Ella and Chris walked to Ella's father's house and Ella rang the bell. A man with dark-brown hair answered. When he saw Ella, he walked to her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "Ella, I thought you weren't coming," he said, relieved that she had arrived.
"I met my new school friend on the way and brought him here to meet you, Daddy," answered the girl, as her dad let go of her.
"Hi, I'm Chris Larabee," introduced the blond, taking his cue.
Ella's father looked at him and smiled. "Hello Chris, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Daddy, Chris knows about my powers," informed Ella with a grin.
"Come in and I'll make some drinks for us," invited Mr. Gaines, before leading them into the house.
It was a lot less tidy and clean than the Potters' house and the furniture looked a lot less expensive as well. The rooms were smaller than Chris's family home as well.
"Would you like a cola, Chris?" asked Mr. Gaines, as he took some tumblers out of a high wooden cupboard in the kitchen.
"That would be fine, thanks," replied the boy, as he walked into the living room.
Ella walked in behind him and turned on the TV, then sat down on the sofa. Chris sat down in a lounge-chair nearby.
Five minutes later, Mr. Gaines bought in the drinks on a tray. Ella was having cola as well. Mr. Gaines had a mug of coffee.
Chris accepted his cola from the man and sipped it; it tasted sweet, but very nice. Chris wondered what brand it was.
"It's a foreign brand of cola," replied Ella, as if she'd read the boy's mind.
"It's very nice, thanks," said Chris to Mr. Gaines.
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"Don't panic, Josiah - he'll return in a while, once he's calmed down," said Ezra, as he looked at the worried blond standing beside his chair. "You weren't very fair, taking my side as usual. I made fun of the way he talked as well to tell the truth."
"I thought he was bullying you again, since you're the younger brother," said Josiah, sounding guilty. "I should've talked to him some more."
"NATHAN!" called Ezra, deciding on the course of action to take to find their brother.
Blue and white orbs appeared in the room, and then Nathan stood there as the orbs disappeared. "Something wrong?"
"Chris has run off. Please locate him for us," requested Ezra commandingly.
"I'm not to be used in that way, Ezra. I'm only supposed to be used to help you protect and save innocents. He's not in any real danger, so there's no need for me to 'locate' him for you."
"His dinner is getting cold," commented Josiah, as he placed the plates on the table. "Can you bring him home for us - before he gets into trouble?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't be used for that kinda thing," said Nathan apologetically, remembering the rules of the Elders. "Not unless he gets into real danger."
"I can't sense him like Nathan is able to, otherwise I'd go and retrieve him," said Ezra. "I guess we have to wait until he chooses to return." Ezra returned to working on his school work, trying to work out the math problems he always had difficulty with. The boy wished his father was there to help, but Terrence was still working at the garage. Ezra wished again that he had a younger brother who was smarter than average, then he could do Ezra's homework for him.
"Nathan, promise me you'll go to him if you sense he's in danger?" requested Josiah, worried about Chris despite him being old enough to look after himself.
"Of course I will, Josiah," promised Nathan. "I have to go now - I've got a meeting with the Elders soon."
Josiah stood watching, as Nathan orbed out. Then the young blond man walked outside through the open back door. As it was summer, it was warm enough to leave the door open. He wondered where Chris had gone and decided to check the alley for the boy.
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Chris and Ella said good-bye to her dad, whom she didn't live with, then they shimmered out, with Chris holding Ella's hand.
"CHRIS?" asked a loud, scared voice. "Why are you shimmering in with warlocks?"
"Josiah, this is Ella," answered Chris. "She's a good warlock, I promise."
Josiah thought warlocks were all evil as they were witches turned bad, but didn't want to argue with Chris. "I'm pleased to meet you, Ella," said Josiah with a smile. "Where have you two been?"
"Chris visited my father with me," answered Ella. "Don't worry; he lives in a house here, not in the Underworld."
"Chris, your dinner's getting cold. Say good-bye to your friend and we'll go home."
"I'll see you at school tomorrow, Ella," said Chris with a smile. "Bye."
Ella smiled back. "Bye, Chris." Then Ella shimmered out without another word.
Josiah looked sternly at his younger brother. "You have warlocks at your school?" he asked, angry that Chris had to mix with evil beings even at school.
"Yeah, I just met her today, she's new," answered Chris, annoyed with getting the third degree from his brother. "I think she's the only one though and I'm sure no-one else knows she's a warlock."
"I'm sorry for the questions, Chris. But I'm concerned for your safety. I also don't want you falling in with a bad crowd. You're a good person and I'd hate for anyone to change that. Please be careful."
"I will, I promise. I'm starving, let's get back now."
