Sorcha's Secret World, Part one.

Chapter 34, Call Me Irresponsible.

"This is the worst idea I've ever had," I groaned.

"Says the woman who tried to kill a vampire with garlic mayonnaise," Cedric murmured.

"He hates surprises."

"He loves surprises."

"He loves surprising other people. He doesn't like being surprised. Remember the time you snuck up on him and tapped him on the shoulder in Agartha?"

Cedric winced at the memory. He still had the scar, it was a good thing I had been there too to heal Cedric.

"It's too late now," Cedric shrugged, "we are all here."

He was right, we were all here, except Loki.

It was August, early evening, and I was standing on a stage in the middle of Ealdwic Park. I was wearing a 1950s vintage dress, the bodice made of iridescent emerald taffeta, the voluminous long tule skirt rustling and flowing out around me with every move. The low-cut bodice had thin straps and the sheer fabric clung tightly to my body, it had been tailored to fit. I was wearing strappy emerald high heels to match. My hair was done elaborately, pulled up and then tumbling in curls down my back.

Even I had to admit I looked beautiful.

I had lied to Loki. I had snuck around behind his back. I had spent two weeks telling him I had to go to Temple Hall or was spending time on the island, while in reality, I had been elsewhere.

It isn't easy, lying to Loki. And I am not very good at it. He had seen through me almost right away and had become more and more suspicious. We had a raging argument the night before, where we both were yelling and screaming and saying things neither of us meant.

At least, after tonight, he'd know what I had been up to.

For once in our lives, I wanted to be the one to make the grand gesture. For once in our lives, I wanted Loki to be the one who was surprised. I just hoped I had gotten it right. I had to do this right. This night had to be perfect.

There had been problems, of course. The band came down with food poisoning and didn't inform me until late afternoon that day. Cedric had come to the rescue, and now the band consisted of the youth his charity worked with. Pink and purple-haired, with piercings and eyeliner that didn't quite shout "Rat Pack". But they were all wearing a tux and the lead singer was wearing a gorgeous red Marilyn Monroe dress. The singer had assured me he knew all the songs I wanted them to play, and he had a wonderful deep voice so that had worked out amazingly well.

And then there had been the problem with the light. It was supposed to be dark right until Loki arrived and then all the lights were supposed to turn on. Which sounded great on paper, but not the way it works when you hold an outdoor party early in the evening in August.

Cedric had cast a spell to cover the park in darkness, but now it just looked unnatural and creepy.

"He's going to hate it." I moaned.

"He's going to love it." Cedric squeezed my hand. " He loves you. And more importantly, he loves being the centre of attention."

Cedric's phone buzzed.

"That was Richard. Loki is on the way."

"What if he didn't dress up?"

"It's Loki," Cedric sounded exasperated. "Of course, he dressed up. You told him you were going somewhere expensive right?"

I had texted Loki that I wanted to take him out for dinner as an apology, someplace fancy, and to meet me in the park.

"He'll be dressed up," Cedric reassured me, followed by "oh, he's here... and he's got his daggers out. Oh, dear. I'll drop the magic, you're up kid!"