Balance

by Leia Stone

  “Okay, it’s been twenty minutes … that should be enough time,” Diya instructed.

  Leaning my head over the sink, I pulled off the foil and washed my hair in the sink with shampoo. The second I rinsed the soap out, my stomach turned at what I saw. Jet black. It hadn’t lightened even one shade. Shit.

  I dried it off and noticed Diya was staring at me in fear, chewing her lip. Why was everyone looking at me like I was dying? It was just a freak witch thing, right?

  “It should have at least been orange. Not black. What does it mean?” she asked.

  I didn’t know, but I assumed it wasn’t good. “Don’t tell Kai we tried to dye it,” was all I could say.

  She looked reluctant but nodded. I said my goodbyes and headed back to my house to change for the ball. I had to meet Sylvia and the coven in a few hours. A witches’ ball! I grinned. A year ago if you told me I would be a half-werewolf, half-witch and on my way to a witches’ ball, I would have thought you were bat shit crazy. I wasn’t going to let the current drama in my life ruin this awesome night. The second I walked into the house, I saw that Kai and Max were sitting there waiting for me.

  I groaned. They better not be here to try to lock me in the basement with Jeremy. Kai stood and came closer to me but stopped suddenly and sniffed the air. “Why do you smell like chemicals?”

  I sighed. “Long story. Don’t ask. Are you guys here to tell me not to go to the witches’ ball … because I’m going.” I crossed my arms and prepared for a fight. Max grinned like a lunatic in the background. He loved a good argument between Kai and me. I shot him a glare and his smile fell.

  Kai sniffed me one more time and then took my hand. “No, I just wanted to tell you that Max and I decided to go out for a beer tonight. We will be at McMenamins right across the street from the venue the ball is being held at.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Stalkers.”

  Kai smiled. “If I have to stalk you to keep you safe, then so be it.”

  “For the record, I’m only going to keep him from barging into some witch party and getting hexed,” Max offered.

  I laughed. “We don’t hex. We spell.”

  He put his hands up, palms out. “Oh, right, excuse me.”

  But I gave Kai a serious look. “You really shouldn’t. Someone might recognize you from the news.” Not everyone was a fan of our kind. Going to a crowded human bar in Portland, not a great idea.

  Kai gave me a sexy lopsided grin. “I have that covered.”

  I furrowed my brow in confusion and decided to drop it. Trailing my finger along Kai’s chest, I purred. “I need to shower before the ball, you coming?” I raised one eyebrow.

  Kai’s eyes went yellow and Max started for the door, shaking his head. “Newly mated. I remember that stage.”

  Max’s words made my heart hurt for him but he had Tara now. They were taking it slow, she had officially joined our pack and they were dating. He wasn’t ready to do a mating ceremony yet. Kai dropped his pants, snapping me out of my thought. I laughed as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a caveman.

  Witches’ Ball

  I stood in my purple velvet hooded cape and black ankle-length corset dress Sylvia had given me. “How do I look?” I asked Kai.

  He smiled. “Like a sexy little witch.”

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some big, black-rimmed, clear glasses, and put them on. I chuckled. This was his disguise? Nerd glasses? He crossed the room and stood in front of the hall mirror pulling something out of his pocket and sticking on … a little mustache? Turning to face me, he opened his arms wide.

  “How do I look?” he asked, smiling.

  I busted out laughing. “Honestly? Like a total creeper.” But he was pretty unrecognizable with that mustache so I think the plan would work.

  Before he could retort, Max knocked on the door. I had agreed to allow Kai and Max to drive me to Sylvia’s and then home from the ball.

  Max took one look at me and chuckled. “Where’s your pointy hat?”

  I gave him the middle finger and he laughed. Max had become like a brother to me.

  “Really? This mustache wielding weirdo is standing right here and you’re going to make fun of how I look?” I queried Max.

  Max glanced at Kai and the corners of his lips curled.

  Kai glared at me. “Mustache wielding weirdo? For that, I might sleep with it on.”

  My eyes widened. “Oh God, please don’t.”

  He chuckled as we walked into the garage.

