Free Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) by Dianne Nutting Page A

never seen him this assertive before.
    “I told you before, I can’t change their minds. This isn’t about them, it’s about you and me goddamn it. If you didn’t love me anymore, why didn’t you just say so?” Brendan’s voice cracked slightly.
    Harley’s eyes widened, her mouth dropped open. “I never, I….I still love you.”
    Brendan let go of Harley and paced away running his hand in his tidy hair.
    “Then why? Why all this? Why, Harley?” He paced back and grabbed her by the waist, pulled her to him. “I’ve missed you so much.” Brendan crushed his lips down on hers. Harley wrapped her arms around his neck, twining them into his hair. He deepened the kiss, unable to resist.
    “Harley!”
    Brendan and Harley pulled apart reluctantly. Kayla ran up the aisle toward them.
    “Harley, you have to get inside! There’s chaos!”
    “What do you mean? How is that related to us?”
    “Remember the uh, changes we made?”
    Harley stepped forward and spoke slowly, “Yes.”
    “They’re all back, but…” Kayla stopped and looked at Brendan.
    “It’s alright Kayla, spill it.”
    “Everything we took away has come back tenfold.”
    Harley felt sick. She placed a hand on her stomach.
    Brendan looked from one girl to the next. “What have you girls done?”
    “Uh, we, uh, made some changes to our dates.” Harley fessed up.
    “Yeah, I know.”
    Harley looked at him, “How did you know?”
    “His appearance changed a little bit while you two were dancing.” Brendan scratched the back of his head looking away.
    She took off her mask and looked up into his face.
    Brendan started to laugh.
    Harley put her hands on her hips. “And just what is so funny?”
    Brendan straightened up. “You can’t place any charms or spells on anything or anyone at the masquerade. It’s the one place nobody is allowed to do that.” A smile spread across his face. “But I can’t wait to see what happened to sweet mom and dad’s party.” A dark twinkle appeared in his eyes. “Come on you two let’s go see what terror has erupted at this tight ass party!” He rounded on them. “I can’t wait I’ve been waiting my whole life to see my dad’s face when this masquerade backfires on him. Do you know how many freaking manner lessons I had to go to, to attend this damn thing? Years! I don’t even like to dance! Well, that’s not true, but what kid wants to do the waltz!”
    Harley and Kayla were walking well behind him watching the craziness of Brendan unfold. Both girls giggling at the animated arm movements he was displaying as he spoke to everyone and no one. They finally reached the hall and it was true, chaos was everywhere. Brendan came up next to Jaden and looked up. Brendan gave a low whistle. He looked back at Harley who stood there transfixed on the chandelier. “Now THAT is what I call chaos.”
    Speared through the chandelier was the pig, dripping large amounts of blood onto the dance floor. Large crystals, usually ornate and sparkling, were now dripping with the dark blood and mud. Harrison and Thomas were propping a ladder up in the middle trying to get to their prize. Both men had large amounts of mud and caked blood all over their clothes. Their hair was covered in mud and the few teeth they still had jutted out from their bottom lip.
    Brendan’s father came up and tried to help the two boys but slipped in the blood pool below the pig. Brendan’s mother stood back and screamed a low cry. People were running from the hall, blood and dirt splattered over their beautiful clothes.
    “Well girls, shall we get the heck out of here?” Brendan put his arm out for Harley to take, which she did happily. The two walked out the front door with their heads held high and laughing.
    Jaden looked at the two and glanced at Kayla. “What do you suppose that was all about?”
    Kayla smiled. “I think they’re back together.”
    “Really?” Jaden smiled.
    “Yeah, it’s just a hunch since I found them like