New Point of View

Chapter 6

"It's performance based, how well they think you did is how you get paid, but you start out with 100 snails." He explained.

"Dress code?" There is no way I'm doing this gig without changing into a suit. It's Amity's family, I want to make a good impression.

"It's formal but we've got you covered." Emira winks at me before we are me with the front door.

We head inside and I'm immediately rushed into a spare room with no time to admire the decor. I sigh and look around before I'm met with a tux hanging on the left and a dress on the right. I head for the tux and see a green and gold color scheme. I change into it before remembering I don't know what to do with my clothes. Just as I was thinking of a way to send them to the owl house, a circle appears and the clothes sink into it. It was the same color as my magic, a midnight purple mixed with an icy blue with flecks of gold, so I wasn't extremely worried. I was curious as to what happened but I'll cross that bridge later, looks like I'm about to meet the big wigs.

I step out of the room, adjusting the tie and smoothing out my hair a bit. I don't want to look like a complete slob. I hear a set of gasps and see the twins blushing a little.

"*ahem* you clean up pretty well cutie~" Emira was the first to recover, though the slight blush on her cheeks doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

"Yeah! Now all you have to do is survive an interview with our parents." They look a bit nervous at this. But get confused when I don't flinch at the mention of the parents.

"Figured as much. Anything I should know?" I had to keep my nerves in check or else I'd say something I'd regret later. They looked at me like I was crazy until they saw my hands shaking and smiled sympathetically.

"Just be polite, look confident, and answer politically." I nod at this. Simple enough I suppose. We walked a bit before standing in front of a set of large oak doors. The twins push them open to reveal a large ballroom venue with two people at the center directing everything. Everything got quiet as we stepped into the room.

"Edric. Emira. Who have you brought to us?" The woman says. Both of their presences are suffocating but I keep my composure. Something was off, like they weren't completely in control. I need to find out why, but that's going to have to wait. First I need to get through this audition.

"We've brought a suitable entertainer, mother." Emira says, her face void of emotions. I gave a small bow in greeting. Their father seemed to appreciate this and gave a small nod of acknowledgment while their mother eyed me with judgement.

"Well, we must see if they are capable of our standards." Their mother says with a strictness to her voice while guiding us towards a grand piano. I smile a bit under my mask knowing exactly what would impress them. I can tell she wants me to do something about my mask but doesn't want to speak to me any further than she has to.

"If I may, Mrs. Blight?" She gives me a small nod of acknowledgment. "Would it be possible to set up my own equipment as well? I understand this is a formal event, however as a gift I would like to play a special song for the occasion that requires my equipment." She seems to think about this in a bit of surprise that's barely hidden in her eyes at my confidence in passing her standards.

"I see no reason for you not to be able to do so, however I would like to have some knowledge of your skill set before we talk of employment." She replies in a diplomatic manner. I'll take it. She motions me towards the piano and I take the hint to sit down and start playing. I play River Flows in You by yiruma, one of my all time favorite piano songs, and the atmosphere starts becoming more relaxed. A spring like aura surrounds me and the piano, giving off a golden glow. Meadow grass makes an appearance under me as vines start to travel up the piano with roses blooming on them. I didn't want this magic to end with the song, so I continued playing into Moonlight Sonata. The light changed into a moon like glow and balls of light floated like lanterns from the ground as the room seemed to darken just a bit.

This continued a while before I decided to end the song and face the final decision. So, with one final note, a blanket of quiet enveloped the room. I stand up, shaking the atmosphere of the room and everyone out of their trance. Everyone present gave applause before Odalia spoke.

"You'll have your 100 snails in hand as you leave. The party is to be in three days' time. Formal attire is required, preferably in a white and gold color pattern. The twins will escort you home." I could see the twins give a discreet celebration before going back to their serious facade.

"I thank you for the opportunity. I will stop by the day before to set up my equipment. Though, if it isn't too much trouble, I have a small request to make." She nods at me to continue, leading me towards the door. "I would like my presence to be kept secret until the day of. A surprise for your guests, so to speak." She takes in this request before nodding her approval.

"Very well. Edric. Emira. Escort our guest home." She orders. Yikes. I thought Amity's parents were bad, but now I see just how bad. The twins nod and walk me out of the room, closing the door behind us and walking back to the spare room. Their facade quickly broke as soon as we got far enough away.

"That was amazing, cutie!" Emira was the first to speak.

"Amazing is an understatement! I didn't even see a single spell circle!" Edric seemed to be fanboying. I give a small chuckle.

"That's because I didn't use one." I tell them, stuffing my hands in my pockets. They give me an incredulous look before pulling me into a crushing hug with them getting on their knees.

"You have to teach us!"

"Please please please"

This was getting out of hand so I pushed them away gently, I didn't want to hurt them after all. They're trouble but not enough trouble to warrant hurting them yet. 

"It's not something I can teach." They looked severely disappointed at this. "And I know you'd only use it for pranking" they give a fake offended look.

"We would never!" Edric says in an overly offended voice making me snicker.

"Suuuuure you wouldn't Ed, because I would totally believe you." Emira snickered at him as he pouted. "You should probably leave so I can change." I push them both out, much to their complaint, and think about getting my clothes back. Just as I had predicted, they showed up on the bed in much the same manner they had been taken. I'll talk to Eda about that later. Once I'm done I open the door and am immediately picked up by my arms.

"Why?" I deadpan. They just started walking towards the entrance where a butler was standing with a bag of snails in hand.

"We didn't want to accidentally leave you behind, shorty." Ed said with an overly innocent face. I glare at him before kicking his shin. The one thing I hate is people commenting on my height. They both let go and Emira backed up a little bit with her hands in the air.

"Don't call me short." Ed was nursing his shin and I just calmly walked to the butler and took the money with a nod of thanks, leaving the twins to run to catch up.