Magic in the Bindings

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The world suddenly felt like a strange place to Theo. He slumped in his seat. "That can't be right..."

"I know." Ariana's heart was aching. She loved her nephew more than anyone else, but now he seemed so far away; it was like she didn't even exist. Even his bright green eyes seemed defeated. "That's why I kept trying different spells. Prediction, Foretell-" She stuffed her mouth full of chips. "Goddess-I even tried Forecast."

"...Isn't that for predicting the weather?"

"Shut up!" Her hands were shaking at this point. “Deep breaths.” She kept telling herself. "Look...I know it seems bad, but maybe this is a good thing. Lots of people have homosexual Soulmates." She tried to smile, but it was more of an awkward smirk.

Theo smiled that sarcastic grin again, which only made him look a cynical kind of scary. "But not in the Corvinus family." He was used to these unsettling things, so he could bury his reactions well, if needed, but right now his head just spinning with random thoughts. Like wondering how his perspective siblings would react; if Melinda was here, she'd be furious, though he doubted that Sylvie would mind.

Ariana smacked his shoulder. "Stop doing that!"

Theo jumped. He didn't think his Aunt had it in her to hit him in this situation, or at least that hard. "Stop what?"

"Stop smiling like that! It's creepy." She crossed her arms with a pouted. "And stop acting like everything's okay. You're supposed to be freaking out not me."

Despite Ariana's talent for reading the future, she could never read Theo. And well, on the inside, Theo was having a panic attack. He wasn't really gay, was he? He never thought about it before; mostly because he didn't have time. He's the only Warlock in the area left, so he was too busy training to take control to second guess his sexuality. Having all this dumped on him now right before the Solstice...he was in shock. But his Aunt's voice seemed to be uncovering something unpleasant.

"Can I just avoid him?" Theo asked. Maybe he could just be married off to some powerful Witch. That's happened before, though it's rare, and it usually means that their original Soulmates are dead. But there was hope for his family’s image yet, and he would dare to seek it.

"No." This time, Ariana grabbed his arm. "It's hell, to avoid your Soulmate once you find them. It could actually kill you." Her long fingernails would leave small bruises on Theo's arm later. "Promise me you won't do that."

His control was already strained, but now it snapped. "Then what I do?! Tell Mother?" His tone took a vicious sarcasm as he shoved his Aunt away. "Oh yes, milady Emeldia? Everything you've spent the last eighteen years preparing for is ruined. Your son is gay." Theo practically kicked his door open. This couldn't be happening, but he could already picture the disappointment in his Mother's eyes.

"Theo this is not the end of the world!" Ariana followed him out. Now this was the nephew she could handle. The one that had ghastly outbursts whenever he was angered. "For Heaven's sake this is supposed to be a happy time! Not a catastrophe!"

"It might as well be." Everything seemed to be slipping, which is first for Theo in his 'planned from birth' lifestyle. "I'll be the most famous laughing stock in the world. Just picture. 'Theodore Corvinus-the gay Sorcerer'. What a title."

Ariana cringed. "Since when do you care about what others think?"

"I don't care what they think about me, Auntie. It's the family name. Our aim is to be the most respected Magicals on the planet and...and now look at me." Theo leaned on the car hood. He promised his Father that he'd take care of this family and make him proud. But right about now he's probably turning in his grave. "Picture me, with a boyfriend, asking the Council to let me join. Everyone thinks I'll be chosen once one of the old geezers kick the bucket."

The Magic Council is the organization that controls the Magical world. When one of the ten members die, a new one is to be chosen from only the most powerful families. And being chosen means becoming a Sorcerer or a Sorceress. It means being able to wield the strongest power in the universe. To have the closest thing to a direct connection to the Goddess-it was the ultimate honor.

Though other homosexual Soulmates do exist, and Theo doesn't think any of the current Council members are homophobic, he doubts they'll approve of him. Even if it were just for the public sake, they'd toss him out as soon as they see him, and his family’s reputation would be ruined.

"Maybe..." Ariana twiddled her thumbs. "Maybe if we told my sister, she could arrange something. Something that would hide him somewhere, so nobody would have to know." She nudged Theo lightly. She hated to see him so distraught. "Do you think that could work?"

