Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 07:49:50 -0500 From: Words from the Monastery Subject: SUB: VDC: Magic of the Night (short story) The 1998 WRITERs' Valentine's Day Contest Remember, save your critiques please and send you entries to Michelle and me not the list for the contest. ***** Magic of the Night "That's so wild. I still can't believe you're going with him," April said, her voice teetering halfway between a giggle and pure astonishment. "Why not? He's nice enough, and you've got to admit he's cute." "Sure, Nat. He's nice, he's cute, and he's weird." "You don't know anything about him," Natalie answered. "I know that he wears black all the time, and that he calls himself all those weird names." "He's a writer, and those are his pen names. Besides that, artists are supposed to be a little eccentric." "I bet that's the same word he uses for it, isn't it? Let me tell you Nat, I sit next to him in English. The things he writes, the way he acts, he's not 'eccentric', he's just plain crazy." "He's not crazy, and he's not weird. He just has character." "Well, so does my leather jacket, but I'm not going to wear it to the prom." "Look, I know what you think of him April, but he's not a bad guy. Besides that, thanks to Brad, Drew seems to be the only guy in school that doesn't think I'm a psycho-bitch." "Well, you did go a little over the top with Brad." "A little over the top? He was screwing everybody in town." "Well, you know how men are. If they can't get it from you, they have to get it somewhere." "Maybe the kind of men you date." "Look, Nat, I'm just trying to help you out. I think you're making a big mistake by going with Drew. He's strange, and you don't know anything about him. He could be some kind of sicko. If you want to go with him, I hope you guys have a great time. I'm just worried. He gives me the creeps." "Everyone that moves into this town gives you the creeps, April. Remember when the new people took over the funeral home last year? How you swore their daughter was a witch and slept in a coffin in the basement?" April looked sheepishly at the ground. It had turned out the girl's father was a Baptist preacher, and she was one of the biggest "bible-toters" in the school. April nodded slightly, and Natalie, satisfied, continued. "This is my senior prom. I'm not skipping it, and I'm not going by myself. Drew seems to be the only guy in school that wants to take me. I'm going with him, and I'm going to enjoy myself." "Okay, okay," April answered. "But if he is a sicko, don't say I didn't try to warn you." Natalie let out a long sigh and rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm going to class now, and I'm going to the prom with Drew Friday. This discussion is over, and if you bring it up in front of him, I really will turn into a psycho-bitch." * * * When the doorbell rang, Natalie checked everything one more time in the mirror and started downstairs. When she reached the bottom, Drew was chatting with her mother. That was the easy part, he still had to win approval from her father. Natalie's mother led him into the living room, and her father rose from the sofa and extended a hand. Her father nodded at the firm grip, but threw a withering glance at the small ponytail gathered at the nape of his neck. At least Drew had taken his earring out, Natalie thought. As she watched the scene play out, the two men measuring each other up, Natalie thought Drew looked the part of a valiant knight, who had just stumbled into the den of a grumpy, covetous dragon. This particular dragon, she knew, would do anything to protect his "treasure". If she hadn't been so tense, she would have giggled at the thought. That was just the kind of thing Drew would dream up. Finally, the dragon in question sat back on its haunches and spoke. "So, Drew, how long have you been in town?" her father asked. "Just a few months. My dad took a job with the oil company, and we moved from New Orleans." "Well, how do you like it here?" "So far, everything's going well. I've settled into school and learned the routine. There's not as much to do here as there is back home, but you also don't have to worry about being mugged." Natalie's father smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. She could tell he didn't like Drew, and that put her on edge. She hoped he didn't cause a scene. "So, speaking of school, have you got any plans in that direction?" "I've talked to a couple of colleges, but I haven't made a decision yet. My GPA is good, so I should be able to go just about anywhere I want." That at least brought a sincere smile to her father's lips. "So, what are you planning to do with your life?" "I'm a writer." The smile vanished. "A writer, huh? So what kind of money do 'writers' make these days?" "Not a lot to tell you the truth. I've published a few things already, but I'm going into public relations as a backup