Chosen Chapter 9: Viva Las Witches

Part 2

Xxx

After her only morning class, Violet Morgan headed to the campus coffee corner to meet with Billie. She made a brief stop at the bathroom to check out her new hair. She had decided on a radical change and now sported a shorter cut with bangs. She loved it, but she hoped Arthur would also like it when he finally came back. He had been gone on his expedition for three months now and his last letter dated back two weeks. She really liked the fact that he wrote her old-fashioned letters, instead of an impersonal email. He should get back in two little days and she could not wait. She really missed him, especially after the special night they shared before he left. It was almost unfair that after all this time, she had to wait all over again.

Violet entered the coffee corner and spotted Billie. She walked over and the two friends hugged. They both ordered a tea before sitting down.

"I love the hair!" Billie said excited.

"Thanks." Violet replied with a smile. "It literally is the bravest thing I've ever done."

"Did you always have it long?" Billie asked.

"No, back in high school it was really short." Violet admitted much to her regret. "Almost boy-like."

"Well, you're a woman now." Billie replied with a smile. "In all aspects."

"Stop, please don't embarrass me." Violet said with a slight blush.

"Why? It is not embarrassing." Billie replied. "It is awesome, besides, you and Arthur really love each other, right?"

"I guess so." Violet said with a smile.

"You're lucky." Billie remarked.

"What do you mean?" Violet asked confused. "It something going on with you and Jake? I thought everything was going great."

"It's going great…" Billie started. "Or at least, it's going fine. I don't know, it's just fine."

"Just fine?" Violet asked.

"I don't know how to put it, but part of me is just bored, I guess." Billie said. "It is like all the excitement is gone now that we're dating like normal people. It was different at first."

"Because of the witch and hunter thing?" Violet asked. "You know, dating the enemy?"

"Well, Jake was never really an enemy, but sure." Billie said. "Now that we moved past the whole forbidden thing, everything is just so normal."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Violet asked.

"Maybe, but it doesn't feel like it." Billie replied with a sigh.

"Okay, let me ask you something, and you need to be honest." Violet said. "If you look past everything else, and just focus on Jake… Do you love him?"

Billie pondered her question for a moment and looked out the window. Finally, she turned back to Violet. "I'm not sure." She admitted. "What am I supposed to do?"

"I think you need to talk to him about this." Violet said.

"I was afraid you would say that." Billie remarked reluctantly, and then decided to change the subject. "So what is going on with you? When is Arthur coming back?"

"Two days." Violet replied.

"Ah, are you planning a romantic homecoming?" Billie asked.

"I would, but I have no idea where." Violet said. "My new roommate is driving me insane. Hardly the setting for a sexy reunion."

"I know what you mean." Billie said. "I hate these new arrangements. I've had a single room for three years and now I'm stuck with a roommate? What is that all about?"

"Well, since the other school closed, all new students are coming here." Violet replied. "So have you ever considered getting an apartment or something?"

"I did, but it's too expensive. Luckily, this is my last year." Billie said. "I miss living at the manor. Piper was an amazing cook."

"Well, maybe we would try finding a place together." Violet suggested. "I can cook."

"Really?" Billie asked.

"Well, not really, but I can learn." Violet replied with a shrug.

"No, I mean, do you really want to live together?" Billie asked.

"Why not? You're like my best friend." Violet said. "Isn't a friend as a roommate a lot better than a complete stranger?"

"Actually, that sounds really great." Billie said. "We should do it!"

"Okay!" Violet said excited. "Let's do it."

Violet and Billie both raised their teas and clicked their cups in celebration. Violet would be happy to be free of her frustrating roommate and have a place of her own.

"Oh, hey there is Duncan." Billie said.

Violet turned around and saw Duncan come in. He spotted them and sat down. He looked nervous and sweaty, like something was wrong.

"I need your help." Duncan said.

"Well, hello to you too." Billie remarked.

"What is going on?" Violet asked. "You're sweaty."

"I was running, and I think Nathan is in trouble." Duncan explained. "I got a telepathic call for help."

"Are you sure?" Violet asked.

