Chapter Three: Cruel Enchantment

Just knowing that you love me is enough.

Hidden in the garden, Ithonie trembled with rage and pain as she heard the words. Her eyes filled with hot tears. He loved... her?! Her?! She whimpered, choked up with hatred and anguish.

He'd been her magic teacher once. Ithonie smiled sadly to herself. She'd been fifteen when she'd decided to begin learning magic, a bit late, but then she'd only just given up her dream of being a Guru like Alyse. He was the best, and she'd hoped that with him teaching her, she could become a powerful sorceress in no time.

Ithonie sighed. How impatient she'd been. And how untalented. She'd failed miserably at her new goal, her lack of patience and lack of skill a terrible combination. She'd quit just two months after turning sixteen.

Watching them finish kissing and walk back into the palace, Ithonie glared at them. She'd wanted Decamerone so badly for years. And now would never have him.

Ithonie shuddered with rage. Why did she have to be the one to get cheated out of everything? First her dreams, now Decamerone. She'd been so in love with him, trying so hard to get his attention, but he'd never noticed her. Never picked up on the hints she kept dropping. Never once bestowing on her the kind of attention he gave Orina.

Ithonie's eyes narrowed. He'd barely acknowledged her at all. He forgot her birthday. Mostly ignored her to this day. Orina, however, he lavished attention on. Gave her beautiful gifts. Ignored everyone but her. And, it seemed, was breaking all the rules for her.

A muffled sob escaped her. She'd been convinced that it was the forbidden nature of such a relationship that had kept him from showing any emotion towards her. That he and Orina were merely friends. She'd convinced herself it was true, that he was simply afraid to tell her his true feelings. So she'd decided to tell him tonight how she felt. She'd come out here to prepare herself, and been about to go back in and bring him out here when he walked out with Orina.

She'd watched them sit down. Listened with growing horror and pain as they discussed their relationship and expressed their love. Watched with disbelief and rage as they kissed and went back inside. She had a good idea what they were going back inside to do.

"Why?" she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. "Why do you get everything, Orina? Why not me? Why can't I ever have something I want? Why do you always get it? Or rather, take it." Her pretty face hardened into an expression of cold fury. "Well, not anymore," she whispered. "For once I'm going to get something. And I'm going to take something from you. I'll find a way. Somehow, I will take this from you."

Two years later....

Ithonie sighed deeply to herself as she set aside another useless book. She had spent all day here, in the library in Kajar. It was smaller than the one in Enhasa, but had older books. And she needed a very old spellbook for what she was going to do.

"Where can it be?" she said aloud. "They couldn't have burned the books on summoning, could they?" A chill of fear went through her. Suppose they had when the last demon had been banished? Suppose she couldn't do what she wanted? Suppose she couldn't have her revenge on Orina and Decamerone?

Ithonie shook her head. No. They wouldn't have done that. The banishment spell had been in those books, and it would be foolish to burn that, in case of an unforeseen disaster that required such a spell. The book she was looking for was here somewhere, without a doubt. It had taken her two years to devise this plan; she couldn't fail now.

Carrying a stack of books back to their shelves, Ithonie tripped over a book she'd left on the floor. The books she was carrying flew out of her hands as she fell on her face. An ancient-looking book tumbled from a high-up shelf and hit her on the head. With a low groan, Ithonie grabbed it and threw it at the shelf. Standing up, she gathered up the books she had dropped and put them where they belonged.

As she turned to go search the other end of the library, her eyes fell on the book that had hit her. It looked very, very old. She gazed at it for a moment, then knelt and picked it up. Flipping carefully through the aged pages, she gasped softly as she saw the spell she had been searching for staring her in the face. For several seconds, she just stared at it, unable to believe her luck. Then, holding it tightly to her chest, she stood up and ran from the library.

Ithonie hummed an old melody to herself as she prepared to cast the spell. To her surprise and delight, it was a simple spell, simple enough for an untrained child to cast. Simple enough for her to cast.