plan." "So, you're just going to do this writing thing as a hobby and to make a little extra money?" Drew opened his mouth to explain that he was very serious about writing, but he noticed Natalie's tension. Relenting, he nodded meekly. It wouldn't do any good to continue this verbal jousting anyway. "Well, I see. I want you to be very careful with my daughter tonight. I want you two to have fun, but no drinking, and have her home by no later than 1 a.m." Natalie's father pinned Drew with a look that spoke volumes about the other things that were not to happen, either. He nodded his understanding. "Yes, sir." "Good. Glad we understand each other. Now have a good time." "You two have fun," her mother added as they headed out the door. Once they were outside, Natalie let out a small sigh. "You handled that pretty well," she said. "He doesn't like me very much." "No, but he doesn't hate you, and that's a good sign." * * * A shimmering sign above the door announced the theme of the event, "The Magic of the Night". The two couples entered, pausing to take in the decor. The room was dark, mostly black, with scattered silver moons and stars hanging from the roof. The band was playing a slow song that somehow seemed entirely appropriate to the theme, and small slivers of white light played off the cardboard constellations. April broke their reverie with her appraisal. "Why couldn't they pick something happier? This is kind of spooky." "I like it," Drew said, lost in his own thoughts as he surveyed the room before them. "He would," April whispered, earning her a sharp jab in the ribs from Natalie. They picked a table near the edge of the dance floor, and Drew pulled a chair out for Natalie, motioning gallantly for her to take a seat. April glared had her friend, when Tim merely flopped himself down in a chair, leaving her to find her own seat. Natalie returned the glare with a smug smile. "Would you like something to drink?" Drew offered. Natalie nodded, taking time to throw another satisfied grin across the table. April looked questioningly to her date, who took no notice. He was too busy watching another girl out on the floor. He was April's typical man, and too much like the ones Natalie was used to dating. There was probably only one reason he had agreed to this. "Could I get you one, too?" Drew asked April, casting a slight look of disdain to her date. She nodded, and turned a cold glare on Natalie, who only shrugged. Drew returned with three glasses of punch and took a seat adjacent to Tim at the round table. He sat listening disinterestedly as April's date went on about his accomplishments. Despite the fact the football team didn't win a game all season, he seemed to have made quite a number of spectacular plays. Natalie didn't bother to point out that most of them were in the fourth quarter against the other team's third string. When Tim finally tired of talking about himself, which took a while, he turned a glance on Drew. "So, what about you, Drew?" "What about me?" "Well, do you play any sports?" "No. I'm sorry to say that I'm not athletically inclined." "One of them, huh?" Tim said, giving Drew an insulting look. Natalie held her breath, but Drew only shrugged and took another sip of his punch. A moment later he rose and turned to her. "Would you like to dance?" When she agreed, he held out a gentlemanly arm to help her to her feet and escorted her onto the floor. April watched them go and turned back to her date. "Well?" "Well, what?" "Aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Tim shrugged and stood up. "Sure, why not?" April waited for him to help her up and take her arm, but when she looked up he was standing impatiently at the edge of the dance floor waiting. Sighing she pulled herself up. She was beginning to understand what Natalie saw in Drew. As they swayed across the floor, Natalie gazed up at the stars hanging overhead. Despite what April said, she thought it was quite an appropriate setting. The lights flickering off the decorations did seem to hint at a kind of magic, and the air between her and Drew was crackling with it. She looked into Drew's eyes, and there she found another kind of magic altogether. He was exactly the kind of guy she had always dreamed of. He was kind and sensitive with a respect for women. Let the feminists have their total equality, she wanted a man that opened doors for her and pulled out her chair. She wanted the handsome prince from the fairy tales. Looking into those eyes, she could almost believe she had found him. In those eyes, the dark blue of the night sky, she saw her own heavenly bodies and the cardboard cutouts, and even the real moon and stars themselves paled in comparison. She fell into those dark pools, immersing herself in their power. Drew smiled, a heart-melting smile if ever there was one, and their seemed to be a tingle of electricity flowing between them as they dipped