#evilisa

Elisa set out Stefan’s outfit along her couch, inspecting it and ultimately approving. The burgundy button up was a far cry for his usual black, but she thought that her parents might appreciate the color. If he hated it, then she had a charcoal shirt in reserve, but he rarely complained.

She set his suits with her luggage for the others to bring down to her rental. It was bound to snow the whole way and she still couldn’t believe that she was taking the time to drive, but she wasn’t going to subject her pretty little pet to an airport. He really didn’t seem very fond of crowds, and she could relate.

Technically, she should have brought Thomas or Kai to this event. They’d be more suited to the polite small talk and long speeches, but Stefan had come so far and this seemed like an important part of his grooming. Plus, she’d just gotten use to his company. She was fond of his sincerity and his shy awkwardness was endearing.

Besides that, people would ask too many questions of the others. If she brought a well off man she’d be hassled about him for months or years. She’d hear no end of nagging if she brought Thomas around and he’d earned a bit of a break after their last soiree.

She finished getting herself ready, putting on brown leggings, and white dress and a sweater over top. She tied it off with a belt so she wouldn’t lose her figure entirely and then inspected herself in the mirror before deciding that it was acceptable. She really flourished in the spring and summer, but winter fashion was acceptable.

Kai was quite excited - which wasn’t really any surprise. For the first time in a while, he’d had a far better reason to not sleep so well, and he was happy for it.

In the end, he’d decided to not come by on his motorcycle, and had rented a car instead. The guy he’d rented it from had been...well, suffice to say that the dealership had had bars on all of the windows, as had every building nearby. The car, though, was both quite nice and quite old: the dealership specialized in European imports - rentals, sales, and repairs - and Kai’d secured an old Bristol 411 from them, built in the early seventies. He felt pretty confident that it would make it through a day around him with no problems - particularly that it’d been retrofitted with a standard transmission, in place of the automatic. He’d breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that.

Only now did it occur to him that the new ferris wheel at the Pier was just that - new. Well...I’ll be a long way away from it...it’ll...it’ll be fine. They probably haven’t changed much over the years anyway, right? What’s the worst that could happen? The doors’ll stay shut like they do in elevators sometimes, and I’ll be stuck in there with her...which really isn’t that bad anyway. The fire department were always quite understanding.

Elisa and Kai had texted back and forth a bit to set up the specifics of time, and Kai pulled up outside of Elisa’s apartment complex about fifteen minutes early, in a button-up shirt (dark red) and a pair of slacks (charcoal), and still his leather motorcycle jacket. It didn’t feel like a fancy enough occasion to really justify a suit jacket, so he’d just gone for the standard.

Shutting of the engine, Kai pulled out his phone and shot off a text to her, grinning out of the window to the sunlight - this was a very nice-looking day, sunny and a bit warm without really risking excessive heat, and he was pretty sure that the day’s activities would far outstrip the weather in terms of likeability.

[Text] Hey, got here a little early, heh [Text] I’m outside whenever you’re ready - no rush [Text] The kind of dark-grey two-seater. Decided not to go for the motorbike today, heh

A package arrives the day after Christmas containing wrapped gift and a message. 

Thomas, 

I'm so sorry that i was required at my home for Christmas. I'll be back before the New Year and I trust that we can celebrate properly then. Until that time, I hope you'll enjoy this gift. I'm certain you'll look fantastic in it when I see you next.

XOXO,

Elisa

The present contains a tie, cuff links, and kerchief, all in the same pattern and silken material.

Elisa was quite pleased with the selection of books she’d found for Stefan. Who knew that magic books were so cheap or that they could be found on the internet? 

There were several books in the stack. She hadn’t actually read them but their titles were promising. Magic for Beginners looked like a book of anecdotes, instructional stories probably. Presto! Magic for the Beginner probably had some useful spells. Stefan had said that he was still learning to cast things, right? She’d also found an anthology of magical creatures! Stefan was sure to be impressed!

She had one of her minions drop the box off at Stefan’s office. She wished that she could have delivered it personally, but she had to leave town well before Christmas day. Still, she left him with a note. Hopefully that would be enough.

Stefan,

I hope that you are doing well. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to bring you along this time. I do hate the thought of you spending Christmas alone, but I’ve included some reading to keep you company until I’m back. I’ll be home by New Years, don’t get too cold without me.

Merry Christmas,

Elisa

[Text] Stefan You will need the January 5-8 off work. See to it.

Elisa was actually really looking forward to this trip. She hadn’t traveled just for the fun of it in forever and she almost never had company unless she was seeing someone. Technically, she was seeing several people, Thomas included, but it still felt different. He was still new and exciting. This felt like an adventure.

She looked over the various bags she’d packed with pursed lips. She knew that there were a lot of them, but she really couldn’t seem to narrow down the cases at all. She needed to be prepared for anything. Sure, she planned on shopping in Vegas too, but another suitcase could be purchased, or they could just leave a few things in the hotel room, she wasn’t picky.

The past week had been spent preparing. She’d spent as much time with her other pets as possible. She didn’t want for them to feel neglected with her leaving and she didn’t want to lose her power over them either. Stefan had been over as often as he could manage, but she refrained from making him miss work. She wanted to soak in as much energy as she could before being alone with Thomas for so long, but she knew that she needed to be careful. What she’d taken would have to be enough.

Members of her following came in and grabbed suitcases, taking one in each hand before forming a line to the door and then the lobby. She donned a pair of large round sunglasses and waited for him there in. Her dress was simple, but it drew the eye and she soaked in the adoration of her admirers as she waited for her prince to come and fetch her.

[Text] You’re entertaining me on Halloween. [Text] We’re staying in, but you’ll need clothes for the morning

Elisa gave it another few days to make sure that all of her packages arrived before. When the metaphorical dust settled, and she’d gotten rid of most of the flowers and had a corner dedicated to her pile of chocolates, she had to admit that more gifts weren’t coming.

Which meant that a few of her chosen few hadn’t sent them. It was disheartening to realize that she hadn’t met her goals as easily as she’d hoped, but she had wanted a test of her progress, and this was as easy a scale as any.

She knew that Thomas would probably be more resistant to her magic than most. She should have been dosing him regularly, but she’d gotten caught up with her other preparation and allowed several weeks to pass. 

Of course one session wasn’t going to be enough. What was she thinking? She needed to be more focused this time She couldn’t let herself get distracted. She’d been trying to walk a lin, to not get too caught up in his own magic, but she saw now that she needed to take the plunge and overwhelm him in experience. She could trail off a bit once he belonged to her. She could protect herself then. Now was not the time for caution.

[Text] I need you.

There. It was time to finish what she started.