~~~~~
Midterm tests started rolling out on Monday, and while midterm exams weren’t an official ‘thing’ that the district required of teachers, it still felt like they were out to inflict as much stress on their students by planning on administering comprehensive unit tests all in the same week. Tuesday was particularly stressful as the realization hit me that I was going to be bogged down in quite a bit of studying, and I almost skipped going to dance club, but decided that the exercise could only help relieve some of the stress.
I was distracted, though, and had to sit out for the last ten minutes of practice because I was dancing too quick and jerky for the ballet side of the studio, but was letting myself get sloppy on the martial arts side. I was about to pack up and leave when Dane, the unofficial leader of the club, tapped my shoulder and said, “Kenna, do you think you could stick around for a bit? Just for a few minutes after everyone’s left?”
I nodded sullenly. “Hey, thanks. I appreciate it,” he said, and turned back to join in with the rest of the club.
I felt certain I knew what he was going to say. He was going to kick me out because I couldn’t fit into either style of dancing. While officially the club didn’t require a person to choose which style of dancing they wanted to do, it was obvious that everyone eventually chose one or the other and stuck with it. There’d probably be two different clubs if the school hadn’t told them that there was no way they’d approve the funds to maintain two separate modern dance organizations. I had been with the club for over three weeks and I still couldn’t decide which style I could fit in with. The more intense style was too structured for me, but the more graceful side was too slow.
Eventually everyone left, and Dane and I were alone in the studio. I stood up and said, “Before you say anything, I want you to know that I understand that I’ve been a pain to put up with and that I know I don’t fit in. I’ll stop coming to practice and you don’t have to worry about me being around anymore.”
“What… what are you talking about? Why on earth would you think we don’t want you here? You’re really cool and everyone likes you. I was just going to ask you if there was a group you wanted to stick with. I’ve noticed that you switch almost every day between the two styles, and you’re really good at both of them, but we don’t have enough money to get both kinds of costumes for you for our winter performance. I just wanted to see what group you wanted to perform with.”
Well, that made me feel stupid, which made me feel even more stupid when I had to confess to him, “I really don’t know. I’m flattered you think I’m good at both, but I don’t feel that way. It’s great exercise and it’s fun hanging out with you guys, but I don’t feel like I belong in one or the other. I think it would be good if I left anyway, so you don’t have to deal with me switching groups every couple of days and making room for me in the routine on the fly.” I turned around to leave, but he caught my arm.
“Wait. Just… stay for a few minutes. I have an idea. Are you willing to try to do something you’ve never done before?”
I sighed, frustrated. “Sure, I guess. Just for a few minutes, though.”
“Great! Okay, just gimme a sec while I set up.”
I set my bag down and watched as he thumbed through the CD case, looking for a particular disk. He found the one he wanted and loaded it into the stereo.
“Okay. Come to the center of the studio and close your eyes.” I did as he said, wondering if this was really going in the direction I felt it was.
“After I hit play, I just want you to dance however you want. While modern dance has a lot of basic moves that we use often, the whole point is that if you want to dance a certain way, you have the freedom to do so. Don’t think about keeping to one style or another – you can find a place in the middle, if you want, or dance in a completely different way entirely. Let yourself go and merge with the music.”
I opened my eyes and gave him an annoyed look. “Really? I feel like I’m in a bad eighties movie.”
He laughed at this in a good-natured way. “Okay, maybe I’m being a little cheesy, but we’re talking about art here. It’s okay to be cheesy. Just… close your eyes, listen to the music, and let yourself go.”
He hit play. I listened to the music. It was a song I had never heard before by some obscure alternative rock band. The music started out simple – just one guitar playing along to the lead vocals. Halfway through the first verse more vocals and guitars had joined in, and by the time to chorus started the full force of the band had joined in.
The song was cool, and I imagined that it would be really cool to dance to… if I knew what I was doing. Though my eyes were closed, I could feel Dane’s stare and I felt too much pressure to do well. All I could think of was trying to perfectly execute my favorite dance moves from both styles of dancing, and trying to come up with dance moves of my own in between so that it didn’t look like I couldn’t decide what dance I was trying to perform.
