I took the last sip of my punch, knowing that practicing certain elements could change a witch’s personality.
“I didn’t come over here to talk to Helaine,” Teddy clarified. “I wanted to talk to you. Do you want to go out with me, on a date, to get to know each other before auditions?
“You dated Helaine for a year, Teddy,” I reminded him. “That’s a long time in the short scheme of things.”
“I’m not asking you to commit to anything,” he said, clearly forgetting that Helaine and I were like family and I knew every bad habit he had.
“I’m politely reminding you that right now, we need to be studying history and practicing powers. And no one asks me out, ever, because no one’s figured out how to stop my dad from killing them.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Teddy said, straightening up his posture and fixing his jacket. “I just thought that…”
“You thought what?” I asked, exercising effort to keep my voice down.
“I thought we’d be a good match.”
I understood now. I wasn’t an initiate hopeful to Teddy. I was an eligible bachelorette. Mr. and Mrs. Faziet were trying to make a match for their son. A match out of the girl they expected him to be in the Coven with for a decade. We were expected to marry at twenty-eight when we left the Coven, and the emotion I caught off of Teddy was one of duty to his parents. There was also a lusty emotion mixed up in it, one that made my teeth feel sensitive as I breathed in a little too much of it. I was never too pleased when I was aware of a fantasy going on in someone’s head. It would be great if he could put my clothes back on right about now.
“No, Teddy.”
“You look really nice.”
“Bye Teddy. And good luck.”
When Teddy left and took his frown with him, Helaine appeared in a state of confusion to match mine.
“What won’t people do to get into the Coven and keep their families in it?” I asked her, fuming cooly.
“There’s nothing they won’t do. I still see him walking away. You can catch him.” She smiled deviously to tease me even more. “He was great at snogging. You sure you want to pass that up?”
“Helaine!” I laughed as the ice cubes in my cup rattled. I didn’t want a “starter boyfriend”. I wanted the real thing. “I am not going to use a boy when he’s looking for a wife at eighteen. Ugh,” I groaned. Poisoning him to death with my saliva was also at the bottom of the list. “Is the pre-initiation social actually speed dating?”
“He’s not looking for a wife. He wants to give you a blond-haired purple-eyed water witch baby sometime in the next three years that will get you kicked off the Coven so he can join if he fails at fire.”
I looked at Teddy and narrowed my eyes, catching that same burning desire. He definitely wanted to give me things of his. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“In this instance, I do too,” Helaine said.
I wanted to change the subject—I always did when I felt like an alien among my peers, and while it didn’t usually bother me, the dark-haired boy who thought I was an earth witch rubbed me in such a wrong way that I burned for the rest of the night.
My thoughts floated back to the prophecy I couldn’t tell Helaine about, and how I might have had a valid excuse for feeling like an alien—not just the I’m eighteen and no one understands me bullshit everyone went through. I was too young to know for sure, but I had a fleeting thought that maybe my destiny wasn’t tied up in a person. Maybe there wasn’t anyone out there who understood who and what I was. Or maybe I was being dramatic. There were a handful of Changelings in London, so I needn’t feel that out of place, not when some people were immune to the biological poison we called a curse. I also thought about Delilah, and how she broke the mold by becoming a Seer when the water element usually foretold the future. That was the kind of witch I wanted to be. Regardless as to whether my mold was formed by the stars or not, I’d break mine too.
I had my inspiration now. Next time I found myself crumbling I’d remember my goal: pull a Delilah and shock everyone. Grandpa told me to sharpen my knowledge, not just my weapons.
Enigma? Bring it on. I would never back down from a fight, and I knew being in the Coven would land me in the ultimate one. If I had to be the poison apple, I’d be the reddest one they’d ever see.
