Masquerade

We arrived on a dock in front of a rather large house. I felt trapped and cold, the freezing sea breeze coming from behind me.

“He lives on an island?” I asked as we moved toward the house, my hand on Erik’s arm.

“It’s not his house, probably a lover’s,” he answered.

“You spellcasters seem to love islands,” I pointed out quietly, in case someone heard me. I was a little scared and tightened my grip around Erik’s arm.

It made him chuckle. “Just try to relax, you’re not in any danger while you’re with me,” he told me with an equally quiet softness.

It helped, at least a little.

“Erik! Your brother will be delighted to see you here,” a man by the door said as he let us in.

“I doubt it,” Erik smirked as we entered.

I was in, and the doorman had only nodded at me, which hopefully meant Erik’s plan worked.

We were in a very large room. There were plenty of other guests here.

The air was thick with magic, just as it had been at Aurora’s Halloween party. The ceiling and the floor were covered by a blue fire that didn’t burn, but it was intoxicating to watch and tickled to walk in.

It made me giggle as I got used to it. All the colorful dresses twirling around in the blue fire, making it flare, made me dizzy, but in a good way.

It really was a magically beautiful scene.

A champagne glass magically made its way into my hand. It didn’t look like champagne, though it was sparkling and crackling like a sparkler.

“What is this?” I asked Erik as we made our way across the room.

Erik tasted his before he answered. “It is just enchanted champagne. Pops in your mouth like popping candy when you drink it. Nothing more than that,” he said, looking amused, suspecting that I expected some kind of mood enhancer or worse.

I was admiring the dancing crowd when Marcus suddenly appeared, right in front of us, like a slap to the face.

I was startled; up close, the resemblance to Erik was disturbing. Even though Marcus and Erik resembled each other, Marcus’s jaw was wider, his eyes were a bright brown, and his hair was too short to show off any curls.

I was thankful for that. If Marcus had shared Erik’s thick curls, I might have felt more confused.

Uncertainty grew when I realized that I was face to face with a psychopath, but I repeated in my head like a mantra that he didn’t know me. I did it to keep calm, and I hoped it would work.

“Erik, how good of you to show. I wasn’t expecting it,” he said, with a smooth voice that still cut my ears like knives.

“I wasn’t planning on coming, but my girlfriend loves a good party, and she wanted to meet my family,” Erik said, sounding bored.

Did he just call me his girlfriend?

“Interesting, you’ve never introduced me to a girlfriend, or even a lover before,” Marcus said suspiciously, before he reached his hand out to me.

“Marcus Wood, with such a strong magical aura, I’m sure you already know me. I am, however, very curious about who you are. You must be tough to have survived the tricksters,” he said with a wicked spark in his eyes.

He was wrong; I didn’t know much about him. Erik gave his brother a disgusted look for the remark.

I ignored it.

“Morgana Leroux, I grew up in a foster family, so there isn’t much to know about me really,” I lied while I took his hand, trying to sound excited.

I wasn’t sure if it was even a real name, but Erik glanced at me with a flash of curiosity, though it quickly faded. He probably didn’t want his brother to notice.

“Interesting name. It’s the same as our high enchantress of medieval days. She wanted to liberate us all, from the rules of the umbras, and the Lucis,” Marcus said.

I wasn’t sure why I had picked that name. It just felt right.

“You must be referring to Morgana Nord, killed and burned by the umbra vernandi,” I said.

She had, according to our history, tried to cleanse the British Isles from umbra and Lucis, but was defeated by the British order, and her body burned.

“Well, yes, I suppose not many know, but she was half French. Her maiden name in England was Leroux. I suppose your parents must have named you after her,” Marcus said, looking both interested and doubtful while he shared information that was new to me.

He probably knew I’d given him a fake name, but he had also confessed that he’d tried to kill me, which was more unsettling than I’d expected.

“She was a truly marvelous witch, and the mother of Damion Nord. I have been trying to bring her spirit back,” Marcus continued.

“Is that even possible? The reapers would never allow that,” I said, mostly surprised.

“It is. A sacrifice must be made, and the spirit must bond with a demon,” he explained enthusiastically.

Nothing about his plans seemed secret. It seemed like he loved to talk.

Why did we have such a hard time finding, and ending, this man? Perhaps I should have taken this opportunity to tell Louisa and catch him off guard, but I would have broken Erik’s trust, and it would have been a bloodbath with all these spellcasters.

Many of them might be completely innocent of his crimes.

“So, how has it been going so far? How many times have you tried?” I asked, trying to sound more curious than as disgusted as I felt, knowing he would have had to sacrifice people at every attempt.

“I’m not sure. We have failed many times. Her spirit has proven very difficult to find…maybe if I take advantage of the solstice, and choose a higher spot…,” Marcus mumbled thoughtfully.

“Happy birthday, asshole!” a familiar voice said.

I recognized Aurora, under a blue sparkling mask. She wore a matching flowy dress.

I hadn’t noticed her approach.

“How lovely to see you, Aurora. Is Damion with you?” Marcus asked, completely ignoring her calling him an asshole.

“No, you know how Damion feels about you. I just came to enjoy a good masquerade,” Aurora answered, while looking at me.

“That is a very nice hair color. It suits you,” she pointed out to me.

“He will thank me, once I bring his mother back. She’ll set us all back on the right path,” Marcus grunted.

Aurora snorted.

“Her spirit can’t be tied to a demon, as I have told you before. And also, you are truly delusional if you think she would share your vision,” she said, glancing at me with a mysterious smile.

“Then let me be delusional if that is what you think. You didn’t know her, and I have found many old documents suggesting otherwise,” Marcus said, annoyed.

“Careful, Marcus, you’re stepping out of line, and fooling so many young witches and warlocks to follow you down a dark path. Damion won’t ignore it forever,” Aurora said.

“It’s too late for my brother to listen to reason. He’s too far gone,” Erik said after having been quiet for a while.

“Too true. I will let you enjoy the party. Come find me in a while, if you want to join my after party. Just looking at our host makes me depressed,” Aurora said, and glanced at Marcus.

I could tell that he was furious, but forced a smile. He was obviously scared of Aurora, and rightfully so, according to her history.

I struggle, however, to see Aurora the way our books depicted her. I also thought it very strange that Damion and Aurora hadn’t intervened.

Especially since it was a personal matter, and they didn’t feel like the types to let innocents suffer.

“Well, I find it fascinating,” I said, hoping to get Marcus to spill more information after Aurora had disappeared into the crowd.

“I’m sure you do. You have some powerful friends,” Marcus said, sounding distracted.

He looked at me like I was some strange enigma before he shook his head and wandered off.

“How about we find Aurora, and join that after party? I’m in the mood for drinks,” Erik suggested. He didn’t sound too happy.

“I don’t know, I’m in trouble as it is,” I answered quietly.

Although it was a beautiful party, I didn’t want to linger, knowing I didn’t really belong here.

Erik suddenly put a finger to my mouth.

“All right, we’ll just go straight home then, unless you want to stay?” he said, with a mischievous smile.

I felt relief over his suggestion. “Home sounds amazing,” I confessed.

He leaned in close, brushing my ear with his lips.

“I hope you’ve not forgotten that I have a debt to repay,” he whispered, sending a thrilling shiver through my body.

I really was damned.