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Cora made her way over to the display window. Her next job was to stock the more popular items. She leant over the waist high banister that enclosed the display. Her fingers brushed the mat. Bending further, she grabbed the mat and felt her rib crack. She cried out
as stars winked in her vision.

“Cora, what are you doing?” Tabitha snapped.

Gripping her side, she panted. Her lungs wouldn't function properly, had it punctured one? The world turned too quickly making her cling onto the banister.

“I... needed to... restock...”

“That injury has caused so many problems today,” Tabitha sighed as she slid her arm around Cora’s waist to guide her to a chair.

The bell above the door rang. She willed Tabitha to move so she could see who it was. Although she didn't know how she would begin to explain this to Clay.

             
Fire sparked out of Tabitha's hands, the heat from them licking hungry at her sensitive skin. She nearly complained but then Tabitha moved aside.

Damn. This was
not
going to end well.

             
Ayden stood at the top of the steps, his expression blank. The scene in front of him didn’t look good. She was panting, holding her side and was sure her face was a sickly blue colour. He had to know something was wrong yet his face gave nothing away. Well, apart from the eyes, they were ice blue and dared Tabitha to bite.  He looked deadly serious and judging by the increased heat in the room, Tabitha wasn’t exactly playing around.

             
She moved awkwardly in her chair, if she wasn't injured she would have made a run for it. The temperature had become so hot that her trousers were sticking to her bum. Tabitha brushed past Ayden without saying a word and stormed to the door. She snapped the lock shut before turning. Cora was way too hot but her complaints stayed firmly in her mouth.

“How
dare
you injure our High Priestess during lessons which are meant to help her,
and
you didn’t tell me. I watched Cora walk in here this morning looking like that!”

Cora sat very still. She didn't look great, she knew, but there was no reason for her to blatantly state it like that.  

“I don’t want another injury like this again! I cannot mend
everything,
Ayden. She’s sat there because she has no doubt cracked a rib leaning over the banister doing her job, which she’s been poor at all day!”

“Hey!” Cora felt the sting in her pride.

“Sorry, Cora, but it's true.”

She slumped lower in the chair.

“Tabitha,” Ayden’s voice was low, dangerous. “I understand it was a shock to see her like that, although I did give Laura some remedies to help with the injuries. Cora did exceptionally well last night and I am very proud of her.”

Hearing his praise made the dent in her pride slightly smaller.

“It was still unnecessary. You did not need to go to such extremes to show her this.”

“
We need to get her re
ady, Tabitha!” Ayden snapped. “W
e cannot skirt around the issue anymore, she is our High Priestess and she must be responsible for her coven.  She would not defend herself last night so I had to take the necessary actions.” 

Tabitha stood with her hands on her hips.

“Errrmmm... can I say something?”

They both turned to stare at her;
neither of them spoke. She assumed that was her green light to start talking. She swallowed past the nervous lump in her throat.

“Considering you’re both talking about me, and I am sat
right here,
I think I should be able to speak for myself. I feel Ayden is right in some ways-”

“
But you are injured, how can that be-” Tabitha began.

“Tab, listen to me,” Cora pleaded.

Tabitha fell silent.

“Ayden is right. I need to be prepared for whatever comes and learning to fight is important. I have injuries, yes, that
really
hurt but I have them because I’m not good enough.” She stopped to take a breath because the pain was only allowing so much oxygen to pass into her lungs. “Ayden stopped the battle when he saw I was weak but I know Jack won't stop.”

Tabitha’s face was hard, her leaf green eyes ablaze with fury.

“I have to do this, Tab,” Cora urged, “you can't carry me through everything. If I have to learn the hard way, then so be it.” She hardly felt like smiling so the painful grimace she gave them both would have to do.

“Very well, High Priestess.” Ayden bowed at the waist.

Tabitha’s eyes were focused on hers. “If you’re sure, then I will follow your wishes.” Tabitha cocked her head to the side studying her. “But, do not come complaining to me if you are hurt and need medication. I will no longer give you it. You want the injuries therefore you must learn to live with them.”

“I will,” Cora sighed; if that was a victory then she would take it. “Tab, does it still count if I was hurt before this conversation ever took place? Because it really hurts and I could use something to help before I pass out.”

Tabitha clucked her tongue but she moved towards the little room behind the counter.

“I’m so sorry you are hurt, Cora,” Ayden said once Tabitha had disappeared. “I thought the drink I made you would help.  I will take better car
e next time.
”

“No! I don’t want you to be careful.” She took another shallow breath. “I want to win these training sessions because I’m good at it, not because you treated me like a girl.”

“That’s me told,” he said and smiled at her. The twinkle in his blue eyes was back.

Tabitha sauntered over to the chair with a steaming cup in her hand. “Drink all of this, every single drop of it,” she demanded.

Cora lifted the cup to her lips trying to ignore the rancid smell of sulphur, warm mouldy cheese and sweaty feet. She wrinkled her nose in disgust looking up at Tabitha.

“I never said it was going to be nice,” she informed her. “It might teach you to take better care of yourself next time.”

With a triumphant nod, Tabitha walked back behind the counter and into the little room. Holding her breath, she took tiny sips. Okay, it tasted as bad as it smelt but she could feel it working on her rib.

