Chapter 3: The Meeting Part 1

By: A Midsummer Night’s Dreamer

The mansion was still quiet at seven o’clock in the morning, most of the residents are still asleep and those that are awake tried to make as less noise as possible.

Of course, this is only applied to those that have the ability to be ashamed of themselves.

“So Quinn, where’s that soulmate of yours?” Ash lounged on the sofa in the living room, holding a steaming cup of black coffee, the stereo beside him blaring out some kind of Rap music.

“Out, said she need to get some exercises before her limbs permanently de-evolve from lazing around in the house.” Quinn leaned against the doorframe, “You know, I’m quite surprised that you’re up this early, didn’t you used to sleep in until noon?”

“Sorry, that only happens if I went to sleep the night before, which I didn’t.” Ash yawned, then sipped his coffee.

“Really? I didn’t know there was a Nightworld club in the middle of the dessert.” Quinn raised one eyebrow and watch as Ash made a face at the coffee. “I’d be careful if I were you, that’s some powerful stuff there, you’ll be jumping on your bed in no time.”

“Highly unlikely, besides, I wasn’t partying, I was trying to get some sleep but then I thought of Mare, and, well…” Ash trailed off.

Quinn grinned, “A case of insomnia, well! Never thought I’d see the day when Ash Redfern stayed up all night thinking about a girl, you must be getting old.”

“Touché, Quinn. I knew you’d understand.” Ash replied sarcastically, “You do know who’s the real old geezer here, don’t you?”

“Well, if you have to get all technical about years…” Quinn decided against a smart comeback, this is way too early in the morning to start an argument, and settled instead to sympathetically pat Ash on the back, “Look man, if you miss her, why don’t you just call? I’m sure she would love to hear from you.”

“Maybe, but then again, there’s the promise that I would redeem myself first before meeting her.” Ash set the now cooled drink on the coffee table and stood up, stretching. “I think I’ll go take a nap now, listening to you talk is making me tired.” He left the room before Quinn could come up with a witty remark.

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Quinn shook his head, sometimes I don’t know why I bother, the blaring stereo gave a funny clicking sound before it died down, smoke rising from it. Quinn shrugged, reached over and unplugged the machine; he never did like Rap music anyway.

There were sounds in the kitchen, which meant someone else was up as well. Quinn strode through the living room and pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen.

And froze.

There was someone there all right. Someone with a green mask that covered the entire face except for the eyes and mouth, sitting at one of the stool beside the counter and was drinking something that smelled a lot like hot cocoa. This person was wearing a thick red bathrobe and his/her hair was wrapped in a white towel. No, Quinn decided, this had to be a girl, no self-respecting men in this house would be caught looking like that, even if it is seven o’clock in the morning.

The girl had obviously heard the sound of the door opening; she turned in her chair and looked in Quinn’s direction. Still holding the steaming cup of cocoa in her hand.

“Hello, Quinn.” She said.

Quinn recognized the voice, he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scream in shock, so he did neither, instead, he went to get himself a cup of cocoa and replied nonchalantly, “Good morning Blaise, I didn’t realize that it was Halloween already, though I must say, green is your colour.”

“Lay off, Quinn, I’m not in the mood. I didn’t have enough time to do my beauty treatment yesterday so I have to do it this morning.” Blaise yawned.

“Really? Whatever happened to the beauty that your swore was a hundred percent natural?” He just couldn’t resist teasing her.

Blaise gave him a sour look that would’ve killed any lesser man, then she got up and walked toward the door that leads into the hallway.

“You know, the next thing you’d find would probably be wrinkles on your forehead from frowning so much. Perhaps age had caught up with you.” Quinn commented.

“Oh, bite me.” Came her sharp reply from the other side of the door.

“Love to.” Quinn called after her.

“You know, if I didn’t know you so well, I’d swear that you were flirting with her.” A female’s voice sounded from behind him.

Quinn turned around, and there stood his soulmate, Rashel. Her long black hair was tied up into a ponytail and a thin layer of perspiration was on her forehead. She wore all black shirt and pants and brown hiking boots. Quinn smiled at her, “Good morning, kitten, how was your workout?”

“Dreadful,” Rashel returned the smile, “There really isn’t much danger out here in the middle of nowhere, unless you count the occasional hawks.” She walked forward and hugged Quinn. “Perhaps next time I should consider taking you along, at least you can spar with me.”

“And then I’d get knocked on the ground and tied with a rope, right?” Quinn grinned and held her tighter.

Rashel laughed, “You like it, admit it. Besides, there’re things I do to make up for it.” She kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Umm… that’s true. I think I’ll endure getting my ass kicked just for this.” Quinn’s hands slipped lower until they came to rest at her waist, pulling Rashel closer to him. To his surprise, Rashel pushed him away. “None of that now, I need to take a shower and eat something before I starve.”

“I’ll make you something, how about an omelet?” Quinn felt like he would do anything to keep Rashel here.

