Crossed Spells

Chapter 16: The Winter Ball (Part 2)

The next morning, Lucas stood in front of the mirror in his room, nervously adjusting his tie. He knew the time had come to talk to his father, and this prospect filled him with apprehension. Taking a deep breath, he went downstairs, finding his father, Damien Blackwood, sitting at the kitchen table, reading the morning paper.

"Dad," Lucas began, trying to keep his voice steady, "I wanted to tell you that I've decided to go to the winter ball."

Damien abruptly looked up from his newspaper, an expression of surprise and suspicion on his face. "To the ball? You? Since when are you interested in such frivolous events?"

Lucas felt his heart quicken, but he tried to remain calm. "It's my last year, dad. I thought I should experience it at least once."

His father put down the newspaper, staring intently at Lucas. "And who do you plan to go with? I hope it's not with that girl, Aria."

Lucas knew this moment would come. He took a deep breath before answering. "No, it's not with Aria. I'm going with Marcus. He kind of pushed me to accompany him."

Damien stood up, approaching Lucas. "Do you take me for a fool, Lucas? Why this sudden change in attitude on your part?"

Lucas felt panic rising in him, but he forced himself to keep calm. "It's not a sudden change, dad. Marcus and I have been discussing it for a while. We thought it would be nice to experience it at least once together before leaving high school."

Damien shook his head, visibly unconvinced. "Lucas, I raised you better than this. I know when you're lying to me. It's because of that Luminosa girl, isn't it?"

"No, dad," Lucas insisted, feeling frustration rising in him. "Why is it so hard to believe that I simply want to go to a ball with my best friend?"

"Because I know you, son," Damien replied, his voice hardening. "And I know how dangerous these events can be for someone like us. What if you lose control in the middle of a crowd of teenagers? Have you thought about the consequences?"

"I'll be careful," Lucas promised. "I know how to handle my powers now."

Damien sighed deeply, running a hand over his face. "Lucas, I'm not doing this to punish you. Remember what I told you, Lucas. The slightest manifestation of your powers could have disastrous consequences. Not just for you, but for the entire town."

There was a long moment of tense silence. Finally, Damien spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Alright. You can go. But I want you to promise me to be extremely vigilant. At the slightest sign that things are becoming... difficult to control, you come home immediately. Understood?"

Lucas felt a mixture of relief and guilt wash over him. "I promise, dad. I'll be careful."

Damien nodded, but his expression remained worried. "I hope you know what you're doing, Lucas. And I sincerely hope you're telling me the truth about Aria."

Lucas nodded, avoiding his father's piercing gaze. As he went back up to his room, his heart heavy, he couldn't help but think about the upcoming evening. Despite the risks and the guilt of lying to his father, the idea of sharing this moment with Aria stirred an excitement in him that he couldn't contain.

The days following Aria and Lucas's decision to go to the ball together passed in a whirlwind of excitement and preparations. The atmosphere at Ravenswood High was electric, conversations in the hallways revolving only around dresses, dates, and the thousand and one details that would make this evening unforgettable.

For Aria, this effervescence was both exhilarating and terrifying. On one hand, she found herself getting carried away by the general enthusiasm, discussing with Ivy the final touches to be made to her dress or the hairstyles they could try. On the other hand, the fear of losing control of her powers never really left her, a persistent shadow amidst all this excitement.