The circle was ready; the candles were lit, in glittering candelabras for effect. Striking a match, she lit the tall sticks of incense, their fragrant smoke subtly scenting the room. This too, was for effect. She so desperately wanted to impress the demon she was summoning. To look as though she was a master sorceress, when in reality she was a pathetic, untrained failure at the arts of magic.

Turning out her lamps, she sat in the middle of the circle and closed her eyes. She chanted the words that the book had listed. And waited.

It happened almost immediately. A chill, unholy wind rushed through her small room, cutting through her clothes down to her bones and dousing the candles. A low, soulless hissing could be heard.

"Who dares summon me?" a voice hissed. Ithonie shivered, frightened. For the first time, she wondered if this was a good idea after all.

"Well? Tell me your name, girl."

Ithonie shuddered. "I-Ithonie. I-I wish to --"

"Silence! You will talk when I wish it. Now, why have you summoned me?"

"I-I have need of a demon," she stammered. "For revenge. I want to --"

"Quiet!" Ithonie shivered again and obeyed. Uttering a silent prayer, she slowly opened her eyes. It was pitch-black. All she could see were two eyes before her, glowing bright red and frightening. She gulped, trying desperately not to be afraid. This was what she had wanted; now she had it. No backing out now.

Suddenly, the eyes vanished. "Wh-where did you go? Where are you?" She looked around fearfully, but couldn't see anything in the dark.

"Turn on the lights, Ithonie," a smoother, more human voice replied.

"W-why?" she stammered. "Are... are you going to..." She couldn't finish her sentence for fear of what the answer might be.

The voice laughed. "Nonsense, Ithonie. I simply wish to introduce myself to you. How can we meet unless we can see each other?"

"Oh." Ithonie let out the breath she'd been holding. "Right." Standing up, she walked carefully in the dark over to her lamp. She turned it on and took a deep breath. And turned around.

Standing before her was a tall man with waist length, black hair and very pale, sickly looking skin. His piercing violet eyes stared right into hers, reminding her of shards of amethyst -- cool and purple. His face had a lean, predatory look to it, but was still handsome. He was very good-looking -- and very naked. Her eyes traveled down his body, and she blushed.

"Is... something wrong?" he asked, pretending to be clueless. He knew very well why she was blushing, and was quite pleased that his appearance had had the intended effect.

"You're a little... uh, I mean kinda, er..."

Her lovely face was bright red, and she averted her eyes. He noted with satisfaction that she still looked, though. Good. This was very good. This would make things easier. He smiled, a predator's chilling smile. "I am Kezmet DuFarr. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ithonie."

"Yes, v-very pleased," she stammered.

"Whatever is the matter, dear?" he asked, moving closer to her. Her cheeks reddened considerably.

"You, uh... you're... kinda... nude!" she squeaked, in an obvious hurry to get the last word out.

"Oh?" He pretended to be embarrassed. "I hadn't noticed. In the demon world.... well, I'm not in the demon world, am I? Terribly sorry. Could you get me some clothes so that I don't embarrass you further?"

"S-sure," she stammered. Moving carefully around him, she went to her closet and began to rummage around. She'd saved her father's bathrobe after he'd died, to remember him by. She'd been only two at the time, almost three. After learning that her father wasn't ever coming home again, she'd taken the robe and hidden it in her room, hoping with a child's innocence that someday he'd come home and need it. He never did.

Shoving the sad memories to the back of her mind, she turned and handed the robe to Kezmet, still blushing. He smiled at her. "Thank you, my dear."

Her mouth curved in a silly smile at the endearment before she could stop herself. "You're welcome. I'll get you some better clothes tomorrow."

"Your kindness is greatly appreciated, Ithonie." He leaned down and gave her a small kiss. She trembled, and he smiled. "Good night, my dear."