He stopped the music after the second chorus. I stumbled, pulling myself out of the middle of a particularly complicated move I was trying to make up on the fly. “What’s wrong? Is it really that bad?”
He was frowning, though more in a concerned way than an angry way. “I should ask you that. Is dancing really that bad for you? You did an excellent job coming up with a dance of your own, and each of your moves were executed beautifully, but your face looked more like you were getting a root canal. I’m not here to judge you, I just feel like you could get a lot of enjoyment out of this and something is holding you back. Can I suggest something?” I shrugged. “Take off your socks, wrist bands, even your hair band. Make it so you can feel the floor beneath your bare feet, your hair moving with each step, so that it really is just you and the music, no distractions.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You want me to take all my stuff off?”
“Well, when you phrase it like THAT I sound like a pervert. I didn’t mean it that way at all, thank you very much. Just… anything you don’t need, put it in your bag, and we’ll try this again.”
I rolled my eyes, wishing that I had slipped out before Dane could notice me leaving. I did what he said, though, and stuffed my socks, rings, wrist bands, earrings, hair band, and even my pony tail holder in my bag. I paused when I thought of my necklace. Would it make a difference? I was afraid that if I took my necklace off my irritation with Dane would turn into anger, and that I’d say some things I’d regret. On the other hand, all I was going to do was dance. It’s not like I was going to pick a fight with him, right? I took my necklace off, but put it on top of my bag so I could grab it quickly.
I walked back to the center of the studio and closed my eyes again. Dane started the song over, and I listened even closer to the way the music flowed together.
This time I heard a drum beat that I missed the first time around. At the beginning of the song it was slow and deep, like a heartbeat. I breathed in and out slowly, willing my heart to match with the drum. The music picked up a little, and I started moving. I stepped into a dance move I was familiar with, but as the music changed, so did the dance step, and it ended up being something new entirely. I kept up this pattern until soon I wasn’t paying attention to using dance steps I was familiar with or what part of the song was playing – I was just moving to the music. It was intense, fast, but fluid. I felt like I was on fire… I felt like I was fire. This hot passion I never imagined having before started growing inside me, and spread until it was in each jump, step, turn, and kick I made.
The song ended, and I stopped dancing. I didn’t realize I was dancing so hard, but I found myself breathing heavily. I slowly opened my eyes and turned to look at Dane. His eyebrows were raised and he had propped his chin against his fist. He said nothing for a long time. I didn’t know what to do. Was it really that bad? Gymnastics had always been better for me because I knew that if I performed a certain way I
could be highly competitive and difficult to beat in competitions. Maybe dancing was a bad idea.
He finally took in a deep breath and announced, “Well, that explains why you couldn’t choose a certain group to be in. You’ve taken the core of each style, completely broken them down, and mixed them together with a bunch of your own style of dance.”
I blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to destroy what you’ve built up at this club.”
“Destroy? No! You’ve shown me what this club could become if we all shared your enthusiasm! You show a passion in your dance that most of the girls that have been dancing since they were six are incapable of even beginning to understand. You were fantastic! Will you show your dancing to the club tomorrow?”
I was uncomfortable, unsure of what I did that impressed him so much, and I was also suspicious that he was just trying to flatter me. “Maybe. Don’t count on it, though.”
“Give it a serious thought, will you? Really, that was… wow. That is definitely not something to keep to yourself.”
I gave him a noncommittal sound that could be interpreted as either a yes or I’m really not interested and quickly put my socks and shoes on, throwing my necklace on as I rushed out the door.
I didn’t show the club my dancing the next day, or the day after that, either. Truth be told, it wasn’t that I was embarrassed by it – I was afraid. Something happened to me when I danced that dance. I couldn’t even describe it to myself, really. It was like… there was another person inside me that woke up when I started dancing. She was a separate version of me – one that had wild passion that could only be expressed through dance. She took over while I was dancing, and disappeared when I stopped.
