by Bob Dattolo
Her lips pressed together for a few seconds, “It was a nice place. Not this big, but we had money. A ton of it. My parents…or, my mom and the guy I thought was my dad, had a lot of money. Mom had been married once before, but he died a long time ago. She was something like 4,000 years old? Under 5,000, at least.”
“Wow, late in life baby?”
She smiled, “Pretty much? She had my brother a few years before me…then got pregnant with me.”
“But she had you with your father, and he’s dead? How did that happen?”
She shrugged, “Magic. He died something like 3,500 years ago or some crazy thing like that. They were so in love from what I heard. So in love. Then she got remarried about 500 years ago. They had my brother…and then Mom found something that my dad had left her. I guess she forgot about it or something. I’m not quite clear on that. I didn’t get to ask any questions. They figured out what happened…and then Mom was gone. Dead. He killed her, saying she cheated on him by having another man’s baby. It didn’t matter to him that she had no idea she was going to get pregnant and didn’t even have sex to get pregnant with me. Now she’s gone. I was kicked out and have been living on my own.”
“That’s messed up.”
“You’re telling me.”
“We both have sucky family lives, I’ll tell you that much.”
She snorted, “Yeah…”
“I’m sorry about what happened to you.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry about what happened to you, too.”
We settled in for a bit and she fiddled with the sheets a few times before turning on her side. I took the invitation and slid up behind her. She melted even more as I held her. It’s so ridiculously easy to see that she needs the comfort.
“Umm, just so you know? I drove Marisela and Tara to and from school today. And drove them home yesterday.”
She shrugged, not at all reacting to my admission. “I only know the one Marisela and one Tara. I have to assume you mean from our lunch table?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. They need it. If anything, they have it worse than I do. At least I look human to people, so they don’t mess with me that way.”
“You don’t mind that I did that? Mom and I are probably going to go into business with Tara. She’s pretty much a genius.”
Another shrug, “Mind? Not at all.”
“Good…good.” She settled down in front of me and I ran through the day. No, two days.
So now we have a house guest? Maybe even a pretty permanent one? That’s too cool. It helps that I genuinely like her.
Pings came in just then from my girls, and I sent shafts of golden light at them. Christine was with Mr. Reynolds, although they didn’t seem to be doing much other than praying to me. That still sounds so stupid to say.
Leticia looks to be on a beach as she reached out for me. Since she’s like six hours behind us, I guess that makes sense.
Rachel has been a nearly constant presence in my head, and she only spikes at rare times when her focus increases. I hope she can come here and live with us. Melissa may get more information about us then than we really want to share with folks, but by then she may need the info.
I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Chapter 12
Morning dawned bright and early, earlier than normal, when Melissa woke up at just about 5am. As you can imagine, her sleep throughout the night was pretty much garbage. She’d wake up squirming and yelling…and crying. Each time she did, it took about 20 minutes to get her back to sleep. Not that I begrudge her the wakeups, because I don’t. I’m shocked she was able to fall asleep at all.
Each time she woke it would take her a minute or two to calm down, then she’d cry softly in bed with me holding her until she fell asleep. It was so touching…and no, I’m not trying to make a pun there. The anguish and loss coming from her in waves…it’s things like this that make me realize my life hasn’t been too bad. All things considered.
Did my young life suck? Yeah, pretty much. Except it was all we knew. We didn’t like it, I sure as heck didn’t like it, but I also fully thought that it was all needed in order for me to go to heaven. I was on board with it. My parents taught us that it was all our fault. Everything we did wrong, even things we maybe did a little wrong, were treated like they were huge items and we were in the fast lane to hell. That messes with your head. Or it did mine. I can’t even tell you how many times I was punished and had to apologize for making them do it to me, fully believing that I was making them withhold food. Or whip. Or put us in the hot box.
So, yeah, in retrospect, my life was pretty freaking horrible. Just nothing really like what she went through. She thought she had it great…and then she was thrown away and forced to live on her own at 13. That seems far more traumatic to me than what I went through.
We talked for a bit after I realized she was up for the day, just lying there in bed and drifting through a pretty normal conversation. I learned more about her, she learned more about me, although we’re both hiding a ton away. More than a ton. We’ve both been hurt, so it’s not like we’re going to spill everything. Plus, we haven’t had enough time to do it. I was tempted to try and turn our time into something a little friskier, but I knew she was way too scared for that. This is so new to her that she’s going to need some time before anything like that comes up as an option.
I finally dragged her downstairs for food, then back up to get ready for school, and we were off to the races. Hearing her giggle from her shower was too funny to me. She’s been showering at school every day, mainly because bathing in the pool in the cave is freaking freezing. She’ll do it, just not often…and not in the winter. Then again, it was also her drinking water, so there’s that.
We picked up Marisela first, finding her outside her place when we pulled up. I texted her to let her know that we’d have someone else with me, and she didn’t look too happy to have Melissa there. She blushed horribly as she got into the car.
“Good morning, Marisela!” I tried for upbeat.
“Umm, hey.”