CHAPTER NINE
The Best Present
Helaine
I had mere hours left now. The most important journey of my life was on the sunset-filled horizon of tomorrow, but today was the day I’d spend my eighteenth birthday party sober, at the tender age of seventeen and three-hundred and sixty-four days. I had a good run entertaining the thoughts of Uni and Pinewood apartments, but skipping all of that to get to my career was more than I could ask for. Maybe it was worth being sober for. Happy Birthday to me.
My mum insisted on throwing me a huge party in the gymnasium on the ground floor of The Hallowed Locus, and though she had every year, this one was different. The usual streamers and balloons were all blue, and in my mind (and Jared’s no doubt) I was still a minor. When I walked into the basement gym, Mom enveloped me in her tattooed arms, nearly crying from excitement, trying to suffocate me.
“Calm down,” I told her, fighting for the breath of life.
“It’s not every day that your littlest baby turns eighteen.”
“You have to let me grow up. I’m already taller than you,” I said.
“Everyone is.” She laughed.
“And sorry about the bevs?” I asked.
“We can’t have you drinking here when there are reporters and we had to move it up a day.”
“I get it,” I said. “It doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Me either, love.”
I turned to see who entered next, and it was Jared, all six and a half feet of him. It wasn’t a secret to anyone that I might have had a little crush on him, and my dad was definitely aware. Up to this day, dad acted like he had no idea. I had never been more thankful for him in my life.
When Jared saw me he flashed me a dreamy smile before walking over. I was going to die, but mum acted like there was nothing wrong as she stood next to me.
Jared handed me a small box wrapped in pink paper. It looked tiny in his hands.
“Happy Birthday,” he said.
Keep cool. Pretend you’re talking to Esper.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to bring me anything.”
“I wanted to, and you know I can’t refuse an invite from the President. I’m afraid I am working.”
“At least try to enjoy yourself while you’re here,” I told him. “For me?”
“I’ll try. You do the same.”
I smiled, still acting cool as he walked away, clutching the pink package tight in my palm. What did it mean? And bloody hell, “Enjoy yourself for me.” How lame did I really want to be today!
“You should open it,” Mum said.
I ripped open the paper to reveal perfect diamond earrings, small but real.
“That’s so nice,” I gawked.
“He is nice,” Mum said. She held out her hand to take the discarded wrapping paper. “Three years with the family, and I’m happy he’s feeling connected to us.”
Who had helped him pick them out? A girl? A girlfriend?
I didn’t waste another moment before I fastened them into the second piercing in my ears.
“Happy Birthday!” Rose yelled suddenly from behind me. I instantly felt less ruled by my hormones.
“You ready for tomorrow?” she asked me, squeezing my hand as she backed out of our hug. It was how her mom would always hug me, and I felt comfort in remembering Aunt Row’s words to do my best, even if it was against her own daughter.
“I’m as ready as you can be for something you spent your whole life training for,” I answered.
The next time the gymnasium door opened, my eyes were stuck to the spectacle walking through it, in the form of a tall boy with burnt brown hair. I couldn’t wait to chat shit
with Rose.
“Is that…” Rose said from across from me.
“That’s Travis and his brand new spawn,” I said. “I don’t think Esper and Emmy are too happy about it.”
“I think I see a resemblance though… But he is unordinarily tall for a Juliet.”
“I thought so too.”
Rose raised her eyebrows and asked, “You live here, what do you know?”
“From what everyone said, he’s not lying. He’s from Canada. He’s twenty-two.”
“Which is before Jen. Esper and Emmy are sixteen.”
“From what I gather, they knew each other at the time though,” I gossiped. “And Jaime’s mom? No one knows a thing. I guess my dad does, but you know him… he won’t tell. Especially if it’s one of his friends.”
When Jaime’s glare met ours, Rose and I turned away until Jaime and Travis walked over to us. I was the birthday girl; it was kind of what they had to do. Jared’s earrings were still a better present than getting the first-hand gossip about tall, auburn, and nonchalant.
“The rumours are true,” Travis said as he approached us. “Meet my son, Jaime.”
“Hello,” Rose said, shaking his hand. “I’m Rose.”
