Winter Solstice Dance:
"Remember that this Friday, December five, is the Winter Solstice Formal for upperclassmen only! Graduates, give the end of the year a grand farewell as you welcome the new! Oh and yes, it is a masquerade! That's all for the afternoon announcements. Thank you and see you all tomorrow night!"
The café was the spot to hang out that Thursday afternoon. Rachel was working overtime that day. She got a call saying that everyone was going to be there so she showed up on her day off. Fliers were passed out. One of them even grabbed Madison's attention:
PARTY TONIGHT ELIZA BETHS!
GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF THE SOLSTICE!
COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR SOLSTICE PRINCESS!
"Should we go?"
"I don't know Maddie," Vida said looking over her copy of the invitation, "We were supposed to meet Aiden somewhere. Weren't we?"
"Ah, she can wait. Let's have some fun." Xander said, completely unaware that Aiden began walking towards the café. She was about to say 'Hi' to what she considered her friends until she heard Chip's comment that followed:
"Aiden can wait. It's a party for the winter solstice. They threw parties bigger than this in the Renaissance." Aiden was going to tell them that she was going to be fully human as of daylight tomorrow in time for Xander to ask her to the Winter Formal. Upon hearing the knights talk about the upcoming party, she turned her back to them. She exited the coffee shop without anyone noticing that she was there in the first place.
"How'd they take it?" Udonna asked her.
"Why don't you ask Eliza?"
"What's a matter Aiden?"
"They don't care that I'm becoming mortal. It doesn't even matter to them."
"Now why would you say something like that? Didn't you tell them?"
"Xander, Chip, Madison, Nick, Vi…everyone was so caught up about going to a celebration for their winter princess that even if I did tell them about becoming mortal, they would have chosen to go to the celebration rather than—"
"Stay with you and enjoy the fact that you're human until it is time for the demon to be unleashed." Both sat in silence while Claire read a book about angels, their lifestyles, and why were they created.
"Udonna?"
"Yes?"
"I'm going for a walk."
"Be careful."
It was twilight when Aiden left and evening when she returned. She changed into her blood colored gown and donned diamond earrings. Her hair fell to her shoulders and was in layers. Claire did her hair while Udonna studied the incantation that would mask the angel within Aiden until it was forced to break open.
"Smile!" Maddie said as she took a picture of the royal court for the yearbook. Nick followed suit and found Vida and Chip talking to two other friends from Music Appreciation. They were there since the party began. Xander was flirting outside, being his usual self—smooth talker. Something bothered Nick though. He was happy when he heard about the party, but felt like there was something more important that he should be doing. It was then that Claire's voice screamed into his head.
"Nick! Nick! HELP!" Everyone at the party started to disappear until Nick closed his eyes and saw what was happening: The Vampire Queen attacking Rootcore—Udonna was on the floor while Aiden's body was thrown like a rag doll. Her red gown now stained with Udonna's blood as she tried to sit up. Instead, the queen ordered her small army to leave—Rootcore was torn to shreds. Aiden's eyes gave him the most horrific image of the truth. The blue eyes closed and Nick found himself holding Maddie's hand so that she could see the haunting image. The pair left, causing Vida to make her exit with Chip and Xander.
"It's worse than I thought." Nick said as he led the others inside. Strands of Claire's hair were on the floor and blood marked most of the open incantation books. It was then that Chip happened upon a ripped page from the Angelic Studies spell book.
"Guys! I think you should read this!" Vida peered over his shoulder and began to read.
"No way. There's no way."
"What is it?" Xander asked.
"Udonna and Claire were casting a spell to suppress the demon inside Aiden with this." Chip said, handing him the page.
"Human? They were humanizing Luci?"
"She tried." Everyone heard Aiden's voice from a corner in the back of the room. It was there that they found Udonna's body that hung by mere shreds. Claire's new haircut made her look more like a stable hand than the niece of the great sorceress.
"We cast a spell on Udonna. One to keep her body from aging," Claire looked at her aunt's body, "The other so that her spirit will be freed from the evil that took it."
"Aiden?" Aiden's voice was lost. She tried to speak, but felt no sound come from her lips. Her eyes went wide. Everything was said correctly; but somehow her voice didn't make it through. She closed her mouth with covered hand.
"Don't tell me." Claire said, as she remembered the attack.
"Why can't she speak Claire? Did Udonna say something wrong?" Vida asked.
"That page. Give it to me." Xander handed the page over, while Maddie and Nick helped Aiden and Claire off the floor.
"Damn! It's not here." Aiden looked at the paper. The page ended with the physical transformation, but the voice spell was ripped off at the last sentence.
"Aiden can't speak at all without it." Claire said as Aiden's eyes filled with anger.
"Are you sure?" Chip asked, looking at Aiden. She resembled the child in Camelot that day; the same physical features, the eyes, the hair, the sun-kissed skin. Everything was there, but her voice. After an hour of planning and deliberation to retrieve the remainder of the spell, Xander led Aiden out of the destroyed Rootcore, and into the forest where he began with an apology, and ended with asking her to the masquerade. Aiden did something more than nod her head, she mouthed out a spell that brought the two of them back to the Renaissance days in France. They were dressed in the fashions of the day and trumpets sounded as the announcers of the ball called their names so that the waltzing may begin. It was a Masquerade Celebration for the Engagement of the royal child of England to France's royal heir to end the Hundred Years War.
