"Really? Are you sure?" Kirin was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "Wow."
Umehito opened his eyes, hearing Kirin's voice next to him.
"Ok, I understand."
He pushed himself up on his elbows. Kirin was sitting up in bed, talking.
"Kirin, who are you talking to?"
Kirin started, whipping her head to face him. He was startled to see that her eyes were glazed over. She blinked.
"Cleo."
Cleo?
He watched as she returned her gaze to the empty air in front of her. She appeared to be listening intently.
"Ok, Cleo," she nodded. "I'll see you soon."
She lay back down, pulling the blanket over her and rolling onto her side. She closed her eyes and appeared to fall asleep instantly.
Who the hell is Cleo?
He sighed and pulled her close; he'd ask her in the morning.
"Cleo?" Kirin looked at Umehito, confused.
"Yeah," he nodded. "You were sitting up, talking to someone. When I asked who you were talking to, you said 'Cleo'."
"I have no idea," she shook her head. "I don't know anyone named Cleo. Maybe I was sleep-talking."
"Maybe…." He frowned. "But I've never seen you do that before."
"I don't think I have done it before," she shrugged. "Hey, could we do a summoning spell?"
He blinked, surprised at both the request and the sudden change in topic.
"I suppose…. Why?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, "I just feel like I want to do one..."
"All right," he nodded. "In club or on our own?"
"Mmm... Club."
"Ok," he kissed her cheek.
She slid off his lap and into her seat as the teacher came in.
"Where's Arora?" Tamaki asked suddenly, looking around the clubroom.
"She has a date," Kairi said.
"With who?"
"Some guy named Keigo," Kaelan shrugged nonchalantly.
"Keigo?" he blinked.
"He's in 2-B," Megan explained. "He seems pretty normal—black hair, brown eyes, average height, average grades. Kyoya, is there anything unusual about him?"
Kyoya looked up from his clipboard, a slightly irked expression on his face.
"Just be prepared for a frantic phone call or a niece or nephew."
"What?!" Megan's eyes widened. "What are you—"
"He has a reputation of using girls and leaving."
Tamaki freaked out.
"Megan, we have to—"
"Arora can take care of herself, Tamaki," Thorne said softly, cutting off the panicked blond.
"B-but—"
"Thorne's right, Tamaki," Amber said. "Arora will be fine."
"She'll call us if she needs us," Megan murmured. "Besides, the guests will be arriving soon."
"I suppose…."
"Hear these words, hear my cry,
Spirit from the other side.
Come to me, I summon thee,
Cross now the great divide.
Beloved spirit,
We seek your guidance.
Commune with us
And move amongst us."
The five white candles flickered. Suddenly, Kirin started to slide across the floor. She gasped, looking to Umehito with wide eyes as she slid toward the center of the pentagram. He tensed, his own eyes wide.
It took all his strength to resist running to her side. There was a flash of brilliant white light, emanating from Kirin. She screamed. When the light dimmed, she was bent backwards, staring up at the ceiling. Her eyes continued to glow. Her head slowly turned, her eyes boring straight into Umehito's. She spoke, her voice hoarse and whispy
"Cleo…."
He inhaled sharply; Cleo was a spirit. She continued to speak, her voice broken and static-y.
"Kirin…. My…child…. Mother…."
She wasn't making any sense. Her next words were crystal clear.
"He's coming."
The room suddenly went black. Kirin collapsed to the floor. The candles flickered back to life, and everyone jumped up at once, rushing to check on Kirin. Umehito pulled her into his arms as everyone crowded around him. She groaned, opening her eyes blearily. Everyone gave a collective, relieved sigh.
"Are you ok?" he asked softly.
"Yeah…." She murmured, looking around. "What happened?"
"Cleo used you as a medium. She said something about her child and mother and then she said 'he's coming'."
She blinked.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know," he sighed.
Kirin's phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket, texting a response. A moment later, the door slammed open and her sisters swarmed in.
"What happened?" Megan asked, rushing toward her sister.
