by Cara E Holt
Monday rolls round and I breakfast with my family. Lorcen has left early for practice. Blaine is picking up Scott for school and insisted I would ride with them so that I would have protection.
It is Halloween this week, an event that is a much bigger deal here in America than it is back home. Most of the houses in the neighbourhood were decorated. Noah was throwing a party at his place. I’d pulled my face when he had first brought it up at lunch break. It had only been three weeks since we had lost her and it felt wrong to be moving on so soon and planning parties. Noah had been adamant though, he had said that Mel had been pecking his head to have a party so he was doing it for her. In the end I had agreed with him. Noah could be a pain at times but you couldn’t help but love him and I know he missed her all much as much as I did.
Our quest to find my mother was still ongoing. Poor Drustan had been spending hours pouring over pages of Fae history and searching through maps of the unseelie landscape. I thought my father may have made an appearance after Lucifer’s visit but I had heard nothing from him and to be honest I was pissed with him about it. I’m at my locker deep in thought about my M.I.A father when Taylor comes across with Maddie in tow.
“So my English rose, have you sorted our outfit?” Her blonde ponytail swings animatedly as she talks.
“I have. I’m going as a demon.” It was my own little private joke. “You two?”
Taylor looks at me exasperated. “Well isn’t it obvious?” She points to her blonde hair like that is supposed to help me guess and I look at her clueless. “I’m going as Harley quin.”
“Ah, yeah okay that is perfect for you. I take it Scott is going as the joker then?”
Taylor nods and squeals in excitement. “We are going to look so good!”
An arm comes around my shoulder and I look up to find Noah grinning down at me. “Planning our outfits ladies?”
“Indeed.” She twists her ponytail around her finger. “More to the point what is our host going to be wearing?”
Noah shakes his head. “Now that my lovelies is a surprise.” He motions a zipping action across his lips. “Would you mind if I borrowed Ebony a minute, she’s helping me party plan?” he asks the girls and I look at him puzzled.
Taylor taps her nose. “Secret party planning. Sure thing.” And she pulls Maddie off down the hallway. “I’ll see you in class.”
“What’s up?” I ask him worried and I can tell by the serious look on his face that I have cause to be concerned because well yeah a serious Noah is unusual.
“Devlon has somehow managed to by-pass the lock put on the portals into the human realm. He has been detected portalling into Australia.
“You’re shitting me, right?” I ask him as I load my books from my bag to my locker.
He grins. “You have a way with words you know that princess. No I am not shitting you.”
I frown. “What on earth is he portalling there for? “
Noah holds his hands up and shrugs. “No idea. Maybe he had tickets for the Sydney Opera house.”
“Yeah, I doubt that somehow.” Laughing.
“Anyhow, Lorcen has gone back home, as has Blaine to find out more. So today is your lucky day Today princess, I’m your bodyguard.” He places an arm around me as if to emphasise his protective role.
“I think I can handle my own but you are my favourite bodyguard, well after Lorcen of course.”
Noah winks. “Of course.” He watches me chewing anxiously on the sleeve of my top and reaches out and pulls it from my mouth. “Stop eating your clothes and try not to worry.”
“He’s more powerful than people give him credit for you know.” I tell him as he walks me to my class, his arm still slung over my shoulder.
“Ah princess he may be smart, but is magic is fairly average. I have watched him and Lorcen spar with their magic many a time And Lorc would kick his ass every time.”
I’m distracted all through morning classes. Why would Devlon be in Australia and why had he not come after me yet. He had the cauldron so all he needed was my blood and he would have his army. So what was he waiting for? We were missing something, trouble is I had no idea what that was. Devlon was smart, he had always been one step ahead of us. Lunch time comes around and I grab my food and head for our table which has now grown considerably. Lorcen and Noah now always sat with us and now Scott came and joined us, bringing Blaine and quite a few of the soccer team. I’m lost in my own thoughts about Devlon and playing with the food on my plate when I feel the familiar tingle through my body. I look up smiling to see Lorcen walking towards us. I sigh as I watch him. He’s wearing blue jeans, his shades pushed up on his head and he wears a tee that shows off his muscular arms. His eyes find mine and he smiles back. That smile always has my heart going ten to the dozen. He reaches our table and says hi to everyone before squeezing in beside me. He places an arm over my shoulder and kisses my cheek.
