52 41 Days To 52 Weeks

For the 52 days leading up to the 52 weeks of Addergoole: Year 9, I will be posting something Addergoole-related every day.

I needed something relaxing, so I asked for three things to write relaxing scenes of. Here we go!

These happen sequentially after years 6, 7, and 8 of the Addergoole school, with a 6th, 7th, and 8th-Cohort viewpoint character.

“They’re beautiful.”

Abaddon’s smile was giddy, wide enough to stretch his face. His bone spurs, large and prominent when he was angry, had shrunk to tiny nubs of horns on his forehead. And there was color in his cheeks.

He turned his smile on Channing, who, sweaty, exhausted, and flushed, had spent the last twelve hours in labor. “You’re beautiful.”

“You’re stoned.” She was willing to smile back at him, though. That was a good sign. “They, on the other hand, are perfect. Are you ready to name them?”

“I… ack.” He handed the girl back to her hurriedly. “No?”

“Try to stay visible.” Jermiah’s whisper was barely audible, tall as he was. Zipporah nodded, but felt no need to say anything else.

“And stay close, please. We don’t know if…”

Now she frowned at him. He had gone from protective to over-protective once again.

“I know. But it’s a public place, Zip. And people are strange.”

People were, indeed, strange. She nodded at him, letting that suffice, and popped her parasol.

He wanted her to stay visible. But that didn’t mean she had to be noticeable. She settled onto her blanket and pulled the world up around her.

“Lean back, love. You want this done properly, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Phillipa grinned at her Mentor, not minding twitting her a little bit. “Are you sure…?”

“I’ve Worked a protect and preserve; your thorns aren’t going to hurt me. When’s the last time someone’s done this for you?”

“Over a year ago?” She sighed happily as the warm water washed over her scalp. “The girls who run the salon won’t, and I don’t blame them.”

“But I will.” Laurel massaged her scalp, working the shampoo through Phillipa’s long hair, ignoring the vines and thorns. “So relax, and let me.”

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