~*A/N: Oh yes, another new story; anyone who's seen my track record for updates is probably thrilled right now. However, at the time of publication, I'm a few chapters ahead! This is a first for me! So this first chapter's a necessary evil, at least that's how I view it. So, depending on reviews and whatnot, I'll be posting chapter two within the next couple of days; it'll be like one big present for All Hallows' Eve! Won't that be exciting? Please review, they keep me going. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!*~

"Thank you, Los Angeles, you guys have been great! See you next tour!"

Sparks flew as Kassia blew kisses to the crowd, basking in the official post-tour bliss. It had been a long summer, touring from city to city across the States. She looked at her band mates. The guys were all beaming, drenched in sweat. Jesse was throwing drumsticks from his perch, Alex was holding on to the last note of his guitar like it was a lifeline, and Ben was dumping a water bottle over his head, which he proceeded to toss into the horde. The crowd was insane- they were screaming at the top of their lungs, making a noise that Kassia didn't think she could reproduce even if she wanted to. She stepped away from her keyboard and walked offstage for the final time that night. The adrenaline rush was still kicked into high gear, and she felt like she could take on the world.

She removed the hair-tie from her wrist and pulled her bronze hair into a messy bun. She flicked her bangs to the side, but they still clung to the sweat on her brow. The mess of people backstage formed a complex maze between Kassia and the table with the stack of water bottles on it. She carefully navigated it, thanking those she passed for the compliments on the final show of the tour. She seized a bottle from the table and downed half of it, relieved that she had once again prevented dehydration.

Jesse threw a sweaty arm around her shoulder. "Kass, way to go! You just made it through Aurora Run's first tour! What're you going to do next?"

"Go to frickin' Disneyland; I've only ever been to Disneyworld."

"Well, I don't think you're missing too much. It's just got more of a west coast feel to it. Which means it isn't as good."

Kassia smiled. "You would say that. Come on, we have some celebrating to do!"

The duo navigated through the throng to the rest of the band. The quartet looked at each other with huge grins plastered to their faces as they jumped into the air and had a group high-five. All of them were in their early twenties and they were still children at heart. Linking sweaty arms to sweaty arms, they all but skipped outside to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. That's who they did this for. The kids who bought the records and the merch and told their friends to listen to another band from everywhere.

Aurora Run consisted of four kids from different backgrounds. Alex grew up in a small town on the eastern seaboard, Ben was from a Midwestern city, Jesse grew up in Sacramento, and Kassia was from a small town, but spent most of her life in New York City. Even they weren't sure how they'd come together, but they did, and as they stood amidst the flashbulbs, they were glad they had.

After signing what felt like and endless amount of autographs and taking thousands of pictures, the four friends boarded their bus in search of food and sleep. Ben and Alex broke open the champagne they'd been saving for this night, pouring glasses for themselves and the crew as many members of the tour piled on the bus to celebrate.

"A toast," Ben called over the nose. "Kassia, give us a toast!"

"Why me?

"You're the best with words, of course."

"Speech, speech!" everyone cried.

"Okay, okay!" the brunette's steely blue eyes laughed even more than her mouth did. She bit her lower lip while she thought. "First off, here's to the best damn crew that's out there for putting this whole thing together, and," she raised her voice over the cheers, "and for keeping it going night after night, and city after city! Here's to the label for having an ounce of faith in us and for letting us do what we do best: make music. Here's to the best band mates in the world- I couldn't ask to play and write with anyone else. I, uh," she paused, thinking for a moment, "I make it a point to surround myself with people who I think are better than me. And, well, when I look around this room, that's all I see. So, here's to all of you once again for being as amazing as you are. And here's to me, for buying some damn good champagne that's meant to be consumed! Cheers!"

The bus became even louder as everyone downed their glasses in celebration. They poured out into the parking lot and continued their festivities. Kassia, while still excited, made her way to the back of the bus and collapsed onto her bed.

"Wake me up when we get to the airport!" she yelled at anyone who would listen. She closed her eyes. Sleep wouldn't come easy, but it would be worth it tonight. She wanted to remember the summer as much as possible, and partying tonight wouldn't be the way to do it.

