Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 5

What? Thea say. This was something she could announce step to the fore ab stunned. Blaise, are you surface of your soul?I hope youre non saying you dont want to do spells, Blaise say dangerously. Thats part of it, you sleep together.Im saying theres no way we can get enough ocellus to fill this with come out of the closet them noticing. What are we passage to tell them? I heavyly want a shrimpy to remember you by?Use your ingenuity, Vivienne tell music all toldy, twining a red-gold strand of fuzz slightly her fingers.In a pinch we could ever use the loving cup of Lethe, Blaise added calmly. Then no matter what we do, they wont remember.Thea nearly fell over. What Blaise was suggesting was wish well development a nuclear bomb to swat a fly. You are crazy, she said quietly. You have a go at it that maidensarent allowed to use that kind of spell, and we in all probability wont even be capable to use it when were mothers, and probably not even when were cr iodins. Th ats stuff for the elders. She stared at Blaise until the grey- bulled eye dropped.I dont suppose in yrifying some spells as forbidden, Blaise said loftily, just now she didnt look back at Thea and she didnt pursue the subject.As she and Dani left wing the patio, Thea noticed that Dani had taken unrivaled of the bitty vials.Are you waiver to the saltation?I guess so. Dani shrugged lithe shoulders. rear end Finkelstein from our world lit class asked me a couple weeks ago. Ive never been to one of their dancings originally-but maybe this is the time to start. nowadays what did that mean? Thea felt un well- complete. And youre planning to put a spell on him?You mean this? She twisted the vial in her fingers. I dont hunch over. I forecast Id take it just in case. She looked up at Thea defensively. You took one for Eric.Thea hesitated. She hadnt talked to Dani some Eric yet. Part of her wanted to and part of her was scared. What did Dani really think back of Outsiders, an yways?After all, Dani said, her sweet face tranquil, theyre only humans.Saturday night Thea took a fleece out of the closet. It was blanch green-so pale that it approximately looked fair-and designed along Hellenic lines. Witch clothes had to feel good as well as look good, and this dress was soft and lightweight, swirling beautifully when she turned.Blaise wasnt wearable a dress. She was wearing a tuxedo. It had a red silk bow tie and cummerbund and it looked fantastic on her.This is probably going to be the only saltation in archives where the most popular girl has on cufflinks, Thea thought.Eric arrived right on time. He breaked at the front door of the shop, the door that only Outsiders used. Night masses came around back, to a door that was unmarked except for what looked like a bit of graffiti-a spray-painted black dahlia.Okay, Thea thought. She took a deep breath before she unlatched the door and permit him in.This is business, business, business. further the firs t spot wasnt as awkward as shed feared. He smiled and held out a corsage of clear orchids. She smiled and took it. Then she said, You look nice.His suit was pale fatigue br subscribe to, loose and commodious looking. Me? You look nice. I mean-you look wonderful. That color makes your hair look just like gold. Then he glanced round at himself apologetically. I dont go to many jumps, Im aghast(predicate).Dont you? Shed heard girls talking about him at school. It take onmed as if everyone desire him, wanted to get close to him.No, Im usually pretty busy. You know, working, playing sports. He added more softly, And I hurl a hard time persuasion of things to say around girls.Funny, you never see to have a worry around me, Thea thought. She saw him looking the shop over.Its my grandmothers store. She sells all kinds of things here, from all around the world. She watched him closely. This was an important test. If he-a human-believed in this stuff, he was either a New epoch ge ek or dangerously close to the truth.Its cool, he said, and she was happy to see that he was lying. I mean, he said, obviously struggling to find a polite way to praise the voodoo dolls and wand crystals, I think people can really affect their bodies by changing their present of mind.You dont know how right you are, Thea thought.There was a clack of high heels on wood, and Blaise came work through the stairs. Her shoes appeared first, then her fitted trouser legs, then all the curves, emphasise here and there with brilliant red silk. Finally came her shoulders and tribal chief, her midnight hair one-half up and half down, framing her face in stormy no-account curls.Thea glanced sideways at Eric.He was smiling at Blaise, but not in the goofy, dying-sheep way other guys smiled. His was just a genuine grin.Hi, Blaise, he said. Going to the leaping? We can take you if you need a lift.Blaise stop dead. Then she gave him a blistering glare. Thank you, I have my own date. Im just goi ng to pick him up now.On the way to the door, she looked hard at Thea. You do have everything you need for tonight- dont you?The vial was in Theas pale green clutch purse. Thea still didnt know how she could possibly get it filled, but she nodded tightly.Good. Blaise swept out and got into a silver-gray Porsche that was parked at the curb. Kevins car. just, as Thea knew, she wasnt going to pick up Kevin.I think I made her mad, Eric said.Dont worry. Blaise likes being mad. Should we go now?Business, business, business, Thea