             
Ayden stalked over to the little room and closed the door behind him. It was going to be round two in there pretty soon. She could already hear the muffled voices from behind the door. The liquid was too hot and it was definitely a drink that needed to be down the hatch in one go. Holding her hands around the cup she instructed the wind to cool it. Lifting the cup to her lips she swallowed the now tepid drink. The taste of cheese and sweat lingered in her mouth but the pain had stopped.

             
She lifted herself slowly out of the chair and approached the room. Knocking, she opened the door. “Can I just put this in the sink?” Without waiting for a reply, she edged past Ayden. Tabitha was sat in a chair, as she passed her hand gently touched Cora’s arm.

“Did you drink it all?” Tabitha asked.

“Yes, it tasted like crap. Thanks.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” she said as a smile played on her lips. “The remedy seems to be working if you have your sense of humour back. Take the rest of the day off and come in on Monday ready to work.”

Cora felt no urge to stay in the shop and listen to them fight. She picked up her bag and coat and gave Tabitha and Ayden an awkward hug and then shut the door.

THE DATE

She turned into her drive and almost stumbled back when she saw Clay stood in front of her door. His back was to her so he hadn't seen her approach; it was a good thing really because she’d staggered back like she’d been smacked in the face. She hadn’t expected him to be here. How was she meant to hide her injuries? Taking a deep breath, she had no other option but to face the music. She headed towards him.

“Hey,” she called.

He turned and smiled. Holding back a wince as her footing slipped on the gravel causing her rib to twinge, she kept the smile plastered on her face. She could do this, he would never know. This was a good test for her.

“Hello back at ya,” he said, smiling as he walked towards her.

He moved close to her and kissed her cheek, his lips nearly brushing the corner of her mouth. He placed his arm around her and pulled her into a hug, a hiss escaped through her lips before she could stop it.

He pulled back and looked at her. “Are you okay?”

She’d already failed the test. “Yes, well, no, but it's not a big deal.”

His finger brushed her cheek. “What did you do to your cheek?”

How could he see that? “I had a mishap at work but I'm fine, really.” That excuse came pretty quick for a very bad lie. She smiled trying to hide the pain. “Do you want to come in for a drink?”

“Sure, I would love one.”

She stepped around him to get to the front door and held her breath as she pushed the key in the lock. She walked to the kitchen and could hear him following her.

“Do you want some tea?”

“Yeah, that would be lovely,” he said laughing.

Tea had become a little joke between the two of them.

             
He sat down at the kitchen table and she knew he was observing her. She was trying to move around normally but she was moving slower than she usually would. She caught a glimpse of his face as she filled the kettle. He looked like he was chewing metal. She shuffled over to the fridge and tried to reach down to get the milk, she bit back the curse as a quick jerk of pain stole the air out of her lungs.

“So, did you have a nice day at work?” he ventured.

She stopped for a second holding the milk and then continued like he’d never asked the one question she didn’t want to answer. “It was a normal day at the office. Customers came in and I did some re-stocking.”

She placed his cup in front of him and then holding her breath
,
she sat.

“So, are you going to tell me what you did?”

Her hands stilled with the cup mid way to her mouth. She knew she would have to tell him something and it would be best to stick to the truth as much as possible.

“I was leaning over the banister, our high sellers live there,” she sighed. “I couldn't quite reach and I...”

He sat up straighter, from this action alone she knew he wasn't going to like what he heard. She made the decision not to tell him about her wrist.

“I leaned too far and cracked one of my ribs.”

“Christ!” he cursed. “You can’t just crack your rib like that. It would take more force. Had you hurt it before today?”

Okay, so was he some kind of doctor? She would have to tread carefully.

“I was tidying my room last wee
k and I stupidly leant over the computer table. That side hurt for a while, I guess I must have made it weak or something.”

Again, his mouth was chewing the hard metal, his jaw popping with the effort. She kept her gaze steady. People that lie will not keep eye contact; she pushed herself to keep that contact. But was too much contact bad? Was it too obvious?

“I
wish
I could help you.” His brow furrowed as his teeth clamped together. He looked frustrated.

“I'm fine, really.”

“Nice try Cora, but I can see your pain.”

She shrugged her shoulders. What else was she meant to do? The less she said, the less likely she would be to put her foot in it.

“Cora?”  Her mother’s voice drifted down the corridor as the front door clicked shut.

“Yeah, I’m in the kitchen.”

Her mother came waltzing into the kitchen and stopped when she saw Clay.

“Mum, this is Clay,” she stalled realising she didn't know his last name. She cringed, that was embarrassing.

“Clay Barnes,” he held his hand out and her mother accepted it. “Hello, Mrs Hunt.”

“Oh, that makes me sound old, plus I’m not married” she laughed. “Please call me Laura.”

Her mother looked at her with concern. “Cora, you don’t look so good. Are you feeling better?”

She glared at her mother. If Clay had doubts before, he definitely knew something was wrong. Her mother stood with a smile on her face. Sometimes parents were so dense.

“I’m looking after her, Laura.”

He definitely knew something was wrong. Tabitha was going to kill her if their secret was out.

“Good. Are you stopping for lunch, Clay?”