CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

'Well, I have to say Freddy struck gold with you, you're definitely one to keep!' Red told Lily, taking her hand and kissing the back of her palm, old school style.

'Ignore him,' P.J's girlfriend Darcy told her, rolling her eyes. 'Although, not about the gold part. You're a lot nicer than his last girlfriend. Eva was so quiet, having a conversation with her was like drawing blood from a stone. It's nice you have a personality.'

'I'm not his girlfriend.' Lily stammered, in awe of these confident, loud people that were jockeying for her attention. Wow, being Freddy must be hard work. He had to go to school amidst the demands of popularity, band and music commitments, his role as student president and star athlete? He must live a harder life than she had originally considered.

'You soon will be I bet,' Red winked at her, 'He's not going to want to lose you, I can guarantee. He hasn't stopped talking about you.'

'Give my sister a break!' Holly interrupted, placing the drinks she had just got them all from the bar down on their table.

Lily, Holly, Owen, Red, P.J., Darcy, Gabe and Gabe's girlfriend Tia were all sharing a booth on the third floor of Dawsons. They had got in without a hitch, although they all had to have their hands stamped to show that they were underage and by no means allowed to be within two feet of alcohol. This suited Lily fine. She became a hazy mess with one small glass of wine at dinner, she did not need alcohol mugging up her first date with Freddy. Freddy had gone to the bathroom, which gave his friends an opportunity to voice how Freddy really felt about her to Lily.

Holly squeezed past Tia to sit on the other side of Lily. Owen was chatting amiably with Gabe about Mad Men, but shot Holly an appreciative look for the virgin Margarita she had just slid across the table in his direction.

'Is anyone up for dancing soon?' Holly asked, looking around the room excitedly, which was full of people dancing energetically to a mix of Hot Chip and James Brown.

The room was open plan, dotted with booths on one side of the wall which faced a floor length glass wall leading onto a garden terrace. The stairs were hidden in the corner of the room, glass as well, which led to the main room on the first floor, where Freddy would be DJing in half an hour. It was dark, sparse, but warming, lots of oranges and yellows danced across the walls from the lights up here, making a change from the main room which was black set off against icy green and blue.

'Definitely!' Tia piped up enthusiastically. Small, curvy, with a mane of straight black hair and Indian colouring with bright blue eyes, Tia was a stunner. She had been really friendly to both Holly and Lily, making sure they were always included in the conversation and asking them questions to make them feel part of the group, 'Darce?'

Darcy was more intimidating. Icy blonde, statuesque, with striking model features and dark brown eyes, she was a tough cookie to suss out. But two hours in, Lily felt herself warming to her. Darcy hadn't left P.J's side, letting the girls know he was her property, but once she had realised Lily and Holly were into their own dates, she had relaxed, let her guard down and started to speak to the Marstons.

'Hmm. Maybe.' Darcy said distractedly, narrowing her eyes at PJ who was looking across the floor at a group of girls who were wearing short mini-dresses alike the ones Lily and Holly had dismissed on the shopping trip for being 'too slutty'.

'Miss me?' Freddy asked, joining the group again. Tia scooched up to allow Freddy a seat next to Lily.

'Absolutely.' Lily murmured in undertone, shooting him a shy smile. Freddy smiled back and gently placed his warm large hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. After Freddy and Owen had paid for dinner, Freddy had taken Lily's hand as they walked into the club as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He hadn't stopped holding it all night, gently tracing circles in her palm and sitting closely next to her but not too close as to be pervy. Lily felt so wanted and protected by him and so safe, it was thrilling to feel like that in a room full of strangers. He had given her the strength to be herself when he introduced her to all of his friends, providing her a share of his confidence and ease.

'I got you a ginger beer.' Holly told him, unaware of the moment that had passed between him and her sister.

'Aw, thanks Hol. Next one's on me.'

'Don't worry,' Lily smirked, 'Holly can buy all the drinks tonight. She's just got a load of cash to buy a car because she just passed her test.'

'Wow!'

'Well done!'

'Was that your first time?'

'Yeah.' Holly said, eyes widening at the onslaught of praise, 'Although considering the prices here I think one round of drinks is likely to cost more than a car!'

Everybody laughed. Each of them had spent at least $40 since they had walked in through the door. The prices were crazy, but the crowd, insane sound system (you could hear the music and your conversation so clearly it was definitely the best place Holly had been to for decent acoustics) and company more than made up for it.

Lily could tell Freddy was getting more nervous as time approached the beginning of his set. His knee was bouncing nervously and he kept looking around the room, undoubtedly to distract his mind from his upcoming arrangement.

Lily squeezed his jumping knee.

'Hey,' She said in undertone, leaning closer so no one else could hear. 'You'll be fine. I know it.'

Freddy jumped slightly, as if he wasn't expecting her to say something.

