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Disenchanted
An Epilogue to "Truth and Consequences"
by Christie and Larry deSouza
The rhythmic, brassy sound of dance music drifted to the back of the pub where Dante and Sasha sat. The Rat Cellar was a favourite haunt of the young students at the Eldritch Academy, and fortunately many old classmates and childhood friends of Sasha's had come that night. It had seemed like such a long time since she had last seen them.
"I'm so glad you decided to come," Dante said as he put his arm around Sasha and gave her a squeeze. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it, though?"
"I'm perfectly fine," Sasha assured him. "Just because Mama hasn't let me go back yet doesn't mean I haven't completely recovered."
"Well, I'm glad. She's been working you hard, I hear."
She nodded, smiling. "She's hidden all my science books and insisted I spend my days working on magic. As long as I'm here, she figures I might as well learn something 'useful'."
Dante laughed. "And have you?"
"Oh, I'd say so. Actually, Mama wouldn't let me study spells - she didn't want me to use any energy. So I've been working on potions."
"So that's why Carlos has been helping out?"
"Yes," she replied, looking over to Dante's best friend who was dancing on the ceiling. "His alchemy's really coming along. I've learned a lot."
"Enough to want to stay?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm sure that's what Mama wanted," Sasha replied. "Still, I really miss St. Canard. I want to get back. There are so many unfinished projects there, and so much I still have to learn."
Dante mustered a smile and nodded his acceptance. "I figured as much." He looked over at the motley group on the dance floor and sighed. "It really hasn't been the same around here without you," he admitted.
Sasha looked at him sympathetically. "Dante, I'm..."
"No," he interrupted. "I'm not letting you apologize. I want you to do what will make you happy. Anyway, I can wait." He flashed her one of those charming smiles that went all the way back to the fangs and she sighed contentedly, snuggling a little closer. "So, what have you and Carlos come up with?"
Sasha pulled out a tiny perfume bottle to show him.
"What is it?"
She smiled. "It's a surprise."
A small flock of well-dressed young girls made their way through the crowd led by a shapely black clad swan who was lavishly adorned with jewellery. From the looks on their faces, they clearly felt that this rabble was beneath them. They went to the back of the room, chattering and giggling amongst each other, until they approached Sasha and Dante's booth.
"Hi Dante," said the swan in a singsong voice. A chorus of coy hellos echoed her own as her honey-voiced companions followed her lead. She gave him a wink and slid next to him, ignoring her friends' pouting faces as she tacitly abandoned them. They turned as one and moved back through the crowds to find a free table.
"Hello, Sable."
She turned to Sasha. "Haven't you gone back to your Normals yet?" she asked by way of greeting, casually buffing a large ring on one sleeve.
"Nice to see you too, Sable," she replied coldly.
Sable seemed to have already forgotten her cousin's presence and had slid even closer to Dante, worming one hand about his arm. "Won't you ask me to dance?" she asked Dante, absently running one finger over the back of his hand, and looking up at him through her heavy lashes.
"Uh - sorry Sable. I don't feel much like dancing tonight." He disengaged the hand about his arm.
"Yeah, she'll do that to anyone," Sable replied with a sidelong glance toward Sasha.
"Sable..." Dante warned her.
"Oh, you know I'm just kidding, don't you?" she asked with a well-practiced pout. "Anyone with a sense of humour..."
Dante's exasperated sigh interrupted her.
"Listen, Sable," Sasha tried, "why don't you ask Carlos to dance? He's already on the floor."
Sable dismissed that idea, her eyes automatically rolling upwards to where Carlos was actually enjoying the club's music. His ample wingspan ensured him lots of room as he danced about the largely empty ceiling. "I wouldn't exactly call that dancing," she muttered to herself. "He looks more like a spastic ceiling fan."
"I suppose you call that humour, too," Sasha remarked angrily.
