Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

Blasé

My first thought is that I am not actually me.

My thoughts are the same, and my mannerisms still have the same flow, but my appearance is completely changed. I have doe-like blue eyes curtained with long, black lashes and long, straight, dark black hair with tanned skin and full lips. Apart from that, I barely have a waist anymore and my bust is fuller than before.

"Kai, you realise that you didn't have to turn me into a Victoria's Secret model."

"I know," he says. "But you can't blame me for trying."

"Turn me back," I demand.

He knits his eyebrows together. "Seems that I didn't get rid of how annoying you are," he says. "I think I enjoy you like this. A lot better to look at, as well."

"You're an ass."

"Is it bad that turned me on?"

"Kai, turn me back!"

"What will I call you? Bella? Do you like Bella?"

"I like me," I say, gesturing to my foreign body. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel different at all physically, either. It's just strange to look down and see some other body on me.

He tilts his head slightly, deep in thought. "Do you think I could get Emeraude Toubia to fall in love with me? I wonder if there's a spell for that."

"Kai!"

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about girls who are slightly hotter and slightly less annoying as you."

"Does my siren voice still work? Because I swear to god if it does —"

"What the fuck are you doing in our house?" It's not Kai's voice who says this, but rather one that I'm more glad to hear. Theo's.

"Theo," I say, turning to him. "I'm so sorry, babe. It was a misunderstanding. I'm sorry for getting angry at you." I make start towards him, ignoring the confused look on his face. I wrap my arms around him, giving his middle a squeeze.

"Uh, I have a girlfriend," he says. "Who are you?"

I go rigid, loosening my hold on him. I don't look like me.

"That's Bella," Kai says.

"It's Arden," I say. Theo furrows his brows, tilting his head to the side slightly. "Kai put an illusion on me."

Theo widens his eyes. "What the fuck?" he breathes. "Dude, what the fuck did you do?"

Kai shrugs. "Well," he says. "I made your girlfriend ten times hotter so —"

"I will slit your throat," Theo warns.

"I think you're forgetting something!" Kai says in a singsong voice, theatric as ever. "I'm a witch and you're not."

I stomp towards him before latching a hand around his throat and leaning in close. "Turn me back, Kai."

Kai rolls his eyes and focuses a hand on me. "There you go, Arden."

I look down at my hand, and sigh with relief as I gaze at the familiar red polish on my fingernails. "Oh, thank fuck," I sigh. I realise my grip on the witch and run a hand through my hair exasperatedly. "Any longer and I actually would've killed you."

Kai smiles dryly. "That's good."

"So is this your plan? Disguise Arden?" Theo asks.

"Okay," I say. "I better fill you in before we start. Lucien is in Santa Barbara right now." I hand him the picture. "That's him. Kai gave me his address."