Moondust

by J. L. Weil

  Did I just talk to a bird? Had I just called it Jared?

  Backing up a step, I turned toward the bird, staring into its beady eyes and I swore it was laughing at me. Then I felt the distinctive tingles of magic and knew I was off my rocker. This bird was Jared. So my next question was what was Jared doing at my house? In the form of a goddamn bird?

  “What are you doing here?” I snuck a quick look around just to make sure none of my neighbors saw me talking to a bird.

  Jared tilted his head to the side.

  I guess I shouldn’t have expected him to talk back. That would have been extreme even for me. I’d seen a lot of weird shit, but a talking bird, even I had to draw a line.

  Before I could digest what was happening, my feathered friend’s form began to swirl and shimmer. Jared was transforming. I closed my eyes. “Please God, let him be wearing clothes,” I mumbled to myself, covering a hand over my closed eyes as added protection and to resist the temptation of sneaking peek.

  As soon as I heard Jared chuckle, I knew it was my sign that it was safe to open my eyes. Knowing Jared though, I wouldn’t have put it past him to try and shock me. Peering between my fingers, I was relieved to find him mostly dressed.

  He was shirtless, and I didn’t doubt he did so on purpose. But I guess if I was a guy, and I had muscles like Jared, I might walk around shirtless all the time. However, for the sanity of womankind Jared needed to keep his abs covered.

  The bigger question…what was he doing here—incognito nonetheless?

  Then it hit me.

  It was time. We were going underground, so to speak.

  “Gavin sent me to retrieve you for our little excursion.” He cracked a grin, completely at ease with his near nakedness.

  I on the other hand was starting to develop hot flashes, and it was becoming increasingly hard to keep my gaze focused on his face. “We are going now?” I asked just below a shrill.

  He leaned a jean-clad hip on the banister. “Well, once Sophie is finished with you.” Jared shook his head. “I don’t envy you. My sister is going to do a number on you. Gavin told her to make you look like completely different person, and I think you and I both know that Soph can be over the top.”

  I let that sink in. Just great. “Wonderful. Lead the way.” Then I realized he hadn’t taken a car. “I’ll drive.”

  He gave me a wicked grin.

  I sent a quick text to my aunt telling her that I was going out with Gavin tonight and not to wait up, I was probably going to be home late. Then we climbed into my mustang. During the short drive, the car felt dwarfed with Jared’s bulky presence next to me. And there were waves of anticipated excitement rolling off his biceps, which made me antsy.

  Gavin was waiting at the door when I put the car in park, killing the engine. He arched a brow at his shirtless brother. “When I asked you to get Bri, I didn’t expect you to go Magic Mike.”

  Jared’s eyes twinkled. “I couldn’t resist.”

  Gavin faced me, leaning a shoulder on the door. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

  I screwed up my face. “Not happening.”

  “I was afraid you’d say that,” he grumbled, clearly displeased.

  Sophie bounced out of nowhere, and grabbed my hand, dragging me upstairs. All I got from Gavin was a sympathetic glance. I didn’t know which was worse. Letting Sophie have full control over my makeover or sneaking into an exclusive club of witches to ask questions that would probably get us killed. I was such a shitty girlfriend.

  If I really loved Gavin, I should probably let him go, because being with me was hazardous to everyone’s life. But I was just too selfish and too chicken shit to face this alone. I needed and depended on him.

  “I have been dying to wield my awesome skills on you since we met,” she said as we climbed the stairs.

  Oh boy. She reminded me of Austin and Tori who took every willing opportunity to make me their living Barbie doll. “That seems to be a running theme from people in my life,” I mumbled, rounding the hall and following her into her room.

  An iron wrought bed sat just under a wide window. I could hear the lapping of waves. A sheer teal canopy surrounded a bed decorated in deep purple and gold. There was a gypsy ambiance. In the corner was a dresser of rich wood housing color perfume bottles reflecting against a mirror. The room smelled distinctly female, florally and vanilla.

  Sophie shut the door behind us. “That’s because you don’t see the potential the rest of us do.”