and swayed. She had never felt such pure elation in her life. When the song ended, Drew led her back over to the table and offered to get her another glass of punch. As she watched him walk across the room, she realized it was almost painful now to be without him. It was silly, she knew. He was right there in plain sight, just across the room, but she was worried that he wouldn't come back. When he pick his way through the revelers and return to her side, she clasped his hand firmly. She smiled at the comforting feel, and he returned that smile warmly. Every dance of the night was the same for Natalie. A feeling of ecstasy when she was in his arms, and a feeling of longing when they were apart. He danced with April once, and she became insanely jealous, clasping his hand in a death grip when he returned to the table. Several times she told herself she was letting her fantasies get the best of her. She hardly knew Drew, how could she have such strong feelings for him? It was impossible. When the announcement came just before midnight that the band was about to begin the final song, Natalie felt a sense of loss. She didn't want this night to be over. It had been perfect. Her heart began to sink as they headed toward the exit, away from the moons and the magic of this moment. She feared it would never come again. As they left, April and Natalie walked ahead, whispering to themselves, with Tim and Drew following. "Well, it's time to get back to the old hotel room, and get down to what this night is all about," Tim said with a sly look to Drew. "Bet you can't wait to get out of that monkey suit and get down to business, huh?" Drew stopped in mid-stride and turned to the bigger man. Natalie and April turned when they sensed the tension behind them. "You will respect these ladies," Drew said. "Ha. Ladies," Tim scoffed and motioned as if to brush him off. "You will show them proper respect," Drew said again, this time through gritted teeth. "And if I don't? What are you going to do about it, pretty boy?" "If you don't, I'll teach you some manners." Natalie placed a hand on Drew's arm, but he shrugged it off, staring into the eyes of the larger man, waiting on a move. Tim clenched a fist, and Drew held up a hand. "I'd rather not embarrass you in front of our companions." "Fine by me. Why don't we just step over here behind the building. That is, if you've got the balls." Tim nodded. "And I'll also teach you to mind your mouth around ladies." Then he turned to the two women. "If you'll excuse us, ladies, I don't believe this will take long." Natalie bit her bottom lip and looked to April. She was incredibly excited, and also scared stiff. She thought of her comparison to the valiant knight earlier, and it seemed even more appropriate now, the chivalrous warrior fighting to protect his lady's honor. It thrilled her, but at the same time, she feared this dragon might be just a little too big. April put a hand to her shoulder, seeing the distress in her friend's eyes. For all that she had tried to get Natalie not to go with Drew, she now knew her friend had been right. She hated to see such a lovely night end this way for Natalie. She brightened a few minutes later when Drew strode around the corner, apparently unharmed. Tim followed at a distance, and instead of coming to meet the group, he turned and went the other way. As he approached, Natalie removed her garter, and staying true to her fantasy, presented her champion with a souvenir. Then she hugged him close as April gaped at her date slinking away across the parking lot. Drew pulled away from Natalie and turned to her friend. "I'm sorry that you were forced to spend this night in the company of that cretin," he said. "I hope you will accept my offer of a ride home." April nodded mutely, still not believing what she had seen. "I was sure he'd kill you. What did you do?" Natalie finally asked as they made their way to the car. "Oh, I just used a little trick I know," Drew answered with a wink. * * * After they took April home, Drew turned the car and headed toward the city limits, up into the hills. "Shouldn't you be getting me home?" Natalie asked a little nervously. "I mean it's after midnight, and I know my dad. If I'm not there at 1:01, he'll come looking for me." "We've got time," Drew answered with a smile. "I just want to show you something." "What?" "It's a place, a special place. I go there to think a lot, and I do a lot of my writing there as well. Don't worry, I'll get you home in plenty of time." Even without the reassurance, Natalie wouldn't have argued. When the turned onto the old highway, though, she had doubts. This led up into the hills above the lake. Although she'd never been up here on a date herself, it was a favorite spot for kids in school to make out. "Um. I really don't know if we should be up here. I mean, I like you, but...." Drew smiled and lay a reassuring hand on her