The incident involving the Hale sisters turned out to be the last straw for Headmistress Esmeralda. O'Bannon knew the old witch was aware of some outside force affecting the students' behavior. But since Tonks hadn't discovered the cause, Esmeralda decided she had to do something before the entire school came unglued.
She made examples of the Hale sisters. Along with doing lines during their week of detention, both girls also had to clean the animal pens for the Care of Magical Creatures Class.
"You wouldn't believe how much crap a hippogriff can produce," O'Bannon overheard Penelope Hale say during breakfast one morning.
Three days after the Hale sisters tried to rip one another apart, Ira Ixler and Mario Hernandez, Beaters for the Krallenhurst and Ardenturo Quidditch teams respectively, almost came to blows in the middle of Herbology Class. Both were suspended from Quidditch indefinitely, given two weeks detention and made to clean the Communal Hall with nothing more than a bucket of soapy water and sponges.
"Does anyone else care to see what I have in store for you if you can't control your temper?" Headmistress Esmeralda warned them one night at dinner.
O'Bannon hoped the warning would be enough to get everyone to behave.
One day after Seventh Year Seminar, Tonks caught up with him to give an update on her progress . . . or lack thereof.
"I've been going through every potion and curse book I can in your library, but I haven't come across anything that would explain these 'bad vibes' you like to call them. I'm going to get in touch with some members of the Order and your Guild of the Light, witches and wizards who are experts in Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maybe they can come up with something."
O'Bannon grumbled his acknowledgement. Inside the frustration mounted at taking so long to find the source of the bad vibes.
As the days went by, everyone at Salem heeded the Headmistress' warning and kept their anger in check. No more harsh punishments were handed down. After a while, O'Bannon's anxiousness for Tonks to discover the cause of the bad vibes also eased.
Maybe we can beat this thing ourselves.
The calmer atmosphere allowed him to concentrate more on hockey. He and the rest of the Blazenrowe team put their disastrous season opener behind them and had several good practices. O'Bannon made sure to keep an extra eye on Marcel Dubuque for any more signs of mutinous behavior. While his alternate captain maintained his usual sullen mood, he did nothing that could be considered detrimental to the team.
And the team was really starting to come together. O'Bannon didn't sense the same kind of chemistry he experienced with the Triad back at Hogwarts. Maybe that would develop as the season progressed.
What chemistry Blazenrowe did have served them well in their second game of the season as they crushed Jingosocke Hall 6-2. O'Bannon had two goals and an assist, as did Blazenrowe's Second Year sensation Jerome Dionne.
Blazenrowe's sporting success continued the next day when the Quidditch team smoked Ardenturo 230-180. O'Bannon went nuts when Rana Rollingsworth finished the game by coming up under Ardenturo's Seeker, going vertical and shooting barely a foot in front of her opposite number to grab the Golden Snitch.
"That was one wicked pissah of a move!" O'Bannon threw his arms around Rana when she emerged from the Blazenrowe tent.
"Thanks, Jimmy." She hugged him tightly.
As O'Bannon savored the soft feel of Rana's hair against his cheek, he glimpsed Gregory Lancemore staring past two other boys who congratulated him on the victory. The Blazenrowe Quidditch captain's face tightened, his harsh gaze targeting O'Bannon.
He smirked at Lancemore before turning his attention back to Rana. He gazed into her face. Even with her wind blown hair and a purple bruise on her cheek where the Ardenturo Seeker elbowed her earlier in the game, she still looked beautiful.
He leaned in.
"Jimmy . . ." Rana put a hand on his chest. "I . . . I want . . . this isn't the place. I want it to be special."
He groaned in frustration. He could accept Rana wanting to take things slow, but not so slow as to make a tortoise look like a cheetah.
If Rana had noticed his annoyance, she didn't say anything. Then again, she did get mobbed by several Blazenrowe residents congratulating her on her brilliant maneuver to catch the Snitch.
The celebration moved from the Quidditch field to the Blazenrowe Hall parlor. O'Bannon tuned out the cacophony of animated voices and scanned the crowd for one person in particular.
He spotted Rosa Infante, leaning against one of the stylish high back chairs talking to a tall muscular guy with dark hair. O'Bannon recognized him as one of the Beaters for Blazenrowe, an exchange student from Poland. Stashorsh or Stachick or something like that. He weaved his way through the mass of humanity and finally reached Rosa, who gazed at the Pole with a huge smile.