  I snorted. “Or you all suffer from some kind of eye condition like beer goggles.”

  She shook her head, sending her raven hair over her shoulder. “Well, when I’m done with you, you’ll be unrecognizable.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “No one is going to be able to take their eyes off you.”

  Gulp. I definitely didn’t like the sound of that. “Umm. I was hoping for something more subtle, you know, to blend in, not draw too much attention.”

  She gave a musical laugh. “Oh Brianna, you are in for a treat. I wish I was going to be able to see your face.”

  “Aren’t you coming with us?” I asked as she angled her head, studying me. Under her scrutiny I started to get nervous. What I was about do, where I was about to go, finally sunk in. This shit was real.

  She bit her lip, picking up the ends of my hair. “I think I’ll start with whatever you call this. Hold on to your witch’s brew. You’re in for the shock of your life.”

  That was debatable. Finding out I was a clàr silte was currently the blow of the decade.

  “And sadly no,” she continued. “I won’t be going with you. I was overruled by muscles and testosterone. It sucks being the only girl. Of course if you talked to Gavin…”

  “Oh no. I am not getting in the middle. It’s probably best anyhoo. I would only blame myself if something happened to you.” And I would never forgive myself, I thought silently.

  Just a flicker of emotion crossed her face before she snuffed it. “A girl can try. I just hate to miss out on all the excitement.”

  She started to work her magic as we talked. I could feel the tingles vibrating in the air and dancing over my skin. I stood as still as possible. The last thing I wanted was to make a sudden move and end up with neon green skin or a third nipple. “Your family has a weird sense of excitement,” I mumbled.

  Her perky little nose wrinkled. “I never really thought about it. So how are Austin and Tori handling your heritage?”

  I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “They’re adjusting, one more than the other, but I think we reached a turning point today.”

  “Good, because the darkness on your soul—it’s doubled,” she informed stonily.

  Sophie—the bearer of bad news. My heart leaped into my throat. “Not entirely a surprise after what I did.” All that wishful thinking flushed down the drain.

  “Stop fidgeting,” she scolded.

  I frowned. My mind was whirling and she was worried about my posture? The only positive side I could see to this situation was that tonight I was going to do something about it. No more sitting on the couch with my head under the covers. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life shut up in my house, no matter how appealing that sounded right now.

  “Smile,” Sophie instructed.

  I gave her a dry look, not exactly in a cheery moody.

  She put a hand on her hip, shifting her weight. “I can’t work with scowl lines.”

  Softening my lips, I tipped the corners in a pathetic smile. “Happy,” I said between clenched teeth.

  “Don’t stress. I know Gavin, and he will move Heaven and Earth to find a way to stop the darkness and every witch who stands in his way.”

  At what expense? And for how long? He couldn’t protect me 24-7, and I needed to stand on my own two feet—as a witch and as a young woman on the edge of adulthood. There wouldn’t always be someone to save me. Aunt Clara. Gavin. Lukas. My friends. Morgana. I never realized how many people I had that I care
d about. I needed to do this for them. But most importantly for me.

  A saucy grin spread over her soft pink lips. “My masterpiece is complete. Gavin is so going to flip his lid. At least I’ll be able to see that.”

  My heart stuttered. I got the feeling that was a bad thing.

  She put her hands on my shoulders and ordered me to close my eyes. Spinning me around, I let her guide me. Then when we weren’t moving anymore, she said, “Okay, open them.”

  I stood in front of a full-length mirror. Starting from my toes, I was surprised to see these adorable black army booties on my feet. A sigh escaped my mouth, silently thanking Sophie for not making me trudge around in four-inch heels. This might not be so bad. My gaze tipped upward.

  Then I saw the candy stripped thigh socks with lace detail and I groaned. Above the top of socks was a bit of peek-a-boo flesh before the start of the barely there tutu black skirt. Tutu? The fun didn’t stop there. Hell no. A hot pink tank top hugged my skin with a black ripped shirt overlaid. It looked like Wolverine had taken a swipe at it. And if that wasn’t enough, there were lace gloves on my hands.

  I blinked.