  We all piled into Kai’s Audi and after a short trip down the mountain we pulled up to Sylvia’s yellow house. It was modest and craftsman style, nestled on large acreage. I recognized all of the cars; the coven was assembled. Reaching over the seat, I kissed Kai, recoiling at the tickle of his fake mustache. “Love you.”

  His face looked worried. “We will be across the street. Any issues and you can just use the mate bond.”

  I gave him a look that said he was zapping my fun and then turned to Max. Flicking my fingers at him quickly, I shouted, “Hex!” and both Kai and Max roared with laughter. Jumping out of the car, I approached the front door, inhaling deeply. Sage, lavender, and frankincense. Being a witch came with the bonus of good smells. Upon entering the house, I saw that everyone was getting in a circle. The aura of magic was present.

  Sylvia smiled at me and waved me over. “Quick, we were just about to start a protection spell.”

  I snuck into the circle and wedged myself between Sylvia and Gretchen. We all held hands and I nodded to the others in greeting.

  Sylvia raised up her interlocked hands high and we all followed. “Spirit! Tonight we gather with other magic users. Protect us from energies that are not of the light.”

  A fine mist dropped down from the ceiling and settled over us.

  “Keep our magic strong and encased within our bodies. Do not allow energy vampires to take from us!”

  I widened my eyes, reminding myself to ask about that one later.

  “So be it!” she shouted and we chorused her.

  *

  After a forty-five-minute drive, we arrived in downtown Portland at the conference center. Navigating our cars into the packed parking lot, we found a spot near the back. Exiting our cars, we all walked as a group to the door. Sylvia hung back behind the group and linked arms with me.

  “You look deliciously witchy tonight.” She winked, her eyelids were dusted with deep purple eye shadow and a smattering of glitter. Her long auburn hair glistened in the soft glow of the street lamp.

  I smiled. Sylvia had quickly become one of my favorite people. I noticed she was letting the group get far ahead of us.

  “What’s with the black hair?” She raised an eyebrow.

  Shit, I forgot. I ran my fingers through it and briefly told her about healing Emma. Her face fell as she listened and clutched a medallion on her chest before letting out a shaky breath. We stopped walking. I didn’t want to think about this; I was hoping everyone would forget about it. Now, I worried just how bad it was.

  “What does it mean?” I met her green eyes. Only they weren’t just green now, they were swirling with cloudy white. She was getting in the zone.

  “Aurora, if your goal is to safely split from the Devi and walk away with your life, I think you just made it ten times harder.”

  I cringed. I had to say it out loud. “You think the Devi has black hair? That this is her?”

  She brushed her soft fingers over my cheek like I was a treasured daughter and nodded. “I do. I think you have bound yourself to her even deeper now. I also think I would have done the same to save a friend.”

  Returning the nod, I bit my lip.

  She perked up. “Come on, let’s have some fun. Nothing we can do about it right now.”

  We walked the length of the parking lot and were nearing the entrance when Kai spoke into my mind.

  ‘Have fun.’

  I spun around and squinted across the street. Kai and M
ax sat on the balcony of the bar. I glared and Kai raised his glass, tipping his head to Sylvia.

  Sylvia chuckled. “Alphas have some serious control issues.”

  I nodded in agreement and followed Sylvia through the double doors of the giant building. Two very handsome and identical twin warlocks bowed as we entered.

  “High priestess,” they said in unison, bowing low and giving her a smoldering look. They looked about late twenties, whereas Sylvia was at least forty.

  Sylvia batted her eyelashes. “Hello, boys. A pleasure as always.”

  I grinned. There had to be a story there and I was dying to know. But before I could ask, I felt a large blanket of power saturate my body. I struggled to breathe for a second.

  Sylvia patted my hand gently. “Just a security measure. It will ease.”

  Looking around the room, I was left speechless. We were in the opening of a grand circular conference hall. Black velvet drapes lined the windows, giving complete privacy. Dozens of large round tables with black linen cloths dotted the open floor. Above the tables, pink glass lanterns floated in the air. They were magically suspended! I glanced towards the back of the room and saw an elevated stage. Looking around the room, my gaze rested on hundreds of witches and warlocks engrossed in conversation. Off to the right were merchant tables with trinkets.

