Camp Mirror Lake

I snuck into Ethan's cabin an hour before dinner.

Nate was already waiting for me. Before I could do anything he slammed me up against the wall and kissed me. It was urgent and sweet and needy. He deepened the kiss and I moaned into his mouth. My hands were trapped between us, but I gripped his shirt pulling him into me.

My head was spinning in bliss. I missed him.

"I missed you too, my little butterfly," he mumbled into my hair when we finally pulled apart.

I looked at him in shock.

He chuckled low and sensual. "I've been hearing your thoughts since I kissed you yesterday, just like you can feel my feelings. I'm not even sure how it started happening."

I smiled up at him. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Don't even think about it!" came a sardonic voice in the door way. "I am not watching my sister get down and dirty while we still have to escape! So, what's the plan, my man?"

Nate growled, but not at Ethan. "As much as I hate to say this, and I DO hate to say this, I need Melissa to get Ben alone tonight, after campfire."

"What?" I was totally confused.

"Let me explain," Nate started.

"You'd better, because I really don't want that creep to be all over my sister tonight. And you know that's exactly what he's gonna think if you let him get her alone!" Ethan made a discussed sound.

Nate swallowed. "Trust me, I know. Melissa, do you still have the cuff I gave you during crafts today?"

"Yeah, I do. I was gonna ask you about it, because I know you didn't make it for me," I responded evenly. I was fine he hadn't made me anything, if this was gonna get us outta here!

He took a deep breath and sighed slowly. "I'm gonna trust you, but I don't trust that jerk. Get him alone and give him the cuff. Make him think you made it especially for him. It has a magic that will dampen his magic at the same time it will put him to sleep. But it takes a few minutes to work, so... " Nate couldn't finish. But I could tell how uncomfortable this made him. "I'll be near by and won't let anything happen to you, but that doesn't mean Ben wont try to..."

I rolled up on my tiptoes and kiss his mouth softly. "Its okay," I reassured him softly. "I can handle him for a couple minutes.

I could feel the turmoiled rolling in his gut.

"Ethan, I hate to ask this, but I'm gonna need you to keep Jen busy while I make sure Ben doesn't take advantage of your sister," he was all business now. "If she finds out somethings going on she could mess up the whole plan!"

"I can do that. Becky will be fine with the rest of the girls in her cabin," Ethan sounded sure of himself, and even better he felt confident this was something he could do.

"Once Ben is out, I need you to grab they key from around his neck, then once he is out of the way, we need to meet up by the archery range around 10:30. I need to retrieve my key hole finder," he continued.

"Your what?" Was that even a thing? Because if it was, maybe he could make a "Key finder" and make a mint off selling those babies!

"It was an object I brought here originally, but I didn't have the key at the time, so I hid it. Then we will be able to find the key hole and free everyone in this place, and no one will be able to stop us. Everyone will have their magic back and we can leave this place. Together," he said it looking into my eyes.

I was grinning like a fool.

"I'm still bringing Becky!" Ethan insisted.

"Good! I like that I picked my sister-in-law!" I joked.

Ethan blushed.

Nate wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on mine. I could feel his frustration and his nervousness at the plan.

"It'll be dinner time soon. You need to be totally into Ben," he choked on his name, like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "You need him drooling and completely willing to get you alone tonight."

"That won't be hard. He told me earlier he had plans on making me his tonight anyway. But I told him no. I'll just make him think I changed my mind," I whispered.

A disgruntled noise came from Ethan.

Nate, however, was vibrating with rage.

"Shh, love. He won't." I cupped his cheek in my hand and he leaned into me.

"I know, it's just.." he growled, not even able to finish his thought.

"I know," I agreed. "But it won't last long, I promise!"

I saw a vision in his mind of what scared him so badly. And honestly, that scared me too! If I couldn't get the cuff on his arm fast... Well let's just say Ben could go from zero to sixty in three seconds flat!

"That won't happen! Because, even if he tries, my hero will show up and rip his fingers off one at a time!" I tried to joke.

"I will!" he agreed with determination.

"Just remember that I love you, no matter what happens tonight. And stick to the plan. Then we can be together," I promised.

"Lissa, I don't need more images! REALLY! You need to learn how to block your thoughts!" complained Ethan.

Nate and I shared a look and chuckled.

"Okay, let's go!" I said.

Ethan escaped before Nate grabbed me and kissed me one last time. "You need to ignore me tonight. Don't even bother trying to hear what I'll be talking about, because nothing will be the truth. Everyone needs to be convinced that you want Ben. Make me believe it!" Nate insisted.

All I could do was nod my head. "Okay."