"Ooo, getting testy, aren't we, cousin?" Sable commented with a sly smile. "You've been spending a lot of time with Carlos recently, haven't you?" She turned to Dante. "Honestly, Dante, I don't understand what you see in her. She's so selfish..."
"Sable, that's enough!" Dante cut her off, his eyes flashing red.
Sable moped quietly for only a few seconds before something new attracted her attention. "What's this?" she asked, pouncing on the small glittering bottle in front of Sasha.
"My homework," replied Sasha, snatching it back. "Unlike some people, I like to learn."
"Oh, I heard Mama was teaching you some valuable skills. Maybe you'll actually amount to something someday." Sable's tone was light, but her grin was pure malice.
"Sable!" Dante snapped, close to losing his patience. "Maybe you should leave now."
"Isn't this what you've been working on with Carlos, Sasha?" Sable asked, watching for Dante's reaction.
"As a matter of fact, it is," Sasha said defensively.
Sable nodded, giving Dante a wide-eyed look that suggested Sasha and Carlos had been working on more than just potions.
"Cut it out, Sable," growled Dante.
"I'm sorry," she said in waif-like voice, pouting again. "Do you still love me?" she asked.
"That wouldn't happen to be a stomach remedy?" Dante whispered to Sasha, who giggled behind her hand.
Sable once more cast a curious look at the bottle. "Well, I can tell when I'm not wanted," she commented suddenly. "Maybe I will ask Carlos to dance after all."
"That's a first," sighed Dante in relief as he and Sasha watched Sable flounce away from their table. Absently twisting an earring, she levitated to the ceiling.
"Hi Carlos," Sable greeted the bat sweetly.
Carlos glanced her way in confusion and stopped dancing, folding his wings back and hanging comfortably. "Uh... hi, Sable. What do you want?"
"What makes you think I want something?" she asked with a hurt expression.
Carlos shrugged. "You've never spoken to me unless you do," he stated matter-of-factly.
Sable dismissed his comment with a laugh. "Oh, Carlos. You kidder!" She tossed her long black hair with her hand. "Maybe I just want to talk with you."
"Uh-huh," Carlos replied skeptically, furling his wings across his chest.
"You and Sasha have been spending a lot of time together this past week," she commented casually.
"I've been helping her with her homework."
"So what did she make?"
"Why should I tell you?" he asked with a wry smile.
"Oh, come on, Carlos. I can keep a secret." She batted her lashes and played with her hair in what she thought was an endearing gesture.
Carlos rolled his eyes. "I don't think Sasha would want me to tell you."
"Sasha doesn't have to know," Sable said, drawing closer to Carlos and running her fingers along his wing ridges.
Taking a step back, he said, "Listen Sable, if I tell you, do you promise to leave me alone?"
"Of course!"
"And don't tell anyone?"
"I promise!"
He looked down at Sasha and Dante, then leaned a little closer to Sable and whispered, "It's a love potion."
Sable gasped. "A love potion?!"
"Shhhh!" He looked around nervously. "Do you want everyone to hear?"
"That little..." Sable stamped her foot, forgetting that she was mid-air. Recovering her balance clumsily, she continued. "No wonder Dante hangs around her so much. Of all the..." She turned from Carlos and threw back her hair, brushing once more against her earring.
"Uh-oh, here she comes again," Dante warned Sasha.
Sable seated herself once more beside Dante and stared angrily at her cousin. "You think you know a person..." she commented icily.
"What do you mean by that?" Sasha asked.
"Like you don't know." Sable crossed her arms and leaned back heavily into the upholstered booth seat. Dante looked up at Carlos, who seemed to be aware of the exchange.
"What did you say?" he mouthed to his room-mate, who only shrugged back and smiled insincerely. As Dante was turning back to Sable in confusion, Sasha also glanced upwards. Carlos gave her a quick wink and, still hanging from the ceiling, walked to a quiet corner of the room where he could watch the proceedings without intruding.
"Sable..." began Dante, trying to find out what was upsetting her. She could be as much trouble as a loose taronga - he had to find a way to calm her down before she caused any damage.