“Hey gorgeous.” He winks and steals a fry from my plate.
“Any news?” I whisper into his ear.
Lorcen shrugs and bob his head side-to-side. “No. We don’t know how he got through the block or why he has gone there.” He replies speaking low directly into my ear.
“It can’t be for anything good.” I look up into his eyes. “I’m scared Lorc, why has he done nothing yet?”
Lorcen pulls me in for a hug and kisses my forehead. “I don’t know love but I’m determined to find out.”
“It’s rude to whisper.” Taylor teases from where she is sitting opposite us. I smile and Lorcen winks at her,
“It would be rue to share what I whisper into my girlfriend’s ear.”
I playfully bash his arm and go bright red. “He wasn’t whispering anything like that, ignore him.” Everyone laughs and conversation turns to the party at Noah’s for Halloween. Despite my reservations about it being too soon I have to say I am looking forward to the party.
Friday soon comes around and the week has passed fairly quietly. No more news on Devlon or the cauldron. My outfit for tonight is well even I have to admit pretty darn hot. I’m wearing a red playsuit that clings to my figure and red thigh boots. I have two horns on my head. I have added heavy black eyeliner to my eyes and wear red lipstick. I pull on my demon magic and my eyes turn red. This was the one night I could walk around with red eyes and no one would look twice, thinking they are just contacts and part of my outfit. Lorcen walks into the room and stops in his tracks and I feel his eyes slowly move from my feet up to the horns of my head.
He comes over and walks around me.
“Holy Fuck love.” He says doing a long whistle. I turn and face him and raise my arms and do a turn.
“Will I do?” I ask him biting my lip.
He raises an eyebrow. “Will it do? You look sexy as hell.” He sifts in front of me and tugs me into his arms. “Are you sure you want to go to this party?” His hands stroke down my back and rest on my ass. “We could stay at home and play trick or treat.” He teases huskily into my ear, his voice is thick with heat.
I laugh in response but it is a breathless shaky laugh. He is making me want to bail on the party and stay at home. I kiss his lips briefly. “Party first.”
Lorcen groans in frustration and he rests his head in my hair. “I know where my mind’s going to be all night.”
I smile a shy smile and blush. “You look good by the way.” When I say he looks good I actually mean he looks amazingly good. My mate dressed as Loki and the way that black leather clings to his frame. His hair is gelled back and he has used Fae magic to make it longer so it sits on his shoulders. The green lapels on his black leather coat draw out the colours of his eyes. Yep he looks really hot.
Chapter Nineteen.
We quietly sift into a quiet corner of Noah’s house and make our way into the living area. Lorcen and I get a lot of greetings as we walk through the crowd. One of the downsides of dating the schools quarterback is that everyone now knows my name. The party is in full flow and is decorated amazing
ly, no doubt thanks to Megan’s creative magic. I can’t explain it but I feel euphorical tonight. It is like my demon magic is stronger, more prominent tonight. My eyes fall on a large white blob coming our way and I can’t help bursting out laughing when I realise who it is. Noah comes waddling through bumping his inflatable white arms into people.
Smiling I offer out my fist and Noah fist bumps me and we both say “bada-lada-la” and laugh.
Lorcen looks at us both like we have blown it. He has clearly not seen the movie or heard of the character Baymax. “What?” I ask him. “It’s a great movie, you really should see it.”
Noah whistles as he takes in my outfit. “Looking mightily hot tonight princess.” He looks at Lorcen and winks. “I’m amazed you got him to leave the house with you looking like that.”
Lorcen grins. “I did try to convince her we should stay at home but ..,”
I smile at him and kiss his cheek. “Party first, play later.” Lorcen adjusts his collar nervously and coughs.
“Holy pixies Ebs, what are you trying to do to me?” He grabs my hand. “Come on I need a stiff drink. I hope you have some Fae ale here?”
