When Magic Flows

THE YULE BALL

My gown was spectacular. I looked like a princess. Not that I considered myself one. Everybody around me fights a lot to keep me grounded, but I swear that this light golden gown helped my skin to glow! With Sybil’s help, there was now a high bun in my head adorned with a delicate tiara. I was covered in a light makeup that also made my skin glow, a little bit of mascara here, lipstick there, and voilà! I was ready.

Sybil was almost ready too. Her long dark hair was combed in an elaborate braid with small adornments here and there. Her emerald dress matched her eyes, and she also looked very elegant. When she was done, she looked at me through the mirror and smiled. Tonight, we are going to parade at the ballroom, and she knew it. Not that she was willing to do it (well, I assumed it now that she told me her secret and the love that she nourished for that human guy). I hope that she could find a way to be accepted by him and that her family and our community would accept him too. As my best friend, her happiness was important for me, and I would refuse to be completely happy myself if one of my loved ones was living in less than the utmost bliss.

Before we left, we grabbed our coats, because it was winter after all and it started to snow. When we finally left my room, it was almost time for the opening dance, I was beyond excited to see how people would be dressed, the room decoration, the lights… It was always astonishing, and I would definitely be amazed. So, we carefully went downstairs, and the driver took us in one of the family cars to the ballroom. Since this was a big celebration for our community and we still have no place to host the ball, we were driven through the city that at this time of the year was filled with Christmas lights. 

I knew that regular humans have no magic in them. They could use nature but not channel its powers like us, but I swear that with the lights out there they could produce magic, at least they could produce warmth in my heart. We exchange gifts at this time of the year but don't celebrate Christmas as they do, but that never took away my enchantment for the decorations and I am always infected by this magical spirit that wanders around this time of the year. 

And then we finally were in the ballroom. As we entered the premises, we were greeted differently this year. And Sybil whispered in my ear: “They are doing this just because a new leadership will ascend soon. Why do people have to treat us as if we were paranormal?”

“Because in a certain way, we are, honey. Well, not quite different from them, but for regular humans, we definitely are.” I laughed. “Well, let them treat us the way they want, and may the universe help us to discern who has good intentions from those who seek our company only for what we can offer them, but I decided that tonight is for lots of fun and maybe to meet new and interesting people. Can the young warlocks here consider you, my friend, out of the picture?”

“I wouldn’t say that so soon, A. Everybody has expectations, and honestly, I still don’t know how to make everything work yet. Maybe I could talk to one or two guys” she told me smiling to a handsome guy in the corner.

The coven always invites some witches and warlocks from neighbor territories to visit us in high-profile events like this, so tonight it wouldn’t be different and different faces didn’t startle me. Obviously, the invitees were checked, so no danger in here.

The room was impressive! All the winter lights and decorations, flowers, ice fountains, everything a traditional ball demand. I knew that a good part of these decisions would fall on my lap soon and I had no idea how I was going to decide this kind of thing, but I felt I should compliment my mom for this. It was fantastic. I couldn’t wait to see the light effects when the dancefloor was full of people jumping like crazy. Haha haha, this would be awesome!

As we approached my family’s table in the middle of the border, my eye captured a movement from a tall person coming toward us. As the light shone on his face, I could recognize him. It was Alistair, all pompous, thinking of himself as super important and coming toward us with a smile spread across his face. I think I almost broke a rib trying to hold on to laughter and tried my best and calm face.

“Ladies, how are you doing tonight?” He did not even wait for us to answer and kept talking: “Allegra, would you give me the immense pleasure to grant me this first dance?”

If I could, my jaw would be dropped in that moment, but I held on to my composure, nodded, and simply whispered to him “Of course, Alistair. You may”

“See you after dinner then. Sybil” he greeted my friend and I was in shock. In which decade does he think he is? Why was he always so formal like that? Does he think that he needs to look older to be more respectable? And why – oh, why in the hell did I agree to dance with him? I was planning to ask my dad for the first dance, or one of the guys that I met from school but apparently, now I don’t need to ask anyone. I already have a partner for it.

