Chapter 1: On the Road

By: A Midsummer Night’s Dreamer
The first chapter in cooperation with my good friend, Hajira A.

“Eric, are you sure you told Blaise to meet us over here?” Thea Harman asked her boyfriend and soulmate, Eric Ross, for the third time in five minutes.

“Thea, relax. She said she’d be here, you know Blaise, she has a completely new way of defining ‘fashionably late’.” Eric tried to reassure her, although it seemed as if he was trying to convince himself rather than Thea. Blaise and Thea were cousins, and both of them were born witches. They were the last few descendents of Hellewise, ancestress of all witches. Blaise had been sent to the Convent a week after Thea had been given the Cup of Lethe, which Thea had never consumed, thanks to Blaise’s quick-witted thinking.   Before Blaise had left, Thea had practically begged her to treat humans a little better than her usual way—as if they were disposable puppets. However, Thea doubted if Blaise would ever uphold the promise as well as she said she would.

As they looked down the never-ending street, Thea thought about her life after the trial. She hadn’t forgotten her teachings, her heritage, or lost any of her memories, but she was forced to leave her Circle friends, her Grandmother and her cousin, Blaise. Not that she regretted her decision with Eric; being with your soulmate was the ultimate happiness. It was a feeling of contentment like no other; still, sometimes she wished things would go back to the way they were...

“What are you two doing standing here like a couple of idiots for sale?” Thea grimaced at the shrilling voice and turned around, there was Blaise, standing and looking fashionably beautiful as ever, with her mane of dark hair tumbling down to her waist like black waterfall and smoldering gray eyes. It was no wonder that boys fell head over heels when she walked past them.  Blaise was one of those people who gave “drop dead gorgeous” a completely literal meaning.

“Hello Blaise, and nice to see you too.” Thea said dryly. And Eric, the ever faithful, nodded and said a simple “Hello”, which made Blaise send death glares his way. Eric was one of the few people who could withstand Blaise’s aphrodisiac charm and he was very lucky that he was still alive today.

The three of them got into the silver convertible that came with Blaise, “From a new admirer?” Eric asked Blaise with a grin, and Thea raised her eyebrow at her cousin disapprovingly. “Relax, it’s just a present from a buddy, and no, he’s not in any mental asylums, yet.” Blaise said with the face of an angel. “A buddy?” Thea said incredulously, “and what do you mean yet? Please don’t get creative Blaise, you promised.” And she emphasized on the word “promised”. However Blaise ignored her as usual and pretended to concentrate on the map.

Eric was driving, while Blaise gave him the directions. They were going to Las Vegas, for a meeting of Circle Daybreak. “So where’re we meeting this time?” asked Thea from the backseat, her voice still holding a trace of grudge against Blaise for making her sit there. “At the high-and-mighty Night Lord’s, where else?” Blaise answered sarcastically while giving her a look that said ‘it’s so obvious’.

“Oh, did Thierry and Hannah come back from Medicine Rock yet?” Eric asked with sudden interest.

“Yeah, though I wish they hadn’t. Thierry’s going to freak when he sees the credit card bills.” Blaise said with a smirk.

“What credit card bills?” Thea asked curiously.

“You mean, you don’t know, our royal Prince has been seriously culture deprived, and he’s trying to make up for the last sixteen years.” Blaise paused, and then added, “Just last week he decided to learn to play every musical instrument in the Woodwind section.”

“Oh, God. Are you telling me that there’s a stash of violins in the mansion right now?  Thea paused and then added more quietly, “I hope I get a sound-proofed room.”

“Actually, I think they voted to put Delos into a sound-proofed room.” Blaise replied with a smirk.

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They’d been driving for almost an hour now, after a short stop at the Gas Station, they went on, Blaise had turned her irresistible charm on the poor Bus Boy and they’d gotten 10 liters of gas plus his phone number for free.

“Blaise, are you really going to call him?” Eric, paused and then added, “I feel sorry for the poor guy.”

“Yeah, so do I, maybe on our way back, we could stop again and get more gas for free.” Blaise said suggestively.

“No, you won’t.” Thea said firmly and then added, “Because you’re not going to have a car anymore, I’m going to ask someone to return the car to your buddy.” Thea said with conviction in her tone.

“Don’t be silly, and tell me something, do you get cars like this every day, moreover for free, Hello, I think not. And, besides if you do that, we’ll have to take the bus home, which I most certainly don’t want to.” Blaise said with a hint of irritation in her voice.

“We’ll see.” Thea said quietly.

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“I’m starving.” Blaise said suddenly, a few hours later. “So am I.” Thea admitted.  “Alright, we stop at the next gas station, refuel, have lunch and then Blaise you’re driving.” Eric said. “No, she isn’t, if she drives, either we’re gonna get ourselves killed or be in jail with in the first hour. So I vote, that I should be the one to drive.” Thea said in a determined tone. “Yeah, you’re right.” Eric agreed.

“WHAT, When did this become Thea and Eric’s car, I thought it was Blaise’s car, and nobody’s driving, I’m the only one’s who’s driving.” Blaise said in an angry tone.

“No, you’re not going to drive, I mean it Blaise, or maybe you’ve forgotten the one time you did drive, and nearly gotten the both of us killed, I’m sorry Blaise but you’re not driving. If you do drive, I’m going to make sure of that as soon as we reach Vegas; the car goes back the way it came. It’s either the car or you’re not driving; so make your choice and it better be a good one.” Thea said.

“Alright, fine!” Blaise said dejectedly and then added more quietly, “I should have known better than to let the either of you drive.”

A few minutes later, they came upon a McDonalds, had lunch and were back on their way before they knew it.

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A little Spoiler for the next chapter:

It was late night before they reached the mansion. Nilsson, a young CIA look-alike, opened the door; he told them that everyone had arrived except for James, Poppy and her brother, Phil.

Blaise and James were cousins and had known each other since they were kids, she’d met Poppy once or twice but she’d never seen or met Phil. And judging from what I heard about him, thought Thea, it’s going to be a long weekend.