This time as Mahina stood in front of the mirror, she was going to be married; there were only four things she hadn't put on, and she was waiting until the very last second to do it. The shift she was wearing, it was short, black, silky, and had slits up the side – probably to please Wyatt even more; the boots on her feet went almost to her knees, and showed off her legs.
Taking a deep breath, Mahina started with everything else; first was the diadem that went in her hair. It would hold the veil in place and allow it to trail behind her. Next the armband, which felt like it seared onto her skin when she put it on. Last was the garter, into which she stuck a dark lighter dagger – one which Wyatt had said he'd taken from one he'd killed, and to be especially careful. Despite the fact that she looked like the queen of all evil, Mahina knew she looked gorgeous.
"Mahina?" Leo's voice said from outside the door, "he wants you downstairs now."
One last deep breath, and Mahina walked to the door, being careful not to catch her veil as she opened the door. Chris and Leo were both standing there, and Chris sort of cocked his head to take a look at her, but Leo held out his arm and said, "Let's go, you've got a wedding to go to."
Mahina took Leo's arm when he held it out, and walked down the Manor steps. The Charmed Ones were standing in the doorway of the parlor, looking at her as she walked down. At least everyone would think of her as evil but pretty, she thought. When they reached the bottom of the stairs she stepped away from leo and went straight over to Wyatt, not looking back to see what was going on with Chris.
"Now that we're all here," Gideon said to Mahina and Wyatt, "let's get started."
Wyatt nodded for his answer, but Mahina paused and examined Gideon; he seemed innocent enough, but there was something familiar about him... oh goddess. His eyes, the same ones she saw every morning when she looked into the mirror were starting back at her. Gideon was her father, and... he was looking at the parlor where baby Wyatt was with this look on his face. Now knowing what she had to do, no matter what the consequences... she nodded.
"Yes," she said, "let's."
"We are gathered here today to marry these two witches," Gideon said, looking between Wyatt and Mahina, before surveying the rest of the parlor, "these white-lighters, to join their powers and families." The way he said it made Mahina want to lose all the food she had ever eaten all over the parlor floor. "In a ceremony that will go down in magical history. One of a kind."
Mahina took a deep breath; the blood oath would mean her certain death, because she wasn't going to slice her wrist; she had a plan to fix everything, even if she had to sacrifice herself. Gideon continued for a while, until he gestured to Wyatt. In response, Wyatt pulled a dagger from under his pant leg, and sliced open his wrist.
She knew what was going to come next, it would be her turn; but she healed Wyatt anyway, she couldn't kill him. Mahina would have to cut open her wrist and trust that Wyatt would heal her before the poison killed her. When Gideon gestured towards her, Mahina took a deep breath.
"Mahina," Wyatt said, "it's your time, you mustn't re afraid I won't heal you." He touched her cheek. "Trust me."
Mahina nodded, and removed the dagger from the garter; Wyatt's eyes had gone wide, as if he'd never noticed her legs before, although she knew she had. Gideon looked eager, and she knew he was the one responsible; if she killed him, then there would be no evil Wyatt, no Chris coming back... no her.
"Mahina, no!"
Chris' screams could only be heard slightly as her world went black. Stabbing Gideon had sliced through her as well, taking her life just as quickly as his; she thanked the gods and goddesses that even as an elder he was vulnerable to dark lighter weapons. Mahina took a last look at the people gathering around her, the last thing she saw was Wyatt's genuinely sad face looking down at hers, mouthing, 'I'm sorry'.
Author's note: The Secret Circle trilogy, The Power (vol 3), written by LJ Smith. Read it, and you'll see the diadem, garter, and armband tie – also the black shift... sort of. That's all!