There was a collective flinch as Kaelan tripped over a chair.
"I inadvertently became a medium," Kirin giggled.
"Oh. But you're ok?"
"Uh-huh!" she nodded.
"We heard a scream and we were worried," Thorne said softly.
"But Kairi pointed out that you'd said you were going to be doing a spell," Amber added, "and that interrupting might not be the best idea."
"Good job, Kai," Kirin grinned. "Hey, Meg, does the name 'Cleo' mean anything to you?"
"Cleo?" Megan blinked. "No, why?"
"That's the spirit that used me as a medium."
"She also apparently visited Kirin last night," Umehito said. "I woke up to find her talking to air. When I asked her who she was talking to, she said 'Cleo.'"
"Maybe it's Cleopatra," Thorne suggested. "Mom used to say that she's one of our ancestors."
"Really?" Kirin's eyes widened. "I didn't know that."
"I don't know if it's true," Thorne added, "but it's what she said."
"That might explain why she said 'my child,'" Umehito murmured thoughtfully. "Even if it's not Cleopatra, it could be an ancestor."
"But what about 'he's coming'?" Kirin frowned.
"I don't know, but it sounded like a warning. We'll just have to be cautious," he sighed. "We should start doing protection spells."
"Ok," she nodded.
"This sure is interesting," Reiko said, "but we should probably end for the day—I have to leave soon."
"Right," Umehito nodded, standing and pulling Kirin up with him.
She swayed, collapsing back into his arms.
"Why don't you take Kirin home?" Reiko sighed. "We'll clean up."
"Thanks, Reiko," Kirin smiled, letting Umehito help her out after her sisters.
"Kirin, are you ok?!" Tamaki yanked her from Umehito's grip, hugging her frantically.
"Choking—!" she gasped.
He released his hold on her, and she nearly fell to the ground again. Umehito pulled her back to his side, his arm wrapped protectively around her.
"Are you ok?" Tamaki asked again, his eyes still wide and panicked.
"I'm fine, Tama," she smiled.
"What was that scream—"
"I channeled a spirit!" she chirped.
"You what?!"
"I was a medium—don't look so freaked out! We think it was Cleopatra!"
"There's a possibility that we're her descendants," Megan explained, taking his hand in hers.
"Oh…." He blinked.
"Kirin-chan, was that you we heard scream?" a guest leaving the host club asked, looking concerned.
"Yeah," she nodded, "but I'm fine."
"Well I'm glad you're ok," the guest smiled.
"Yeah, we were all worried," another guest agreed, nodding.
"Aw, thanks, guys!" Kirin tilted her head, smiling cutely at them.
"You're so cute!" another guest giggled.
"Thanks!" she said again, giggling.
"Um, no offense, but is the black magic club the safest place?" a fourth guest asked softly. "I mean, you screamed…."
"Of course," Kirin said seriously, nodding. "I couldn't be safer than with Umehito. He'll take care of me!"
She leaned against him, smiling up at him. The guest smiled slightly.
"Yes, I suppose that's true."
"Yep!" Kirin giggled, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
"Bet the sex is interesting," Kaelan mused.
"Kaelan!" Kirin squeaked, her face reddening.
"What?" Kaelan grinned. "Am I wrong?"
"That's none of your business!"
"Aw, c'mon," she probed. "Confide in your sister! You're obviously having it; your faces suddenly got that glowy look like a month ago—that day I told him he should carry around a scythe! From how often you guys have that look, you're probably having quite a lot of it…."
"Kaelan!" Kirin whined, burying her face into Umehito's chest.
"Kaelan, that's just cruel," Kairi sighed. "That's a very personal topic, and it really isn't any of your business."
"And you just proved that no one should ever confide in you," Megan added, sighing.
Kaelan pouted.
Pahahaha, poor Kirin xD Kaelan is so mean sometimes lol but I love her :) I victimize/criminalize her so much lol-she picks on and gets picked on, so I guess it evens out...? Ha, I don't know, but it's fun :)
Review, pretty-please! :D
