Chapter 14: They Are Here
The Goodwin Manor was no stranger to parties over the decades. It had hosted a multitude of events ranging from over the top children's birthday parties, filled to the brim with screaming toddlers and party animals- the balloon and real kind alike, to swanky cocktail parties with New Brooks finest. By eight, the sky had turned to a deep blue, almost black with edges curling with soft pinks and purples. The stars were almost invisible due to the gathering clouds but the moon remained a dominant present throughout the night. The guests arrived in droves, each girl was primped and primed in floor-length glittering dresses that belonged Miss America pageants. The boys looked similar in their custom black tux uniforms but one in particular stood out from the crowd. His royal blue tux, was cut from satin, and accompanied by a silver tie with a diamond pin. His honey gold curls were slicked back, revealing the full affect of his sparkling blue eyes to any and all unsuspecting women. Girls blushed as he passed by. Raising their clutches to cover their mouths, they gushed over his chiseled features. Many smiled at him, hoping to see a glimpse of his dimples but their hopes were in vain, for William Haverstock was too worried to smile.
He ghosted across the marble floors, sliding in out of the gaps between people. His eyes darted from face to face, hoping to see Luna but she was nowhere in sight. It had only been a day seen he had seen her last but it felt like a year, or longer. He tried to text her during the day but she remained silent. Stress gnawed at him as he thought of the haunted glint in her eye and hollow tone in her voice. Being a witch didn't seem like the worst thing to happen, it was the strangest thing but Will actually thought it was cool. She was like a real life superhero but that also included all of the internal suffering. Luna was so caught up with her vision of the perfect life, Will was worried she would pass up the opportunity to become something more than just another New Brook's inhabitant that couldn't escape.
"Will!"
He froze upon hearing the familiar voice. Turning around after a moment of hesitation, he saw Jane maneuvering her way through the crowd while balancing in platform heels and a floor length scarlet ball gown. Whereas Will had been blowing up Luna's phone, Jane had been blowing up his with messages about Luna. Apparently she wasn't answering Jane's calls either and Jane was pissed. That much could be seen from the scowl on her ruby painted lips.
"What is going on? Both you and Luna have been ignoring me for the past two days!" Though she looked enraged, there was a tinge of sadness coloring her tone.
Will found himself feeling guilty as he gazed upon Jane. Very easily he could have found himself in her position if he and Luna weren't so close. The three of them were supposed to be the three musketeers. There wasn't a more envied group in New Brooks then them. Many people claimed to be friends with the trio but they were not a part of the group. They weren't invited to Gino's for Friday night pizza or movie theater marathon- those people were simply spectators to their lives. Will knew things were different with him and Luna, because they loved each other but he had also thought Jane belonged with them. Now, he wasn't sure.
Despite his earlier beliefs, Will could see that things were changing.
"You texted me?" Will feigned ignorance. He fished his phone out of his pocket, when the screen illuminated he put on his best surprised mask and said, "I'm so sorry, Janey. I've been helping Luna these past two days, she's not feeling well."
The glimmering chandeliers above their heads dimmed until only a faint glow lit the room. The chatter faded into silence as a hidden orchestra began to play unknown but beautiful nonetheless symphony. Everyone's eyes slipped over to the grand staircase where two figures appeared. The first was most notably Luna, in a shimmering diamond gown that hugged her petite figure. Her golden curls piled on top of her head and held in place with a small tiara. In the past, she had always been jokingly referred to as New Brooks' princess but in that moment she really looked like one. The girl who stood beside her was not easily identified. She wore a long sleeve black dress that clung to her subtle curves, with silver beading. Her ebony locks cascaded down her shoulders in sleek waves. Unlike Luna, she didn't have that all-American beauty look, her features were too sharp, almost biting. It took a moment for Will to recognize who she was at first, that was until he looked at her silver eyes. The same eyes that haunted many unpleasant memories of his girlfriend's past. Will didn't know what he expected Twyla to look like, he had never imagined it before. She did not compare to Luma, he knew that, but his continued to slide over to her nonetheless as the two descended down the stairs. Whispers erupted from the crowd when the rest of guests finally discovered the identity of the second girl.
"She's looks fine to me," remarked Jane. Her eyes flickered over to Twyla. "And who she is?"
"That's Twyla." The name sounded weird on his tongue after not saying it for years. "Luna's twin."
"Her what?" Jane's mouth hung ajar as her eyes bounced between the two. She tried to find one similarity between the two girls but they were complete opposites. The only thing remotely similar was the crescent shaped necklaces the pair wore, but even the gems were different.
"Will," the gentle thrall of Luna's melodic voice drifted over to their ears. She gave Will a warm smile before gliding over to his side. He held her hands in his, relishing in the warmth. It was nice to hold her and to know that she was okay, thought Will. The peaceful moment, however did not last long.
"Ahem?" Jane coughed.
"Mhmn? Oh Janey! I didn't see you there. How wonderful for you to come!" The sweetness in her voice was so strong, Twyla couldn't help but cringe behind her.
"Yes. Wonderful. You know what else would be wonderful, if you'd introduce me to your sister."
Luna's lips thinned for a second, if possible she managed to go a shade paler as her eyes flickered over to her twin. It was quite clear she had no immediate response, or better yet an excuse to get her out of the matter. But she didn't have to, Twyla jumped in before the situation could get any worse.
"I'm good," said Twyla. She then, walked away leaving the trio with their mouths hanging open.
"I-If that's your sister," said Jane as she pieced her dignity back together, "I can see why you didn't mention anything before."
