Chapter 17- Wicked Forest

Crystal was exactly what Drake said she was. Stunning, her beauty was natural, and her eyes were memorizing. The instant he had seen her walk down the stairs his heart picked up its pace and his eyes were glued to her body. From the moment she laid eyes on him she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in him. Her body language said it all. Stiff and ridged she stood. Her smile was more of a grimace, and it didn’t touch her eyes. She was the first girl he had met that showed no interest in him at all. That only intrigued him more. He wanted to know more about her. Figure out who she was. It was a feeling he had never had before.
He gazed into her green eyes as they danced and smiled. She was perfection. He felt someone tap him on his back. He didn’t need to turn around to find out who it was. Drake. He wanted to wrap his hands around his neck. The cheek of him?
***
Stars filled the night sky their shiny existence the promise of life in the darkness. It was how Crystal felt at that moment, lost to the bleak shadowy world. The things she had always wanted. To be a normal teenager, walking hand in hand with Drake had finally come within reach. But the cruel hand of fate snatched that chance away from her. It was like, it was almost there, just out of reach, no amount of stretching would work.
Crystal looked back at her home, the pure white building that had housed most of her misery; however, music and laughter poured out into the darkness, a sound the horrid place should never echo. She couldn’t stand to be around her coven, or her parents. They were the very reason she was in the position she was.
The forest called to her, the sweet melody of nature sang a tune that warmed her cold heart, pulling her forward.
Crystal followed the urge to be surrounded by the beauty of the wild. Each step she took was slow, holding her dress up at her knees she walked into the woods, enveloped by the canopy of trees. The house disappeared, but the music flooded out into the forest.
Crystal walked further into the darkness. She blew on fire files that then gave off a green glow. Her favourite rock came into view. Crystal sat down and stared into the darkness. A rustle caused her to scan her surroundings. Nothing. She was alone. Probably an animal. Still Crystal had the feeling that she was being watched. A shiver ran down her back as fear wrapped its cold hands around her bare skin.
Getting up she took one last look out into the trees. A pair of orange eyes locked onto hers. Supernatural and deadly looking.
Her body turned to stone; she was frozen in terror. “Crystal!” the sound of her name echoing made her spin around. It sounded like Ruby was looking for her. Turning back to the glowing orange eyes, they were gone.
Crystal headed back to her house. Ruby stood with wide eyes in the centre of the back garden.
“What the…”
“Crystal, the forest is dangerous,” all Crystal could do was nod. She let Ruby lead her back into the house.
“Mother has been looking for you.”
“I am sure she has,” Crystal said dryly. All she wanted to do was go to her room and hide away. Instead, she still had to please her mother and become acquainted with her future husband.
“Where have you been?” her mother hissed in her ear and pulled her to one side by the elbow. She had come out of nowhere and caught Crystal off guard.
“I needed some air.”
“This is your party, your guests. You cannot abandon your guests,” Jeannette lectured.
“Whatever.”
“Don’t you whatever me lady. Smile and act like you are enjoying yourself,” Crystal grimaced which made her mother shake her head.
“You look beautiful. How about a dance with your old man,” Crystal’s father winked, and she gave him a bright smile?
Linking her arm through his, she walked beside him to the dance floor, instantly falling into step with the rest of the ball room dancers.
“You having fun?” he asked her and she rolled her eyes. “Sweetheart. I hate to see you like this,”
“Like what?” Crystal asked even though she had a rather promising idea what her father was talking about.
“The sadness in your eyes. It is easy to see,” Crystal let her arms fall away from her father.
“Then make it stop,” she whispered.
“I can’t. It is the only way for our people. The way it has been for hundreds of years.”
“Maybe it is time to make a change. I am human, I have rights. Shouldn’t I be able to choose who I love? When I get married or when I have kids? Right now, I feel like I am just a piece in a game that my mother is playing and she holds all the rules.” Glancing at the ground she whimpered, “You’re supposed to protect me,”
“Your mother is doing what needs to be done,” he defended.
“At what cost?” she didn’t wait for him to answer, rather she walked away. Levi stood in the corner of the room speaking to Jenny, she watched as she passed. Jenny ran her slender finger along his chest and laughed. His eyes met hers and she quickly looked away.
Crystal halted at the kitchen door. No one really wanted to speak to her at the ball, however, her sister Ruby was the exception and she stood blocking the back door.
Turning on her heel, Crystal walked back through the house and out the front door. She sat on the swing on the front porch and looked out onto the street.
She heard the front door open and close.
She didn’t look. She kept her eyes focused firmly ahead, even when the swing moved slightly and groaned from extra weight.
“You know. I don’t want this either,” a masculine voice spoke. Crystal turned her head slowly to meet Levi’s brown eyes.
“Then why me?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.”
“You must. You’re the one that asked for my hand in marriage. The one that has been following me in the forest and…”
“Wooh hold on there. First, I never asked to marry you. Second I haven’t been in your part of the woods in a long time.” Crystal’s heart stopped beating and her breath caught in her throat.
“Then who was it?” she asked herself out loud.
“I don’t know. But you should stay clear of those woods.”
“What did you mean that you never asked for….” Crystal was cut off as Drake came barrelling out of the house.
“Guess what, Princess. Uncle Seth is giving us permission to hold the school Halloween dance in Wicked Forest this year!”
“No! … I mean I don’t think that is a promising idea,” Crystal jumped up from her seat.
“Are you crazy? Halloween is a full moon.” Crystal saw the rage in Levi’s eyes and the way he clenched his jaw.
“Relax man,” Drake took a step back holding up his hand. There was obvious tension between the two boys.