Magic in the Bindings

:// 5 //:

Hours later the celebration had finally started. Actually, it had started a while ago. Mikel had finished his task, but Melinda said she wouldn't come get him until after the party was over.

"Just sprinkle this on all of the corks." She told him. "Then wait here until the party's over. If you're quiet, no one should see you."

So now, after ages of waiting behind a giant wine keg, Mikel started to stretch. He'd been in the same position for so long that his whole body ached a bit. Servants still bustle in and out of the cellar occasionally. In a constant panic to provide wine for all the dining tables and waiter trays, but they never used the supply closest to Mikel. “I'll be fine.”

After a while, Mikel started to picture his sister's face when her birthday rolls around. She wanted this new horse doll that was the size of a small pony. It had a wonderful mane and tail, and you can even order stuff with whatever you named it engraved on it’s accessories. His sister was only six, turning seven, so to her it seemed like the most magical thing in the world, and he was determined to get it for her.

The only problem? It’s expensive. Mikel's grandparents would never be able to buy it for her, so it fell to Mikel. He could feel himself grinning as he leaned back against the wall. He couldn't wait to see her face when he walked in carrying that huge thing...

After all, she deserved some happiness, after last year.

And with that semi-peaceful thought, Mikel drifted off to sleep.

‘/,

Sylvie was never one for parties. She preferred, if anything, a small, quiet gathering where people discussed books or animals. Her Mother's friends were too loud and energetic for that, and she knew if she went downstairs her home would be full those people. But she had to show up at some point, for Theo. After all, she couldn't let him become like Melinda.

Sometimes, if a Magical thought they weren't ready for the commitment, they could postpone their mating. It's a very complicated process, everyone in the family had to be there, and Melinda demanded that her string be cut. Essentially, it's like they cut the tie that bound Soulmates together. Sylvie could always see it on her sister. A sickly, dead thing that had been pulled from it's socket. It was the saddest thing Sylvie has ever seen.

Her white but veiled skirts flew beside her. A few Human servants fumbled as they watched her walk by. She knew she was beautiful to them; especially her eyes. Violet orbs that let her actually see the magic in the world. It was a rare phenomenon that only the purist of souls could possess. Essentially, it was a gift from the Goddess herself.

But with these all-seeing eyes of violet, Sylvie noticed something strange. There were wine bottles everywhere you looked in the ballroom. On the tables, on servant trays, and some people even carried them. Though, on each of the bottles, particularly the corks, there was a faint green smog. Nobody else could see it, because the spell was invisible to their eyes, but not to hers.

Sylvie simply stared at the smog for a moment before recognizing the spell. Oh, my Goddess, it's a form of Metamorphosis-

Melinda.

Pushed herself into the drunken crowd, desperate to find her family.

'/,

Theodore was drunk.

Not excessively so, but enough to warrant him unfit to socialize. So, he slumped in his seat and watched the party-goers mingle. Some of them watched him from where they stood below his throne. This was his celebration after all but being the center of attention never bothered him much.

The house was very old, so the ballroom still had family thrones. It's an escalated part of the floor that led to a giant window. That's were Theo sat, in the king's chair that was even older than he was. If his Father was alive, he'd be sitting there, but Theo was the only Warlock here, so he took his place next to Emeldia. Melinda, who looked ravishing in a black backless dress, sat on the other side of his Mother.

His senses were dulled with the sweet bliss of alcohol, so he didn't notice Sylvie until she was sitting in her seat beside him. She leaned towards him, but just as her lips parted for a whisper, Emeldia called for attention.

She tapped a fork on the side of her wine glass before setting it on the table in front of her. She looked dignified in a puffy princess dress of whites and pale blues. It made her dark hair stand out more against the contrast. "I'd like to make a toast." She announced as all three of her children shrunk in their chairs. The entire room went silent for the beautiful woman’s words. "For my son, Theodore." She smiled so sweetly Theo's Sherry wine couldn't compare.

But Theo wasn't in the mood for an emotional toast. Honestly, he just wanted to drown himself in whatever bottle he could get a hold of. Which is a first for him, since he didn't drink much.

Sylvie wasn't in the mood for this either. She nervously whispered through her teeth. "Melinda did something to the wine bottles."

Theo barely heard her soft words, so they took a moment to register. "What did she do?" He mumbled without even bothering to whisper. He could start shouting and flip the table, but nothing would take the crowd's attention away from Emeldia. She a Sorceress, a Corvinus Sorceress. By marriage anyway, but her true blood was nothing to laugh at either.

"I'm not sure. Some kind of Metamorphosis, but that's all I can tell from here." The family table didn't have any bottles. If they needed something, they’d simply wave a hand and a servant would come crawling.

Theo called over a servant girl. She was cute; with round cheeks and blonde braided pigtails. She seemed entirely frightened of Theo, but he ignored her nerves as he bluntly asked her to fetch him one of the wine bottles. “Anything with a cork.” He curly groaned, giving off a spoiled, alcoholic impression.

