Tessa Ignites

"Tessa! We're going to be late dear. Hurry up." Jasper tapped his foot on the marble floor on the foyer as he looked at the Grandfather clock. Pushing back his curly dark hair off his forehead, Jasper looked at Teddy. "Will you go drag your sister down here please?"

Puckering her lips in the mirror, Tessa slid on her red lip gloss and shook out her dark curly hair. "I'll be down in a goddamn minute! You think a face like this grows on trees." As she looked down over herself, she straightened her form fitting black dress as she tugged nervously on her black and silver pearl necklace while she took one last look at herself.

She was almost thirteen now and this was the first adult social gathering she had ever attended at her Order. These were the days when the families of the witching world introduced their children hoping for them to find their someday mates or to at least like someone enough that a future marriage could be arranged. 

Alliances started early among the Savannah elite and tonight promised to be particularly interesting because a new family had recently arrived from Morocco with five sons close to Tessa's age. Jasper Mason, the Orders leader, was hoping that at least one of them may be a suitable partner for his only daughter someday.

Teddy stood leaning against the doorway as he looked over his twin sister. Running his hand through his curly dark hair, Teddy leaned his head to the side. "We're all waiting, you know."

Tessa shook out her hands and blew out a nervous breath as she turned to face him. "Do we really have to go to this thing?"

As an amused smile curled up on his lips, the always relaxed Teddy winked his green eye at her. "Time to find you a mate, Tess. You're nearly an old maid."

She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "No fucking way. I don't even believe in that old timey bullshit."

Teddy chuckled to himself through his nose as he pointed at her. "That's it. That kind of talk will surely sweep any potential husband right off his feet."

Pushing her feet into her high-heeled shoes, Tessa flipped Teddy her middle finger nonchalantly. "This is one tradition that needs to die."

As Teddy looked at himself in the mirror, he straightened his tie. "As much as I agree with you, it IS a tradition Tess. It's just a party, no one said you have to get married tonight. No one will even expect that of you for at least another ten years or so."

While he and Tessa walked down the hall, Tessa said, "But they will expect it. I wish I was human; you know they get to pick who they end up with."

Teddy took Tessa's arm as they came down the stairs. "Yes, that's true. But they often pick poorly, and then they have to start all over again. Your mate was hand-picked for you by the Fates, it's meant to be."

Tessa shook her head as Teddy opened the front door for her. "What a load of shit! No one's going to tell me how I'm going to live my life, especially not some crusty old sky wizard."

Teddy shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You know, some day you're going to get struck down by lightning for your blasphemy."

Looking up at the sky, Tessa put up her arms. "Well now would be the perfect fucking time you sons of bitches. Just put me right out of my misery."

Meeting their parents on the other side of the street, Jasper put his arm around Tessa's shoulder as they walked across the park. "Are you excited my dear?"

She shook her head no. "Absolutely not, I can't believe you're making me do this, Daddy. This is just sick. It's like one of those livestock auctions they have out in the country."

Jasper laughed out loud as he nodded to the people walking by. "I just want to introduce you to some people. As soon as you meet everyone, you're free to go hide in my office for the rest of the night if you want." 

He pulled her closer to his side and kissed the top of her head. "I just wanted to show off my number one girl. All those guys come in there bragging on their pathetic daughters, but they haven't met anyone like you before Tess. I guarantee it. You're going to run this whole show one day and, believe me when I tell you that this world is a hell of a lot easier when you have someone loyal and strong by your side."

As the doorman opened the door for them, Tessa's heart began to pound against her chest. Fanning her face, Tessa blew out a slow breath through her mouth. 

Pausing before they entered the ballroom, Jasper took Tessa's hand and looked down at her while she tugged at her pearls, then he swatted her hand away. "Don't you show them any weakness, Tessa Mason. These people are vultures, and they'll use any tactic to get the upper hand with you. Don't let them intimidate you." 

Realizing how much he was putting on Tessa's shoulders at such a young age, Jasper sighed out a breath of regret as he put his hand on her cheek. "Sometimes I have to remind myself that you're a kid. You and Teddy just act so grown up. This lifestyle isn't an easy one and I just want you both to be prepared for the realities of it."

Tessa nodded and said, "I know that Daddy. You don't have to worry about us. We can handle ourselves."

Smiling a proud grin, Jasper pushed Tessa's long hair back of her shoulder. "You belong here, Tess. These folks are just spectators in your world wanting to see you fail. Don't give them the satisfaction. Burn the whole world down and kill them all if you have to, but you show them that you're not the bitch to be messed with. Ever! You understand me darlin?"

A sneaky smile curled up on her lips as a spark flashed across her green eyes. "Perfectly."

Jasper nodded to the doorman and as he opened the door. "It's showtime, darlin."

As everyone stopped and turned their attention towards the Mason family as they entered the ballroom, Tessa lifted her chin and put on her most stoic bitch face as she stared them all down while her father escorted her to the head table. 

When she sat down in her chair, Jasper pushed it in then leaned down into her ear. "That was perfect." 