The scariest part was that I really liked this version of me. She didn’t think, she just did. I didn’t miss her – if anything, I felt lighter after she left as the dance finished. But I wasn’t happy she was gone, either. It wasn’t a decision I needed to make, whether I wanted her to be there or not, it was just matter-of-fact that she was there.
So the next week I decided to keep going to the dance club and to keep switching between each group every couple of days. I danced in the back, so neither group would have to worry about making room for me, and I worked hard on learning the routines so I wasn’t dragging either group down, either. I told Dane that I wasn’t going to perform at the winter show, so he didn’t have to worry about getting me an outfit. He seemed upset, but I was firm about it.
That Friday Jack was again standing next to the bike rack, ready to walk me home. I wasn’t going to say it out loud to anyone, but I was really happy he was there every Friday. The only time we had spent outside of school or walking me home was that few minutes the week before in the graveyard, when he made sure I made it home okay, but I really enjoyed his company. It was nice having someone there to talk about how I felt about the supernatural, and he had answers to boot. He mostly let me do the talking, but I enjoyed hearing him talk, too. He had a dry sense of humor that was hard to catch sometimes, but he was never rude or sarcastic.
This particular day he seemed distracted, though. He kept on asking me the same questions, as though he wasn’t listening to my answers the first time I answered them. He was like that the whole way to my house, and when we finally reached my porch I couldn’t take it anymore.
“What’s wrong with you!? I feel like you haven’t listened to a word I’ve said the whole way home!”
He looked at me, surprised by my outburst. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. I’ve simply had a difficult thing to think about.”
“A difficult thing to think about? What is that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just that… you see… I just don’t know how to…”
“For pete’s sake, just spit it out!”
He cleared his throat. “The ghosts are having a gathering tonight. Some of the oldest ghosts in this area are going to be coming, so they’ve planned a party of sorts. They asked me to come… and they asked me to bring you with me.”
“Huh? Why me? How do they even know who I am?”
“You… gained a reputation that Friday a couple of weeks ago when you slew that abomination. A couple of ghosts witnessed it and word has spread that there is a human capable of slaying vampires. The fact that you and I are acquaintances only interested and amused the ghosts further. Gossipy bunch, really. ”
“I didn’t slay it. I held a lighter up to its arm. You were the one to keep it down while it burned.”
“But you were the one to burn it. It would not have burned to death had you not wanted it to.”
I started to retort, but paused to think about what he just said and how it echoed what my parents had said about Ammon. “So… you’re saying I controlled the fire?”
“I assume so. Everything about you suggests that you did.”
“What about me would suggest that?”
“Makenna. I was born during a time when some people still understood the significance of names. Yours suggests that you have an affinity for fire. You were burning something in the cemetery before you were attacked. Your parents are wardcarvers, which means you’ve lived around magic all your life – there’s no way you can not pick up some sort of ability after spending that much time immersed in magic.”
“Oh. Well, that makes sense.”
“That, and you have quite the temper.”
I playfully punched his arm. “Watch it, before you really feel my wrath. I’ll go with you. You said ghosts are fun to be around, right?” He nodded. “Cool. What time should I sneak out of my house?”
“One o’clock. Will that be too late?”
“Nah. I can catch a power nap beforehand. See you tonight!” I let myself in my house and waved goodbye to him.
I’m not sure if it’s part of my personality that I don’t pay attention to everything people say, or if it’s just that I’m that dense, but it wasn’t until dinnertime that I realized that Jack had asked me out on a date. I nearly choked on my food when I realized this, and found that I had lost my appetite by the time I was finished coughing.
I couldn’t sort my feelings out about this, and ended up skipping my planned power nap. He seemed pretty hesitant to ask me… I wondered how much pressure the ghosts put on him to invite me. Does that mean he didn’t want to take me? But he could have said no to them. So does that mean he did want to ask me? Did he even view this as a date? I assumed so, since he took his time bringing up the subject. Maybe he knew that I would think of it as a date, and he didn’t want me to be uncomfortable.