Noah scoffs at him “Of course cousin. Top shelf.”
As he pulls me through the house Lorcen gets a lot of appreciative glances from girls. I blush though when I realise I am getting quite a few stares from the boys too. Lorcen sighs and looks heavenward. “If I make it through tonight without punching anyone it will be a miracle.”
Once we have drinks we head to the basement , I chuckle to myself when I see Scott and Taylor making out on a sofa. Lorcen leans down into my ear and whispers to me. “I think we should find a quiet corner to do the same.”
“Nuh-uh.” I tell him laughing and pull him groaning over to where Megan and Maddie are chatting. “Hi guys.”
“Woah! Hot demon.” Maddie says taking in my outfit. “Loki. Hows Thor?”
“Ah you know, he’s always stealing my thunder.” Lorcen laughs joking. Megan looks gorgeous her svelte frame is dressed as a cat, black leotard and black tights with a cute black nose and whiskers drawn on her face. Cat ears sit on her head. Maddie is dressed as Wednesday Adams. In the far corner some of the football team are playing beer pong and shout Lorcen over. I convince him to go mix with his team mates and I stay with the girls.
“They’re going to get jaw ache.” Maddie jokes gesturing with the bottle in her hands towards where Scott and Taylor are eating each others’ faces.
I laugh and smile. “Ah leave them. A few weeks ago they both could have died.” Megan squeezes my hand and drags myself and Maddie upstairs to dance.
The party is a great night. I am dancing with the girls when I spot Morgan making her way over to where Lorcen and the other football boys are sitting drinking and chatting. Lorcen is sat on a stool and she leans down placing her hand on his thigh and giving him a full view of her cleavage in the low cut top she is wearing and she whispers something in his ear. I see Lorcen lean back away from her a frown on his face. I home in on Lorcen’s lips and try to lip read what he is saying. I jump in shock when I realise I can hear every word he is saying to her, as clear as day.
“Morgan you need to let this go and move on.” I hear him tell her.
“She isn’t good enough for you.” She tells him firmly.
I see Lorcen frown at her again. “I love her Morgan. That’s not going to change.”
Morgan leans in again and whispers into his ear. “Come upstairs with me and I’ll show you what you’re missing.”
It is at this point that the demon in me loses her shit. Who does she think she is blatantly making moves on my boy. The demon in me grins. As Morgan leans in to say something else, I use my demon magic to cause one of the footie lads to spill his beer all over Morgan’s back. She yelps and stands up and looks at the poor guy fuming. I then use a little of my fae magic to create a small gust of wind which knocks her off her feet and she lands with a thump on the floor. To everyone around it will just look like Morgan has had too much to drink. Morgan’s friend rushes over to her and help her up off the floor. I dance grinning like a Cheshire cat and find Lorcen’s eyes on me giving me a questioning glance.
“A little mean don’t you think love.” He says into my mind.
“No.” I reply. “She has had that coming for a while.”
Lorcen winks at me and beckons me over to him using his finger. I smile and shake my head and gesture with my head for him to come to me. He shakes his head smiling admitting defeat and makes his way over to me, his eyes never leaning mine. He reaches me and I wrap my arms around his neck and run my fingers through his hair.
“You’re a real naughty demon tonight.”
“Thank you, for telling her straight.” I lean into his ear. “Oh and I love you to and that also will never change for me either.”
Lorcen blinks and looks at me surprised. “You heard that? From all the way over here?”
I grin feeling quite pleased with myself. “Demon hearing.” I yelp as a large horn is sounded making me jump and we both turn to see Lorcen standing on the table a drink in his hand.
“Okay quiet it for a minute people. A few weeks ago a tragic accident led to us losing three of our own. Nicole, Mel and Jason.” Everyone looks sombre and a few hug each other. “So a toast to them. Tonight we party in their honour.”
Everyone toasts and there is silence for a minute. Tears threaten to overspill and I look at Noah and mouth a thank you to him. “Okay people, let’s party.” He shouts and the music is turned back up.