arm. "Don't worry, Nat. Your honor is safe with me." His use of the pet name melted any resolve she might have had, and she was a little surprised to find that she actually believed him. When they got to the dirt road where other kids usually turned off, he continued on the highway, higher into the hills. "Shouldn't you have turned back there?" "Absolutely not. That place is only used for one thing. Where we're going is much better, much cleaner." Even though Natalie knew she should be worried, she couldn't shake that giddy feeling that had gripped her all night. Whatever it was Drew wanted to show her, she also wanted to see. They turned off on a small road, really no more than a trail that wound it's way up into the pines. When the road narrowed to a point that the car was too large to pass, Drew stopped. "It's right up there," he said. "We'll have to walk the rest of the way." Again, Natalie knew she should stay in the car. He could be planning to do anything this far out in the woods, but when he opened the door, she found herself getting out. She looped her arm around his and walked down the narrowing trail with him. When they had walked about a hundred yards, he turned to her and smiled. "Look down," he said. She did, and then lunged for him, getting a death grip around his neck. She looked back to the sheer drop-off about ten feet behind them. They were standing on thin air. "Wha... How??" "Don't worry, you're safe," Drew said. "It's just another one of those tricks I know." They began to float slowly toward the bottom of the drop. Despite the queasy feeling Natalie was getting, she couldn't resist looking down. The couple was floating down into a small grove of oak that nestled between the lake and the drop. "Where are we going?" she asked again. "I told you. It's a special place." When they reached the ground, the pair picked their way through the grove, emerging on the bank of the lake. Natalie looked around, and caught her breath. There was a small town sitting on the edge of the water about a half mile from them. "Where did that come from?" "It's been there as long as I can remember," he said. "That is my home. Welcome to Halley." Natalie looked around and began to notice the other differences. The trees were close enough to the oaks she knew, but there were subtle differences. Even the small birds and animals that skittered through the silent forest differed from those she was familiar with. Drew extended his arm again, and she took it tentatively and followed him toward the town. Several hundred yards from the small buildings that marked the edge of the village, Drew called a halt. He turned and stared at her for a long time before shaking his head. "I cannot do this," he muttered. He reached up and put a gentle hand to her forehead, then he drew it down across her eyes. The giddy feeling that had been with Natalie all night suddenly disappeared. It was replaced by excitement and a hint of fear. What was she doing out here? Why had she let him bring her out here in the middle of nowhere? "Drew...?" "No. My name is Killian Druce, and I am a wizard of the second order." "That's just your pen name..." "I'm sorry Nat...Natalie. I fear I have deceived you. Indeed, I have deceived you in more ways than one, for I brought you here under an enchantment. I find I lack the courage of my convictions, though, and I cannot go through with this." "Go through with what?" Killian sighed. "I came to your world to seek a bride," he began. "As a wizard, I am bound to pass on the gift, to ensure that it doesn't die out. It is required that a wizard of the second order have a partner before attaining the first order. I am to ascend to the first order in two more months, and I have only that long to find my mate." She stared in disbelief. "But, if that's true, why come to me?" "Perhaps it's because I'm a dreamer," he answered. "I sought the perfect spouse. Someone who was good at heart, kind and loving. All of the women I've met with those qualities in this world fear me for what I am, the power that I possess. The women who are interested in marrying a wizard only want that power." "But why me?" "You fulfill all the requirements, and you are also beautiful. You are more than I could ever hope for, and that perhaps is also the reason that I couldn't carry out my plans. "I had planned to bring you here and keep you under the enchantment as my wife. A fellow wizard, and very good friend, found her husband in that way. They are happy together, but I don't think I could find happiness in such an arrangement. If you stay with me, it must be of your own free will, or else I fear I will have destroyed what it is that I desire about you." Natalie looked again into his eyes. This time they were pleading. They still enchanted her, and she looked away, fearing she was being trapped in another spell. Killian fell to his knees and took her hand. "No, milady. I