'Sorry.' He said embarrassedly. 'I must be driving you nuts.'

'It's understandable. I'd probably be crying in a corner, you seem to be holding up pretty well in comparison.'

'I'm glad you're here.'

'I'm glad you invited me.'

Freddy leant in and kissed her on the cheek again.

'Woooo!' Red exclaimed, his status as resident joker confirmed. 'Love is in the air.'

'Shut up Red.' Holly said at once, socking him in the arm.

'It's good you're here to put him in his place, Holly.' Gabe said, surprising everyone. Gabe was the quiet, mysterious one that rarely spoke.

'I'm quite good at that, had a lot of practise with my annoying little sister Poppy.'

'Aww, Poppy's a sweetie! Don't be mean about my second favourite Marston!'

'Second favourite?' Holly said, pretending to look wounded, 'That means I'm your third favourite. I'm hurt Freddy, all those times we danced to Disco Inferno? I feel betrayed.'

She faked wiping a tear and everyone guffawed with laughter. Even Darcy cracked a smile.

'Apologies, Holly. In the name of Disco Inferno, I shall dedicate my first track to you.' Freddy told her, reaching out to shake her hand.

Thrilled, Holly shook it back.

'Talking of tracks, we'd better start making them downstairs. You're on in ten, bro.' P.J. reminded Freddy after glancing at his Rolex.

'Oh yeah,'

Everyone stood up, gathering various bags and draining the last of their drinks.

'Are you all right?' Owen asked Holly. 'Sorry I couldn't chat to you much, Gabe used to date my sister Jane. We were just catching up.'

'Really?' Holly asked playfully, 'Is that before or after the bartender?'

Owen laughed, putting his arm around Holly's shoulders.

'You're as funny as Red likes to think he is,'

'Thanks…I think. I need to go to the bathroom, meet you in a sec?'

'Yeah, I'll get us some more drinks. Another Cranberry Fizz?'

'OK. Yeah thanks, that would be lovely. Anything to save my car fund.' Holly rolled her eyes dramatically, and Owen saluted as he headed over to the crowded bar.

'Hey!' It was Lily, she had detached herself from Freddy.

'Hey you.' Holly smirked.

'What's the look for?'

'Someone's having a good time.'

'I think we're all having a good time. I had no idea Freddy's friends were so nice.'

'Yeah they're sort of a package deal, good thing they like you!'

'I guess,' Lily shrugged, 'Look, I'll meet you downstairs. Want to wish Freddy luck.'

'I bet you do!' Holly winked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Lily scowled in disapproval and headed downstairs.

'Lil!' Lily turned around to see Owen making his way over to her, 'Going to try the bar in the main room. This one's completely rammed.' 'Good idea.' Lily agreed as they both descended the stairs.

'The sound systems unbelievable here! Who knew you could actually hear each other speak in a club?'

'I think the speakers are under our feet.'

'Really? That's impressive. No wonder Jane was here all the time, anything out of the ordinary, she was on it.'

'Sounds like you guys are close.'

'Yeah, we are.' Owen said, smiling. 'She used to look out for me. Helped me a lot when I was younger. I was a real weedy kid who used to get picked on by older kids. It left me with a bad attitude. I'm sure Holly's told you.' He added embarrassedly.

'She might have mentioned something.' Lily said lightly, 'Nothing she's held onto though. Holly's not really one to stick with something unless it's worthwhile. Probably why she isn't hanging around with poisonous Alexi anymore.'

'I hope I can show her I'm worthwhile.' Owen said quietly, revealing something he had not let himself admit before.

'I'm sure she already knows.' Lily told him kindly, grasping his shoulder lightly.

'Ah this queue's much better!' Owen exclaimed once they reached the main room, 'Do you want a drink?'

'Oh no thanks,' Lily said, looking over where Freddy was prepping behind the DJing equipment that was set up on raised dais in the middle of the room. Already there were a lot of people surrounding it, eager for some new sounds and fresh mixes.

'All right,' Owen said, noticing a space next to where Red, P.J. and Gabe were already queuing. 'See you guys in a minute.'

Touching her shoulder briefly in goodbye, he headed over to Freddy's friends whilst Lily made her way over to Freddy to wish him luck.

As she made her way through the crowd, she was aware that she felt a lot hotter down here. Was the air conditioning not working? Lily felt a sheen of sweat suddenly cover her body, her head feeling a little foggy. Going over to the nearest wall, Lily reached it just in time. The next thing she knew everything had gone fuzzy, and she was slumping against the trendy black embossed wallpaper.

