Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:41:10 +0000
From: Confidential Confidential <quistis15646@hotmail.com>
Subject: Night of the Ceremony: Dark Influence Chatper 2

Author's Note: All feedback or hints and ideas of what in
include in the story can be sent to
quistis15646@hotmail.com. Please leave a first name or
nickname because I plan on putting everyone's comments into
the Author's Note of the next chapter and if you give an
idea what could happen and I use it, I want to give you
credit. Be sure to check out my story `Just Life' in the
high school section. Using the Sims 2, I created my
characters and the house Teal, Kayla, and Dan live in and
took screenshots and put them in a file. If you would like
this file, just let me know in an e-mail.


Chapter 2


     The line wasn't very long at the Espresso Pump so I sat
down to enjoy my melted chocolate bar with whip cream latte.
I took and sip and savored the taste on the taste buds
before swallow and letting out a little `ahhh' after.
Whenever I sat down here, I always sat in the cornet booth
by the window. I sat with my elbows on the table and rested
my head in my hands and just watched the world outside. It
was relaxing sometimes, to sit and just watch the sunny sky,
or people walking by. I couldn't quite say what was relaxing
about it, but it just was.

     The conservatory was also relaxing. It was only the
size of two average bathrooms but we had set in two lawn
chairs and a bench in there for seating. It was always nice
and warm with all the windows. As I turned my head from the
window, I was startled when I saw Zarek sitting on the other
side. "Oh gosh, you scared me," I told with a goofy smile.

     "Sorry, you looked lost in thought and relaxed; I
didn't want to interrupt." He said with a tiny smile. I
smiled and ducked my head.

     "Yeah, I do that a lot. I just think of something and
my mind wonders onto other things," I told him, giving him a
small role of my eyes. "Well, I better head back home; I
have a few things I need to do."

     "No, why don't you stay. We can talk?" I looked at
Zarek and smiled.

     "We don't even know each other, we just met last
night."

     "If we sit and talk then we will know stuff about each
other." I nodded my head from side to side, knowing he had a
point.

     "Why not," I said, sitting back down. I heard my phone
and reached into my pocket to answer it. "Hello?"

     "If you or Dan `test' the potions on me one more time,
I'm gonna hurt you guys?" Kayla threatened.

     "It was a joke, sorry, I won't do it again, mother."

     "Hey, I'm not even in my mid-20's. Just hurry back
home, we have research to do, remember?"

     "Yes, yes, okay." I hung up my phone and put it back in
my pocket. "Sorry, but I really have to go this time, we'll
have to talk to later," I told Zarek as I stood to leave. He
stood up also.

     "Maybe we can meet tonight? At Club 86 around 8:00?" I
thought about before given in.

     "Alright, 8:00 it is. I'll see you there." I waved good-
bye before getting in my car to drive back home. Zarek's
eyes lit up with flames before returning to normal.

     "This is going to take to long," he said quietly before
going into the bathroom and disappearing in a flame.


                             ###

     "Okay, so we've narrowed it down to rituals, weddings,
hand fasting, or ceremonies," I sighed, pulling my long hair
back and up and using a hair clip to hold it in place then
put on my small frame glasses. "This is so long. It could be
anything. Why do most of your visions have to be blurry?
They show what happens, but not how or what it is that is
happening, you should ask for a refund."

     "Yes, I just go get the recipe of when I bought the
power of visions," Kayla mocked at me. "The faster and
sooner you look through these books with Dan and I, the
faster and sooner we know what it is that was in my vision."

     "What is it's one from the past, or nothing at all. Do
you know how pointless all this would be then?" I said,
putting down the book I had and picking up an older one.

     "And if it is something then I get to kick your ass
after words, right?" Kayla had a dry sense of humor. I
searched the index for any words that might help me find
what we were looking for, wrote down the numbers on a pad
before I flipped to the first page. After five minutes, I
grew tired of this and dropped the book onto the table.

     "Screw personal gain, this is for all out sakes.
Because I can't take this anymore more, show us only the
books with the content we are looking for." I pointed at the
stacks of books and in a shimmer or sparkles, eight books
sat stacked on one another on the table. I smiled before
grabbing the top book and starting to look through it.