"Hey, Rosa. You got a sec?"
"I'm kinda busy here, Jimmy." She never took her eyes off Sta-whatever-the-hell-his-name-was.
"It's important. Please?"
Rosa sighed loudly. "Could you excuse me for a sec? My . . . cousin is having another crisis."
O'Bannon cocked an eyebrow. Cousin?
"It is no problem," the Pole said with an understanding smile.
"Great. I'll be right back. Don't move from this spot."
The two left the parlor and headed upstairs.
"Cousin?" O'Bannon turned to Rosa before they reached the landing.
"Did you get a look at Stashork? He's gorgeous. I don't want him thinking you're my boyfriend or a jealous ex-boyfriend. That would totally blow my chance with him."
When they reached the landing, Rosa folded her arms and leaned against the wall under a moving portrait of two ladies in white 19th Century-style dresses having tea on an outdoor patio.
"Now, what's so important you have to interrupt my quality time with a hottie like Stashork?"
O'Bannon sighed, then explained to her Rana's reluctance to kiss him after the Quidditch game.
"I mean, we're holding hands, we kiss on the cheek. What the hell does she have against a liplock for Merlin's sake?"
"Jimmy, just relax. Rana is totally into you. I can tell."
"But not enough to want to kiss?"
"Look, a first kiss is very important to a girl. I'm sure she wants it to be special."
"That's what she told me," O'Bannon said.
"Okay. Well, I don't think a Quidditch game is the most romantic place for your first kiss."
O'Bannon canted his head. "But she's a Quidditch player. Hell, her parents own the Boston Bandits. If any place would be special to a girl like that it would be a Quidditch game."
"Argh!" Rosa looked to the ceiling and shook her head. "Why are boys so dense?"
O'Bannon's face contorted in confusion. "What?"
"I understand your frustration, dear," said one of the women in the portrait. "Men simply do not know the proper way to win a woman's heart."
"Amen." Rosa looked back at O'Bannon. "Look. Rana really likes you. She wants her first kiss with you to be memorable. And having it at, say, the Halloween Dance, preferably during a slow dance, will be more special to her than doing it after a Quidditch game. Don't you agree?"
"Yeah, I guess. I just can't believe it's taken this long to get to our first kiss."
"Well look at it from her perspective. She and Darius Forten were together for two years. Quite frankly, I thought those two would wind up getting married after they left Salem. When he cheated on her, that ripped Rana's heart to pieces. After that kind of betrayal, she might be hesitant, maybe even a little afraid, of jumping into another relationship. I think she's in a feeling out process with you. She wants to make sure you really are a good guy before she takes that next step."
"We've known one another since First Year," O'Bannon said. "You'd think she'd know by now whether or not I was a good guy."
"There's a big difference between being friends and being lovers."
Rosa pushed herself off the wall and took a couple steps toward him. "Do you care about Rana?"
"Of course I do."
"Then be patient, and be understanding and a little sensitive."
The corners of O'Bannon's mouth twisted. "Can I be understanding and sensitive without turning into a wuss?"
Rosa groaned in exasperation. "Yes, Jimmy. You can be understanding and sensitive without turning into a wuss."
He bobbed his from side-to-side. "Okay, I'm down with that."
"Good. Rana will appreciate that. Trust me."
"Thanks, Rosa."
"No problem." She started toward the steps. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to Stashork before another girl swoops in and steals him from me."
Rosa practically flew down the stairs.
"I hope you heed your friend's advice," said the woman in the portrait. "If you desire a healthy relationship, that is."
O'Bannon gazed at the woman, who stared back with her hands on her hips, apparently awaiting his response.
Hell yeah he wanted a healthy relationship with Rana. But he wondered if he could wait until the Halloween Dance for that first kiss without exploding.
If you don't want to mess things up, you will.
"Don't worry," he nodded to the woman. "I'm gonna heed the hell out of that advice."
The woman beamed at O'Bannon as he proceeded down the stairs and back to the parlor, where the victory celebration showed no sign of ending soon. He glimpsed Rana talking to two little girls who had to be First Years. They listened intently as she used her hands to show how she outmaneuvered the Ardenturo Seeker to get the snitch.
O'Bannon just watched her, absorbing her energy, her beauty. His heart hammered against his chest.
