19. The Harkening

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Daphne growled from her room, the door cracked only a sliver so that no one could see her outfit, “Ugh! Why did they have to set it up so we’re being announced one by one? I wanted to surprise you all with my dress!”

Morgan was taking his sweet time getting ready in his own room, adding some extra touches with magic. A little zap from the tips of his fingers lifted his hair. The dark circles that his fitful sleep had left beneath his eyes were swept away with a pulse to stimulate blood flow. He was with Daphne on this. He wanted to make a show of it, and if they had to line up in the hall to be announced, they’d see each other beforehand.

As he fiddled with his earrings, trying to close a stud from a pair of single purple roses that matched his mask perfectly, a thought occurred to him. He slipped down the hall and called into Daphne’s room. “Hey, Daph, I have an idea!”

It was dusk. The ball was officially underway, and House Fell stood in the entry hall to the ballroom. Quite the chatter echoed beyond the double doors, along with a pulsing dance beat. Morgan had loathed the sound of electronic music when he first arrived in Etna, but there was no escaping it here. After a time, he began to appreciate the way it seemed to vibrate inside him, tingling through every cell and urging him to move. A smirk crossed his face as he wondered how some of the older, more stuffy members of the Council were handling it.

He, Daphne, Shane and Frey lingered on the black marble in a line toward the door. Morgan’s plan was flawless. They had all glamoured themselves in everyday clothing over their ball attire. While Morgan could feel the half-mask on his face, if he looked in a mirror, he would see himself without it; dressed in his normal choice of skinny jeans, a white V-neck and his favorite boots.

The music quieted, and Theresa’s voice rang out through the doors, “Ladies, gentleman and gender-unburdened! It is time to introduce our guests of honor!” Cheering and clapping came from the ballroom. “It is my pleasure and privilege this evening to welcome our newly incorporated members of the occult community here in Etna City. It has been a long time in the making, but at last I give you, the newly established, House Fell!”

The doors opened to more cheers and some whistling. Morgan had seen the guest list, signed the invitations himself even, but he had not pictured this many people.

“First, we have the newest addition to their little family!” Theresa shouted, “With a knack for fashion and a love for all things that grow, they have personally designed the attire of every member in their coven tonight and are responsible for these stunning floral arrangements. I present the whimsical, the talented—Frey!”

Frey strutted out into the spotlight like they were there to own the catwalk in joggers and a pink track jacket. They stopped on the landing above the staircase and spun on the spot. The glamour vanished in a flash of rose-colored light, revealing a flowing, ruffled ball gown completely covered in crystals from top to bottom. Their platinum-blonde hair was pressed neatly into tight waves like you might see in black and white films. Their mask wasn’t a mask at all, but an arrangement of small, pink and white flowers that encompassed their eyes. They stepped down the stairs as the cheering continued and turned toward the rest of the coven.

“Lovely! Absolutely lovely, aren’t they?” Theresa called, “Next, we have two members, one escorting the other-”

Daphne caught Morgan’s eye as he grinned, and she mouthed, “Oh, shut up.”

“She is the direct apprentice of Mister Fell, with magical talent that could give a few Masters I’ve known over the years a run for their credits, and technical prowess beyond anything this city has ever seen! And he is a dashing man with a heart of gold-,” Theresa tripped over the delivery, “and the best shot in Etna City! I give you—Daphne Davis, and Shane McMillan!”

They stepped out into the spotlight, hand in hand. Shane was glamoured in one of his cheap suits, and Daphne in a clean, white sundress. They released each other’s hands and twirled outward as their glamours melted away in waves of gold light. They linked hands again, their free arms extended upwards like performers that had just finished a daring act.

Daphne wore a glittering, golden, mermaid-cut dress with heels to match. Long white gloves ran up her arms to her shoulders. Her hair was curled in a glamorous updo littered with yellow diamonds, and her pointed mask was solid gold with white feathers on one side.

Shane donned a navy-blue tailcoat with bronze embroidery that swirled over the shoulders and down the back. His slacks were simple and pressed, revealing black, pointed-toe shoes. His hair was parted, his scruffy beard had been neatly groomed, and his mask covered both eyes in the same blue with bronze swirls to match his coat.

