Fourth Floor Common Room, after classes

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Finishing dinner preparations had allowed Isabel a little time to process everything she'd learned during the day. Hopefully with the information she and Parker had given Professor Phale to be played out in a bit, he'd be able to stop Lana, Phoebe and Marie before they messed with anyone else's head.

But for now Isabel focused on dinner with friends and that meant cooking rice and setting out toppings to go with the huge pot of chili on the stove.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack smiled and kissed the top of her head, grateful for something to distract him. "I can do that." He washed his hands before snagging a chopping board, onions and a sharp knife. "I've never made chilli before, how many do you need?" he asked, already working on the first.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The chili's actually done," Isabel said, pointing at the pot on the stove. "It's just simmering. Those are just extra toppings. I've also got cheese, sour cream, cilantro. All good stuff."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Gotcha. That's why it smells so good." He grinned as he cut paper thin onion slices, blinking rapidly as the fumes started to get to him. "What's cilantro? It sounds vaguely obscene."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Just an herb, it goes good with chili," she said. "So how was movie night? Is Cedric okay?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He stopped chopping, staring down at the knife. "No. He's not. Something took his magic. It's gone."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You mean Lana did," Isabel said, banging dishes onto the counter. "Parker and I have been researching. She took a book from Special Collections. She's possessed. And she's been casting spells on half the student body. And if she didn't Phoebe or Marie did."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He jumped when she banged the dishes, and just missed slicing his finger open. "What?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Lana's the descendent of some witch who was burned at the stake with her two friends," Isabel explained. "Somehow Lana, Phoebe and Marie got possessed by their spirits. Right now they're on the usual evil quest for sacred artifacts and unlimited power."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It's not Lana?" Jack bent his head, trying to figure this out. "It's someone possessing her. A magic evil someone. Are you sure?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'd put money on it," she nodded. "That's what got Parker and I talking, what she did to you? That's just not her. It didn't make sense."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack was silent for several minutes, returning to slicing the onions, absent and automatic. "There's something else that doesn't make sense," he finally said, not looking at Isabel. "I spoke to Lana - or whoever it was - this morning. She made me suspect--" He swallowed. "--that Sam and Cedric set me up. That Sunday was their fault."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

And that was almost enough to make Isabel forget any promises to let Mr. Phale handle it. "Damnit. Jack no way. She was screwing with your head. They'd never do that to you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"That's what I keep telling myself," he said hoarsely. "They wouldn't do that, but it feels so real." He lifted his head to look at Isabel, all his doubt and confusion plain on his face. "It hurts, Izzy."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel forgot all about Lana and focused on Jack. "It's not real," she said quietly. "I promise you. It's not real. They love you. They're hurting for you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He hung on her words, grasping after them like a lifeline. "I know. I think I know. I'm trying to believe it. I'm going to believe it," he said stubbornly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I told you I'd never lie to you," Isabel reminded him. "Especially about something like this."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know." He flattened his palms on the counter, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Right. It's not real. No matter how real it feels. I just have to remember that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You do. But I'll remind you if you need it," she promised. "And it'll all be over soon."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It will?" he asked hopefully.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel nodded, reaching out and squeezing his hand, "Parker and I talked to Mr. Phale. He's going to stop it."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and closed his fingers around hers. "Okay. So we just hang on until then. I can do that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll help," she promised. "Especially in class tomorrow."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He'd forgotten Lana was in their class. "That," he paused, took a breath, "would be good. Because if she tries something, I'm not going to care that it's Lana's body."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"She won't. Not there, not with that many witnesses," Isabel said, hoping like hell she was right. "But if she does, I'll deal with her. She's hurt you enough."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Not if it means she hurts you instead," he said, almost glaring at her.