Enchantress

Chapter 1

The first day of college is supposed to be the best right? Becoming independent and really feeling like an adult. Then why do I feel so lost? So scared?

“Taryn? Taryn? Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, mom, I’m listening. Don’t do drugs, don’t party, stay away from boys, study hard. I got it!”

We had just finished lugging the rest of my bags into my dorm room. My roommate hadn’t arrived yet judging by the empty space on the other side of the room. We said our goodbyes. Mom was holding the tears back. No doubt she’ll be crying the whole way home. I decided I should settle in and unpack. Then the door opened. A slender figure stood in the doorway. She was about five foot six with auburn hair and blue eyes. She had on a light summer dress with tan strappy sandals. She wore dark sunglasses that illuminated her perfectly arched brow and her full lips were coated in pale gloss.

“My names Vivian Warren but you can call me Viv. You are no doubt my new roomie! I can tell we're going to be the best of friends! You must be Taryn!”

“The one and only! Nice to meet you!”

“Ready to unpack?”

“Yes!!!!!! My brother Malachi wants me to meet up with him afterward. He’s a junior. He should be about done with practice. He was sad to miss my parents this morning but he’s excited to grab dinner with me tonight. Want to come?”

She paused for a min, deep in thought, and then said, “Sure, I’d love to come. If we're going to be roommates, then we're going to be spending a lot of time together. I guess I should get to know your brother.”

We quickly unpacked and set up our space to suit both of us. It was already a quarter after five.

“We better get ready for dinner.”

She ran to the closet and started pulling out outfits.

“Which one do you like best?”

She laid out a black form fitting dress, a red tank top matched with a black blazer and black dress pants, and a pair of dark colored jeans and a white sweater on her bed.

“I like the black dress.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Go put it on!”

“I thought we were picking an outfit for you. I can’t pull that off.”

“Yes, you can. Try it on!”

I slipped out of my jeans and tank top. I slid the black dress on. She was right. I hugged all the curves of my athletic toned body. I stared at myself in the full-length mirror. My dark black hair set nicely against my olive skin. My piercing blue eyes set seductively below my long full eyelashes and perfectly arched brow. The dress was strapless, held up by my prominent D cup. It hugged the curves of my hips and my behind. The hem of the dress ended just above mid-thigh extenuating the length of my legs. She handed me a pair of six-inch Marc Jacob black heels with red soles. It made my average five-foot four-inch frame into a six-foot Amazonian beauty. I quickly did my make up and threw some large curls into my hair with the curling iron.

“You look amazing! Who knew there was a knockout under all of that clothing!” We both burst hysterically into laughter.

“Now I don’t know what I’m going to wear. Nothing I put on is going to look amazing when I’m standing next to you.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You looked like a model walking through the door earlier.”

I ran to my closet and pulled out my special dress. I would never let anyone near this back home, but I really think it would look great on Viv. I laid it on the bed and unzipped the black bag that covered it. I pulled out a bright pink dress. It was thin strapped, tight against the bust area with a flirt mid-thigh skirting.

“I love it!” she squealed. Throwing her clothes to the floor and pulling the dress on. “I have the perfect shoes for this!”

She pulled a pair of clear platform sandals from her closet. She put them on and quickly did her hair and makeup.

“See, now were the hottest bitches on campus! It’s six o’clock. Are you ready to go to dinner? My brother just texted and he wants to meet at O’Shea’s Pub.”

“That’s one of the hottest jock bars on campus!”

“Malachi is going to die when he sees me in this. He’ll probably try to cover me up with his coat.” We both let out a giggle.

We hailed a cab to the pub. Lord knows I wasn’t walking that far in these heels. People were coming and going out the door when we pulled up. Inside people chattered about at the bar and on the dance floor. The walls were lined with booths and sports pennants and memorabilia. “Do you see your brother?” Viv asked.

I looked around studying faces and body structures trying to find Malachi. I hadn’t seen him since last Christmas. Suddenly, I felt an arm slide around my waist. I turned to see a hulking beast of a man in a red T-shirt. His arm muscles were so large the sleeves around them looked like they would burst any minute. He had a light blonde fade and green eyes. He must have been hitting a tanning bed, although I don’t know how he’d fit in one. He smiled at me flashing brilliantly white, straight, perfect teeth.

“Want to dance?”

“Actually, I’m here with someone. Maybe you could help me find him? Malachi Petrovian?”

Immediately his arm moved away from me. “Come with me.” He led Viv and I to a booth in the back corner where a group of people were sitting. Malachi didn’t see us coming because his back was to us but the guy across from him did and his eyes locked on mine, burning into me, searching for my soul. The girl next to Malachi turned to look at us.

“Malachi, these girls were looking for you.”

Malachi turned, stood ready to hug me until he saw the dress. “What are you wearing? Do you want my coat?”

I turned to Viv,” See I told you he would try to cover me up with his coat.” We both burst out in light laughter.

I turned back to him. “No, I don’t want your coat. I’m not cold. This is my roommate Vivian.”

He turned to her and extended his hand. “Any friend of my little sister is a friend of mine. I’m Malachi.”

“Vivian, but I go by Viv.” she said with a coy smile.

“Please have a seat ladies. This hulking guy right here is Micha. This is Genevieve and Alicia. This troublemaker over here is Domitri.”

Our eyes met again. He was drinking me in. “Why does my brother call you a troublemaker?”

Without another word he got up and walked toward the bar. I lost him in the crowd. Two minutes later there was a commotion in the direction he went. The crowd parted and he was on top of some guy punching him repeatedly. Malachi turned towards me, “That’s why he’s a troublemaker.”

He got up and ran towards the scuffle leaving Viv and I sitting there jaws agape.

