The Sorcerer King and the Fire Queen

by Ana Lee Kennedy

  A chill enveloped me, and I began to shake so hard the glider vibrated under us. “Why did they call you a white king?”

  He shook his head. “I have no idea.”

  “So why are you telling me this?”

  We stopped swinging and sat very still. Tension hung in the air with the humidity. I sensed something deeper, something profound, but it dangled just out of my reach.

  “Sam told me you were coming.” He turned slightly so he faced me. “Sam dreams things that always come to pass in one form or another. He says many of his dreams are symbolic, but this one, the one about you, came to him in stunning clarity.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Samuel Dream Wolf has a rare gift. He stayed by me for most of my recovery in the hospital. When I asked him to live with me here, he agreed, stating that his wolf guide told him he should. All of this,” he waved his hand to indicate the cabin and grounds, “came shortly after I returned from the hospital. Shunka appeared on my porch the following morning, but at the time, I lived in a trailer on this site. That same day, on a whim, I bought a lottery ticket and hit it for ten million. A month later, the plans were underway for this cabin, I bought my Excursion,” he pointed toward the driveway, “donated a sum to the Cherokee reservation, and began plans for the museum, dedicated to all the ghosts in this world like me.”

  His story seemed preposterous, but for some reason I believed him.

  “Those bikers are after you, Ruby,” he continued with conviction.

  At that, I gulped and stared at the porch planks beneath my sneakers. Fear bloomed in my gut, sending tendrils of terror throughout my brain.

  “They recognized me too. Despite one of the bikers being a woman, somehow I know they’re two of the same hunters. They were stunned I’m not dead. And Maureen knows something’s going on too.”

  “I’m not saying I believe your theory—”

  “Yes, you do.”

  I ignored him. “But what does Sam, the dog, and winning the lottery have to do with all of this?”

  “I don’t know, but Sam says prosperity follows me, whatever that means. Anyway, I’m certain it’s all connected somehow.”

  “What reason would they have for raping and killing your sister, then leaving you for dead?” I asked. This conversation was not what I’d expected.

  “Why are those bikers after you?” he asked.

  I thought of the bikers as they rolled along my street on demonic motorcycles. A chill fell over me, my skin feeling as though it had turned to ice, and the coldness seeped into my muscles to burrow inside me. The big man who had stopped to investigate my apartment had to be the bikers’ leader. Why was he looking for me, and how did they know Solomon?

  “I never said they were.” My ears detected the worry and denial in my voice as surely as he did.

  “You know they are, Ruby.”

  I refused to answer or even look at him.

  He sighed and sat silently for several long minutes. Finally, he said, “Okay, then tell me about yourself.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m curious, especially after what I saw you do at the museum and in the backseat of my Ford.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” I hesitantly met his gaze again. “Talk about the weather, the museum, Maureen—anything else.”

  He blinked, his brow furrowing, which deepened the fine scars crisscrossing it. “I’m not being nosey, really.”

  Hurt before being hurt. Shut him up now before he turns on me later.

  “You’re not?” I countered.

  Solomon’s frown intensified. “I’m just intrigued, Ruby.”

  “Oh, really?” The bitchiness in my tone made me cringe on the inside.

  His gaze hardened. “Yes!”

  “I see.”

  An irritated sigh escaped him. “Are you always this frustrating?”

  “Yes.”

  We sat eyeing one another like two rearing snakes about to strike. Finally, Solomon resumed the back-and-forth motion of the glider. The dog had raised its head, paying rapt attention during our verbal sparring match, but lowered it again.

  He stared directly into my eyes and said, “I’d really like to know you better, Ruby. What I saw you do today was amazing.”

  He’d stated the same on the roadside earlier, but it was still the last thing I’d expected to hear. No one ever thought my abilities were amazing. Weird, frightening, and unnatural were some words that came to mind.

  Sincerity resided in Solomon’s eyes. I looked deeper but saw only curiosity and benevolence.