~*~

"Hey, you made it!" Ivy opened the door of her house when Kassia got out of her car. "Still driving a completely impractical vehicle, I see."

Kassia took off her sunglasses, looking back at her "pull-me-over red" Corvette. "Y'know, that's the same thing my mother said to my dad when he was driving one years ago."

The two smiled and embraced. "It's good to see you again, Ivy."

"Same to you, Miss Superstar Brighton. Come on, I've got tea on."

Kassia stepped inside the small country house, inhaling the sweet smell of thyme, jasmine, cinnamon, and about a million other herbs and spices. Out the back window, she smiled at the rolling country hills that her childhood friend got to look on every day. "Hello, green countryside! How I've missed you so! Have you gotten on well without me?"

Ivy laughed from the kitchen. "They never answer you, so what's the point of continuing to ask them?"

"Oh, I'm just hoping that one day they'll change their minds. Maybe they'll realize that I'm friendly and that I don't bite. That'd be nice, yeah? Ooh, thanks." She took the cup of tea from her friend, taking a seat in the living room before the fireplace.

"So," Ivy began, "how long do you have off?"

"Until we decide to go to the studio, I think." Kassia took a sip of her tea. "We've got some time for much-needed R&R, which is why I'm here and not back in New York with my family."

"How is music's royal family doing, anyway?"

"They're good. Mom's still putting the rest of the Philharmonic violins to shame."

"Here's to that never changing."

"Haha, yeah. Um, Dad's back in the studio, but keep it on the DL, if you could. They haven't made it public yet."

"Jade Witness is finally coming out with a new album? I thought I'd never see the day. They've been doing that for almost as long as U2 at this point, right?"

"Around there, yeah," Kassia laughed. "Bruce is working as one of the producers for them, actually. They want to try and keep some of it in the family if they can this time around."

"Excellent. Everything your brother dear has been touching lately turns to gold. Does that mean he'll be working on your next record, too?"

"I'd like if he would, but we'll have to see, right?"

"Right. Oh, I just remembered: this came out yesterday; thought you'd like a copy." Ivy moved across the room in a bustle of flowing fabric, pushing her blonde hair from her face while grabbing something from a bookshelf. She handed the copy of AP Magazine to her friend, who smiled wide. On the cover of the new issue was Aurora Run in all their glory, decked out in armor and a fabulous medieval dress for the lady. Kassia flipped through until it got to the article. The picture next to the text was of her band mates engaged in a staged fight while she looked on, obviously bored by their attempt to win her affections.

"This is great, thank you so much, Ivy!" She read the article aloud, laughing when the writer called her a princess amongst punks because of her family. When she finished, she set the magazine down on the table. "I kind of feel like I've arrived."

"You have," Ivy beamed. "I'm so proud of you, Kass. You're music is magical."

"You would know, wouldn't you?"

"Of course; my spells work wonders. Though not in this case, since I didn't cast any at your request." Ivy had been a practicing witch for years, but most of her spells were subtle things. She had never turned anyone into a newt, or given an enemy boils or cast a good luck spell on a test back in high school. She did think about it, but she never did; something about karmic repercussions that she didn't think she could afford.

Kassia noticed a piece of paper on the coffee table. "What's this?" She picked it up. The ad was for the renaissance fair at the winery that weekend. She sat up straighter. "We're going to this, right?"

"Of course! Who do you take me for? I wouldn't let you miss this for anything." Ivy laughed at how excited her friend got around anything related to knights and battle and days gone by.

"I know you're making fun of me. But really now, if I could go back past the renaissance, I would."

"How far back, again?"

"To Camelot of course."

"Let's not go; 'tis a silly place." Ivy smiled, collecting the empty tea cups.

"Okay, Monty Python, that's enough. You wouldn't find it to be so silly if you lived in those times. All the wars, and crazy kings, and magic, and disease... God I'd kill for that."

