When Charlie located Beth, the child had already dried her tears and no longer displayed any visible sign that she had been sad. Rosie claimed that she only spoke with Beth about her project and nothing more, promising Charlie that the child would re-join her at the table after a final detail was discussed. As soon as Charlie was gone, Rosie pulled Beth aside to tell her one last thing for the evening.
"Beth you must never tell anyone that I'm a witch." She instructed. "Throughout history, people have never responded well to my kind. You see the first witches were indeed evil women and because of their damage, all creatures assume that all witches are wicked and must be destroyed."
"Even if I did tell, who would believe me?"
"True but I don't want to take any chances. Not to mention I have to worry about those who may try to steal some of my magic. If anything in this room fell into the wrong hands, it would have disastrous results. Worst case scenario, the mirror."
She pointed to the antique looking glass that was covered by a drape.
"What's so dangerous about that?" Beth asked.
"For centuries this mirror has absorbed countless negative emotions from human beings. Anger, greed, jealousy, lust, pride, vanity, sorrow, regret, agony. If one looks too long into this mirror, it could reflect one of those negative emotions into your body and you would feel only that emotion for an unknown amount of time. My ancestors would use it to turn their enemies against themselves but there were many innocents who were also effected by this cursed looking glass. My family eventually decided that it would be best if we used it no more."
"So why not get rid of it? Break it?"
"Heavens child, that would be worse. If that mirror was ever shattered then shards of glass would fly everywhere and if one of those shards landed in someone's eye, that person would only see the worst in everything and everyone, and their heart would turn as cold as ice. They'd never know love or happiness again. The mirror can't be destroyed, it can only be hidden."
"No wonder you're so secretive. But why would anyone want a mirror like that anyway?"
"I can only think of one person who could possibly benefit from such a damned artifact and I pray very often, that someone never get their hands on the mirror. So you must not tell a soul about what I am."
"Not even Charlie?"
"No. She's a mermaid and merfolk think less of witches more than humans."
"But she knows I got the potion from you. Don't you think she'll figure you out eventually?"
"She may figure out I descended from a witch but she may never know that I'm aware of that fact or that I can use magic. Perhaps, I'll tell her when I believe her to be trustworthy but for now, keep this under your hat. Understand?"
"I understand."
"Good, and the whole bringing Alastor and Charlie together?"
"Don't worry, I'll stop it right now."
"It might be best if Charlie did not share lodgings with you and Alastor for the Summer. Even without your meddling, l'amour could still arise."
"Doubtful. Before you dragged me in here, Charlie was going on and on about how a human and mermaid couple would be ridiculous, and there's no way on earth my brother could ever fall in love without help. As long as I don't play matchmaker, those two will remain strictly platonic."
"For your friend's sake I certainly hope so."
Beth then returned to the table, the three of them ordered a meal, and by the time they finished eating, Alastor was called to perform. He stepped on to the stage with his usual movement of eagerness whenever the opportunity to entertain appeared, but he almost seemed nervous to Beth.
"Tonight I have a very special song in mind to sing and I do hope it pleases you all. Especially the ladies."
At once every woman in the club save for Charlie and Rosie, giggled.
"Take it boys!"
At the snap of his fingers, the band began to play the next song and as they played, the men gave an intro.
"Pretty little angel eyes.
Pretty little angel eyes,
Pretty little angel, pretty little angel.
Pretty little, pretty little,
Pretty little angel,
Pretty little little little angel eyes."
Alastor gave Charlie a wink and proceeded to sing into the microphone.
"Angel eyes, I really love you so.
Hey angel eyes, I'll never let you go.
Because I love you, My darling angel eyes.
Angel eyes, you are so good to me.
And when I'm in your arms, it feels so heavenly.
You know I love you, my darling angel eyes."
Beth cheered him on, the women were swooning, the men were becoming envious, and Charlie was feeling all sorts of things.
At first she was completely astounded by the man's vocals. Though charming, it was the life and true passion within his voice that had her so amazed. She could tell that just like herself, Alastor used music to express what was in his soul which made him one of the most remarkable singers she had ever heard. But her admiration was soon joined by confusion when she noticed that Alastor was staring at her the whole time he was singing. Staring at her and smiling at her.