  Tears pricked the backs of my eyes which pushed my annoyance into anger. “Trust me, the less you know about me the better for both of us.”

  “I’ve seen Sam do some really wild stuff.”

  This guy just doesn’t give up.

  I sighed. “I doubt it’s anything like what I’m capable of.”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “Aren’t you afraid of me?” Blinking, I willed the tears to go away and finally succeeded.

  The stymied tone of my voice seemed to confuse him. “Not at all.”

  “Sooner or later you will be.” I gazed back at Solomon, wavering back and forth between taking a chance and sharing some things about myself or choosing the safe route.

  He seemed to sense my indecision. “I’ll let it rest for now,” he said. “Tell me about Maureen.”

  His interest in Maureen irritated me. “There’s nothing to tell. She’s seldom quiet and can piss me off quicker than anyone I’ve ever known other than my father.”

  “You don’t let anyone in, do you?” he said quietly.

  Words failed me. This man had zeroed in on my insecurities and fears and that was dangerous territory. “People always disappoint me.” Feeling exposed and a bit frightened by the sensation, I shifted on the glider, preparing to stand. “Maybe I should just find a motel room—”

  Solomon grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. A startled cry burst from me as his mouth claimed mine, and every thought or protest I might have had or said evaporated.

  Worse, I responded to him like a brazen hussy. He deepened the kiss, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and half climbed onto his lap. A surprised sound escaped him, which turned into a murmur of approval. He slid his hands down my sides to my hips where he cupped my ass. I moaned into his mouth, pressing closer. Heat pooled in my lower abdomen. It nestled in my loins, but spread out along my body, too, climbing my internal thermometer. Recognizing the sensation, I stiffened. Appalled at my reaction to Solomon’s embrace and fearful he’d push me aside, I broke the kiss. More heat blazed up my neck and into my face, the air around me infused with bright light, my hair flaring from its dark hue to brilliant red, orange and yellow.

  Solomon blinked, his breath uneven. It took me a few seconds, but as we stared at one another with almost palpable sparks leaping back and forth between us, I managed to subdue and conquer the power surging through me. The glow disappeared and my hair looked normal again.

  His kiss had awakened my abilities, but how?

  The door swung open, and Sam stepped outside bearing a tray with four large dessert goblets brimming with whipped strawberries and ice cream.

  Mortified, I quickly sat back, my sudden movement jostling the glider.

  The old man paused. Surprise registered on his face, but delight settled in his dark eyes. Behind him, Maureen walked out onto the porch holding long spoons and napkins.

  Sam distributed the desserts. As we ate, I took great pains not to look at the old Indian. Embarrassment still needled my skin and my conscience. Solomon said nothing as he concentrated on his icy confection, but his hands trembled.

  Lightning flashed in the inky clouds. The clap of displaced air echoed throughout the valley and ricocheted off the ridges. Thunder always instilled a sense of doom within me.

  Pushing the thought away, I spooned down to the bottom of my glass as the scent of rain blew across the porch. The taste of sugary
strawberries blended with the sweet, refreshing aroma of rain. The combination triggered another vision. I stood on a grassy area at the edge of a dark expanse of water, peering up at a stone monolith, the sound of crashing waves reverberating in the air. A cloaked woman stood nearby, her head bowed. Thunder boomed over the water, and wind rushed across the waves, stirring them into white caps.

  Hundreds of creatures, their bodies built of indigo and gray smoke, bore large, mysterious riders. I strained to see their faces as they rode full-bore toward me along the shoreline. I raised my hands to the sky...

  Glass shattered, and something cold and wet splattered across my feet.

  ****

  A soft light illuminated part of Solomon’s living room. My head hurt and stiffness had invaded my body again. I blinked a few times to allow my eyes to adjust to the soft lighting. I rose onto one elbow and looked around the room. A lamp glowed nearby, and across from me, a cluster of burning candles sat on an end table, their wicks fluttering in the air conditioning. The aroma of sage and cinnamon greeted my nostrils.