  “Cool!” I told Sylvia, as she pulled me over to where the coven stood at a refreshment line.

  Sylvia chuckled. “That’s nothing. Wait until you see the belly dancers perform.”

  My eyes widened. Belly dancers? This night was going to be so awesome. It’s just what I needed after being locked up on the mountain for months.

  As we passed a group of witches, I felt a darkness come over me. A slight change in my mood and a subtle pressure on my skin.

  “Half-breed,” one of them spat at me.

  My mouth dropped open but before I could retort, Sylvia’s hand flung out and white mist hovered around the witch’s throat. She was gaping like a fish, but no sound came out. One of her friends glared at Sylvia.

  “That was uncalled for!” the friend told Sylvia.

  Sylvia shrugged. “It will wear off. Eventually.”

  I snickered as we met up with Gretchen and everyone. Half-breed. Ouch, that was harsh. I was tempted to go back and beat the shit out of her but thought better of it. Now that we were farther from them, the dark mood and pressure on my skin was gone.

  “They are from Prudence’s coven,” Gretchen told me, indicating the group.

  My eyes widened.

  She put her hands out. “Don’t worry, she’s banned from attending. Anyone who openly does dark magic is banned.”

  “Openly.”

  She shrugged. “Others hide it but we know who they are.” She glared again at the group of dark witches.

  “Hey, Aurora,” a familiar male voice said behind me. I spun around and saw Adrian. The warlock who was also a police officer and had helped me and Kai out of a bind.

  “Hey, Adrian. How are you?”

  He wore a deep green cloak. “I’m great. According to the palm reading I just had, I’m going to win the lottery next Thursday.”

  We all laughed.

  Sylvia rolled her eyes. “Who told you that?”

  “Mary,” he responded.

  Sylvia chuckled. “She isn’t even a seer witch! How can the high council allow her to run a palm reading table?”

  Adrian shrugged and eyed Maureen, a witch in our coven who had the affinity for Alchemy. She could turn any metal into gold.

  “Not everyone has an alchemist in their coven. We’ve got to make a living somehow.” His tone was respectful but slightly clipped.

  Sylvia raised an eyebrow. “Fair enough.”

  I turned to Sylvia. “You read my palm and you aren’t a seer witch.”

  Adrian laughed. “She’s a high priestess.”

  Sylvia merely nodded as if that explained it.

  “Right.” I was trying to keep up.

  “Good to see you, Aurora, Sylvia.” He bowed and walked off to greet some others.

  “Are alchemists rare?” I whispered to Sylvia.

  Sylvia nodded. “The rarest. We’re lucky to have Maureen.”

  *

  Interesting. A tiny, old witch tapped the microphone on the stage. “Please take your seats! We will open with a blessing ceremony and then the program will begin.”

  We found our table. Whiteraven Coven was scrawled in gold lettering on a pretty card. We were closest to the stage and I found myself wondering if Sylvia was somewhat of an honored guest. A lot of people in the magical world treated her like she was important. I took off my cape and draped it around the back of my chair, taking a seat.

  ‘Are you okay, your energy feels muted?’ Kai’s voice broke into my mind.

  ‘It’s just a protection spell. I’m fine. There are lanterns suspended in mid-air, so freaking cool!’

  He chuckled. ‘Witches.’

  The witch on the stage said a blessing over all of us, invoking the Goddess and asking for prosperity, love, and health for all of us in the year to come. I felt good when I was here with my coven. I felt like a witch. I didn’t feel much like a werewolf. It was weird and nice. As much as the pack was my family, so was Sylvia and this coven. As if reading my mind, Sylvia met my gaze and winked.

  The tiny, old witch on the stage smiled. “Now the moment you have all been waiting for!”

  I heard bells jingling behind the stage curtain and the music suddenly changed to a Middle Eastern beat. “Back for the fourth year in a row! The Pink Ladies!” the witch cried out, leaving the stage. The curtain suddenly pulled to the side revealing a dozen or so young, beautiful belly dancers. They swished their hips in unison with the beat, shaking the gold jingle bells from their pink silk outfits. Everyone burst into applause and I joined them. Grinning, I watched two of the girls twirl in circles holding long, pink scarves that swirled in the air around them.

