Luminescence (Luminescence Trilogy) (13 page)

We had started to peruse around the store, poking through the racks near the entrance. “We’re looking for Halloween costumes,” Sophie spoke for the group. She eyed Madame Cora coolly, measuring her with bright sapphire eyes. There was just a hint of that strange glow.

Round racks housed costumes of variety – sexy, scary, slutty – you name she had it. The best part was the quality of the materials. They weren’t the cheap mass produced ones you found at Walmart. The detail was spectacularly crafted. I found the most difficult part of shopping here was going to be which costume to choose.

“If you need any help, you let me know,” she offered, returning Sophie’s inspection. Her blood red nails taped on the glass.

Tori and Austin took off to a row on the back wall filled with companion costumes, while Sophie and I stayed at the center racks.

“Do you have an idea what you want to go as?” I asked Sophie, pulling out a black cat outfit. So not my style, I put it back in with the others.

“I haven’t dressed up since junior high.” That was only two years ago, but I figured she didn’t need me to point that out. “I don’t know maybe a French maid or a fairy,” she suggested, pulling out an extremely short and barely there black and white skirt with a matching even smaller top.

I couldn’t really see her as either. “That is pretty darn short,” I commented as she held up the skirt. I am sure she would look freaking amazing in anything she wore with those legs.

“I know… that’s the point right? The chance to dress slutty without the usually backlash,” she pointed out.

She had me there. I wasn’t so sure her brothers would agree, but since I didn’t have any… “You think Jared and Gavin would let you wear that?” I was trying to rationalize a potential situation. They were both overly protective of Sophie as much as they teased her.

She snorted. “My brother as a thing for you, he could care less what I wear. He will be too busy looking at you,” Sophie said offhandedly. She was wrestling through a rack of angel costumes. Sophie was a get-to-the-point kind of girl – no beating around the bush.

“Excuse me.” She completely caught me off guard. I was not entirely comfortable with her banking on him being too distracted by me. She couldn’t possibly be serious.

“Gavin,” she responded grinning at my growing discomfort.

I kind figured that part out captain obvious. “Define
thing
.”

“He is totally into you,” she said astonished by my cluelessness.

“Really?” The disbelief was thick in my tone. Okay so we kissed once and we did hang out a lot but it was impossible to believe that he felt half the way I did.

She rolled her eyes – the ones identical to the brother in question. “You have no idea the amount of power you have there, do you? We really need to have a girl to girl talk.”

Okay this was her brother we were discussing, not exactly my first choice to chat about my womanly wiles with, or lack of. Plus it was sad that she apparently had more experience in this department than I did. “I don’t have any
power
over your brother,” I argued.

She rolled her eyes. “Here wear this one.” She handed me a revealing gypsy costume. The skirt was violet with an extremely large slit up one side of the leg and would probably show more than I was at ease with. There was a wrapper bejeweled with gold coins. The top was white with flared sleeves and showed a little midriff.

“You’re kidding right?”

“Absolutely not. This is the one,” she insisted.

I did really like it. What the hell.

Sophie settled for a hot angel outfit and Tori and Austin decided on going as Brad and Janet from
Rocky Horror Picture Show
– the best Halloween musical ever.

I was the last in line as I waited to pay. Laying down the gypsy costume near the register, I waited for Madame Cora – I assumed that’s who she was. Glancing into the glass encasement I admired the jewelry. She had so many beautiful pieces with raw cut stones and silvery charms. While I was admiring a certain necklace that had caught my eye, Madame Cora had come to stand on the other side of the counter.

“Do you dabble in crystals?” she asked me.

I shook my head. “No.”

“No… hmmm, I would have thought you did,” she admitted looking at me oddly.

I don’t know what made her think that I knew anything about crystals and magic.

“Here, let me show you. Each has its own unique properties. This one here –” She indicated to the bauble around her neck. “Is for clear sight and open mindedness.” Her voice enthralled me.

She unlocked the glass case and pulled out an intricate silver chain with a rainbow milky stone and a purple crystal. My eyes were spellbound by the necklace I had moments before been intrigued by. I don’t know how she figured it was that specific piece I was interested in. My fingers itch to touch the smooth stones. They weren’t raw cut like some of the others, but
flat
and polished. She laid it on the counter and I ran my fingers over the crystals.

“This one is made of moonstone and amethyst,” she informed. “The moonstone is said to strengthen intuitive pow
er. Placed under a pillow along
side an amethyst can allow for a more peaceful sleep. The amethyst protects against evil sorcery. Something tells me that you are in need of.”

I picked up the necklace and let it twirl from my finger. The stones glinted off the overhead lights. Her words affected some deep part of me and I knew that this necklace was made for me. I didn’t know if it was just coincidence that the properties of the stones were incorporated so close to my life. I was starting to believe that I should leave nothing to chance. So of course I added it to my purchase – plus it would look great with my costume.

She rang up my items and handed me my bags. A tingling shot down my arm as our fingers touched. More commanding than I what I had gotten accustomed to with Gavin and Sophie. Her hand snaked out and grabbed my arm, holding me. I lifted my head and saw the eerie glow in her eyes – almost like she was possessed. A gasp escaped my lips and I tugged at my arm. Before I really had the chance to feel freaked, Sophie was by my side.