There was no doubt in his mind the Halloween Dance would be a night both of them would always remember.
XXXXX
The day of the dance, O'Bannon nearly cheered when his alarm clock woke him. He felt as though his blood had turned to rocket fuel, coursing through his body, invigorating him. He also couldn't stop smiling. He doubted a curse existed that could remove the smile from his face.
He paid scant attention in his classes. The same could be said for many others. O'Bannon noticed several students gazing around with expressions associated more with daydreaming than concentration. Apparently the teachers picked up on this, for their lessons that day were so rudimentary a First Year could have completed them. The only exception, no surprise, was Mr. Korvette. But the Potions teacher seemed one of those people who felt if he wasn't happy, then no one on the planet should be happy.
The very difficult Vampire Repellent Potion, and Mr. Korvette's yelling when he messed it up, couldn't get O'Bannon down. Nothing could on this day, the day he took Rana to the Halloween Dance. The day he and Rana would, without a doubt, have their first kiss.
Most of the students ate dinner quickly and hurried back to their dorms to get ready for the dance. A hole formed in the pit of O'Bannon's stomach when he looked around his room while changing into his costume.
Artimus wasn't around.
Is he even going to the dance? A pang of guilt hit him for not knowing what his friend would be doing. He would have asked Jared or Rosa, but Artimus wasn't talking to them either. O'Bannon knew Rosa tried twice over the past week to approach Artimus to patch things up. Both times he rebuffed her.
Friggin' Cecilia Malfoy. What the hell kind of crap was she feeding Art to turn him against them all . . . and why the hell was he buying it?
O'Bannon sighed. Nothing much he could do about it right now. He needed to focus on the dance, on Rana. But he swore after tonight, he would resolve whatever issues existed between him and Artimus.
And he'd find out once and for all what Cecilia and her snake friend Serinta were doing to turn everyone at Salem against each other.
"So what do you think?" Jared called from across the room.
O'Bannon turned . . . and drew his head back in surprise.
Jared wore a bright pink shirt, a brown sweater vest and bluejeans. On his head sat a bowler hat, while a toy flintlock dangled from his belt. Army boots with bells tied to them covered his feet.
"Okaaaay. What are you supposed to be?"
"I'm a Muggle cowboy!" Jared pumped a fist into the air and hollered, "Yappie Yip-Yip Yay!"
O'Bannon's mouth hung open silently. He stared dumbfounded at his friend for many long seconds. Jared just stood there, still grinning.
"Dude," O'Bannon finally said. "For tonight, I don't know you, okay."
He headed for the door, with Jared saying, "What? I got it right, didn't I? Listen. Gibby up, bugaroo!"
O'Bannon slapped his forehead, shook his head and hurriedly left the room. Jared followed, still trying to impress him with more cowboy jargon like, "Haddy, pardner" and "Go along, little duggies."
"Where did you get all this stuff from?" O'Bannon demanded when he could no longer take it.
"From Mister Lymstock, the Muggle Studies teacher."
O'Bannon groaned. "Call me crazy, but did it ever occur to anyone that the best person to teach Muggle Studies might be, I don't know, a Muggle-born?"
Jared laughed and gave him a dismissive wave.
They descended the stairs and headed into the parlor. Rosa stood by one of the sofas wearing a pink sleeveless gown, a tiara and cone-shaped earrings that changed color whenever the light struck them.
O'Bannon's entire body quivered when he saw Rana sitting on the couch. She changed the color of her hair from brown to bleach blond with streaks of green and gold that matched the Quidditch robes she wore. O'Bannon recognized the crest on the left side of Rana's robes; an arrow trailing flames that formed the word ARCHERS. The logo of the Atlanta Archers of the U.S. Quidditch Association.
"Oh no way." Jared gawked at her. "You're dressed up as Charlotte Chivero?"
"Only the best Seeker in the world. Though you wouldn't believe how long it took me to get the hair right." Rana got to her feet, eyed O'Bannon, and struck a pose. "So, do you like?"
"Oh yeah. Very much."
Rana shot him the prettiest smile he'd ever seen.
"So what about you?" She looked him over. "What are you supposed to be?"
"Well you said to come as something other than a hockey player. So . . ." He glanced down at his white sweatpants, Boston Red Sox jersey and baseball bat. "I'm Nomar Garciaparra." As with all Bostonians, the name came out as, "Nomah Gah-see-ah-paarah."
