Ethan took a deep breath before facing the group and introducing, "Guys, this is my old friend Angie… she's my betrothed."
Marnie's eyes widened and her jaw slacked. "What?"
"To put it simply," Angela replied, "we're engaged to get married."
And with that, Marnie fainted. Dylan, Aneesa, and Ethan quickly ran to her side, trying to awake her.
"Let me guess," Angela said, standing back a bit, "girlfriend?"
"Something along the sorts," replied Ethan evasively. Angela snapped her fingers, levitating Marnie cautiously.
"Let's get her somewhere a bit more private."
When they arrived at Ethan's dorm room, Angela carefully levitated Marnie onto his plush bed before snapping her fingers again, conjuring up some smelling salts. Ethan quickly took them and revived Marnie.
"What… what happened?" Marnie said groggily. Angela waved from the background (Ethan, Dylan, and Aneesa were crowded around her, worried looks on their faces).
"Remember me?" Angela smiled lightly, trying to fight the smile that was threatening to creep onto her face.
"Oh Merlin, it wasn't a dream," muttered Marnie.
"Afraid not," she replied with a small shrug.
"I'm a little foggy on what's going on," admitted Dylan. "Would someone like to explain a bit more?"
"Angie and I have been arranged to be married since before either of us were born," explained Ethan.
"Our families have always been rather old-fashioned and close friends and very paranoid about furthering the bloodline, so when they found out they were having a boy and a girl, they immediately set up a marriage contract," continued Angela.
"Is there… anyway around it?" Marnie asked hopefully.
"None known to witch nor mortal," replied Angela. "The contract that was set up is binding by our family's and our own magic."
"But Ethan renounced his powers. And his dad's was taken away," Marnie offered, "Doesn't that negate the whole contract?"
"No," this time Ethan replied, "The magic that binds us to the contract was from our own blood, and that kind of vow has never been broken before."
"At least not without mortal consequence," added Angela. Ethan sent her a warning glare and she just replied with a look that said 'What?'
"What happens if you don't go through with the contract?" asked Dylan, genuinely intrigued.
"Well, the contract went into full effect the moment the both of us were of legal age, which is why I just showed up. Yesterday was my eighteenth birthday."
"Happy birthday," Aneesa commented.
"Thanks. The contract clearly states that we must get married within the year," she snapped her fingers creating a hologram of said contract and a miniature scene of the signing of the contract.
Ethan closed his eyes as if deep in thought. "There's more isn't there?" he recalled. Angela nodded, glancing nervously at Marnie as she replied.
"Within the first year of our marriage, we must…" she paused, searching for the right words, "conceive a child."
"Which brings me back to my first question," piped in Dylan, "What will happen if you two don't go through with it?"
"The consequences are unique for each contract and individual," explained Ethan, "For me, my blood would boil within my own veins, causing a slow and torturous death." Marnie winced.
"And for me," continued Angela, "my blood would turn into ice and freeze my heart. Not as torturous and painful as Ethan's, but still not to be looked forward to."
"So there's no way around it," Marnie said, more to herself. Ethan came over to her and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"I'm sorry Marnie," Ethan whispered into her hair, "I thought that once my family's powers were gone, it would be forgotten."
"It's okay," choked out Marnie, "it's not like we were really a couple anyway." And with those parting words, she ran off, tears stinging her eyes. Aneesa quickly followed, Dylan not far behind, but before he left, he said,
"Just give her some time."
AN: There ya go, a new chapter. Pretty much just some background info about the whole arranged marriage deal. Review please! Ideas are always welcome!