“So, you are the famous Taryn. Your brother has told me a ton about you, like when you fell face first at the halftime show during the football game. I’m Genevieve, his girlfriend.”

Her face lit up with jealousy as her and Alicia started to laugh.

“Really, that’s interesting because He's told me nor our parents anything about you. Tell him I’ll catch up with him later. We have somewhere to be. Ready Viv?”

“Sure am. This party is going to be legendary! Later girls!”

We both got up in a rush and left them sitting there with their mouths still hanging open.

“Good save!” I said when we had finally made it out the door.

“I saw you grasping for straws. Are you ready to hit this party?”

“Party? I thought that was a bluff?”

“Do you think I would have dressed you this fabulous for dinner with your brother? We have an epic party to go to. We have to make good first impressions on campus.” she said with a laugh.

I had never been to a party before. I had never drunk either. I wasn’t even old enough to drink and neither was she.

“We have this weekend to party since classes don’t start until Monday. Are you ready to go hard?”

I grabbed her by the arm and halted her. “I’ve never been to a party or drank before.”

A puzzled look came across her face as the cab pulled to a screeching halt in front of us. “Let me guess, you’re a virgin too?” When I didn’t answer she rolled her eyes. “Well there’s a first time for everything. Get in the cab cupcake. Tonight, we are making memories!”

We pulled up to a large house just off campus. It was lit up and the music was turned up. We stepped out of the cab onto the curb.

“Where are we?”

“It's an off-campus house that some students have rented out. My friend Alex just moved in. She has five roommates and they decided to throw a rager. Are you ready for your first party?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We headed inside. The music was blaring, and they had turned the living room into a dance floor. There were a ton of people here. A bouncing bubbly blonde came running towards us in a red halter top and black mini skirt.

“Viv, you made it!”

“I brought my new roommate. Alex, Taryn, Taryn, Alex. Now that we're all acquainted, where can a girl get a drink around here?”

Alex got us all drinks and we proceeded to the dance floor. I was already feeling tipsy. The room was spinning. I was having a great time. I kept feeling like someone was watching me though. I was drunk. It was probably just my imagination. That’s when we locked eyes. He was across the room leaning up against the wall with a beer in his hand. There were some people standing there talking to him. Domitri responded to them but never took his eyes off me. I needed some air.

I slipped out onto the porch. The air was cool and crisp like the fall even though it was only the beginning of September. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see a rugged guy standing there, dark and brooding, only it wasn’t the dark and brooding guy I thought it was going to be. His brown hair tossed with the wind, if he put some gel in it would make a small mohawk. His brown eyes bore into me. We stood there in silence for a moment, just staring at one another. Finally, he took a few steps forward.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah I just needed some air.”

“I’m Kieran.”

“Taryn. That’s some party in there.”

“Yeah, my roommates and I throw some epic parties. They are the talk of campus. You a freshman?”

“Yeah. My roommate is a friend of Alex.”

“Alex has just become my favorite roommate.”

“Why is that?”

“Because she invited the most gorgeous girl on campus.”

He took a few steps closer to me. The porch was now beginning to spin. I lost my footing a little bit, but Kieran caught me. Just then Domitri stepped onto the porch.

“Hey Dom, what’s up man?”

His auburn shaggy fade blew with the autumn wind. His piercing blue eyes were burning into Kieran.

“The fresh meat on campus is stunning this year isn’t it?”

“Not particularly.”

“Think this freshman has a lot of potential?” he said with a sly smile.

“Nope, not at all.”

What an asshole! I was going back inside. Just as I made a move to leave Kieran swept me up into his arms.

“I think this one has potential.”

Domitri moved in front of him to block his way.

“No, I don’t think you do.” His Russian accent was strong now as where I hadn’t really noticed it before.” This one here is Malachi’s.”

Kieran cut him off at the sound of Malachi’s name. “He’s with Genevieve so why does he care?”

“Meet Taryn Petrovian.” He said with a smirk. “Malachi’s little sister.”

His whole tune changed then. He sat me back down. “I should at least make sure she gets home safe.”

“That’s my job.” Domitri scooped me up and carried me to his street bike. “Are you able to hold on?”

“Yeah.”

He got on the bike and I followed suit. I put the helmet on and leaned into him. I laid my head onto his back and held him tight. He smelled like cologne and Lilly’s. Before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of my dorm. When the bike came to a stop, I took my helmet off and handed it to him as he helped me off the bike. Before I could thank him for giving me a ride home, he scooped me up in his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you inside and putting you to bed. I promised Malachi I’d watch you and make sure you make it home safe. I owe him that.”

I was too tired to say what I wanted to say. I wanted to protest. I wanted him to put me down so I could storm off. This entire night my brother was having me babysat. Typical Malachi! I really didn’t want to be put down though. Part of me wanted to stay there nuzzled in his arms, in his sweet scent, forever. He carried me to my room. He sat me down on my bed and got me a glass of water and some aspirin.

“Take this. It will help with the hangover you’re going to have in the morning.”

I did as instruct. He pulled off the Marc Jacob heels and tossed them across the room. He pulled the blanket up over me and brushed the loose strands of hair out of my face.

“Sleep tight princess,” he said kneeling by my bed. He made a move to get up and I grabbed him. I was so drunk I didn’t even know what I was doing. The next thing I knew I had him in a full-on lip lock. For a moment, a small moment, he was kissing me back. His fingers were wrapped in my hair. Then suddenly, he jerked away and stood up.

“I’ve got to go. Be Careful with yourself.”

Then he was gone, and I was alone in the dark with my thoughts. Then there was just darkness as I drifted off into a deep sleep.