The morning was incredibly slow, seeing as she slept most of it away. Amelia sat up from her plush pillows, rubbing her hands over her hot face. “Gibli!” she groaned, kicking her blankets off of her. Her dark locks plastered to her forehead and the skin along her neck and back, slick with sweat. She whimpered and fell onto her side, very naked and vulnerable. 

Gibli entered the room, already dressed and ready for the day, his cool expression quickly turned to that of concern when he witnessed the state of his mistress. “The cabinet...” She growled, pressing her palms to her stomach, clenching and unclenching her hands at her abdomen.

Gibli nodded and walked to the other side of the room, opening the cabin he rummaged through it. As is back was turned, Amelia threw herself to the edge of the bed and began heaving until a mass of hair passed her lips and fell to the floor. She sneered, drained of color and sickly; she got to her feet and stumbled to the cabinet, knocking bottles around in search for the cure. 
	
“It-it isn’t here, madam.” He said softly. 
“N-no. It has to be. It [i]has[/i] to be.” She whimpered, gripping the cabinet hard enough to crack the wood. She gasped and bent over once more, heaving and gagging until another hair ball hit the floorboards. “Those wretched beasts.” She growled, whipping spit from her chin, she carried herself to her bed, slumping into it and curling up. “Gather the sisters here. I need their help.” She rasped, preparing for the next ball of hair to push its way out of her.

Gibli rushed out of the room to gather the women. It was rather easy to get a hold of them seeing as it only took a letter and a simple incantation before offering the piece of paper to the flames. It only took about fifteen minutes for a woman to appear on their doorstep.

Gibli recognized her from previous gatherings at his home. He bowed and took her coat as she entered. He didn’t need to escort the elderly woman; she knew where her withering sister lay. 

Sister Gwennith slowly opened the room, wrinkling her nose when a wall of sickly scent hit her. “Goodness, Amelia. What have they done to you?” she sighed, removing her gloves and sitting herself at Amelia’s bedside. 

Amelia, looking as white as paper, sweat glistening from her skin, still had it in her to roll her eyes and turn her head to face the woman. “A nasty trick. Must have been the drinks from the other night.” She muttered through dry lips, cringing and bowing her head as another hair ball fell onto the floor. It was then that she began to tremble and shake uncontrollably. 

Gwen grimaced, averting her eyes. “Alrght. Enough of this.” She muttered. “I know what you need. This is a petty trick. Much like the one you pulled last night.” She tutted as she walked to the Vanity. Gwen produced a few tubes and jars from her bag and got to work. 

“Where are the others?” Amelia asked softly, rolling onto her side. The sound of the grinding mealing stone was comforting and reminded her of her childhood. “Sister Liza is also plagued by a nasty spell so Sister Nora is at her aid.” Gwen replied, dripping lavender oil into the powder mixture she concocted. She brought the mealing bowl to Amelia, sitting herself onto the soiled sheets. “Part your lips, dear.” She whispered. Amelia, as if in a daze, looked up blankly at Gwen, her lips parting slightly, as if staring at a ghost. Gwen drained the potion into Amelias waiting mouth, and Amelia mindlessly swallowed. 

Gibli cleared his throat to remind Gwen that he was still available to her if she needed him. “Why haven’t you gotten her any clothes? It surely isn’t decent for a subservient being like yourself to see her so [i]bare[/i] she muttered, tucking Amelia in. The girl seemed to gain some color in her flesh, and her trembling had stopped.

“She prefers to remain nude in her domain, Madam.” He replied whilst bowing his head. Gwen chuckled, shaking her head. “Truly a child of earth.” She breathed and kissed Amelia’s forehead, then replaced her gloves. “She should be able to make her way about the house in an hour. Bring us some tea.” She ordered and got up, walking to a desk in the corner of the room.

Hours later, Amelia draped herself in one of the plush couches in her waiting area, clad in her flimsy robe and looking as pissed as ever. All of her sisters had arrived and made themselves at home in her lobby, looking through drawers, books, and art. 

“They have to be stopped.” Amelia said through clenched teeth before popping a grape into her mouth. 

“They know we’re getting close to expelling them from London. They don’t want to move out? They think they can outdo us?! We are the eldest coven of old magic here. We want the peace and they mean to tear it down! This is [i]our[/i] city and they will not run us out of it.” Nora huffed, her pudgy cheeks reddening. She sat herself into one of the arm chairs, crossing her arms to hold in her outrage. 

Gwen sighed and shut the book she was reading, replacing it back onto the shelf. “Calm yourself, Sister Nora. Your hot head will only get us in trouble. Take Amelia for example.” She made a pointed expression that Amelia vehemently ignored. 

“After her little show last night, I’m sure they will have bigger plans in retaliation.” She sighed, drawing her eyes to the crystal ball that sat on the mantle over the fire place. 

Liza, in all of her quiet and timid demeanor finally piped up. “Maybe you should also tell them about the Brotherhood at St. Dominic.” 

Amelia turned her steely gaze to the petite figure that sat by her feet on the couch, attentively looking in the opposite direction. “Ah yes, that is nothing new. They had sent a rookie so, all went better than expected.” She said coolly and jabbed her foot into Liza’s hip, sending her awkwardly the couch, landing on her knees. 

“Amelia!” Gwen snapped. Amelia rolled her eyes and sat up, righting herself. “Muscle spasm.” She mumbled and continued to eat her grapes. “It’s time we started planning a real attack on them. The fact that only Amelia is called a witch is a little ridiculous.” Nora spat, rubbing her gloved hands over the crystal ball. “It’s only a matter of time before someone tries something stupid. I say we blame the other witches, wipe Amelia’s name clean and have them either burned or running for the hills.” 
“I second that!” Amelia chirped around a full mouth.

Gwen rolled her eyes and checked the grandfather clock that silently clicked by the entrance to the room. “Let us go. The night draws near and I have no intention of staying for supper. Also, I expect to see you all at the full moon ritual tonight. We have work to do, ladies.” 

“Lady Lorain’s coven will be there as well.” Liza whispered, her eyes fogging over, as if mist were moving across them. “They will make a threat.” She continued and ran her hands over her face, her eyes clearing just as quickly as they fogged. “Then we will be ready.” Gwen said, her words dark and foreboding. With that, one by one, they filed out of the room and out of her life. 

Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned. “This is absolutely ridiculous. I hope those beastly witches move to the colonies—way across the waters.”