Moondust (13 page)

She started to work her magic as we talked. I could feel
the tingles vibrating in the air and dancing over my skin. I stood as still as possible. The last thing I wanted was to make a sudden move and end up with neon green skin or a third nipple. “Your family has a weird sense of excitement,” I mumbled.

Her perky little nose wrinkled. “
I never really thought about it. So how are Austin and Tori handling your heritage?”

I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “
They’re adjusting, one more than the other, but I think we reached a turning point today.”

“Good, bec
ause the darkness on your soul—it’s doubled,” she informed stonily.

Sophie
—the bearer of bad news. My heart leaped into my throat. “Not entirely a surprise after what I did.” All that wishful thinking flushed down the drain.

“Stop fidgeting,” she scolded.

I frowned. My mind was whirling and she was worried about my posture? The only positive side I could see to this situation was that tonight I was going to do something about it. No more sitting on the couch with my head under the covers. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life shut up in my house, no matter how appealing that sounded right now.

“
Smile,” Sophie instructed.

I gave her a dry look, not exactly in a cheery moody.

She put a hand on her hip, shifting her weight. “I can’t work with scowl lines.”

Softening my lips, I
tipped the corners in a pathetic smile. “Happy,” I said between clenched teeth.

“Don’t stress. I know Gavin, and he will move Heaven and Earth to find a way to stop the darkness and
every witch who stands in his way.”

At what expense? And for how long? He could
n’t protect me 24-7, and I needed to stand on my own two feet—as a witch and as a young woman on the edge of adulthood. There wouldn’t always be someone to save me. Aunt Clara. Gavin. Lukas. My friends. Morgana. I never realized how many people I had that I cared about. I needed to do this for them. But most importantly for me.

A saucy grin spread over her soft pink lips. “My masterpiece
is complete. Gavin is so going to flip his lid. At least I’ll be able to see that.”

My heart stuttered.
I got the feeling that was a bad thing.

She put her hands on my shoulders and ordered me to close my eyes. Spinning me around
, I let her guide me. Then when we weren’t moving anymore, she said, “Okay, open them.”

I stood in front of
a full-length mirror. Starting from my toes, I was surprised to see these adorable black army booties on my feet. A sigh escaped my mouth, silently thanking Sophie for not making me trudge around in four-inch heels. This might not be so bad. My gaze tipped upward.

Then I saw the candy stripped thigh socks
with lace detail and I groaned. Above the top of socks was a bit of peek-a-boo flesh before the start of the barely there tutu black skirt.
Tutu?
The fun didn’t stop there. Hell no. A hot pink tank top hugged my skin with a black ripped shirt overlaid. It looked like Wolverine had taken a swipe at it. And if that wasn’t enough, there were lace gloves on my hands.

I blinked.

Was that me in the reflection?

It couldn’t be.
Good God. I looked like a…

A fre
aking anime with Barney-colored purple hair and gold eyes.

I gasped, running a hand over my face.
“Sophie,” I growled.

Chapter
18

I definitely didn’t look like Brianna Rafferty anymore. Snapping a quick photo of myself, I sent it to Tori and Austin. They would get a kick out of seeing a different side of me.

“What do you think?”
Sophie asked in a singsong voice.

I picked my jaw off the floor. “I think you are a mad genius.”

She stood behind me observing her handiwork. “That’s a compliment, right?”

“Sophie!” Gavin yelled from the other side the door. “What is taking so
—?”

He had opened the door, getting his first glimpse of the
new
me. His ocean-blue eyes darkened, caressing every each of my body, until they settled on mine in the mirror. My cheeks started to turn the color of my hot pink shirt. And then he simple said, “You’re not coming.”

I spun around
, meeting him face to face. “I did not just spend the last half hour having my entire look screwed with for nothing. I’m going. We discussed this.”

He crossed his arms and assumed his I’m-not-budging-stance.
“Yeah, that was before my sister decided to dress only half of you.”

I rolled my eyes.

Sophie snorted, throwing her hands in the air. “Please. You are just use to seeing her in jeans. Jealous much?”

I wasn’t sure if I should get in the middle, so I kind of stood in the center of the room all awkwardly.
I tried to shove my hands in my pockets, only to realize I wasn’t wearing pants.

He
cut Sophie a droll look. “You were supposed to disguise her not make her an invitation to every freak.”

So much for keeping my mouth shut.
“Can we just forget what I’m wearing? I mean seriously. I have purple hair. Sophie, why do I have grape Kool-Aid hair?”

