Spells and Potions
Marissa Cooper sighed airily as she stalked down to her mother's dungeon. She mumbled to herself about the unfairness of having to be a witch's apprentice. She really did not have it in her, and even her mother was aware of this.
"Hello Marissa." Julie smiled as her daughter walked into the dark and dreary dungeon. Julie was working with great concentration on a project she had been sure to keep secret from Marissa. "Why do you look so sad?" Julie inquired of her daughter, narrowing her eyes.
"Um...nothing really. I'm just trying to figure out where to find the proper ingredients for my alchemy test next week," Marissa answered.
"Oh dear, please tell me you are not still dreaming about that prince. Because honestly, he's not worth it." Julie told her daughter as she emptied out a container of vile green liquid into a mixing bowl as she began stirring.
"How would you know about him? How would you know, anything. All you do is mix potions and sneak off in the middle of the night." Marissa retorted.
"It's all for your benefit..." Julie muttered as she pored the green liquid into a bottle, and it immediately turned black.
"What are you talking about?" Marissa demanded. She was really scared of her mother's intentions, but she tried to cover it up with a biting tone. Her mother could smell fear; she lived off of it.
"Everyone knows about the history of the kingdom, dear, you're destined to rule. Just not along side him." Julie explained. Marissa looked confused, but then she realized what her mom was talking about. She'd learned about it in history class.
"Mom, everyone knows that that was a sham. Those wars never really took place, it's a myth." Marissa replied.
"Why don't you go to Dr. Robert's house and talk to Summer about it? She's a scholar; she can explain." Julie suggested to her daughter as she boxed up her potions.
"Summer, a scholar? More like forced to be her father's assistant in his ridiculous medical escapades." Marissa spat in indignation.
"She'll help you understand Marissa. Go talk to her about it. You can have a break." Julie answered as she walked out of the cold dungeon. Marissa sighed and followed her. Having nothing better to do, she supposed she ought to go. Julie smirked as she watched her daughter go.
"It's all for you...all for you..." Julie murmured as she picked up her box and walked off into the distance.
Marissa hated the fact that she wore black all the time. It was a symbol, so that everyone would know who she was. Her family's past was dark and ridden with murder, lies, and deceit. Marissa was clearly the white sheep in her family of black sheep. With her bright blue eyes and innocent smile, you'd think she was an angel. An angel who, because of her family, was forever in black.
Marissa knocked on the door at the Roberts home. Summer appeared at the front door and smiled widely at the presence of her friend. Summer's long dark hair was plaited in a long braid, and was pinned to the back of her hair. She was gorgeous, but her fine features were somewhat hallowed out by the stress of her work, and she grew thinner by the day. Her big dark eyes were the only part of her not effected by the harsh work-hours, and even they looked dim today.
"You have been working harder than usual?" Marissa implored of her friend in a quiet voice. The two of them quietly walked up to Summer's tower.
"Mmm...but not because of...you know, anything to do with my dad's work. No, it's because I've been in his records trying to find out how to get you out of helping your mom with her plot." Said Summer. She looked at her friend, empathy in her gaze. Marissa shied from it.
"Ah...oh...her plot, yeah...I know, but...I can't see a way out of it. I'm just wondering, what it is she's doing." Marissa sighed.
"I don't know...I'm no seer. We need to find out who's involved." Summer muttered, to which Marissa nodded in agreement. "Has she hinted anything to you?" Summer asked Marissa softly. Marissa averted her eyes.
"I can't tell you Sum. I'm bound...to her." Marissa cried in disgust.
"But if...I heard something, it would be ok?" Summer inquired of her friend.
"Um...yeah, I guess, but how would you ever hear anything." Marissa confusedly inquired.
"Your mom, Marissa...your mom has been here at night. They don't know I know." Summer whispered to her friend. Marissa gasped.
"I...I knew it. Our parents must be working together. But then why is my mom encouraging me to see you," Marissa wondered.
"Because, she thinks she's got it all figured out." Summer shrugged. "She just isn't as clever as she thought." Summer smirked. Marissa smirked too.
"Yeah...ok, so, let's say, hypothetically she is planning." Marissa cautiously muttered. She looked around the stair well they'd just entered.
"Look, Riss, it's no secret that your family used to rule Newport. They got thrown out by the Nichols ages ago. Your mom probably wants to regain power. And my family, well, there are some skeletons n the closet you could say. They used to be at the top of the pecking order, too." Said Summer. "My dad...must be helping. He has the largest library in all of Newport. It's a great resource." Summer added.
"Well, the largest one open to the public, anyway." Marissa murmured.
"That's it! Marissa, you are a genius!" Summer exclaimed.
"Wha...what?" Marissa asked. She wasn't sure what she'd say to earn that proclamation.
"Marissa, if we're going to outsmart our parents, we need something they don't have. The library in the castle!" Summer cried. Her voice echoed, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Marissa did a quick charm to stop the loud "castle..." that was reverberating against the walls.
"Yeah, only how do we get in there?" Marissa asked. Summer shrugged it off.
"Leave it to me. All I need from you is a broomstick and your ready and willing mind." Summer told Marissa, who nodded complacently.
Across town in another tower, two teenaged boys sat, oblivious of the intrigue and mystery surrounding their futures. Instead, they lay on the floor in boredom.
"This is the last time I let you plan our day." Seth whined as he and Ryan stared at the ceiling.
"It's better than wining and dining those stupid newpsies." Ryan replied as he shuddered at the thought.
"So true man. I just want to meet a girl who isn't a carbon copy of everyone else." Seth sighed.
"Ryan, Seth, you have some visitors!" Kirsten yelled through the door. Seth and Ryan contemplating pretending that they weren't in the room.
"Mom, no, please, make it stop, no more Newpsies." Seth protested.
"Newpsies, ew." One of the girls cried. That voice sounded very familiar to Seth for some reason. He smiled.
"Ok, we'll see them." Seth called as he opened the door. Ryan shot him a look like 'Are you crazy?!' In return, Seth shrugged.
Summer and Marissa walked into the room, and not one of the teens could eek out a single syllable.