  Was that me in the reflection?

  It couldn’t be. Good God. I looked like a…

  A freaking anime with Barney-colored purple hair and gold eyes.

  I gasped, running a hand over my face. “Sophie,” I growled.

  Chapter 18

  I definitely didn’t look like Brianna Rafferty anymore. Snapping a quick photo of myself, I sent it to Tori and Austin. They would get a kick out of seeing a different side of me.

  “What do you think?” Sophie asked in a singsong voice.

  I picked my jaw off the floor. “I think you are a mad genius.”

  She stood behind me observing her handiwork. “That’s a compliment, right?”

  “Sophie!” Gavin yelled from the other side the door. “What is taking so—?”

  He had opened the door, getting his first glimpse of the new me. His ocean-blue eyes darkened, caressing every each of my body, until they settled on mine in the mirror. My cheeks started to turn the color of my hot pink shirt. And then he simple said, “You’re not coming.”

  I spun around, meeting him face to face. “I did not just spend the last half hour having my entire look screwed with for nothing. I’m going. We discussed this.”

  He crossed his arms and assumed his I’m-not-budging-stance. “Yeah, that was before my sister decided to dress only half of you.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Sophie snorted, throwing her hands in the air. “Please. You are just use to seeing her in jeans. Jealous much?”

  I wasn’t sure if I should get in the middle, so I kind of stood in the center of the room all awkwardly. I tried to shove my hands in my pockets, only to realize I wasn’t wearing pants.

  He cut Sophie a droll look. “You were supposed to disguise her not make her an invitation to every freak.”

  So much for keeping my mouth shut. “Can we just forget what I’m wearing? I mean seriously. I have purple hair. Sophie, why do I have grape Kool-Aid hair?”

  She cracked a small smile and covered a snicker I swear I heard with a cough. “Trust me. No one will even think twice.”

  That’s what I’m afraid of.

  “Because my sister isn’t thinking straight,” Gavin said, quickly losing his patience and riling my irritation.

  I brushed past Gavin without another word.

  “Bri, wait!” he called, falling in step behind me.

  “Smooth move,” I heard Sophie before I was out of earshot.

  This was not how I envisioned my evening. What started out as a PJ, movie, and popcorn kind of night quickly turned into…I couldn’t even find the words to describe what was happening.

  Regardless, it was time to get this sideshow on the road. I rounded the stairs with him nipping at my heels. Gavin caught me before I could step outside, and by caught, I mean his arm snaked around my waist and hauled me up against him. “Just wait a minute, will you?”

  It only took a heartbeat for me to relax in his arms. I stared at the black band around his wrist, trying to avoid the tingles tiptoeing down my spine.

  His voice tickled my ear. “If we are going to do this, then we can’t go at odds with each other. The tension between us will be easily picked up, and the place we are going thrives on chaos.”

  I knew that there were going to be a variety witches there tonight able to do all kinds of magic I didn’t understand. He was right. I needed to chill out. “Are you done bossing me around?” I asked.

  He released a heavy sigh. “For now.”

  Good enough—for now, my thoughts echoed his words. I rested the back of my head on his chest. “I just want my life back,” I whispered.

  He nipped at my ear. “Then let’s go get it.”

  The whole drive, I kept my eyes peeled for anyone suspicious. The problem was, my paranoia was getting the best of me and everyone looked suspicious at the moment. The car behind us must be tailing us, right? The little old lady walking her dog was a double agent, surely? I mean Jared could turn into a bird. I transformed into a class act hooker. So that meant no one could be trusted, not even the sweet grandmas. It didn’t matter what time it was, there were witches lurking everywhere and we were walking right into the heart of a coven.

  However, the highlight of the trip into Wilmington was the little boy in the car next to me. He took one look at my colorful hair and stuck his tongue out at me. It made me laugh releasing some of the tension lining my body.

  But it returned in tenfold at the arrival of our destination. We had drove into the city and through some dicey neighbors. It occurred to me that for a Friday night, this part of town seemed eerily dead. I was used to the Riverfront with its boisterous boardwalk, tea tree lights, and the constant music of the ocean.

