by S. E. Akers
Ty was right behind me until the fog had gotten a hold of his leg and dragged him to the front of the store. I could hear his groans along with the sounds of him getting beaten, but the fog was way too thick to see anything. I couldn’t hurl any lightning. Not only would I destroy Charlie’s building, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I would hit. With no more arrows, I raced to get my purse. I needed what I hated the most — that damn lapis lazuli. I had to clear my view and rightfully, it was a stone that reigned over the air.
As I cupped the ring in my fist and focused on its energy, the face of the man who had killed my father instantly appeared. That wasn’t surprising. What I didn’t expect was the bastard calling out my name over and over, like he was inside my head. “Shiloh… Shiloh…” His wicked presence coiled around me like barbed-wire and besieged my mind with images of him torturing my father. I couldn’t escape them even when I closed my eyes. They were horrid and so, so real.
I struggled through the unbearable vision, for Ty’s sake, and thought of a whirling gust. As I threw my arms out at the cloudbank, what I’d envisioned magically appeared. A violent funnel pushed the fog back outside and held it there. I spotted Ty instantly. He was knocked clean out and stretched across the front counter while the biker hovered over him with a switchblade. I dove straight at the biker. My virtually impregnable body shielded Ty from the deadly slice. I was unscathed, but my uniform sure got a good slash.
The unyielding possessed man grabbed the iron chain and hurled it at me. He missed several times, but when I tried to drag Ty into the kitchen, my luck ran out. The biker wrapped it around my hand and with a firm jerk, he tugged me backward and threw me up against the wall. He knew I was clutching something powerful in my hand. He slammed it against the cash register several times, trying to beat it open. Between the iron draining my strength and Lazarus’ soul taunting my mind, I let go of the ring and quickly dug my diamond hard nails deep into the side of his face.
He let out a howl and hunched down, clutching the gashes I’d just carved. I grabbed the wounded fiend and hurled him back outside, shattering the rest of the front windows. The fog was now spilling in at an alarming rate. I searched around, but I couldn’t find the lapis lazuli ring so I could conjure another gust. Crap! I scrambled to get Ty into the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if the biker was dead or not, and who knows what else was lurking out there?
Trapped like sitting ducks, my mind raced wildly. Granted, I could draw my hilt, but it still didn’t feel like the right thing to do. I stared at the walk-in cooler and formed a plan. I removed the outside padlock. If we were truly cornered, I’d rather be trapped in there. Quickly, I whipped off my apron and grabbed the chain that was trailing into the kitchen. As soon as I dragged Ty inside the cooler, I slammed the door shut and started weaving the links through the handle. I locked it securely on a nearby hook, just as I spotted the biker through the window. He jerked on the door handle several times, but the chain was tautly in place. Confident it would hold, I stepped back and watched the biker beat on the door. At least he couldn’t get in to do any more harm.
I rushed to check on Ty. His face was bleeding, but that seemed to be the extent of his injuries. He would be sore for sure, but alive. A strange, worrisome pang rolling in my gut forced me up off the floor. The biker had stopped banging on the door. Cautiously, I crept back towards the small square window and peered out the glass. The biker was pulling one of the stainless grills out and away from the wall. I watched nervously as he started tugging on the main gas-line.
Oh shit, I thought as I glanced back at Ty.
“Bea! Can you hear me?” I yelled out mentally.
“Ah, Shiloh. I think one of my cards is finally about to hit. How’s your evening going, dear?”
“Not so hot, but its about to!”
“Why is th—”
“Bea, listen,” I interrupted. “Will a containment spell keep anything out? Like an explosion?”
“Yes. Why are you ask—”
“I’m not sure if I remember the words correctly. Please!”
“What’s going on?” Beatrix demanded.
“I’m trapped in the walk-in cooler at the Drive-In with Ty. The Onyx possessed some biker and he’s about to blow the gas-line. Bea, just walk me through it! Please!” I demanded as I saw the biker pull out a silver lighter.
“Oh my. Are you sure the room is completely sealed?”
“Yes,” I yelled back.
