Could It Be Magic

by Heather Mar-Gerrison

  Laars shook his head, “None.” He said, “We were both completely unhurt. It was described as a miracle but Dad died, so I’d hardly call it that.” He sighed. It was painful to remember his father. He might not be able to remember much about him but he knew that he’d loved the big, loud, larger-than-life man, who had adored both he and his mother equally. “Yes, Mum and I were lucky to survive – of course we were – but he wasn’t so lucky. And neither was the other driver...”

  There was a beat of silence and then Saul’s voice broke through the semi-darkness, “What did your dad look like?” He asked.

  Laars sighed. He could feel Saul’s dark eyes on him even though he was looking straight ahead at the cracked ceiling. He turned his head and found himself staring into his new friend’s eyes. God, they were incredible. “I guess he looked a lot like me.” He said softly, “He had a shock of blonde hair, but otherwise it was just like mine, and he was bigger than me – oh, and he had a great big gingery-blonde beard, too.” He chuckled, “He looked like a cartoon giant.”

  Saul chuckled along with him, making the hair on the back of Laars neck stand on end. The effect he had on him was really quite alarming.

  “He sounds terrifying.” Saul murmured, “Sounds like a…” he trailed off.

  Laars frowned. Saul was definitely about to say something and he stopped himself. Terrifying? His father had been nothing but wonderful in the short time he’d known him. “A what?” He asked indignantly, leaning up on his elbow and turning his whole body towards Saul.

  Saul backed away a little, making Laars frown even more.

  “Christ, Saul.” Laars said, “What’s gotten into you? I’m not scary – I’m ginger for starters. Who the hell’s ever been afraid of the ginger kid?”

  Saul’s big, wary eyes softened, “You’ve got no idea what your colouring means.” He said, so softly it was difficult for Laars to hear him.

  He leaned in to him, carefully, since he’d suddenly become as skittish as a startled horse, “Then why don’t you tell me?” he whispered, “I’ve got all night.”

  Saul smiled, his mouth curving up into the sexiest smile that Laars had ever had the pleasure if witnessing, “I will tell you,” he said, “one day.” He added with another beautiful smile, “But not right now – you’d never believe me.”

  Laars was about to reply, to insist that he wanted to know, right here, right now but Saul’s beautiful eyes had dropped shut and he let out a little snore. The couple of beers he’d had, had gotten the better of him. Laars smiled and closed his own eyes. He was warm and comfortable – and he was lying next to the most intriguing, most interesting young man he’d ever met. What would he have to gain by going back to his own digs?

  Chapter 9 – Demon!

  Saul

  Saul became aware that he was no longer asleep. His eyes were still shut and there was vague but very definitely pain behind his eyes. His mouth, he knew, was going to taste utterly foul once he’d pried his tongue away from the roof of his mouth and his body felt heavy and sluggish. Oooh, that meant he’d got drunk last night – but why? He’d got nothing to celebrate or to commiserate…

  A groan to his left heightened his senses and made him tense up. Opening one eye very carefully he turned his head and had to work at not letting out a yell of terror. The first thing he saw was bright red hair and even brighter green eyes stared back into his, with an incredibly attractive but very slightly evil grin filling his line of vision. A demon? How the hell had he dropped his defences to such a level to allow that to happen? He was dead meat… This was it. His last minutes alive – if only he could have been minty-fresh... “Morning, gorgeous.” The demon greeted him in a friendly manner.

  Well, that was… different. “M-morning.” He stammered, “Wh-Who are you?”

  The demon blinked, looking slightly crestfallen. “I’m Laars.” He said, “Laars Zanelli?” He looked at him hopefully, “We met yesterday at Freshers?” At Saul’s blank expression, he rolled his rather terrifyingly bright, green eyes, “Jesus,” he added with a grin, showing absolutely beautifully white teeth with no signs of fangs or double rows of razor-sharp incisors, “how much did you have to drink last night? Were you supplementing yourself with a hip flask or something?”