Shaking out her napkin before she put it across her lap, Tessa sighed as the pounding in her chest grew stronger. Feeling the prickly weight of eyes on her, Tessa's scanned the room. Shaking her head at her own paranoia, Tessa took a drink of water then placed the glass back on the table. 

Throughout dinner, Tessa continued to feel like she was being watched, although she refused to give whoever it was the satisfaction of her looking for them again. It was a rule from her father's playbook.

Jasper had two children and one on the way, but he always knew it would be Tessa to take over as head of the Order someday. 

Teddy was a brilliant and charming young warlock but was unpredictable when it came to matters of warfare. His warlock came and went as he pleased, leaving him unprotected. 

Tessa, however, was always ready to go. She had no hesitations when it came to decision-making. She was sure of her actions, whether good or bad, and was always ready to fight. Her devious nature and sharp tongue made her the perfect witch to take Jasper's place one day.

"Would you like to dance, sugar?" Jasper knelt beside Tessa and took her hand. "Let me show you off for a few more minutes then you can take off. Alright?"

Tessa looked at him and grinned a less than enthusiastic tight-lipped smile. "Sure Daddy."

As Jasper led her to the dance floor, he was stopped by the head of the new family. "Jasper Mason, it's my honor to meet you at last." The tall dark-haired man put out his hand to Jasper.

Jasper nodded his head then shook his hand. "Mr. Idrissi. Welcome to Savannah."

The Moroccan born wizard smiled down at Tessa. "This must be the Tessa I've heard so much about. She's just as beautiful as everyone said she would be."

Jasper put his hand on Tessa's back as he nudged her closer. "Yes, it is. Tessa this is Omar Idrissi, his family just arrived here from Morocco this week."

Omar took Tessa's hand then kissed the back of it. "It is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful young woman."

Tessa raised her arched brow and gave him a quick grin. "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Idrissi." 

Without letting her hand go, Omar gently pulled her closer to his table. As his son stood from his seat, Omar said, "I'd like to introduce you to my youngest son, Rafik."

Tessa gasped back a soft breath as her eyes met Rafik's. His dark brown eyes smiled at her as he stepped around the table while the sultriest side grin curled up on his face. 

Omar held out Tessa's hand to Rafik. As he slid his fingers onto hers, a slow warm wave moved through her hand and her heart fluttered causing her to take a hitched breath. 

At barely fifteen, the strikingly handsome boy rivaled any Hollywood heartthrob with his sun kissed tawny face and black curly hair. His plump lips reminded Tessa of a mug of hot cocoa, and she found herself licking her lips as she imagined if they tasted as sweet.

Looking deep into her eyes, his lips found her knuckle and softly kissed it. "I'm happy to meet you," Rafik breathed across the back of her hand in the most melodic accent she had ever heard. 

As her fingers and toes began to tingle, Tessa quickly took back her hand and grinned arrogantly to disguise her thoughts. "Likewise." Looking up to her father, she motioned towards the dance floor with her head. 

Taking the hint, Jasper put his hand on her shoulder. "Well, I promised this lovely lady a dance, so if you'll excuse us. Have a good time this evening. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to let me know."

After shaking Omar's hand again, Jasper put his hand on Tessa's back and led her away. "Hmm!" he hummed. "I do believe I saw sparks flying between you and that young man."

As Tessa took her father's hand and started moving to the music, she sighed and shook her head. "Don't you go getting any ideas about that Daddy."

While Jasper glanced back to the table, he met Rafik's smiling face. "Oh, I don't know, Tess. Don't be so hasty. Sometimes you find love in the most unlikely places."

As he watched Rafik slowly make his way to them, a toothy smile curled up on Jasper's lips. "Baby, these things are political. We have to collect all our pieces before we can play the game. You're going to need powerful allies as you get older, the Idrissi family is almost as old as ours. They have a lot of power in that part of the world. Don't turn your nose up at it. You may need them for something someday. Besides, they're the best potion makers on the planet. It would be a smart match."

Tessa closed her eyes and whispered to her father as she felt the weight of gravity pull her from behind as Rafik came closer. "Goddamn you. Thanks for the warning you turncoat."

The soothing voice moved across the back of her neck like a warm breeze. "May I dance with your daughter please?"

"Why yes, of course." Jasper pulled away from Tessa as Rafik slid around to take his place. Putting his hand on Rafik's shoulder, Jasper looked back to Tessa and winked. "Have fun you two."

Rafik slid his hand to the small of Tessa's back, while his other traveled down her arm. Wrapping his fingers around hers, Rafik kissed her hand before he placed it over his heart. 

As the song Sleep Walk began to play, Rafik looked down at Tessa's face and pulled her closer to his chest. "Do you like this song?"

As a surge of warmth took over her body, Tessa's olive skin suddenly flushed with color. Tessa felt herself melting into his arms as she gazed into his brown eyes that shimmered with a hint of amber. "Yes, actually it's one of my favorites. It's just so dreamy."

While his dark eyes darted back and forth between hers, Rafik smiled as the words dripped from his perfect mouth. "That's because it's our song, Tessa. They made it for you and me. Whenever you hear it, know that I'm thinking of you fondly."