One by one the other Young Council members entered the debate room. Soon almost all the chairs were occupied except the Queen of Vampires' and the added chair for her sidekick.
"Why do we have to wait on the witch?" Colin complained. He slouched in his seat, resting his head on the back of his chair with long legs spread out before him.
"We are not just waiting on Brianna," Eric gritted out.
"Of course not. We're also waiting on her puppet," Colin shot back.
"It's funny that only the witch and her puppet as you call them are the only ones with a plan," Eric expressed. He leaned forward, bracing his elbow on the table. "I don't see you coming up with one, Colin. All you do is follow. If anyone should be called a puppet," Eric turned his head, glaring at Colin, "it's definitely you, Colin Hall."
Colin snickered at the hilarious statement before mimicking Eric's position. "Nice one, Eric Graham. Nice one. I'm sure your leader would be proud. That verbal diarrhea was superb."
Our guest, Sabrina banged a small fist on the table. "Would you two stop it! If you have nothing important to input then keep both your mouths shut."
As small as the female was, both males listened to her. All doubts about her were wiped away after the illustration of how she could handle the situation with those two.
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself at the sight of Colin submitting to a mere female. He did a lot of barking but behind it, he was just a puppy who needed petting.
Brian busted through the door with a large bag thrown over his shoulder. The bag resembled the one the mystical creature humans called Santa Claus carried around. Brian rested the load in the corner on the floor next to the door. Within a flash, he was gone and returned with two more.
The aroma of cakes tickled my nostrils. Josh sniffed the air like a puppy ready for his favorite treat.
"I guess, Santa came early," Josh snickered.
When all the bags were placed in the corner towards the window, Brian collapsed in the added chair between Eric and Drew. I doubt he even noticed the difference of seat he sat in from his usual. He rested his forehead against the table.
"Never again," he repeated over and over in a low groan.
"Good to know you became one of Santa's elf, Brian. Should I give you my Christmas list?" Colin teased.
Brian groaned aloud, provoking a chuckle from Josh.
"That isn't even half of it," he grumbled. "You should see my truck. It was torture. She stayed up all night baking."
"Baking?" Josh and Summer chided.
It was obvious from the scent of a bakery pouring out the bags on the floor.
Summer and Josh shared a glance, and Josh went on, "Like—"
"Cookies and cupcakes," Brian confirmed.
Josh's face lit up. He flashed me a grin. "Told you witches were hot."
Brian groaned. Colin rolled his eyes, and Courtney sighed.
"Morning guys," was the baker's greeting. "Sorry, we're late." She glanced at Brian. "Someone had to throw a tantrum before he came here."
Brian straightened. "I never threw a tantrum. You were the one who had to make sure everything was just right."
Brianna ignored him and found her seat. "So," she started, her voice steadying to an intoxicatingly authoritative tone. The one that pulled me from my slumber yesterday. The one that I couldn't keep hearing last night as I fought to sleep. "It has come to my knowledge there is a spell cast on the school." Black coated fingernails grazed the soft skin of her neck.
"Yeah," confirmed Sabrina.
"Makes sense," Jake nodded. "Yesterday was a shit show."
"I took a look at it when I arrived. The ingredients resemble that of a love spell," Sabrina stated.
"But, there's more to it," Amy added. "It seems ancient."
"Yeah," Brianna nodded. "At Eastmere University we were taught of an ancient love spell, but only with research did a witch get the opportunity to fully learn of such spells."
Sabrina sighed. "It took my grandmother ages to trust me enough to start teaching me ancient spells."
Those reactions were expected. The ancient spells were powerful and if not used correctly could cause a catastrophe.
The room grew silent before Jake asked, "Does anyone know how far the spell goes?"
"Sabrina and I checked the East and West dorm buildings and they weren't enveloped in the spell," Eric answered.
"I checked the south building," Amy joined, "and it, too, was clear."
"Then only the school is wrapped in the spell," Josh finished.
Another few minutes of silence fell over us.
"What's so special about Redwood University?" Lindsay whispered. Her gaze glued to the polished table.
"Love," Brianna answered. Her response was rewarded with puzzled stares and frowns. When she noticed she had become the spotlight she went on, "someone wanted another to fall in love with them."
Huh?
Colin rolled his eyes. "Great, like that explains a lot."
Ignoring Colin's sarcastic comment, Brianna explained, "The spell used is a mix of a designated love spell combined with a disoriented spell. It's a combination that was popularly used in the eighteen hundredths by witches who wanted to control and mate with superior species. It was often used on dragons and hybrids to empower the witches' species."
Those times flashed back to mind, and so did Scarlett. The chaos those witches caused had both angered and kept my mother away. She was always off to help break some love spell.
"That's a bit extreme, don't you think? What happened to the good old seduction?" Drew joked.
"It was lost in their obsession," I said. "At first, witches were outcasts. We all know they were burned alive once they were caught. When they found a way to preserve and make their kind stronger they took it. Love was only known by few."
I often wondered if Scarlett fell under the few. Had she ever loved me?
"I don't get it," Heather murmured. "Why would someone cast such a spell on the whole school?" No one was given a chance to respond before she continued, "Witches and vampires or werewolves mate and marry all the time. Calvin and Jessica are just juniors and they're already mated and married. So, I don't get it."
"Unless they wanted a species more powerful than a mere vampire or werewolf," Brian answered.
Ashley arched an eyebrow. "At our school? There are only half breeds here. No one too special."
"So, you may think," came Summer's annoying voice. "The spell is clear evidence something is not right."
"It seems so," Sabrina agreed. "If someone was willing to go through the trouble of casting such a powerful spell on the whole school, then this person is very special."
Sabrina's truthful words caught the attention of fourteen pairs of eyes.
"Whoever did such a spell is a powerful witch," Josh pointed out.
Sabrina noticed she was the center of all the attention and added, "You've got to be kidding me? I'm not that desperate. Besides, I'm not the most powerful witch at Redwood University."
Her gaze flickered to Brianna's and my heart picked up speed.
'It was happening again,' murmured Wolfie, the voice in my head.
I squeezed my lids shit, hoping it wasn't her. The mere fact, I wanted it to be an act of Scarlett was beyond scary.
"This is absurd," Brian laughed. "Why would Brianna cast a spell on the school?"
"That's what we're here to find out," Colin snarled. "And, no one said Brian, so why are you in such a haste to respond? Unless you're involved too."
My eyes snapped open.
Brian and Colin were sharing a glare.
"I can assure you," Brianna hummed, breaking up the childish Mexican stare down. "I don't have time to cast such a time-consuming spell."
"How do you know it's time-consuming?" Josh sat up. His brown eyes were fixed on the witch.
Her sigh floated around the room. "Would I have spent all night coming up with ways to help you, people, if I had cast the spell?"
Colin shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe you're helping because the situation got out of hand and you're trying to fix your mistake."
Brian threw his hands up. "Oh, for fuck sake!"
"Come on, Colin," Amy intervened. "We both know this wasn't her doing."
Colin cocked a brow. "No?"
Amy narrowed her eyes at him. "You and I know who this points to."
"Who?" Jake asked. Yellow-green eyes danced from Colin to Amy. "What are you guys not telling us?"
As if they realized the conversation they were having in public, Amy and Colin's gaze flashed to me. I wasn't sure what expression I wore, but they all settled back in their seats with silence.