swear to you I will never again touch you with my power. Whatever your decision, it will be yours alone." There was nothing she desired more than to stay here and live out her life with this man. She opened her mouth to speak the words, but couldn't. What was holding them back? She had found a man more perfect than those in her dreams. Why couldn't she say the damned words? But she knew why. He had deceived her and brought her here under an enchantment. How could she trust a man who had done those things? Natalie looked again into those deep, blue eyes. She remembered the things he had done, the things he had said this night, and she longed to tell him yes. But how many of those things had been the enchantment, and how many of those things had been true? The words formed in her throat, but couldn't pass her lips. "I'm sorry, I can't," she gasped and turned away from him. In tears, she tore her hand from his grip and fled back to the sheltering trees. There she sat on a log and sobbed. Soon, she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She shrugged away from it, but he gripped her again, more insistently. "Understand that I must find a bride soon. As much as I would like to, if you refuse, I cannot make the offer again. Know that if you accept me, I will treat you like a queen. You will want for nothing, least of all love." She turned and looked up into his face. When she met his eyes this time, it was not the deep blue she noticed, but the blood red lines which crackled through them and the silver glint of tears barely held back. Her resolve almost faltered, and she tore her gaze away from him, reminding herself that he had lied to her. "I cannot." "I understand," he said. "In my fondest dreams you accepted me and enfolded me in your love. Unfortunately, our dreams do not always come true. "Come, I will return you to your rightful place." He put a gentle, supporting hand under her arm and helped her to her feet. As they walked back through the grove, Natalie soaked in the sounds and scents of this place. It was much like her own world, but clearer, crisper. There were no traces of the factory or automobile emissions here, only clean things. It would be a wonderful place to live, she thought. They reached the clearing where they had first landed, and Killian called her to a halt. She turned and met his eyes one more time, for the last time she was sure. Part of her wanted him to put her under the enchantment and take her as his bride, but he did not. "Will I ever be able to return here?" she asked. "No, I'm afraid not." Natalie nodded. She had expected the answer. "I already know your answer, but I'd like to ask once more. Will you reconsider?" Natalie thought on it again and shook her head slightly. Her heart screamed out, trying to show her what she was giving up. Her head showed her only his lies and deceit. Her head won. "No, I can't. I'm sorry." "As am I, milady. Now, I will return you to your world, and I wish for you lady... Nat, that you find whatever it is that you seek, and the happiness that you deserve. I only wish that I could have been the one to give you those things." Natalie looked up again, and found herself staring at her front door. Killian was gone. She checked her watch, 12:45, true to his word, he had gotten her home on time. Why couldn't he have been so honest in everything? As she stood, staring at the brass lion-head knocker on the door, she saw another pair of eyes, enchanting eyes. The full weight of the night hit her, and she sat down hard on the concrete steps, sobbing. What had she just done? She had been given a chance at happiness and passed it up. Despite the deception, Killian was still the most perfect man, Natalie had ever met, and likely would meet. And what had she done to him? She remembered the tears in his eyes, barely restrained. Had she been his last chance at happiness as well? What would he do now if he must have a wife within two months? Would he be stuck with one of those power-hungry women he had spoken of. She couldn't bear the thought of him with someone like that. She called for him, wanting to take back her words, but as she expected, he did not answer. The chance, and the magic were gone. She sat there for a moment longer, trying to compose herself before opening the door. Her father was sitting in the living room awaiting her arrival. "Did you two have fun?" he asked. "Yeah, it was great," Natalie answered, trying to sound enthusiastic. "What happened to Drew?" he asked suspiciously. "I didn't see or hear you drive up." "He just dropped me off at the curb. He had to get home himself. His parents are pretty strict about curfews, too." "Glad to hear it. At least he won't be keeping you out at all hours of the night." "I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Natalie answered, fighting back the tears that stung here eyes. "I don't think we'll ever see him again."