Missing Target
Something Cupid This Way Comes Part 2
By now Ethan was almost positive this was the worst day of his life. In only a matter of six hours he had managed to earn himself a big fat F in class after forgetting to pack up the History essay he had finished yesterday. Even worse, his throat was still irritating him despite the constant sips he had taken from the canister of substitute blood, and of course, there was still the little matter of Sarah hating him even more than before.
The only reprieve came in the form of study hall which was luckily being filled in by Mr. Garrett who was, without a doubt, the most dullest and absent-minded teacher at Whitechapel High. Ethan knew he could literally fall asleep right in front of the guy and he wouldn't care less. So it wasn't a surprise that study hall was currently in a state of utter chaos. Students were talking loudly, throwing paper balls around, and simply doing anything they wanted without fear of detention. Ethan was actually grateful for the noise. It allowed him to slip away to the back of the room and be to himself for a while. Not to mention it was a lot easier to ignore the many people with delicious blood pumping through their veins...
Ethan quickly pulled himself away from those hazardous thoughts. He really was starting to lose it—when had he ever actually called blood delicious before? Slouching down further in his chair Ethan sighed and turned his attention to something else that was bugging him. Study hall had started over seven minutes ago and Benny was still nowhere to be seen. Usually the other boy was the first in class, hellbent on using the hour and a half to reorganize his 200 World of Magecraft cards by order of elemental powers.
Ethan couldn't help but wonder if something had happened. Weird things always tended to happen to them for some reason. So he wouldn't be surprised if there was some crazed monster secretly running around the school. But if that was true surely he would have known about it too. Just when Ethan was about to excuse himself from class and start searching for his friend himself the classroom door opened and Benny huddled inside. Some of the students looked up, but Mr. Garrett didn't even bother glancing from his newspaper. It was obvious Benny had been running. He barely had his jacket on correctly and his book bag was strapped hazardously on his shoulder.
His hair was a mess of strands standing up at in random directions. As he passed some girls giggled and pointed at him while others seemed to ignore him completely. Benny gave a loud huff as he plopped heavily in the empty seat next to Ethan. For a moment the other boy didn't speak as he ruffled a hand through his messy hair in an attempt to make it somewhat presentable again. Giving up quickly on the task Benny shrugged off his bag and turned his attention to the door, almost as if expecting someone else to walk through the room behind him.
"Benny? What's going on?" Ethan looked between the other boy and the door all the while praying it wasn't another rogue monster on the loose.
"Huh?" He looked wide eyed at Ethan as if seeing him sitting there for the first time. "Oh nothing. Just—just forgot my homework for class is all."
Ethan tilted his head and tried not to roll his eyes. "Benny this is study hall, remember? There is no homework."
Benny formed his mouth into a small 'o' and shrugged his shoulders. "Well it must've been for Geography. That class is so boring sometimes I think it is study hall."
Ethan was rightfully suspicious now. Something about the way Benny was squirming in his seat didn't sit well with him. The other boy was practically going cockeyed as he stared nervously at the door. Ethan knew something was up and he wasn't about to be left out of whatever it was.
"Are you running from Erica again? I told you she'd get mad if you asked her about the 'talents' she had with her tongue—"
"No. I'm not running from her. Guess I got a little caught up what's with the third degree? Who died and made you Mr. Class Police? Plus, what does it matter? We've got absentminded Garrett in charge." He jabbed a thumb in the direction of Mr. Garrett who was now snoring lightly in his chair. The newspaper he was reading earlier rested on the side of his face.
Ethan snorted. "Yeah you've got a point there. The whole classroom could get abducted by aliens and he wouldn't notice."
Benny grimaced as he began shuffling through the bag and the mess within. "I wouldn't say that. Knowing our luck I wouldn't be surprised if aliens did suddenly burst through the door."
