Setting Out 25

The orchestra at the front of the ball room were playing music that Violet thought sounded a bit sinister for the party. But it was their choice she thought as she spotted a tall woman.

She was wearing a gorgeous silver-the-shoulder dress. Andrew saw her the same time as Violet and his face blanched. What was she doing here? He pushed his way past people to get to her. He and Violet reached at the same time. Violet smiled at him and then turned to the woman.
"Aren’t you going to introduce me Andrew?" she asked innocently
Andrew’s mouth opened and closed while he floundered for something to say. Finally he lamely said, "Okay".
"Violet, this is Star. Star this is Violet."

"Hi" Star smiled and held out her hand. Her eyes had a questionable glint in them, but Violet could guess why.
"Hello" Violet shook her hand.
"So how do you know Andrew?" Violet asked.
"Oh, I gave him a…reading once" she answered after glancing at Andrew’s panicked face.
"Oh really? What in?"
"Tarot" Star said after reading Andrew’s lips.
"Brilliant. Could you do mine?" Violet held back a grin as Star’s head snapped up and she saw panic.

"Come on Violet. It’s a party, our engagement party. Let’s leave that till another day"
"Yeah" Star agreed.
But Violet wanted answers, so she quickly gripped her bag.
"Oh, I have to refresh my make-up. Do you want to come with me?" she asked st5ar, knowing she wouldn’t refuse.

Alarmed, Star looked at Andrew while Violet picked up her hand and pulled her towards the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and Star leaned against the sink while Violet pulled out a lip-gloss.
She applied it then suddenly shoved it into her bag and turned to face Star.

"I know you don’t read tarot cards. You hypnotize people" Violet said coolly. She had to risk it. This was her only chance to wean the truth out of this woman.
Star stared at her, clearly surprised. She considered lying, but then…what was the point?
"Yes, I am" she sighed.

Violet breathed out quickly. She was going to talk.
"Why did you hypnotize me?"
"Because Andrew asked me to. Usually I only hypnotize people if it’s absolutely necessary, because it’s basically a way of messing with people’s minds, without any instruments. But he was desperate; I could see that in his eyes and his behaviour. Please don’t think I did it for money. I warned him. I told him that love, if it was strong enough could overcome the bonds that hypnotism has on a person’s mind. But it was his last chance to make you love him. So we went ahead and done it"

Violet swallowed back the tears.
"I kept on having these flashbacks, me and someone else, always me and someone else. But the other person was always blurry. The other day someone called Jasper came to see me. And he was saying that we used to be engaged. I didn’t believe him. But that night, all the flashbacks I had ever had, flicked through my mind like a slide show. Only the figure was no longer blurred, it was clear as day. And Jasper was in everyone. And now all the love I felt for him has come back. And it’s so strong star! It’s hard not to find him and just…I don’t know" Violet admitted. Star looked guilty and she moved towards Violet and wrapped her in a hug.

"I’m so sorry Violet. I didn’t mean to do this to you. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know" she murmured. Violet sniffed and nodded.

"We need to get back to the party" she announced, re-applied her lip-gloss and swept out, leaving Star to stare after her.

~*~*~*~*~*~
Andrew almost sighed in relief when Violet re-entered the ballroom. He slightly frowned when he didn’t see Star but wasn’t too worried. As long as they weren’t together. Violet brushed past him, giving him a tiny smile, but carried on. She walked p to her mum and whispered something in her ear. Then, to Andrew’s surprise, stood up on the stage and took the microphone from the opera singer.