chanted to herself as they walked into the school cafeteria. It had been completely alter from its daytime identity. The lights and music were oddly thrilling and the whirl of color out on the dance ball over was strangely inviting.Im not here to have fun, Thea told herself again. But her blood seemed to be sparkling. She saw Eric glance at her conspiratorially and she could around feel what he was feeling-as if they were two kids comfort fo chthonic in ha nd at the edge of some incredible carnival.Uh, I should tell you, Eric said. I cant really dance-except for slow ones.Oh, great. But of course this was what she was here to do. To put on a show of romancing Eric for Blaise.A slow song was starting that minute. Thea close her eyes briefly and resigned herself to fate-which didnt seem all that awful as she and Eric stepped out onto the floor.Terpsichore, Muse of the Dance, help me not make a fool of myself. Shed never been so close to a human boy, and shed never tried to dance to human music. But Eric didnt seem to notice her lack of experience.You know, I cant believe this, he said. His arms were around her lightly, almost reverently. As if he were afraid shed break if he held her too hard.What cant you believe?Well He agitate his head. Everything, I guess. That Im here with you. And that it all feels so easy. And that you always smell so good.Thea laughed in spite of herself. I didnt use any yemonja this time- she began, and then she almost bit her tongue. Adrenaline washed over her in a loop of painful tingles.Was she crazy? She was blurting out spell ingredients, for Earths sake. He was too easy to talk to, that was the bother. Every so often shed forget he wasnt a witch.You okay? he said as her silence stretched on. His voice was concerned.No, I am not okay. Ive got Blaise on one side and the laws of the Night origination on the other, and theyre both out to get me. And I dont even know if youre worth it.Can I ask you something? she said abruptly. Why did you knock me out of the way of that snake?Huh? It was in a striking coil. You could have got bit.But so could you. So did you.He frowned as if stricken by one of those unsolvable mysteries of life. Yeah but that didnt seem so large somehow. I suppose that sounds stupid.Thea didnt know how to answer. And she was suddenly in terrible betrothal about what to do. Her body seemed to want her to lean her head against Erics shoulder, but her mind was yelli ng in alarm at the very thought.At that moment she heard loud voices at the edge of the dance floor.Get out of the way, a guy in a blue jacket was saying. She smiled at me, and Im going over there.It was me she was smiling at, you jerk, a guy in a gray jacket snapped back. So just back by and let me go.Expletives. It was me, and youd better get out of the way. More expletives. It was me, and youd better let go.A fistfight started. Chaperones came running.Guess whos here? Thea asked herself. She had no trouble at all locating Blaise. The red-trimmed tuxedo was environ by a ring of guys, which was surrounded by a ring of abandoned and angry girls.Maybe we should go over and say hi, Thea said. She wanted to warn Blaise about starting a riot.Okay. She sure is popular, isnt she?They managed to worm their way through the encircling crowd. Blaise was in her element, glorying in the adulation and confusion.I waited for an hour and a half, but you never showed up, a very pale Kevin was say ing to her. He was wearing an immaculate white silk shirt and exquisitely tailored black pants. His eyes were hollow.Maybe you gave me the equipment casualty address, Blaise said thoughtfully. I couldnt find your house. She had her hand tucked into the arm of a very tall guy with shoulder-length blond hair, who looked as if he worked out four or five hours a day. Anyway, you want to dance?Kevin looked at the blond guy, who looked back impassively, his cleft chin rock hard.Dont mind Sergio, Blaise said. He was just keeping me company. Do you not want to dance?Kevins eyes fell. Well, yeah, of course I want to.As Blaise detached herself from Sergio, Thea leaned forward. Youd better not do anything too public, she hissed in her cousins ear. Theres already been one fight.Blaise just gave her an diverted glance and took Kevins arm. Most of the boys followed her, and with the crowd gone, Thea saw Dani at a small table. She was wearing a sparkling gold dress and she was alone.Lets go sit, Eric said, before Thea could even get a word out. She threw him a grateful look.Wheres John? Thea asked as they pulled chairs to the table.Dani nodded toward the pack following Blaise.I dont mind, though, she said, sipping a cup of lagger philosophically. He was kind of boring. I dont know about all this dance stuff.Thea knew she meant it was different from Circledances, where everyone was in harmony and there was no jointure off. You danced with the elements and with everybody else, all one big interconnected whole.Eric volunteered to get more punch.Hows it going with him? Dani asked in a low voice when he was gone. Her velvety injustice eyes searched Theas curiously.Everythings okay so far, Thea said evasively. Then she looked out toward the dance floor. I see Viv and Selene are here.Yeah. I think Vivienne already got her blood. She stabbed Tyrone with her corsage pin.How clever, Thea said. Vivienne was wearing a black dress that made her hair look like flame, and Selene was i n deep violet that showed off her blondness. They both seemed to be having a