“Aren’t they ravishing?” Theresa cried as the pair joined Frey at the bottom of the stairs.

A hush fell over the crowd. Morgan’s palms blossomed with sweat. He had been so confident of his entrance, but now he suddenly found himself wishing dearly that he didn’t have to do it alone.

“I can tell from the buzz amongst you—you know what comes next,” Theresa spoke with an eerie tone, and the hushed conversations intensified, “He has watched our city from the shadows, defending witch and common alike, striking down any who dare stand in his path.”

“Oh good, more to live up to,” Morgan scoffed under his breath as he hovered near the doorway, bouncing on his heels.

“He has demonstrated great feats of power, and has captured the hearts... and eyes, of many. We all know his name, now meet the man! The head of House Fell; the wickedly handsome, the infamous—Morgan Fell!”

Morgan stepped out into the spotlight without missing a beat, ready to put on a show as the ballroom erupted in cheers. He stopped at an angle with one foot forward, striking his best fashion pose. A devilish grin graced his lips through the blinding lights above as he raised his hand to the side of his head—and snapped.

His glamour burst into ravenous, purple flames, racing from his sleeves, over his torso and down his legs. The crowd gasped as the illusion was burned away, revealing his magnificent ensemble in all its black and silver elegance. As the flames died out, a fierce applause resounded, and an ear-piercing whistle split the cheers from the bottom of the stairs. He dropped his head with a wave of his hand, lowered in his most sophisticated bow.

“Truly a spectacle worthy of our gracious host, my friends!” Theresa roared over the crowd, “Bravo, Morgan! Bravo!”

Morgan smiled brightly, still unable to see the room through the strong spotlights as he made to join his coven.

“And tonight-” Theresa continued, causing him to falter mid-step, “One very lucky gentleman has the privilege of escorting our fine host!”

His heart picked up pace. “They do?”

”A sinfully gorgeous man, if I do say so myself! A perfect match if there ever was one! A man that dares to stand alongside the occult community no matter the cost, One of Etna City’s finest—Officer Aaron Jones!”

Morgan’s skin vibrated as more cheering and catcalling filled the room. The music changed tempo and an upbeat song began to play as people rushed the floor to begin a choreographed dance. He shook his head, trying to reassure himself that he was awake.

Surely there had been a misunderstanding. Aaron was busy. There must have been some sort of miscommunication. He cleared his throat to address the confusion, but the spotlights faded, and his eyes swelled as they adjusted to the scene below.

On the edge of the dance floor, beside his coven and Lexi, dressed in a magnificent, white suit, covered in gold leaf embroidery, a half-mask of white and gold that perfectly mirrored his own with small blue roses, with one arm reaching toward him—stood Aaron.

Morgan couldn’t hear the music, the clapping or cheering as he absentmindedly stepped down. His pulse hammered in his ears. He was hardly able to understand the words the radiant vision in front of him spoke.

“May I have this dance, Mister Wickedly Handsome and Infamous?”

“You’re here,” Morgan whispered, taking his hand, eyes filled with awe as Aaron pulled him close, “You’re really here.”

“I’m really here,” Aaron repeated with far more certainty as they glided onto the dance floor, his eyes sparkling blue against the white and gold of his mask. They took their place at the center of the dancers; all paired and moving in time to the music in straight lines, stepping and twirling in unison. Morgan was familiar with the dance, somehow managing to keep up despite his inner crisis.

“I thought... I thought you were busy? You said it was important!” He was suddenly sick with concern that Aaron had ditched something he would regret later.

Aaron gave him a coy smirk. “I was, and it was. But fate—and by fate, I mean our meddlesome friends—intervened.”

Morgan pulled back to better read the expression on Aaron’s face, draping his arms over the man’s shoulders as they spun on the spot. “They did not.”

“Oh, but they did,“ he chuckled, “The care facility my mom is in was hosting a fundraiser. I’m... well I’m a bit behind on this month’s bill. Suspension doesn’t exactly pay well. So, management cut a deal with me to organize the event in exchange for some leniency.”

“You... let them guilt you into bailing?” Morgan gasped, “Aaron, I didn’t want you to leave something like that! Not for my sorry, besotted ass!”

