Irregular Magic

by T J Kelly

  I looked around curiously. We were in the suburbs, and when I squinted my eyes, I could see the transparent light-blue honeycomb that indicated a protection spell surrounding the two-story house, the lawn, and the driveway where we parked. I could make out houses of the same general size and shape down the block. It was kind of a boring neighborhood.

  “So, the safe-house is in a house?” I asked dumbly.

  Seth snorted. “Yeah. Most of them are. You were just spoiled because the first one you ever saw was in a coffee shop. I admit that was really cool.” He popped the trunk and dragged out a small bag. I didn’t know when he even got it, but I shrugged and turned back to the car. Peter had climbed out, so I leaned in to grab my backpack and closed the door behind me.

  “I’m starving,” I said.

  “A girl after my own heart,” Seth teased. “Let’s go find something to eat inside before I faint from hunger. Maybe if we’re lucky, one of your food cornucopias will be there.”

  I walked up the sidewalk next to Seth, feeling proud. Rector Enterprises supplied food, drink, and energy to most of the safe-houses all over the world. That way, bringing in supplies wouldn’t tip anyone off that more people were staying there than usual.

  A comment I had overheard once, long ago, popped into my head. My father had been talking about a safe-house that some magicians wanted to set up in a shoebox, and he kept trying to tell the poor guys it didn’t matter how large it was inside - if nobody could get through the opening, it wouldn't work.

  The memory brought a smile to my face. That is until the safe-house door opened, and Kamini was standing on the other side.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  I Didn't See That One Coming

  The dumbest description I have ever heard was when some woman had “sparkling eyes.” Ha. And yet there Kamini stood, her eyes shining and happy to see us, and when Peter stepped forward to say hello in a thrilled voice, they sparkled.

  Why was she even there?

  “I used a transfer spell to get to Las Vegas,” Kamini explained when she noticed our surprised expressions. “And then drove here to Reno to meet you.”

  “Well, it’s good to see you,” Peter said. He gave her a side hug but left his arm around her for longer than necessary, and she took the opportunity to lean into him like she wanted to stay there forever.

  “I thought a familiar face would be nice,” she said modestly, grinning.

  “How sweet,” I said. I thought I had done a good job pretending I meant it, but the look Seth and Harris exchanged made me wonder. “Aren’t you afraid they might have followed your trace to Vegas and then tailed your car?”

  Somebody had to ask the logical questions. None of the guys acted like they were going to as we shuffled our way into an open, airy living room.

  “Oh, no.” Kamini looked so gracious and sweet I didn’t expect what came next. “I know you’re still an inexperienced apprentice so that might seem like a good question, but my family has a network for that. I drove in seven separate vehicles with three different disguises. Other family members tailed me for an hour after each stop to change cars to make sure nobody was following. It’s standard operating procedure. Your uncle helped set it up.”

  Slam. How embarrassing - for me. So now I was a petulant, ignorant fool. I sighed. “That’s great,” I said through tight lips. Kamini was genuinely so nice there was no way to snipe at her for calling me inexperienced without looking like an idiot. Especially since it was true.

  She smiled and offered to show me to the restroom so I could pull myself together. I skulked off behind her. My hair probably looked like a wreck, and I was sure I had something gross jammed in my teeth again because I couldn’t catch a break.

  I wanted to hide as long as I could in the little half bathroom downstairs. It was cramped, but the mirror was large, and I could see myself down to my knees if I leaned back.

  And of course, I was a rumpled mess.

  I gave up on trying to outdo Kamini. Besides, that crack about being an inexperienced apprentice made me embarrassed to put my uniform on, so I changed into a pair of navy yoga pants and a blue shirt with white stripes. It had a v-neck, so a little cleavage showed, my only attempt at competing. I blew my nose for the five-hundredth time. It was still stuffy, but otherwise, I felt human again. Maybe only a bit tired. I bushed my hair into a ponytail high on my head, then spun it around and around, looping it back on itself until it became a bun. I used a bright yellow scrunchy to keep it in place.