“You see, this is why you should have paid attention when I explained this several weeks ago. You never know when—”
Are you kidding me? “Lecture me later!” It wasn’t like I’d actually gotten a chance to practice it by myself, “hands-on”!
“Concentrate on your powers and say, ‘Praesidium aurora lucens’,” Beatrix instructed. “But you must clear your head and have the utmost focus.”
“Okay,” I flapped back.
“And dear, please enunciate it properly,” my mentor stressed.
Praesidium aurora lucens, I thought nervously with bated breath as I watched the biker flick the silver lighter several times, struggling to get the flame to ignite. I looked around the room. It didn’t feel any different and there wasn’t any sort of mystical, glimmering light to let me know that I’d conjured the spell correctly.
“Bea?” I called out. “Bea?” She still didn’t answer.
The biker let out a growl and flicked the lighter one more time. To my dismay, he got the damn thing lit. He threw me a heinous scowl and let out a gut-cringing laugh. No sooner than he’d wrapped up his cackle, something blew out the flame. As soon as he turned to see what had extinguished it, low and behold like a glittering gold savior, there was Bea. One feisty thwack to his head was all it took to knock him down. She bound his hands and legs with a whirling stream of air and approached the window.
“I guess I got my ‘bingo’ after all,” Beatrix remarked coolly.
“Thanks, Bea,” I sighed as I leaned my head against the glass. “I’m glad you showed up.”
My mentor looked towards the front of the Drive-In. “My, my,” Beatrix stated as she panned the ransacked kitchen. “For someone who was supposed to be cleaning up, you sure are bad at it.” She was right. Charlie’s pride and joy was a wreck. The only thing that kept the majority of my guilt at bay was the hope that he had enough insurance to cover the damages. “How did you manage to make such a mess?”
“Fighting…and maybe a little wind,” I admitted. “I had to use my lapis lazuli.”
“You’re joking?” Beatrix gasped.
“No. I dropped it out there somewhere, near the front counter.” Beatrix headed off in search of the ring. “I suppose it was worth having a few visions of Lazarus flashing through my head. But I won’t be doing that again.”
Beatrix strutted back into the kitchen with it on her hand and wiggling her fingers. “What made you use it?” she questioned.
“Lightning bolts and an glowing sword wasn’t something I wanted Ty to see. He was unconscious when I whipped up the wind.”
“I see,” Beatrix remarked as she stroked the face of the royal blue stone. “You might not have had to use it at all if you had been wearing the angelite watch Tanner gave you. You would be amazed at what disasters you can avoid from a simple heads-up. Let that be a lesson for you.”
“It wouldn’t have been a factor if the Onyx hadn’t possessed those guys,” I rebutted. “Two more are out on the parking lot.”
“Yes, I followed the trail of bodies when I arrived.”
I looked at the guy on the floor. “Is he…dead?” I asked nervously.
Beatrix knelt down and felt for a pulse. “No,” she answered. “He’s just out cold.”
“Good,” I sighed.
“But the two out in the parking lot are,” Beatrix confirmed. “One to the heart and then a severed femoral artery… I told you a turquoise doesn’t miss its mark.”
I felt horrible hearing that. These men were victims themselves, even
in spite of trying to kill us.
Beatrix picked up on my dismay. “It happens, dear. Would you rather Ty be lying out there? Or yourself?” my mentor posed.
“No,” I insisted swiftly.
“Then make peace with it,” she urged. Beatrix jumped up and let out a gasp, stunned by something. “Shiloh, dear…do you know who this is?”
“No,” I answered and shook my head. Beatrix lifted the biker up to the glass and turned his head around to where I could see the name tattooed on the back of his neck.
“It’s Mad-Dawg!” Beatrix cried out ecstatically.
I rolled my eyes and let out a dry laugh. “Well, that’s perfect. I can give him back his jacket.” I grabbed the apron to wrap around the chain links, desperate to get out of here. “I don’t think the spell worked.”
“Did you focus on your diamond’s powers?”
“Yes.”
“Confidently?” Beatrix posed skeptically.
“I guess.”
