In Shadows of Magic

by Alison F. Prince

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Thursday afternoon, Mandy entered the cafeteria for the first time in weeks. She bought a school lunch and then scanned the tables, trying to decide where to sit. With a lump in her throat, Mandy approached a table of three girls. There were two empty chairs.

  The lump in her throat swelled, and she almost chickened out. It was her first time taking the initiative to make friends. Everything had always come so easily to her. Even as a popular girl, she had lacked social skills.

  "Is this seat taken?" Mandy asked. Two girls glanced up. The third was engrossed in a book.

  The girl with pale blonde hair responded, "No. Do you want to sit with us?"

  Mandy nodded and sat down.

  "I'm Elizabeth, but call me Liz." Her hazel eyes were warm and inviting.

  "I'm Emily," the cute Asian girl introduced herself.

  "Hi. I-I, um, I'm Mandy," Mandy stuttered.

  The third girl, a redhead with a septum piercing, raised her eyes from her book. "Hi, I'm Alise."

  "Nice to meet all of you!" Mandy was glad that these girls had allowed her to sit with them. She hoped they would like her. As she took the first bite of her sandwich, a pretty blonde took occupancy of the empty chair across from her.

  "There's a new guy in school that is smoking hot! I saw him out by the basketball courts. We have to go out there ASAP."

  Emily laughed. "Okay, Ker. We will go stalk him as soon as we finish eating. This is Mandy."

  "Hi, I'm Kerri. Wait till you see this guy. He looks like a model."

  "The county fair starts tonight. We should check it out this weekend," Alise said.

  "They're going to have a roller coaster this year! What're you up to this weekend, Mandy? You could come with us, if you like," Emily said.

  Mandy was pleased to be included. "Sure, that sounds fantastic." Maybe making new friends wouldn't be as difficult as she had anticipated.

  After they had finished eating, Kerri led the way to the basketball courts. When they arrived, Emily burst out laughing. "Kerri, that's not a new guy! That's Logan Archer."

  "No way! That guy is gorgeous."

  "It's Logan," Liz confirmed. "He does look quite scrumptious. What do you think?"

  Mandy was stunned and speechless. Logan wore a slim fitting black tank top. His newly-toned arms were on display as he dribbled the ball across the court. His soft, brown hair had been smoothed with gel. Most astonishing of all, he wasn't wearing his bulky glasses. As Logan approached the basket he jumped into the air while raising the ball high. Slam dunk!

  "Nice shot!" Josh Goodwin gave his teammate a high-five.

  Logan's hazel eyes locked on the slim redhead standing courtside.

  "Hey, Mandy!" Logan smoothed his gelled locks as he trotted toward her. "I can't get over how great you look with red hair. I mean, you have always been beautiful, but the red suits you."

  "Thanks," Mandy smiled, twirling her hair around her finger. "You look great, too. Where are your glasses?" The twosome strolled a few feet away from the group, lost in their conversation.

  "Well, after someone told me I have beautiful eyes, I got over my phobia of touching my eyeballs. I got fitted for contacts yesterday."

  "A lot of girls have noticed."

  Logan flushed red. "Nah, I doubt it."

  "Oh, believe me. I know. Girls talk."

  He shrugged. "Maybe, but here's the thing. I don't care about those girls. There's only one girl I was hoping would notice."

  Mandy felt hoping surging in her chest. Could he mean what she wanted him to mean? "Who's that?"

  "This girl I know. She's special. We used to be best friends. I think we could be great together. The only problem is she thinks she's cooler than me."

  "No." Mandy shook her head adamantly. "She doesn't think that. She never did. She was just a fool." Her chin dropped toward the ground as she thought of her shameful past behavior.

  Mandy felt his hand cup her chin. He lifted her face until her eyes met his. They were standing so close now, both moving together as if driven by some magnetic force. It was almost as if her magic had returned, except, it hadn’t. The magic between them was something else entirely.

  "Is it okay if we stop talking about you in the third person?"

  She nodded, entranced by his multicolored eyes that swirled bronze and green.

  "I like you," Logan said.

  "I like you, too," Mandy breathed, her heart skipping.

