by Jones, L. A.
Tristan shrugged, indifferent as always, and said, "Okay. Where?"
"Dead Horse Beach," said Aradia without missing a beat, "Be there at 12pm."
He nodded and without so much as a 'goodbye' or 'see you later' he turned on his heel and left. Aradia waited until he was a good distance away for her to dive into her backpack, pull out her cell phone, call Dax and say, "Hey Dax are you busy this weekend? No? Then wait until you hear what I got planned!"
Chapter Eight
Although Aradia thought that she could handle anything she had to admit planning a beach trip involving vampires, werewolves, fae, and humans all clumped together as a peaceful hang out to promote amelioration in the hidden race was pushing her luck. Aradia shook her head banishing her thoughts, and feelings of doubt. She knew that this was the only thing she could have done to handle all her problems.
The problems of handling her date with Tristan, and addressing the issue of intolerance amongst the hidden races. Aradia had promised herself that the prejudice issue was something she needed to do something about. If she gave, a speech or something there was no guarantee that it would accomplish anything so Aradia had decided that the only way something could be done was through action. What greater action is there, Aradia thought, then having fun? Still she had to admit that what she was doing was risky, and just because it was good intentioned did not mean that all would go smoothly.
However, Aradia realized that it was too late to turn back now as she and Dax parked in front of the sand dunes. Dax noticed how tense Aradia was, and frankly, he could not blame her. Although he knew of Aradia's plan, and had even helped her to plan it out; it still had not stopped Dax from calling her crazy the entire time they were preparing.
"Are you sure about this?" Dax finally asked her as he slowly reached out, and held her hand.
Aradia had been looking out the window, but at Dax's touch, she swung around to look at him.
She shrugged and said, "I don't have much of a choice Dax. I got to do this to prevent Tristan from giving Roy the photos."
She turned to look back at the seaside horizon. "And besides this whole 'separate but equal' crap that is going on amongst the hidden race is totally bogus! What better way to do something about it then throwing a party?"
Dax shrugged, looking skeptical. "Aradia you should not put so much faith in this little 'get together.' You think you are the only one who has tried to change things? Lots of people have tried, and they have all failed."
"Yeah well," said Aradia, "there is a difference between the people who have failed and me."
"Oh? And what is that?" Dax asked while raising an eyebrow.
Aradia smiled. "And as the last witch I am known to be persistent as hell in getting what I want."
"And you think you can really do all this?" asked Dax.
"Well,” said Aradia as she got out of the car and grinned back at Dax wickedly. "There is a reason that when you compare the words bitch, and witch there is only one letter missing."
Dax chuckled, and got out of the car as well. After hauling his stuff out of the backseat, he stood by the hood and took off his shirt. The moment Aradia got a whiff of his heavily sun screened body, she turned to look at him and her heart stopped. Dax's pale skinned chest glowed as luminescent as the stars in the night sky. His chest was skinny, but his muscular arms were long and strong as perfect as an Olympian god. His wavy blonde glistened in the sun and his black eyes were perfectly halfway shadowed under his long black lashes. His indifferent facial expression with his strong cheekbones, chin, and dimple in his mouth were as correctly proportioned as a sculpture that it reminded Aradia of the story of Pygmalion. When a man fell in love with the most beautiful and perfect statue of them all and as reward the goddess of love brought it to life. Staring at Dax now, Aradia was so swept up in her infatuation that even she dreamily wondered if he had been given to her as a reward.
"Aradia, what's wrong?" Dax asked as he folded his arms across his chest, making his muscles bulge.
"Jesus Christ," Aradia moaned breathlessly, "You are so unbearably hot that it should be illegal for you to even exist."
He raised an eyebrow as Aradia clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Did I just say that out loud?" Aradia's blushed, so much so that she felt as if her whole head was on fire.
"What do you think?" Dax chuckled accompanied by a sexy smile.
Aradia didn't answer, she just giggled nervously.