  Whatever. I refused to put on any makeup and look like I was trying to challenge Kamini’s undeniable beauty. Besides, there wasn’t anyone there I wanted to impress.

  Really.

  “Feeling better?” Kamini asked, surprising me. She was waiting outside in the hall when I opened the door.

  “Yeah, I’m great.” I pushed by her and went back into the living room. The guys were finishing sandwiches Kamini must have provided for them. So much for a big meal. My stomach clenched, no longer hungry anyway. Seth raised an eyebrow when I hurried over to the love seat and sat beside him. I didn’t look Peter’s way. I wasn’t sure why, but I was annoyed at him. I didn’t even care that meant Kamini had a choice and could sit next to him or by herself in a chair.

  I knew it. She chose the spot next to Peter on the couch. Of course.

  “We’ve got laundry facilities if you need them,” Kamini offered.

  “That won’t be necessary,” I said. “I’ll take care of our clothes if you guys want to give them to me. I can get them clean in no time.” If I could dry off my clothes in an instant by pulling the water out by magic, there was no reason I couldn’t get rid of any foreign matter from the clothing just as quickly. And it would give me something to do in the other room so I didn’t have to participate in the conversation. The mood I was in didn’t bode well for our peace of mind or casual social discourse.

  I felt a stab of desire to knock Kamini out of the way and sit next to Peter. His Light would help me battle the darkness inside me that was making me a gloomy wretch.

  Instead, I leaned into Seth when he gave me a quick hug of thanks before he stood up to yank his clothes out of his pouch. I needed the comfort. But like a typical guy, he couldn’t wait to dump laundry on the only female on the team.

  Maybe that was unfair since I offered, but I didn’t care. I was crabby, and as long as I stewed silently, I decided I could be as unfair as I wanted.

  Harris handed me his clothes next. My arms were full, so I headed over to where Kamini had indicated the laundry room was located so I could spread out and work my magic. I left the door cracked open so I could hear the conversation, but not take an active part. I didn’t have enough control over myself.

  My hand snaked up, and I touched my necklace delicately, reassuring myself that it was still there. I had a sudden, overwhelming fear I might have left it off again and one of my stray thoughts would obliterate my friends.

  “How was your trip?” Kamini asked.

  “It went well. We were ambushed near the airport, though.” Harris sounded all tough and casual about it. I glared at the shirt in my hands, then gave it a vigorous shake.

  “How scary!” Kamini exclaimed. “Were any of you injured? Do you need anything?”

  “No, we all made it out okay,” Seth said. He sounded fierce and manly, too. I wanted to gag. The two of them had been unconscious. All they did was have me drag their sleeping bodies back to dry land. Big deal.

  “Thanks to Lia,” Peter said. I froze. Had he heard me? Did I say that out loud? “She was the real hero of the hour. Not many people can say they saved their entire team on the first day of their first assignment.”

  I grinned as I laid out the jeans and uniforms the guys handed over. His compliment washed over me like a shot of Light straight from the source. Peter was the best friend a girl could have. The darkness even let up a little. He must have noticed Kamini dissed me earlier and wanted to put her in her place for attacking his best friend.<
br />
  “True,” Seth said. I could picture the dark, mysterious look on his face, trying to charm the only girl in the room. “She was a real trooper.”

  Okay, that wasn’t as good as Peter’s compliment, but it was enough to allow me to refocus and whisk all the dirt, sweat, and blood out of Seth’s clothes. In a second, they were clean and fresh.

  Oh, yeah. I was good.

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Kamini said. “It seems like such a dangerous assignment for somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing.”

  Wow. She sounded so nice and sweet and concerned while she dissed me like that.

  “Lia’s the type of person who will always help. Despite coming into her magic only recently, in every circumstance, she has found a way to win,” Peter said. I could barely hear him, but there might have been a little anger in his voice.

