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Considering her father had a last-minute emergency, Maya figured there would never be another night in the near future (never mind a week) for her to slip out unnoticed. As soon as she got home, she called Austen to get the details while she readied herself for the hour-and-a-half drive to Thomasville. Thomasville was a place where witches and dabblers mingled freely, the nightclub there fashioned after the town in Stephen King’s stories, paying homage to “weak spots” and other dimensions. Entry required a mask, and it was a strict rule that masks had to stay on at all times inside the club, providing perfect anonymity. As long as the many odd rules and rituals were observed, one was safe.
Despite this, Maya hesitated outside what seemed like any old alleyway in the dark, famously dangerous Thomasville. For the mask, she had to resort to the costume from the year she, Jason, and Dawson had gone as Catwoman, Bane, and Scarecrow respectively. She’d convinced them to ditch the Batman & Robin idea when neither of them wanted to be Robin. She added a special touch with golden cat-eye contacts to complete the feline look and a long, straight dark brown wig to make her look more like the brunette Selina Kyle. Austen had insisted she keep her real hair color and eye color a secret, so she wore those accessories along with a little black dress she’d never had the courage to wear out during the many parties she’d flaked out of at the last minute.
Taking a deep breath and reminding herself that Austen swore this was a matter of life or death, Maya strode into the dark alley. She suddenly wished she’d asked Jason or Dawson to come with her, but if she did that, she’d have to explain things Austen didn’t want her to.
Gulping, Maya reached the shadowed and barely visible druidic symbol spray-painted on the wall. She raised her hand, palm facing the symbol, and whispered the password Austen had given her. “Earth, water, wind, fire, in Thomasville we conspire.”
The wall began to waver like a mirage before vanishing to reveal a dark hallway, the sound of distant yet inviting music filtering through. Giving the light at the end of the alley one last forlorn look, Maya stepped inside, the wall closing up behind her. She was left in darkness with no choice but to follow the flashing lights and blaring music ahead. She tried to project a confidence she didn’t feel, remembering Austen’s warning about not making herself an easy target.
Stepping out from the dark hallway, Maya got her first view of Thomasville. It wasn’t exactly what she had expected. Sure, it was dim with flashing lights, blaring music, alcohol (or at least she thought it was alcohol), and dancing people, but it wasn’t like a normal nightclub. The architecture reminded her of a gothic castle, no band or DJ playing music—the sound seemed to come from thin air. People danced around, all wearing masks, many dressed as ghouls or other creatures, some in normal clubbing clothes but always with a mask on.
Some had fake fangs—or at least she hoped they were fake.
“You’re new around here,” a voice declared behind her.
Maya turned to see a towering six-foot guy in a fairy costume. She wondered how he could possibly know she was new when everyone was in disguise. “I’m here to see Max.”
“Max doesn’t just see any cute girl who stumbles into Thomasville,” the fairy declared.
“I’m here to make a withdrawal,” she replied, recalling the phrasing Austen had dictated earlier.
The fairy eyed her before nodding. “Stay here. Mingle. This might take a while.”
With that, he left.
Eyeing him until he disappeared into the crowd, Maya worried her bottom lip as she looked around, wondering what to do. The huge fairy dude had told her to mingle, and Maya wasn’t exactly sure how. Austen had warned her that things were different in Thomasville, with different rules and other things he hadn’t really bothered to fully explain. She was terrified of breaking one of them and getting into trouble.
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A group of guys laughed loudly, enjoying themselves. Glitter fell on two dancers who’d had their backs to each other, turning to reach for a passionate kiss.
Maya watched before making a face and noticing a darker corner with some seats. She made her way onto the dance floor, hands up as she navigated carefully through the crowd dancing to the hypnotic beat. It took a couple of minutes of careful navigation before she stumbled out of the dance floor and into the seating area.
It was only then that Maya realized most of the seats were taken up by couples making out passionately. The only available seat was beside a hooded and masked guy slumped in his seat, staring morosely at his drink.
Hesitating, Maya cleared her throat and approached him. “Is this seat taken?”
He didn’t look up from his drink, merely shaking his head.
Awkwardly, Maya sat down and immediately looked in the opposite direction, acutely feeling the depression emanating from the man next to her. He was suffering, and she wondered if the concentration of witches in the room heightened her sensitivity to his emotions. A part of her was curious to ask what had him so down, but another part reminded her that now was not the time to be nosy.
“What do you think happens after someone dies?” the guy asked, his voice barely audible over the revelry around them.
Maya jerked her head towards him, almost sure he was talking to someone else, but his eyes were on her. “I really haven’t given it much thought.”
He made a derisive sound. “None of us do until the Grim Reaper comes to fuck everything up.”
Okay, someone he loved had died—that explained the waves of depression. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
He shrugged, tilting his head back to finish his drink. “It was her fault. She was always so damned foolhardy and headstrong.” He shook his head, staring at his empty glass. “Her recklessness killed her, just as much as that drunk driver.”
“You loved her,” Maya said softly, somehow sensing this was a lover he’d lost and not a family member or friend.
“I don’t know what love is.” He chuckled darkly, leaning hard against the seat, betraying the fact that he was actually drunk despite his composed appearance. “I thought maybe she could teach me.”
Maya’s heart went out to this stranger. She reached out and rested her hand on his knee. “I think you know what love is... you wouldn’t be this heartbroken if you didn’t.”
He turned his head towards her, his gaze meeting hers. “I don’t tell strangers my sob stories.”
“I don’t console strangers either.” She shrugged, offering a brave smile. “Let’s just consider this a one-time deal for both of us.”
He gave a hoarse little laugh, bringing his free hand to his mask-covered face before letting out a sigh. “Would you like a drink?”
“No thanks, I’ve got a long drive ahead of me.”
“So you’re from out of town.” He tilted his head. “Where from?”
Maya balked, wondering what to say when suddenly glitter rained down from the ceiling onto her and the guy. “What the-?”
His lips pulled into a grim line. “Damn it.”
“What-?” And suddenly, Maya had the strongest urge to kiss him.
“Damn charms,” he hissed, visibly displeased as he threw away his glass and pulled her onto his lap.
Maya barely had time to gasp in shock before his lips found hers and his hand cupped the back of her head, keeping her in place as his mouth moved against hers. The hunger, the need, the desire was undeniable. She reached out and cupped his face, kissing him back. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized the glitter was making them kiss like this, but the only other guy she’d ever been this close to was Angelo, and she was damned if she would ever have to admit that. A part of her felt guilty, knowing this nameless, faceless man was being forced to kiss her against his will while mourning the death of his girlfriend, but another part of her didn’t care. She pulled closer, deepening the kiss as his free hand curved around her hip, holding her tight against him.
Despite the magical influence, Maya could feel his reluctant pleasure, her heart pounding and cheeks flushing as she lost herself in the moment.
Suddenly, just as unexpectedly as it began, the magic ended.
Mind and hormones returned to her, and Maya cried out against his lips as she threw herself off him, backing away on shaky feet. “The hell-?!”
He was frozen, eyes wide in shock, hands to his lips. “Who are you?” He stood, swaying slightly in his drunken state but urgent as he grabbed her arm. “What is your name?”
“Max will see you now.”
Never had Maya been so happy to see a giant fairy before. She yanked her arm out of the stranger’s grip and hurried behind the fairy, who led her to the back room. The blonde sent one last look over her shoulder before entering within.