“There’s no ‘guessing’ in these situations, dear,” Beatrix insisted mater-of-factly. “The stronger your faith, the stronger your powers. I always ensure my spells with a snap. It helps add some positive energy.”
I laughed to myself. “Really? Like this?” I teased as I thought about the spell and gave my fingers a snap. Like flipping a switch, a stellar stream of white light immediately shot across the inside walls of the room, magically sealing us inside the cooler.
My head fell against the frosty window. Nooo…
“Well now you’ve done it,” Beatrix remarked as she peered into the cooler through the glass. “You’ll have to stay in there all night I’m afraid.” She looked over at Ty. “Good thing you have some company.” Beatrix began stroking the face of the lapis lazuli. “I’m off to enjoy the rest of my Valentine’s Day. I suggest you make the most of yours,” she hinted with a sly smile. Beatrix grabbed Mad Dawg by his arm. “After I take care of some housekeeping, of course.” She dragged him out of the kitchen and waved. “See you two kids at dawn.”
I turned around and threw myself against the door of the cooler and slid down to the floor. I watched a stream of cold air jut out of my mouth as I sat there. I may be suited for the frigid nature of our temporary shelter, however Ty’s 98.6º human body wasn’t. I crawled over to the handsome high-school jock.
He was barely conscious. “Ty, can you hear me?” I asked with a nudge.
“Yeah,” Ty mumbled, shivering. “Are we outside?”
“No,” I answered as I gave his shoulders a brisk rub. “The biker is gone, but we’re stuck in the cooler until morning. Charlie will be in around six. He’ll let us out then.”
“My head is pounding…and I’m really cold,” Ty muttered.
“I know.” I sat down beside him. “But…” I hesitated, “I’ll keep you warm.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close.
“That’s nice, Shi,” he replied dazedly. Ty nuzzled his head on my shoulder, and then he was out. I stroked my fingers through his hair tenderly. Thankfully he wasn’t seriously injured, just whipped. This wasn’t how I’d pictured my evening ending. Granted, I wasn’t physically alone, but the preceding events served as a painful reminder. Even though I may have some lingering feelings for Ty, he was still 100% human and would constantly be in danger. Maybe losing his memory was for the best? One thing rang true. With danger lurking everywhere, there was no perfect time or opportune chance for romance on the horizon — not for me. That depressing thought lingered in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes to find myself sitting in the sand by the edge of an azure blue ocean. The warm sunlight on my skin felt soooo soothing. I propped myself up on my elbows and gave my feet a stretch to feel the tiny grains between my toes. The satly sea air tickled my nose as a gentle gust swept over my body and breezed straight through the white gauzy dress I was wearing. I searched the shores through a pair of squinty eyes. A faint, sweet smell led them over to a cluster of rocks that lay to my right. Delicate white flowers bloomed from random patches of lime green moss smothering the rugged stones. I had no idea how I’d gotten here, but as relaxed as I felt, I couldn’t have cared less. It was the perfect place — and considering my evening, the perfect dream.
Someone grabbed me as I tried to get up and rolled me over. A perfectly chiseled chest was the first thing that came into focus. I wasn’t alarmed, not in the least — not by the tender way I was being held. The next thing I knew, a pair of soft lips began consuming my neck, leaving a stirring ache along their path. My pulse quickened with each passionate kiss. My eyes fell to a close helplessly, surrendering to their seductive touch. Then all of a sudden, the sensation stopped. Confused, I rose swiftly and let out a gasp.
Who the heck are YOU?
My brain started scrambling for some memory of this guy. Maybe from a movie or a show I’d seen on TV? He had to have come from somewhere, but I couldn’t place him or any of his flawless features. Then again, at this precise moment — I simply didn’t care. My subconscious had kindly created this handsome stud out of thin air. Far be it for me to quibble about trivial details. At least somebody was here, wanting to hold me in their arms. Though my senses collected as much information as they could, from his decadent caramel-brown locks straight down to the subtle score on his chin that centered his strong jaw line. I couldn’t tear my stare away from his deep-set eyes. Now they were starting to bug me. I couldn’t tell what color they were. Nevertheless, they were hypnotic. His brows arched into a sharp peak and then curved around their cat-like shape, almost like they had been sculpted that way purposely — just so they could dip into my soul. He pulled me onto his lap effortlessly and then proceeded to leave another lingering warm trail of delicate kisses down my neck. My body stirred like a weightless feather in a violent whip of wind, yearning to devour his lips with every inch of his seductive descent.