"Goodnight." She laid down on her bed, and he on the floor beside it. Turning out the lamp, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

"Well, well." Ithonie smiled. "I must say I'm pleased. Very pleased, indeed."

Kezmet stood before her, clothed in a sleeveless white shirt, gray pants, and black boots. A black wire choker adorned with a purple gem completed the outfit. Ithonie smiled brightly. "Don't you look handsome."

In reality, it only made him look more sickly than before, but she was already so dazzled with him, she failed to notice. As she failed to notice the cold glassiness of his eyes and his razor-sharp pointed nails. He smiled back at her. "Thank you, dear. Very much." His cold smile widened as she became flustered. This was going to be almost too easy.

She introduced him as a traveler from a faraway land that she had visited once. He was a friend of hers, she said, who would be staying for a while. On impulse, she decided to throw a party in his honor, to formally introduce him to Zealian society.

"Have you met this friend of your sister's?" Decamerone asked Orina as she got ready for Ithonie's party. Already ready himself, he sat on her bed watching her fix her hair.

"No, I haven't. I've only heard about him. Have you?"

Decamerone shook his head. "No." He smiled at her reflection. "As always, you look beautiful."

Orina blushed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Standing, he walked over to her and picked up her locket from the table in front of her. "So, you still wear this?"

"Every day," she said softly. "Open it."

He did, and found a picture of himself staring back. "Orina...."

Her cheeks pinkened a little and she smiled. "Will you put it on me, please?"

"Certainly." He unclasped it, and slipped around her neck. Their eyes met in the mirror as he fastened it, and she felt his hands shake slightly as they brushed her skin. Bending, he placed a small kiss on her neck. She closed her eyes as a familiar shiver went through her. His hand rested on her shoulder, and she laid her own over it, leaning back against him. She sighed softly as he embraced her. Without opening her eyes, she turned in his arms and kissed him.

"I wish we could skip that silly party," Orina whispered. "But we'd be found out for sure if we did."

"We'll just have to leave early as usual then, won't we?" Decamerone murmured.

Orina smiled dreamily up at him. "I think you know the answer to that."

He smiled back and kissed her again. "Finish getting ready so we can go. The sooner we arrive, the sooner we leave."

"Got no problem with that."

"Orina!" Forcing a fake smile onto her face, Ithonie approached Orina and Decamerone as they entered the room. "You look lovely," she said, almost choking on her hatred. "Have you met Kezmet?"

"No, I... don't believe I have," Orina replied. She really didn't like the cold, piercing eyes of the man beside her sister. She shivered.

"Well, this is he. Kezmet, this is my sister Orina. And this is my...." Ithonie paused. "Friend, Decamerone."

"Hello," Kezmet said coolly.

"He...hello," Orina replied, trying not to shudder. An icy feeling, like a premonition, crept down her spine.

"Hello," Decamerone said coldly after several seconds of tense silence. Ithonie frowned sharply at his tone of voice.

"Come, Kezmet, I believe we have other guests to greet," she said in a chilly tone. She looped her arm through his and they walked away. As they walked, Kezmet's hand slipped, and his sharp nails raked across her skin, drawing a little blood. She winced, but ignored it.

"What was that all about?" Orina asked once Ithonie and Kezmet were out of earshot.

"Let's talk later about it," Decamerone replied. "I don't think it's something that I want people to overhear."

Orina shrugged. "Fine with me." She smiled up at him. "Since we'll be leaving soon, let's at least try to make what time we spend worthwhile."

"Huh?"

"Dance with me?" Orina asked shyly. "We've never once. I don't think anyone will think anything of two adult friends dancing together."

"I would be glad to."

They danced slowly, holding each other as close as they dared to. Dozens of other people danced by them, but they all disappeared from view. For they only had eyes for each other.

Dancing across the room with Kezmet, Ithonie glared at the two. So caught up in their own little world, they didn't even notice anyone else. It was truly sickening. They had no idea of what was in store for them.