All that came were shapes at first. A jumble of images, white, blue, green. Smoke. The air around her was stuffy, claustrophobic. She felt as if she was humming, something was pounding in her chest. Music? Lily strained to find sense in the images she was seeing. Then some familiar faces made her comprehend. She in main room at Dawsons and whoever she was following had just passed P.J., Gabe and Red and the girls who were stood by the bar. Lily couldn't get a solid look at the figure she was following, it was as if something had programmed her to trail behind someone. Her mark was weaving in and out of the crowd effortlessly, looking for something. They were focused and precise, which made Lily sure that they were looking for someone. They had just reaching the doors to what looked like the main room garden terrace

when the figure sprang into motion – object of desire found. Lily saw the figure; a tall bald man with a tattoo of a circle on the back of his neck, reach into his pocket and bring out a large double edged knife, grab a boy with glasses and a green shirt and slice straight across his throat. Lily tried to scream but no sound came out. The boy in the shirt fell sideways into the crowd, the glasses he was holding falling from his hands, the contents splashing on the floor, clasping his neck, blood flowing from underneath his hands. The crowd around them were yelling whilst the figure had withdrawn a glass vial, capturing the flowing blood. When the vial was full, he turned toward Lily, but he looked straight through her as if he could not see her. She caught his face; heavy eyebrows, deep-set black eyes, blank, expressionless, human yet also demonic. A second later, he had vanished in a swirl of inky black smoke.

Like with her other visions it took a while for Lily to regain a sense of the room. Yet unlike the others, she came out of this vision with a sense of inherent duty and purpose rising within had never seen anything like that before, where she had really sensed danger and fear for someone else. It felt more real, less dream-like, more immediate. She was seeing something that was about to happen. Not something that had occurred months or years ago. She had just had a premonition. Her first one. With a jolt she realised who the boy in the green striped shirt was – Owen. And it looked as if he was her first innocent.

Holly was washing her hands when her phone chirped. She looked the caller ID – Lily. With a smile, expecting Lily to still be gushing about the newest nice thing Freddy had said or done, texts she had been receiving all night due to lack of opportunity to talk, she opened the message.

HOLLY, WHERE ARE YOU? I'VE JUST HAD A PREMONITION. SOMETHING'S
ABOUT TO ATTACK OWEN. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND YOU BUT I CAN'T
SEE YOU ANYWHERE. JUST SAW SOMETHING GRAB OWEN
AND SLICE HIS THROAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. ARE YOU WITH HIM?
WE'RE IN THE MAIN ROOM!

Holly felt her blood turn cold as she read the text. Before she went to the bathroom Owen told her he would get them drinks. With a flash she was out of the girls room, dashing as fast as she could through the crowd, craning through the faces to try and spot Owen. There was a bar on this level but it was packed. Owen wasn't here, he must have gone back downstairs to beat the queue.

ON THIRD FLOOR. OWEN IS NOT HERE. WILL BE WITH YOU ASAP! FIND HIM!

Feeling the horror rising, Holly broke out into a run as she hurried down the stairs. This cannot be happening. Holly couldn't believe this, fury fighting with panic. Was this what life was going to be like now? Was magic really going to be everywhere in her life? What she would give for magic not to ruin just one day of it. She hit the next floor, turned left to go down the next flight of stairs and ran smack bang into someone.

'Get out of my way!' She hissed, looking up to glare at the person who had blocked her path.

It was Eric.

'Eric?'

'Holly?'

Both of them looked as shocked as each other.

'What are you doing here?' Eric asked.

'What do you mean what am I doing here? What are you doing here?'

'I'm looking for someone.'

'At Dawsons?' Holly asked with incredulity. This wasn't somewhere Eric was likely to go to hang out. 'Who? That bimbo you were with earlier?'

'Look, Holly,' He wasn't looking at her anymore, he was scanning the crowd above her head expertly, 'I can't talk right now. I'm working and I'm in a hurry. Darlene told me it's going to happen soon-'

'Darlene told –'

'Darlene's a seer,' Eric said impatiently. 'We have a mutual understanding. I give her what she needs, she gives me information about an incoming attack. That's why I'm here. She told me that some virgin was about to get sacrificed.

'What?'

'Don't worry, it happens all the time.' Eric said casually, 'These warlocks just courier the blood to the bigger fish. We need to get to the innocent before the demon gains strength from the blood and does something more horrific.'

'I know who he is. The innocent. Lily had a premonition.'

'A premonition?' Eric looked confused, 'No, that can't be right. Her premonitions won't happen until the Charmed status gets reactivated once you're all eighteen. She can't have a premonition. It's impossible.'

'Eric, I'm sure!' Holly exclaimed, then thrust her phone in his face, 'Look at this if you don't believe me.'

Eric's eyes scanned the screen, eyebrows raising. 'Owen? Who's Owen?'

'Owen,' Holly said through gritted teeth, 'Is my date.'

Did you see that coming? Love to all my reviewers, special thanks to hollyxsuicide for always being such a super prompt and an amazing reviewer.