Fire Defender

by Rodney Hartman

  “Then I guess we need to get started,” said Tess as she slung her pack over her back.

  “I guess,” Alec said. He slung his own pack over his shoulders before picking up his assault rifle. He checked to make sure the safety was on, then removed the magazine and looked inside. “You got any extra ammo? This one’s half-empty.”

  Tess opened up a pouch on the belt around her waist, pulled out a magazine, and handed it to him. “There’s only two more besides this one, so go easy. I wish I’d grabbed the belt off the other guy, but uh, things were a little hectic at the time.”

  Nodding his head to let her know he understood, Alec stuffed the extra magazine in the side pocket of his coat. “It’s just as well. We barely got out of the barn as it was. I saw two men heading our way when whatever that was exploded in the house. I don’t think we had any time to spare.”

  As if silently agreeing not to mention the death of his grandmother, they started their engines and headed up the trail. Somewhere along the way, light rain changed to snow.

  By the time they got to the cabin, it was just starting to get light as the morning sun peeked over the mountain top. They parked their four-wheelers under a lean-to, and Alec surveyed the cabin. The log building was a small two-room affair with an outside toilet. Rustic though it was, the structure did have running water from a well out back and a high-end generator for electricity.

  As soon as they dismounted, the first thing Alec did was start the generator. Next, he showed Tess where the extra fuel for the four-wheelers was kept. Once they filled up the two vehicles, they went inside and turned on the lights. They looked at each other in white light for the first time since they’d left the farmhouse. Alec noticed that the front of Tess’s jacket was covered in blood. He forced himself not to think about the fact that at least some of it was his grandmother’s. Looking down at his pants, he saw blood stains covering them too.

  “Maybe we should get cleaned up,” said Tess. “Is there a shower?”

  The question brought Alec out of his temporary stupor. He pointed to a door at the rear of the cabin. “Yeah, a small one. There’s no hot water, but it’ll get the job done. The toilet’s out back if you need it.” He looked around. “Uh, if you want to get cleaned up first, I’ll get a fire started in the woodstove. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty cold.”

  Nodding her head, Tess grabbed a toilet kit out of her pack along with a pair of pants and headed for the shower. A few seconds after she closed the door, Alec heard a scream.

  “Arrgh!”

  Unable to control his laughter, he shouted, “I told you there wasn’t any hot water. Mountain water’s cold.”

  By the time he had the woodstove going, Tess walked through the door drying her hair with a small towel. She smiled. “I figured the water would be cold, but that was like trying to shower in ice cubes.”

  Alec forced a laugh. “City girls. You just can hang with us mountain boys, can you?”

  “Laugh away,” said Tess grinning back at him as if sensing he was trying to keep from thinking about what had happened at the house. “Let’s see how tough you’re talking when you jump in that ice dispenser you call a shower.”

  Alec tried not to laugh. In truth, he was dreading the next five minutes. He knew how cold the water was from using it in the past. Once he’d shut the door behind him, he heard Tess say, “And don’t forget to wash behind your ears. You don’t get any breakfast if you’re not clean.”

  Breakfast was the last thing on Alec’s mind, but he knew they both needed to eat to keep their strength up. They had no idea what lay ahead of them, or even what they should do next.

  Time enough to worry about that later, Alec thought as he removed his clothes. He dropped the bloodstained pants into the trash basket and the rest of his clothing on the sink. Turning on the shower, he braced for the inevitable. Here goes nothing.

  “Argh! By all that’s holy that’s cold!”

  Alec heard a loud laugh from the other side of the door. Thankfully, Tess kept any snide comments to herself.

  Once his body was wet, Alec jumped out and lathered down before jumping back in to rinse off. He had to force himself to stand under the cold water long enough to get all the soap out of his hair. The moment he was satisfied all the suds were gone, he shut the water off, grabbed a towel, and began drying off as quickly as he could. Once he’d brushed his teeth, he put on the clean pair of jeans he’d found in his pack along with his wool sweater and coat. It wasn’t the most comfortable set of clothing he’d ever worn, but he knew his grandmother had chosen well. Wool stayed warm even when it got wet.

