Chapter Three: Opposites Attract
"Oooh, I just can't WAIT until we get inside. This is the ideal new place to meet boys!" Stephanie exclaimed, excitement pouring through her veins. She was, by a mile, the most energetic person of my circle of friends. Her relationships didn't last very long; in fact, we were all shocked if they lasted more than a few weeks.
We were walking up to the club where we all proved we were "18" with fake IDs made for us by Red. She could forge anything. Then, we walked into Fire and Ice.
That's how it actually felt, considering it was summertime and the new club had a cooling atmosphere. Not that I expected it to last long as I observed the hundreds of people coming inside. This place was pretty cool, what with the torches and then the brighter flames from the warlocks who took up a job here and conjured wonders with their magic. There were lights everywhere and a large fire ablaze. I could already see it from where I stood.
Stephanie and I stuck together it seemed, for everyone else scattered about as the musical instruments began to play and the partying began. I noticed lots of people snuck in here with fake IDs, not that we'd say anything about it, for we risked getting in just as much trouble when we go caught, if not more. Stephanie's hand swatted at me as she gasped without saying anything.
"What is it?" I asked for the third time already.
"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing in the distance. "Cute guy...Oh, it looks like a knight!" She then separated herself from me, and I was on my own...sort of. I walked around, gazing at the magical performances of the warlocks. Their control over their powers of light fascinated me, and they never hurt anyone. It was all an illusion.
I didn't see him yet, but I knew he'd be here. I sat by the bar where I was asked if I wanted anything. I was about to answer, but-
"She'll have a glass of strawberry wine," a voice came from behind me. Another interruption! "And I will have a bottle of whiskey." I looked to my left to see the first man of the night. He didn't look drunk yet, so I took that as a good sign. I think he had brown hair and brown eyes but it was a little hard to see.
"Sure," I said, going along with this. He didn't seem too bad at first glance, and then he introduced himself as Lancelot. I told him my name, and we got to talking a little bit. When I received the glass, I found it to be a reasonable size, but the flavor of the wine was a little too potent for my liking. I almost spit it up onto him trying to hold it back, but I just couldn't keep it in my mouth. I didn't know what to do to make the situation awkward.
Suddenly, I sat straight and proper, swallowing the wine by pure force. My eyes widened in surprise. Lancelot looked at me, but quickly, his body jerked the other way, and within the next minute, he was thrusted across the room. Everyone cheered as though he were part of an act or something. My eyes sharply turned after I set the glass onto the bar, and there was Rumpelstiltskin, sitting a few seats away with a cloak to cover himself. His smile was unmistakeable to me, and I smirked back.ThankGod,butthatwinewasawful.
Lancelot wasn't the guy I'd be interested in. He was too, what's the word...sophisticated. Yes, he was way too sophisticated for me. I wanted someone a bit more informal and better yet, not wielding a sword at a nightclub.
I decided to instead sip on the strawberry wine, when suddenly midstream, the flavor changed from an alcohol to a blend of strawberry and blueberries. It tasted quite nice and it was more preferred to my taste. I guessed it was merely the work of Rumpelstiltskin.
More lights flickered, and I must've looked like a huge party crasher just sitting at the bar. Until another guy came up to where I was sitting.
"Is this seat taken?" he asked smoothly. I shook my head and he sat down. "Hi. My name is Gregg." Gregg had a shorter hair cut and wore eccentric clothing for someone of his figure. He looked to be a performer or possibly an actor.
"Maria," I said plainly.
"So, um, what do you think of the new club?" Gregg asked, making small talk which was a good start.
"I like it. I think the warlocks put a lot of effort into their presentation tonight," I replied, taking another drink of my unique beverage.
"Oh, it's nothing much," Gregg pointed out. "Watch." He was a warlock, figures. With the wave of his finger, a yellow lightning bolt illusion flickered across the entire light show. It looked amazing with the blue lights that were already present.
An announcer came into view and some of the warlocks highlighted his presence and with a spell to enhance his voice, he shouted:
"Welcome to Fire and Ice! Enjoy the mysteries of the night and the music its children make!"
Lots of people cheered at him, probably because they were all hyped up. Then only red lights were present amongst all, making crackling noises, and Gregg, who was next to me, cracked a blue one to interfere and break off the illusion to create a rather brilliant contrast. I didn't comprehend just yet what the man meant by 'the children', but I suppose I would find out soon enough. Then, Gregg just became a bug show off, with all his fancy magic. All he did was bore me and remind me of what he thought I couldn't do.
Truth be told, I could do some magic, I just chose not to. It was not powerful by any means and the only relationship I have to magic is on my father's side of the family. It was weak, though I was told there was a chance to improve that. I didn't even risk disappointment, so I stuck with small tricks like invisibility and defying gravity. That was plenty for me.
I couldn't believe a place like Fire and Ice could come to our village. Sure, there were enough people living around here, but in these woods, a club seemed like it would never thrive. I suppose a lot of people like to party, and this was the place to do it. A heard a flute playing and then a mix of howls, making my head turn. We watched as wolves jumped onto the wooden stage and howled in a melodic way. So...that's what he meant...
Gregg simply disappeared after the wolves' performance. The entire time he'd been trying to show me tricks and tell me other cool things about being a warlock. When there was a long moment of silence I looked to see if he was there anymore...and he just wasn't. Good, Rumpelstiltskin was indeed holding his end of the bargain tonight. I wondered now what his terms were for me as I recalled the shifting of the ink before I completely signed the contract.
I rose from my chair and went out onto the dance floor, despite the fact that my dancing skills were nothing short of anyone having two left feet. Though, I suppose that would go for anyone else here tonight. It was after all, a nightclub, and as I looked around, I thought I saw someone dancing worse than me.
A few men were getting a little rowdy around the midnight hour, and that's when I thought to take my leave. Knowing Rumpelstiltskin, he'd say his work was over at midnight anyways.
As I walked outside to go home, his voice rang in my ears. Everything seemed ten times louder than what it actually was because of my sensitive ears to the loud music and shouting of the people inside that place. It was cool don't get me wrong, but I can't stand being in a loud environment all night long. Some teenage girl I was.
"Well, was it all to your...satisfaction?" Rumpelstiltskin asked. He caught up with me and we began walking through the woods together. The mere situation made my sense peak to their fullest (or at least, as full as they were going to get at the present moment). He was still Rumpelstiltskin, despite the fact that I appreciated him repelling unwanted men from me tonight, even though it would come with a cost to it eventually.
"Yes, yes it was," I admitted as we kept walking. "I assume you came to brag about how I signed myself into foolishness then?"
"Ooo, that's cold, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin replied, acting hurt inside and making it bombastically known. His feet seemed to dance beneath him; boy was he an odd fellow. "That's real cold. But, I am a man of my word."
"Oh, come now," I replied. "What did I sign into?" He smiled at me and then laughed a small amount.
I kept walking, letting him enjoy his moment of knowing something I didn't for the last few seconds he had that power. He'd have to tell me eventually. I yawned, mostly ignoring him as we continued to walk together. I became more and more comfortable around him, considering he hadn't casted any magic on me, at least not yet.
"Maria, if you'd looked at section five, you'd already know," Rumpelstiltskin told me finally. "But, if you must know now, I suppose I could tell you...no strings attached."
"All right, what is it?" I asked, stopping near a split tree. His anxious skipping (I think that's what I'd call it) ceased, and he looked me in the eyes, this time more sincerely. I knew he wasn't acting for those few precious moments. Then it slipped from his mouth.
"Maria, my dear...by signing that contract, you have agreed...to go on a date with me."