Chapter 18- Wicked Forest

Levi couldn’t believe what Drake was planning. How could his father agree to it? He knew that Drake struggled to handle their curse more than most. To allow a bunch of high school kids to party in the woods would be suicide.
“Father, can I speak with you,” his father was in a deep conversation with Jeannette, but Levi couldn’t wait until they got home.
“You can’t let him have a party in the woods.”
“Hold on right there. You do not have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do. Do you understand me?”
“Yes sir,” Levi’s panic was replaced with the feeling of a child being scolded.
“I am asking you to reconsider. Drake still struggles with the curse, and I fear he may bring unwanted attention to us,”
“The party is Drake’s reward for finding us Crystal. How can I take that back?” Levi knew when he was beaten and left it. He would just have to think of another way to stop the party from going ahead.
“I think you have better things to be doing than worrying about a school party. Like wooing your bride.”
***
The ball dragged on. Crystal was introduced to Seth and Mary Carmichael. Seth seemed to give her an eerie feeling. When she was near him, she had the feeling of caution, while Mary seemed like a sweet and caring woman who put Crystal at ease. By the time the clock chimed midnight she was exhausted and glad to see the first guests leave. Levi came to stand beside her as she waved of the guests wishing them a goodnight like a good host.
“Don’t let him have the dance in the woods. It is not safe,” he whispered into her ear. His warm breath sent chills down her spine. Gulping Crystal nodded.
He smiled as his parents accompanied by Drake stepped into the hall. “Goodnight, Crystal. It was a pleasure to meet you,” he picked up her clammy hand and placed a kiss on her warm skin. His lips grazed against her hand in a feather like touch.
“Until we meet again,” he said giving her a small bow.
She wished them goodnight and took their departure as her excuse and cue to leave the party. As soon as the door shut behind them, she bounded up the first couple of stairs.
“Where are you going?” her mother asked, hands on her slender hips.
“Bed,” Crystal replied praying she didn’t make her endure more of the ball.
“Wasn’t he a delightful young man? Nothing like the rumours or legends,” Jeannette gushed.
“Yes mother.”
“Goodnight, dear.”
“Night,” she gave them a quick wave and rushed up the stairs. The quicker she was out of view the less likely her mother would call her back.
***
The last of the guests left. The door closing behind them sent a spark of fear down Ruby’s spine. Her mother gave her a deadly look indicating that Ruby should follow.
Each step her mother took matched her beating heart. With shaky hands she closed the office door and stood while her mother took a seat behind the desk.
“Sit,” Jeannette ordered.
“Thank you but I would rather stand,” her voice was strained and portrayed the fear she tried to mask.
“Very well. It has come to my attention that the baby you are carrying is not Gregg’s. Is this true?” Ruby scoffed; she was playing a game. Jeannette knew it was true. Pearl never gets anything wrong.
“Yes.”
“Who is the father?” she demanded.
“That is something I do not want to disclose,” Ruby said firmly.
“Is that right? I am sure you are aware of the consequences of….”
“Get it over with mother, humiliate me, and banish me. Do what you must,”
“Is that what you would like me to do?” Ruby didn’t answer her. She knew if she did that Jeannette would twist her words.
“You have two choices. You can face the elders and allow them to set your fate, or you can pretend this child is Gregg’s. I will make sure that Pearl’s lips are sealed.”
Ruby stared at her mother for a long time. It wasn’t like her. Daughter or no daughter, Jeannette didn’t have a motherly bone in her body, protecting her children was something she knew nothing about.
“Why would you do that?” she whispered.
“We are so close, and this will ruin everything. You have brought shame on us, something I cannot allow.”
“You want me to lie?”
“It is for the best.”
Ruby walked home with her hand on her stomach. The baby growing inside of her would reveal its true identity the day she gave birth. For the time being she would go along with her lie. It would give her time to sort out her next move.
***
As Crystal undressed into her pyjamas she thought about her new dilemma.
The school Halloween dance was to be held in Wicked Forest.
Levi hadn’t been following her, well that is what he had said and for some reason she believed him. So, who was? Then there were the glowing orange eyes. It wasn’t safe and she knew it.
But how would she convince Drake to change his mind? She had to come up with a plan and fast.
The next morning Crystal attended class, within the community hall, a lesson in healing by using what nature provided.
“There are many plants with healing properties. Many which have different skills. You just need to know what these plants are and the skills they hold.
Now here we have Basil. Good to season food but also can help to heal cuts and scrapes.
As witches we can speed up this process. All we have to do is place one leaf, over a wounded area and will our magic to heal.
It is as simple as that. Just imagine the wound closing and healing, your magic infused with the basil leaf will do the rest.”
Crystal was enjoying the lesson. For once she thought it was something that could come in handy in the future. Especially with Drake set on having the Halloween Ball inside Wicked Forest.
“Levi Carmichael was such a flirt. Did you see the way he was looking at me,” Jenny said loudly as they examined the rest of the plants that Mr. Dean had placed on their tables?
“You two would look so cute together,” Heather, Jenny’s best friend replied. Crystal smiled. Jenny could brag all she wanted about Levi; it didn’t bother her. He wasn’t the one she wanted. Drake’s face flashed in her mind and her smile grew.
“What are you grinning about?” Jenny demanded.
“Nothing, for me to know and you to find out,” Crystal taunted, laughing.
The week leading up to the Halloween party, went by quickly. Still Drake was adamant that the party would be held within the woods and the entire school was alive with excitement. All accept those who were from the Starlight community. To them it installed terror.
“Is he trying to kill the entire school?” Hugo asked as she placed her books in her locker.
“Oh, come on. It is a creepy forest. Their teenagers of course they wanna have the scare of their lives,” Crystal said even though her stomach was weighed down with dread.
“I can’t believe your mother, or the elders haven’t put a stop to it,”
“Hugo, it is just a party. Relax,” Crystal found herself using the exact words Drake had used with Levi.
“Yeah, in a deadly wood,” Hugo muttered as they left the school building.
“You going?” she asked. He raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
“I would like to see tomorrow. You?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” his eyes went wide, and he stopped walking.
“Even after all the stories?” he asked in a deep voice. They were just stories. But were they? Apart of her was afraid.
“Yeah, come on the place can’t be that bad. Look at the Carmichael’s all the rumours about them being beasts. Granted they’re arrogant and stuck up their own butts but they’re not beasts,”
“No, just good actors.”
“Hugo?”
“Seth Carmichael gave me the creeps.”
Crystal couldn’t argue with that. He gave her the same feeling.
“Good luck Crystal. I think your mother as gone mad,” sticking out her tongue and bumping her shoulder with him she replied, “Thanks I am goanna need it.”
“You will need more than luck,” he taunted. She had a feeling that he was right. The forest didn’t feel safe anymore and it wasn’t just her life but those of innocent teenagers just looking for a good time. She just hoped that the night wouldn’t unfold into a nightmare. Yet her instinct told her that the worst was yet to come. Hugo was right to stay away.
He was a smart young man. Granted a nerd and know it all. But he also was the only member of the coven to actually talk to her and try to be a friend. Even now that they were no longer promised to each other he had sought her out and expressed his concerns.