I decided I had to let it go. He was becoming a good friend, and I knew that he was rational enough to keep in mind that his age was a good reason to prevent either of us from taking the date seriously, no matter how much my age he did look. Surely I was simply doing him a favor.
At midnight I decided to get ready. What does one wear to a ghostly soiree? A dress? Or would jeans and a tee do fine? Did ghosts even care? I’m assuming they never changed clothes, but my preconceptions of anything inhuman had been proven wrong many times over. I settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a light, gauzy, tunic-length top with a feather pattern on it. I put what I called my “rock star boots” on, and after fussing over my hair, I decided to just leave it down.
I snuck downstairs to go hop over the fence at exactly one o’ clock. Though I hadn’t been in the house for long I already starting to know which stairs squeaked, which doors could only be opened halfway quietly. I didn’t need any lights to find my way, though I did bump into a corner to two on the way out. I was just about to open the door, when it opened up right in front of me. And there stood my parents.
Is there a word for that moment when two parties are so equally shocked to see each other given the circumstances that all they can do is stare at each other, openmouthed? Because that was a moment when I needed to have a word for it.
/>
Mom, ever the forward one, broke the silence. “And where are you going at this late hour, dressed like that?”
“A ghost party. What were you guys doing?”
“Setting up protective wards for a ghost party.”
“Ah. So… it’s safe for me to go, then?”
A pause. Then a short bark of laughter from my Dad. “Well, you are bold, aren’t you? And how did you hear about this particular gathering?”
“I was invited by a half vampire I go to school with. He said the ghosts wanted me there because I set a vampire on fire last week.”
“Did you, now? Well, I think that if we were normal parents, and if you were a normal child, we’d forbid you to go, but we all know that neither of those is true. You really set a vampire on fire?” Dad sounded pretty impressed.
“Abomination, actually. It was pretty terrifying.”
“I can imagine. Well, we set up the wards ourselves, so I’m confident that you’ll be safe. This half vampire – how old is he?”
“Upwards of a couple centuries.”
“Does he have a sweet eye for you?”
“DAD. Do you really have to do this?”
“I just want to make sure that he treats you right! I can’t let my little girl get hurt!”
“….I can’t even tell if you’re joking or not.”
“Have fun. You know the only reason we’re letting you go is because we can keep an eye on your from our house, right?”
Great. I was going to a chaperoned dance. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”
“Ignoring the sarcasm, no problem. Do you have a lighter on you?”
“No. Why?”
“Because I’d feel safer if you had something to protect yourself with. Our wards can’t protect against every single little thing. Go get your lighter, and then you can go.” He patted me on the head. I rolled my eyes.
“Fine.” I dashed upstairs, grabbed my lighter, and headed to the backyard again. By the time I got back downstairs my parents were already gone, though I was going to assume they were going to be checking on me periodically.
I hopped the fence, straight into Jack’s arms. He set me down gently and said, “You’re late. Did you have problems getting out of your house?”
“I ran into my parents on the way out.”
He was wearing a dark, button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of black slacks. "You look nice" I complimented.
"Thanks. So do you. I have to walk around the perimeter before entering the party. Would you like to join me?"
"Absolutely."
We walked in silence for a minute as we made our way around the graveyard. As we neared the back of the cemetery I could see the ghostly party set up. In all honesty, it looked like a scene from a children's movie - there were balloons, streamers, and tables with punch and finger foods on them. I wouldn't be able to eat or drink anything, though - everything was a translucent green glow to match the ghosts themselves.
As we approached I asked, "What is this party for, anyway? It looks kind of like a big deal..."
"Today is a day of observance for ghosts to celebrate the blessing of the first visit of the Eldraif. Think of it like the ghosts' version of the fourth of July. This year the celebration is being held at this graveyard for the ghosts in this region, so there will be some very old ghosts and very important guests attending, which is why your parents were asked to provide warding tonight."
