Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 3

star for, lost, a goner. Blaise had chosen him, and it was only a matter of how she was freeing to play him.A parade of names marched through Theas mind. Randy Marik. Jake Batista. Kristoffer Milton. Troy Sullivan. Daniel Xiong.And now Brie Ross. merely Eric was sheding, sounding animated. Your cousin? Is she that different new girl? Thea?Yes. Now-Look, do you tell apart whither she is? I really destiny to talk to her. The hazy look descended again, and Eric stared into the distance. Shes adept Ive neer met eitherbody like her.Blaise let go of the notebook and stared.From her hiding place, Thea stared, too.It had never happened before. This guy didnt charge seem to see Blaise.That was strange enough. But by the Blue Monkey-headed Goddess of Inquisitiveness, what Thea really wanted to know was why she herself felt so relieved by it.A bell rang. Blaise was still standing there flabbergasted. Eric stuffed the notebook in his backpack.Could you respectable let her know I ask ed about her?She doesnt care if you asked about her Blaise snapped, voice no longer honeyed. She said very explicitly that she never wanted to see you again. And Id watch out if I were you. Because she has a temper. The last word was uttered in rising tones.Eric looked slightly alarmed-and crestfallen. Thea saw his throat move as he swallowed. Then, without saying good-bye to Blaise, he turned and walked out the far side of the corridor. whole rough by the Red Crow-headed Thunderbolt Goddess.Blaise turned most and stalked up the corridor in Theas direction. Thea didnt even try to hide.So you saw all that. wholesome I hope youre happy, Blaise said waspishly.Thea wasnt. She was confused. Strangely agitated-and scared, because the Cup of Death was still floating before her eyes.I guess we should both just leave him alone/ she said. be you kidding? Im going to harbor him, Blaise said. Hes mine. Unless, she added, eyes glittering, youve already staked a claim.Thea floundered, shocked. I well noThen hes mine. I like a challenge. Blaise ran a hand through her hair, disordering the bleak waves. Isnt it nice that Gran has so m some(prenominal) love charms in the shop, she mused.Blaise Thea had a hard time collecting her thoughts. Dont you remember what Gran said? If theres any more troubleThere isnt going to be any trouble for us, Blaise said, her voice flat and positive. Only for him.Thea walked to her next class feeling oddly empty. drop it, she thought. Theres nothing you can do.She didnt see many Night People along the way to class. A young kid, probably a freshman, who looked like a shapeshifter a teacher who had the hunting light of the lamia-the natural vampires-in his eyes. No make vampires, no werewolves. No other witches.Of course, she couldnt be certain. All the people of the Night World were master of secrecy, of blending in, of passing unseen. They had to be. It was what allowed them to survive in a world where there were so many more humans and wher e humans loved to kill anything different.But when she was school term in the world literature classroom, Thea noticed a girl in the next row.The girl was small-boned and pretty, with thick eyelashes and hair as black and round the bend as soot. She had a heart-shaped face-and dimples. But what caught Theas eye was the girls hand, which was playing with a pin on the girls blue-and-white-striped vest. A pin in the shape of a black flower.A dahlia.Thea immediately turned to a blank page in her notebook. While the teacher read a passage from the story Rashomon, Thea began drawing a black dahlia, tracing it all over and over until it was large enough for the girl to see distinctly. When she raised her head, she saw the girl was looking at her.The girls lashes swept level as she looked at the drawing, then up again. She smiled at Thea and nodded slightly.Thea smiled and nodded back.After class, without any need to discuss it, Thea followed the girl to the front of the school. The gir l looked around to make received no one was in earshot, then turned to Thea with something like resigned wistfulness. exercise set Midnight? she said.Thea shook her head. Circle Twilight. Arent you?The girls face lit up with shy delight. Her eyes were drab and velvety. Yes she said and rushed on, But there are only two more of us-two seniors, I mean-and theyre both Circle Midnight, and I was afraid to hope She rack out her hand, dimpling. Im Dani Abforth.Thea felt her heart lighten. The girls laughter was