  Logan's eyes sparkled like faceted gold. The world around them seemed to fade away. He leaned in and his lips touched hers. It was so natural, so real. Mandy felt warmth spread from her lips and through every part of her body. The sensation was more exhilarating than anything she had ever experienced before. Nothing could compare. Not Chad, not her admirers, not any amount of supernatural energy, not a clapping audience…

  "Woo hoo!" A female voice interrupted the moment.

  A passerby let out a long whistle.

  "Get a room!" a male voice jested.

  "Hey, man, I can see you're busy, but are we going to finish the game?" Josh Goodwin asked.

  Mandy and Logan laughed. They hadn't meant to put on a show.

  "Can we continue this tonight?" Glowing flecks of amber were embedded in his golden eyes.

  Mandy's heart fluttered joyously. "Yeah."

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Brianna stopped trying to keep up with all the invitations and messages. Every date felt the same. No matter how banal her conversation, the boys behaved as if she'd spoken with great insight and wisdom. She had started saying idiotic and preposterous things for her own amusement. Still, the boys stood on their heads to impress her and worshiped the ground she walked on.

  Instead of empowering her, it felt empty and meaningless. She wanted someone who could challenge her and treat her as an equal. Someone who loved her and was not bewitched by her powers. By Friday, Brianna was depressed. She had over a dozen invitations for that evening, but none intrigued her.

  Opting to stay home, Brianna lounged in bed, thinking about Renee and the party tomorrow. The one ray of light in the darkness. Brianna had been looking forward to it all week. She held the slip of paper in her palm. Staring at the scribbled numbers, she was fraught with nervousness. What if the lovely girl didn't remember her? All of her hopes would be crushed. Hopes for finding a way to suppress her powers. Hopes for a real friendship with the warmhearted witch. Brianna’s finger trembled as she dialed Renee.

  "Hello," a soft, melodious voice answered.

  "H-hi, R-Renee," Brianna stammered. "It's Bri McKinney."

  "Oh, hi! I was waiting to hear from you! Are you still in for tomorrow night?"

  "Yeah, definitely."

  Renee recited an address on the upper west side of New York City. "The doorman will ask you for a name. Say you are going to the penthouse for William Brent's party. At the top of the elevator, a bouncer will ask for the password. The password is 'red velvet cake'."

  "Red velvet cake?" Brianna wasn't sure her hearing was accurate.

  "Yep. What did you expect it to be? Abracadabra? Or hocus-pocus? I've had some red velvet cake before that was a pretty magical experience."

  Brianna laughed. "Me too!"

  "There's a parking lot two blocks uptown. Park your car and tell the attendant you are guests of William Brent. There won't be any charge."

  "William is picking up the tab for everyone?" Brianna was impressed by the stranger's generosity. "I don't even know him. I feel uncomfortable."

  Renee chuckled. "We all call him Brent. Yeah, he pays for everyone, and don't worry about it. Brent enjoys hosting these gatherings, and he is excited to meet you. I told him about you."

  About me? Brianna struggled to maintain her composure. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I can't wait!"

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  "I have no clue what to wear!" Valerie said into the phone. "What are you wearing?"

  Brianna stared into her closet, thinking the same thi
ng. What do witches wear to parties? "I'm not sure yet. How are you feeling, by the way?"

  "I feel fabulous! Thank you so much! I'm able to do spells all by myself now!"

  "That's great. But remember to be careful, okay? It's important to keep it a secret."

  "I know, I know. I can't wait for tonight. To meet more special people like us! We are going to have so much fun! I'll pick you up at eight."

  "See you then!"

  After much consideration, Brianna selected a dark red spaghetti-strapped mini-dress. Black satin ribbon laced from her waist to her cleavage. She affixed ruby-embellished bobby pins in her shiny, jet-black hair. Silver hoop earrings adorned with rubies swung like pendulums as Brianna pulled on a black lace shrug. Her uncanny balance allowed her to stride down the driveway in her red patent leather heels. The gold sedan waited at the bottom of the steep hill.

  Valerie sparkled in a navy sequined halter dress. Her auburn hair was styled in long, flowing waves. "You look great!" Brianna said, before she noticed that Valerie was on the phone.