Aaron barked a laugh. “I didn’t bail, Morgan. The fundraiser was... well ‘a huge success,’ doesn’t even cut it. East Side Meadows is now not only getting some much-needed new equipment, but also moving forward with plans for an additional wing. All due to a very generous donation...“ Their hands linked after a series of outward steps. “From House Fell.”

“Wait... what?” Morgan sputtered as Aaron pulled him back into his embrace.

Aaron nodded his head, gesturing for him to check his eight o’clock. He turned, spotting Daphne, Lexi, Shane and Frey all fixated on the two of them while they danced several rows over. Daphne gave him an ecstatic smile with a wink as she turned on the floor with Shane.

“She said you had the numbers all figured out on your drive,” Aaron said, “When you mentioned to her that I couldn’t make it, she reached out to Lexi and-”

“They took an interest in the charity projects stored on my private server,” Morgan grumbled, “Devious little shits.”

“They hardly took a single breath between the two of them while they were explaining,” Aaron said, laughing, “I think they enjoyed scheming together a little too much.”

“Frey included, judging by your wardrobe,” Morgan said, “Or did you just happen to find the perfect outfit to match mine at the thrift shopdown the road from your apartment?”

“It was waiting on my bed when I got home today, along with my invitation already marked as attending and a scribbled note from Daphne telling me to call her.”

“And here I thought my costume was going to steal the show.” Morgan ran his fingers over Aaron’s mask, making a point to continue along his jawline. The music slowed as the dance concluded and applause filled the room.

Aaron took Morgan’s hand. “I think we’re doing a fine job of that together.”

Morgan took a glance around, finding the assessment to be quite accurate. Every single person was staring. “Wow. You weren’t wrong about making them all jealous,” he said with a wicked grin, “I suppose we should give them what they came for.”

Aaron nodded in earnest and held him close, spinning and swaying on the spot. Morgan felt a thrill at the warmth between their bodies as he let himself relax against the wall of muscle that was his dance partner. The floor shimmered, sending sparks that danced like fireflies into the air, and the crowd surrounding them gasped. Aaron released a bemused laugh at the show of magic and Morgan smiled, glad the enchantment was doing its task of enrapturing his guests. Aaron lifted their hands over his head as the music reached a crescendo, sending him into a graceful spin, then pulled him in tightly once again. Morgan raised his brows in surprise with a nervous chuckle.

“Sorry.” Aaron grinned. “You mentioned your ‘besotted ass.’ Had to get a good look.”

“Officer Jones!” Morgan feigned shock, cracking a wide smile. “And to think, I was under the impression I’d have to make an effort to corrupt you.”

“Oh, I’m certain there’s still so much work to be done in that area.” Aaron leaned in with a hungry stare that made Morgan’s blood run hot. “Go on then. Corrupt me, Morgan le Fay.” He mouthed the last two syllables, and Morgan swooned. Hard.

As their faces inched close enough that he could feel warm breath on his skin, his eyes flitted down to Aaron’s plush lips.

No backing out tonight, damn it. If you had only worked up the nerve on the boardwalk, everything could’ve gone so differently. The stage is set. You’ve got your guy. As soon as the moment is right, kiss your boyfriend, le Fay. Change that story.

As the music shifted back to pulsing dance rhythms, they left the floor hand-in-hand to get a drink. They only reached the edge of the dance floor when they were immediately bombarded by Council members and their covens. All of them made introductions, showering them with congratulations for joining the OC and thanks for their invitations.

A group of younger witches, ones close to Aaron’s age and the age Morgan appeared, huddled toward them. They looked like what Morgan assumed groupies and die-hard fans of celebrities might as they stared wide-eyed with flushed faces. One of them with a lanky figure, short, strawberry-blond hair and freckles asked if they were “official” with an excited crack in their voice.

Morgan squeezed Aaron’s hand, turning to him with a smitten grin. “We are,” he said proudly, “For as long as he’ll put up with me.”

“Aww!” The witch sang adoringly, while several others groaned the same in disappointment.

They shook hands with each of them and thanked them for coming before pressing toward their destination.