  After he stepped back into the cabin’s common room, the smell of sausage drifted to his nostrils. Tess was stirring scrambled eggs in a pan over a propane camping stove. There were two empty foil packages on the table.

  Tess glanced up, nodding approvingly. “You look a lot better. Now, how about getting us some plates and silverware? This freeze-dried stuff’s about done.” She sniffed the air. “It smells good. Maybe it’ll taste better than it looks.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” Alec said having survived on freeze-dried food for days on end during hunting trips.

  Walking to a storage box at the opposite side of the small room, Alec opened the lid and removed two plates and forks. Once he set the table, they ate quietly. They remained quiet long after the food was gone.

  Tess was the one to finally break the silence. “I’m sorry about Grandma. I only knew her for a short time, but I really liked her.”

  “She liked you too,” Alec said looking at Tess. “I’m sorry about your dad too.” He glanced down at his right hand before saying, “We’ve both lost a lot because of these stupid rings.”

  Tess nodded. “Yes, we have. One thing the attack this morning proves is that Dad didn’t die in any accident. I know he was trying to keep the promise he’d made to me. He must’ve come home to cook supper and got jumped.”

  She sniffed, but Alec didn’t see any tears in her eyes.

  “I think he was trying to do right by me,” she continued. “They didn’t give him a chance.”

  Alec stared at Tess, expecting her to break down. She didn’t. What he did see was minute flashes of yellow in her eyes mingled with their normal gold color.

  “I swear they’re going to pay,” she said in an icy tone that made Alec cringe. “Whoever they are, I’m going to make them pay.”

  Alec thought the room was getting noticeably warmer, so looked at the woodstove. He’d left the door open halfway and could see a nice bed of coals inside, but it wasn’t enough to account for the sudden warmth.

  “What are you doing?” Alec asked.

  Tess looked at him, frowning. “What do you mean what am I doing? I’m just talking.”

  Shaking his head, Alec pointed at Tess’s right hand. “You’re doing more than talking. Look at your ring.”

  “My ring?” said Tess as she looked down.

  The yellow gem on the ring was glowing brighter than usual. Alec thought he could see small flashes of blue in the gemstone.

  “Are you saying you can see my ring?” asked Tess.

  “Oh, I can see it,” Alec replied. “I’m not sure why. Maybe because I’m wearing the other ring. That doesn’t explain it completely though, because Grandma couldn’t see your ring, so…” He held up his right hand. “Uh, can you see mine?”

  “Dimly. I couldn’t see it before we started eating, but I can see it now.”

  Alec drummed his fingers on the table a couple of times. “We need Aunt Mamie’s notebook. We’re operating in the blind. Everything’s moving way too fast. We need to get up with my aunt.”

  “Agreed, but I told you Grandma said to stay here until Scott contacted us.” Tess glanced at the woodstove and then back at Alex. “Uh, why don’t you call Scott and see what’s happening?”

  Reaching for his back pocket, Alec already knew what he’d find; nothing. He looked at Tess. “I can’t. My cellphone’s back o
n my nightstand. So are my billfold and keys, for that matter.”

  Pulling out her cellphone, Tess glanced at the display. “I’m at seventy percent. What’s Scott’s number? I’ll give him a call.”

  “Uh,” Alec said growing warm in the face.

  “He’s your best friend. Are you trying to tell me you don’t know his number?”

  “I know it. I just don’t remember it. Heck, I’ve got him on speed dial. Why would I need to memorize it?”

  “Well, that sucks,” said Tess. “Then I guess we’re stuck here until old Scotty comes looking for us. There’s a week’s worth of food. Hopefully, we won’t need it.”

  “I can pretty much guarantee you that I’m not going to stay stuck here for a week. They murdered Grandma. We’ve got to talk to the police.”

  “What we’ve got to do is wait for Scott,” said Tess, her voice more than a little harsh. “We’ve got no idea what we’re up against. Whoever came after us is well-financed. Their gear wasn’t cheap. Plus, how’d they find us in the first place? If we try to go to the police before we know what’s going on, we might be walking into a trap.”