  “How do you feel?”

  To my right, in a wing-backed suede chair, sat Sam. He looked at me with black, mysterious eyes, his face so deeply lined he could’ve passed for a wooden carving in the dim light, but his snow-white braids almost glowed in the darkness. Between his chair and the sofa, the Malamute lay primly on his belly, ears perked in my direction, pale blue orbs watching me. The dog’s eyes reminded me of Solomon’s.

  “I’m…I’m not sure,” I said. “Give me a minute.” I swung my feet to the floor and sat up. The room spun for a moment, and I gripped the sofa cushion. “I think I’m okay, Sam. Thanks.”

  “Solomon and Maureen are making coffee.”

  I rotated my shoulders, easing the rigid muscles.

  “Do you have visions often?”

  The old man’s abrupt question caught me off guard. Solomon’s comment about Sam soughed through my mind.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “They must be very powerful.”

  “Sometimes.”

  “You’re a Nutter.” Sam sat with his hands folded at his waist, fingers entwined, his legs stretched out and ankles crossed. His voice, low and powerful, whispered across the space between us. “Shunka Wakan says the Nutter family is unique. You have much to learn.”

  “I have much to learn about everything,” I replied without missing a beat.

  Raspy laughter rattled from his thin chest. “Yes, you do, but if you know that you are well on your way to finding your place in life no matter how strange it might seem to you.”

  “I don’t think there’s room in this world for someone like me,” I answered. “This life doesn’t seem to fit me.” As it often did, the horrible feeling of being a misfit smashed into me. Tears burned my eyes, and I glanced away unable to bear Sam’s penetrating gaze any longer. “It’s like trying to wear a pair of shoes that are two sizes too big. No matter how much paper you stuff into the toes, you just can’t wear them properly.”

  “Maybe you should try moccasins.”

  His dry response eased the ache in my soul. I laughed.

  A wry grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. He rose from his chair and shuffled toward the kitchen. “I’ll go see what’s taking so long with the coffee and scrounge up some Tylenol for your headache. I have a feeling you’re going to need your powers tonight.”

  His blunt comment shocked me into silence. I watched him shuffle across the big living room.

  And I thought I was weird.

  Chapter Eight

  That evening, Solomon’s friend, who owned a local garage, arrived with my SUV and stated he had to go out of town first thing in the morning. Two new tires gleamed on one side of the Jeep Wrangler. Behind it, another man driving a small car pulled in the drive.

  Once the guy left with his employee in the second vehicle, I asked Solomon, “What do I owe you for the tires?”

  “Nothing. I took care of it,” he said, a pleased smile on his face.

  I didn’t want any strings attached to our strange and tentative friendship. “I can’t let you do that. I barely know you. You’re already putting us up for the night, so let me pay for the tires.”

  “Ruby, it’s okay. I took care of it.” He looked directly at me, his eyes boring into mine with such force that something shifted in my heart.

  Solomon reached out and steadied me. A snap occurred between us, the sound almost tinny. He let go and shook his hand, laughing.

  “Damn static electricity.” His smile turned into one of concern. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” It was difficult to do, but I stepped away from him. Solomon might find me fascinating, but if he knew what that little electrical snap had really stemmed from, he wouldn’t be able to rid himself of me fast enough. Besides, after the kiss between us on the glider, the last thing I wanted to do was encourage more of the same. Well...that’s not entirely true, but I sure as hell didn’t want to set the entire mountain on fire either.

  He looked at me quizzically, and I sensed my action had wounded him.

  “If you’re sure,” he stated.

  “Look, I’m sorry, but I really need to turn in for the night. I’m wiped out.”

  “No worries.” He reached for the door and stepped inside. “I’ll find you some towels if you’d like to freshen up before going to bed.”

  I tried not to stare at his tight ass in his snug, faded jeans.