"Why do ghosts need to be protected? What could possibly harm incorporeal beings that are already dead?"
"Have you seen the movie The Exorcist?"
"Are you saying that they're afraid aged priests are going to crash their party?"
"No, but there are those that possess the ability to destroy ghosts, many of whom do not have a complete understanding of the nature of ghosts. The wards are set up to keep this gathering out of sight of those who would cause harm to the guests."
We walked on in silence a few more steps; not because I didn't have anything to say, but because I had a question that I wasn't sure how to word in a way that didn't sound rude.
"You have something on your mind." Jack said. Dang, he was good at reading people. Or maybe just me.
"Yeah... well, not to sound rude, but... why were you invited?"
"That is not a rude question at all. You're new to this world; I don't expect you to know the social conventions of the ghostly society. I mentioned a while ago that ghosts were a friendly bunch of beings; they do not have anything to lose and everything to gain, so they enjoy the company of as many that are willing to spend time with them. They are among the few in our world that admire what I do, so I was invited as a guest of honor. Well, that's what they say, anyway. I wouldn't say it to any of their faces, but I'm also sure that they invited me as security as well."
"How nice. And what about me? Am I... your date?"
Jack paused for a moment too long, which confirmed my suspicions. "I'm sorry. They were pestering me about it all week and wouldn't let the topic drop. I think they are entertained by the fact that I have found a companion of sorts. But they are also intrigued by the idea of a human that has an affinity for an element like you do. You are truly unique, and none of them have seen anything new for a long, long time."
"I'm not going to be asked to set anything on fire, am I?"
"I doubt it, though they will probably have lots of questions for you."
"Like what?"
"How you control fire, how long you've been able to, if you practice any sort of witchcraft - questions like that."
"Witchcraft? As in... am I a witch?"
"Yes."
"... umm... am I a witch?"
"No. You would know if you were."
"Good. I don't know the answers to the other questions, though."
For the first time since I met Jack, he didn't have anything to say to help me out. "Just... think back to when you set that abomination on fire. How you felt. Describe it to them."
"I don't want to think about that particular incident."
"Then make something up. They won’t know if you are bluffing or not."
"I guess that's true. Thanks."
We finished our walk around the graveyard and moved to where the party was set up. There were only three or four ghosts there, but Jack assured me that there would be more arriving soon. He whispered to me that ghosts liked to fancy themselves members of high society and enjoyed being fashionably late. The ghosts that were there must have been hosting and immediately greeted us. They made polite small talk with Jack, but started trying to talk to me as soon as they felt it was okay to stop paying attention to him. Sure enough, I was almost attacked with questions concerning my affinity for fire. Some questions were about my siblings and my parents, but I didn’t have a lot of answers for them. At one point they started arguing with themselves whether I was a new kind of witch or if I was truly an incarnation of the element itself, which I used as an opportunity to slip away.
There was a table I hadn’t noticed before set up for non-ghosts that had a bowl of punch and some little sandwiches. I grabbed a cup of punch so I had something to hold in my hands (and also something to drink from to give me a few extra seconds when I was asked a question I didn't know how to answer). I was just about to wonder if the table was set up just for me and Jack when someone stepped up next to me.
"Good evening, Miss Reyvens. I'm surprised to see you here."
I stared with my mouth open, unable to process the image of my chemistry teacher standing in a graveyard full of ghosts. I stuttered, "Mr.... Mr. Anders! Hi!"
He chuckled. "I take it you're surprised to see me here, too. May I ask what brings a sixteen year old human to a ghost party?"
"Jack invited me because some of the ghosts saw me set a vampire on fire, and they wanted him to bring me here. I have an affinity for it, I guess, and they find that interesting."
> "An affinity for fire, huh? I've never heard of that before. Do you practice any witchcraft?"
"No, but my parents are wardcarvers, so I guess that has something to do with it."
"Impressive! Well, I'm honored to have the daughter of wardcarvers in my class."