"No aliens here lad, but I do consider myself a better substitute." A new voice replied and Benny nearly fell out his chair when he turned and found the strange little man with wings floating next to his ear. The boy gave a horror stricken look as he swiftly turned in Ethan's direction but the other boy was only looking at him as if he'd suddenly gone crazy.
"Don't worry. He can't see me. Only the castor that summoned me can." The Cupid-thing assured him. "I came to tell you that I found that Sarah girl you mentioned earlier. I took care of her real nice, I did." He puffed out his chest and gave a wicked grin and Benny noticed for the first time that his teeth were pointed and looked deadly sharp.
"What did you do?" Benny whispered urgently, hoping that Ethan wouldn't overhear him. He had forgot one little detail though—Ethan now had super hearing.
"I didn't do anything." Ethan defended with a confused look. "Really. What's going on with you?"
Before Benny could respond there was a loud knock on the door. Mr. Garret only gave a loud grunt at the noise before turning over in his chair and resumed his sleeping. Many of the students laughed.
Ethan sighed before giving his friend one last worried look and stood up to get the door. It was obvious that no one else cared nor bothered to see who it was since the teacher was still out of commission. They simply returned to whatever it was they were doing again.
Ethan opened the classroom door and nearly froze at what he saw. A random girl who looked to be about 17 was standing in front of him carrying at least three dozen flowers and a huge heart shaped balloon with the words 'Me + U = Love' plastered over it. The girl could barely hold the vase of flowers as she puffed and looked him over.
"Is there a Ethan Morgan here?"
Ethan eyes grew wide. "Yeah...that's me."
She gave a sigh of relief, obviously happy to be rid of the large burden in her hands. "Good. Well I'm apart of the Student Council. On behalf of the Secret Valentine's Service I have a special delivery for you from a very special someone." Her voice sounded bored, as if she had rehearsed and said the same lines more than once that day. "We hope you have a very hearty heart day." The girl rolled her eyes before lazily stuffing the flowers and balloon in Ethan's hands who was close to falling to the floor from embarrassment. He could already hear the students laughing behind his back and he would have given anything for the ground to suddenly open up and swallow him whole.
"Thanks? Could you tell me who's it from?"
The girl rolled her eyes again. "Yeah, somebody named Sarah. She bought the highest package we offer too, just so you know. I at least hope you take her out on a date."
Ethan could only gape at her as she walked away and the hallway was empty once again. His expression didn't change as he walked passed the still sleeping Mr. Garrett and towards his seat which he was once again thankful was in the back of the classroom. He could spot Benny whispering furiously to some invisible spot on the side of him, his expression just as surprised. Though there was a hint of worry on the other boy's face that sent dread down Ethan's spine and it had nothing to do with the fact that Benny was currently talking to himself.
He placed the flowers and balloon on the empty seat next to him before turning swiftly to look at Benny. "We need to talk. Now."
"So...who gave you all that stuff?" Benny asked distractedly, sweat dripping down his face. "Rory? I always knew he held you in special place in his heart..."
"Stop playing games Benny. What's going on? Why did Sarah send me all this stuff?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He blatantly looked anywhere other than the seat with all the bright flowers.
"Did you put a spell on her or something?"
Benny turned around so quickly Ethan was surprised the boy's neck didn't snap. "No magic remember? I didn't do anything. Let's just be happy that she's...you know...happy."
Ethan didn't find himself buying the flimsy excuse but he knew they'd have to drop it for now. Their luck of having the back of the classroom to themselves had finally run out and people were now constantly glancing over at them.
The rest of study hall ended uneventfully. Mr. Garrett remained sleep all the way until the bell rang, only jumping up to dismiss them before promptly dozing off again. As students began quickly filling out the room Ethan turned to Benny who was packing his things in a hurry. The other boy' still refusing to look at all the Valentine stuff sitting only two chairs beside him.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Benny shrugged. "Nothing really. Just going to see someone."
"Like who?" Ethan asked with a hint of suspicion. "Sarah?"