  They rolled their abdomens, showcasing their flat, perfect bellies, and as the beat picked up they ran down the steps off-stage and approached our table, circling us. Then they threw their hands in the air and pink glitter dust fell onto our heads. It smelled like roses and the second I inhaled it, I bubbled with laughter as an elated feeling came over my body. Sylvia was grinning at me as the belly dancers went to the next table throwing their arms high in the air and releasing more pink glitter. I laughed again, because Gretchen was laughing and it was hilarious to me for some reason. I felt stoned. It was so awesome!

  Sylvia reached out and touched my head. “Be gone,” she whispered as witches around us were cackling in laughter. Suddenly, the feeling was gone as I frowned and shook my head, clearing it.

  “Whoa, I felt drunk. What was that? I might need to take some home.”

  Sylvia smiled. “That was happy dust. They’re showing off, but I like to remain clear-headed in front of so many magic users.”

  I nodded. Good idea. Gretchen and Maureen were high-fiving each other and laughing hysterically.

  ‘What was that?’ Kai asked.

  ‘Jesus! Kai. I’m having a good time, okay? Stop pouncing on me every time you feel something,’ I shouted, harsher than I meant to.

  I felt his anger and hurt. ‘Fine. Radio silent,’ he shot back, and I felt the mate bond retreat a little.

  Whoops. I was beginning to lose count of how often I pissed him off.

  The food arrived and I gorged on exotic juice cocktails, sage and butternut squash raviolis, chocolate lava cake and shoestring french fries roasted in truffle oil.

  “Oh. My. God. I will come here every year just for the food,” I declared to the coven and they all laughed.

  Maureen raised her glass. “It is quite spectacular.” She smiled and her gold-capped tooth glinted in the candle light.

  I felt so stuffed but I wanted to explore the market stalls and I had to pee wicked bad.

  “I’m going to explore and find a bathroom,” I stated.

/>   Sylvia, who was in deep conversation with another coven leader, stopped talking.

  “Oh, I’ll go with you.” She went to stand.

  “No, no, keep talking. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

  She looked unsure. Kai had probably threatened her not to leave me alone. I could feel my eyes going yellow; my wolf wasn’t happy being treated like a baby. “I’m fine,” I declared through gritted teeth.

  “Okay, dear.” Sylvia lowered her gaze.

  Shit. Why was I pissing everyone off?

  “Sorry,” I muttered before walking off. Seriously though, I was an independent control freak being treated like I was made of glass. It was a shock I hadn’t killed everyone by now. I understand some of the concern but the day I couldn’t take myself to the bathroom was the day I went postal on everyone. Pushing past some people, I went over to a table that had tons of beautiful crystals on it.

  A short, curvy witch with wild, black, curly hair and kind eyes stood as I approached. “Hello, dear. A crystal for wealth? Love? Fertility?”

  I smiled. “What about for protection?” I ran my hands over some of them, feeling the power vibrating along my slender fingers. The entire table was coated with white magical mist.

  “Ahh, yes. Good choice. Here we are.” Her fingers were adorned with jewelry and crystals.

  She handed me a ring with a large, rectangle, shimmery black stone on it. I held it and it felt good as I slipped it onto my index finger.

  “I’ll take it.”

  She smiled and I paid her before making my way to the next table.

  “Witches’ wine?” A server offered me a deep purple bubbly drink. I shrugged my shoulders. Why not? I did have to pee, though. I grabbed the drink and took a sip. Bubbles and flavor exploded on my tongue.

  “This is amazing!” I exclaimed as the server chuckled and walked away. I chugged the entire glass and set it on a table and then went to go in search of the bathroom. Scanning the hall, I saw a bathroom sign in the far corner by the buffet tables, which were crowded with people. I began to walk over there when a dizziness hit me. Shit. I felt really drunk. Werewolves didn’t get drunk, not that easily. We metabolized alcohol too fast. I shook my head to clear the feeling. I was trying to move past a group of witches. “Escuuuse meh.” My words slurred.