Slipping into the crowd, Jane left the couple before either one could see the tears in her eyes. She tried so hard not to be mad at Luna. To not let her emotions weaken her. But she couldn't help the feeling of betrayal that spread throughout her. Luna was her best friend and only friend before she moved to New Brooks. But she kept throwing her to the side as if Jane meant nothing to her. And, maybe she did.
"What happened Jane?" A voice cooed behind her.
She spun around only to see Coco in a leather mini dress, with her arm locked the Damien Clark- the school's most likely to go to jail nominee for the last eight years. It sickened Jane to think that before she met Luna, Jane actually thought Coco would be a good friend and Damien was cute. Please, Coco was a freeloader who used friends as bank accounts and Damien... Well Damien had all of those scary black tattoos that vandalized his body. Not to mention, his impending criminal record and potential drug addiction.
"Did Luna throw out finally? I told you it wouldn't last," she puckered her glossy lips into a fake pout and batted her clotted eyes lashes.
"As if Coco. Why don't you to go back to swapping STDs." Jane stomped away.
Luna and Will watched Jane as disappeared into the crowd. The two of them were at a loss as to what to do about Jane. Will doubted Luna wanted anyone else to know about the magic. But, the secrets would only push Jane further away.
"Don't worry about Jane right now," said Will.
"I am literally the worst friend ever but after everything that I've been through. Jane being mad at me is the least of my worries."
"Did something happen?"
"Yes, but I don't want to talk about it now. Right now. I want to dance."
A smirk twisted at the edge of Will's lips as he bowed in front of Luna and held out his arm. "M'lady, will you do me the honor of a dance."
Hooking her arm through his, a smile lit up Luna's face as she said, "I'd be delighted to."
The pair twirled in swayed amongst the crowd. All the while, Luna's smile remained in place. To her astonishment, the smile was real for the first time all week. Tomorrow she would worry. Tomorrow she would learn more about whatever frightening fate that awaited for her, but for now all that mattered was Will's warm embrace.
"I love you," whispered Luna.
He kissed her neck before pulling her into a dip. Staring deep into her eyes, Will whispered back, "I love you too."
"I know," said Luna as he pulled her back into his arms. "I could find out that I was a troll and as long as you still love me, everything would be fine."
"You could never be a troll, Luna Goodwin. Not while you look like an angel."
Snuggling deeper into his embrace, Luna kissed along his shoulder. She felt so comfortable; all of her earlier fears slipped away as the soothing melody continued to play. "I never want this moment to end." Even as she saw her mother and aunt and grandmother whispering to one another by the tall, french doors, Luna remained in a completely blissful state of mind.
Seconds later, Luna went rigid in Will's arm as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Broken images of shattering glass and screams drowned out the image of Will's blue eyes. Luna tried to see exactly what was going on but it was too chaotic.
"Luna!" Will shook her lightly. Her eyes fluttered close before the slowly opened, the haunted glint had returned .
"What happened? What did you see!"
He didn't get answer. Luna was already sprinting away from him, in the direction of Twyla who was hiding in a corner. During the waltz Twyla stayed hidden from view as the dazzling couples twirled across the floor. Though she tried to focus on the fruity cocktail she picked up, she couldn't help but glance occasionally at her twin and the ken doll she called her boyfriend. It was hard to imagine that, that hunk of muscles was Billy Haverstock but Luna had called him Will and the chances of just being a coincidence was too slim. A wisp of envy floated through Twyla as she gazed upon the pair, not because wanted their relationship but because she wanted to be that happy. But Luna's happiness was cut short. Twyla had seen her sister falter in her steps, she knew that was not a mistake. Luna didn't make mistakes.
Something was wrong.
"Something's going to happen, Twyla. I saw it."
"What's it?" Twyla asked."
"Them."
A crash sounded before the older twin could respond followed by a loud scream. Shards of glass flew across the room, ripping at dresses and any exposed flesh. Ducking, Luna and Twyla huddled into the corner. The lights on the chandeliers blew out one by one until the house was as dark as the night sky. A chill wafted through the ballroom but it did not come from the gaping hole in the manor.
"They are here," said Twyla.
"We need to get everyone out of here before they get killed like Tommy," said Luna as jumped out from their hiding place.
"You mean we need to leave before we get killed like Tommy!" Growled Twyla but her sister didn't listen.
"Hey! Everyone! I'm so sorry about the technical issues. But I'm going to ask that everyone leaves. NOW!" Nobody dared to question Luna, not when she spoke in that voice. Both Jane and Will tried to find her in the dark but they were carried out with the crowd, leaving the girls alone in the manor.
"We got to find mom," said Luna. Twyla followed her out to the backyard, through the hole where the French doors once were.
"Mom!" Shouted Luna.
"Nana? Aunt Nyx." A series of hisses responded from the forest.
"Uh, Twyla? I'm not sure they're the only ones out here," said Luna as mist emerged from the tree line.
The mist crawled forward and continued to grow in size until it reached the tops of the trees. The girls inched together a shape formed in the mist, it looked like a hand or a claw- the same one that took Tommy. Grabbing hold of each other's hands, a blinding light erupted from the palms as a electric jolt knocked them back on their backs. Their eyes fell close as the blinding light wrapped around their bodies.
**I am so sorry for the cliffhanger but I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Please make your predictions about what will happen next in the book. This will conclude the ending of part one of the book. The next chapter will start part two. I am really excited this next part because this is when the adventure begins and the secrets come out. Thank you again for reading!
XOXO,
Ro.**
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