Dax stepped closer to her and although Aradia wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms, she stepped back.
She then turned and scanned the horizon, shielding her eyes with her hand as she looked into the sky. It was comfortably warm with no breeze, and no clouds were in the sky. Therefore, nothing prevented the sun from unleashing its UV fury on the populace. Nevertheless, Aradia smiled, extremely satisfied with their location. Suddenly, she heard the sputtering sounds of a ford truck, and recognized it.
"Roy-Boy!" Aradia cried out as the truck pulled into the parking lot.
After Roy had stepped out of the black truck, Aradia rushed towards him. She then threw her arms around him, and hugged him which Roy eagerly returned.
"Thanks for inviting me out today Rai-Rai," Roy said smiling.
Aradia stepped away from him and brushed his comment away with a wave of her hand. "It is nothing Roy. I do have one question though..."
"Yeah?" Roy asked sounding intrigued.
"Who the hell invited your brothers?" Aradia demanded as she pointed to Al and D who were also getting out of the truck and wearing swimming trunks, sandals, and over sized t-shirts.
Roy sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry but when you called me to tell me about the beach trip they over heard me and..." He shrugged as if the rest of the story should have been self-explanatory.
Aradia sighed deeply as she watched Al and D unload their beach stuff. Aradia was not stupid enough to think that once everyone realized her plans they would just accept it. In fact, if there were no conflicts or bloodshed at all today that in itself would surprise her! However, in spite of expecting violence Aradia wanted to discourage it as best as she could so Al and D being there with their short tempers made her very nervous.
However, Aradia realized with a shake of her head, Al and D were after all Roy's brothers, so there was no point in making them leave and besides judging by the way Al was smirking at Aradia, she was not about to give them the satisfaction of knowing how annoyed she was that they were crashing her party.
"Hey it's alright Roy," Aradia said, "It’s not your fault. They are your brothers after all."
"Yeah," Roy grumbled, "And I suppose its small compensation that they being my brothers is not my fault so when they do stuff like this I can always blame someone else."
"Like your mother and father?" Aradia suggested.
"Yeah it is either them or God because seriously if having older brothers like them is not a sign that God hates me I don't know what would be!"
"If they were your sons?” Aradia suggested yet again.
Roy looked confused and asked, "How would them being my sons be proof that God hates me?"
"Because," said Aradia, her voice now playfully soft and slow. "The advantage of them being your brothers is even if they steal money, and things from you they will always need more from your father. So judging by the way your brothers look, and dress your father must give them whatever they want just to get shut them up. I am not saying your father is cursed or anything, but he is extremely unlucky!"
"And in any event," Aradia added with a sharp sarcastic glance at Al and D. "Whenever I look at your brothers, 'God' is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind."
Roy burst out laughing.
D looked over at them and asked, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing D," Roy responded quick as a flash.
Roy and Aradia both chuckled as they turned to face each other again.
Roy held her gaze dreamily for a f
ew moments until he too removed his dark green shirt. Aradia's protest caught in her throat as she saw the light brown skin of his chest. Similar to Dax, he too had muscular arms but unlike Dax his chest matched exact large stone like bulk of his arms. Therefore, with his black hair and goatee, stance, and charming face it gave him the appearance of an extremely well built pirate. A pirate who faced danger without a moments hesitation, and made him the subject of many a woman's sexual fantasy. His green eyes, button nose, light brown curvy lips, smile and nervous laugh seemed to emphasize the fantasy comparison even more in Aradia's eyes.
"I have died and gone to heaven," she murmured.
"Hmm?" Roy asked.
Aradia coughed quickly in attempt to rein in her hormones. "Nothing."
There was an awkward yet deeply sexual silence between them for a few seconds until Roy finally spoke. "Anyway, you said at our beach trip today I would get a big surprise."
"Yep," said Aradia.
"So what's the big surprise?" Roy said with a huge smile.
