When Sabrina awoke the next morning, there was a shimmering silver diamond hovering against her bedroom door, and she groaned, sinking back against her pillow and draping an arm over her eyes. A gold diamond meant a message had been sent out to the entire Hexen; a silver diamond meant it was a message from one individual to another.

In this case, she had a pretty good idea of exactly which individual had left her a message.

While she was tempted to roll over and go back to sleep, pretending she'd never seen the message indicator, Sabrina also didn't want to be late for work. Throwing back the covers, she climbed out of bed and made her way to the still-closed door before pressing her fingertips against the floating silver diamond.

Her mother's voice immediately filled the room.

"Please meet me in the Essen Hall for breakfast," she said, and Sabrina didn't need to see her mother's face to know she hadn't been happy when she'd recorded the message.

Dressing quickly, Sabrina made her way to the Essen Hall, hoping some important Hexen matter might have come up and taken her mother's attention elsewhere, but luck wasn't on her side that morning, for as soon as she stepped into the hall, she spotted her mother. The Sprechen was sitting at a table by herself, facing the large entryway, ensuring there was no way she would miss Sabrina or Sabrina would miss her.

Swallowing hard, Sabrina nodded to her mother, making it clear she saw her, then hurried to retrieve oatmeal and fruit before making her way back to the table and sliding into the single empty chair.

Marlene remained silent, but her eyes were narrowed as she raised a porcelain teacup to her lips and took a long, slow sip.

Deciding it was futile to even attempt pleasantries, Sabrina placed a napkin on her lap before meeting her mother's piercing gaze.

"I'm sorry I was out so late last night," she said. "I was in my workroom and lost track of time."

Marlene lowered the teacup onto a saucer, setting it down without so much as a clink, her gentle movements at odds with the sparks flickering angrily in her grey eyes.

"If I'd known procuring you a workspace meant not seeing you anymore, I would never have to agreed to such a thing, Sabrina."

Sabrina almost pointed out that her workspace didn't really change how much the two of them saw one another...even if they'd both been in the apartment, she would have been in her bedroom while her mother worked from her armchair or in her own room. But she remained quiet.

Marlene shook her head. "I thought you were looking for a place to work, not a new place to live. We might as well put a bed in there for you!"

That actually sounded wonderful to Sabrina, but she knew better than to say such a thing, and bit her lip instead, hoping she could avoid angering her mother further.

Marlene exhaled loudly, and the action seemed to stoke the flames of some internal fire, her displeasure becoming even more apparent before she quickly cleared her throat and assumed a more neutral expression. In that moment, Sabrina found herself grateful her mother had wanted to meet for breakfast...as the Sprechen, she would never raise her voice or do anything that might cause a scene in such a public place.

Of course, that also meant Sabrina was expected to behave with propriety, as well, which wasn't always easy when her mother was involved.

"I'm not looking for another place to live," Sabrina assured her mother, trying to keep her voice level. "I made a fantastic discovery last night, and I was actually looking forward to telling you about it. You see, I've always been told it's impossible to—"

Marlene held up a hand, and Sabrina fell silent.

"Staying up all hours of the night to pursue your research is only going to make you so tired the next day, you're going to make a mistake in your actual metal-working," chided her mother. "It isn't fair for others to be forced to do more than their fair share of the work while you pursue frivolous studies."

"My studies aren't frivolous," bristled Sabrina. "They're ground-breaking. And what exactly are you upset about...that you don't see me as much or that I might be too tired to complete my fair share of the metal-working with Tante Olga and Tante Ingrid? Have they complained to you about a decrease in the quality of my work?"

"It's bound to happen sooner or later," sniffed her mother, her lack of an answer providing the only answer Sabrina needed.

"So, no one has complained that my usual metalworking has been affected by my research," she summarized. "You're upset with me about something that hasn't even happened."

"But it will," replied her mother. "You can't keep up this kind of schedule indefinitely."

"I don't intend to," replied Sabrina, even though she hadn't actually considered the schedule she might keep going forward. "Last night was an exception because I made an amazing discovery. I found I can—"

"—The Hexen motto is, 'For each of us, for all of us,'" interrupted her mother as if Sabrina hadn't even been speaking. "I won't allow my daughter, of all witches, to do less than anyone else. That's an abuse of the privilege we enjoy because of my position. If anything, we are expected to contribute more than our fair share, to show others how to be upstanding members of the coven."