"Who?"
"The shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, who's a thousand times better than that pudwacker for the Yankees Derek Jeter."
"Merlin's Beard." Rana giggled.
"Hey. It's better than the retarded cowboy next to me." He nodded to Jared.
"Mister Lymstock said this was exactly how Muggle cowboys looked back in the Nineteenth Century."
"Yeah," O'Bannon scoffed. "If they were on crack."
"I think it looks great." Rana shot Jared a supportive smile.
"Thank you, Rana." He bowed to her.
O'Bannon shook his head. Purebloods.
Stashork entered the parlor a few minutes later, dressed as Mr. Spock from Star Trek. Either the Pole was Muggle-born or he had a Muggle-born friend who introduced him to the TV show. Either way, he looked a hell of a lot more like Mr. Spock than Jared looked like a cowboy.
While Rosa and Stashork talked, Jared's date arrived, a short cocoa-skinned girl from their Theoretical Magic Class named Michelle Bunker. She was dressed as a Gorgon, complete with moving snakes on her head.
"I wish Artimus was here," Rosa said as they exited Blazenrowe Hall. The chilly October air surrounded them immediately. "I don't even know if he's going to be at the dance."
"I feel bad for Gregory Lancemore, too."
The left side of O'Bannon's face twitched when Rana mentioned that name. Why the hell should she care about Lancemore when she was with him?
"Why?" Rosa glanced from Rana to the ground, ever alert for Feetish.
"The other day when we were working on our History of Magic project, he told me he couldn't find a date to the dance."
"Whoa!" Jared skidded to a halt, startling Michelle. "The Ladies Man of Salem couldn't get a date? No friggin' way."
"It's the truth. And when I asked him about it he just got real withdrawn."
A smile creased O'Bannon's lips. He enjoyed the thought of Gregory Lancemore sitting by himself in his dorm room while he took the sexiest Seeker in this or any other Wizarding school to the Halloween Dance.
O'Bannon's eyes widened when he saw how the Communal Hall was decorated for the dance. Bats zigzagged around the Jack O'Lanterns that floated above the dimly lit room. A large phosphorescent spider web clung to the ceiling, with an obviously fake giant spider clutching a life-sized mannequin. Cobwebs hung from the walls and windows. Autumn leaves were strewn across the floor. A large bubbling cauldron in the front of the room produced white smoke that carried the scents of various candies and other sweets. Above the cauldron hovered a stage for a DJ who pumped out loud music. Nearly a hundred students packed the middle of the room, dancing with reckless abandon.
"What are we waiting for, gang?" Jared clamped a hand on O'Bannon's and Rosa's shoulders. "Let's join the party."
No one argued with him. They made their way to the center of the Communal Hall and joined the dancing. O'Bannon was very impressed by the DJ, who played a mix of Wizarding and Muggle music.
Never thought I'd hear the Weird Sisters and George Clinton in the same place.
After a half-hour they headed over to the buffet, where students already there complimented Jared on his cowboy costume while giving O'Bannon's get-up queer looks.
"Cowboys didn't even have flintlocks," he complained to Rana as she ate a pumpkin pastie. "They had six-shooters. And they wore cowboy boots with spurs, not Army boots with bells."
"Well, it's a good thing we have a Muggle-born like you to set us poor ignorant purebloods straight." Rana smiled and patted his arm.
"Ha ha."
Both of them fell against one another, laughing. O'Bannon slid his arm around Rana's back and closed his eyes, losing himself in the softness of her hair against his chin. He could stay like this all night and not complain.
"All right, time to slow down the pace," the DJ's voice boomed throughout the Communal Hall. "So get with your special someone and swoon to one of the greatest Muggle love songs ever."
A second later the soft, melodious tones of Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers swept over everyone.
"Shall we?" O'Bannon pointed toward the dance floor.
"Definitely." Rana smiled sweetly.
As he took her hand and led her to the dance floor, O'Bannon caught sight of Rosa, who gave him a thumbs up.
His heart hammered in his chest. He prayed his palms wouldn't start to sweat, especially since he was holding Rana's hand.
In his anxiousness to get to the dance floor he somehow missed a tall guy dressed as a Yeti standing in front of him.
"Sorry," O'Bannon said after bumping into him.