infectious. Thea Harman. Unity. It was the age-old greeting of the witches, the symbol of their harmony, their oneness.Unity, Dani murmured. Then her eyes widened. Harman? Youre a Hearth-Woman? A daughter of Hellewise? Really?Thea laughed. Were all daughters of Hellewise.Yes, tho-you know what I mean. Youre a direct descendent. Im honored.Well, Im honored, too. Abforth is All-bringing-forth, isnt it? Thats a pretty impressive line itself. Dani was still looking awed, so Thea sa id quickly, My cousins here, too-Blaise Harman. Were both new-but you must be, too. Ive never seen you around Vegas before.We moved in last month, just in time to start school, Dani said. Her brow puckered. But it youre new, what do you mean you havent seen me around?Thea sighed. Well, its kind of complicated.A bell rang. Both she and Dani looked at the school building in frustration, then at each other.Meet me here at lunch? Dani asked.Thea nodded, asked which way her french class was, and then flew off toward the other side of the building.She sat through her next two classes trying to actually listen to the teachers. She didnt know what else to do. She had to concentrate to halt the image of aged-flecked green eyes out of her mind.At lunch, she found Dani sitting on the steps out front. Thea settled beside her and opened a bottle of Evian body of water and a chocolate yogurt shed bought at the snack bar.You were going to explain how you know Vegas, Dani said. She spoke softly because there were kids everywhere in the front courtyard, sprawled in the sun with paper bags.Thea eyed a row of sago palms and felt herself sighing again. Blaise and I-our mothers died when we were born. They were twin sisters. And then both our dads died. So we grew up sort of moving around from congenator to relative. We usually spend the summers with Grandma Harman, and we live with somebody else during the school year. But these last couple of years well, weve been in five high schools since we were sophomores.Five?Five. I calculate five. Isis knows, it could be six.But why?We keep getting expelled, Thea said succinctly.But-Its Blaises fault, Thea said. She was mad at Blaise. She does-things-to boys. Human boys. And somehow it always ends up getting us kicked out of school. Both of us, because Im always too stupid to tell them shes the one responsible.Not stupid, I bet. Loyal, Dani said warmly, and put her hand on Theas. Thea squeezed it, taking some comfort in the sympathy .Anyway, this year we were in New Hampshire living with our Uncle Galen-and Blaise did it again. To the captain of the football team. His name was Randy Marik.When Thea close offped, Dani said, What happened to him?He burned the school down for her.Dani made a sound halfway between a snort and a giggle. Then she straightened out her face quickly. Sorry, not funny. For her?Thea leaned against the wrought-iron stair railing.Thats what Blaise likes, she said bleakly. Having power over guys, messing with their minds. Getting them to do things they would never ordinarily do. To prove their love, you know. But the thing is, shes never satisfied until theyre completely destroyed. She shook her head. You should have seen Randy at the end. Hed lost his mind. I dont conceive hell ever get it back.Dani wasnt smiling anymore. Power like that she sounds like Aphrodite, she said softly.And thats right, Thea thought. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love who could turn passion into a weapon that brought the whole world to its knees.Remind me sometime to tell you what shes done to the other guys shes played. In a way. Randy was lucky.Thea took a breath. So, anyway, we got shipped back here to Grandma Harman because there werent any other relatives willing to take us. They figured if Gran couldnt straighten us up, nobody could.But that must be wonderful, Dani said. I mean, living with the Crone. Part of the reason my mom moved us here was that she wanted to study with your grandmother.Thea nodded. Yeah, people come from all over to take her classes, or to buy her amulets and things. Shes not always easy to live with, though, Thea added wryly. She goes through a couple of apprentices a year.So is she going to straighten Blaise up?I dont think anybody can. What Blaise does-its just her nature, the way its a cats nature to playwith mice. And if we get in trouble again, Gran says shes going to send us to our aunt Ursula at the computerized axial tomography enclave.The Convent?Ye ah.Then youd better stay out of trouble.I know. Dani, whats this