“That sounds good, you just go ahead and start on that, and I’ll go take a shower.” Rashel smirked and walked away.

Quinn groaned, and started towards the refrigerator, when am I going to learn to keep my mouth shut?

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Cold water splashed at her face, washing away the green facial mask. Blaise grabbed a face towel and started wiping her face dry, then she unwrapped the towel on her head and looked into the mirror.

The girl that looked back at her had milky-white skin and smoldering gray eyes that appeared to hold all the mysteries in the world. Dark curls of damp hair cascading around her face. Her lips were still bright red from the shower and her cheeks were rosy. Blaise smiled, she was, all in all, simply breathtaking. That Phil boy is going to get quite a surprise, she thought, lips curling up at the corner to form a tiny seductive grin. Now, what to wear?

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“I don’t understand why they’re not here yet,” Thea was saying to Hannah as Blaise came down the stairs. “They called in about an hour ago from the airport, it takes forty minutes at most to get here.”

“Not everyone’s as set on being on time as you are, Thea.” Blaise interrupted.

She was awarded with an annoyed look from her cousin, which immediately turned to shock, “Blaise, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU WEARING?” Thea said out loud and Hannah’s eyes widened slightly as she took in Blaise’s form.

“What?” Blaise looked at her choice of clothes. She was wearing a tight, thigh-length leather skirt with slits up one thigh and a simple dark red shirt that opened at the top two buttons, revealing an Isis bloodstone hanging from a delicate silver chain. She wore identical earrings and black ankle boots. Her shiny midnight hair flown free over her shoulders, still slightly damp because she didn’t have time to dry it properly. Light blue eye shadow lined her eyelids and the red lips were, well, still red, but with hint of shininess to them that told others it was only lip-gloss. Feeling smug with the stares that she’d been receiving from the people downstairs, Blaise smiled inwardly, yep, she definitely looked the part of the seductress.

“Blaise, we’re greeting people, not going to a rave club.” Thea reminded her.

“Well, you are the one that said that we should greet our guests properly. What do you want me to do, appear in a bathrobe with my facial mask on?” She replied. Quinn smirked at the last comment.

“Oh, all right, do whatever you like, just remember what you promised.” Thea gave her a meaningful look.

Everyone’s attention was turned to the door, and the voices that came from the other side of it. “I swear Phil, you get taller every time I see you.”

“They’re here!” Thea ran forward and turned the doorknob.

There were three people standing on the porch. One was a slight girl that looked no older than sixteen-year-old with coppery curls, bright green eyes and almost elfin features. The boy beside her was almost a head taller, with blond hair and identical green eyes, he had the kind of all-American good looks that would qualify as classically handsome in any place. Another boy stood behind them, he had silky brown hair, a subtle, intelligent face, and gray eyes that were alternately intense and cool. Right now he was watch the two in front of him talk with what looked like amusement in his eyes.

“Hi Poppy, hi James.” Thea grinned, interrupting their conversation.

“Hi, Thea! How are you?” Poppy hugged her without hesitation.

Thea was smiling, “I’m fine, thanks. This is must be your brother Phil, right?” she turned to the blond boy, “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Thea.”

Phil nodded, “Hi Thea, Poppy’s told me a lot about you.”

“Just Thea? I’m jealous.” Blaise said from behind, startling Thea.

“Of course not, Blaise, this is my brother, Phil. Phil, this is Blaise. She’s the other witch girl I told you about.” Poppy introduced the two.

Phil reached out a hand and said to Blaise, “Nice to meet you, Blaise.”

“Hello… Phil.” Blaise said in her most seductive voice and clasped the hand.

Blaise was used to boys staring at her, even drooling, she had that effect on people. In fact, she prized herself on be able to shock them with just her physical appearance. Nevertheless, being shocked was always used by authors as figurative speech in literatures, it wasn’t meant to happen literally.

Those authors obviously did not know what they were talking about.

As soon as their hands touched, Blaise felt like she was struck by lightening. She stared at Phil, and he stared back. Gray eyes meeting green ones, and everything had a hazy pink effect to it. Blaise blinked, tried to clear her mind, instead she just felt like she was falling, falling into endless brightness. No, wait, she’s not falling anymore, she’s floating, but not in water. She could feel someone else there as well, someone whose presence made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I know you! Her mind cried out, we know each other. She felt like she could stay here forever, Thea’d probably be thrilled to know that, a little voice said. Thea? Hey, wait a minute, I’m not suppose to be here, I was… in Thierry’s mansion… and… and shaking hands with that Phil guy… Blaise shook her head and jerked her hand back. She looked up to Phil, and saw that he was just as bewildered as she was. “Uhh… nice to meet you too.” She murmured and quickly stepped back.

Thea looked at her oddly, but decided to let it go, “So Phil, how about meeting the rest of the gang?” she pulled him towards the little group gathered near the stairs.