"I think so. I got a very clear message asking for help, and I saw flashes of Las Vegas." Duncan said. "That is where they were last."

"How do you know?" Billie asked and Duncan remained silent, causing her to become suspicious. "Wait, you were still hooking up with Nathan after they left San Francisco?"

"Sort-of." Duncan admitted. "But I ended it when I found out they were still misusing their powers. Nathan promised to get his life in order, but I think something went wrong."

"Of course something went wrong, they have been petty criminals their entire lives." Billie said. "What else did you expect?"

"What does it matter? They need our help." Duncan argued.

"It matters." Billie said. "They obviously didn't change, they probably got themselves in trouble. You can't trust them. Besides, are you sure it wasn't a dream?"

"I'm sure. I got the message when I was wide awake." Duncan replied. "And whether not they have changed, they need our help."

"They are not exactly innocents." Billie said.

"I hardly think you're the right person to make that kind of judgment!" Duncan said harshly.

"That's a low blow." Billie said angrily.

"Okay, why don't we all calm down a minute?" Violet said nervously, trying to ease the tension.

"What do you think about this?" Billie asked.

Violet hesitated, as she was not quite sure what to say. She understood both their points of view. The twins were hardly innocents, considering their past actions, but what if they really wanted to change? Besides, Duncan truly seemed to care about Nathan and believed in him. He was their friend, meaning he deserved the benefit of the doubt. If Duncan felt like this was something they needed to do, they had to support him.

"We should find out what is going on." Violet eventually said.

"And what if this is all some kind of scheme?" Billie asked.

"Then we'll find out." Violet replied. "And we can decide what to do then. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Billie said reluctantly.

"Agreed." Duncan added. "And I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Billie replied. "So how do you want to handle this?"

"Well, I was hoping Violet could get a premonition, to see what we're dealing with." Duncan said.

"I guess we could try." Violet replied.

Violet extended her hands and Duncan took hold of them. Violet sighed and closed her eyes. She focused and tried to picture the twins. She could never really control her power, but that did not mean she could not try. However, nothing seemed to be happening. Violet was about to give up, when she was suddenly pulled into a premonition.

She saw the skyline of Las Vegas, and then moved to a casino. A name clearly appeared, the Three Wishes casino. She moved inside the casino, though before she could see anything, two dark eyes appeared staring back at her.

Violet screamed as she was forcefully pushed out of the premonition and spilled her tea. She looked around and saw the concerned looks of Billie and Duncan, as well as everyone else in the coffee corner staring at her like she was crazy.

Xxx

Back at the San Francisco Police Department, inspector Jake Porter was sitting behind his desk catching up on reports from the last few weeks. As much as he liked being a cop, he hated the paperwork. He became a cop so he would have a legit career next to his hunting, not to mention the badge had helped him out of some situations that were though to explain.

Feeling tired of typing, Jake decided to grab some coffee and left his office. As he waited by the vending machine in the kitchen, Jake pondered about what happened this morning with Billie. She seemed distracted. He had been noticing it for a couple of days now. Just when they were finally able to have a normal, functioning relationship, she was acting weird. He thought admitting their feelings would make things better, but it only seemed to hold them back. What if they were not able to pull off the normal thing? What if they were too different or the age gap turned out to be bigger than he thought? He was ready for commitment, but maybe Billie was not.

When Jake returned to his office, he was surprised to see Billie leaning in his desk with a concerned look on her beautiful face.

"Hey." Jake said. "What are you doing here?"

"Something came up." Billie replied.

"What?" Jake asked.

"Remember how I told you about the twins?" Billie asked.

"The identical half-warlock criminal twins?" Jake asked with a frown. "How could I forget? I thought it was a bad joke first time you said it."

"I wish it was." Billie replied. "Anyway, apparently Duncan has been secretly meeting with one of them and now he believes they are in trouble."

"Why would Duncan be meeting..?" Jake started to ask, but then figured out the reason and did not really want to think about it. "Never mind. What kind of trouble?"

"We're not sure, but he wants us to find out and help them." Billie said.

"Why would you help them?" Jake asked. "Even if they are not completely evil, they are still criminals wanted in at least seven states across the country. It sounds like they just bit off more than they could chew."