She cracked a small smile and covered a snicker I swear I heard with a cough. “Trust me. No one will even think twice.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

“
Because my sister isn’t thinking straight,” Gavin said, quickly losing his patience and riling my irritation.

I brushed past Gavin without anot
her word.

“Bri, wait!
” he called, falling in step behind me.

“Smooth move,” I heard Sophie before I was out of earshot.

This was not how I envisioned my evening. What started out as a PJ, movie, and popcorn kind of night quickly turned into…I couldn’t even find the words to describe what was happening.

Regardless,
it was time to get this sideshow on the road. I rounded the stairs with him nipping at my heels. Gavin caught me before I could step outside, and by caught, I mean his arm snaked around my waist and hauled me up against him. “Just wait a minute, will you?”

It only took a heartbeat for me to
relax in his arms. I stared at the black band around his wrist, trying to avoid the tingles tiptoeing down my spine.

His voice tickled my ear.
“If we are going to do this, then we can’t go at odds with each other. The tension between us will be easily picked up, and the place we are going thrives on chaos.”

I knew that there were going to be a
variety witches there tonight able to do all kinds of magic I didn’t understand. He was right. I needed to chill out. “Are you done bossing me around?” I asked.

He released a heavy sigh. “For now.”

Good enough—
for now
, my thoughts echoed his words. I rested the back of my head on his chest. “I just want my life back,” I whispered.

He nipped at my ear.
“Then let’s go get it.”

The whole drive, I kept my eyes peeled for anyone suspicious. The problem was, my paranoia was getting the best of me and everyone looked suspicious at the moment. The car behind us must be tailing us, right? The little old lady walking her dog was a double agent, surely? I mean Jared could turn into a bird. I transformed into a class act hooker. So that meant no one could be trusted, not even the sweet grandmas. It didn’t matter what time it was, there were witches lurking everywhere and we were walking right into the heart of a coven.

However, the highlight of the trip into Wilmington was the little boy in the car next to me. He took one look at my colorful hair and stuck his tongue out at me. It made me laugh
releasing some of the tension lining my body.

But it returned in tenfold at the arrival of our destination. We had drove into the city and through some dicey neighbors. It occurred to me that for a Friday night, this part of town seemed eerily dead. I was used to the Riverfront with its boisterous boardwalk, tea tree lights,
and the constant music of the ocean.

Gavin
greeted me at the door, lacing his fingers with mine, and Jared flanked me on the other side. My two bodyguards—they were kind of an impressive sight. As we approached a small black building nestled between two larger ones, my pulse started hammering.

Gavin most have noticed the increase in my heart rate.
“There is still time to change your mind, Bri. Jared and I can handle this.”

I shook my head,
and kept my gaze straight before I lost my nerve. My boots clapped on the pavement as we approached a one-story building. It was almost invisible, overshadowed by the sheer size of the others, but I think that was the point. This was a sparse part of the city, off the main strip. On the metal door was a glowing light blue symbol that I knew was laced with enchanted ink. I didn’t have to be told that only those with magic running in their blood could enter. No bouncer necessary.

“
This is it?” I asked, clearly not awestruck. I had been anticipating something more intimidating, like creepy iron fences and gargoyle statues.

“
What were you expecting?” Gavin asked, amused at my scrunched face.

Jared was grinning like a total shithead, loving
every second of my unease. “A spooky castle with a dungeon and a dragon,” Jared supplied.

Gavin glanced around me, searing his brother with a glare.
“Jared, don’t be a dick.”

Jared rocked on his heels.
“It can’t be helped. It’s in my nature.”

I rolled my eyes, but he really wasn’t that far off, not that I was going to admit
. I had expected less ordinary. “Can we just go in already?” Being on the streets made me feel exposed.

Jared’s eyes twinkled. “Ladies first.” The door squeaked as he swung it open.

The magic inside me kicked up as I took in my surroundings. It wasn’t at all like I had imagined, just like the exterior. No black caldrons with steam brewing from them. No one was riding around on broomsticks or wearing velvet cloaks. It wasn’t dark, damp, and musty like an underground cave. I had been warned, but not prepared.

Eyes widening, I
stood eyeballing the hordes of people crammed into the main room. I had to hand it to Sophie; she knew what she was doing when she gave this wacky makeover. It looked like someone had vomited skittles. There were people, corrections there were witches scantly dress like me—with wild hair like me. Jared and Gavin were the ones who stood out in their jeans and rocker t-shirts. Jared might be beefier, but Gavin had a dark scowl that was more potent than any muscle could.

Looking around, i
t was literally a damn dance club.

Music blared and lights flashed throughout the industrial style
d room. Metal I-beams stretched across the ceiling, but it was the cages that caught my eye.