At least, he was smiling until he saw Dax walking towards them. This was when Roy started gaping in astonishment. Dax, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying Roy's moment of confusion.
"Surprise!" Aradia suddenly cried.
They both turned to look at her, but while Dax was still smiling Roy's face twisted into an expression of fury. Oh boy, Aradia thought, this is going to be harder than I thought.
Chapter Nine
"You did what?" Roy shrieked.
"I said I arranged a beach trip with you, Dax, Tristan, and everyone," Aradia explained nonchalantly.
Roy just stared at her; open-mouthed in shock while Aradia kept smiling as she stood uneasily under Roy's scrutiny.
"Rai-Rai, are you high or something?" Roy suddenly asked in astonishment. "You cannot honestly expect to invite a bunch of different hiddens for a 'get-together' and to act like they like each other? It's crazy! It is insane. We all hate each other!"
"This is true," Aradia, agreed nodding. "And it is also why I have invited Rhonda and all my other human lunch buddies to come to the beach as well. According to you, the first and foremost law all hidden must obey is to make sure no one knows about us. The last time I checked prejudice was not generally tolerated amongst the human race or at least not in our area. Therefore, in order to keep your facade going you and the others are going to have to act like you like each other to keep the humans from getting wise."
Roy just gaped at her.
He sure does that a lot, Aradia thought to herself.
"Anyway Roy, it was either this or going on a date with Tristan. I figured the best way to do what he wants without actually doing it was by finding, and using a loophole to the best of my advantage."
Aradia pouted her lips in the cutest way she could. "And besides as much as I enjoy hanging with Dax I would not dream of doing anything without you so..."
She batted her eyelashes at him to finish off the job of trying to charm him into forgetting how much he hated the current situation.
"You like hanging out with me?" Roy finally asked her sweetly.
"Why don't you go help your brothers set up the food?" Aradia interrupted hastily, and gently pushed Roy in the direction of the picnic tables.
Roy hesitated at first. After looking back at her, and taking a long deep sigh he did exactly what Aradia had suggested. Aradia then breathed a huge sigh of relief.
After Roy had explained the situation to his brothers, they too had reluctantly agreed to put up with the other hiddens being there. However, in exchange for their cooperation Aradia had agreed to let them invite some of their own family whom of course were all werewolves. Dax had in retaliation called and invited Xan and the other two vampire girls as well. After all of the extra guests had arrived was when Rhonda had finally shown up with the rest of the humans. Thanks to their presence, they managed to keep most of the hidden's tempers in check.
At last, Tristan showed up wearing his beachwear, which consisted of black trunks, a white sleeveless t-shirt, leather sandals, and mirror like sunglasses. He was surprised, however, to see a crowd of people where he and Aradia were supposed to meet.
"What the hell is going on?" Tristan demanded the moment he saw Aradia.
She turned and smiled. "The thing about blackmail Tristan, is it is often a lot more complicated than it seems, and a hell of lot more trouble than it is worth!"
"This is about the photos?" Tristan asked, incredulously.
"No, this is about reminding you that although you may be royalty I am a woman who does not like to be treated like she is dumber than dirt! Therefore, the next time you try to get me to do something I clearly do not want to do. Do yourself a huge favor, and don't even think about it!"
Aradia then turned on her heel, and stalked off feeling enormously gratified. Tristan, however, immediately took out his cell phone and dialed a bunch of numbers.
Five minutes later, a group of people showed up in flashy BMW's and Aradia immediately identified them all as faes. The group included an exquisite black haired girl that Aradia had seen at school only rarely. She had hair as dark, and as deep as the night itself and sunny tanned skin. She had perfectly formed light brown lips, almond shaped dark blue eyes, long legs, and high cheekbones and a cleft in her pointy chin. She wore a glittering gold bikini and an open white terry cloth robe over it. On her feet, she wore plat formed black wedges wrapped around her feet like henna tattoos. The other people she showed up with were just as beautiful except with different facial features, hair and eye color.
