Part 8
Cody sat motionless, not sure she believed what Deborah's insane friends were trying to convince her of. Some story about witches and magic warlocks and powerful objects. Whole thing sounded like it should be a story line for a *Charmed* episode. She didn't mention that, doubting they would appreciate the joke.
Cody still couldn't get around the idea that her science minded sister Jessica had been part of any of this. "So in the short term, you're telling me I'm a witch?"
"That's the basics of it, yes." The redhead Melanie seemed to be the most sensible of the lot.
The girl who had brought her the Century's Star gem in the first place, Diana, had explained the whole thing talking in such a gentle voice Cody had found it hard not to listen.
The girl had a beauty about her, something that seemed to require immediate attention without demanding for it. Still, neither Melanie's rational mindedness nor Diana's calmness were making the whole thing any easier for Cody to accept.
She sat in the spare chair in Diana and Melanie's dorm room, shaking her head in disbelief. "Why is this weird gem moving Jessica's science books out the way and showing me coloured light with faces in?"
"The Century's Star did that?" Melanie asked, eyes sparking with interest.
Cody shrugged, tugging on a strand of loose blond hair. "What else could? I know nothing about how to be a witch." Saying the words out loud, Cody began to realise how absurd this whole thing really sounded.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.
Cody really did *not* want any of this responsibility on her shoulders, it meant nothing to her. She *didn't* want some jerk ass warlock after her, and she *didn't* want that Century's Star thing in her possession anymore.
"That gem scares the hell out of me," she declared, standing up. "I don't know anything about this, and you can shove your responsibilities up your pompous asses!"
Not caring about being rude or obnoxious, Cody ran from the room. Once outside she stood staring blankly, not sure what to do with herself now.
~You were the one who wanted answers~ she thought, shoving her hands in her pockets. ~And you got them. Doesn't mean I have to do anything about them.~
She walked back to her dorm, pleased to see Michelle was out and no one had come running after her.
She hesitated before opening her nightstand draw where she had left the Century's Star. At the moment, the thing just looked like a normal crystal. Cody knew better. What did she do with this thing? Could she sell it, maybe?
All she knew was as long as this...this *thing* was in her possession something was going to go wrong, she was certain of it. A knock on the door pulled her out her thoughts.
"Who is it?" Cody snapped.
She half expected it to be the so-called witches to come back and persuade her to do what was right. They had that sickening good-guy *look* about them.
"My name's Hayan Mayfair, I was Jessica's boyfriend. She asked me all the time to take care of something called Century's Star if anything ever happened to her. I never expected it would...but...I heard you had it, and, well..." A male voice answered, trailing off.
Cody frowned at the gem in her hands. Jessica had never mentioned a boyfriend. She opened the door to see a rather ordinary looking boy, only a few inches taller than she was. He was dressed casually in blue jeans, trainers and a plaid shirt. Hs eyes were a startling amber colour, his nose sharp, lips thin. His dark hair was slicked back with a little too much gel. He was smiling shyly, pushing glasses up on his nose. In one arm, he held a stack of chemistry books.
Cody found herself smiling. He was just the type of geeky guy Jessica had adored.
"I have no idea what this Century's Star thing was, but she always insisted I have it," he admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
Cody knew she should have been more relieved. Less than five minutes ago all she had wanted was to be rid of the gem. "Me neither," she said, and handed him the white box.
He opened it, eyebrows arching at the pretty crystal. "That's the Century's Star? A gem?"
"Apparently so. Take it, I don't want it."
Hayan smiled. "Thanks. See you round." He took the box and walked away.
Cody went back into her room, closing the door behind her. For some reason she couldn't explain, she felt oddly empty.
* * *
Cody sat motionless, not sure she believed what Deborah's insane friends were trying to convince her of. Some story about witches and magic warlocks and powerful objects. Whole thing sounded like it should be a story line for a *Charmed* episode. She didn't mention that, doubting they would appreciate the joke.
Cody still couldn't get around the idea that her science minded sister Jessica had been part of any of this. "So in the short term, you're telling me I'm a witch?"
"That's the basics of it, yes." The redhead Melanie seemed to be the most sensible of the lot.
The girl who had brought her the Century's Star gem in the first place, Diana, had explained the whole thing talking in such a gentle voice Cody had found it hard not to listen.
The girl had a beauty about her, something that seemed to require immediate attention without demanding for it. Still, neither Melanie's rational mindedness nor Diana's calmness were making the whole thing any easier for Cody to accept.
She sat in the spare chair in Diana and Melanie's dorm room, shaking her head in disbelief. "Why is this weird gem moving Jessica's science books out the way and showing me coloured light with faces in?"
"The Century's Star did that?" Melanie asked, eyes sparking with interest.
Cody shrugged, tugging on a strand of loose blond hair. "What else could? I know nothing about how to be a witch." Saying the words out loud, Cody began to realise how absurd this whole thing really sounded.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room.
Cody really did *not* want any of this responsibility on her shoulders, it meant nothing to her. She *didn't* want some jerk ass warlock after her, and she *didn't* want that Century's Star thing in her possession anymore.
"That gem scares the hell out of me," she declared, standing up. "I don't know anything about this, and you can shove your responsibilities up your pompous asses!"
Not caring about being rude or obnoxious, Cody ran from the room. Once outside she stood staring blankly, not sure what to do with herself now.
~You were the one who wanted answers~ she thought, shoving her hands in her pockets. ~And you got them. Doesn't mean I have to do anything about them.~
She walked back to her dorm, pleased to see Michelle was out and no one had come running after her.
She hesitated before opening her nightstand draw where she had left the Century's Star. At the moment, the thing just looked like a normal crystal. Cody knew better. What did she do with this thing? Could she sell it, maybe?
All she knew was as long as this...this *thing* was in her possession something was going to go wrong, she was certain of it. A knock on the door pulled her out her thoughts.
"Who is it?" Cody snapped.
She half expected it to be the so-called witches to come back and persuade her to do what was right. They had that sickening good-guy *look* about them.
"My name's Hayan Mayfair, I was Jessica's boyfriend. She asked me all the time to take care of something called Century's Star if anything ever happened to her. I never expected it would...but...I heard you had it, and, well..." A male voice answered, trailing off.
Cody frowned at the gem in her hands. Jessica had never mentioned a boyfriend. She opened the door to see a rather ordinary looking boy, only a few inches taller than she was. He was dressed casually in blue jeans, trainers and a plaid shirt. Hs eyes were a startling amber colour, his nose sharp, lips thin. His dark hair was slicked back with a little too much gel. He was smiling shyly, pushing glasses up on his nose. In one arm, he held a stack of chemistry books.
Cody found herself smiling. He was just the type of geeky guy Jessica had adored.
"I have no idea what this Century's Star thing was, but she always insisted I have it," he admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
Cody knew she should have been more relieved. Less than five minutes ago all she had wanted was to be rid of the gem. "Me neither," she said, and handed him the white box.
He opened it, eyebrows arching at the pretty crystal. "That's the Century's Star? A gem?"
"Apparently so. Take it, I don't want it."
Hayan smiled. "Thanks. See you round." He took the box and walked away.
Cody went back into her room, closing the door behind her. For some reason she couldn't explain, she felt oddly empty.
* * *