  Gavin greeted me at the door, lacing his fingers with mine, and Jared flanked me on the other side. My two bodyguards—they were kind of an impressive sight. As we approached a small black building nestled between two larger ones, my pulse started hammering.

  Gavin most have noticed the increase in my heart rate. “There is still time to change your mind, Bri. Jared and I can handle this.”

  I shook my head, and kept my gaze straight before I lost my nerve. My boots clapped on the pavement as we approached a one-story building. It was almost invisible, overshadowed by the sheer size of the others, but I think that was the point. This was a sparse part of the city, off the main strip. On the metal door was a glowing light blue symbol that I knew was laced with enchanted ink. I didn’t have to be told that only those with magic running in their blood could enter. No bouncer necessary.

  “This is it?” I asked, clearly not awestruck. I had been anticipating something more intimidating, like creepy iron fences and gargoyle statues.

  “What were you expecting?” Gavin asked, amused at my scrunched face.

  Jared was grinning like a total shithead, loving every second of my unease. “A spooky castle with a dungeon and a dragon,” Jared supplied.

  Gavin glanced around me, searing his brother with a glare. “Jared, don’t be a dick.”

  Jared rocked on his heels. “It can’t be helped. It’s in my nature.”

  I rolled my eyes, but he really wasn’t that far off, not that I was going to admit. I had expected less ordinary. “Can we just go in already?” Being on the streets made me feel exposed.

  Jared’s eyes twinkled. “Ladies first.” The door squeaked as he swung it open.

  The magic inside me kicked up as I took in my surroundings. It wasn’t at all like I had imagined, just like the exterior. No black caldrons with steam brewing from them. No one was riding around on broomsticks or wearing velvet cloaks. It wasn’t dark, damp, and musty like an underground cave. I had been warned, but not prepared.

  Eyes widening, I stood eyeballing the hordes of people crammed into the main room. I had to hand it to Sophie; she knew what she was doing when she
gave this wacky makeover. It looked like someone had vomited skittles. There were people, corrections there were witches scantly dress like me—with wild hair like me. Jared and Gavin were the ones who stood out in their jeans and rocker t-shirts. Jared might be beefier, but Gavin had a dark scowl that was more potent than any muscle could.

  Looking around, it was literally a damn dance club.

  Music blared and lights flashed throughout the industrial styled room. Metal I-beams stretched across the ceiling, but it was the cages that caught my eye.

  Color me surprised.

  Jared grinned. “Normal is overrated.”

  That’s just it. It wasn’t the oddity of the people; it was that I had been here before. In a dream. A dream I had shared with Lukas during training. I bristled.

  The hand around mine tightened, and Gavin leaned closed to me, whispering in my ear “What is it? Shocked?”

  That’s just it, I wasn’t. Not as much as I should have been, because of Lukas. What did that mean? Now wasn’t the time, but later, Lukas had plenty to answer for. Not for a second did I think it was a co-winky-dink that he had brought me here. I shook my head.

  Looking closer, I saw little things at first glance I had missed—the shimmery glow that radiated off some of the witches—the occasional glimpse of swirling tattoos on bodies. Something furry brushed up against my legs, and my gaze dropped to the ground.

  Yikes. I jumped.

  Jared snickered. “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.”

  Gavin frowned.

  I had a feeling that was going to be the theme of the night. “Shifter?” I assumed. “A distinct cousin of yours?” I asked Jared.

  Now it was Gavin’s turn to snicker. “Shall we?” he said, nodding to the room in front of us.

  Jared put on his game face. “Let’s get this party started.”

  “Why did I drag him along?” Gavin mumbled, watching his brother weave into the mass of bodies on the dance floor.

  “Because he knows people who know people. Don’t worry. He knows that we are here for a purpose, right?”

  “I wouldn’t count on it.”

  Our fingers were still interlocked as we meandering our way through the crowds, following behind Jared. Every few steps he gave a nod to someone he recognized or a charming grin to some girl. We reached the bar, and all I think was that I needed a drink—desperately.