Sable glared at Sasha's perfume bottle. "I believe Dante deserves an explanation."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sable," Sasha said, somewhat too innocently.
Dante looked back and forth between the cousins in bewilderment. "Uh... what's going on here?"
"Nothing, Dante, my love," Sasha said, sliding one arm around him while playing with the bottle in her other hand. She gave Sable a wicked smile.
"Why you little..." Sable stood quickly and reached into the sleeve of her dress.
"Wait!" Dante began, but was too late. Suddenly their drink glasses went skidding toward Sasha and dumped their contents into her lap.
Sasha's shout and Sable's high pitched laughter caught the attention of most of the club, including Sable's covey of friends. They quickly converged on the table to join in Sable's apparent triumph over her cousin.
"Will you cut out that noise?!" said Dante forcefully, raising his voice over their babbling as he offered some napkins to Sasha.
Carlos had dropped down to the floor to help as well. "Sorry, Sasha," he whispered to her as he deftly pulled the cloth out from under the setting at the next table and offered it to her. "I didn't expect to get her that mad."
"I'm all right," Sasha replied, glaring at Sable who now stood smugly amongst her followers.
"I can dry you off with a spell," Dante offered, "but it won't get out the stain."
"It's okay," Sasha reassured him, still mopping at the mess on her skirt with the tablecloth. "A bit of soda water will lift this right out."
"Soda water?" asked Sable in a mocking tone. "That doesn't sound like one of Mama's potions."
"It's not. It's just basic chemistry."
"Oh. It's a 'Normal' spell." Sable laughed again, her voice sounding more like a cackle.
"And you would be happy to get her some right now, right?!" Dante's voice had taken on a deep penetrating quality and his eyes were a glaring red. The once-tittering girls had quickly stepped away from Sable, and she found herself bearing the sole brunt of his anger.
"Oh, never mind," Sasha said quickly. "I can get it."
She slid out of the booth and made her way to the bar. Carlos looked from her to Dante, then flashed a nervous smile and followed Sasha. Dante was left alone with Sable and a small audience of her friends, standing at a safe distance. Taking advantage of this new opportunity, Sable went to the other side of the table and slipped into Sasha's seat. Dante had already dried it with his spell, and was now preoccupied with watching Sasha speak to the bartender - a hulking monster with sullen red skin which steamed slightly.
"You know, you can be a real pain, Sable," he said, still looking across the room.
Sable eyed the tiny bottle which Sasha had forgotten to retrieve and smiled greedily. "Oh, you wouldn't say that if you really knew me," she said in a sultry tone as she snatched the bottle and lifted its glass stopper. Before he could turn back to look at her, she dabbed the delicate end of the stopper behind her ears and rubbed some on her wrists. Curious, she sniffed one wrist and was pleased by the perfume's floral scent. She quickly stoppered the bottle and slipped it into her sleeve. It could come in handy another day.
A few minutes dragged by as Sable waited impatiently for the love potion to take effect. She began to worry that Sasha would be back before she could make her move. Dante seemed bent on totally ignoring her, and he kept his gaze rigidly on Sasha. Perhaps she was being too subtle. With a conspiratorial wink to her friends, she leaned herself into Dante and draped one scented arm about his neck.
"Won't you talk to me, Dante?" she asked in a babyish tone.
"Lay off, Sable," he said to her gruffly. "I'm not in the mood for any more of your childishness." His eyes still seemed to smolder, and reluctantly she removed her arm and slid back away from him.
Glancing over at the bar, she saw Sasha heading back towards them. Abruptly, she stuck her wrist in front of Dante's bill, making his jump back. "Do you like my perfume?"
"Sable!" he warned again. "Look, Sasha's coming back. I want you to leave us alone. Now."
She huffed in frustration and threw herself back against the seat, folding her arms and sulking. As Sasha approached the table, though, she had come to what she felt was the obvious conclusion. Irritably, she placed the bottle back on the table and slid away from Dante. She stood before Sasha, blocking her way. "Some potion, cousin," she accused.