"D'you know how crazy you sound? Come on, before you're off daydreaming again. I want to show you what I've done with the garden." Ivy clasped Kassia's hands in hers, dragging her out the back door and into the field of flowers and herbs she was growing.

~*~

"Lady Kassia, may I present to you the yearly event of the glorious Brokenburg Renaissance Fair." Ivy gave a mock bow as they stood at the entrance from the winery into the fairgrounds. The rolling hills were peppered with tents and booths, all constructed to resemble buildings from the period they were honoring. People dressed in traditional garb roamed amongst the stalls, music floated from one of the stages, and horses could be heard on the other side of the grounds.

Kassia was glowing. "I'm so glad I got to be home for this."

"Me, too; let's explore, shall we? A friend's working this, so I'm hoping to get a good price on some supplies." Ivy picked up a schedule from a nearby table. "Ooh, look, there's a jousting tournament today. And an archery contest! We need to enter that."

"But women can't compete, Ivy."

"If this was totally accurate, which it isn't. Come on, you were pretty handy with a bow and a full quiver back in the day. Let's sign up and make fools of ourselves!"

"Fine, fine, sounds like a good time. Oh, I want to check out the sword fighting class, too. I've always wanted to learn how to wield a large piece of metal."

"Well, that'll be a good place to start."

The day wore on like this. Neither girl technically placed in the archery contest, though Kassia did come in fifth, which she was pretty proud of. Ivy had difficulty shooting at her own target, but she wasn't really trying either. The jousting tournament was especially entertaining, as was the sword fighting class Kassia tried. She picked it up pretty quickly, but she wasn't planning on getting into any fights with a knight anytime soon. Ivy dragged her to a booth that was selling dresses for all at incredibly inflated prices, but with her newfound large bank account, Kassia picked up a dress or three. Ivy opted for some jewelry pieces, finding them to be a bit more practical.

Towards the close of the day, the two women were wandering around tired, looking for anything they'd missed. Ivy saw a tent she's missed earlier, and grabbed Kassia's arm when she read the sign.

"Kass, we should get our fortunes told! Come on, it'll be fun!"

"I thought you didn't believe in that? You've always told me that they'll rip you off and get you to give them too much information."

"Well, yeah, but while we're here, why not, right? Please, let's do this!"

"Okay, okay! Let's go." They ducked inside the tent.

"Welcome, I've been expecting you two," the fortune teller said from the other side of her table. She was shuffling her tarot cards, smiling warmly at the two girls. "They call me Madame Rondeau; please, have a seat." She gestured to the two stools in front of the table. Ivy and Kassia looked at each other, slowly doing as they were asked. They handed her the money for each of their readings, and she began.

"Now then, who shall be first?"

"Um, I guess I will," Kassia laughed nervously, scooting closer to the table. Madame Rondeau gestured for her right hand, which she presented palm up. The woman's bony fingers traced the lines across Kassia's skin.

"You are very comfortable with your life now, aren't you? Yes, your fame brings you great joy. You must love what you do for a living."

"I do, yes." Kassia didn't think too much of the woman telling her things that were common knowledge, but she let her continue.

"Despite this comfort," she traced another line, "you long for more adventure. Don't worry; it is coming sooner than you think. This line here, you see?" She brushed a bright red fingernail across one of the lines. "It intersects with...hmm, strange..."

"What? It intersects with what?"

"Two words are about to come crashing around you, dear. Let's gaze into the future, shall we?" She stood, taking her crystal ball from a side table. "Now, gaze with me, dear. Through the smoke and mist, that's right. Do you see it?"

Kassia looked, and was surprised to see some shadowy figures amidst the smoke, though not enough to make anything of it. "Um, I see something, but I dunno what it is."

"Deeper, deeper now, dear." Madame Rondeau was very intent on the glass. "Oh, my dear, I'm afraid that your heart will have to make a choice that your mind cannot. You will have to be strong on your journey. It won't be easy, I'm afraid. But, if you don't lose sight, then you should-" she stopped. "I'm sorry, I cannot continue."

"Why not? What is there?"

"My vision is clouded. I can see nothing more. But be careful, dearie: magic is afoot in your life, and it will impact your journey in the very near future. Now, it's your turn, miss. Come close to the table now."