A loud pounding pulled me back to reality. “Shiloh? Are you okay?” Charlie yelled through the door.
I practically jumped to my feet. “I’m fine,” I insisted, slightly embarrassed and assuredly disappointed that my dream had come to an abrupt end. Even my subconscious can’t get a freakin’ kiss on the lips from a make-believe guy!
“I’m going to get y’all out of there,” Charlie promised. “Just stand back.”
The loud thumps woke Ty.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Sore,” Ty answered, rubbing his jaw. “And cold,” he added with a quick shiver.
“They’ll have us out in a second,” I assured him as I sensed the magic from the containment spell fading.
“Are you okay?” Ty asked, checking me for any injuries.
“I’m fine,” I answered.
He eyed me suspiciously. “What happened after I passed out?”
I gave Ty a “censored” account, repeating everything he’d seen and fudging the details of what he hadn’t. Good preparation for the police interrogation that was sure to follow.
As soon as they had busted open the door, Charlie and Naomi rushed into the chilly room and threw a couple of thick blankets around us. All I managed to get out was an, “I’m so sorry”. That was it.
Ty told our eager crowd of rescuers his account of what had happened with the bikers. I filled in the blanks with my slightly “skewed” version. Though Charlie and Naomi were still a little shell-shocked at finding the place in shambles, they were honestly more relieved that we were all right. Chief Roberts seemed to be satisfied with the story, but Officer Pete Ryan had his doubts, boldly questioning my ability to fend off a rowdy pack of muscle-clad hooligans.
“You took on Mad Dawg? All by yourself?” Officer Ryan kept repeating as I told my side of the story. Every time I replied, “Yes”, my pitch escalated. I whipped your butt too… Remember?
“That’s enough, Pete,” Chief Roberts warned.
Ty seemed almost proud about his contribution, though I didn’t tell him that he’d actually killed
the guy he’d shot. Bea had taken care of the two corpses and did who-knows-what with old Mad Dawg. Apparently they had all had records, mostly for theft, resisting arrest, and several assaults with deadly weapons. The one with the tattooed face that I’d taken out had been hauled in for beating his girlfriend more times than you can shake a stick at. I managed to find some relief in that.
“Yeah. His old lady drops the charges every time. Crazy,” Chief Roberts muttered. “Maybe pulling this stunt will at least bide her some time while he’s in jail. She was in the hospital for five weeks the last time he roughed her up. He definitely won’t make bail this time. None of them will.”
I nodded automatically. That’s for sure.
With our statements officially logged, the officers suggested we go to the hospital to get checked out. Ty agreed willingly. I, however, ended up having to compel the unsuspecting officers that I was fine.
I found Charlie back in his office. “I’m really, really sorry. I understand if you want to fire me,” I insisted.
“Fire you?” Charlie chuckled. “I should give you a raise. My insurance will cover everything. I’ve been wanting to remodel this joint for years.”
Naomi entered the room. “He sure has, darlin’. He just didn’t want to take out a loan for it.” She reached over and gave his back a frisky rub. “You know when it comes to spendin’ money on decoratin’, he can pinch a daggum quarter tight enough that ya can hear the eagle scream,” Naomi winked.
I bit my lip while Charlie rolled his eyes.
“I just hate how it came about,” Naomi insisted. “Are ya sure you’re okay?”
“Fit as a fiddle,” I replied with a smile. Physically.
Naomi placed her arm around me and guided me out of the room. “Now, you needta go on home and get ya some rest.”
“I can stay and help you clean up.”
“Shoot no! We’ll handle that, darlin’.” Naomi raised her brow. “Ya know, I’m surprised you don’t have icicles hangin’ off your ears after bein’ in there all night.”
“I kept warm,” I replied.