She handed him the bottle and immediately curtseyed off. Theo leaned back as he examined the bottle. He may not be as knowledgeable as his sister, but he knew things by the feel of them or so to say. "It's just the corks." Sylvie reminded him, and Theo fumbled with the bottle until it was pointed towards him.

The cork felt fine, but it reeked. It smelled like death with traces of wine. The scent was very faint, so you couldn't get a whiff unless you were looking for it. The servants removed the corks before serving the wine, so the crowd had no idea. But there was something else to the strange smell. Something that reminded him of Sylvie's rabbit.

Theo turned the bottle away from himself. Maybe there was a mark on it or something that could portray a hint, but before anything else, the wine inside the bottle started to boil. "Theo!" Sylvie sharply warned.

He reacted instantly and pointed the bottle away from people. The cork burned a bright green before it popped off like a champagne bottle would. It landed right in Emeldia's plate. The surprise silenced her speech.

Everyone in the room stared as the cork suddenly popped. It was like a silent firecracker of green smoke. It popped once, and back legs grew. It popped twice, and little arms appeared. The finally, it popped once more, and everyone was horrified to see what it had turned into.

A rat with cork like skin curiously sniffed the air. Emeldia didn't move, but she wasn't scared or disgusted of it. She was just confused in the moment of things. But then the rat snarled and leaped off the table. It was almost like a signal for all the other bottles as they began to boil and pop. Little creatures appeared everywhere as the crowd screamed. Frogs, rats, mice, and several different bugs chased the poor party patrons. Women screamed as crickets jumped in their hair, and men ducked under tables as swarms of mice chased them.

Emeldia stared down at the chaos with a hateful gape in her mouth. She was mad, but surprised that someone would try to ruin a celebration so special. It was so degrading to her that it was almost heartbreaking.

Sylvie and Theo glanced at Melinda, who smiled back cruelly. Sylvie didn't say or do anything besides stare, but Theo glared as his head quickly cleared of any alcohol fog. Magicals can heal themselves of small things, such as the effects of alcohol, but Theo was so distressed he barely realized he was doing it.

Emeldia glanced to her left to find two of her children staring. Following the trail to her eldest, Melinda was smiling like this was best thing in the world. She had no idea how her daughter managed this feat, but she would be punished, accordingly.

Suddenly Emeldia raised her skirts and stood in her chair. Several Magicals were zapping the strange creatures with spells, but the lady of the house has had enough of this nonsense. With her arms raised, the air began to buzz with her concentration. All the cork creatures came to a halt as they stared at the magnificent woman in blue and purple.

On the Sorceress’ cue, they all started to slowly ascend into the air. Strangely, they all looked at peace as one by one they began to poof out of existence. Corks of all shapes and sizes fell to ground like a thick rain. The noises the corks made as they hit the ground was deafening as Melinda’s game came to an abrupt end.

The crowd was silent as they stared at Emeldia. Theo held his breath.

Then everyone started to clap. Laughter filled the room as they realized how silly that charade had been. And that's exactly what they thought it all was; a charade, an act, or a mere play to show off some magic. The family all seemed to sigh with relief. Everyone except Melinda of course, who crossed her arms and pouted.

While all this happened, Ariana was standing by the window with a glass of champagne in her hand. She didn't like sitting in front of everyone like that; it made her nervous, but now she kinda wished she had been up front with a camera.

With a glance at her glass, she poured its contents into a potted plant before heading towards her sister.

"Theo, dear." Emeldia waved shyly for the crowd, but her voice was strained with annoyance as she gritted her teeth into a pleasant smile. "Could you check the wine cellar for me? To make sure none of the other bottles are acting up." Her voice was thick as she glanced towards her oldest daughter, who only shrugged.

Ariana had heard what Emeldia asked, and she froze. “The wine cellar...now why was that familiar?” Her gaze shifted to Theo who nodded earnestly. Ariana's stomach suddenly dropped. The wine cellar was the place in her vision-

The vision where Theodore met his Soulmate.

"Theo!" Ariana reached out with a warning in her mind. Emeldia had started talking to the crowd, so Theo was the only one who wasn't paying enough attention to hear her. He glanced at her with confusion, but that would be her downfall.

Theo had been drinking, and despite the fact that most of it had left his system earlier, it's effects still showed on his face. When he was under the influence, his whole being seemed to drop its walls to show whatever his emotions were. But right now, all his Aunt saw was a thick sadness in his eyes. Her heart lurched as she remembered a boy who once held bright excitement and promise for the future. Only now all she saw was...

"B-Be careful." She whispered. Theo nodded slightly, still a bit confused, before heading off.

Ariana released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Hopefully she had made the right decision. “After all,” She thought to herself. “if there's anyone in this family that deserves love-it's him.”

The party carried on, even after it's prince disappeared into the shadows.