Chapter 24

Zach sat in his bedroom on Saturday night marveling at the week he had just had. Knight had continued his attack on both his body and his character, despite whatever Tuma had said to him, and he had only gotten through it, because of Lauren's words.

She constantly reminded him on their walks home together after training that he was worthy of attending the magical school and he had no reason to be ashamed of his magical heritage.

Despite her efforts to make him feel better the worst possible news came through on Thursday Tuma had called him down to his office in the magical wing to announce the council had finished their deliberations and had chosen Knight as his trainer and mentor.

Zach was none too happy about the MAGIC council's decision and when he told Tuma that he had just leaned forward behind his big desk in the principal's office and said, "Zach the council's decisions are final and not up for debate."

For the remaining days Zach continued to attend the most astonishing magical classes, and by the end of the week, he could find his way around on his own, and by week's end his classes had been determined too. Luckily he'd gotten many of his favorite's including The Study of Ancient Magical Scrolls.

He'd whooped when he read it on the list.  He had know from the first time he'd entered the ancient library what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He just hoped he survived conscription, because afterward, he'd like very much to work in the Library with Clio if she'd have him.

He had also continued to hone his power in Helsing's class and could actually turn on his mental eavesdropping skill, but he still had no clue how to shut it off. And the invisibility thing was still a complete mystery to him. He had no idea what caused it, or how to stop it.

But there was progress, in that he could be sure.

He straightened his black leather tie in the mirror as he waited anxiously for Lauren. She said she would come for him at exactly quarter to midnight. The Samhain Ball started precisely at midnight and Lauren had warned if they were late they'd miss their window whatever that meant. His eyes darted nervously to the bedside clock to confirm it was nearly quarter to the witching hour.

Taking one last look at himself in the mirror, he marveled at what a great job he'd done picking out the tux. He'd never rented a tux by himself before and it wasn't like he could ask his Dads advice. When he'd gone to the place at the mall the clerk had looked at him funny when he requested a suede jacket, silk shirt, leather pants and leather tie, and he would have made the excuse of an allergy to synthetic fibers, if he could possibly lie, but he can't, so instead he remained quite while the clerk continued to look at him weird as he helped him find all stranger requests.

When they paired them all up Zach couldn't believe the result. He looked great. Just like he was ready to walk the red carpet at the Oscars. He couldn't wait to see what Lauren looked like.

And he didn't have to; a green circle appeared on the wall with strange lines and texts. He recognized it now as a magic glyph. Then Lauren stepped through the portal that she had created, and he couldn't believe his eyes. She was standing in front of him in a full length dress.

She was truly the loveliest thing he'd ever seen. He would have told her that too, but his mouth was way too dry to speak.

Just then she blushed coyly and did a spin for him asking, "Do you like it?"

He could only nod in response.

The dress was out of this world. Literally. The skirt was made of a light green silk but the top. The top was made of flowers, honest to god flowers – little white, light blue and green ones woven together with leaves and vines. She smelled like a garden and looked like an angel.

She even had gossamer wings on her back.

When he swallowed reflexively and reached out to touch them, she laughed and said, "They're not real."

"I'm trying to be ironic," she winked.

"All the girl's in homeroom agreed to dress like fairy queen's. Marley was none too happy about it, but in the end she reluctantly agreed when Liv explained it would be our way of thumbing our noses at the fae aristocracy. She was all for it then. "

She waved an even more beautiful masquerade mask in her hands that looked like mint green fairy wings and then held it up to her face.

He felt dull in comparison in the black suede jacket and black leather slacks. He looked down at the simple black mask he'd bought too.

Reaching over gently, he plucked a tiny green flower from her delicate bodice, and placed it in his lapel. When she smiled at him coyly, he couldn't help, but smile back.

He had to clear his throat before he said in a husky voice, "Now we match."

She blushed furiously and said nervously, "well we'd better go," and made to leave, but before they could step through the hole in his wall she said, "Oh yeah. . . I almost forgot."

