How Charming

Bryson paced around his room in frustration, the play had ended, and Bryson returned back to his room, and everything was wrong. Viola kept acting strange and Bryson saw that she kept looking longingly at the strange man.

He did something to her and it’s still affecting her. He thought. What is going on? Suddenly realizing something Bryson raced over to his tablet. Turning on the communicator, he made a call.

After a few seconds of ringing the device turned on, before him was the horned Anthousai and his personal magic teacher, Primrose.

“Bryson? Why are you calling? Aren’t you on vacation?” She asked bewildered.

“It’s important, I- wait, where are you?” Bryson asked in confusion noticing her strange background. She seemed to be inside some sort of massive palace, but it wasn’t anywhere inside Coldwater manor, too much marble.

“Uh…” Primrose looked around nervously, “Nowhere.”

“Right…” Bryson shook his head, now was not the time, he had more pressing matters to attend, “I don’t have time! I have a major issue over here!”

“At your vacation home?” She asked in surprise.

“Well, it’s more of a hotel, but yes.” Bryson nodded frantically.

“It’s a hotel? The Coldwaters are staying in a hotel?” Primrose asked in disbelief.

“Well we own the hotel- wait no, this isn’t important.” Bryson said shaking his head, “Something is wrong with Viola!”

“Viola, your older sister?”

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know, but she isn’t acting like herself!” Bryson explained frantically.

Primrose furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, “And this matter is pressing enough for you to call me? Isn’t she seventeen, don’t humans tend to act differently at that age.”

“She has some sort of spell casted on her.” Bryson said irritated.

“Oh, okay, that is an issue. Do you know how this happened?” She asked as she straightened up.

“Maybe, earlier today I encountered a strange man who seemed to be casting magic.” Bryson answered.

“What did he do?”

“He did something that made it hard for people to notice him. Also, he surrounded himself with women that had the same magic on them as Viola does right now. The magic was a bit weird.” Bryson said recalling the strange event that he had witnessed at the buffet hall.

“Huh.” She said as she thought for a moment, “Okay, so this man used some sort of illusion spell to hide his presence and it seems that he used some sort of charm spell.”

“A what?”

“A charm spell, it makes the target fall under the influence of the caster, are these women still charmed?” She asked.

“No, it seemed like once he left the spell ended.” Bryson answered.

“And what of your sister?”

“Still under influence.”

“How long ago now?”

“Almost two hours now.”

“And she still under the influence, even though he’s nowhere to be found?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Oookayy. This may be a problem.” She said a lot more alarmed, “What seem to be the affects?”

“Not sure, but it seems that she is… attracted to him.” Bryson said making a face, “and likely listening to his orders. I don’t know for sure, but I think I arrived right after she got charmed and she stopped me from getting to him. I couldn’t even see him; she blocked my way.” Bryson explained further.

“Was he working alone?”

“Yes, well. There is another person, man named Gallagher.” Bryson said thinking of Ben Gallagher, “Though I don’t think he is working with the charmer caster.”

“Why’s that?”

“Viola stopped him from following as well, it seemed like Gallagher was going after the man for some reason.” Bryson said, “Still, he is also up to something.”

“Okay, then we’ll worry about him later, what’s important is the man and your sister?”

“Why are you suddenly so on edge?”

“She’s a Coldwater, basic charm spells shouldn’t work on her. Not to mention that usually charm spells wear off quickly. But if it hasn’t disappeared yet then there may be a chance that this could be permanent. Meaning that you’ll have to get rid of it yourself.” Primrose said solemnly.

“Alright, then what do I do?” Bryson demanded.

“Where’s your sister now?”

“She’s suppose to be in her room, but if the charm is in affect and the man gave her any orders then…” Bryson’s voice trailed off as he had an unsure look on his face.

“Bryson.” Primrose called out his name, “You’ll deal with this, don’t worry. Your sister will be safe.” She assured.

Bryson gave a nod of the head as he seemed to be contemplating something.

“Right now you need to watch her, make sure nothing happens. Call me again if something comes up and good luck.” Primrose instructed.

“Right.” Bryson nodded as he turned off his tablet. All right, Viola let’s see what you’re up to. He thought as he raced out the door.

***

Lila Frost and Nico Reese strolled across the nighttime streets heading back to their rooms, holding hands. Their date had been nice and the two joked with one another as they walked.

The hotel at this point was quiet and save for a few streetlights and illuminated windows there was very little else. Most were either already asleep by now or still out enjoying themselves.

“This is nice, I’ve barely had anytime to have fun these past couple of years.” Lila said.

“Me neither, being a royal guard means a lot of work.” Nico said nodding his head.

“Well, that and working for Bryson.” Lila joked.

“You say that, but in comparison to the others, he’s not the worst boss to be under.”

“True, but he is very easily irritated. Honestly, it’s sort of cute.” Lila said with a smile.

“I can’t deny that.” Nico agreed with a chuckle, looking up he raised his eyebrow in surprise, pointing up at the roof of the hotel, “Is that a person?”

Lila turned up towards where Nico was pointing, squinting she saw figure exit out from their balcony and started climbing their way up to the roof.