona knew Lara’s sister is a student here, could she have threatened Lara into not telling anyone the truth? Or perhaps Lara’s back on Mona’s side like last time?
“No,” Krauss said, dismissing that thought.
Lara was, and always has been, honest. She had turned favor to them at the end, dying in the process. Or perhaps that’s why she would go back to their side? Through anger of dying for us. Then there’s little Kat and Angie. How would Mona get to them if not through Lara?
A loud knock on the door made Krauss jump and spill her coffee over her papers. “Dammit. Come in!”
Mr. Jameson popped his head around the oak door. “The wisps are stationed by the hall and by the entrances. The cloaking spell has been reinforced.”
“And the disenchantment spell?” she asked, referring to the veils she had asked be placed at each entrance, which would reveal any enchantment anyone might be wearing.
“Yes, Krauss,” Mr. Jameson said. Small beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. “To the great difficulty of myself, Rosalie, and Crogsworth.”
“Thank you. Are our guests happy?”
“Yes, all in their rooms, preparing for their lessons for tomorrow.”
“Excellent, thank you.”
He closed the door and she clicked her fingers, her papers drying instantly. She took comfort in Crogsworth’s enchantments. He was the Spell Master of the academy and was extremely skilled.
Why doesn’t Mona just start a war herself?
Krauss tutted at her own stupidity.
Of course! Her magick is taking a toll on her already. Nobody can use that much dark magick and be sane after.
She looked down at the coffee-stained papers and briefly closed her eyes.
I wish I had known then how Mona Fascinare had felt—how hurt she had been.
She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the young girl that had been treated unfairly. If it hadn’t had resulted in the murder of many witches, she’d have taken Mona under her wing herself. But what Mona had planned back then was nothing short of evil. Killing students because she had been bullied... It wasn’t unheard of, but of course the attack wasn’t labeled as so. It was a facade for the truth. They say this was in the name of the Blood Moon Coven. It’s the cause of taking back what’s “rightfully theirs” when the truth was even sadder; everything Mona Fascinare did was simply because she was a scared girl who didn’t understand her powers, left without help, and was humiliated.