  Saul’s slow brain was beginning to wake up and he was remembering the day before in vivid colour – and that colour was very definitely red. “Oh, God. I’m sorry.” He mumbled, trying to get his mouth to work whilst trying desperately to unscramble his confused brain. “For being rude. Unforgibavle of me.”

  Laars laughed, “I think you mean unforgivable.” He said, “But you’re forgiven, of course you are.”

  As much as Saul was waking up, he couldn’t help the feeling of unease at being in bed with the red-haired beauty and was wondering if he’d been hoodwinked into it by him. He was, after all, a dead-ringer for a demon – and if he could go to university in the normal human world and be a witch, then logic told him that Laars could go to university in the normal human world and be a demon…

  But how had someone like him managed to attract someone like this… demi-god?

  He sat up quickly, making his already sore head thump even more. He pulled his cover up a little, almost as if this could protect him against the guy in his bed – fat chance of that. He stared at Laars. Holy shit. That was it! How hadn’t he seen it before? Laars was some kind of a demi-god! Oh, fuck! Now I’m in serious trouble…

  Laars was completely oblivious to Saul’s inner turmoil, which gave him even more inner turmoil, since, as a demi-god, Laars should have been able to read his badly shielded mind from the second they first met if not before. Holy cow! What the hell was going on?

  He looked at Laars. Why wasn’t he reacting to Saul’s thumping heart and panicking mind?

  He started to relax slightly. There was no way he could be a demi-god and be this unaware, surely?

  Laars looked up at him and smiled, sending his already spiralling emotions into utter chaos, “What are you thinking about?” he asked playfully, “You’ve gone all quiet on me.”

  Saul bit his lip. Should he tell him what he was thinking about? Would it freak him out? Probably not. He would just think he was dealing with a nut job… “I’ve uh, just got a bit of a headache…”

  Laars leaned forward and punched his arm in a friendly manner, “That’s because you drank too much last night and you need a good breakfast this morning. Come on.” He jumped out of bed, “Let’s get dressed and go and get something decent from the café.”

  Saul smiled, “Okay.” He agreed, “That sounds like a plan.”

  They walked down to the café together, “I feel like I’m doing the walk of shame.” Laars said with a carefree laugh, “I’m still in my going-out clothes.”

  Saul chuckled, “No one would ever think that about you.” He said, “You’re with me, remember?”

  Laars looked at him sideways, “What’s your point?” he asked.

  Saul stopped and held his arms out at his sides, “Well, look at me.” He said, rolling his eyes, “And then take a look at you.”

  Laars raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow, “Are you saying that you find me attractive?” he asked teasingly.

  Saul was clearly still not quite thinking straight because he answered completely unguardedly, “I think you’re incredibly attractive.” He said honestly, “And I have no idea why you spent the night with me.”

  Laars almost choked at his words, “Steady on there, dude.” He spluttered, “We didn’t do anything.”

  Saul chuckled, “That came out a bit wrong, didn’t it?”

  Chapter 10 – Don’t hide it…

  Laars

  It might well have come out wrong, but it had sent happy signals all the way to his groin and he was now sporting a boner that he hadn’t ordered.

  Willing it to subside with spectacular failure, he walked on, thankful that he could stuff his hands in his jacket pockets and try to hide his erection as best as he could.r />
  Saul was in a bit of a playful mood this morning, though and he’d already noticed, “Don’t hide it, dude.” He said, glancing down at him admiringly, “Everyone’ll just think you’re really well endowed.”

  Laars stopped, “Will you stop.” He said, trying not to laugh, “You’re being really inappropriate this morning!”

  Saul grinned, “I get like that when I’m hungry.” He said, “Come on – let’s have the full English.”

  Laars, grinning all over his face, followed Saul into the café and they put in their order.

  Saul made his way to a booth with their table number (a wooden spoon with the number of their order on it) and Laars dropped into the seat opposite him.

  He looked across the table at Saul and caught his breath.