She started to wave her hand in a wide arc over his room and muttered under her breath, suddenly, a bright flash of light nearly blinded him. When his vision finally cleared, he could see that there was now a replica of him lying in his bed and laying in the fetal position with his back to the door.

She said  with a giggle as she noted his stunned expression, "Just in case one of the 'rents checks on you. It's only a mirage of course, so it won't hold up if they come close, but it's better than nothing.

He went over to take a closer look awestruck by her handy work; he'd never seen the backside of himself before.

Suddenly he turned to her and whined, "Hey, does my hair always stick up like that and if so, why the hell didn't you tell me?"

She just laughed and said, "Because it's cute AF. "

And as she giggled at her own joke; she pulled him towards the portal.

When they stepped through to the other side he was surprised to see they'd landed in the school parking lot. In a spot furthest from where any human eye could see.

And was fairly disappointed when as soon as they crossed, she said, "Wait here I've got to get Quinn," and promptly disappeared through the hole.

That's right he'd smacked his head -- he'd forgotten about him

He didn't care how chauvinistic it sounded even to himself; when he thought if that mutt even thinks about putting the moves on Lauren tonight he's treading on thin ice.

Zach had to smirk to himself when he saw Quinn come out of the portal in a Burgundy tux. In completely contrast to Lauren's light green dress.

Yeah remember that Dog Boy. You and Lauren have absolutely nothing in common -- Might have been a thought that crossed his mind.

Zach turned to Lauren when she stepped through and asked, "Do you have any clue where the party is?"

'Yeah, "Quinn chimed in, "you've been here before, where is it usually held?"

"Don't you know?" Zach asked incredulously.

"Nah Dude it's my first time."

It gave him some pleasure to know that Quinn was a newbie too. Until he considered that he was being a huge douche bag and needed to knock it right tf off.

Just then a tiny spark of light like an escaped ember from a bonfire flew in front of his eyes and a swarm of them came out of nowhere and began to form a nice neat line with about half a foot of distance between them.

Lauren turned to them and said, "Looks like our escorts have arrived," grabbing both the guys by the arm.

Tucking her tiny hand into the crook of their elbows, and propelling the spellbound guys forward, she jokingly said, "Follow my lead, "to the stunned boys, "and you'll do just fine."

They began to follow the tiny pinpoints of light that continued out into the back of the school and towards the soccer field.

"Now normally I would warn against following the willow–o-the-wisps," Lauren announced, "but since they have been instruct to lead us to the party and not to our deaths as they're preternatural designed to do; lead away," she said to the tiny creatures.

Who whispered nonsensically in reply.

Zach looked up in wonder as he saw kids from every direction pop into existence or speed run up to the thousands of wisps seeming to lead from every direction towards the hill on the top of the soccer field.

He smiled when he noticed the shimmering magical construct.

Up on the top of the hill, where the wisps were leading everyone there stood a midnight scene shimmering in the shape of an enormous party tent. A tent made of stars and a moonless night sky.

It was confirmed when the first person made it to the scene and moving the camouflaged material aside, let out the sound of the party inside. Strange, but wonderful music was drumming in waves out of the tent as the lights from inside spilled out over the late October grass.

The material of the tent was made from the night, the sky, and the stars; or maybe it was just a reflection of them all, but whatever it was, he knew no matter how old he got he'd never forget this moment.

By the time he and Lauren made it to the top of the hill, Zach's heart was drumming in his chest to the beat of the frantic music inside the spelled tent.

This was it, he marveled, His first ever magic gathering.

Nervous energy coursed through his veins, and his hand had a slight tremor, as he pulled the curtain aside to step through the magical opening.

This chapter is dedicated to Animelover0721POP

You are one of my biggest supporters. I think you love my character even more than I do . . . and trust me I didn't think that was possible. Thank you for always being the first to come and read my new updates, and comment, and vote, the gang at Haven High couldn't ask for a better champion. *HUGS*

Ooooooohhhhhhhh . . . next update you get to meet the strange new royal fae and read about what it looks like in the magical tent?

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