“Why did you do that? Are you out of your mind, Allegra?” Another shock was Sybil calling me by my name. 

“I don’t know, Sy. Maybe I was fearing to not have anyone to dance with me in the opening dance and you know that we should be there! I think I just panicked and had no proper reaction. Now I have to spend some time dancing with him, and I don’t even know if I want it!” Okay, if I wasn’t panicking before, I was pretty sure I was panicking now.

“Calm down, A,” Sybil told me and now she seems calmer. “You said you would go, and you will, but it’s just a dance! He is not proposing… yet” Now she started to laugh at me! 

“Oh, shut up, your dork!” I told her. I was already uncomfortable with all the situation. I didn’t need her mocking me on top of it.

“Oh, come on, let’s mingle.” She told me, taking me by the arm and we moved around the ballroom greeting people, catching up with some acquaintances, laughing out loud with our friends from school, and having lots of fun, and then finally it came dinner time. At last! Because I was starving. 

 Clams, shrimps, mini sandwiches, and other finger foods. Boiled lobsters, juicy slices of beef, pork pies, roasted chicken… you could find whatever you like. And then apple cider, wine, a wide variety of juices, fruits, pies, and cakes. It was a real banquet and the variety was so wide that you barely could choose what you would have. Good food, and good friends. What else would you like for a night?

I was so distracted that I didn’t even notice that the dancing time was coming close. Maybe a little too soon the MC announced that it was time to dance, and when I realized that Alistair was coming in my direction, I started to get uncomfortable all over again. This time he hasn’t that arrogant smile plastered on his face. He was looking a bit nervous even. 

“May I have this dance, my lady?” He asked me at the moment he approached me.

“Of course, kind gentleman,” I told him trying to joke a little bit. 

He looked a bit out of place now.

“Oh, please, don’t worry, I was just trying to break the ice. It seems that you always are on guard near to us. You must know that you can be yourself a little bit around us too, right?”

He got a little embarrassed when he took my hand and guided me to the dancefloor. 

“Come on, man. I am just trying to figure you out a little bit, ok? Just relax and let’s dance.” I decided on a more “aggressive” approach, so I could try to understand what this guy was up to. If I stood there quietly, I bet he would cover me with questions or small talk about how good looking he was, so I decided to start the questions before they were asked to me. 

“All right. Let’s talk about something else.” I proposed and he seemed to be a little bit relieved. “Let’s start again. Hi there, I’m Allegra Scott. Nice to meet you” I tried to save this conversation and the dance that just started.

“Alistair Wardwell. Nice to meet you too,” he told me smiling while he was guiding me through the dancefloor. He seems to be enjoying that moment. Genuinely, for the first time since we met.

And we finally start talking. We talked about life, about what we liked to do, musical taste… a little bit of everything. He wasn’t that bad when he left that façade out. And I think I met a nice guy that night, not the one everyone was used to.

Alistair was a tall blonde guy, with ice blue eyes. He was strong and although his guard was low at this moment, you could be sure that no one could make him do anything that he did not want to. He had an aura of willpower that you could almost cut with a knife, and it was turned to me. Of course, my legs got a little bit wobbly, but I dare you to not be like this if you were me. 

“Allegra, I actually asked you to dance with me because I wanted to get closer to you, to get to know you better. You’re such a beautiful girl, I don’t know why but I feel that we could do this right. So, I have to ask: Do you want to go on a date with me?”

At the beginning of the night, my answer would definitely be no, but we had such a good conversation that I believe I should give it a chance. This guy without his pompous mask was decent and smart. It was easy to talk to him, so I made up my mind and told him “Yes. Name a place and time, I’ll be there.”

He smiled, relieved, and just told me “Excellent! Give me your number and I’ll call you so we can arrange this date. Now I think I should give you to your dad. He’s approaching us for the next dance. See you later, Allegra.”

I liked this version of him and wondered why he hides from everyone like that, but I didn’t have much time to think about it, because my dad was arriving for the next dance and as soon as he arrived, he started to discuss the guy who asked me for my first dance.