Ironically, no matter what color or size their hair or eyes were there was one thing about Tristan's crew that clearly marked them as part of his crowd. They all looked like a bunch of uppity egotistical people with their noses in the air, and a disdainful look in their eyes. Aradia sighed in trepidation as she saw them approach.
Nevertheless, she was the hostess and wanted to make a good impression so she put on her best smile and went to greet them.
"Hi I am Aradia," she said extending a hand to the black haired beauty that seemed to be leading the group.
They all stopped, and watched both her and Aradia. Aradia's smile and hand remained good natured and extended. The other just raised her perfectly arched black eyebrow in pure disdain, and folded her arms.
Suddenly, Tristan appeared and wrapped his arms around the black hair beauty's shoulders. "Hey there Titania."
He then French kissed her right in front of Aradia.
The others just looked at the two in amused silence. A few people randomly looked at Aradia eagerly anticipating her reaction. Aradia was stunned by this, but not wanting to give Tristan or his friends the satisfaction of seeing her uncomfortable she waited for Tristan and Titania to finish.
Tristan then turned to Aradia and said, "Oh I am sorry Aradia, I didn't see you there."
"Yeah right," Aradia muttered.
Tristan just grinned, looked at Titania, and back to Aradia. "I suppose since you are now considered a fellow hidden I should be perfectly blunt with you."
"Aren't you already?" Aradia responded.
Tristan ignored her comment. "Well in any event Titania meet Aradia, the last witch. Aradia meet Titania, my future wife and queen."
Aradia's mouth dropped open in shock while Titania grinned.
As Titania and the other fae walked to the party, Aradia grabbed Tristan's arm.
"Why didn't you tell me you were engaged?" She snapped.
"You never asked."
"Don't give me that!" Aradia growled, "Why on earth would you ask me out if you already have a girlfriend?"
Tristan shrugged, but Aradia refused to accept that as an answer.
Tristan then sighed and said, "Look Aradia, as much as you are unaware of this you being the last witch has given you an amazing political advantage in the hidden world."
"Huh?"
Tristan sighed yet again. "Think about it. You are the last of your kind that in itself makes you very sp
ecial and seeing as the real witches were killed off more than three hundred years ago no one knows about your powers. More importantly, no one knows how to fight you! In the hidden world if you truly want power you fight for it. Therefore, no one knowing how to fight you gives you one hell of an advantage so in a nutshell Aradia not only are you the newest thing to ever hit Salem, but you are also now the most powerful hidden in the entire world."
"So needless to say," Tristan added while putting his arm around her and dropping his voice to a sexy whisper, "Whoever bags you as their consort a.k.a their girlfriend will probably have the greatest advantage over the hidden world. He will have access to something no one else will. Namely you!"
After a few moments of stunned silence, Aradia managed to sputter furiously, "You make me sound like some kind of a trophy!"
"Well technically, you are a political tool," Tristan responded smiling.
Aradia began to go red in the face from rage. Dax sensing danger rushed over, grasped Aradia's hand with his own, and pulled her towards the crowd.
"Thanks," Aradia muttered.
"No problem," said Dax.
"Dax, can I ask you something?" Aradia stopped to look at Dax with utter seriousness reflecting from her eyes.
"Is what he said true? Am I really the most powerful hidden on Earth?" She asked.
Dax sighed, and looked back at Aradia. "I am sorry love, but yeah as far as anyone knows you truly are the most powerful hidden."
"But why?" asked Aradia, completely baffled.
"Well Tristan already explained most of the reasons, but the thing of it is Aradia the things you can do and are capable of," He then paused, and took a heavy breath. "Surely ever since you battled Derek you have gotten a sense of how powerful you are?"
"But you and Roy are just as strong as me!" Aradia argued.
"Maybe, but you have powers that none of us do. Why do you think I was scared of you when we first met? When I saw you do all those things in the woods, I had no idea what to make of you. Although I now know what you are, it still does not change the fact of how powerful you are."