  Kamini must have thought so, too, because she changed the subject. “Well, I’m glad you made it here in one piece. Do you know how long you’ll be staying?”

  “At least one night. We haven’t decided yet,” Harris said. He may have liked Kamini, but he wouldn't let her in on our plans, and it was pushy of her to ask. It wasn’t her place.

  Heaving a sigh, I closed the laundry room door so I couldn’t hear anymore. If my internal voice was going to lead me down a path that turned into a class war, I didn’t want to follow. I already felt guilty enough about how I dismissed alchemists like everyone else did. I didn’t need to act like support staff were beneath me, too.

  I finished cleaning Harris and Seth’s clothes, then spent extra time folding them carefully. I needed to force myself into a better frame of mind. I mulled over Peter’s comments and it helped brighten my mood. I had that sense of his lightness again and it buoyed me up inside. By the time I was ready to join them again, I could act chipper and engaging.

  My mother once told me that the best way to get back at the girls who hogged all the attention because of their looks was to steal the attention away with my winning personality. She said people remembered how you made them feel better than how you looked, so their positive memories of me would last longer.

  It sounded like decent advice. Besides, there was no way I could outshine the goddess of beauty with no makeup on.

  There was an awkward pause when I walked back into the room. “Here you go,” I said, honey dripping from my voice as I handed Harris his clothes. He smiled his thanks and put them away.

  Seth held out his arms, and I gave him a flirtatious half-smile when I passed him his clothing. His eyebrows raised, but I kept it up, catching his eye and making sure it looked like we were sharing a moment, an understanding about something that nobody else knew. I was laying it on a little thick since we weren’t exactly flirting buddies, but I saw him shrug before he stuffed his clean clothes back into his pouch and lightly rested his hand on my arm while he said his thanks.

  Oh, yeah. That was a good move. My skin felt warm where he touched it. If I had a crush on him, I would probably have swooned or something.

  “No problem, guys. It was nothing.” I sat next to Seth, and he left his arm by his side so it touched mine. His leg also pressed against me. I normally enjoyed casual contact with others, but I had a brief sense of uncertainty about it. Did I go too far?

  Maybe. But the contact also gave me the confidence to look at Peter and Kamini.

  She had her legs curled up beside her on the couch, bringing her body closer to Peter. He wasn’t touching her, but I bet his nose was filled with her stupid perfume.

  I shook off a wave of annoyance. What was wrong with me? Peter deserved to be happy. If Kamini would make him happy then so be it. In fact, I would even help.

  That’s why when Kamini offered to show us around, I told her I was too tired and would rather stay behind. It was easy enough to get Seth to stay, too, just by pressing myself a little more firmly into his side. He shifted, then slid his arm onto the back of the love seat, right behind me.

  Harris raised an eyebrow. Then he got a glint in his eye. “Yeah, I think we’re all mostly wiped out. Why don’t you show Peter where our rooms are? We’ll head up there when we’re ready to go to bed.”

  Peter shrugged and followed a beaming Kamini out of the room.

  “Isn’t it weird how driving for hours and hours can tire you out?” I said. “I was sitting and dozing all day long, and yet all I want to do is sit around more.”

  Seth chuckled. I leaned my head back, genuinely tired, forgetting that his arm was there. I ended up resting my neck on his arm as if I were trying to snuggle into him.

  Oops.

  He shifted slightly and suddenly the entire right side of my body pressing against him. Now there’s a guy who had moves.

  “That is funny,” Seth murmured. I closed my eyes because I didn’t want to look at him. I kept accidentally hitting on him and was afraid of what I would see.

  “It is weird,” Harris said, his voice also quiet. Maybe he was helping pave the way for his brother.

  Oh my gosh, what had I gotten myself into?

  Then an image flitted through my mind, and I saw the younger me again through Seth’s eyes, a part of the memory he had sent when we were experimenting in the truck. Seth and Harris helped keep me safe when I was in eighth grade even though I didn’t know it. They were both kind-hearted and couldn’t stand bullies. And they were good looking, too. If I was going to flirt with somebody, there were worse people.