Benny stopped packing his things and for a moment and merely stood frozen as a statue. A second later he shrugged noncovalently. "As cool as Sarah is you're the one obsessed with her bro, not me."
Ethan gave an indignant snort. "I'm not obsessed with her." He defended nervously. "It just doesn't make sense. One second Sarah's biting my head off—the next she gives me all this?" He pointed to the flowers and balloons. "Either she forgave me super easily, which doesn't sound like Sarah at all, or someone spelled her."
"Or maybe she finally opened her eyes to how much she loves you and now the two of you can finally ride off into the sunset."
Ethan frowned. "Not funny." Although the image of him and Sarah doing anything together put that familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. But it was obvious that whatever Benny was up to he wasn't going to spill anytime soon. So Ethan had little choice than to give up the fight for now and follow his friend out the classroom. He still felt a bit silly carrying all his 'gifts' from Sarah and his luck, if possible, was even worse in the hallways. Because standing across from them leaning casually against a random locker was Erica. Her eyes were locked amusingly onto the array of flowers in Ethan's hand.
"Hey there babe. I see you missed me." Benny teased and wiggled his eyes suggestively. Erica looked him over once before promptly rolling her eyes.
"Not even in your wildest dreams could you afford to think about me so why don't you go away and clean your little spellbook. It's him I wanted to see anyway." She nodded her head in Ethan's direction. "...By the way, what desperate girl was stupid enough to buy you anything for Valentine's day?"
If Ethan could still blush he would have been almost as red as a tomato as he quickly averted his eyes away from the girl. "Sarah." He said so low that it was barely audible.
For the first time Erica looked genuinely surprised. "Sarah?" She turned to Benny who was looking at the polished floor as if it had gold buried deep beneath it. "So I guess your little spell or whatever worked?"
Benny looked up quickly at that. His face pale and shrunken as if he was about to be sick.
"Oh...I was suppose to stay quiet wasn't I? Sorry about that." She apologized but her voice sounded as if she could care less.
Ethan took a deep intake of breath and knew he'd need to drink the last bit of substitute blood fast. But despite finding out why Benny was acting so weird he couldn't say that he was surprised. A part of him thought constantly about just having her spelled himself. It was a thought he would never admit out loud, and every time that solution came into his mind he quickly pushed it away. Making somebody feel what you wanted them too wasn't right no matter how much he wished he could make Sarah finally notice him as something beyond friends. But his lack of surprise still didn't mean he wasn't irritated with his best friend. With his emotions already heightened and out of control he knew once again that he would need to get some blood into him before the day was over.
"Benny..." He growled. "What kind of spell did you use on her?"
The other boy gulped. "Nothing...just a simple spell is all. Nothing big really."
"How simple is simple?"
Benny fiddled with the straps of his book bag. "Really small. So small you'll barely notice anything."
"Well you better reverse it quick because—"
Ethan was quickly cut off quick by a loud squeal somewhere down the hallway. Thinking someone was under attack he turned in the direction of the sound, ready to fight, but instead of seeing some monster attacking a random girl he found a grinning Sarah running towards him in speeds that was close to unnatural. It only took a second before Ethan found his vision obscured by her brown hair as she latched her arms around his waist in a hug.
"I can't believe you got my gifts already!" She hugged him tighter.
"Err..." Was all he could say, temporarily speechless by the amazing scent of lilac coming from her hair.
"You don't even have to say a thing you sexy boy you! Your expression is all the gratitude I need." Then when he least expected it she reached up and kissed him on the lips. The kiss was extremely quick—almost like a mere whisper—but the effect was immediate. She had kissed him. Even if it was less than a peck, the fact remained that her lips had been on his for a second. Ethan could feel his fangs extend and the burning deep down in his throat returned ten fold. Never before had the desire to just reach out and drink from a random student been so strong. It almost consumed him, and Ethan knew it was time to drink that nasty blood in the canister.
Painfully having no choice but to pull Sarah away from him Ethan coughed and rubbed his neck.