     "About time someone did something right around here,"
Dan said as he tossed the book he had aside and grabbed the
next one from the stack. Kayla followed suit.

     "Well, as least I don't have to worry about personal
gain, but god is this better. We should index these things."
She thought about it for a second. "That'd take forever."
She sighed before looking through the book she had.


                             ###

     "I need some way of advancing this a little faster, get
him to like me a little sooner," Zarek said as he paced
slowly in thought. The Chinese woman stood watching him.

     "Are you sure that is wise? It could ruin everything if
you do."

     "I understand that but we have some much time before
the ceremony must take place. Do you see the ceremony going
according to plan?" The Chinese woman sighed before waving
her hand over a very large cauldron of bubbling water.
Slowly, and image appeared.

     "It's to early to tell, my liege, but this vision so
the ceremony taking place, but not if we have to wait for
the next one." Zarek took and step towards her.

     "Do you know that's it's another century until the next
time the ceremony can be done?! The ceremony will take
placed at the end of the month and it will go smoothly or
I'll have your head, do I make myself clear?" The Chinese
woman stood to her full height and she had the look of she
won't intimidated but she bowed.

     "Yes, my liege, it will be done." She disappeared in an
outline of rainbow light. Zarek growled before an idea came
to him. He summoned a man to his cambers. "I have a job for
you. Tonight, at the club, you will attack three witches,
but you are not to harm young male with blonde hair,
understand?" The man bowed.

     "Yes, my liege, it shall be done."


                             ###

     I stood, checking myself in the mirror, making sure I
looked okay. I wasn't sure why I was being so picky about
how I looked, I mean, I barely know the guy anyway but I
know me, always wanted to look my best. My long hair was
driving me insane so I tied into a pony tail and gave my
shirt and quick rub down to get rid of any loose hairs.
Grabbing my keys, I exited my room and headed downstairs.
Kayla came from the dining room, doing an `oooohhhh'.

     "Going somewhere, are we?" She asked in a teasing tone.

     "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I WON'T be back late
so you can rid your evil mind of any thoughts you were
having," I said, continuing into the parlor. She followed
close behind me.

     "Is it that tall, dark, handsome guy from last night?"

     "Maybe." Had to stop her before she continued with her
20 questions game.

     "Do like him?" I sighed.

     "I don't know; I just met him."

     "Are you sure you're not going back to his place
because Dan and I can go somewhere else if you want to come
back here."

     "I'm just gonna go now," I said, opening the door and
walking down the front steps to my car.

     "Use protection!" I heard Kayla yell but she closed the
front door before I could retort.

     "One of these days, I tell ya," I mumbled with a smile
before climbing into my car and leaving.


                             ###

     I arrived at the club a little early and headed in. The
place wasn't as crowded as it could be on other nights so I
glad for that. I had to admit I was hoping for a quiet
night. I choose and table for two in the corner and ordered
a simple glass of water as I waited.

     "Waiting for someone?" I turned to see Zarek standing
there.

     "Yeah, tall guy, black hair, tan skin, seen him
around?" I asked.

     "No, I don't think I have, why? Is he the jealous
type?" I smiled.

     "I don't know, maybe I should put it to the test and
see."

     "Oh, then I'd feel sorry for the guy after I put him
down." I let out small laugh at his grin. "Aw, just water?
Come on, you don't to a club and just water. Hey! Can I get
a beer and a Pina Colada for my friend."

     "How you know I like Pina Coladas?"

     "I'm psychic, I know what you're thinking like right
now, you think that I hottest man alive and you want to
ravish me." I laughed.

     "Am I that obvious?" I teased. He grinned again before
we simply stared at each other for a minute.

     "Do you wanna dance?" I was surprised by his questions
and couldn't find my voice for a minute. Quickly thinking
about in my head, I nodded my head. Zarek took my hand and
lead me to the dance floor. Because it was a slow song,
Zarek took my right hand and wrapped his left around my
waist. We started to slowly move to the song as I rested my
head on his shoulder and rested his head against mine. I
never saw the Chinese woman set our drinks on the table and
pour a potion into my glass, then give a slight nod to
Zarek.