  Although I probably should have chosen Harris since he was the fairer of the two and didn’t look as much like Chas. I cringed and my eyes popped open. How shocking. I hadn’t even thought about Chas the entire time I was accidentally throwing myself at another guy.

  That was progress, I guess. I shoved the thought of my ex-boyfriend out of my head and looked down. I noticed a thread was coming loose near the outside seam on Seth’s jeans. I reached down and tugged on it absently, wondering if I should try to cut it off before it unraveled more.

  “I think I’ll wash up,” Harris said. He beat a hasty retreat, heading down the hall towards the half bathroom I had used earlier, leaving Seth and me alone. Even though some of my flirting with him was unintentional, I still felt a thrill of excitement go up my back.

  “How are you feeling?” Seth asked. He peered down into my face, which really wasn’t all that far from his. His lips looked firm, and I wondered how they would feel if he stole a kiss despite my uncle making him promise to stay away from me.

  “I’m better. Still a little stuffy, but otherwise I've recovered.”

  “That’s good,” Seth said absently. I realized his fingers were playing with a bit of hair that was sticking out of my sloppy bun. My mouth opened to respond, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I hesitated a second too long because my partially open lips were all the invitation he needed.

  Wow. He really knew how to kiss. I could feel it all the way down to my toes. I shifted and before I knew it, I was kissing him for all I was worth, his arms wrapped around my back, plastering me against him. The emptiness that had been hurting me since Chas left was suddenly filled. It was wonderful to feel whole again, wanted again.

  I could have stayed that way for hours. He was that good. But my nose was still stuffy and after a few more seconds, I realized I would have to pull back to take a breath or else I would suffocate. I recalled my hands from where they were clasped around Seth’s neck and slid them down his chest to help me back away.

  Man, he felt so good, though. He was really fit.

  I pushed against his firm chest just a bit and Seth broke off the kiss. I gasped in some oxygen and made a small noise when all the air whooshed back out. I guess that was enough to convince him I was enjoying his attention because he leaned forward again and kissed me until I was cross-eyed.

  My body melted into him, and before I became desperate for air again, he pulled away on his own and then slid his lips across my jaw and over to my ear. I shuddered when his teeth gently bit my earlobe. Electricity shot throug
h me when his warm breath caressed me. “I’ve wanted to do this since the second I saw you,” he murmured.

  I groaned. How things had gotten so complicated so fast was beyond me. But my body seemed to crave something he offered. It shivered on its own and snuggled closer.

  That was all the invitation he needed because he gripped the back of my hair to hold me steady and worked his way back to my mouth.

  And yeah. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I tried to press myself even closer. And I could tell he liked it too because he answered my movements with a groan of his own.

  I didn’t know what would happen next, but whatever it would be was interrupted by Harris clearing his throat.

  “Sorry, guys. Ah, Peter’s been calling us. I think we need to go upstairs.”

  I pressed my face into the crook of Seth’s neck so I wouldn’t have to show my burning cheeks to Harris. Oh man, how embarrassing. I listened until his footsteps went all the way up the stairs, and then Seth and I were alone again.

  “Well, as much as I’m enjoying myself, duty calls. Come on.” Seth grinned at me. I smiled back, deciding to brazen it out. We slipped off the couch. He leaned closer.

  I stood frozen, wondering what he would do, worried and excited he might kiss me one last time, but he didn’t. He tugged the stupid yellow scrunchy out of my hair and handed it to me. My bun must have fallen down while we were making out.

  With a sigh, I looped my hair back into order as best I could without the help of a mirror. By the time we hit the upstairs loft, I probably looked downright normal.

  Not that I was. There surely wasn’t anything normal about accidentally falling into some kind of relationship with a guy you only vaguely noticed before. And I knew it was a relationship because no matter how fast and loose Seth acted, no guy would have told a girl how much he wanted her unless he was positive he already had her.