"Is everything alright Ethanbear?" Sarah asked with genuine concern. All he could do was nod his head in reply because his mind was still frozen after their small kiss.
"I need to drink something." He admitted hoarsely before coughing again. The burning was really starting to hurt. "I really have to go. Thanks for the...all the...stuff Sarah." He smiled weakly at her before giving Benny a look. An expression that told his friend their conversation about fixing Sarah wasn't over. With that he dashed off through the crowded hallways in a speed that was much too quick for anyone to fully notice him until he found the nearest boy's bathroom. Opening the door he let out an audible sigh when he noticed it was empty.
"Perfect." He muttered before stashing all his gifts on the nearby sink and hurriedly rustling through his book bag until he found the canister. By now his fangs were throbbing and he wasn't sure how much more he could take until the top of the lid finally came off and he drunk hungrily from the contents.
The second the blood went down his throat Ethan could feel the fangs retract and the burning down his throat slowly calm to the small and slightly forgetful buzz he was use to. Now that he was in his right mind again his thoughts replayed over what just happened.
Despite it being short and small the fact still remained—Sarah had kissed him.
"I can't believe she kissed you. Yeah she's completely under a spell." Erica said firmly as they left the school building. The parking lot was crowded full with students as the last classes ended and more people trickled out the doors.
"Well, technically. It wasn't really a kiss." Benny corrected with a small smirk. "Not like the one we had that one time."
The blonde rolled her eyes and snorted. "Yeah. When I was high off that little spell you used on us. Even then it was forgettable."
"Ha right. I could definitely feel some tongue action on your part."
At that remark Erica swooped down on him menacingly with her fangs gleaming.
"What was that nerd boy?"
Benny quickly backed off. "Nothing. Whatever you say Count Sexy."
Ethan sighed as he walked passed them. Wishing, not for the first time, that they would just get a room. "This doesn't help the problem we have with Sarah."
Benny averted the dark look Erica was still giving him as he patted his friend reassuringly on the back. "I told you it should wear off soon. You know all the spells do eventually."
Ethan frowned deeply and looked at the array of flowers in his hands. Was it really a bad thing? After all she had been depressed for so long now, maybe a day of her being happy was actually a good thing...the confliction was eating him up inside. Ethan really didn't know what to he knew Sarah. She would never want it this way. The last time she was under magic both he and Benny had almost felt her rath. Knowing that she was under a spell and doing nothing about it would only push her farther away from him and he knew it. So with a deep sigh Ethan paused in his step.
"We need to see your grandmother Benny. Something about this spell doesn't feel right." Remembering the short kiss they had shared earlier told him that something much sinister was brewing behind it all.
Benny pursed his lips in thought for a moment before he nodded his head agreeingly. Ethan knew there was something he wasn't saying and he bet it had something to do with him talking to himself in study hall.
"Well you two have fun putting good girl back together." Erica said absentmindedly while examining her freshly manicured nails. "As for me. I think I'm going to find a nice little after school snack. Math always did make me hungry." With that the blonde girl disappeared amongst the sea of students.
Benny shrugged. "She should be home now. Earlier she went out to get her bunions massaged." He added with a shiver.
Ethan couldn't blame him. He still had nightmares after seeing Benny grandmother's feet.
They walked from the school down the long blocks leading to Benny's house. It was a long stretch that normally made him tired but nowadays he found himself with energy to spare. He could have ran a marathon down the entire long street leading up to Pacific Avenue and back without breaking a sweat.
The inside of Benny's house was dark save for the kitchen. Inside they both found the elderly woman sitting at the table with a bunch of lit candles levitating in the air. Even after all the magic Ethan had seen Benny do since he found out he was a spellcaster it was still a bit surreal to see it up close for himself, especially the magic his grandmother tended to do.
The second she opened her eyes to look up at them the candles instantly fell to the floor. Many of them breaking into small pieces.
"Well this have better be important." She scolded them lightly. "Those relaxer candles don't come cheap you know."