Color me surprised.

Jared grinned. “Normal is overrated.”

That’s just it. It wasn’t the oddity of the
people; it was that I had been here before. In a dream. A dream I had shared with Lukas during training. I bristled.

The hand around mine
tightened, and Gavin leaned closed to me, whispering in my ear “What is it? Shocked?”

That’s just it, I wasn’t. Not as much as I should have been, because of Lukas. What did that mean? Now wasn’t the time, but later, Lukas had plenty to answer for.
Not for a second did I think it was a co-winky-dink that he had brought me here. I shook my head.

Looking closer, I saw
little things at first glance I had missed—the shimmery glow that radiated off some of the witches—the occasional glimpse of swirling tattoos on bodies. Something furry brushed up against my legs, and my gaze dropped to the ground.

Yikes.
I jumped.

Jared snickered.
“Looks like you’ve got an admirer.”

Gavin frowned.

I had a feeling that was going to be the theme of the night. “Shifter?” I assumed. “A distinct cousin of yours?” I asked Jared.

Now it was Gavin’s turn to snicker. “Shall we?” he said, nodding to the room in front of us.

Jared put on his game face. “Let’s get this party started.”

“Why did I drag him along?”
Gavin mumbled, watching his brother weave into the mass of bodies on the dance floor.

“Because
he knows people who know people. Don’t worry. He knows that we are here for a purpose, right?”

“I wouldn’t count on it
.”

Our fingers were still interlocked as we m
eandering our way through the crowds, following behind Jared. Every few steps he gave a nod to someone he recognized or a charming grin to some girl. We reached the bar, and all I think was that I needed a drink—desperately.

“
Captain and coke,” I said to the bartender, sliding him my fake ID, the one Gavin had gotten me for my tattoo.

Both Jared and Gavin lifted their identical dark brows.

I stared back. “What?”

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Jared said, turning to the dude behind the bar with neon green spiky hair. There were dark shades covering his eyes.

“Coming right up. Anything for you handsome?” the bartender asked, winking at Gavin.

I couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping.

“No, thanks,” Gavin replied. Then he pinned Jared and I with a look, muttering, “Someone has to drive tonight.” He leaned back against the bar, as we waited for our drinks, which arrived alarmingly quick.

I swirled the drink with my straw
wondering if there was anything
extra
added, like some kind of magical juice, if you get my drift. My hands clasped around the iced glass. Bottoms up. I sucked down a huge gulp to both calm my nerves and rid the dryness that had settled in my mouth. The rum burned slightly as it coated my throat.

Gavin slid a hand to the small of my back, the corners of his mouth twitching.
“Slow down, hoss. I don’t want to have to carry you out of here.”

I tugged down the hem of my uber short shirt,
cursing Sophie under my breath. “One drink isn’t going to send me over the edge. Anyway, aren’t we supposed to be undercover?”

“You
—yes. Jared and I have been here before.” His brows were dark straight slashes above his serious eyes. “I am used to a more attack first, ask questions later approach, but with you by my side, I need to be more cautious.”

“You don’t need to change your tactics for me. I can hold my own.”

“If you get hurt…” He glanced away, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

This was a good time to chance to subject. “So what’s the plan?”

He blinked, and I tried not to be swept away by my surroundings, including the guy next to me. “We wait,” he said.

Not precisely the covert operation I’d expected.
“I’m going to need another drink,” I muttered.

Gavin’s
sharp eyes kept scanning the slew of witches, darting from one end of the room to the other. I couldn’t tear my gaze from him. Under disco lights, in a room filled with ribbons of magic, he never looked more ominous...or hot. Maybe it was the drink or because I loved him, but he I knew he was primed for trouble. “Are we looking for someone?” I asked, biting the end of my straw.

He didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Yeah. Our key into the backroom.”

Nothing good ever comes from the backroom of a place like this. “What does he look like?”

“
She
,” he corrected.

We were looking for a girl.
Peachy. I tried to bank the jealousy that crawled inside me. I failed.

“Don’t worry. She’s not my type.”
He reached up and smoothed my hair back off my face. “I miss your eyes,” he whispered and kissed the tip of my nose. He tucked me against his side, and his warmth was reassuring, diffusing my momentary lapse in security.

Sipping on my watered down drink,
I thought about the dream with Lukas and our dance, which was totally inappropriate considering I was snuggled up to my boyfriend, who was willing to put his life on the line for mine. Immediately I felt guilty and banished all thoughts of Lukas from my mind. I owed Gavin that respect, and I needed to keep a clear head in case things went south.