The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (3 page)

'Yeah,' Kassie asked curiously. 'What were you thinking?'

'Boys. I mean an idea. How would you feel about casting a love spell?'

Huh.
A love spell. Well that hadn’t occurred to me before, though Sian had practiced witchcraft for years now. Really, I should have expected it sometime.

'A spell?'

I tried not to sound too dubious.

Kassie looked confused.

'Do you want us to help?'

Sian resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

'Of course.'

'What sort of love spell?' Cat sounded unsure. 'Not one where we just have all the males of the species attracted to us? 'Cause that’s never been an issue.'

Catherine the modest, thought Kassie in amusement.

'No, nothing vague. Something to attract the right person for each of us,' Sian explained. 'The four of us actually cover the elements. I’m Cancer so water, you’re Leo, Cat, that’s fire; Kassie, you’re Gemini, air, and Loi’s Taurus, so earth. It’s perfect. We’ll really be able to make something happen.'

There was an audible pause as they digested this.

What the heck, thought Kassie, it was worth a shot. Seeing as Cat didn’t disagree, Kassie spoke up.

'You plan it, we’ll participate.'

Sian nodded enthusiastically and they settled back down to watch T.V while she jotted down notes.

I arrived at work first thing in the morning, even beating Anne, and did my usual mad dash around the office. Distributing mail, putting dishes away, cleaning the kitchen and made sure the meeting rooms were neat.

Once done, I grabbed my make-up bag and headed to the bathroom. In the midst of careful mascara application, the door burst open and I jumped.

'Emma!'

'Sorry,' Emma said. 'I’m just running a bit late, did you have a good weekend?'

'Yeah, but it flew by as usual. We went shopping for fantasy pieces for a costume party we’re going to next weekend.'

'Oh fun. What will you wear?'

I explained the basic concept and mentioned my armband idea. She nodded with a thoughtful expression.

'Wait, wait, oh I remember. I saw stuff that would work for armbands in that ethnic store, the one by the second hand book shop.'

'Really? I’ll have to have a look at lunch.'

Great, hopefully there will be something suitable at the shop. Then it will just be Loi’s jacket left. With Sian busy on the corset for her costume I was pretty sure I would have to create the jacket.

At lunchtime I wandered up Cuba Street, peering through shop windows for inspiration. I came to the shop Emma mentioned and walked in.

'Can I help you?' queried the shop girl.

'I’m looking for something to finish off a costume,' I explained. 'Perhaps an armband? Or something ethnic looking? It’s for an elvan inspired costume, like from Lord of the Rings.'

'We have some things that would work. No wait, I know.'

She ducked out the back and retrieved an item.

'Would these work?'

In her hands was a pair of copper colored daggers in sheaths that could be strapped to your upper arms.

Wow.
They’d look amazing, really finish off my look.

'Yes! They’ll be perfect, are they real?'

'Oh they’ve been blunted. Of course.'

The price was reasonable and she wrapped them in tissue paper as I counted out the notes.

I paused in front of the book store next door while my inner voices argued.

You don’t really need any more books, Cat,
pointed out my rational voice.

A quick peek can’t hurt,
countered my silly voice.

I pushed through the door setting the chime off. Taking my time I wandered around the musty smelling aisles. Then I spotted it. Easing the book out from the bottom of a pile I dusted off the worn green leather. The title was in beautiful script and it took me a moment to read.

‘To Improve your Time, Space and Place’

Interesting, I thought, I wonder what it's about? There were two tan straps with brass buckles that held it closed and I lay it on a table to undo them. The pages were yellow with age and carefully turning them, I scanned the words.

Ahh, a spell book! And it looks so appropriate too, though could use a good clean.
Still, it’d be an awesome addition to my collection. Not that I really had space, but it looked so authentic. I carried it to the old man at the till and held my breath until he said the price.

'Twenty five dollars please.'

I resisted the urge to dance around, what a bargain. My phone beeped with a message as I was nearly back at the office. It was from Sian.

"Coming to archery?"

Right, forgot that was tonight
. Juggling my parcels to the other arm, I typed back "yes".

Sian drew in a deep breath and let it out slow and even as she released the string. The arrow hit the target with a thud. Peering down the range she could see it was a bull’s eye.

'Bull’s eye. Nice one,' Cat congratulated her.

'Thanks.'

