Lunch Break

This chapter establishes multiple recurring characters that will be featured later. It also explores the occult community a little.

(Various)

The clock finally hit the time for class to let out and Tanis already had her things packed before the instructor had even finished talking. It turned out that she was not the only one either; that Friday fever was already kicking in and it was only lunch time. She draped her book bag on her shoulder and swiftly stepped to the classroom door where her study partner was waiting for her.

            “Hey, Kira,” she said, making small talk, “You going out to lunch today?”

            “Nah, I have a class in twenty minutes.”

            “Jeez, that’s s****y.”

            “That’s the way I was scheduled this semester,” Kira sighed. “Can you believe we already have the first exam coming up?” she continued.

            “No kidding, the semester barely started. You want to study over the weekend?”

            “I don’t have time, I gotta get ready for the rush this weekend.”

            “Oh, so you’re a sorority girl....” Tanis asked, “Which one?”

            “Zeta Pi Tau; my roommate and I are both going for it.”

            “Well, good luck to you; I heard Zeta Pi Tau is nearly impossible to get into.”

            “It is?”

            “Apparently they’re super selective about their membership. Only up to six students are accepted every year; always in pairs.”

            “I guess I don’t know if that’s weird or not. Maybe Ellery and I will get lucky with it.”

            “See you Monday then, I guess.” The girls parted ways and Tanis continued over to the commons to get herself a meal. Before entering the building, she stopped by a picnic table where some of her friends were sitting and chatting. They seemed so caught up in their conversations that she was never even noticed until she set her bag down.

            “Hey Tani, what’s up?” her friend, Hannah, asked when she finally saw her.

            “Not much. How are you guys?”

            “Oh, the usual,” Hannah noted, “Ash thinks he’s a superhero now because he learned how to grow flowers.”

            “I never thought I was a superhero!” Ash protested.

            “Don’t lie to yourself, Ash, you were acting pretty high and mighty over that desert lily you grew.”

            “Shut up, Aram, nobody asked you!”

            “That’s cute, Ash,” Tanis teased, “You got a cute forest nymph you’re going to grow flowers for?”

            “Really, Tanis,” Ash groaned, “You too.”

            “Hey, I won’t lie, I’m impressed, but if you really want to get the ladies, you need to turn a cactus into your own personal suit of armor.”

            “You do realize that I’m not a full-blood elemental, right?”

            “You don’t need to be,” Tanis assured him, “You just need believe you can do it. I’m going to go grab some food, I’ll be back.”

            Tanis left the table and returned a few minutes later with a sizeable sub sandwich and a bottle of root beer.

            “Wow, that’s a hell of a sandwich,” Aram noticed.

            “I didn’t have breakfast today.”

            “So are you coming to the meeting tonight?” Hannah asked.

            “I can’t. Dr. Keaton wanted me to come to his office later. Apparently he has a book he wants to share with me about ‘familiar occultism in prehistoric North America.’”

            “What the hell class are you taking?” Aram wondered.

            “Anthro 313: Intro to Occult Archaeology.”

            “People actually take that class seriously?” Ash asked.

            “Why not? It’s not exactly like you can say it isn’t legit.”

            “Well, yeah, but how many people would actually believe that stuff other than those of us who are already a part of it?”

            “Why are you asking me, Ash? I’m not an expert in the Occult, I just know about it.” Tanis turned her attention back to Hannah, “What are you doing tonight anyway?”

            “The wonder twins are trying out some kind of dreamcatcher spell or something,” Aram interrupted.

            “There’s never been any evidence that Native American dream catchers really work as protective charms,” Hannah explained. “Mara and I found a spell that, when applied to a dreamcatcher, will defend against incubi feeding rituals.”

            “Really? And who’s going to be your Guinea pig to test this little spell of yours?” Tanis inquired. Hannah, Aram and Ash all stared at her intently. “Wha�"oh hell no!” she exclaimed and pointed a finger at Aram, “I’ve had more than my share of sleep paralysis from those two soul suckers; I think I’ll take a pass for a month or two... or three.”

            “Please, Tani,” Hannah insisted, “Since when are you afraid of testing out our spells? It’s not like we’ve ever tried anything that might hurt you.”