“Sorry, probably going to get a lot of that tonight.” Morgan leaned into Aaron, catching a hint of that sandalwood and citrus.

“What? Putting up with you?” Aaron smirked as Morgan gave him a playful shove.

They slowly made their way to the bar, shaking hand after hand, and answering question after question as they went. The pleasant woman from the Council, Agatha, flagged them down over the banister of the lower walkway with a smile on her face. She gave Morgan a big hug when he went in for a handshake, scolding him for his attempt at propriety. She beamed up at Aaron to tell him she was glad he was doing well.

“In more areas than your health too, I see!” she added with a wink before going in to hug him too. She waddled away toward the balcony, promising to find them again later.

“Oh, she’s adorable,” Aaron said, staring after her.

Morgan nodded. “My first friend on the Council it seems. Other than Theresa, of course.”

Aaron reached up to cradle the back of Morgan’s neck with those crinkles in his eyes. “Look at you. My little politician.”

“Little?”

“My big, bad politician,” he corrected himself.

“Better.” Morgan didn’t care what he called him. It was the possessive that had him glowing.

They had almost reached the bar when someone shouted, “Morgan! Aaron! Over here!”

They turned to find the whole gang, stretched out in one of the private seating areas, surrounded by dim light. The second they approached, Shane pushed two drinks across the table toward them: one scotch whiskey on the rocks and one amber ale.

Morgan pressed into Aaron again, speaking loudly enough for all of them to hear. “Peace offerings. They’re afraid I might be mad at them for their villainous plot.” He gave them a fake scowl in accusation.

Aaron promptly snatched up the beer and plopped onto the couch beside Lexi.

“Hey!” Morgan shot him a look of pure betrayal. “I’m not done making them cower!”

Aaron patted the seat next to him with a chuckle.

Morgan rolled his eyes with a smile, dropping his act to join them. “A lot of work to be done, indeed.”

Aaron smiled sweetly, draping an arm over Morgan’s shoulders.

Shane leaned over the table. “So, how’s vacation treating you, buddy?” The awkward question earned him scowls from everyone but Aaron. “What?”

Daphne smacked Shane’s leg. “It’s not a vacation, you dit.”

Aaron laughed. “It’s getting better.” He gave Morgan’s shoulder a squeeze. “Had to see my therapist a few times, though. That always sucks.”

Lexi tossed her eyes upwards with a grimace. She was done up in a beautiful, green, satin dress and a peacock feather mask that Morgan also recognized as Frey’s work. “I told you not to go. You’re not even sure you want to go back to the force. Why bother?”

“Lex, we’ve been over this. It’s mandatory,” Aaron groaned.

She sighed, looking away. “If you stay. I say ditch those stupid pills, that creepy therapist, and the whole lot of them. Team up with your badass boyfriend. You’ll probably get more done in a week than you have in your entire career.”

Aaron gave Morgan a wary glance that sent guilt coursing through him. The last time Aaron had brought up trying to help the people of Etna had not gone well, and Morgan couldn’t blame him for his caution.

“You could, you know. We can do so much more than stick it to Esotech and the ECPD.” Morgan placed a hand on Aaron’s thigh with a gentle squeeze, trying to convey that he wasn’t going to repeat his mistake. “I know you can hold your own in a fight. You probably have connections I could never manage. And I guarantee I pay better.” He gave him a smirk that shifted into an endearing stare. “If that’s what you want.”

Aaron let out a breath in relief, meeting his eyes with slight wonder at the offer. “You know that’s what I want. I just...”

“You don’t have to decide anything right now.” Morgan shook his head, leaning into him. “No more shop talk.”

Aaron nodded, closing his eyes. He pressed a kiss to Morgan’s temple, whispering in his ear, “Thank you.”

Shane and Lexi pulled Aaron into a conversation about the fundraiser while Morgan listened contently, sipping his drink. Apparently, the donation had gone through before the event even began, and the “something” that was up that morning, pulling Aaron away from their conversation, was the discovery that their goal had been met twenty times over before they had even started collections.

Daphne rose from Shane’s side to claim the armchair beside Morgan, slanting toward him with a hushed tone. “You’re not upset with us, are you?”

“Of course not.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Best surprise ever.”

