Spell It Out (Book One of The Spellbound Series)

Chapter 12: Wild Card

Down in the lobby, I was fixing the white carnation in my black tux. A finger tapped my shoulder, causing me to turn around. Sabrina was standing there in a red silk halter gown, with her hair in a bun. I was rendered speechless by her stunning beauty. She reached her hand toward me, when Christina showed up.

She gasped. "You are look gorgeous! I think my heart just fluttered!"

She linked her arms with ours, pulling us in the ballroom with her. There was a red light shining around the room and the tables had white cloths on them, just like the chairs. The centerpieces were all either red or black Ace cards. My arm brushed against the white wreath arch near the doorway. Everyone was dancing to 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift. An eight year old might as well have been singing. Literally none of the guests would know the difference.

Once Christina let go of us and went to the dancefloor, we went to the refreshments table. Sabrina touched the pocket holding the carnation.

"Did you forget how to talk? Or do you always go silent when you see girls all dressed up? You're rocking that tux."

I couldn't stop myself from smiling."Thank you. Your look radiant in that dress."

I picked up two clear plastic cups, filling them up halfway with lemonade. She took one of the cups off the table. The song ended, as the lights dimmed down. A white spotlight moved around the room before stopping on the doorway across the room. The trumpets playing in the background where a little dramatic for my taste.

The DJ's low voice filled the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I present to you the lady of the party. The show stopping Claire Lyssa Evans!"

Claire entered the room, in a white beaded strapless gown. Everyone's eyes were on her. She swept her ponytail to the side, flashing a wide smile to us. As she approached the stage, the spotlight was cut off. Her father had suddenly been standing on stage next to her, holding a microphone. I took a swig of my lemonade while he was tapping it.

"I'd like to thank everyone for being here tonight. I've watched Claire develop into a beautiful, responsible young woman. She even took enough initiative to live in an apartment with her brother, who couldn't show up for some reason."

He handed the microphone to Claire. Just when I thought we could resume and join the party, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Good evening my wonderful guests. I'm grateful for my family and friends, Sabrina and Harvey. They're the wild cards who inspired the decor. Enjoy the party, everyone!"

She set the microphone back on it stood near the turntables. The music started playing right after she stepped off the stage. Sabrina went to a table closest to the crowd. I lingered on the Dance Floor, no the table she was standing at. She approached me, with her hands behind her back.

Laughter aside, Christina danced seductively. She lip synced the last chorus, while gyrating with her eyes closed. Claire came into my view, dancing closely to a guy in a white tux, with short fuchsia hair and a sandy brown complexion. I hoped he enjoyed being in Claire's company while her façade was still up.

He glanced at me, arching his eyebrow. I averted my eyes. Now, he knew I had watched him dance. Something about his somewhat large mysterious eyes were from earlier. I just couldn't put my finger on it. Until then, I can't start more drama with an attractive stranger who would most likely knock me out.

'Bury It' by Hayley Williams and CHVRCHES started playing. Christina clasped her hands with mine, moving them side-to-side and lip-syncing the lyrics to me. Sabrina danced behind her, laughing. I cracked a smile and twirled her around.

During the second verse, all three of us were dancing in a small puddle. At the time, I thought that I was untouchable in safe. As though I had no huge predicament to deal with. I considered staying here all night just to avoid whatever me and Sabrina can be subjected to later on. But we had to face that eventually. When the song ended the music shut off and the black curtains on stage opened on their own.

An auburn haired woman in a black corset dress on the center of the stage. She held a microphone in front of her lips, pressing a button on the front of it. Everyone faced the stage, only whispering amongst themselves.

The woman tapped two fingers on the top of the microphone. "Good evening, everyone! I'm sorry I didn't RSVP, I just wanted my arrival to be a surprise. Claire, you are as beautiful now as you were as a little tyke. Happy belated birthday."

The curtains closed on their own and the music turned back on. Everyone went back to dancing. Are these people going to pretend they hadn't heard a strange woman talk to Claire like she knew her already? How did she end up here if she wasn't invited?

I attempted to push that to the back of my mind. That woman was Claire's problem, not mine. Christina and Sabrina's smiles returned as we continued dancing. Someone in a red cloak hurried past us and the spot where Claire and her new friend were no longer standing.

We sat down at the table where Sabrina left our drinks. I chugged the lemonade and went back to the drinks table. While I was refilling my cup, Claire and her new friend showed up. She scowled at him, holding a plate of eclairs. His back had been turned, so I couldn't see his reaction.

"Don't you think you're blowing everything out of proportion? You broke their plates and threw your drink at a waitress."

She rolled her eyes. "My plan didn't work, and that Elfreda chick had it coming. She mocked me and cackled with her sex fearing Druid friend."

He rubbed his temples and put his hands on his hips. I can't believe I've ever been friends with Claire, when she's a childish snake. Who the hell breaks expensive plates over someone laughing at them? Of course, she had to take responsibility for that! She couldn't expect her dad to bail her out of everything forever.

"Again, it's not the end of the world. And Melanie is not afraid of sex. She's asexual. We already talked about this, and I think we should stop talking for awhile. You seem unbelievably malignant and close-minded." He said in a strained voice.

He walked past me with a frown on his face. Claire stood there biting off a piece of her ladyfinger violently. I would give her sympathy if she didn't try to mess with my dad's guests and hurt Sabrina. I put some cheesecakes and pigs in a blanket on a small plate, holding back laughter.

He headed for the table Christina and Sabrina were sitting at. The minute I sat down, he smelled in my direction. Christina look down at something in her open white clutch, whistling. Sabrina stared right at the both of us, smiling.

"Hey. Your friend told me that Claire sabotages yourself and other people. I can help you defend yourselves against her. Take her down in case she pulls something." He explained.

Well, we do need someone to back us up against Claire in case she overpowers that somehow. This guy might have resources that we don't, since he might not be a wizard. SM Pandora's box under the bed back in Joe and Claire's hotel room. I wanted to use it to trap Claire but it somehow disappeared while I was searching for shoes. Sabrina cleared her throat.

"Aloe is staying in the suite next to Claire's. If something goes wrong, he'll swoop in to help us."

"I'm Harvey, by the way. What made you come over here?"

He cracked his knuckles. "Stun her. You know, make her lose consciousness and set you guys free."

That sounded like a clever idea. He could sneak in while her back is turned. Good wouldn't he have to hit her over the head with something to do so? One look at the black pentagram with a diamond in the center just screamed 'wicca'. Pretty soon, I remembered seeing clear having lunch with him at Hecate key and walking down the halls with girl resembling him at Medea Heights College. The reason she never hung with him without looking over her shoulder or wearing shades and a trench coat was beyond me.

What is it about him that urges her to look over her shoulder? It could be the fact that he's a warlock because the mayor is one. It had to be about something that didn't sit well with her glamorous life. I needed to find out what that was.

"Great. We'll both text you when something goes down or scream," I suggested. "Sound like a plan?"

I popped a pig in a blanket in my mouth, leaning back on the chair. Aloe touched his pendant and sat down on the seat next to mine, looking between me and Sabrina. A devious smile grew on his face.

"Yeah. We could have Christina wait in the other room with me to watch you guys via crystal ball. Now, do you want to talk about Claire's mom being on stage or no?"