The guy turned around . . . and just stared at him. With all the hair on his face O'Bannon couldn't tell if he knew the guy or not.
The Yeti continued to stare.
I said I'm sorry. Yeesh.
O'Bannon kept going. The Yeti stared after him for a few more seconds, then turned to a girl dressed as a geisha . . . a geisha in a blue bathrobe with yellow flowers.
Gotta be a pureblood.
He forgot about the Yeti as he wrapped his arms around Rana. Her hands slid up his shoulders and to the back of his neck. They slowly spun in a circle as the classic love song played.
"Oh, my love, my darling. I've hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time."
"You really look great, Rana."
"Thanks. So do you, even if I have no idea who this No-mah guy is."
"I guess there's only one way to rectify that."
Rana cocked her head. "How?"
"By taking you to a Red Sox game one day."
A smile spread across Rana's face. "I think it would be fun to watch a Muggle game . . . especially with you."
She ran her hand up and down the back of O'Bannon's neck. Electric tingles shot through his body.
"Jimmy . . ." Rana's mouth hung open in hesitation for a second. "I . . . I know you've been wanting to get more . . . intimate, and I've been a little hesitant. Please don't think I was being rude or anything. It's just . . . Darius and I were together for so long. And after what he did with Ivy Chatham . . . I never felt so betrayed, so embarrassed in my life. And you've always been such a sweet guy. But I just wanted to . . . I don't know, I guess I needed to get to know you better than I already did before I decided whether or not to get serious with you."
O'Bannon's face froze in astonishment. My God, Rana pretty much repeated Rosa's words to him after the Quidditch game.
Damn. She is good. At that moment he realized that all guys needed at least one platonic girlfriend they could go to for advice on unraveling that age-old mystery known as "women."
"So. "What's the verdict?"
One second became an eternity as O'Bannon waited for Rana's answer. The sound of his heartbeat drowned out the singing of the Righteous Brothers. Hot and cold flashes dueled throughout his body.
He felt Rana draw a deep breath. "I think you'd make a terrific boyfriend."
He didn't even try to stop the huge grin forming on his face. The back of his legs quivered. His eyes stayed locked on Rana's smiling face.
O'Bannon tilted his head and leaned in. Rana didn't stop him this time.
His lips met hers. Time stopped. The music and dancing couples around him vanished. The only thing that existed was the soft, moist feel of Rana's lips.
When they finally separated, O'Bannon said softly, "You know. This was worth the wait."
They kissed again. Rana then leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. O'Bannon laid his cheek on Rana's hair and closed his eyes. In that moment, the universe became perfect. There was no Cecilia and Serinta, no angry Artimus, no bad vibes, no war, no Voldemort.
Only Rana Rollingsworth existed.
Another slow song followed Unchained Melody. O'Bannon vaguely recognized it. Some witch singer. He didn't know who. It didn't matter. He just hoped the DJ played slow songs all night long.
Once the slow song ended, however, the DJ went back to playing loud, hard-driving music.
"Hey, Rana." O'Bannon bit his lower lip for a moment. "Um, you wanna go outside for a walk?"
Rana cocked an eyebrow. "When you say, 'go for a walk,' are you really saying, 'do you want to make out?'"
O'Bannon's jaw dropped. "Uhhh . . . ahhh . . . Well, um . . . I mean . . ."
Rana spared him from further sputtering. She took his hands and started to lead him off the dance floor. "There's a little hill not far from here that overlooks the lake. It's always beautiful under the moonlight."
O'Bannon said nothing. He just let Rana guide him to the exit.
"Rana!"
The voice sparked anger within O'Bannon. Before he could do anything to stop it that spark grew into an inferno. To hell with it. He didn't want to stop it. He had every right to be angry as friggin' Gregory Lancemore stomped toward them.
"Gregory?" A quizzical look formed on Rana's face. "What are you doing here?"
"How can you choose him over me?" Lancemore glared at O'Bannon. "What the hell's so special about O'Bannon?"
A few students turned their way. O'Bannon's head shook with rage.
Rana spoke before he could. "Gregory, what is wrong with you?"
"How could you say no to me?" Lancemore hollered. "No girl says no to me."
"Look, I've told you I don't know how many times." Rana's tone grew harsher. "We are just friends, okay. I -"
"Friends my ass! You're always smiling at me, laughing at my jokes, you hug me longer than any other guy on the team when we win. And you wanna tell me we're just friends? You're a damn tease is what you are!"