"Yeah, now you’re going to have an even more confused student in your class, since I won’t be able to remember the difference between magic and science."
He laughed out loud at my quick comeback. "I can see that you truly do have a fiery personality!"
I held my hands up to my mouth in horror, realizing how close I had come to insulting one of my teachers. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! You’re really a great teacher! Umm... with all due respect, what brings you here?"
"I'm the pack leader to a group of weres in the area. It's customary for me to attend local events like this."
"You're... a werewolf?" I couldn't help but glance up at the moon, just to make sure it hadn't changed to a full moon for no reason.
"I am, yes, though my pack is made up of many kinds of different weres. We have mountain lions, bears, and even a couple of large dogs. Judging by the look on your face, you haven't met a were yet - don't worry, we're not dangerous. Those of us that are older are mostly sane on nights around a full moon, and even those who are still young don't truly crave human flesh. Most of us became weres because we were too reckless while camping on the night of a full moon. Well, Gabriel has finally arrived, and I have some interesting research to share with him. Is this your first ghost party?" I nodded. "You'll enjoy yourself. Ghosts throw the best parties!"
He headed toward the direction of one of the ghosts that had just arrived, leaving me alone again to be attacked by more questions from even more ghosts that hadn't heard my story yet. I wasn't having a lot of fun, and was starting to doubt what Mr. Anders and Jack (who, by the way, hadn't bothered to find me again after the first group of ghosts accosted me with their questions) had said about ghost parties. Just as I was about to find a way out so I could go home, someone shouted, "the band's here!" And suddenly a stage appeared at one end of the area. All the ghosts rushed over to the stage, screaming and cheering when the band members appeared. The music started up, and I found out what Jack and my chemistry teacher were talking about - all the ghosts started dancing. By themselves, in groups, with partners; there was no set form in which to dance. A couple of teenage girls danced over to me and encouraged me to join their group. I had never been to a club before, and wasn't really interested in school dances, so I wasn't sure how to dance in this setting (dancing socially is decidedly different from dancing on a stage for a performance), but they were persistent and I gave it a shot. I don't think they cared that I accidentally danced through them a couple of times, because they invited more ghosts over. Soon I found myself switching groups or partners every thirty seconds or so - and I'm not going to lie, it was pretty fun. I danced through four songs like that, just enjoying myself with this fun-loving group of beings. Some of the guys flirted playfully with me, even, and I may have flirted back.
After the fourth song ended, the band switched to a slow song, and the ghosts paired off. I felt a little awkward, knowing that I couldn't pair with a ghost, and moved back to the refreshment table in hopes I'd go unnoticed. Someone caught my arm, though, and I turned around to face what was possibly the most beautiful face I'd ever seen. I couldn't tell if they were man or woman, but the face was shaped so perfectly that it was easy for me to believe that maybe it didn't really matter. This person was tall - at least five or six inches taller than me - and as I stared into their face they gave me a smile that made my knees go weak.
"May I have this dance, Miss Reyvens?" He (thank goodness I could tell by his voice) asked. I nodded dumbly, and let him lead me to the 'dance floor', unable to take my eyes off his face. He took my hand in his, put his other hand on my waist, and got ready to take a step in my direction. I stayed planted to the ground, though, and he looked at me, concerned.
"I don't know how to waltz or anything like that," I croaked out.
He threw his head back and laughed the most perfect laugh I had ever heard. "Oh, don't you worry about that. Just follow my lead and I'll make up for what you don't know."
We started dancing again, and sure enough, he was able to keep me from stepping on his toes. I tripped on my own feet a couple of times, but he caught me and smoothly transitioned us into the beat of the dance again.
"My name is Nathaan-ell. I've heard much about you, Miss Reyvens, and I've been anxious to get a moment with you without all the ghosts pestering you with the same questions over and over. Are you enjoying yourself?"