            “I’m not afraid of testing your spell, honey, I’m afraid that it won’t work. Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to wake up in the middle of the night with a succubus standing over you and not being able to move... or breathe?”

            “I don’t think it will be a problem, Tanis, Mara and I have been studying this spell all week. Everything is incredibly simple, it will just be a matter of making sure all the words are pronounced right, and it’s all in Latin so that’s pretty much child’s play.”

            Tanis sighed heavily and looked down at her lap, “Fine. But if that spell doesn’t work, you better keep Mara in control.” She returned her gaze upward and switched her attention to Aram, “Speaking of: where is your better half anyway?”

            “Out getting lunch for herself so she doesn’t go crazy on you tonight, just in case,” Hannah answered.

            “That’s... relieving.” Tanis hesitated, “Which guy is she eating out this time?”

            “No idea,” Aram said.

            “Man, your sister is really hitting home on selling herself as a w***e isn’t she?” Ash said to him, “She’s only a sophomore and probably already broke a record or two. By the end of the year she’s going to be known as the easiest girl on campus.”

            “HEY!” Aram shouted at him, “I understand the reputation she’s setting for herself, Ash, but she’s still my sister; could you at least talk about her with a little more respect.”

            “Sorry, dude, I was just trying to�"”

            “We get it, Ash,” Tanis said, “but you do come off as kind of an a*s sometimes, especially about women, it’s no wonder you’re still single.”

            “F**k you, Tanis.”

            “Like I said; you’re an a*s.” She took a bite of her sandwich and changed the subject with Hannah, “Did you find any new recruits for the Coven yet?”

            “Maybe,” Hannah answered, “But it will probably be difficult to convince her,”

            “Who?”

            “See that girl over there,” she subtly pointed out a very closed off girl sitting alone at a bench several yards away.

            “The redhead?” Tanis asked.

            Hannah nodded in confirmation, “Mara confirmed that she’s a selkie.”

            “I’ve heard that word before, but refresh me.”

            “Basically, she’s a shapeshifting sea nymph. In Celtic lore, they are seals�"or sometimes other sea creatures�"who come on land and take the form of humans in order to seek companionship.”

            “Isn’t she a little far from the sea?” Tanis noted.

            “They’re shy creatures. Most spend their lives craving human companionship but will never seek it out. The further they are from the sea, the less comfortable they are.”

            “Is she a student?”

            “She seems to be. I’ve seen her go to classes already and studying.”

            “So what does she turn into to be so far from water?”

            “My best guess is a swan. She wears a white feather around her neck and I know that some folklore describe selkies as swan maidens. How about you, did you come across anyone?”

            “So my trigonometry study buddy is rushing this weekend for Zeta Pi Tau. I’ve heard some interesting things about that sorority; the most common description I’ve heard of its members is that they are all ‘blood sucking fiends.’ I doubt they’re actually vampires, but if they are, it might not be terrible to have some representation in the Coven.”

            “Are you kidding me?” Ash interrupted, “The last thing we need in this town is more vampires.”

            “What do you mean?” Tanis asked.

            “You’ve heard of Red Omen right?”

            “One of your death metal bands, Ash...” Tanis suggested, raising an eyebrow.

            “Try more like evil mob,” Ash said. He received no response, “Good God. The vampire mafia that runs half of Vegas.”

            “Does it look like we walk the Strip and gamble every night, Ash?” Hannah asked.

            “Whatever.” Ash finished, “I need to go to class.”

            “I’m not sure your head will fit through the door, but have at it,” Tanis teased.

            “Ha. Ha.” Ash left the table and stomped off while the conversation continued without him.

            “How can you stand that guy?” Tanis said to Hannah.

            “I’m not anymore or a fan than you are, just remember that without him, neither of us would even know about our little club.”

            “Might be time for a regime change then. You and Mara do way more than I’ve ever seen from Ash.”

            “That’s because we’re actually witches; Ash is only in the club because he’s a member of the community.”

            “Keep telling yourself that, Hannah. I need to go to class. See you tonight, I guess.”

            “I thought you weren’t coming?” Hannah asked.

            “I meant the dorm, Hannah.”

            “I know, I’m just giving you s**t. See you later.”

            Tanis stood up after finishing her meal and returned her tray at the garbage can next to the building before walking off into the depths of the campus to her next classroom.