wonderful time.Dani yawned. I think Ill probably go residence early- she began, and then she broke off.Some kind of a disturbance had begun on the other side of the room, in front of the primary(prenominal) entrance. People were scuffling. At first, Thea thought it was just another minor fray over Blaise-but then a puzzle out came staggering out under the lights of the dance floor.I want to know, the voice said in discrepant tones that rose over the music. I want to knoooow.The band stopped. People turned. Something about the voice made them do that. It was so obviously abnormal, the cadence wrongly even for somebody who was drunk. This was someone who was disturbed.Thea stood up.I want to knoooow, the figure said again, sounding lost and petulant. Then it turned and Thea felt ice down her spine.The person was wearing a Halloween robe.A kids plastic mask of a football player, the kind held on with an elastic string. Perfectly appropriate for a Halloween dance. But at Home advance, it was grotesque.Oh, Eileithyia, Thea thought.Can you tell me? the figure asked a misfortunate girl in black ruffles. She backed away, reaching for her dance partner.Mr. Adkins, Theas physics teacher, came jogging up, his tie fluttering. None of the other chaperones seemed to be around-probably because they were out somewhere trying to control fights over Blaise, Thea thought.Okay, lets settle settle, Mr. Adkins said, making motions as if the figure were an unruly class. Lets just take it easy.The guy in the Halloween mask pulled something out of his jacket. It glinted like a rainbow under the colored dance floor lights, reflective as a mirror.A straight razor, Dani said in a hushed voice. Queen Ms, whered he get that?Something about the weapon-maybe the circumstance that it was so weird, so old-fashioned-made it scarier than a knife. Thea pictured the way even a safety razor could slice shape.Mr. A dkins was backing away, arms held out as if to protect the students behind him. His eyes were frightened.I have to stop this, Thea thought. The problem was that she had no idea how. If it had been an animal, she could have stepped out and tried mind control. But she couldnt control a person.She started walking anyway, slowly, so as not to allure attention. She skirted the edge of the crowd around the dance floor until she drew pair with the mantled guy.Who by now had switched to a new question. Have you seen her? he said. He kept asking it as he walked, and people kept backing away. Vivienne and Selene drew to either side with their dates. The razor glittered.Thea looked toward the blow end of the dance floor, where Blaise was standing with Kevin Imamura.With no Buck, no Duane to protect her. But Blaise didnt look frightened. That was one thing about Blaise-she had magnificent physical courage. She was standing with one hand on her hip and Thea could tell that she knew exactly w ho was coming her way.In between moving couples, Thea glimpsed something else. Eric was on the other side of the dance floor, holding two cups of punch in one hand and one in the other. He was keeping pace with the masked guy, just as she was.She tried to catch his eye, but the crowd was too thick.Have you seen her? the masked guy asked a couple right in front of Blaise. I want to knoooow.The couple split like bowling pins. Blaise stood exposed, tall and dignified in her black suit, lights shimmering off her midnight hair.Here I am, turned on(predicate), she said. What is it you want to know?Randy Marik stopped, panting. His breath made a muffled noise against the plastic. The rest of the huge room was eerily silent.Thea moved closer, walking silently. Eric was pulling in from the other side, and he saw her for the first time. He shook his head at her and mouthed, Stay away.Yeah. And youre going to tackle him armed with three political party cups of punch. She gave him a look and mouthed, You stay away.Randys hand was trembling, making the razor flash. His chest was heaving.What is it, Randy? Blaise said. The toe of one high heeled shoe tapped the floor impatiently.I feel bad, Randy said. It was almost a moan. Suddenly his head didnt seem well connected to his neck. I miss you.His voice made Theas flesh creep. He sounded like a person with the body of an eighteen-year-old and the mind of a four-year-old.I cry all the time, he said.With his left hand, he pulled off the Halloween mask. Kevin recoiled. Thea herself felt a wave of horror.He was crying blood. crosscurrenty streams ran down from each of his eyes, mingling with regular tears.A spell? Thea wondered. Then she thought, no hes cut himself.That was it. Hed made two crescent-shaped incisions under his eyes and the blood was coming from them.The rest of his face was ghastly, too. He was white as a corpse and there was fuzzy stubble on his chin. His eyes stared wildly. And his hair, which had always been strawberry blond and silky, stood up all over his head like bleached hay.You came all the way from New Hampshire to tell me that? Blaise said. She rolled her eyes.Randy let out a sobbing breath.This seemed to make Kevin braver. Look, man, I dont know who you are-but youd better keep away from her, he said. Why dont you go home and sober up?It was a mistake. The wild eyes above the slaughterous cheeks focused on him.Who are you? Randy said thickly, advancing a step. Who are you?Kevin, move Thea said urgently.It was too late. The hand with the razor flashed out, lightning quick. Blood spurted from Kevins face.