I nodded. "I had no idea that ghosts knew how to throw parties like this. I mean, I was a little annoyed at first because all I thought they wanted to do was ask me about how I can control fire - which I'm going to be honest, I don't even think I can control it, not well anyway - and debate how I can do it and toss around the idea of me maybe being fire incarnate, which is kind of a scary thought, but I guess I shouldn't be too scared because I've been scared by so many much scarier things lately, I'm so new to this world of ghosts and werewolves and vampires and anything and everything I can imagine, and..." What was I doing? I kept rambling on and on about everything, but I couldn't help it. I just stared into Nathaan-ell's face and it was so beautiful and so trusting and I just wanted to tell him everything that came to mind, as though he could come to trust me, too.
I was interrupted by someone tapping on Nathaan-ell's shoulder. I was so annoyed that I shot whoever it was the most poisonous look I could muster. It was Jack, so I softened a little, but not too much.
"May I interrupt? I fear that I've been neglecting my date tonight, and I would like to make it up to her." Was there an edge to his voice? And did he really emphasize the word date?
Nathaan-ell sighed in the most longing way possible and said, "I suppose. Miss Reyvens, may I seek you out later tonight?" I nodded, perhaps a little too eagerly, and he smiled and parted, kissing my hand before letting go.
Jack quickly caught my hand before I could drop it and started dancing with me. He didn’t try to force us into a classical dance, like Nathaan-ell - he just started swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the music. I looked over his shoulder at Nathaan-ell's retreating figure, distracted by the way he even walked perfectly. Jack spun us around so I couldn't face that way anymore, and I may have "accidentally" stepped on his toe,
"You don't want his attention," Jack said quietly.
"Why not? Who is he? He seemed like the most gentlemanly, chivalrous, perfect man I've ever met..." I gazed off dreamily, entranced even by the mental image of his face.
"He is a nice man, but I don't like seeing him try to woo you."
I was angry at that. 'Why? Are you jealous that someone finds me attractive and wants to flirt with me? Is that why you made a big deal about being my date tonight?"
"Kenna, that's the prince of the clan of wood elves that live around here. He's not a bad man, but he pursues many, many people. If he sees a pretty face, he will try his best to woo that person until they fall for him. And yes, I'm being gender neutral on purpose. He uses his charm and beauty to his advantage, and I don't want you to get caught up in that. You're better than that."
My anger with Jack and my enamorment with Nathaan-ell were quickly quenched. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know... thank you for saving me from that."
Jack gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "Of course. You're the closest friend I've had in a long time. I would not want to see you get hurt."
I wasn't sure what to say to that. He didn't speak up again, either, and the song was still going. Before I could think too much about it, I slowly, tentatively leaned closer and rested my cheek on his shoulder and closed my eyes. For a moment I forgot about everything - the music, the ghosts, who I was, who he was, why I was there. I simply enjoyed being in the arm
s of someone who was becoming very close to me. Jack didn't do anything for a minute besides sway to the music with me, but then slowly brought our clasped hands closer to us, and gently kissed the back of my hand.
The music ended and I woke up to the real world again. I stepped away from Jack's embrace and stood there awkwardly. "Um. Thank you."
Another slow song started playing, but the spell was already broken. I moved toward the refreshment table again and waved Jack to come along with me. "Hey, point out to me the other non-ghosts here and tell me what they are and if they're going to hit on me."
Jack nodded and forced a smile. He followed me and as we snacked on chocolate-covered pretzels, he pointed out a goblin, a shape shifter, and a naga. None of them approached us, though they did look our way several times.
The dance music started up again, and again I was encouraged to go to the dance floor by the ghosts. I don't remember how many songs passed, but eventually I tired and had to excuse myself from the dance floor. I was followed by some of the younger-looking ghosts, and we started chatting, though not about me and my fire ability, thank goodness. They were teens that had died in the forties and fifties, and were interested to know what going to school and family life and being a teen was like for someone their age in a world half a century from their own.
No one saw them coming. No one would have said there was the possibility of them trespassing, not with my parents' wards. One minute we were all dancing and laughing and talking, and the next everyone was panicking.
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