For the Coven

1

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?" Lila hung back, tugging on Jung's arm.

He turned, and she was lost in the wonder of his eyes, the sweep of his shiny black hair. It was up in a ponytail, a sprout of black hair begging her to play with it. She pulled her hand away, waiting for his answer.

"Lila," he wrapped her arms around her waist and she lost her breath. "I don't want to be seen with anyone else."

It was a bazaar-style market, vendors selling food and handmade goods under a merry string of lights. A sliver of moon shone above them, and a sprinkling of stars was just visible above the tents. It was breathtaking, and she told him so.

He smiled. "I knew you'd like it. I can't believe you've never been to a night market before."

It was her turn to smile. "My parents would never let me out at night," she admitted. But now, as a freshman in college, she made her own rules. She bit her lip, wondering how far those rules would take her.

"Come on, meet my friends."

"Are you sure?" Lila protested, but she was already being dragged forward. The vendors seemed to smile at her as they went past, as if they approved of the match.

If only they knew.

"Matt. Xio. Leon. This is Lila."

She smiled as she tried to match names to faces, but her eyes kept drawing back to Jung. This is bad, she thought. This is really bad.

"Why don't we get some food?" Leon suggested.

They congregated near a stand, burning their mouths on steaming pork buns. Jung told a joke, and Lila lost herself as she watched him join in on the laughter. I have to tell him, she decided.

"Jung. Can we talk?"

He saw the seriousness in her eyes and stopped laughing.

She led him behind one of the tents. "I can't be with you."

"You don't like me?"

She turned away from him. "It's not like that. I can't be with anyone. Jung--I'm a witch."

A frown shadowed his face. "What does that mean?"

"I have to go through training when I turn eighteen. After that, I return to the coven. Alone."

He took her hand. "But Lila," he said gently. "You're not eighteen yet."

"But we'll have to break up!"

"Not tonight." He put his arms around her waist and kissed her. It was slow and sweet, everything she had dreamed from romantic movies.

Duty made her pull away "But--"

"I'm not asking you to give up what you are. But for now, be with me."

"What's the point?"

He smiled, making her knees quake. "I loved you from the moment I first saw you. Lila, I'll take whatever time I can get with you."

He leaned in for another kiss, and this time, Lila let herself kiss him back. This is worth it, she decided.

He slipped her hand in hers, and together, they rejoined the crowd.