Adelaide Whisper

Up the stairs and through the halls, the child ran, visible only by the moonlight streaming through the windows of the great house. A smoky shadow, hardly discernible from the darkness, followed her, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind. It checked every corner, and twitched it’s ears towards every noise. Finally they reached the doors of the library, and silently slipped inside. Scrunching her face in concentration, the girl pinched the wick of the candle on her father’s desk, and nearly fell back in surprise when it lit. “You’re getting better at that Addy, I can feel it taking less energy as you practice.” Adelaide’s familiar, a gray cat, hopped onto the desk, tendrils of smoke dissipating around them. “Fortune, do you think I’ll be a powerful witch one day?” Addy sat in her father’s chair and tucked her knees under her chin. “Of course you will.” Fortune said, their voice soft. Adelaide watched the candlelight flicker for a moment longer, then blew it out. She stood, and scanned the shelves for a book her father wouldn’t notice was missing. Spotting a small, worn book with a dull red cover on a bottom shelf, Adelaide placed it in the inside pocket of her robe. By the light of the moon, they made their way back to Addy’s bedroom. Adelaide climbed into bed and opened the book. It was an old journal, written in a hand much neater and smaller than her father’s. The front page was dedicated to a short note. To whom it may concern; take nothing in this book as fact, for it is nothing but the musings of an old witch. There, now I have done my duty, and am no longer responsible for the damage you may do with the knowledge written here. Heart racing, Adelaide closed the book and looked at Fortune, who stared from the top of the dresser with their big yellow eyes. “What do you think Fortune? Should I read it?” Fortune thought for a moment. “I can’t imagine the knowledge in this book can be very harmful if you don’t do anything with it.” “I guess that makes sense, but maybe I’ll decide tomorrow.” Adelaide brought the book to her dresser and wrapped it in an old nightdress, tucking it into the bottom of the drawer. Getting back in bed, she lay down, and eventually the thoughts swirling in her mind slowed. Fortune kept watch in the window, as they did every night. A gentle purr and moonlight filled the room, as Adelaide drifted to sleep.