school like? I mean, is it the kind of place where Blaise can keep out of trouble?Well Dani looked dismayed. Well-I told you before, theres only two other witches in our class, and theyre both Circle Midnight. Maybe you know them Vivienne Morrigan and genus Selene Lucna?Theas heart sank. Vivienne and Selene-shed seen them going to summer Circles, wearing the darkest robes of any of the Circle Midnight girls. The two of them plus Blaise would make well, a lethal combination.Maybe if you explain to them how important it is, they might help you keep Blaise under control, Dani said. You want to go talk to them now? Theyll be on the patio by the cafeteria-I usually eat with them there.Um Thea hesitated. Talking to those two- well, she doubted it would help. But on the other hand, she didnt have a better idea. why not?On the way to the cafeteria, she saw something that made her stop dead. Taped to the stucco wall was a giant piece of butcher paper, painted chromatic and black at the margins. In the center was a grotesque figure an old woman with a black dress, disheveled white hair, and a wart-covered, haglike face. She was straddling a broom and wearing a pointy hat. Lettering under the picture said comingOCTOBER 31 THE ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN PARTY.Hands on hips, Thea said, When will they learn that witches never wore pointy hats?Dani snorted, her heart-shaped face surprisingly dangerous. You know, maybe your cousin has the right idea after all.Thea looked at her, startled.Well, they are an inferior species. You have to admit that. And maybe it sounds prejudiced, but then theyre so prejudiced themselves. She leaned closer to Thea. You know, they even have prejudices against skin.She held out her arm. Thea looked at the flawless skin, which was a deep, clear brown. Theyd think we were two different races, Dani said, insistence her arm against Theas tan one. And that maybe one was better than the other o ne.Thea couldnt deny it. All she could say, feebly, was, Well, two wrongs dont make a right.But three lefts do Dani burst out, finishing the old witch carol. Then she dissolved into laughter and led Thea to the patio.Lets see, they should be over there. Oh. Oops.Oops, Thea thought.Vivienne and Selene were at a cloistered table on the far side. Blaise was with them.I should have known shed find them first thing, Thea muttered. From the way the three girls had their heads together, it looked as if trouble were brewing already.As Thea and Dani approached the table, Blaise looked up. Whereve you been? she said, undulation a finger reproachfully. Ive been waiting to introduce you.Everybody said hello. Then Thea sat down and studied the other two girls.Vivienne had fox-red hair and looked tall even sitting down. Her face was animated she seemed sparkling with energy. Selene was a platinum blond with sleepy blue eyes. She was smaller, and moved with languid grace.Now, how do I politely s ay, cheer help me suppress my cousin? Thea wondered. She could already tell it wouldnt be much use. Viv and Selene seemed to be under Blaises spell already-they turned to her every other succor as if checking for approval. Even Dani was watching Blaise with something like fascinated awe.Blaise had that effect on people.So we were just talking about guys, Selene said, twirling a straw languorously in her bottle of Snapple iced tea. Theas heart plummeted.Toyboys, Vivienne clarified in a lovely melodious voice. Thea felt the beginnings of a bad headache.No wonder Blaise is smirking, she thought. These girls are just like her. Shed seen it at other schools young witches who seemed to flirt with breaking Night World law by flaunting inhuman power over boys.Arent there any of our kind of guys here? Thea asked, as a last hope.Vivienne rolled her eyes. One sophomore. Alaric Breedlove, Circle Twilight. Thats it. This place is a desert-no pun intended.Thea wasnt really surprised. There were always more witch girls than guys-and nobody seemed to know why. More girls got born, more survived to grow up. And in some places the ratio was particularly unbalanced.So we just have to make do, Selene drawled. But that can be fun sometimes. Homecoming dance is this Saturday, and Ive got my boy all picked out.So, Blaise said, have I. She glanced at Thea significantly.And there it was. Thea felt her throat close.Eric Ross, Blaise said, savoring the spoken communication. And Viv and Sel have told me allll about him.Eric? Dani said. Hes the basketball star, isnt he?And the baseball