“Hi.” Melissa’s voice was soft from the front seat. She kept staring at the shack with a look of longing on her face.
I nudged her, “You should meet her mom. She’s really nice.”
Marisela looked up finally, “If you’re going to make fun of me, I’m getting out right now!”
Melissa turned in her seat. We had talked about not telling anyone anything, so I just wasn’t sure what she’d say. “She’s not making fun of you. I’m definitely not. Do you know where I’ve been living since before starting high school?”
Marisela frowned, “Umm…no? I’m not even sure what that means.”
“I was thrown out of my house at 13 and I’ve been living in a cave in the woods since then. By myself.” She waved back at the house that I was driving away from, “The fact that you have any home and a mom? I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’d have killed for that.”
The anger fled from our passenger’s face, “Jesus…are you serious?”
“She’s serious. I followed her home yesterday.”
Marisela clutched the back of the seat, “My God…do you want to come live with us? We don’t have much room, but we can share?”
I nearly had to pull over from the emotion that came over me. That’s the measure of a person right there, isn’t it? When presented with a loose friend that has experienced life-changing hardship, you offer up something that you, yourself, have very little of.
Melissa grabbed her hand and squeezed, tears starting. Obviously. “Thank you. Ceri pretty much forced me to go live with her.”
Marisela nodded firmly, “Good. If you ever need anything, please let me know.”
“Thank you. It’s been hard, but…I guess we’ll see how things go now.”
The truck became quiet at that point until Tara hopped in. That started another update, with Melissa just throwing it out there so that Tara knew what was going o
n. She offered her help as well.
That’s…that’s just…wow.
About a mile away from school, Melissa took a deep breath. Her heart was racing, and her breathing wasn’t smooth at all. She sounded like a little kid that’s terrified of something happening.
“What’s wrong?”
Marisela leaned forward, “Seriously, you sound like you’re gonna run.”
Tara sniffed, “Something has her freaking terrified.”
“C’mon, Melissa, what is it?”
Her voice came out as a whisper, “Syl…”
I had to fight losing my humanity at that. I totally forgot to have Mom cast the spell on her, and I’m not sure she can do it from work. “What do you think he’s going to do?”
She wiped at her tears, taking more shaking breaths, “I’m not sure. He hates me. If he finds out someone is helping me…I’m not sure what he’ll do.”
My mind ran wild with that. Was he really the one that attacked her yesterday? Maybe with magic? “What could he do? Why does he hate you?”
“I’m not sure what he could do. I’ve tried to start over so many times, but I kept getting pushed back to the cave. I’m pretty sure he was doing something to me, but I can’t prove it.”
“Has he tried to hurt you? Physically?”
She nodded, “A lot.”
Tara hit the seatback, “What has he done?”
“He’s attacked me. Hitting. Kicking. Pretty much anything you can think of.”
“Has he raped you?” I had to ask.
Her brows came together as she jerked her head up to stare at me, “No? Why would you ask that?”
The three of us snorted at the question, “Why? Because supernaturals are dicks that way.” Marisela answered for me, “I can’t even tell you how many times that’s happened to me.”
“Or me.” Tara added.
“It’s only happened to me once, but I was sort of dead at the time.” I didn’t bother pulling any punches there.
Melissa’s mouth fell open, “Uhh…what?”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Marisela demanded.
“Umm, dead?” I made a hand gesture that didn’t even remotely indicate being dead, but I tried. “A vampire gang sort of took me out while I was with a friend looking for her brother. The guy had a thing for corpses. A bit of magic brought me back since I hadn’t been dead that long.”
“Motherfucker…that’s…” Melissa stopped.
“What can I say? I told you about Sumi.”
She nodded slowly, “Your mom must be crazy strong and talented.”
I didn’t bother trying to clarify things for them, “She is. To both.”
Tara sat back again, “This is one weird truckload of chicks.”
Marisela and I laughed. “It is. It really is.” She started to get out, but I held up a hand.
“I’m sorry, can I try something?”
She closed the door again, “Sure? What?”
Looking across each of them, I nodded, “I want to try to cast a spell. Mostly on Melissa, but on you two as well if I can do it.”
“Umm, what kind of spell?” The larger girl asked.
“My magic is sort of messed up right now, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it. But it’s mainly a monitoring spell to see if anyone is attacking any of you. It should also stop any incoming magic as well. If…if I can get it to work at all.”
They exchanged looks, with both girls in the back seat deferring to Melissa. She studied me for a moment, “All right. You can try?”
I caught her hand, then put my other arm over the seat and both girls took my hand. “All right. Let’s see if I can do this.” Keeping their hands in mine seemed like the best idea. Maybe the physical connection will give me a better chance of success.
When my magic first came in, I could feel it swirling and moving inside of me. I’d never felt it before, and it felt both wonderful and scary to me. As I became more used to things and learned to explore my body and things with my classmates, it moved more and more. As my body has taken in and absorbed spells, it was added to it, to the point that my insides felt like they were squirming with the mother of all squids…just with a billion tentacles, all trying to get out. Far from what it sounds like, it’s an amazing feeling and one that I’ve…come to miss.