"I know you were sent from heaven above, to fill my life with your wonderful love.
I know we'll be happy for eternity, cause I know that our love is really real.
Angel eyes, I really love you so.
Hey angel eyes, I'll never let you go.
Because I love you, my darling angel eyes."
Charlie felt her heart flutter. Something about this song, his stare, and his smile, it made her feel bashful and flattered. Just what was he doing? Was he teasing her or something?
"Pretty little angel eyes." The band sang back up.
"Pretty little angel eyes.
Pretty little angel, pretty little angel.
Pretty little, pretty little,
Pretty little angel."
Alastor started dancing. The women were all sighing, blowing kisses to him, some even tried to reach for him but he only had eyes for the strange but sweet, young beauty from the sea. He danced over to where magnolias were growing by the cabaret window and plucked one.
"Angel eyes, I really love you so.
Hey angel eyes, I'll never let you go.
Because I love you, my darling angel eyes."
When the song finished he was given great applause, he bowed and then tossed the flower right over to Charlie who caught it. Alastor winked at her again and she smiled shyly.
"I take it you were pleased by my performance?" He asked her when he sat down.
"I did but don't tell me that song was dedicated to me."
"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. I said it was something to please the ladies."
"Yet you were looking only at me." She said sniffing the magnolia.
"He does stuff like that all the time." Beth said. "He did a similar thing with one of my teachers when he helped me out with the school talent show."
"So you're just a shameless flatterer?" Charlie accused him in a teasing manner.
"Shameless flatterer is such a nasty word my dear." He teased back. "I prefer the term gracious gentleman."
"Maybe." Charlie said.
"What do you mean maybe?"
She giggled.
"Plenty of scoundrels can appear as gentlemen."
"Are you implying that I am only putting on the facade of a gentleman? That I am really a scoundrel in disguise?"
"Maybe. Only time will tell."
"Would odds be in my favor if I told you that you have the most charming and delightful smile?"
"Again with the shameless flattery. You know that's a common method that scoundrels use."
"Then I suppose I should be very careful with my compliments. I wouldn't want you to feel any anxiety or distrust while residing in my house hold."
"Just keep in mind that I am not too naive to see through people."
"Perhaps but I am not very easy to see through."
"Really? Because I think my eyes are just right for something like that."
Beth watched them banter back and forth. Were they flirting?
"Well if they were, it doesn't mean anything." Beth thought. "Alastor has flirted with a lot of women, it doesn't mean anything. He always finds it so funny when they get all bubbly and nervous. He's only teasing. Still, I better add a little distance between them just to be safe."
"Charlie why don't we go sight seeing tomorrow?" Beth suggested. "I'm sure there are a lot of places around here we haven't seen yet."
"What kind of sights?" Alastor asked.
"Oh just down to the docks. I've been wanting to watch the boats go sailing, you can't swim so I know you won't be very comfortable there and I figured that Charlie could take me."
"Not a bad idea." Alastor said. "And honestly I find the docks much safer than that beach. There's a water police station right next to it."
"So we can go?"
"Of course. I've been needing some alone time anyway."
"Thanks Al."
"Just don't go swimming in the water. All those boats moving around, you could get hit."
"Oh don't worry Alastor, going swimming up there is the last thing we'll be doing."
"I'm excited already." Charlie said. "Will we get to ride in any of the boats? I've never been in one."
"Neither have I." Beth said. "Alastor won't let me on one. He's been finicky about them ever since he was eight."
"Because I had an accident on one." Alastor said. "I was thrown overboard and it took the crewmen ten minutes to get me out of the water. How I didn't drown or suffer any brain damage, I'll never know, but I learned that boats are not a reliable means of transportation."
"You think anything to do with water isn't reliable."
"Are you certain that you were under water for ten minutes?" Charlie asked looking at Alastor.
"That's what Mother screamed at my stepfather countless times as they were taking me to the hospital."
"And, you were fine? No damage?"
"No damage. Doctor couldn't find anything wrong with my brain. It really was the strangest phenomenon."
"How long ago was this?"
"About sixteen or seventeen years ago. Why do you ask?"
She paused before answering.
"No reason. Just curious."