  Saul’s eyes seemed to be glowing this morning. They were usually so black it was difficult to notice that they were just a really dark brown, but right now, with the morning sunshine pouring in through the window, his eyes were the most incredible shade. “Wow,” he breathed, “Your eyes.”

  Saul looked at him in alarm, “What do you mean?” he asked, “What’s the matter with them?”

  “Nothing.” Laars breathed, “They’re beautiful.”

  Saul blinked and Laars found himself colouring up. What the fuck had possessed him to say that?

  “Uh, thanks.” Saul muttered, going red himself, “You’ve got really beautiful eyes, too.”

  Laars laughed, “Liar.” He said, “They’re fucking weird.”

  Saul smiled. “No, they’re not.” He said, “They’re fascinating. They’re like emeralds.”

  Laars was relieved that their breakfasts arrived at that moment. He was terrified that his mouth was going to say something else about his new friend’s all-consuming beauty and really fuck up their friendship.

  They both tucked into their plate of delicious food and ate silently for a couple of minutes.

  “There’s a party in the Guild tonight.” Saul said after a while, “Fancy going?”

  Laars grinned, “Are you asking me out on a date?” he asked.

  Saul shrugged, his face going a little pink, “Would you be freaked out if I was?” he asked a little breathlessly.

  Wow. Saul Blackthorn was something else. He had some sort of an inner strength that belied his geeky exterior – and it was an extremely attractive trait. Laars shook his head, “No.” he said, “I wouldn’t be freaked out – and I’ll happily go with you to the party.”

  Laars would never admit it to anyone, but he was certain in his own heart of hearts that Saul’s smile actually brightened the room.

  Chapter 11 – What to wear?

  Saul

  “Fuck.” Saul muttered as he opened his dorm door and went in. He and Laars had agreed to meet up in a couple of hours at the SU bar and he was wondering what the hell he was going to wear to the party later on. He’d already exhausted his wardrobe on their date from the night before…

  He walked in and looked around. His jaw dropped as he took in the neatly made bed and the shirt hanging up on the front of his wardrobe. Black, but with a deep blue sheen in the light and tiny white buttons to stop it from being totally dark. Holy shit. That was a nice shirt. “What the hell…?”

  He hurried over to it. The fabric was something else. He pulled his tee shirt over his head and slid the shirt from the hanger. He put it on. There was no way it hadn’t been made for him.

  “Wow.” He murmured as he looked at himself in the mirror, “I just need to do something with my hair and have a shave.”

  He took the shirt back off and put it clumsily back on the hanger. “What about trousers?” he murmured as he opened the wardrobe door, “Did Mum pack my smart ones?”

  He blinked as he took in the contents of his wardrobe. He had five, brand-new pairs of skinny jeans in varying colours to choose from – one pair, he noticed, were exactly the same colour as his new shirt – the darkest blue-black.

  “Unbelievable.” He muttered, “What the fuck is going on?”

  Well, he knew the answer to that one – his magic had finally kicked in at the ripe old age of twenty… And he had a good idea it had something to do with the red-haired beauty he’d got a connection with. But what did it all mean?

  Had Laars somehow or other turned on his magic when they met?

  He didn’t know – but he did know that he was excited by it – and a little scared. If his parents got wind of the fact that his magic had finally made an appearance, they’d be hauling him straight back to the Pyramid Academy for Witches and Wizarding undergraduates and there was no way he wanted to be separated from the one person who had brought his gifts out of him with one smile…

  Chapter 12 – Just can’t wait…

  Laars

  Laars glanced at the clock on the wall. Why was the time going so damned slowly today?

  All he wanted to do was to see that beautiful smile of Saul’s again.

  He glanced back at the clock and his jaw dropped. Had he really just spent the last two hours daydreaming about Saul? How had it got to lunchtime already?

  He sent off a quick text to Saul, asking him what he was doing for lunch.

  He waited with baited breath for the reply that appeared in a few seconds, “Absolutely nothing. Want to do nothing with me?”