"Back off right now, asshole!" O'Bannon stabbed a finger at Lancemore.
"Piss off, O'Bannon! Rana deserves a hell of a lot better than you. She deserves me!"
He reached out and grabbed Rana's arm.
"Gregory!" Rana pulled away from him.
"Get away from her!" O'Bannon grabbed a handful of Rana's robes and yanked her behind him. "She's not yours! She's mine!"
"Hey! Don't talk about me like I'm some damn possession."
O'Bannon spun around. "You're mine, Rana! You're my girlfriend now!"
"Leave her alone, O'Bannon!"
Through the blinding fury he recognized the voice. Breathing through clenched teeth, O'Bannon watched the tall guy in the Yeti suit approach, with the geisha following him.
"Oh, now you wanna talk to me, you friggin' traitor?" He barked at Artimus Rand.
"I'm a traitor? Why? Because I refuse to take your crap any more? Because I decided to stop letting you and Jared and Rosa twist me and manipulate me and make me feel like I'm helpless without the three of you!"
"Is that what this snake has been filling your empty head with?" He pointed to the geisha, who no doubt was Cecilia Malfoy.
"I am not stupid!" Artimus screamed. More and more students looked toward them.
Artimus turned to Rana. "If I were you, I'd dump this egotistical bastard before -"
"SHE IS NOT DUMPING ME!! SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND NOW!! AND WE'RE LEAVING!!"
"No, we're leaving!" Lancemore reached out for Rana. "Come on, Rana!"
Rage exploded within O'Bannon like a supernova, wiping away whatever traces of self-control remained. He spun around and landed a fist on Lancemore's jaw. The Quidditch captain stumbled backwards.
"Jimmy!?" Rana screamed. "What the hell's wrong with you!?"
A primal roar erupted from Lancemore. He charged O'Bannon and tackled him. Both boys fell to the floor, knocking down Artimus, who in turn knocked down Cecilia.
O'Bannon brought up his arms to his face and blocked two blows from Lancemore. Screaming with rage, he pushed Lancemore off him. He started to get to his feet when the Quidditch captain gave him a right hook to the jaw. The room spun. O'Bannon fought through the pain and sprang at Lancemore. The two rolled around the floor. The Communal Hall filled with screams.
"She's mine, you son-of-a-bitch! Mine!"
O'Bannon punched Lancemore in the side twice. The Quidditch captain rolled off him. O'Bannon glanced around the hall, expecting to see students either cheering him or telling him to stop.
Instead he saw Beatrice Hill grab Rana by the back of the hair.
"I can't believe you let a stupid boy wreck our friendship, you bitch!"
Beatrice threw Rana onto the floor. She jumped on the Seeker. Arms flailed as both girls clawed at one another like animals.
A loud crash caught O'Bannon's attention. Marcel Dubuque and Dante Marshall tumbled over the buffet table. Food and drinks cascaded onto the floor.
O'Bannon turned away and started toward Rana and Beatrice. Two bodies fell in front of him. He tripped over them before he could stop. O'Bannon rolled on his side and glimpsed Ursa Oberlin and Cindy Walker wailing and tearing at one another. A few feet from them, Isaac Pinder leaped on Jerome Dionne's back and rained fists down on the Second Year student.
All around him boys and girls paired off, punching and kicking and clawing.
"Stop it! Stop this now!" He heard teachers yell.
No one obeyed them.
O'Bannon's mouth exploded. His head snapped back, the coppery taste of blood in his mouth.
Gregory Lancemore drew back his fist for another punch.
O'Bannon blocked it and moved in. He smashed his knee into Lancemore's gut. As the Quidditch captain doubled over, O'Bannon smashed a forearm into the boy's back.
"RANA'S MINE!!" He hit Lancemore again. "MINE!!"
Sharp pain suddenly lashed O'Bannon's back. The air shot out his lungs. He sank to all fours.
As O'Bannon tried to inhale, he saw someone ushering Cecilia Malfoy out the door. Someone tall and blond.
Serinta Sejant.
"This is for six years of being your damn lapdog!"
O'Bannon looked up. His eyes flared in surprise when he saw Artimus holding a wooden chair over his head.
His long-time friend brought the chair down on O'Bannon's back.
TO BE CONTINUED