"What do you mean?"
"I should have known you wouldn't be able to pull it off," she commented, looking down on her with a condescending sneer. "Why don't you just go back to your Normal friends and leave the magic to us real Monsters?"
"Sable!" Dante snapped. "Go away!" He peered around her back to catch a glimpse of Sasha's face, worried that her cousin's cruel words might upset her.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Sasha asked in a level voice, staring back up at her cousin with flinty eyes. Dante had never noticed how much like her father she could look when she was angry. Then again, Sasha was so rarely angry.
"It means just what I said. You look like a Normal. You dress like a Normal. You act like a Normal. Why don't you just go back to where you belong - with the Normals." Sable's friends were quieted by her viciousness and slowly moved back against the flow. Dante began to slide out of the other side of the booth when a quiet touch on his shoulder stilled him.
"Don't," whispered Carlos. He had dropped down behind the booth and now slipped in beside his friend, blocking him.
"Carlos -" Dante whispered back furiously, "get out of my way! Sasha can't..."
"Just watch," Carlos said with a knowing smile.
"I am Mama's daughter." Sasha's voice was quite but intense. "I am a Monster." Suddenly she thrust one hand forward and Dante watched in amazement as the candle that had been tipped over on the table bobbed upwards obediently and floated towards her. With a quick flick of her wrist, the wick sparked to life.
Everyone was silent. While minor levitation and candle lighting were regarded as common spells, they were also the foundation discipline required for larger works of magic. Even the more accomplished magic-users practiced them daily, and Sasha manipulated the candle with impressive confidence.
"Have you been practicing, cousin?" Sasha asked evenly.
Sable was uncharacteristically silent in the face of Sasha's evident talent. Not one to let the moment pass, Sasha held out her other hand casually, and a new drink floated to her from the bar.
"Child's ... play," said Sable, feigning confidence of her own.
"Really?" returned her cousin. "Then you take it." The candle smashed to the floor as Sasha abruptly released her control of it. The tiny flame it held died in the fall.
"I - I wasn't ready for it!" Sable complained defiantly. With an extravagant gesture, she waved her hand over the fallen candle and assumed a facade of concentration. A silent minute stretched out and Carlos sniggered behind his wing. Sable abandoned her pose and shot him a look of pure hatred. He smiled back at her openly.
Dante put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. "Go ahead, Sable," he invited her graciously. "Levitate the candle."
Sable threw her hair back haughtily. "Maybe I don't feel like it."
"Oh, of course." Carlos nodded knowingly. "That must be why you're not doing it."
"She can do it!" one of her friends called out in her defense. "Show 'em, Sable!"
Sable smiled nervously at the crowd that had formed. "All right, I will." Turning back, Sable made a show of adjusting her rings and stretching her fingers before waving her hands over the candle again. It continued to ignore her in much the same way the crowd didn't. Muffled laughter could be heard in the back. Sable looked at her hands in exasperation and finally clenched her fists at her sides and twisted her face up in an expression of genuine effort. The candle gave a lazy half roll before stopping altogether. Sable's shoulders drooped in defeat. Those watching began to laugh openly now, including some of Sable's own clique.
"Stop that!" she shouted in rage at the bystanders. "What about this?!" she said, snatching the glass bottle from the tabletop, and holding it up for all to see. "She can't even brew a decent love potion!"
"Love potion?!" Dante repeated in shock. He turned to Sasha, who was smiling with satisfaction at her cousin's predicament.
"Oh, that's no love potion," Carlos interjected, grinning broadly.
"What?! What do you mean?" Sable was beginning to look more than a little wild. "You told me..."
"I told you what Sasha asked me to tell you." Carlos gave a half bow from his seat towards Sasha.
"So what is it?!" Sable asked, scrubbing her wrists on her dress to remove the perfume.
"A simple charm nullifier," Sasha stated calmly.