  "I'd love to go out to dinner, sometime," Valerie said into her cell. "Aw, you bought me that necklace I said I wanted? That's so sweet! You shouldn't have! Did you happen to pick up the matching earrings, too?"

  Brianna's phone rang, but she pressed the ignore button. For the duration of the ride, Valerie chattered endlessly with her admirers. It seemed that she couldn't get enough of their adulation. Growing tired of listening to the incessant ringing of her own phone, Brianna put it on mute. As they drove through the tunnel that would bring them into the city, Brianna's heart beat fast with anticipation.

  The automated voice of the GPS announced that they had arrived at their destination. Valerie took a left into the well-lit parking garage. As promised, her car was parked on William Brent's tab.

  As the girls walked down the street of the posh neighborhood, Valerie squealed. "I can't wait to meet powerful people like us!" It was the first time she had spoken to Brianna all evening.

  The girls approached a modern high rise building with exterior walls constructed of darkened glass. Brianna pushed open the door and stepped onto the sparkling white marble floors of a massive lobby. Large red velvet couches and black leather ottomans lined the perimeter of the enormous room. She felt like she had entered a luxury hotel.

  "Can I help you?" A college-aged boy addressed the girls from the circular desk in the center of the majestic room.

  "Yes!" Valerie shouted as the girls crossed the large space. "We are here for William Brent." Brianna leaned against the cool, smooth, black granite of the grand desk.

  "Hmm." The boy narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "I don't recognize them. Check the book, Dina."

  "No problem, Billy." A pretty young girl retrieved a thick leather-bound book from the top drawer. "What are your names?"

  "Valerie Baron and Brianna McKinney," Valerie said.

  What is this book? Brianna wondered. A guest list? Her gaze wandered around the room. Maroon walls were decorated with large abstract art paintings. A golden statue of a beautiful woman towered beside the desk. The shiny sculpture seemed more like it belonged in a museum than an apartment building lobby.

  "Admiring his art work?" Billy asked.

  "It's beautiful. Whose art is it?"

  "Brent's, of course," Billy said.

  "His work is so amazing. Just like him," Dina said dreamily, flipping through the book. "I found Valerie." A large headshot of Valerie covered an entire page. Underneath the photograph, her full name was typed in capital letters. Brianna's palms broke out in a cold sweat. What was this place? Why did they have Valerie’s picture?

  Valerie also seemed disturbed by the photograph, but for a different reason. "Ugh, that picture is so unflattering. What was I thinking with that purple eye shadow?"

  Billy scrutinized Valerie, then the photo. He nodded, satisfied that her identity had been confirmed.

  Dina flipped to another page. Brianna recognized her yearbook photo from the previous year. "What are you doing with my picture?" She felt violated. Why had her privacy been breached?

  "For security purposes, of course. Standard procedure," Dina answered matter-of-factly. "Follow me to the elevator. I'll enter the password."

  A password for an elevator? This was too much for Brianna.

  "Hold on a second." She grabbed Valerie's upper arm and pulled her toward the door. "This doesn't seem a little creepy to you?" Brianna whispered.

  "No. It's just exclusive and awesome. Don't be ridiculous. Let's go."

  The front door swung open and Renee entered the massive lobby. Her strapless burgundy dress complemented her tall, willowy frame. The healthy glow of her hair and eyes lit up her beautiful face. Two attractive women followed. A tall, curvaceous blonde smoothed a crease in her classic black dress. Behind her, a dark-haired girl's crimson heels clinked on the polished floor.

  Renee's expression brightened when she spotted Brianna. "Hi!" The tall brunette wrapped her arms around Brianna. It was a warm greeting from a girl she had met just once at a store. But somehow, Brianna was just as happy to see her.

  "Hey, Renee."

  "This is my cousin, Maeve." Renee said, introducing the honey blonde. She gestured to the brunette beauty. "And this is my good friend, Charlotte. This is Brianna McKinney and her friend Valerie."

  Maeve greeted Brianna with a welcoming hug. "It's so great to meet you." She smelled like vanilla and cinnamon.