  Although he knew everything she was saying was probably right, Alec refused to admit it. He wasn’t one of those people who didn’t mind sitting around doing nothing. Action, any action, was preferable to watching paint peel off the walls until something happened.

  Tess turned in her seat to stare at the woodstove again. She studied it for several seconds before speaking. “Mrs. Walker, err, your aunt, told me I needed to practice. She implied that I’d learn more of the ring’s capabilities as I practiced. I used night vision during the attack and most of the ride here. Maybe that’s why I can see your ring now.”

  Alec shrugged. He hated to shoot her theory down, but their lives were on the line. They had to be honest with each other. “Maybe, but I think there’s more to it than that.” He pointed at her eyes and then at her ring. “When you get emotional, your eyes flash yellow. They were flashing when I first noticed your ring. Maybe practice is a part of it. Maybe it makes the connection to your ring stronger. On the other hand, I also think your emotions have a lot to do with it.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Alec gave a tight-lipped grin. “I guess I’m saying I’d hate to be around you when you get really pissed. I’ve got a feeling the connection to your ring might go nuclear. It’s hard telling what might happen.”

  “I’ve been peeved before and nothing’s ever happened,” said Tess.

  Alec glanced at his own ring. “Maybe so, but like I said, I think the connection to your ring is getting stronger. I think it’s easier for my ring to sense yours as the connection to your ring increases. I think that’s why I see it now.”

  “I see your ring as well,” said Tess. “Your ring’s translucent, but I can still see it. You haven’t been practicing.”

  “No, I haven’t,” Alec admitted. “I don’t even know how. That’s all the more reason we need my aunt’s notebook.” He drummed his fingers on the table again. “Show me how you practice.”

  “Uh, now?” Tess asked turning away from the woodstove to look at him.

  “Why not? We’ve got nothing else to do.”

  Tess glanced down before looking him in the eyes. “I’m not sure I can. Mrs. Walker had her notebook when she had me practice. I used an image of the fire pentagram as a focal point. I don’t have that drawing with me.”

  “Do you remember what it looked like? The drawing I mean?”

  Tess shrugged her shoulders before looking away to stare at the woodstove again for several seconds. Finally, she nodded her head. “I’ve got an image in my mind. Whether it’s exactly the same or not is debatable. I’m smart, but I don’t exactly have a photographic memory.”

  “Well, it’s all we’ve got at the moment,” Alec said. He looked around, spotting a candle on a shelf near the box with the eating utensils. “You said Aunt Mamie had you light a candle. Try lighting that one.”

  “She had a lit candle nearby when I did it.”

  Alec glanced around the room seeing no other candles. He vaguely remembered taking the last one out of its package during his and Scott’s previous hunting trip and placing it on the shelf. “Uh, you’ve got fire in the woodstove. Try using that. I mean, all you need to do is light one little candle, right?”

  Tess looked at the candle before turning to frown at him. “If you think it’s so simple, why don’t you try it?”

  Grinning, Alec spread his hands. “Hey, I’ve only got the Ring Defender. You’re the one with the Fire Ring.” He laughed trying to lighten the mood. “Each to their own is what I always say.”

  “Yeah, well, if we find out your practice consists of having someone shoot you, I volunteer to be your practice buddy.”

  The smile left Alec’s face. He wasn’t sure whether Tess was serious or not, but he did notice flashes of yellow appear in her eyes again.

  “Uh, I tell you what,” Alec said. “Why don’t we just concentrate on your training for the time being? I think I’d prefer to wait until Aunt Mamie gives us a copy of her notebook before we start experimenting with mine.”

  Tess smiled before patting the assault rifle leaning against the table next to her chair. “Your loss, but if you change your mind, just let me know.” When Alec remained quiet, Tess smiled again. “Relax. I was just joking.”

  “Uh, I knew that.”

  Turning back to the shelf, Tess stared at the candle.

  Alec remained quiet not wanting to distract her. He wasn’t sure what he hoped to accomplish by insisting she practice, but with time on their hands, he figured it couldn’t hurt.