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Two days later, in the evening, Chris Larabee stood in his room looking in the mirror. He was troubled by a concern he'd been having since the day before.
"Mind if I come in?" asked Terrence Potter, who was the adoptive father of Chris, Josiah and Ezra.
"Sure," answered Chris, still studying his reflection with concern.
"Is there something bothering you, Son?"
"I think I'm in love, Dad."
Terrence smiled. "How do you feel about that?" he asked his son, detecting the seriousness of Chris's tone. Terrence sat down on the bed behind Chris.
"Pretty good, I guess," answered Chris. "But she's not like other girls." Chris frowned at the single black hair on his head.
"No two girls are the same, Son."
"Dad, I want to be with her whenever I'm not, but she's really not like other girls."
Terrence looked at Chris in confusion.
The boy stood up and sat down on the bed beside his father. "There's something about Ella that I haven't told you or Mom. I thought Josiah or Ezra might tell you, but I guess they haven't."
"They haven't told me anything about her. What is it?"
"Well, she's a...a..."
Terrence looked at Chris impatiently. "What?"
"I'm sorry Dad, but I don't think you'll like this," said Chris, sure that his father would get mad when he heard the truth. "Ella's a warlock; she's good though, and lives with her mom in the next town. Her dad lives not far from here. They were exiled from the Underworld for being too good instead of evil."
"I'd rather you fell for a witch, or even a human without any magic. But I accept that no-one can dictate who you fall in love with. Just be careful."
Terrence left the room - truthfully, he was upset that his son had fallen for a female warlock, but he couldn't tell Chris that and risk causing a family feud. He had never heard of warlocks being exiled from the Underworld for being too good, but he'd trust that it was true about Ella's family.
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Chris looked across the table at Ella and smiled. She looked beautiful in the black gown with shoulder straps she was wearing for their dinner-date. Her mom had helped with her hair so that it looked really stunning piled up neatly on her head. Chris looked equally as stunning with his blond hair gelled to keep it in place and wearing a smart dark-blue suit and matching tie.
"You're so beautiful," complimented Chris, smiling at his date.
Ella smiled back; "Thanks. You're very handsome yourself tonight, Chris."
The waiter brought them the dinner they'd ordered and placed the plates on the table then went away. The couple ate their dinner.
After they finished eating dinner and dessert, they shimmered to Ella's mom's house and Ella invited Chris into the house before he had to go home. Once inside, they began kissing. After a few minutes, Ella pulled away. "I need to get some air."
Chris grinned.
"I want to show you somewhere, hold my hand and we'll shimmer there now."
Chris obeyed and held her hand as they shimmered out.
Then he found himself standing in a dark cave, lit by a few candles.
"She has come at last," said a male voice in the darkness.
"I have bought the witch as you asked," replied Ella, her voice sounding evil.
"Let us begin the trials."
Suddenly, the cave was a lot lighter and Chris saw a red demon in front. He lifted up his hand impulsively and an energy-ball appeared in it, much to his surprise.
"Your father is a fine alchemist, Ella," said the demon with a large grin.
"Huh?" asked Chris in confusion. He closed his hand into a fist and the energy-ball vanished.
"You are one of us now," said Ella, with an evil grin.
"NO!" shouted Chris and suddenly shimmered out.
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"Chris?" asked Ezra, as his brother shimmered into the lounge. "How is it that you can suddenly shimmer?"
"Something bad has happened to me," answered Chris. "Ella took me to the underworld and I generated an energy-ball in my hand."
"Then you just shimmered. I thought you said she was good?"
"It must've been a trick all along. I think I'm turning into a warlock - you have to help me."
Chris walked with Ezra upstairs to the Magic Room. Josiah and their parents had gone to bed, so were unaware of what was happening.
"Grand-mother Potter. Please find us a spell to return Chris back to his usual form," requested Ezra, as he opened the Book.
The magic book's pages began turning on their own, as if blown by strong winds. Then it stopped and Ezra looked at the open pages.
"Return him now to his true being, and remove this creature that I'm seeing," chanted the boy.
Chris felt strong winds blowing around him, then suddenly all was still again.
"Those black hairs you had have gone now, Brother. I'd surmise it has worked. Thank you, Grand-mother."
"Thanks, Grandma, and thanks, Ez. That was too close. I think they might come after us - we have to warn Mom and Dad."
The boys headed to their parents' room to warn them so that they'd be alert if any demons or warlocks went to the house looking for Chris. Chris felt pretty certain that wouldn't be the last he'd see of Ella. He didn't feel any love for her any more - she'd lied to him and tricked him.
To be continued…