Disclaimer:Don't own, didn't happen.
Anne stood in the middle of Chase's room on a stool. The Fall Festival was just around the corner, and Chase's foster mother had offered to fix Anne's dress. It was a dark green with a black lacing in the front, connecting to the back, like a corset. She was looking at herself in the mirror, when Chase walked in.
"Oh, Annie", she had gotten used to him calling her that, "you look stunning". He walked up to her and stood in front of her, she plastered a convincing smile on her face. "You look amazing, like an angel." he said and let her step down as he kissed her. "Gosh, I can't wait to show you off to everyone at the dance, and have them tell me how lucky I am to have a pretty girl like you in my life", he kissed her once more, and she giggled, though not very happily.
These past few weeks, she hadn't been happy. She was miserable, and she wanted it to go away. All that misery pays no salary for being around, but she could never get rid of it. Her heart ached when she thought of Reid, and even more when she saw him. She was sure he would be at the dance, but she was sure he'd go with someone else. She really missed him.
"Darling, there's something I want you to know", he smiled at her. "I had built a surprise for you at the barn by that old colony house outside of town. So, before we head to the dance, I'd like to take you there and show it to you, would you like that?". Anne nodded, "oh honey", he kissed her forehead, "you're gonna love it, I promise".
He left the room, and left Anne alone. She walked towards the window and looked out. She wished that Reid was the person taking her to the dance, instead of Chase. She also wondered what the surprise would be.
Meanwhile...
Reid was looking out the window, it was mid-afternoon. He guessed that Anne had already picked out a pretty dress to wear to the Fall Festival. He wished he could see her in it, knowing he was the one taking her to the dance, not Chase Collins. Then he heard a knock.
"What?"he turned to see Chase at his doorway. "What do you want?" he asked.
"Nothing, just came to drop in", Chase said casually.
"Caleb's not here, if that's who you're looking for", Reid said and turned back to the window.
"Reid, I understand you're upset about you and Anne, but you gotta admit, she's better off with me. I mean, back in the day, do you think Sarah Hastings would have died if she had been with John Collins, instead of Orville Garwin?".
Reid stopped and turned around, "how do you-",
"I read. I'm a witch...Just like you".
Reid was taken aback, "what? You can't be a-".
"Yes I can be. I ascended years ago, when I killed my foster parents. But, I'm sure Caleb will fill you in later" Chase said. "I really came to tell you a story. It's about a rebellious boy, who did as he pleases, and a sweet little girl, who had her nose in books. One day, the boy asked the girl out on a date, and the two clicked. Little did they know, someone was watching. Another boy who faniced this bookworm girl. This other boy had become heartbroken when the girl had turned down his love for her, and went for the other boy. So, this boy devised a plan. He realized, if she wouldn't be with him, then she wouldn't live" He walked casually around the room, "so this boy spreaded lies around their covenant and town. Punishment for the crimes he said she committed, would have her burned at the stake. So, the day of her burning, he asked her if she loved him, of course, she said 'no'. Then he told her...'Then thou shall be burned'. The moral of this story is, never turned down an anceint love".
"What are you getting at?" Reid asked.
"Caleb never told you? I was sure he had. Since Orville and Sarah's love was pure, Sarah's heart belongs to Orville, meaning, along the bloodlines, the girl's heart would greive if she's not with the boy of Orville's bloodline. But, in order for me to have power, I would have to share it with someone else. A lover. A mate. I want Anne" he said.
"No, I'm not giving her heart to you. It belongs to me" Reid said.
"Well, she obviously doesn't want you to keep it" Chase told him.
"What if I don't give it to you?" Reid asked.
"I'll kill you and tell her you were in an accident, I'm very good at those" Chase smiled. "Meet me with Caleb before the Festival. I'll be in the Putnam barn".
Chase walked out of the room, and left Reid alone.
Reid didn't know what to do. He wanted to keep Anne's heart, but she didn't want him, and he certainly wasn;t giving it to Chase. He still loved Anne. He needed to talk to Caleb.
At the Ipswich Colony house, witching chamber
"What do you mean, 'her heart belongs to you'?" Pogue asked.
"He meant that since Orville and Sarah had a pure relationship, their hearts were magically bound together" Caleb answered. He turned to Reid, "Reid, the only way that he can't ever get her heart, is if she tells you she loves you. Then, your hearts are bounded, and he can't touch her. But, as long as she hates you, Chase as a clear shot of getting it".
"What can I do? I'm so lost. I wanna keep her, I really do. I love her so much Caleb, I'd die for the girl" Reid said pacing his corner.
"That's something you're gonna have to do, just to get her to say those three little words" Pogue said.
Tyler stayed silent for a while, then asked "does she love him?".
"What?" Reid asked bewildered.
"Does she love him?" he repeated, "does she love him the way she did you?"
"No. I guess not. She never really looks happy with him. What does that have to do with anything?" he asked Tyler.
"Caleb, didn't you say once magic couldn't make love, just imitate it?" Tyler asked Caleb.
"Yeah...What are you getting at Tyler?", Caleb asked coming closer to the younger boy.
"I'm trying to say, 'cast her under a love spell', to make it look like she loves Chase" Tyler said,
"That will make it worse," Reid said, "what if she says 'I love you'?".
"No, no she wouldn't, because since it's not the real thing, only an imitation, those words wouldn't be said. The spell would only make her seem as though she is" Caleb told them.
"Well, how can we cast it on her if she's not around?" Pogue asked.
"I have her and Chase for Chemistry. I could do it" Tyler said.
The three older boys looked at him.
"I-I could" he said nodding.
"Alright", Caleb said, "it's settled. Once Tyler casts the spell, she'll be loving him. The spell will probably wear off within a day", he turned to Reid, "come with me to the Putnam Barn the night of the dance. He'll probably have Sarah and Anne there. Once I ascend, I'll try to defeat him, while you;re trying to save Anne. He'll probably try to stop you, so watch out".
"I will..."
'I'll do anything, I just want Anne back' Reid thought as he sat back in his corner.
He looked through the small barred window above him in his corner, and saw the moon. He guessed Anne would be watching. Anne loved full moons. She said so herself. Reid imagined her sitting curled up by the window, thinking of the Festival, and how pretty she was gonna look. Reid hoped to get a small look at her before he left with Caleb the night of the dance. He wanted to see what a princess she would look like.
He just wanted to see her...