  "Nice to meet you. This party is going to be amazing!" Charlotte said. Her red lipstick was as flirty as her ruffled red skirt.

  "Were you going in?" Renee asked.

  "We were about to until Brianna had a little freak-out about our pictures being at the front desk. She's so paranoid." Valerie cracked up with laughter.

  None of the other girls laughed. Renee placed her hand on Brianna's shoulder. "I'm sorry about that. I understand how that could be unnerving. Brent is just real serious about security."

  "But why?" Brianna couldn't understand.

  "There are bad people out there. Lots of them, in this city—looking for us. They hunt our kind."

  "Oh." Brianna's face flushed. She felt silly. It all made sense. Her mother had always warned her about witch hunters. They were the reason it was imperative to keep their secret.

  Renee linked her arm though Brianna's. "Let's go dance and have a good time." The five girls briskly passed the security desk. "Hi, Billy. Hey, Dina," Renee greeted the staff.

  An indoor waterfall trickled down the black-and-tan marble stones in the elevator corridor. Renee opened a hidden wall panel and entered a ten-digit code. The silver doors opened. Inside the elevator, Charlotte pressed the button labeled PH.

  Moments later the doors reopened, revealing a seven-foot-tall man with gargantuan biceps. "What are you here for?" the monstrous man asked, arms folded.

  "Red velvet cake," Renee answered before leaning forward to kiss the hulk on the cheek. "Good to see you, Marty."

  "As always, Renee. Are all these girls with you?"

  She nodded and the guard held open the door behind him. The girls entered an enormous ballroom lit by crystal chandeliers.

  "Wow," Valerie breathed. "Is this someone's house?" The room felt more like a banquet hall than a home.

  "Brent owns the whole building. The penthouse is exclusively for parties. His apartment is one floor down," Maeve said.

  Cocktail waitresses dressed in black hot pants, vests, fishnets, and thigh-high boots wandered the room, balancing silver trays of delicate glasses over their shoulders. When one waitress stopped by their group, everyone except for Charlotte accepted a glass of sparkling apple cider. Instead, she headed to the mahogany bar along the left wall. She returned holding a pilsner glass filled with a dark red liquid. Interesting glassware choice for wine, Brianna observed.

  "Let's sit down." Renee led the way to a circular table along the edge of the room. Brianna peered out of the floor-to-ceilings windows at an unobstructed view of Central Park.
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  "Gorgeous view." Brianna stared at the city lights reflected on the Hudson River.

  A waitress approached their table, offering appetizers this time. Among the delectable treats were bacon-wrapped scallops, stuffed mushrooms, and shrimp scampi. All the choices were so tempting that Brianna couldn't decide. After Renee helped herself to one of each, Brianna did the same.

  "Wow, this is delicious. I feel like I'm at a wedding reception. I can't believe Brent owns this place," Brianna said.

  "Oh, this is just one of his many pads," Charlotte said.

  "Are you serious? This guy is loaded! What does he do? Is he single?" Valerie asked.

  "Did he earn his fortune through his art?" Brianna took another bite of the delectable mushroom.

  "Art is just a hobby for him. He's had many successful investments and several successful careers," Renee said.

  "Artist, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, genius. As for his relationship status, I believe he's seeing someone, but it's doubtful it will last. We all think he'll be an eternal bachelor," Charlotte said.

  "Quite literally." Maeve laughed.

  "I still hope he'll fall in love with me one day." Charlotte had a faraway look in her eyes.

  A tall, devastatingly handsome man approached their table. His smooth dark hair reached his broad shoulders.

  “Speaking of the devil." Charlotte smoothed her long curly locks.

  "The devil? Bah! I'll take that weakling down any day." William Brent spoke in a deep, sexy voice. "Hello, Charlotte, lovely to see you. Red is your color." He leaned down to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

  "Likewise," Charlotte breathed.

  Brent greeted Renee and Maeve. "And the Ramsey girls, looking as beautiful as ever."

  "So nice to see you, Brent. The party is amazing, as always. These are my friends, Brianna and Valerie," Renee said, introducing her guests.

  "Oh, yes! McKinney! What a pleasure to meet you." William Brent extended his hand.