“I didn’t even think that far,” Seth snapped. “I’m not sure what I was going to say or make her believe. I just wanted to get inside her head.”
Q rolled his eyes and pushed up his glasses. “Out of curiosity, did you get anywhere before she blacked out?”
Seth thought back, his head spinning a bit. “I felt her mind shifting, and her body was weakening under the spell. But something went wrong. Even though her mind and body were relaxed, I could feel her rapid pulse. Every vein in her body was throbbing.”
“Sounds like you caused her vascular system to go into overdrive,” Q commented. “That would explain why she collapsed. Her body couldn’t keep up with her heart.”
“Tough break, man.” Ky snorted. “She would have been fun to play with. Think about it! She could have been anything you wanted her to be!”
Seth thought on Ky’s words, guilt laying heavily on his shoulders. He didn’t wish to change Natti. He just wanted her, needed her. His stomach lurched, threatening to turn.
“It’s one mistake,” Q concluded. “So you didn’t get to her this time. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice on her. Work some of that magic, plant a few ideas, then try Thought Reformation another time.”
Seth refused to respond, silently swearing to himself that there won’t be a next time if he can help it.
“You’re just having an off day.” Ky slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him off his feet. Even the metal of the Jaguar groaned under the force. “Don’t let one girl get you down, dude. Things will look better.”
“Especially after our indoctrination,” Q agreed. “Just think, after this weekend, we’ll officially become full members of the Sons of Set! Dedicating our lives to creating chaos with the power that Set has blessed us with.”
The thought didn’t thrill Seth as much as it should have. His mind just continued to jump to Natti and what he had done.
“Yeah,” he exhaled, trying to sound more enthusiastic. “Come midnight Saturday, we’ll be indoctrinated into the order. That is, if one of us doesn’t end up dying during the ceremony.”
Natti grabbed her keys from the small table in the hall and pulled on her denim jacket over her lavender tank top. “I’ll be home before dinner, Dad! Promise!”
“All right!” her father called from the office. “Just please be careful!”
Natti had told Alexander about Mandy missing from school, leaving out some details like about the possible link to a cult and the other missing girls Wanda mentioned. She didn’t want to make her father any more concerned for her safety than he was, or he might not let her leave the house. It was starting to feel like she was keeping everything a secret lately.
“I’ll see you after the festival!” she called, more guilt pressing down on her.
She opened the door, rushed out to her Mini Cooper, and drove into the center of town. The streets were packed with cars. The license plates were mostly from California—probably local families and college students from around the district—but several were also from the surrounding states. Natti couldn’t believe the crowds streaming down the sidewalks. Children of all ages walked with their families. Teenagers traveled in packs.
She finally found a parking spot ten blocks from the fair grounds. Natti hopped out and started swimming with the crowd toward the town hall. From a distance, she could see the Ferris wheel, the seats painted with eyes drifting in the sky. As she inched closer, the grounds unfolded before her. They stretched out farther than a football field. The green grass was covered in exhibits, food carts, and rides. A banner with a portrait of a pharaoh’s sarcophagus drawn on its center had ‘The Pharaoh’s Festival’ scribed in golden, papyrus font. Natti barely spotted Kevin, Jen, and Wanda through the throng while they waited by the gate.
“Wanda!” Natti hollered, jumping past the bobbing heads.
Wanda smiled and waved for her to hurry. Natti picked up her pace, pushing her way forward. Jen was bounding on her toes. Her cola tumbled and tossed in her cup.
“Hur-ry up!”
Natti finally pushed through. “Sorry. Parking was a killer. So, where do you want to start?”
Kevin held up a map of the park and pointed. “The food! Where else? Come on!”
Natti perused the displays while Kevin led the way into the fair grounds. Tan tarps embellished with hieroglyphs and Egyptian paintings covered the booths. ‘Exhibits of Tombs Treasures’ sector greeted the visitors with scenic Egyptian watercolors and oils, painted pottery, metal works, and statuaries of Egyptian gods and structures. Lined up by the fence, Natti got a glimpse of the ‘Look Like an Egyptian’ sector. There were clothing, footwear, and wig vendors along with several different tattoo parlors and face painters.
Jen elbowed Natti in the rib. “We should totally get tattoos later! I’m thinking of getting a cobra or something.”
Kevin eyed Jen’s already ink-covered flesh. “And where would you put it?”