  Hell, yeah, he did. Grinning all over his face, he sent back an affirmative and grabbed his jacket.

  Seconds later, he was heading for the Guild to meet Saul.

  “We have to stop meeting like this.” He drawled as Saul stepped forward to greet him, dressed head to toe in black and looking even more gothic than he usually did. Was that eyeliner he was wearing? Wow, so damned sexy…

  Saul smiled bashfully, “Yeah, sorry. It’s a bit of a habit of mine.” He said with a chuckle.

  Laars grinned happily back at him. Why was he always that little bit happier whenever they were together? It was slightly unnerving. He’d always found people easy to get along with and had gone through school with loads of people he’d called his friends. Not one of them mattered to him as much as Saul did – and if he was honest, none of them mattered to him at all anymore – not now that he’d found Saul. It was like they were connected by some greater thing… God, he was beginning to sound like his mother with her penchant for calling his late father her soulmate.

  Soulmate. The word resonated with him somehow. Could Saul be his? He blinked. Don’t be so daft. He scolded himself as he followed Saul into the Guild, watching the way his hips swayed slightly as he walked. Soulmates are for dummies.

  Saul turned around, a slight frown on his face, “You don’t believe in soulmates?” he asked.

  Laars jaw dropped, “Did I just speak out loud?” he asked, mortified with himself for speaking his thoughts aloud. He stared at Saul in horror. Jeez, he really was losing it.

  Saul shrugged, “I dunno,” he said vaguely, which was way out of character, since he was usually a very intense young man, “I thought I heard you say something…”

  “I’m quite sure I didn’t.” Laars said firmly. Don’t ever let on that you imagined him your soulmate. He’ll run a mile.

  Saul shrugged again, a small smile playing around his lips. Fuck. Was he listening to Laars thoughts? No way… “My mistake.” Saul said and then clamped his mouth firmly shut and didn’t speak again until they were ordering a jacket potato each at the counter.

  “What’ll it be, love?” The woman behind the counter asked Saul.

  He smiled back at her and Laars couldn’t help noticing that the woman’s slightly frosty demeanour seemed to melt a little bit under his gaze. She was smiling as he chose chilli with grated cheese, “And can you put the cheese on first?” he asked.

  She nodded, “That’s the best way,” she said with a smile, “Anything else, love?”

  He chose a bottle of water and then waited for Laars to choose his topping and drink.

  Laars smiled at the woman, who smiled back at him with slightly less enthusias
m.

  Amused at her lack of interest in him, he chose the tuna mayo option and a bottle of sparkling water.

  He and Saul made their way to the pay desk together and then found a table by the window.

  “I love people watching.” Saul murmured.

  Laars swallowed his mouthful of potato, “Me too.” He agreed, “I like imagining what they all mean to each other.”

  Saul looked at him, puzzled, “What do you mean?”

  Laars smiled and looked out of the window, “Well, look at those two.” He nodded to a girl and a boy walking past. As they passed, the boy reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’d guess that they’ve only just met and they’re just good friends at the moment – but he wants more than that and is working up the nerve to ask her out.” Just like me, with you…

  Saul’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them, “Yeah,” he agreed, “I’d go along with that. What about those two?” he nodded to two guys.

  Laars raised an eyebrow, “They look like mates to me.” He said, “Why? Do you see something else?”

  Saul smiled and shrugged his shoulders, “I think you’re probably right.” He said, “I just wonder what people think when they look at us.”

  Laars’ heart started to beat a little faster and he felt the colour rising in his cheeks – something that happened far too often, thanks to his colouring, “Dunno.” He said and stuffed a mouthful of his potato and tuna mayo in his mouth so that he didn’t have to talk about it further and give away his feelings.

  Saul just sighed and stuck his fork in his potato with a little more force than was strictly necessary…

  Chapter 13 – Never gonna happen…

  Saul

  Futile. His feelings were completely futile. He could summon the guy like a charm – or rather by using a summoning charm that he never knew he was capable of – but it didn’t make Laars feel the same way about him and it probably never would.