The Sorcerer's Gate

thirty-one

Aster looked him over and immediately used her attention to glare into his eyes. She sensed anxiety, anticipation and fear. She trailed her eyes to look at Vi, who was sporting a dark red dressing gown with her usual moonlight, pixie cut framed at the edges of her forehead into gelled down swirls. Aster sensed fear from Vi's eyes and nothing else. 

"Oh, no," Elouise said looking to Vi's plus one and recognizing it as Jaxtyn. "Viola, you listed Gwen as your plus one. Not him," she said glaring daggers in his direction. 

That's right. Aster had seen a Viola Swen on the guest list and thought nothing of it. She hadn't known Vi's full name the entire time she worked with her. She didn't even know her as Viola.

"Yeah, well. We got into a fight and I wasn't missing the Ball. It's not my fault she doesn't want to act like a couple in public," Vi said offering up a bored look.

Aster had explained to Elouise what had happened between her and Jaxtyn before. They spent an evening in the Parlor Room discussing old relationships and after a glass of wine or the bottle, the altercation had slipped out of Aster's mouth. Elouise was now sporting a look like she'd sooner spell the man into a tornado if it wasn't for Aster speaking up.

"What are you doing here?" Aster spat at him.

"I want to be here for you," Jaxtyn explained trying to plead with her.

"I told you to leave here. That wasn't a suggestion nor was it an invitation to the Ball here. What about my word means absolutely nothing to you?" 

Elouise held onto Aster's arm like she was holding herself back from casting out towards him sooner than later.

"We need to talk. The way we left things... We need to speak everything through," Jaxtyn said.

Vi listened in carefully, her mouth a thin line.

"I think I heard well enough of everything you had to say. More than enough," Aster warned low.

"Then, let me listen to you. Please, it's just one night," Jaxtyn said.

Aster thought it over. Yeah, one night of Jaxtyn flavored Hell. His appearance at the Ball was unexpected and why would he come here? Either he really was an idiot and couldn't accept the fate of them being over or there was a lingering reason that could lead to something Aster didn't want to believe. Either way, she was planning on keeping an eye on him. A closer eye.

"Fine, but I've hardly even entered the Ball yet. We'll talk later," Aster spoke and turned away trailing Elouise behind her.

"Of course," Jaxtyn said pathetically and quick.

"What the fuck? Why did you just let him in?" Elouise whisper shouted as they made their way back into the Ballroom.

"I need to keep an eye on him. Something isn't right. If he's a spy, I'm taking him down myself," Aster replied.

They entered the Ballroom to the enchanting music.

"Who's a spy?" Alyx said from behind the girls.

Aster turned around and saw Alyx before her. Close up, she nearly choked at how striking he appeared. He furrowed his eyebrows in concern.

"Nobody," Aster responded a beat too quickly.

"I've got to go locate Jean. He's probably pestering the caters again," Elouise said sending Aster and Alyx off alone.

Alyx rose an inquisitive eyebrow at Aster.

"Hello," she said smiling at him.

He looked at her up and down, very, very slowly. He stepped an inch closer and her breath hitched. He leaned in close to the side of her head and trailed his lips ever so slightly upon her ear. He spoke into her mind instead, Do you really want to wait till  a f t e r  the Ball to have our fun?