"I don't know, I-" Theo stopped as he spotted something strange from where they stood in the trees.

A truck pulled up to the back of the mansion and two figures jumped out. They were obviously Human, but Theo couldn't see their faces. The only one he did recognize was the Witch who came out to meet them.

Melinda.

'/,

Melinda couldn't help but smile as her loyal pet ran up to meet her. Adrian, her 'boyfriend', seemed ecstatic to see her. His friend, however, did not.

Mikel hung back as Adrian greeted his girlfriend. He planted a quick kiss on her cheek. "Hey babe, how's my lovely little princess?" Adrian was a simple boy with dark hair and light blue eyes. He worked in a mechanic shop in town, so he was a little muscular, but overall entirely simple. An 'easy to control type' is how Melinda saw him. Though the other Human seemed much different.

"Fine." Melinda offered a fake, but kind smile to Mikel. "And you are...?"

"Mikel." He answered curtly. Oh, how she liked the challenge in that tone. But Mikel didn't mean to seem challenging; he just knew her reputation. Eventually she'd grow bored of Adrian, or he'd lose his usefulness and she'd dump him. Just like she did the other countless boys that she dated. Melinda Corvinus didn't attend college or high school, but they both had a name for her there. The Siren, is what they called her; perfectly beautiful but hopelessly dangerous.

The ‘simple town boy’ seemed to forget about that entirely the moment she sang for him. "Thank you for coming. I know I'm asking a lot." She still plastered that obviously fake smile on her purple stained lips. Though, Adrian seemed entirely oblivious to her 'good girl' act. Which made him the loyal pawn that she liked.

Melinda didn't let Mikel's lack of interest phase her. She's managed amazing feats with just a little magic and sensuality. After she's done with Adrian, she decided to have Mikel. After all, he seemed like the much better package.

"So, what're we doing, and how much are you paying?" Mikel noticed her wandering stare as they talked. She liked his build. He obviously did something to stay in good shape, because he looked much better than Adrian, and he was taller too. Though she really liked his face. A decent head of black hair, strong jawline, and eyes that looked like they could kill if angered. She really liked him; she could play with him.

"Oo, a business man, huh?" She was just teasing as she batted her long eyelashes. He looked more like the bad boy type. Melinda reached into her pocket and tossed something at him, but only to him. Adrian was doing this for free.

A square, and gaudy, gold earring rest in his palm. "They're real gold." Melinda told him. "If you pawn it in the pawnshop down on main, they'll give you a pretty penny." Little did Mikel know, Melinda knew the girl who worked in the pawnshop. She'd recognize the earrings when he tried to pawn it and turn him into the police for the theft Melinda will just happen to report after today. She always had a plan, and she could use it to her advantage this time. Bailing him out of jail would be the key she’d use to stab her influence into him.

"Alright..." Mikel didn't know much about jewelry, but he knew the Corvinus family was loaded, so he didn't question it. "But what are we doing?"

Adrian shifted his weight nervously. He didn't like the way his girlfriend was looking at his friend. "Didn't you say we were messing with your brother?"

"I did." Melinda pulled down the tailgate and reached for the closest box. Inside were the ingredients she needed to finish the brew that was boiling in her room. She wanted to perform a special spell for the guests tonight, but if anything went missing from her Mother's stash, she'd be suspicious.

It was times like these when having a dopey Human boyfriend really came in handy. "Adrian, why don't you start carrying this to my room?" Adrian immediately perked up and grabbed the box. He'd do anything to show how much he loved her.

"Mikel, was it?" Melinda asked as her boyfriend went in the backdoor. "You come with me and I'll show you what to do." She stepped closer and lightly pressed herself on his crossed arms. Mikel looked away awkwardly. Melinda was beautiful sure, but she was also his friend's girlfriend. He clearly wasn't comfortable with this. "And when you're done, we can talk about other things." He didn't react, so she pulled out the other earring to gain his interest. "Like this."

And with that inappropriate advance, she suddenly left, so Mikel could watch her curves work as she walked away.