SPELLBOUND

𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚡

I pushed open the glass doors of the boutique, a small bell chiming above my head. I was instantly greeted by a rush of cool air and the soft hum of ambient music. The store was a maze of carefully curated racks, each one draped in a rainbow of fabrics that shimmered under the soft lighting. As a result, my eyes roamed the displays, seeking inspiration. What I wanted was something that screamed elegance but also whispered fun—something that made me feel invincible. While scanning the hundreds of outfits, a flash of red caught my eye, and I weaved through the store toward it. A long-sleeved shirt, fiery and bold with a ruffled collar and wrists, hung on the end of a rack. I reached out, fingers brushing the silky material, and pulled it off the hanger. Under it was a pair of black pants with a soft, no-buckle belt that I assumed required to be tied into a knot that sat on your hip. Thankfully, the store had my size, and I was starting to sense my embarrassing giddiness. This coincident outfit I had conjured up was exactly what I was searching for, and knowing my parents, they ought to forgive me for the price.
As I entered the dressing room, I carefully slipped into the outfit, the fabric embracing me in all the preferred places while accentuating my figure perfectly. Turning to face the mirror, I marveled at the sight before me, spinning and twisting to admire every angle. The vibrant red of the shirt was absolutely stunning, and the pants complemented the color, and my legs, in a way that took me by surprise. Although, in the outfit's entirety, it may have seemed extravagant for a simple three-hour party, it brought me immense joy, and I knew it would undoubtedly turn heads and spark conversation, which was precisely the goal.
Once I stepped out of the changing room, the full outfit draping over my arm, I caught the sight of Eros notably shopping with two other men I hadn't seen before. His smile was bright, and he laughed for quite a while, which informed me that I could trust whoever was with him.
"Hey!" I greeted upon walking toward them, smiling too.
"Oh, hey, Sethos," Eros reciprocated. "Didn't think I'd catch you here."
"And why is that?" I questioned, teasing him with a sassy hand on my hip.
"I just figured you had an outfit already, judging by how stylish you usually are."
I hummed, ensuring I looked proud. "Well, someone's gotta update something about themselves one way or another. And no, I didn't have an outfit. For a study hall party, you must look your best, at least that's what I've learned." I glanced at the other two, smirking. "And who might these two be?" Unknowingly, I focused a second more on the one with the green hair and piercings, despite the other wearing a mask and having at least one metal object stabbed into his tanner skin.
    Eros nodded, turning to the man next to him. "Well, this is Dao Zhang. And that," Eros pointed to the man next to Dao, "is Valentino Juárez. He's the brother of one of my closest friends." I hummed once more before shaking both of their hands.
    "If you didn't hear Eros say my first name, it's Sethos, and my last is Cassius." I gradually let go of Valentino's hand, unlike what I did with Dao, already sensing the possible connection with him. "I moved here from Transylvania not too long ago."
    Valentino smirked, crossing his arms. "That's in Romania, correct?"
    "Yep," I giggled, "and if you take history, it's a beautiful place full of beautiful architecture and delicious food. But of course, I'm biased."
    Eros cleared his throat from the corner of my eye. "So, were you finished shopping?"
    "Yes. As a matter of fact, I was going to pay before I came up to you guys. I assume you're not done?"
    "No, not yet," Dao confessed. "We're waiting for him to make a decision, actually." He put his hand on Valentino's shoulder. "I didn't know one person could be so choosy."
    I pursed my lips, licking them slightly. "I can help with that, whatever it may be."
    "I don't truly need help." Valentino practically rolled his eyes. "Instead, I need some advice."
    "That works too," I said, raising my arm for Valentino to hook. "Shall we? Or do you need some more time over here? There's no rush unless you take a few hours." He was evidently hesitant but eventually did hook arms with me, following my path toward another aisle at the back of the store. After visiting a few times, I knew this certain aisle was perfect for his obviously low amount of fashion knowledge. "How about we start with your favorite color?" I commenced, releasing Valentino's arm and pivoting to face him.
    He raised his eyebrows. "Isn't it obvious?"
    I scoffed. "Okay, smart alloc. I'll see what I can find." I returned to sifting through the clothing racks that were behind me, hunting for a regular green, or at least navy green, shirt. Momentarily, I spotted a knitted cable sweater with a lapel neck in the most flawless kind of green. I sighed dramatically, hoping he wouldn't reject it, alongside the flowy black dress pants that were paired with it. "Here!" I exclaimed, confronting him again while introducing the outfit. "Go try this on and see if you like it." Valentino obliged, receiving the full outfit from me and bringing it to the dressing rooms where he selected the closest one. How dense, I thought while doing an admiring pose.