"I fail to see how me making discoveries previously believed to be impossible would make us the scourge of the coven," retorted Sabrina, failing entirely at keeping either her expression or her tone pleasant. "The things I'm doing and the discoveries I'm making are ground-breaking, Mother. If anything, I ought to be excused from my regular work to focus on them exclusively!"

"That will not happen, I assure you," replied Marlene in a voice so cold, it was a wonder frost didn't suddenly spread across the table. "I agreed to your having a workspace because you convinced me it would help you become a better metallurgist—"

"—I am becoming a better metallurgist," interjected Sabrina. "If you'd just listen—"

"—Enough." The word was said quietly, but her mother might as well have shouted it for the ferocity the single utterance contained. "I've given you as much freedom as I possibly can...more than I should have, actually...and this is the thanks I get. You clearly don't know what's best for you, and I can see I've only myself to blame for encouraging you in these ridiculous pursuits."

"My affinity is working with metal," replied Sabrina through nearly gritted teeth. "What else should I be pursuing?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she never should have asked such a question.

"You are meant for more than just being a metallurgist, Sabrina," said her mother, keeping her voice low even though there was no danger of being overhead in the din of the eating hall. "You have every gift and talent needed to one day take my place as Sprechen, and it's high time we began strengthening those abilities. There may a place for metal-working in your future—I sometimes use my fire affinity for this or that—but your primary responsibility, your primary role in this coven, is to become a leader."

"And what if I don't want to be a leader?" asked Sabrina, keeping her voice equally low, even though she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs, to fling the words at her mother as if they could physically hit her. "What if I'm happy with my metal-working?"

"You've never known anything else," replied her mother, "which is also my fault. I should have insisted you become more involved with the High Council years ago, rather than indulging you in your pastime."

"My pastime is also my affinity," Sabrina reminded her. "Weren't you just complaining about me not doing as much as everyone else and failing to contribute equally to the coven?"

Marlene pressed her lips into a thin line before responding.

"Until you turn eighteen, of course you should do as others your age and learn to master your affinity. But unlike the vast majority of witchlings your age, your affinity isn't the only thing you have going for you...you have so much more to offer the Hexen. Anyone with a similar affinity can repair metal; not just anyone can be a leader who is looked up to and respected."

Sabrina felt something tighten deep inside her stomach. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, for now, you continue with your metal-working while you also become better acquainted with the High Council and the running of this castle," replied her mother, reaching for her teacup and taking another sip, clearly more at peace now that her mind was made up. "I agree it would look bad for you to stop using your affinity, especially before you've come of age, so your metallurgy training will continue. We shall simply add in additional activities to your schedule."

Sabrina opened her mouth to protest, but her mother spoke first. "Should you find this arrangement less than acceptable, I see no need for you to continue having a workspace of your own."

Sabrina sat back in her chair, the fight rushing out of her as she considered the implication of her mother's threat. Her pulse began to pound in her ears, and she felt hot and then cold as she tried to catch her breath.

Had this been her mother's plan all along...allowing Sabrina to have something she would do almost anything to keep so it could be used as leverage against her, virtually guaranteeing her cooperation with whatever schemes her mother plotted?

Sabrina wished she could dispel such a thought, but deep down, she was forced to admit this behavior was entirely keeping with what she knew of her mother.

Clasping her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking, Sabrina forced her gaze up.

"If I add in the additional activities to my schedule, do you promise I can keep my workspace?"

Marlene gazed at her over the gold-edged rim of her teacup for so long, Sabrina wanted to snatch the cup from her hand and throw the contents in her face. Finally, when she though she could stand it no longer, her mother spoke.

"I'll promise you this, Sabrina...the manner in which you conduct yourself while participating in the additional activities will directly determine how long you're allowed to keep your workspace."

Trembling with the effort of containing her anger, Sabrina nevertheless lowered her head in an act of deference she most certainly did not feel. "As you wish, Mother."

"Next week you'll have lunch with the High Council," said Marlene. "Someday you'll thank me for this, you know." She picked up a knife and began spreading jam over a piece of toast. "You can't see what's in your own best interest in this situation; therefore, it's up to me to look out for you."

That was more than Sabrina could stand, and she quickly rose, picking up her tray as she did.

"I don't want to be late for work," she said. Without waiting for an answer, she returned the tray to the serving counter before hurrying out of the Essen Hall and off to the smithy, her chest so constricted she could barely breathe.

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