My insides…with the damage I took, my insides don’t quite feel empty, but they’re pretty close to it. I had to push so, so hard to bring Mom back to life that it’s like I drained what makes me me from a magic-perspective. There are still flickers inside and movement, but it’s nothing like what I had even at the beginning of my magical growth.
Now, as I reach in, feeling the lack of magic makes me want to cry. Not only is it empty, but the emptiness hurts. It’s beyond physical, though. So far beyond. I tried to explain it to Mom, but I failed every time. We thought I had just stressed things, sort of like a workout, but it’s beyond that. I’m pretty sure she’s hiding something, she’s just too good to get caught at it.
Yet now I need magic again. I cast a strong heal spell yesterday, and my nerves are still burning with the feeling…except I need more this morning.
Feeling my magic as I closed my eyes, my hands tightened around the girls’ hands. I need this to work. The girls need this to work. There’s no telling what Syl will do. Maybe nothing, but possibly…anything.
Please work…please work…
Inspiration struck me again, and I clenched my hands tighter, getting a grunt from the girls in the back.
Please, god or goddess of magic…please help me. Please grant me more magic to be able to pull this off.
My hands tightened again. This time Melissa made a sound as well.
I don’t know if you’re a real god or goddess, but I need your help. I swear you were there yesterday, please be here today. Melissa needs protection. She’s in danger of being hurt by someone. I’m afraid that may spill over to Marisela and Tara. Please help me to protect my friends. They may be new friends…but I like them. Help me to protect them. I’m not sure how to worship you, but I’m willing to. While I follow Mom and she’s my leader, my commander, much of my life has revolved around magic. I may be the goddess of death…but magic is the key to my new life. Please help.
I pushed out everything I had in prayer as I fumbled for my magic.
Then it began to move.
It didn’t grow inside of me, but as I pulled my power out, it somehow magnified. I didn’t open my eyes as I concentrated on the prayer and the spell I wanted…and tried desperately not to scream from the pain of my nerves being eaten away.
I swear someone or something is making this possible, because the magic flowing into the car, sending blinding rays of light through my closed lids, is far stronger than it should be based on what I’m feeling inside.
Then, without warning, my spell went into effect.
Physical protection. Magical protection. Monitoring.
I felt it settle onto them, then the light began to fade…
Chapter 13
“Jesus Christ, is she okay?” Something far away touched my face.
“She’s breathing fine. Her heartbeat’s fine.”
Tickles across my skin as I tried to move my head don’t feel right. Nor can I talk. Or open my eyes.
“She just moved.”
Tara. That’s Tara.
“Yeah. What the hell happened?” Marisela asked.
Another touch, this time I recognized that it’s warm, “I don’t know? I think she cast a spell on us, but then she passed out?”
Marisela laughed, “Passed out? We barely got her out of the truck before she threw up a lake of blood. What the fuck’s up with that?”
“I don’t know!”
Ugh, is that why my mouth tastes so bad?
The light above me is blinding when my eyes crack open. “What…”
The girls leaned over me, “Don’t move! We’re not even sure what’s wrong with you!”
The magic inside o
f me…feels like it’s nearly gone. Even so, I can feel the spell on the girls, and it’s a strong one.
Thank you, god or goddess of magic. That hurt, but it was worth it.
Tara and Marisela rushed to help me sit up when I tried to do it. Melissa fell onto her butt and stared around us.
“What the heck?” I caught sight of the blood in the grass…it’s not quite a lake, but it’s far more than a gallon of blood. “That’s not…that’s not normal.”
Marisela laughed, “Yeah, you think? How are you still alive?”
My smile was wry, “It takes a lot to kill me.” Looking down my clothes, I realized that there’s no blood on them. At all. “What the…how did I not get blood all over myself?”
Tara smiled, “It was like a firehose. You have some on your face, but not nearly as much as you’d think.”
“Should we be calling 911 or something? Your mom?” Marisela looks like she wants to do it so badly.
I shook my head and worked to stand, finding it crazy difficult to do. I feel weak in ways that I can’t even describe. “I don’t think so? Are…are we late for school?”
Head shakes, “No. We still have almost 25 minutes before home room begins.” My orc friend puts her phone away.
“Umm, okay. I need to go rinse my mouth or something.”
Tara helped Melissa stand. “Rinse your mouth…you should be getting fitted for a coffin. That was messed up horror movie crap right there. I have no idea how you even knew to get out of the truck. I swear you were unconscious during it.”
“Uhh, since I don’t remember doing it at all, I might have been? No idea.”
I expected my soreness to fade as we approached the school, but it continued the entire way. It eased a tiny bit, but not much. Not much at all. I’m not used to being in pain like this. It’s one of mind, body, and spirit that I can’t get my arms around. I’m considering magic as part of spirit for argument’s sake. This is…so much pain.
Yet the spell is cast.
I can’t really complain about that one.
The girls helped me through the bathroom, then they had to split up to get to their lockers. It left me alone at mine for about a minute before a taller shadow loomed over me. Even though I feel like shit, I can still smell, so I knew it was Syl.