Theresa appeared outside their seating area with a huff. She was done up in a sleek, black gown. Red roses were tucked into her usual tight bun, and her mask was made of paper maché book pages. She kicked off her stiletto heels and dropped into the armchair across the table. “My, what a turn out. I don’t think we’ve ever had such a crowd for a Harkening before. You sure know how to throw a party. And that entrance—what a treat!”

“It was all Morgan’s idea!” Frey chimed, adjusting a nearby floral arrangement.

“It was.” Daphne nodded proudly. “Although... flames, Morgan? You had to one up us, didn’t you?”

“Guilty.” He grinned into his drink.

Aaron turned with a low growl, “I thought it was hot.”

Morgan pinched his lips together, nearly spitting his drink. Partly due to the pun. Mostly from the way Aaron’s tone and breath on his neck sent his blood racing downward.

Daphne cackled. “You two are gonna be awful together, aren’t you?”

“Probably,” Morgan said, still hot under the collar.

“Definitely,” Aaron said, gazing at him with fire in his eyes.

They chatted amongst themselves for a time, happy to have a small reprieve from mingling. Theresa eventually slipped her shoes back on and returned to making appearances. Daphne and Lexi then squealed over a song by the rising electro-pop group, Ursa Five, dragging Aaron and Frey out to the floor with them.

Aaron protested, clinging to Morgan and giving Lexi a look.

She insisted, “He gets you all night! You owe me at least one dance, Jones!”

Aaron turned to him with a sigh of defeat. Morgan mouthed the words, “All night?” with his eyebrows raised.

Aaron’s face broke into a goofy grin as he was carted away, and Morgan stared after him, his insides humming at the promise that smile had made.

He and Shane watched them in silence. Their friends threw their arms in the air and bounced around, laughing and twirling. Aaron was making a joke of the song. He danced like a fool and filled Morgan with laughter from afar, catching his eye and pointing his way through the crowd, making Daphne and Lexi scream in delight when he dropped his ass to the floor.

As Morgan smiled out at them, he couldn’t help but notice how his best friend shined tonight. Daphne was dressed to the nines, but this went deeper than her outward appearance. Her heart was lighter, the same as his.

“I don’t remember the last time she let go like this.” Morgan leaned back against the couch, spinning his glass in his hand. “I’m not sure she ever has. She looks so... free.”

Shane set his glass on the table, folding his hands and resting his elbows on his knees. “She follows your lead, man. When you hurt, she hurts. When you’re all riled up and ready for a fight, she’s at your back. Here you are, shining like the sun and, well...” He gestured to the dance floor.

“Yeah.” Morgan smiled sadly. “She didn’t get to live her life the first time around, you know. Tossed into the military at twelve years old. Left to die on the battlefield and forgotten in an unmarked grave at only twenty. Now she’s spent all these years having to deal with my shit. She deserves so much more.”

“Morgan...” Shane leaned in, shaking his head. “She doesn’t feel that way. Not at all. She says you gave her the greatest gift; bringing her here, giving her a body where she feels at home, training her. You literally gave her back her life. You gave her the chance to become who she is.”

He rolled his head to the side to look at Shane, who seemed incapable of peeling his eyes away from Daphne.

“You tried so hard to make us all think you were cold as ice,” Shane went on, finally meeting Morgan’s eyes, “And don’t get me wrong, you had me fooled for a couple years, there. You were a dick.”

Morgan laughed.

“But... you have this way of pulling people in. You make them believe in something better for themselves... when you’re not actively trying to push them away, at least.”

Morgan searched the man’s eyes but found no lie. Guilt hit him again.

How did you misjudge this guy for so long?

“Shane-”

“No take backs, man! Sorry!” Shane chuckled, interrupting Morgan’s attempt at an apology. “We all know you’re just a big softie now!”

Morgan shook his head with a grin. “I’ll let that go on account of the alcohol.”

“And all the warm fuzzies from Aar-”

“Don’t push it,” he snapped, still grinning. Morgan set his glass down and got to his feet, staring out at his friends again. “You hurt her, I’ll turn you into a door mouse and sic Glimmer on you.”

Shane sputtered on his drink. “Understood, boss.”