Chapter 544: A Nice Fight
I walked out of the lecture theater, mind churning, and into an argument.
Shenka practically chest bumped me as I exited the room, head down, and I had to jerk to a halt, squeaking in surprise for the second time. I was one of the last to leave, so at least I wasn't blocking the exit. Because the look on Shenka's face told me she wasn't letting me go until she spoke her mind.
Good then. A nice fight was just what I needed to work out the kinks.
"No hitting," I said.
Shenka's furious face fell as she blinked. "Sorry?"
"The fight we're about to have." I poked my thumb over my shoulder at Charlotte who eased past me, eyes locked on Shenka. "No hitting. Unless you want to end up pinned to the ground with a werewolf taking a chunk out of you."
Shenka shook her head, anger returning though more sullen and less apparent.
"I don't want to hit you," she said. Paused. "Okay, that's a lie."
I laughed a little, knowing it wasn't funny, but unable to stop myself. Shenka stomped one foot, her own anger leaving her.
"You're ruining it," she wailed.
"I'm sorry." I straightened my shoulders and nodded to Charlotte. "Try to hold back if she hits me, okay?"
Shenka giggled, eyes welling with tears before she sighed and slumped. "I'm sorry," she said. "I've just been so worked up about this."
"About what?" I took her arm and led her aside, out of the path of milling students now prepping to go to their classes. Doors appeared out of nowhere, the influx of teen witches and their teachers flowing around us.
Shenka wiped one wet cheek with the back of her hand. "Why did you ask Tippy to be your second?"
Um-hum. No shocker here. And yet... "I didn't," I said, rolling my eyes. "She found out I was looking and went all fangirl on me."
Shenka giggled again, her sadness lifting a bit, though I could tell there was much more to this. So I prodded her.
"You were the one who wouldn't talk about it," I said. "I thought you didn't want the job anymore." And did I want her to have it? This was the second time she'd pulled away from me, that I'd had to wrangle her. Would she make a good second anyway?
Shenka drew a breath, shoulders straightening at last. "I must seem like a total wash to you now," she said, as if reading my thoughts. "But I swear, Syd, I'll make a great second. And I really, really want the job." Enthusiasm rose in her voice, a smile returning. Only to fade. "I just don't know how to tell Tallah." More tears. "I know being your second is the right thing for me. I've never felt so sure of anything in my life." She dashed at the tears with anger. "But how do I leave my sister?"
I hugged her quickly with my arms while doing the same with my magic. That embrace lasted long after I pulled away and nodded.
"I totally understand," I said. "We've talked about this, but not enough, obviously. Shenka, I know you'll do a great job," and it was true, my doubts melting away, "but if doing so means breaking up your family or hurting Tallah, I don't know if I can let you go through with it."
Shenka leaned against the wall, her book bag falling from one shoulder to land on the floor with a thump. "Tallah will get over it," she said. "It's telling her at all that's holding me back."
"Did you want me to talk to her with you?" A united front might make it easier for Shenka, but how would Tallah react? I knew her as a friend, but I hadn't really seen her in action as a coven leader, other than during Mom's trial. The laid-back, kind-hearted Tallah I knew could easily freak out if the two of us confronted her.
I was willing to try, though.
But Shenka's sudden determination, her face now set in a small smile, brown eyes sparkling with resolve, told me she'd made her own decision.
"Thank you," she said. "But that's my job, isn't it? And I won't be much of a second to you if I can't stand up to my own sister."
"Will she bully you?" I didn't get that vibe from the sisters, but being pushed around came in many forms, sometimes too subtle for an outsider to see.
"In her way," Shenka said. "But I'm not a little girl anymore. And Mama would have wanted us both to be happy, no matter what Tallah thinks." Shenka grabbed her bag, slung it back over her shoulder while her smile softened. "I'll tell you about our mother sometime. And the stupid promise she made us make. Sometimes the best thing for a family is to go our separate ways."
I almost spoke up, almost told her no, that family came first. But selfishness won.
I watched Shenka march off, not to class, but out into Widener Library, knowing she went to talk to Tallah. Guilt warred with pride as I passed through the door to my next period, knowing I'd made a great choice after all.
***
