#minerva spellman

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Time for a Friday chapter teaser!

Miguel asks Dorothy some tough questions about their relationship.

If you missed last week's chapter, click here (Tumblr) | here (WP).

To read from the beginning, click here (Tumblr) | here (WP).

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Chapter 29: A Situation at Court (Part Three)

WINDENBURG PALACE, 2052

Spellman exited the throne room, leaving Melody alone with Nox who was grinding his teeth with such ferocity, Melody wished her scales were reflective so she could disappear into the throne seat. 

Disorientated, she shut her eyes, the haunting silence of the throne room made eerier by the tap, tap, tapping of Nox’s foot. 

Questions circled her head: what had just transpired between those two? Was this what love looked like? According to Nilsson, it was. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose: if this was love, it was horrifying.

The nice mermaid back home had spoken of love as this dangerous beauty – it started wars, ended them, caused grief, happiness, brought people together, and tore them apart, made them feel seen, and made them feel invisible. The nice mermaid had made love sound exciting.

She crossed her arms: Spellman and Nox sucked the fun out of everything. 

‘You wished to see me, Your Majesty,’ said Nox, his tone curt.

‘Did I?’ She raised a brow, doubtfully. She had never requested the presence of Nox or Spellman: they had a habit of seeking her out instead – specifically when she had been trying to avoid them. 

‘According to Nilsson, yes.’

Nilsson? She blinked, scratching her brain for an explanation. What could he have possibly wanted her to discuss with Nox? She recalled their argument yesterday over Nox’s decision to not inform the humans of her rare condition: that she couldn’t control her siren singing. 

Was it about that? But Nilsson had strongly implied that Nox was merely protecting her. That the public would have had her dethroned if they had known. But Nox didn’t seem like someone who had noble intentions. 

Perhaps she did wish to hear him state his reasons. 

‘If Nilsson is indeed mistaken,’ continued Nox. ‘Humans at his ripe old age can get a bit confused – you know the brain starts to deteriorate –’

‘No, Nilsson is right,’ Melody cut in. Letting Nox witter any longer was like waiting for the blue-ringed octopus to inject its venom with its beak. One just didn’t. ‘I wanted to know why you never informed the humans of my condition.’ 

‘You’re the Queen, Your Majesty. And I’m the Lord Chamberlain. It’s my job to ensure the public are never exposed to your weaknesses.’ 

‘My weaknesses?’ Was the plural intentional?

‘Yes, Your Majesty. Your weaknesses.’ Nox let the last word linger on his toxic tongue. ‘Oh, and that liberal human immigrant you’ve hired as your confidant. It’s best he doesn’t know about your little…situation.’

Did he just call her condition a situation?

‘Oh, but you’ve already told him, haven’t you.’ Condescension oozed from his nocuous tone, congealing her muscles. ‘Don’t make that a habit. He may be your confidant, but he is not your ally.’ 

At least he didn’t want her throne. ‘How do you know I’ve told him?’

‘Word gets around,’ said Nox, lips bending into an ominous sneer – the sort that reminded her of a piranha baring its teeth. 

Melody’s scales withered in disquietude, as he left her alone to brood. 

Weaknesses, she grunted to herself. Was that the consensus of the court? That she was a walking-talking monarch of ineptitude who needed to be micromanaged? 

And who had been reef-dropping in on her conversations with Diego? 

Fatigue crushed her limbs, and she sank into her throne seat. It was clear as fresh sea water, that she had more enemies than friends at this court. 

Nobody trusted her, nor did she trust any of them. 

Yes, but who could that person be? The nice mermaid had been so confident she’d find this person. But she had also been adamant that ruling this country was her destiny. 

If that were the case, then why did she feel like a fish out of water?  

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To read the full chapter, click here.

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Chapter 29: A Situation at Court (Part One)

WINDENBURG PALACE, 2052

‘The UK and US have once again threatened to pull out of every single contract all because you delayed shipments of our internationally renowned fish Windenburg bass…again,’ snapped Spellman. Her textured voice ricocheted off the walls of the throne room.‘Why? Why did you delay shipments this time?’

‘Hmm?’ 

‘The Windenburg bass shipments, Your Majesty,’ said Spellman, through gritted teeth. 

‘Oh, that,’ she said, rubbing her eyes – all that ruminating about how to manage her frustration over Diego – and avoid killing him with song, unless he was indeed immortal like Nilsson believed, and therefore immune – had worn her out. Flippers! Their first session was today, and she was already panicking like a goldfish in a small tank. ‘I will not condone the mass export of carcasses.’

‘We’re talking about fish, Your Majesty, not...’ Spellman trailed off as her eyes traced the scales visible on Melody’s arms, neck and face. Instinctively, Melody hugged her arms, wishing to make herself less conspicuous, less striking – like a whale in a court of rats – until indignation took over and her gaze became penetrating.

‘Not what?’

Spellman stalled for a moment. She sucked in her lower lip, frowning. Then exploded into a rapid fire of dialogue, ‘We have a quota to meet, Your Majesty. Meeting the quota keeps our allies happy. Keeping them happy keeps the economy stable. This is simple diplomacy, Your Majesty!…Your Majesty? Are you even listening?’ 