Lorcen pulls me into his side. “You want to get out of here?”
I give him a shy smile and nod. “I like that idea.” He smiles and takes my hand in his and we weave our way through the people dancing and out into the hallway. My breath is knocked out of me as pain rips through my body and scream out. The pain is unbearable. Lorcen puts a hand out and I feel magic ripple around us. I scream again as the pain hits me. I fall to my knees and clutch at my chest. Lorcen kneels beside me. He is talking to me but I can’t hear him, all I can feel is the pain. “Too much pain.” I tell him struggling to get the words out. I feel him lift me up and carry me and before I know it I am placed gently on a bed. My magic feels too powerful, like it could overwhelm me. It feels amplified, like it has had some kind of jump start. I double up as the pain rips through me again, only this time I feel it in my back. “My back.” I cry out. I feel Lorcen and someone else turn me on my side.
“There’s nothing wrong with her back.” The voice says.
I hear a scream but it doesn’t come from me but I hear it in my head. As fast as the pain came it disappears and I feel I can breathe again. “It’s gone.” I say the relief thick in my voice. I open my eyes to find myself surrounded on all sides by the concerned faces of my fae friends.
“What the fuck just happened?” Blaine asks, looking at me concerned.
I shake my head and sit up carefully on the bed. “I’ve no idea. It was just this sudden overwhelming pain. I can’t explain it but my magic feels different.”
Lorcen sits on the edge of the bed and takes my hand in his. He touches my forehead with the back of his other hand. “You’re boiling hot love.” Lorcen looks at Blaine. “Could it be a demon thing. Like her demon magic awakening?”
Blaine looks blank. “I have no idea but I doubt it. Demons are born with their magic, they don’t have awakenings.”
I rub my head. “It felt like when Devlon had my magic awakened.”
“Maybe Tuatha don’t awaken all in one go.” Noah suggests, his inflatable suit squeaks every time he moves and I can’t help but laugh out loud at the humour of this scene.
“This has to be the strangest bedside gathering ever.” I laugh and gesture at them with my hands. “I mean, Thor and Loki, a cat, Wednesday Adams and then Baymax.” Everyone looks at each other and smiles and the mood lightens somewhat. “Can you take me home please? I feel beat.” I admit. Lorcen nods and with an arm under mine, he helps me stand
.
Megan places a hand on my other arm. “Take care okay?” She tells me with concern in her eyes. I nod and give her a reassuring smile.
“Think you can sift us home?” Lorcen asks and I nod and close my eyes and think of home.
When I open my eyes I think I am seeing things as we are not inside our lovely warm home but we are standing on a cold night in front of my old house in England.
“Oops.” I say smiling awkwardly at Lorcen who is looking around him right now wondering where the hell he is.
“Did you just sift us half way across the globe?” He gives me a look of disbelief.
“I think I just did, yeah. Sorry.” I gesture to the house. “So this is where I grew up. That was my bedroom there.” I look wistfully at the window of my old room. “It’s strange you know to think of people living here now. The last time I was here life was different.” I smile sadly.
“You wish you could go back, to how it was before?”
I look at him and shake my head vehemently. “God no, because then you wouldn’t be in it. It’s weird you know, even though I had a happy childhood it always felt like something was missing in my life.”
Lorcen gives me a deep look. “I get that, I felt the same growing up not knowing you, dreaming of you but not really knowing you.” Lorcen swings our hands. “Think you can sift us home now?”
I smile. “I think I can manage that.” I close my eyes and think in detail of our house in Weston and this time we actually do arrive home.
That night I fall into a deep sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. In my dream I am standing before a full length ornate mirror and my reflection looks back at me. But I look different. It is without doubt me, same face, same nose same widow’s peak and blue eyes but my long hair is pale blonde. I am in a pale yellow chiffon dress. My wings are spread and they too are the same. I reach out and touch my reflection and to my surprise my reflection gasps and veers back away from the mirror in response. She looks at me with tears falling down her face and I touch my face to find no tears. How can my reflection be crying if I am not, it makes no sense at all.