"What?!" screeched Sable, her voice discovering new notes in the high registers.
"You know," continued Sasha. "The sort they use in school to prevent cheating during exams." Her voice purred in her cousin's ears, and Sable was obviously horrified. Sasha reached out for the bottle and dabbed some of the perfume on herself, then held it out in the palm of her hand and watched it float back to the table. "It has a lovely fragrance, doesn't it?" Her grin was almost predatory.
Sable's entourage was heard whispering among themselves. Their leader's dilemma could lead to only one conclusion. Without charms, Sable was incapable of doing the most basic and essential of magic. With expressions which ranged from disappointment to disdain, they turned, one by one, and left her standing alone by the booth.
Carlos opened his wide eyes and looked up at her in mock dismay. "Say it ain't so, Sable," he whimpered, barely containing his mirth.
"Shut up!" she spat. Turning on her heel, she marched out of the club.
Sasha released a long breath and fell onto the seat.
"That was incredible, Sasha!" Dante said, sliding around the bench to hug her. "I didn't know you could do that! Is that what you've been learning?"
Sasha nodded, blushing. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
"For more than Dante!" Carlos said, laughing. "That was great, Sasha! I can't get over the look on her face!"
"But I thought Mama told you not to use your energy," Dante said, looking at her more closely now. "You're tired, aren't you?"
Sasha shrugged and sighed. "It was worth it, wasn't it?"
"That depends..."
"Oh, I'm fine," she said dismissively.
"Are you sure?" Carlos asked, having sobered somewhat. "If your mother finds out, we're both in big trouble."
"Don't worry. I bet Mama would be overjoyed." She shrugged. "Besides, Mama didn't want me to go back until I made some practical use of what I've learned. I can't imagine a better application of my potions and spells than this. She has always hated how Uncle Cyril spoils Sable and gives her anything she wants - especially the charms. Sable's supposed to be learning how to do the real thing."
"The real thing, Cyril," said Mama in a stern yet triumphant voice. Her brother gazed into the crystal ball in front of him, watching his daughter exit the club and begin her long walk home. His cup of tea hung midway to his mouth, forgotten for the moment, as he struggled with accepting the truth of the situation. His expression was peevish and reminded Mama of where Sable had undoubtedly learned how to pout. His fine shiny hair was smoothed back to show a classic widow's peak, and his beady eyes, so daunting on Mama, seemed only to accentuate his flabbiness.
"Well?" questioned Mama, prompting an unintelligible answer from her brother, who had suddenly remembered his tea. "I beg your pardon?"
"You were right," he finally said in a sulky voice, unbecoming to a Monster of his years. He placed his cup noisily on the table.
"Of course I was right," she said with no trace of a smile, firmly moving the cup onto a saucer. "You have spoiled that daughter of yours. She is a disgrace to our family and to the Academy, while my Sasha..."
"Is an excellent daughter. I apologize."
"I told you she could do it. Do not underestimate my family, Cyril."
"I said I was sorry. I won't mention her studying with Normals ever again." Cyril hurriedly rose to leave so as to avoid prolonging this conversation. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'd best go fetch my daughter before she catches a chill from the night air." He made an extravagant gesture, which turned clumsy as nothing happened. Irritably, he waved his hands again with no results.
"The nice thing about Sasha's potion," said Mama, retrieving a small bottle from her sleeve, "is that it makes a wonderful tea." Cyril's eyes widened and he stared in horror at his charmed rings - now useless.
"I'd say Sable's not the only one who has to walk home tonight." Cyril abruptly disappeared as Mama gestured at him. She leaned over the crystal ball, savouring her brother's outraged expression as he materialized on the dark road next to his daughter. Laughing openly, she carefully covered her crystal ball with a silk kerchief and cleared the table of teacups. Still chuckling, she left out a small envelope and a key for her youngest daughter.
"The best things come in threes," she said to the quiet night air. "First Sable, then Cyril, and now it's time for you to get back to work as well. Good night, my Sasha."
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