40: The Demizen Gala

First thing first, I need to find Gretchen since she’s hellbent on making sure I’m present. It would be nice to see Monty too, but if she isn’t hanging around Gretchen then she’ll have to wait.

Between all the jewel tone dresses, black crisp suits, it’s a sea of people. Trying to find one average gray haired witch isn’t going to be easy. And finding her before Gabriel finds me causes my blood to race.

A quick check of my phone tells me I have twenty minutes at least to find Gretchen, say my hellos and then go on my search for Phillip.

I weave around small cliques that huddle together. A group of vampires here. A pack of wolves there. A coven of witches everywhere. So many faces, but none are familiar. I debate on switching my plans. Maybe I should be looking for Phillip first and proving my attendance to Gretchen on hold.

It’s only when my eyes land on Phillip that I know what I have to do. Sorry Gretchen. My feet want to pick up pace as I make my way to him, clearly in a hurry to get this done and over with. Since the moment I stepped inside, I could care less about the elegant decorations with a witchy twist. I could care less about the amount of delicious looking food and the non stop flow of drinks. I’m here for one...maybe two things and to be dazzled isn’t one them.

Phillip, the pompous ass he is, ignores me for a few seconds after I approach him. I wait, patiently until I’m patient no more. I clear my throat as loud as I can demanding his attention. I’m not one of his loyal followers or some groupie. With the chance of me pissing him off brings a feistiness to my composure.

He shoos whoever it was he was speaking with. One business meet to the next. “Hazel, my dear, so nice,” his eyes roam over the gown, “to see you,” he says clearly appalled by the alterations.

One point for me.

“We can skip the small talk. I know where Tessa is, so let’s just finish this. I tell you where she is and you end our blood oath. A deal is a deal.”

“And where’s Gabriel? I was under the impression that you two would be attending together.”

I hesitate, “Does it matter? Our ties are done aren’t they?”

“Are they?” His tone is flat and he can see right through me.

One point for him.

I ignore his question. His game of cat and mouse regrettably makes me nervous. “Tessa is in The Old Country, Louisiana. 619 Lamont Street. Gray house, white shutters.” The words spew from my mouth in a rush. It feels good to get it off my chest.

“Louisiana is quite big.”

“Abita Springs. There’s human lore of a spring with medicinal qualities. Kinda right, kinda not.” I shrug my shoulders. “She’s using ancient old magic to help elevate her spells and is quite positive that it's cloaking her. She’ll be right out in the open.”

“I’m impressed. I was starting to worry. It’s been almost a month and not even an inkling of news, but now,” he claps his hands together producing a loud snap. My eyes search for anybody that could be staring at us, for any unwanted attention, “eureka, but,” he pauses for several seconds, “the blood oath will remain a weekly deed until I have Tessa in my hands. That’s the deal. I’ve learned to never trust a witch.”

“And I’ve learned never to trust a vampire.”

“Very true.” He says with a smug smile.

We stare at each other for a moment, silently daring the other one to speak. It’s finally when I get enough courage under his stare to get my lips moving. “I should get going. People to see.”

“You are going to stay and see the honorable covens? Aren’t you?” He quickly adds before I have a change to get away.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.” I try my best to get the right kind of snarky attitude that’s bound to get under his skin.

When he flashes me that tight lipped smile I know I succeeded. In a clearly overly confident strut, I begin to go back to my search of Gretchen. Until a pair of hands grab me from behind forcing me to a stop. “There you are. Where the hell have you been?” Gabriel nearly shouts at me. “I thought I was picking you up at your place at eight?”

“I spent the night at Avery’s.” I quickly change the subject. “How was your little trip? I hope Phillip didn’t work you too hard. He at least made sure you were fed, right?”

He’s quick to reply. “Yeah, of course.” Either he’s completely confused about where my stand-offishness is coming from or he’s just a really good actor not showing an ounce of panic from being caught.