  A drop of liquid ran into Alec’s eye. He reached up and wiped his forehead. The ring on his hand began tingling and growing warm. Looking down, he noticed flashes of yellow deep within the blue gem. He sensed more than saw a line of energy between his ring and Tess’s. As the line of energy became stronger, he sensed a buildup of energy in her ring. The energy in her Fire Ring reached out toward the woodstove before moving in the direction of the shelf. A stream of flame a foot in diameter shot out from the stove and struck the shelf, catching the wall on fire.

  “What the—” Alec yelled as the fire continued to come out of the stove, licking the shelf and everything around it. “Stop it, Tess! You’re going to burn the place down!”

  “I’m trying,” said Tess as she stood wide-eyed, staring at the burning wall.

  Alec barely noticed the strain on her face as he grabbed a fire extinguisher next to the wood stove. The flames had stopped coming out of the stove, but the damage had been done. The shelf and half of the wall were engulfed in fire. He directed a stream of foam from the extinguisher at the wall. Even as he did, he knew the extinguisher was too small to control the flames. Within seconds, the foam stopped coming out of the extinguisher. The fire began creeping up the wall, onto the ceiling.

  Throwing the useless extinguisher to the side, Alec started stuffing gear into his backpack. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he shouted.

  Looking to his right, he noticed Tess standing stiff-backed in concentration on the fire. The furrows on her brow stood out. Her hands were balled into fists. He rushed to her side, pulling her toward the front door.

  “We’ve got to get out!” he yelled again.

  Tess shook free of his hold and took a step back toward the burning wall, then raised her right hand. Alec saw the yellow gem of her ring shining brighter than he’d ever seen it. What he saw was more than a visible brightness. Through his own ring he sensed the glow of Tess’s ring surrounding her before reaching out towards the wall. The energy from her ring seemed to merge with the fire, drawing it away from the wall and ceiling and back into the ring itself. Within seconds the fire was out. Only smoke and charred wood remained to give evidence it had ever been there.

  Coughing, Alec grabbed hold of Tess’s shoulders and dragged her towards the door. She didn’t struggle against him. Once they were outside, he
took several deep breaths of fresh air, coughing the whole time. He felt a warmth from his ring reach inside his chest and ease the irritation from the smoke. After his breathing was semi back to normal, he looked at Tess. It came to him that she hadn’t coughed even once.

  Tess turned away from the house to look at him, gave a tired smile, then shrugged her shoulders. “I’m guessing that’s enough practice for today.”

  Alec stared at her for several seconds, then gave a strained laugh. “I’m guessing you’re right. Remind me never to go visit an oil refinery with you.”

  Tess’s eyes sparkled, flashing bits of yellow. She laughed. “Consider yourself reminded.”

  Whether from pent-up energy or some other reason, they stood in the cold for a good two minutes laughing. Whenever one calmed down enough to stop laughing, the other would say something that started the cycle again. Finally, a cold breeze driving bits of loose snow in their faces put an end to the laughing spell. They both looked back at the cabin. No sign of the fire was visible from the outside.

  Gesturing toward the cabin door, Alec said, “I suppose we’d better go clean the place up. We’re probably going to have to sleep there tonight.”

  Tess nodded, growing serious. “I guess you’re right. Hard telling when Scott will get here.” She gave Alec a wink. “I’ll tell you what. Next time, you can be the one to practice.”

  Remembering the foot-wide stream of fire coming out of the wood stove’s door, Alec wasn’t sure he ever wanted to practice with either of their rings again.

  Chapter 33 – Bad News

  __________________________

  It was late afternoon before Scott arrived in a mud-splattered jeep. The small bit of snow that fell the night before had melted during the day, leaving behind a muddy mess. Pulling next to the cabin, Scott exited his vehicle.

  Tess thought she noticed him avoiding their gaze. The big jock seemed to especially avoid looking at Alec.

  “So, what’s the news?” asked Alec cutting right to the chase.

  “Uh, I tried calling,” said Scott. “You never answered.”