  Solomon continued, “A fainting spell means your body needs rest. To be honest, we all need to retire. I think the heat is draining everything and everyone.”

  “Maybe it will rain tonight.”

  Our small talk sounded hollow.

  “I’m hitting the hay, Solomon,” Sam called out as he exited the kitchen and headed for a room down a short hall.

  “Night, Sam,” Solomon and I said simultaneously.

  The old man’s laughter faded as he shut his bedroom door.

  Maureen walked inside from the back deck. She carried her wedge sandals in one hand. “I’m heading to bed.” She crossed the room to the staircase. “You coming, Ruby?”

  “On my way,” I replied.

  “I’ll lock up down here and bring up those extra towels,” Solomon said.

  Once I reached our room, I found Maureen already in bed, her dress and shoes discarded on the carpet, her soft snores muffled in a pillow. She must have really been exhausted to drop off that quickly. I stood pondering her sheet-covered form as Shunka flopped down on the carpet next to my bed.

  Why had life seen fit to pair me up with this woman? Maybe I should just abandon her at the next rest stop? No, I couldn’t do that...not yet. Maureen irritated me, frustrated me, and could piss me off instantly. Those were reasons enough to dump her off somewhere, but I still couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  I don’t need to like this woman. Liking her will cause nothing but trouble and hurt feelings.

  A soft knocked startled me. I hurried to open the door.

  Solomon’s gaze connected with mine, and once again, I felt that irresistible connection between us. He passed me the towels, and I set them on the end of the dresser.

  “Can I talk to you a minute?” he whispered.

  Nodding, I stepped out into the hall and shut the door.

  He reached out to touch me, but I drew back. His hand fell to his side, and he stared at me for a moment. “Ruby, I apologize for kissing you earlier. It’s just that I thought you were into me too.”

  I said nothing, just focused on the soft amber glow of a hurricane lamp lighting the hall.

  “You don’t let anyone get too close, do you?”

  “Not if I can help it.” But oh how I wanted to let someone into my heart. How I longed to be held and caressed and have someone whisper the words ‘I love you’ in my ear. Something about Solomon urged me to give him a chance, but I knew what would happen. He would see what I could really do and then abandon me just like everyone else did.

 
“Look, I know we barely know one another, but I’m due for a vacation and would love to travel to Key West with you and Maureen—that is, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  My gaze flew to his. Although the idea thrilled me, the direction of the conversation also sent a thread of discontent trailing through my gut. “You can’t be serious.”

  Obviously uncomfortable, he shuffled his feet. “At the very least, I’d love it if you’d stop by on your return trip. What do you say, Ruby?”

  “You want me to stop by?” The question sounded ridiculous the minute it left my mouth, but his desire to see me rendered me temporarily stupid.

  “I just want to get to know you a little better.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “There’s something about you. I can’t put my finger on it, but you’re so mysterious. You’re a beautiful and intriguing woman.”

  Don’t forget dangerous.

  “I don’t think you’d like me if you got to know me,” I returned.

  “Why?”

  “I’m different.”

  “I’ve seen that part of you. It doesn’t scare me,” he said. “You’re not like other women, and you don’t seem to judge me either.”

  “With all my flaws, I have no right to judge anyone.” Once the words left my mouth, I knew I had to find a way to apologize to Maureen for my behavior toward her.

  He stepped closer, the expression in his eyes daring me to back away.

  It was hazardous to be this close to him, but I stood my ground. Something banged a frenzied pace against my ribs, and I realized it was my heart. I’d always been attracted to dark-haired, dark-eyed men. Solomon was the total opposite, but regardless, every time the man even glanced at me my pulse thrummed and heat settled in my crotch.

  “What flaws?” he asked. “Do you snore?”

  I chuckled.

  “Fart in your sleep?”

  At that, I burst out laughing then tossed a guilty look toward the guestroom in hopes I hadn’t awakened Maureen.