“Is that a British thing?” He asked, instead of exchanging empty pleasantries.
“Your—” He made the same gesture Rose did when shaking his hand, the same one I used. Left arm crossed underneath the right one with a teensy bow.
“No,” Rose corrected, “It’s a black belt thing. And I’m American anyway.”
“Black belts? I thought the two of you were the witch initiates I’ve been hearing about.”
“We’re both,” I explained.
“Consider me impressed then,” Jaime said.
“Don’t be too impressed,” warned Travis.
On cue, Rose’s dad walked over to introduce himself—nope, to impose.
“You’ve met Rose and Helaine?” He asked Jaime, standing between us and him.
“Yes,” Jaime said. “Happy birthday,” He told me before turning back to Rose’s dad. “You’re Audin?”
“Aye.”
“Nice to meet you, Sir,” Jaime said.
“Want a beer?” Rose’s dad asked.
“Yeah,” Jaime said, “Sir.”
“After you,” As he directed Jaime towards the cooler near the back wall, I saw him give Travis a warning glare. So he didn’t know either… Jaime’s mum was a deep dark secret. Travis didn’t have a skeleton; he had both a graveyard and an underground mausoleum.
“He’ll be fine,” Rose told Travis. “He acts this way around every man I meet that’s my age.”
“You both need to get out of your houses or you’re going to regret the last of your teenage years. Excuse me.”
Travis walked away, and we knew his advice was sound.
“Unbiased thoughts from the girl who won’t admit she undressed Jaime with her mind as soon as he walked through the door?” I asked Rose.
“He’s careful to test out the waters, responsive to social cues, but I don’t see him second-guessing any decisions he makes. And hey, that hurts.”
I gave her a pointed glare. As if you weren’t.
“For the record, I only got to his jacket.” She laughed and followed up with, “Kidding, but I do understand what you see in him.”
“Me? Oh no.” It was so like her to turn the tables, and because of that she rarely said anything stupid. I didn’t know if she had it in her.
“I’m just saying I don’t blame you,” she said, as I rolled my eyes. I was usually the one who teased her, but I did enjoy this new side to Rose’s personality.
Jen and Kalista walked into the gym, chatting loudly, both holding presents. Jen’s was a bag from her botanical shop, and Kalista’s appeared to be a garment bag from her’s. Owning small businesses was about the only thing the twins had in common. Esper must have been back living with Jen because the kids lagged behind. Nevertheless, everyone seemed okay.
“Happy Birthday!” Jen and Kalista said, embracing me and then hugging Rose. They were Aunt Row’s best friends (apart from my dad) and were the closest people she had to sisters.
“Where’s Meghan?” I asked Kalista with a frown.
“Everett had his first art exhibition at university, so we decided to divide and conquer. Meghan and Everett send their love. Besides, my sister is my date, and I have to make sure Emmy doesn’t kill Jaime.” Kalista gave her sister a half smile as she situated her maroon hair out from under her scarf.
“Though Emmy’s my number one advocate, Aunt Kalista’s advice is somehow better received,” Jen explained.
I grinned. Just like Emmy, I knew that I took Audin’s advice better than my own father’s, and my parents even paid tuition to get me to listen to him.
“What’s in the bag?” I asked Kalista.
“It’s your dress for tomorrow,” Kalista said, beaming. She was a wife, mother, seamstress, business owner, and easily our toughest instructor at martial arts. I didn’t know how she did it all.
“I love it already. Thank you!”
Still managing to avoid their new brother, Emmy and Esper made it away from Gray and over to their mum, auntie, and me and Rose.
“Happy birthday,” Emmy and Esper said together.
Kalista directed Jen to the presents table, which was still far enough away from Jaime.
“Emmy told me you got your letters,” Esper said to me. “I guess I won’t have to stalk you to university in two years as planned. And I can’t ever join the Coven without witch blood so that’s out.” He scratched the back of his neck, a sour expression framing his face. “I’ll actually end up going where my best mate goes to university. I’m sorry, but they’ll be no more of me saving myself for you.”
