1. Chapter 1 #2
Dressed in her favorite white, ruffled gown, Amelie stood with her ferret familiar, Truffle, perched across her shoulders.
Turning around into the actual kitchen space, Amelie looked around in awe.
The ceiling was coffered, each recessed rectangle containing a hand-painted flower or plant that, upon closer inspection, seemed to be ingredients that Amelie liked to use in her cooking.
In the center, above a black marble countertop, hung a glass chandelier with eight candles flickering independently around the circumference.
All the cabinets were the same dark walnut as the walls, but above the counters, the walls were covered by a black-and-gold damask wallpaper.
All the pots and pans hanging on the walls themselves were made of copper, just like her mother’s at home, and over the sink, a window whose upper half consisted of stained glass flowers overlooking the cemetery out back.
“I see you’ve made yourself right at home.”
Amelie turned with a start at the sound of the low, silky voice. She hadn’t heard anyone approach, but then again, she had been so caught up in her hearth’s creation that she wasn’t sure she had been paying close enough attention.
Across the way, standing in the entrance Amelie herself had walked through just minutes before, was a curvy, statuesque woman smiling softly at her, hands folded in front of her lap.
Her long, black hair was pinned at the base of her neck, wavy bangs framing her face.
Frankly, she was the most put-together person Amelie had ever seen.
She wore a black ruffled dress that ended at her calves and buttoned up the front, all the way to the top of her throat; the sleeves were tight and ruffled at the wrists, and her shoes were a sort of black, heeled oxford.
However, her clothes, while impressive, were the least striking thing about her. Standing at around 6 feet tall, she made the doorway seem almost average-sized; her skin was an ashy grey color, and both her eyes were stark white.
Amelie’s hand flew to her mouth in surprise before she could stop herself.
“You’re the Town Seer.”
Appalled at her own rudeness, Amelie dropped her hand down to her side and opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could get a word out, the woman’s smile grew as she covered her own mouth with a giggle.
“I am.” The woman responded, taking a couple of steps into the kitchen toward Amelie. “There’s no need to apologize. I understand it can be startling the first time interacting with a Seer.”
Amelie felt her face heat up slightly as the woman walked right up to her, stopping a few steps away. Partly out of embarrassment, and partly due to how flustered the beautiful woman seemed to be making her.
“My name is Regina.” Regina held out her hand to Amelie, and it was only at this distance that she realized what she had previously thought were black gloves were the Seer’s natural skin color, tapering up her wrists until they eventually faded back to the ashy grey.
Amelie recovered quickly, taking Regina’s hand in her own and gently shaking it.
“Amelie. Nice to meet you, Regina.”
Regina smiled, and despite having no pupils, Amelie could somehow tell that the other woman was looking directly at her. Still flushed under her gaze, Amelie ran her fingers through her wavy, blonde hair, suddenly feeling very plain in her jeans and flowy, white shirt.
“Are you hungry?” Amelie clapped her hands together, gesturing for Regina to take a seat at the countertop. “I can whip something up for you if you are!”
Regina sat but clasped her inky black hands together on the countertop, shaking her head.
“No, thank you. I am fine; I just came to check up on you. I know that it can be overwhelming, settling into a new station.”
“Oh,” Amelie paused, unsure what to do next. “That’s very kind of you.”
Despite her excitement, she was still quite nervous. Part of her wondered how much of that Regina picked up due to intuition and how much of it was knowledge from a divination. That would explain how she knew exactly when Amelie was going to show up.
“It is… overwhelming, that is.” Amelie turned to one of the cabinets over the stove and opened it to find a floral teapot sitting next to four tea sets.
Pulling out two cups and saucers, Amelie placed them on the counter next to the stove and got to work making tea, boiling some water on the stove and rummaging around for the leaves.
“It’s my first time living away from home. Honestly, I was shocked when I heard the news about being chosen as the Caretaker. I’ve never taken care of anyone aside from myself, and I don’t even do a great job at that some days.”
Amelie laughed, placing the tea leaves she’d found into the pot and pouring the now-boiling water in after. Securing the lid on top, Amelie carried the teapot and cups over to the island where Regina was sitting, placing them down in front of her.
“Oh gosh, I didn’t even ask if you wanted any tea.” Amelie realized as she picked up the pot to pour. She half expected Regina to wave the cup away as she had declined a snack, but instead, a small smile played at the corner of her lips.
“Actually, I was hoping you’d make some tea. I’ve not been sleeping well and wanted to take a nap after making sure you were settling in properly.”
Glancing down at the teapot, Amelie blinked a couple of times at the realization that she’d made camomile.
“I-” Amelie started, cutting herself off when she realized she didn’t actually have anything to say.
“You have good instincts.” Regina hummed, taking the pot from Amelie’s shocked hands and pouring them each a cup. “Hearth Witches tend to, especially once they’ve attuned to their homestead placement.”
Amelie looked up at Regina, who was watching her, teacup in hand.
“Wow.” It really was amazing. Amelie had only been on the property for less than an hour, and she was already feeling more integrated into the space than anywhere else she’d ever been.
“You’ll also learn to attune to your wards.” Regina continued, taking a sip of tea. “In time, though some of us are more open to the attunement than others.”
Amelie nodded, taking a sip of her own tea.
It was overwhelming but also warm and comfortable; she could feel her magic seeping through the walls and corridors like capillaries, pumping lifeblood back into the cathedral.
She could feel Regina’s presence in the kitchen with her, cool and collected, a little blue aura spot on her internal map.
She could also feel the area in the West Wing that was inundated with the Seer’s magical energy; that must be her quarters, Amelie reasoned.
She could also feel one other life force on the opposite side of the building, but this one was warm, hot even. An orangish-red aura fitted around another space that she had not yet explored but somehow knew existed.
“Aren’t there three of you?” Amelie asked, setting her cup back down on the saucer.
A knowing smile spread across Regina’s lips. “There are. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if you could only feel two of us right now.”
Amelie closed her eyes, searching for a third, sending her magic out through the corridors like tendrils, but coming back empty.
“Delia will come around.” Regina’s voice brought Amelie back to the present warmth of the kitchen, the tea steaming from her cup in front of her.
Amelie searched Regina’s blank eyes for a moment before taking another sip of her tea, a smile playing at her lips.
“Is that a guess or a divination?” Amelie asked, watching the amusement on Regina’s face.
“Hmmm.” Regina placed her teacup back down on her saucer and directed her gaze back up to Amelie. “I guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?”