"Exactly what I was thinking, but still, Duncan is my friend and he really cares about Nathan." Billie explained reluctantly. "After everything he and Vi did for me, I owe him."

"I get it." Jake replied. "So what is the plan?"

"Well, Violet got a premonition about this freaky casino, so that's our first stop." Billie said.

"Okay, you want me to get the tickets?" Jake asked.

"Tickets?" Billie asked confused.

"For the plane of course." Jake replied.

"Oh, we just figured we'd use a teleportation potion." Billie replied with a shrug. "You don't have to go through all that trouble."

"So when are we leaving?" Jake asked.

"Wait, you want to come?" Billie asked surprised.

"Of course, isn't that why you came over?" Jake asked. "If this is something criminal, you will need me to find out more. I am an inspector, remember?"

"Right." Billie said hesitantly. "I just came over to tell you, isn't that what people who are dating are supposed to do? I did not expect you to come with me."

"Is this really about the twins thing or do we have to talk about something else?" Jake asked as he crossed his arms.

"What do you mean?" Billie asked.

"Do you really think I wouldn't notice you acting weird the last couple of days?" Jake asked. "People who are dating are also supposed to talk to each other as well."

"But there's nothing to talk about." Billie said quickly. "Everything is fine."

"Okay." Jake replied somewhat doubtfully. "So when do we leave?"

"Tonight." Billie said. "Meet you at my dorm?"

"Sure." Jake replied.

Billie nodded and briefly kissed him before leaving. Jake sighed and leaned against his head while rubbing his temples. There was definitely something going on with Billie, he could feel it in the way she kissed him. Her mind was elsewhere, but did that mean she was just distracted or was she just not interested anymore? Perhaps a chance to work together again was exactly what they needed. After all, that is how they fell for each other in the first place.

Xxx

At his dorm room, Duncan was packing some magical supplies, which became increasingly difficult to hide with his new roommate poking around. Although they were a little unwilling, he was glad his friends had agreed to help. With the help of Violet's premonition, they now had a place to start searching. The Three Wishes, a strange name for a casino. Perhaps he should do some investigating on his own before they went there and got lured into a trap.

Duncan sat down on his bed with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes and focused on the location in his mind, the Three Wishes. He felt his consciousness leave his body and astral projected to where he wanted to go.

In an orange glow, Duncan appeared the empty hallway of what looked like a casino. He looked around and noticed an Arabic theme. It suited the name, so he was at least in the right place. He walked down the hallway and arrived in a large hall filled with slot machines and gamblers.

"You shouldn't be here." someone said.

Duncan turned around and saw a cloud of pale red smoke rise from the ground. A petite woman with long dark brown hair and olive skin appeared, dressed in a red harem outfit. When Duncan noticed the gold chains on her neck and wrists, he realized what she was, a Genie.

"Who are you?" Duncan asked.

"My name is Zahara." The Genie replied. "You must leave."

"Why? Do you know why I'm here?" Duncan asked.

"You seek someone. They always do." Zahara replied. "But in the end, they all end up losing themselves."

"What is going on here?" Duncan asked. "This is no ordinary casino, is it?"

"No." Zahara said with a saddened look.

"Why are you here? Are you involved in this?" Duncan asked.

"I am bound here, like so many others." Zahara explained. "Please, before they discover you are here, you must leave and never return."

"I can't do that." Duncan said. "Someone that I care about is stuck here. You must have seen him or his brother."

"The brothers, the warlocks?" Zahara asked with a frown.

"Do you know where they are?" Duncan asked.

Before Zahara could answer his question, one of the doors in the hallway opened and several large and muscular man in robes and turbans came running out. When they spotted Duncan, they pointed and screamed as they ran at him. Zahara turned around and pushed Duncan, causing him to lose balance. He fell and his concentration was broken, causing his astral self to disappear before he could hit the ground.

With a gasp, Duncan returned to his physical body and painfully fell off his bed. Whatever was going on in that casino, there was magic involved. But was this mysterious Genie a victim like the twins, or was she somehow involved with it all?

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