I snorted out, hardly believing a word he had just told me. I saw Rose laugh from the corner of my eye and wanted to elbow strike the grin from her face.
“Thanks for your congratulations?” I asked him. Reporters were watching.
Mum gave us the signal that dinner was ready just in time.
We sat down at the long table with our peers, and I wondered if it would be my last birthday party for ten years. Witches didn’t celebrate birthdays. Besides not being able to drink, this was perfect for my last birthday. Everyone I loved was here; and also Jaime.
“You never did tell me what it was like to meet Moon Halloran,” Gray commented to his sister halfway into dinner.
“She was really nice,” Rose said truthfully. She thought everyone was nice. “A worthy contender.”
Gray nodded, taking a sip from his cup, and the look on his face turned sour a moment. Were Rose and I the only ones not drinking tonight?
“What time is the swimsuit competition tomorrow?”
“There isn’t one, Gray,” I said dryly. “But you’re coming, right?”
“The parentals would kill me if I didn’t,” he answered.
Grayson liked to forget that his sister could read emotions, and even I could tell that he was genuinely excited.
“Brittany,” I said, seeing her walk through the double doors of the gymnasium. I jumped up from the table as she made her way over. “You made it!”
She looked better. Her hair was done and she felt well enough to put some makeup on. She had on leggings and a long mustard-colored top.
“Things are finally better… and I couldn’t miss my sister’s eighteenth. I figured we could watch a movie after; you, me, Rose, and Emmy. I don’t want to keep you two up late, but you probably can’t sleep anyway.”
“It’s Travis’s weekend so I go where I want,” Emmy told us. “I think it sounds like fun.”
“I can’t come?” Esper asked.
“Girls only,” Brittany replied.
“Sorry Esper, not this time,” Rose apologized. She turned back to me and Brittany. “I’m sure my parents would be fine with me coming in late on what might be my last night at their house. I’ll ask in a moment.”
&
nbsp; “Like your parents would go home early,” I said, spying Aunt Row with another full glass of red wine. “They’ll be at my flat until late anyway.”
“That reminds me,” Rose said, “I wanted to run something past you, Brittany.”
“Sure, what is it?”
I grinned at the two of them and walked towards the cake table, letting my sister and the girl who was like a sister have their own moment. Soon we sang happy birthday, and then something more unusual than blue balloons happened.
I saw Jaime talking to a reporter from the paper I interned at. My favorite reporter. I edged closer.
“I’m not open to interviews yet, and I hope you understand,” he said sternly, his emphasis malicious.
“Well, surely you want to tell your own story?”
“I’m sure my father would love that publicity, but I’ll pass for now.”
“Mr. Juilet—”
“No, Therese. I am a person, not an article in your paper.” I saw his wicked grin yet again, the same one he used on me when he dropped his bombshell. It made Therese look uneasy. “Excuse me. I have person things to do. I suppose you could hardly relate.”
I couldn’t believe Jaime would come to my party and be such an arsehole to my favorite reporter. She was trying to do her job and get his point of view. Therese Talborn was a proper, serious reporter and didn’t need to publish gossip and hearsay.
Therese frowned where Jaime left her. Everyone was winding down for the night but she still looked as awake as us teenagers. Not a hair in her dark French twist was out of place. As I wandered over to her I knew I should ask her if she wanted cake.
“Can I ask you a few questions, Helaine?”
“Me?” I hadn’t even said a word.
“I am covering your eighteenth birthday.”
“That’s because you don’t publish speculation and rumors,” I said. “I’m sure my dad was happy to let you in. I’ll sit for an interview as long as he signs off.”
Please don’t ruin this, I thought. I had proof that my parents weren’t reading my thoughts as promised when my dad didn’t respond.
Death's Primordial Kiss (The Silvered Moon Diaries Book 1) Page 7