"It is." Ethan was the first to reply. "It's Sarah. Benny—"
"Merely made her happy again." Benny finished with a nervous grin before jabbing Ethan in the stomach.
But that was enough for the woman to instantly become suspicious. She had seen enough of their antics to know when something was going on.
"And how did you make her happy?" Evelyn asked her grandson with a raised brow. "I hope not with a spell. You two should have learned from the last time."
Benny was noticeably flinching now. "Well...it was just a small spell..."
Evelyn frowned deeply before standing up from her chair and giving him a look of disapproval. "Alright. Show me the spell you used."
With a wave of his hand the spellbook disappeared from his book bag and suddenly plopped itself onto the table. His grandmother quickly started scanning the pages. "It only took her a second before she reached the page Benny had folded in order to keep a bookmark. When she pulled the page over her eyes moved over the words before she promptly closed the book with a snap so loud it nearly made him jump. Ethan on the other hand merely looked at her with wide eyes.
"Tell me you didn't use the Cupid spell." She asked him calmly but there was an undertone that told him there was a storm about to brew if he gave her the wrong answer.
Ethan turned to him and waited for a reply as well.
"Well. When you said Cupid. Do you mean Cupid from Santa's reindeers? Or..."
"Don't play stupid with me. Did you use the spell on page 623?"
Benny grimaced. "I might have..." When his grandmother narrowed her eyes he quickly threw up his hands in defeat. "But I didn't think it would do anything. I mean, it's only suppose to work for a day, right?"
The elderly woman shook her head before snapping her fingers and the spellbook instantly disappeared. Benny had a feeling he wouldn't see it again for a while.
"You've done some hairbrain things before. But this, this takes the cake. Do you have any idea what you've just summoned?"
He shrugged again. "Err...a small flying guy?"
"No. You summoned a 300 year old dark spellcaster who was banished 50 years ago. The mortals called him Cupid because he use to meddle with romance. But really, he would use the romance between two people in order to suck out their souls."
"Their souls?" Ethan asked meekly.
"That's right." She replied with a sharp nod. "And something tells me you didn't read the fineprint did you?" Evelyn rounded on her grandson again. "Because if you had you would have seen the warning. Vandron, or Cupid as you call him, will grant you a romantic wish in return for a price. Only the fool hearted even summoned him not knowing what that price would be."
Suddenly the room felt darker to Ethan. There was a chill in the air and he was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to feel it.
"So you're saying he'll suck out Sarah's soul?"
The elderly woman nodded solemnly. "Since Benny obviously only spoke her name. He has a contract with Sarah alone. She's safe now. But the second she speaks the strongest words of love he'll take her." At the boys blank stares she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Love. When she tells Ethan she loves him then Vandron will take her soul."
Ethan knew if it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't human anymore his face would be red. He had never expected to hear her say that to him. In fact, he never really thought about those words himself. Did he love Sarah? Of course he did but he didn't want her to say it to him. Not when she wasn't thinking for herself.
Ethan felt troubled now. There was still more to it. He could tell by the older woman's expression.
"Is there a way to stop him? He can be banished again can't he?"
Evelyn gave a long pause as she looked him over a moment. Then her expression turned grim as she nodded. "There's a way. But you won't like it. The only way to banish Vandron again is by breaking his spell on her. Her heart will have to be broken. You'll have to tell her you don't love or care about her at all. But there's a consequence. Even when the spell is broken she'll remember you telling her those words, I'm afraid."
The darkness that had filled the room could have practically engulfed him at that moment.
A/N: Hello all, good to be back! Hopefully Part 3 (which might be the final part of episode 1) will be posted soon. For all those hoping for a little Erica/Benny, don't worry! There are some upcoming episodes dedicated mostly to them. Rory won't be left out either. Lots of good stuff coming!
Also: Starting from now on there will be a song dedicated to each episode/part. The song for part two is:Speechless by Morning Parade.
Remember to R/R!