star, Vivienne said in her beautiful voice. And the tennis star. And hes smart-he takes honors courses and works at the animal hospital, too. Hes studying to get into U.C. Davis. To be a vet, you know.So thats why he cared about the snake, Thea thought. And why hes got flatworms in his notebook.And hes so cute, Selene murmured. Hes so shy with girls-he can hardly talk around them. none of us have gotten anywhere with him.Thats because you used the wrong methods, Blaise said, and her eyes were very smoky.Theas insides seemed hollow and there was a circlet of pain around her head. She did the only thing she could think of.Blaise, she said. She looked her cousin directly in the face, making an open appeal. Blaise, listen. I hardly ever ask anything of you, right? But now Im asking something. I want you to leave Eric alone. Can you do that-for me? For the sake of Unity?Blaise blinked slowly. She took a long drink of iced tea. Why, Thea, youre getting all worked up.Ism not.I didnt know you cared.I dont. I mean-of course I dont care about him. But Im worried about you, about all of us. I think Thea hadnt meant to say this, but she found the words spilling out anyway. I think he might have some suspicions about us. This dayspring he told me that I seemed so different from other girls. She managed to stop herself before she mentioned that hed guessed she had healed him. That would be incr edibly dangerous, especially since she didnt know who Vivienne or Selene might blab to.Blaises pupils were large. You mean-you think hes a psychic?No, no. She knew he wasnt a psychic. Shed been inside his mind, and he wasnt from any lost witch family. He didnt have any powers. He was as much a human as that snake had been a snake.Well, then, Blaise said. She chuckled, a rich, rippling sound. He just thinks youre different-and thats hardly something to worry about. We want them to think were different.She didnt understand. And Thea couldnt explain. Not without getting herself into very hot water.So, if you dont mind, well just consider my claim staked, Blaise said courteously. Now, lets see, what to do with the boys at the dance. First, I think we need to spill their blood.Spill what? Dani said, sitting up.Just a little blood, Blaise told her absently. Its going to be absolutely vital for some of the spells well want to do later.Well, good luck, Dani said. Humans dont like blood-they re going to run like bunnies from you after that.Blaise regarded her with a half-smile. I dont think so, she said. You dont understand this business yet. If its done right, they dont run. Theyre scared theyre shocked and they just keep coming back for more.Dani looked shocked herself-and still fascinated. But why do you want to hurt them?Were just doing what comes naturally, Blaise purred.I dont care Thea thought, its none of my business.She heard herself say, No.She was staring at a pile of squashed napkins in her hand. off of the corner of her eye she could seeBlaises exasperated expression. The others might not know what Thea was saying no to, but Blaise always understood her cousin.I asked you before if you wanted him, Blaise said. And you said you didnt. So now youre changing your mind? Youre going to play him?Thea stared at her wad of napkins. What could she say? I cant because Im scared? I cant because something happened between him and me this morning and I dont know what i t was? I cant because if I keep seeing him I have this feeling I might break the law, and I dont mean the one about never telling humans that we exist I mean the other one, the one about never falling in love.Dont be ridiculous.That sort of thing is out of the question, she told herself. All you want is to keep him from ending up like Randy Marik. And you can do that without getting involved.Im saying I want him, she said out loud.Youre going to play him?Im going to play him.Well. Instead of snarling, Blaise laughed. Well, congratulations. My little cousin is growing up at last.Oh, please. Thea gave her a look. She and Blaise had been born on two different days-just barely. Blaise had been born one minute before midnight, and Thea one minute after. It was another reason they were so connected-but Thea hated it when Blaise acted older.Blaise just smiled, her gray eyes glinting. And,look-theres lover boy right now, she said, feigning elaborate surprise. Thea followed her nod and saw a figure with sandy hair and long legs at the other side of the patio.What luck, Blaise said. Why dont you just walk over and ask him to the dance?