Kassia stood toward the back of the tent while Ivy had her cards read, pondering her fortune. It didn't make much sense, but she couldn't shake the feeling it gave her.

~*~

"Can you believe that she called my magic faulty? I swear, I'd show her faulty if I knew a thing or two about big magic." Ivy was still going off that evening about what the fortune teller had said to her in the tent. Kassia was cleaning up what used to be plates of delicious lasagna her friend had concocted, and really not paying attention. She was a bit embarrassed when Ivy asked her something and she had no idea what about.

"Sorry, what?"

"Oh jeez, Kass, come back to Earth, will you? I said, if I cast a spell, what would you want?"

"You don't need to prove anything to her, you know."

"I know, but I want to prove to myself that I can do it. My grandmother left me her spell book, and now I'm determined to get this right! Come on, what do you want?"

"Well, I guess I'd just want to get this whole dating thing over and done with: find my true love and just get on with it, you know? But that's just wishful thinking."

Ivy disappeared near the end of Kassia's last sentence, reappearing in the living room with an ancient leather-bound book that looked far too heavy for someone as thin as the blonde to be carrying.

"Love spells are a tricky thing, but you aren't asking for someone who wouldn't love you anyway, so that should be better, I think. Let's see..." she thumbed through the pages.

"Ivy, this can't end well. You know that I have horrible luck with men as it is."

"Hush! I found it. Hmm, the book's in Old English, but I've totally got a handle on that. Really!" she added in response to the look her friend gave her. "Now, come sit down, and let me get some things..." she bustled around in her cupboards while Kassia took a seat next to the bag with her purchases from the day. Ivy came back in a few minutes later with her arms laden with supplies. She lit several candles on the coffee table and turned off the lights. She lit the fire, and sat cross-legged in front of Kassia.

"Okay, come down here and join me."

"Ivy, really, this isn't necessary."

"It's completely necessary! I am going to find you your soul mate. You said you wanted to get the dating game over-and-done with, didn't you?"

"Well, yeah-"

"Then it's settled. Now, I want you to clear your mind, and concentrate on my voice, okay?"

Kassia sighed, doing as her friend asked. She had trouble clearing her mind, though; she was far too busy concentrating on the sound of Ivy stirring the fire, or the strong smell of incense that was now permeating the air. "What is that?" she asked.

"Moon incense; now be quiet and clear your mind." Ivy's clothes made a bustling sound as she readjusted her position. The pages of the spell book could be heard turning while the young witch followed her directions as closely as possible. "Ah," she muttered, "I've got this. Right then, here we go." She took a deep breath.

"Gif setl béon sum æltæwe maca,

þes geswinc dæg cwide hwæt gerif.

sé æltæwe geleóf hwa sy segende be béon,

beóþ ábeþecaþ heorpbaoen sípfær éðel be mec.

rice æltæwe bróðorlufu ond æltæwe geléaffulnes,

Ic besende þes út, ac ne fram firenlust,

beswician gewill láf mid ús dæg."*

Kassia felt her chest leap. Her eyes shot open when she felt a cold wind fill the room. Ivy repeated the spell twice more, and the wind picked up speed. The candles went out, and the fire grew larger in the hearth. As soon as Ivy finished her third repetition, everything grew still. The two girls looked at each other, unsure of what - if anything - was supposed to happen. The next thing either of them knew, the floor beneath Kassia opened up, swallowing her and the bag she was sitting next to.

"Kassia!" Ivy called as her friend fell screaming through the floor. As quickly as it had opened, it closed, leaving no trace that it had ever appeared in the first place. Ivy stayed frozen over the coffee table, staring at the floor. The fire went back to a normal height behind her. She sat back on her heels, taking shaky breaths. "What have I done now?"

*A rough translation of a spell to find your soul mate that I located via the Internet. Some of the words aren't exactly right, because I couldn't find an precise translation, but you get the general idea.

~*Please remember to review, everyone! Even if it's two or three words, really, I'd like to know what you think!*~