“Hazel.” A cheerful voice sneaks up behind us. Quinn quickly gives me a hug before holding me out at arms length, looking me over. “You look amazing.” Her face goes from cheerful to serious, “You scared us half to death last night. You guys just left from out of nowhere. Avalos was in a panic until he finally got a text from Avery.”

“Sorry. We didn’t mean to ditch out, but-”

“No problem.” She says cutting off my apology. Her eyes quickly scan the room around us. “I’ll catch you later.” She gives me another hug before she disappears in the crowd.

“You were out last night?” An inkling of panic in his voice.

“Yeah. It was Avery’s birthday party. I don’t know what time it was that we actually left Young & Restless. What about you? What time did you leave?”

And then it all clicks. His face goes from tense to no emotion at all. I can’t help but to smile as he squirms under my gaze finally realizing that he’s been caught red handed.
“You don’t have to keep up the act anymore. I told Phillip where Tessa is. He should have her in a couple days and this stupid oath will finally be over, so there’s no obligation between us or falsified feelings.” I go to turn away, but he grabs me so harsh that I twist around nearly losing my footing in these ridiculously high heels.

“It isn’t that easy.” Our faces are inches apart.

“Oh, but it is.” I shove him away and regain my stance. “I’m out. My job is done. End of story.”

“That would be the case if you were here because of Phillip.” He leans in, his lips touch my ear, “Hazel...Love…”

My mouth drops open unable to work over the rage boiling up inside me from him calling me Love.. My brain is completely void of thought, except for anger and a slew of cuss words. When I finally can get a simple word, “what,” to come out of my mouth the crowd opens up to reveal Gretchen.

Her eyes light up when she sees me, her hand flailing through the air urging me to come over. I don’t move, but Gabriel places his palm on my back and easily pushes me forward and doesn’t stop until we’re face to face with Gretchen and her coven.

Great.

“Hazel, you look stunning.” Gretchen compliments me.

“Anyone can look amazing with a little help from Avery.”

I catch Gabriel eyes’s flash to the hem of my dress, the much-shorter-than-the-last-time-he-saw-it hem. But I can’t keep my attention on Gabriel for long as Gretchen quickly fills the silence between us.

“Hazel, you’ve met some of the coven. Aesha, Penny, Lily and Brooklynn.” I actually can hear Gretchen introduce them this time around.

My eyes linger on witch-face Brooklynn a little too long. Her slender body in a skin tight midnight blue dress. Her reddish blonde hair is pinned back on one side showcasing the faint bite mark made from gabriel just last night. Her pale blue eyes linger on me a little too long as well, no doubt thinking of various horrendous insults.
Gretchen, completely unaware of the tension between us, continues, “you haven’t met Harlot and Winter. Girls this is Hazel, one of my amazing witches that help me out at Mystic Moon.”

“Nice to meet you.” I mumble as they mumble their own hellos.

Gabriel nods his head, “Ladies.” I try not to look at him, but I do. I watch his eyes come to a dead stop on Brooklynn. It’s just a split second, but seems so much longer as they glare at each other. Out of nowhere Gabriel tightens his grip on my waist nearly causing me to flinch.

“I should go find Monty. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” I say strictly to Gretchen ignoring her coven.

Gabriel keeps his bone crushing hold on me as we walk away. I try to squirm out of grasp several times, but my efforts are unsuccessful.

“Don’t tell me you weren’t expecting to see her here.” I snap deciding to get on his nerves instead. “You can have a minute, hell more than a minute with her if you’d like.” My tone is even and strong. Not too sassy, but unable to keep all of the sharpness out.

“It isn’t what you think. There’s more-”

I interrupt him not wanting to hear the excuses. “Heard that before.” I aggressively twist out of his grasp. “Would you just give me a little space.” My breath comes quickly and a lightheadedness comes over me.

Gabriel opens his mouth, but I quickly cut him off again, unwilling to hear what he has to say. “I’m fine.”

“I wasn’t going to ask if you were.” For the first time tonight he sounds defeated.

And for some stupid reason it doesn’t make me feel any better.