Spellman’s brittle rasp knocked Melody out of another episode of dwelling on Diego: would he be less grumpy, as promised? Did such a version of Diego exist? Apparently, there was, according to her dead brother, Alex. But it was impossible to imagine him without a frown on his face. 

‘Your Majesty!’

‘Yes, Spellman.’

A flicker of annoyance flashed across Spellman’s features. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a recession. And on that note – considering your current popularity with the general public is less than satisfactory – have you given much thought to increasing unemployment benefits?’

‘Hmm?’

‘Humans, Your Majesty – the majority of our tax base – are the ones being disproportionately fired. It might help restore some public favour – which, I must stress, is very much lacking –­­ if you were to consider this.’

Melody squeezed her eyes shut, an attempt to shield herself from the attack of Spellman’s snappish speech and scratchy delivery. 

‘Yes, fine. I’ll look into it.’ she groaned. Anything to get that croaking witch to shut up. 

‘Look into what, Your Majesty? Resuming The Windenburg Bass shipments or increasing unemployment benefits?’

‘Just put it in writing what you want me to consider, and I’ll review it with my confidant.’ A headache settled behind her eyes, and she muttered a quiet plea for peace from Spellman. She imagined covering her in a mucus cocoon to force her to rest like a responsible fish. 

‘As you wish, Your Majesty. Just one more thing –’

Melody groaned again. 

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To read the full chapter, click here.

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Chapter 35: The New Arrival (Part two)

WINDENBURG PALACE, 2052

A blood-curdling shriek erupted from down the hall. Miguel stepped aside as the door flew open, and out leapt Spellman and Nox. They soared past him, like eagles on their target. 

He followed, curiosity overcoming his fear of being in proximity to Nox. But as he neared the source of the noise, a new kind of discomfort settled in the pits of his stomach. 

It was the Queen’s lady in waiting – Miss Fothergill, he recalled from Dag-mál. Her face, pale like a shroud. She stared, eyes wide and wild, at a man in a black suit. A man Miguel knew well, with his inquisitive grey eyes that analysed everything.

‘Is all alright?’ asked Spellman. 

‘No,’ Miss Fothergill shrieked again. She curled her lip and hissed, ‘Who said he could stay here?’

And she turned and sped down the hall like a cheetah. 

The gentleman watched her, interest carved into his frown marks, before turning his attention to Miguel, that same prying stare now concentrated on him. He swallowed. 

‘Hello, Miguel. Ready for our session?’

Miguel opened his mouth to respond, when Nox cut in. ‘Will you be staying awhile?’ 

‘I believe I will be,’ said the gentleman, with his rounded Scottish vowels and refined cadence. Nox grunted in what appeared to be annoyance. Miguel was quickly gathering that Nox despised two things: humans and foreigners.

‘A short while?’

‘A long while.’

‘There must have been some terrible mix up, I do apologise, but humans –’

‘Her Majesty informed me of the risks. You see, in my line of work –’

‘This is a palace not a hospital.’

‘I can see that,’ said the gentleman. ‘You needn’t worry about me, Mr Nox –’ Nox took a step back at the utterance of his name – ‘I’ve dealt with worse in my life.’

‘I don’t believe I’ve caught your name,’ said Nox. 

‘Dr Henry Jekyll,’ he said, casting his inquiring gaze now on Spellman. ‘And you must be Ms Minerva Spellman.’

Spellman gasped, and Miguel tried not to roll his eyes. Had Spellman and Nox forgotten they were in very public professions as The Queen’s senior courtiers?

‘I am Miguel’s psychiatrist.’ At those words, Miguel’s lungs contracted. He felt the colour leave his cheeks as he flicked a look at Nox, who stood very still. He imagined the corners of his lips quirking upwards. This would make Nox’s day. To know that Miguel needed a psychiatrist. Bitterness tinged his tongue – Nox could benefit from one too.

‘Welcome to the palace, Miguel’s psychiatrist,’ said Nox. Miguel could hear the smirk in his voice.

Jekyll matched him with an unsettling smile of his own. ‘If you ever need a session, Nox, I’ll do a free consultation for you.’ 

And with that, he strode onwards in the direction that Miss Fothergill had fled, leaving behind a flustered Spellman, a simmering Nox, and a disturbed Miguel. Why had Her Majesty invited him to stay here at the palace? What was wrong with his clinic? 

More concerningly, what would Nox do with this information?

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To read the full chapter, click here.

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Almost finished Minerva Spellman's new wardrobe. Here's one of her nighties. 💖 This maybe a surprise to Friends of Foes and The Tides of Power readers, but she doesn't just wear black. 🤭

[simscognito]

Time for a Friday chapter teaser!

Miguel is minding his own business, searching for accommodation when he's interrupted by Spellman and Nox. What are they up to?

If you missed last week's chapter, click here (Tumblr) | here (WP). 

To read from the beginning, click here (Tumblr) | here (WP).

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Click the "keep reading" button below to view the house tour:

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Here’s the study of the Spellman family’s cottage that I’m currently working on: a cosy, witchy home filled with herbology and magic.

The Spellmans are a magical trio made up of a mother, father, and daughter, with the daughter starring in The Tides of Power. Their cottage is meant to be in Moonlight Falls from The Sims 3, but since I'm recreating their cottage for the sims 4, I'll be pretending Glimmerbrook is Moonlight Falls for now. 😂