A Prophecy Fulfilled

Chapter Two

Vincent walked resolutely toward the edge of the forest back to the castle. He didn't want to return, he enjoyed the freedom he had outside of home. But he had drunk his fill, and couldn't be away any longer than one would usually expect for someone who was hunting. There were times he wished he had to fend for himself. When nobody expected him home on time, no overprotective parents. Living a life in the wilds probably wasn't so great in reality, but sometimes that was what Vincent really wished he had. But as it was, walking home would take some time anyway. Vincent still had some time to himself. Many times, Vincent wondered why his parents insisted on a continued guard to surround him day in and day out. He wasn't a child anymore, nearly a grown man. He could protect himself. How was he supposed to know anything about life or the world if he wasn't allowed to explore it?

A rustle in the trees woke Vincent from his reverie. He looked up to see leaves falling from the trees, and heard the rustling getting steadily louder. There was a huge thud as Lorenzo fell out of a tree and landed flat on his stomach. Lorenzo had been Vincent's best friend since childhood. Lorenzo grinned broadly, as if he'd pulled off the biggest prank of his life. He had always been one to play tricks and stir up trouble. His red hair stood on end almost as if it was full of static electricity, and his light blue eyes gleamed with triumph.

"And what exactly have you been up to?" Vincent smiled. He knew exactly what that smile meant, and couldn't help smiling himself.

Lorenzo kept on grinning.

"Just trying to keep trouble brewing for the Luminar coven." He said this with pride, as though there were nothing wrong. If the two covens hated each other so much, then there was nothing wrong with causing a little mischief around them, just so long as you didn't get caught. At least, that's what Lorenzo always thought.

"You know we try to keep away from them. What if they'd seen you?" Vincent pressed with concern.

"Ah, what's life without a little mischief? Don't you remember the trouble we used to get into?"

"That was around family and friends, not our enemies." Vincent pointed out. "What did you do this time?" he asked after a short pause.

"Just a little hunting in the Luminar territory. Wasn't seen once." Lorenzo's grin only broadened. Vincent thought that if his smile got any wider, Lorenzo's face would stretch completely out of proportion. Something else was going on that his friend wasn't telling him.

"Don't make a habit of it. You're likely to get caught eventually."

Vincent knew how his parents, the whole coven in fact, hated the Luminars. They were hardly mentioned without a degree of malice in King Stephen's voice. Vincent never did understand that hatred. How could they hate someone or people that Vincent himself had never seen? He usually agreed with that hatred whenever his parents mentioned it just to keep them happy, but he kept his real opinions to himself. Nevertheless, Vincent put the thought from his mind for the moment, laughed aloud, and continued walking with Lorenzo. His parents wouldn't mind his being later if they knew he was with someone they trusted.

"Guess what?" Lorenzo asked, his voice the constant reminder of happiness.

"I wouldn't know." Vincent answered. He had the distinct feeling that whatever his friend would say next, it would be whatever he'd neglected to tell him a moment ago.

"The Luminar coven is getting ready for their Midnight Ball."

"How do you know something like that?" Vincent questioned with some interest. Lorenzo knew that his friend was hooked.

"I was out hunting on the strip of land between territories a few days ago, and I saw two others from the Luminar coven coming up. So I jumped into a tree to keep out of sight. As they came closer, I was able to hear some of what they said, and they said something about The Midnight Ball they're having a couple weeks from now."

"And?" Vincent pressed, knowing what was coming.

"Imagine the trouble we could cause if we went!" Lorenzo's eyes glowed with the promise of more trouble to be made.

"You know I couldn't get there even if I wanted to. If Father heard anything about it, he would yell so loud the entire coven could hear him."

"Who said he had to know anything? Sneak out, Vince! It's been way too long since we've done anything together."

"You mean, too long since we've gotten into trouble together." Vincent corrected him.

"Same thing." Lorenzo said plainly.

"You think I could?" Vincent asked hopefully. As much as he hated to admit it, it had been a while since they had done anything together.

"Not only could you, you should! It would give you something to do."

"When is this ball again?" Vincent questioned, completely convinced that they could make it without any problem. It had always been apparent to Vincent that Lorenzo could make most people around him feel this way.

"In a couple of weeks. Sounded to me like they're gonna have it on Midsummer's Night."

Vincent grinned again, a touch of wicked mischief in his eyes as well. He had made up his mind to go. He had fooled his parents thousands of times just to have some privacy for a few measly hours. But could he fool his parents enough to an entire evening to himself? After a few silent minutes of thought, a flicker of anger appeared in his mind. For as long as he could remember, he was always trying to find time to himself. His parents were always so strict about a guard to protect him. Vincent wasn't a child anymore. Again, he was seventeen, and more than capable of taking care of himself. Other young men his age had more liberty than he had in his lifetime. Now he felt more than determined to go to the dance.

"Did you hear anything that would give us any clue as to how we disguise ourselves to get in there?" Vincent asked, serious now that he had made up his mind to go.

"That's the spirit! Anyway, I didn't, but I'll see if I can manage to eavesdrop anything more about it." Lorenzo said; a bright light in his eyes.

"Be careful then." Vincent warned.

Lorenzo only continued to smile as they went their separate ways, waving farewell.