“Ready?” she asked.

Madame Cora released my arm at Sophie’s immediate response, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. “Yeah let’s go,” I agreed.

“May safety find you…Brianna,” she called as we walked out the store.

Once we were in the car, I allowed myself to breathe. That woman had touched some secret part of me that was partial intrigued and partial horrified.

“That was weird,” Austin commented as Tori started reversing out of the parking space.

“No kidding,” Tori agreed. “I guess Halloween started a little early for some – or maybe never ends in her case.”

Sophie and I sat in silence. I had taken the necklace out of the bag and was absently fingering the stones. Sophie occasionally eyed me wearily. I knew she was checking to make sure I was okay, that I wasn’t crept out by what happened. In truth I didn’t know what to make of it.

Chapter
1
4

HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS MY FAVORITE.
The
moonlight
air was perfumed with the scent of damp leaves and wet moss. Fall had moved in like an artist’s brush, painting the trees in vibrant colors of gold, burgundy, rust and tangerine. I stood o
n my porch dressed in my blatantly revealing costume
,
toying with the necklace and
excitedly waiting for Gavin to arrive.
I looked pretty good
thanks to Sophie
.
Austin
and Tori we
re meeting us at Morris Landing
.

The Trail at Morris Landing
was like a haunted house outside.
They had hayrides, bonfires and costume contests every year.
At your own discretion you wound your way along the trail. Different sections of the trail had its own interactive
scene or scenario to haunt you,
from the guy chasing you with the chainsaw to the headless woman hanging from a tree
.
It was
like being in your own personal horror film
.

I heard Gavin’s approach before I saw his car. Fireflies rocke
ted through me in anticipation. Sophie was coming along for the ride with us, much to Gavin’s chagrin. W
hen the
Charger
came to a stop Gavin got out
of
the car to open my door. He looked good enough to make me wish we could at least drive alone, not that I didn’t adore Sophie. I just felt like we really haven’t been a
lone since the night we kissed.

“Hey,” I greeted, smiling with happiness. Jus
t the sight of him made me giddy
.

“Wow… you look great.” His eyes roamed over me in a way that had my entire body reacting. The night air was balmy, but I instantly felt overdress – and I was practically wearing nothing. Thank goodness my aunt was stil
l at the shop, I wasn’t all too
sure she wouldn’t have let me leave the house tonight looking like I did.

“Thanks,” I replied, sheepishly. His gaze was making
me subconscious
and I had to fight the urge to cover some part of me as I got in the car. Sophie was in the back grinning like a fool.

“I told you,” she smugly said
before Gavin gone back in the car. “This is going to be fun. You do look great by the way.”

“So do you.
”
A
nd
of course
she did. She looked better than
great actually. She looked celestial in her angel costume, her long raven hair curling over her shoulders and sprinkled with glitter.
She could have just flown
down
from the heavens
.
Her eyelashes were decorated with rhinestones and
her
sapphire eyes dotted with a
tiny
star in the middle.
“
How did you get your eyes like that?” Thinking she must be wearing contacts. I couldn’t help but stare at them, trying to see the lenses.

“Magic,” she said with twinkling eyes.

I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I swear I could never get a straight answer for either one of them.

Tori and
Austin
were waiting for us as we pulled up to the trail, engine roaring.
The sign at the entrance threatened in dripping blood –
Don’t get left behind, or you might not come back
.
As we got out of the car an ear-splitting scream hit the air. The three of us laughed.

“Looks like the fun
as already begu
n,” Gavin said
as
we
walk
ed
towards Tori and Austin.

The place was overflowed with the sounds of chatter, spooky music and creepy
chuckles
,
along with the scent
of buttered popcorn and
apple cide
r – Halloween.

“I think I am going to be sick,” Tori woefully warned.

“You guys look so cute,” I remarked on their costumes.

“Who are you supposed to be?” Gavin asked.

“Janet and Brad from
Rocky Horror Picture Show
,”
Austin
informed. “Tell me you have seen that movie.”

“And if I haven’t
?
” Gavin said.

“Oh man, we have got
to
seriously
educate you on films,”
Austin
advised in disbelief.

The five of us paid for out tickets and got in
the weaving
line.
When our turn came to enter the trail Sophie, Tori and
Austin
went in first with Gavin and me behind them.

“I think I’m gonna faint,” Tori complained. Haunted house
s
really weren’t her thing, but she didn’t want to miss out on the fun.
Nothing with her ever made sense. She loved to watch the goriest films yet couldn’t handle the haunted woods.

The first guy we came across on the trail was decked in rattling c
hains
and covered in
gooey fake
blood. If I hadn’t been preoccupied with walking so close to Gavin, he wouldn’t have frightened
me
. As it was though, I jumped like ten
feet in the air and grabbed on
to Gavin’s arm. Of course he found that hilarious
and in my jumpiness
I scared Tori.
At this point a
fly could scare
her
,
so that wasn’t saying much
.

“Do I need to hold your hand?” Gavin whispered in my ear causing me to shiver for entirely different reasons.