Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 3

nonpareil for, lost, a goner. Blaise had chosen him, and it was only a study of how she was issue to take on him.A parade of names marched by means of Theas mind. ruttish Marik. Jake Batista. Kristoffer Milton. Troy Sullivan. Daniel Xiong.And now Brie Ross.solely Eric was sloping, sounding animated. Your cousin-german? Is she that other saucily girl? Thea?Yes. Now-Look, do you hunch forward where she is? I really want to talk to her. The hazy look descended again, and Eric st ard into the distance. Shes adept Ive n forever met eachbody corresponding her.Blaise let go of the no(prenominal)book and stared.From her hiding place, Thea stared, too.It had neer happened before. This guy didnt fifty-fifty trym to rule Blaise.That was strange enough. more(prenominal)over by the Blue Monkey-headed Goddess of Inquisitiveness, what Thea really cute to know was why she herself felt so relieved by it.A bell shape rang. Blaise was still standing on that point flabbergasted. Eric stuffed the notebook in his backpack.Could you just let her know I chooseed ab expose her?She doesnt care if you asked just nigh her Blaise snapped, utterance no longer honeyed. She itemise very explicitly that she never wanted to moderate you again. And Id watch out if I were you. Because she has a temper. The last word was verbalize in rising tones.Eric looked slightly alarmed-and crestfallen. Thea maxim his throat move as he swallowed. Then, without saying good-bye to Blaise, he glum and locomoteed out the uttermost side of the corridor.Well by the Red Crow-headed Thunderbolt Goddess.Blaise turned close to and stalked up the corridor in Theas carry onion. Thea didnt even try to hide.So you saw all that. Well I hope youre happy, Blaise verbalise waspishly.Thea wasnt. She was confused. Strangely agitated-and scared, because the cup of Death was still floating before her eyeball.I guess we should whatever(prenominal) just desert him alone/ she said.Are you k idding? Im going to occupy him, Blaise said. Hes mine. Unless, she added, eyes glittering, youve already staked a fill.Thea floundered, shocked. I well noThen hes mine. I corresponding a challenge. Blaise ran a hand through her vibrissa, disordering the glum waves. Isnt it strait-laced that Gran has so m any(prenominal) love charms in the shop, she mused.Blaise Thea had a baffling time collecting her thoughts. Dont you remember what Gran said? If theres any to a greater extent 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. send packing it, she thought. Theres nothing you bear do.She didnt see many dark People on the way to class. A young kid, probably a freshman, who looked like a shapeshifter a instructor who had the hunting light of the lamia-the born vampires-in his eyes. No do vampires, no werewolves. No other witches.Of course, she couldnt be certain. All the people of the Night World were masters 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 humanity and where humans loved to kill anything divers(prenominal).But when she was sitting in the world writings classroom, Thea noticed a girl in the next row.The girl was small-boned and pretty, with loggerheaded eyelashes and hair as black and soft as soot. She had a mall-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 straight 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 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 floor 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 girl looked around to force sure no one was in earshot, then turned to Thea with something like resigned wistfulness. mint Midnight? she said.Thea shake her head. Circle Twilight. Arent you?The girls face lit up with faint-hearted delight. Her eyes were dark 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 thrust out her hand, dimpling. Im Dani Abforth.Thea felt her heart lighten. The girls joke 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, but-you know wh at 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 said 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 guident seen me around?Thea sighed. Well, its descriptor 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 cut class was, and then flew off toward the other side of the building.She sit down through her next two classes trying to actually listen to the teachers. She didnt know what else to do. She had to foreshorten to agree the image of gray-flecked green eyes out of her mind.At lunch, she rig Dani sitting on the steps ou t front. Thea settled beside her and opened a bottle of Evian water and a chocolate yogurt shed bought at the pungency 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 assort of moving around from relative to relative. We usually spend the summers with granny Harman, and we live with somebody else during the school year. But these last couple of eld well, weve been in five high schools since we were sophomores.Five?Five. I have in mind five. Isis knows, it could be six.But why?We keep scotchting 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 existent with our Uncle Galen-and Blaise did it again. To the police captain of the football team. His name was Randy Marik.When Thea stopped, Dani said, What happened to him?He burned the school cumulation for her.Dani made a sound halfway between a raspberry and a giggle. Then she tidy uped 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 probe 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 think hel l 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 leading to take us. They radiation patternd 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 auntie Ursula at the Connecticut enclave.The Convent?Yeah.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 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 blade well, a lethal combination.Maybe if you explain to them how important it is, they susceptibility service 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 grace wall was a giant piece of butcher paper, painted orange 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 shot 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, peradventure 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 adpressed to Thea. You know, they even have prejudices against s kin.She held out her arm. Thea looked at the f rectitudeless skin, which was a deep, unclouded brown. Theyd think we were two different races, Dani said, pressing her arm against Theas tan one. And that maybe one was better than the other one.Thea couldnt deny it. All she could say, feebly, was, Well, two wrongs dont draw off a right.But three lefts do Dani burst out, close 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 secluded dining table on the far side. Blaise was with them.I should have known shed find them starting line 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, wave a finger reproachfully. Ive been waiting to introduce you.Everybody said hello. Then Thea sat down and studied the othe r 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 atomic number 78 blond with sleepy blue eyes. She was smaller, and moved with languid grace.Now, how do I politely say, Please 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 second 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 closely 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 flaunti ng 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 puzzle do, Selene drawled. But that can be fun sometimes. Homecoming move 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 words. 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 canvass to ge t 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 anyplace 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 instanter 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 sup 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 piece the wo rds throw uping out anyway. I think he might have some suspicions about us. This morning 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 incredibly dangerous, particularly 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-theyre 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 mash napkins in her hand. Out 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 mum her cousin.I asked you before if you wanted him, Blaise said. And yo u 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 it 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 twinkling before midnight, and Thea one min ute after. It was another reason they were so connected-but Thea despised it when Blaise acted older.Blaise just smiled, her gray eyes glinting. And,look-theres lover boy right now, she said, affect 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?