I’m so glad I bought that new bow; she thought, the results are certainly worth the price. The sense of validation was nice. Cat stood up to the line and drew her bow. Stubborn had to be Cat’s middle name at times, Sian thought as she watched her. Cat had bought the bow at a craft fair four months ago and was determined to prove its worth. While it was authentically styled she was unsure if it measured up correctly. It took a decent effort to draw and the accuracy…

'Damn.' Cat glared down the range.

Sian laughed at me.

'I don’t know why you bother with that bow, Cat, it’s practically an antique.'

I glanced at her and in a snooty tone replied, 'Because I like feeling authentic.'

She looked sideways at me.

'Authentically crap?'

Laughing, I objected.

'I wasn’t that far off bull’s eye.'

Our phones beeped simultaneously and Sian yanked hers from her pocket, reading aloud.

'Hey guys want to come to practice? We haven’t got many here. Fancy rounding out archery with a little sword fighting?' she arched an eyebrow at me.

'Sounds good. You pack the bows and I’ll get the arrows.'

Loi and Kass practice kenjutsu, Japanese sword fighting, and I love having a go at it when we get the chance.

Later that evening we were sprawled in the lounge watching T.V. Loi had decided to stay over and we were making a night of it. I went to hop up.

'Ouch!'

It felt like I'd pulled another muscle, or maybe two.

Fun.

'What’s wrong, Cat? Old age getting to you,' Kassie teased.

'Nooo,' I said in a shocked tone. 'I’m
only
twenty five remember.'

The others sniggered.

'Nope, I just think it’s doing too much. Kenjutsu is lots of fun, but with archery and running too, I don’t think I could keep it up.'

Sian nodded in agreement then turned to Loi.

'Besides this way we have two archery experts and two swordsmen.'

I snorted and Sian’s grin widened.

'Don’t be too hard on yourself, Cat,' she teased, while ducking the pillow I hurled. 'You’re not
that
bad.'

'Oh,' I exclaimed. 'I forgot!'

I ducked off to my room and retrieved my day's purchases.

'What do you think of these for my costume?'

I gave Loi and Kassie a dagger each.

'They’re ideal, Cat,' Kassie examined the one she had.

'Are those real blades?'

Loi sounded disconcerted.

'They’ve been blunted,' I assured her. 'And anyway I’m good with a blade.'

'That’s what concerns me,' she mumbled giving me a wink while the others laughed.

'What’s this, Cat?'

'Sorry?'

Sian had the book I’d bought in her hands and a perplexed expression.

'I found that at the bookshop next door to where I got the daggers. Isn’t it gorgeous? I think it might be a spell book.'

Sian's eyebrows shot up and she wrestled with the buckles, opening the book and thumbing through it with small sounds of excitement. I grinned; maybe she’ll find a love spell in there.

The rest of the week blurred by, as I finished the costumes and dashed between work, various classes, runs and then bed.

Saturday afternoon the house was a pigsty as we raced around, tripping over Audi and each other trying to get ready.

In the end, I chased Audi out the back and went to check on Loi’s hair. I’d spent the good part of an hour setting it in rollers. It should be dry by now, hopefully.

I guess I can blast it with the hairdryer if necessary.

'Oh!'

Loi strutted down the corridor toward me fully clad in her costume and wow, she looked amazing. The leather pants hugged her curves and the jacket sat perfectly over a white peasant top and corset belt.

I giggled when I reached her head.

'Lets get those rollers out, Loi, they so don’t go with your look.'

Soon she had a mass of ebony ringlets hanging past her shoulders. It looked stunning and I felt a pang of envy.

'C’mon, Sian’s got the hairspray and we don’t want them dropping.'

As we entered Sian’s room she tottered out of the closet struggling with her corset zip.

'Caaatttt.'

'Hold on,' I stood behind her and drew the zip up, it fit beautifully.

'Look at you, Sianus. A perfect tiny Selene.'

She beamed at us, then handed me a short black wig.

'Help?' and bent her head forward.

I fitted the front to her forehead then flipped it over. Snatching a couple of hair pins from the dresser, I slid them into place.

'Give your head a gentle shake,' I instructed; she complied and the wig stayed put.

Great
. Two costumes complete, just two to go. I headed for the bathroom to see how Kassie was.

'Uh-uh shoo,' Sian ushered me out. 'I’ll sort out Kassie’s hair, you go get dressed. We have to leave in half an hour.'

Yikes.
When had it got that late?