Fire and Fantasy: A Limited Edition Collection of Urban and Epic Fantasy

by CK Dawn

  After I was finished, I walked down the stairs to meet Liam.

  Downstairs I found him staring intently at a piece of paper.

  I had the uncontrollable urge to just stop and stare at him.

  His lips were drawn into a tight frown and his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. The look on his face while harsh did nothing to take away from his good looks.

  I walked closer and realized that he was reading a map.

  He must have printed it out while I was asleep.

  “Hmmm,” I cleared my throat.

  He jumped and then quickly composed himself within seconds, “you ready?” he asked as he folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

  “Yeah,” I nodded, “where are we going?”

  He looked doubtful for a moment, “well,” he said, “you know how you always complain about getting a decent cup of coffee.”

  “Yeah,” I laughed embarrassingly because it was true, I missed good coffee something terrible, “so?”

  “So I found a coffee shop in that small city we went through that isn’t too far away.”

  “Awesome,” I was surprised by his offer to take me for coffee.

  “Okay, let’s go,” he told me and I almost thought that he might be nervous as he held the front door open for me.

  The car ride to the shop wasn’t too long and his memory must be good because he didn’t look at the paper once. Too bad we didn’t have cell phones with GPS on them. Somehow I don’t think he would have used GPS anyway.

  We drove into the downtown area that was littered with small restaurants, boutiques and law offices.

  “This is a neat area I really like all of the murals on the sides of the buildings.”

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t guess this is here with all of the chain places when you first get here,” he said as he parked the car.

  I just nodded in agreement even if he wasn’t looking as I got out of the car.

  He led me down the sidewalk to a porch fronted store front that had teens around our age gathered around drinking coffee and playing on cell phones while they chatted about school and their lives.

  It made me miss Arianna even more. A longing to be carefree consumed me, even though I don’t think I really had been since the deaths of my parents. But it would be nice to sit with a cell phone in one hand and no cares in the world as I drank a latte and talked about things that really didn’t matter in the big scheme of things.

  When I walked inside the smell of coffee almost knocked me over. It was a small shop with a long counter, tables scattered about and really fascinating artwork on the walls.

  It was perfect.

  “Coca-Cola relieves fatigue.” I snickered at an old advertisement painted on the wall while we waited, “must have been when it still had cocaine in it,” I shrugged, “or that’s just some strange story I had heard when I was a kid.”

  Liam looked at me strangely as the flustered barista waited to take our order.

  “What can I get you guys?” she asked behind thick black frames.

  After giving her our orders, we had a seat at the table farthest from the door.

  After quietly sipping our drinks for a few minutes I finally spoke up, “so why the trip out?”

  “Um, well I figured you were tired of being cooped up and wanted some decent coffee like I said earlier,” his green eyes shifted behind me to avoid my gaze.

  I looked back toward the Coca-Cola mural and glanced back at him, “well thanks,” I smiled hoping to lose some of the tension that that had formed between the two of us, “I am so tired of that place.”

  He nodded, “me too.” He took a drink and then shook some of his shaggy black hair out of his face.

  We sat in a quiet silence my question about his avoidance on the tip of my tongue but unspoken for the moment.

  We sat and watched people come and go and made small talk.

  I just couldn’t say anything.

  But when it became afternoon my stomach began to growl.

  I avoided his gaze by staring at the wall when he started laughing at me.

  “Don’t laugh,” I whined, “I’m hungry.”

  “Sorry,” he said holding his hands up in defense.

  “Thanks,” I shook my head, “as if you aren’t hungry too.”

  “I am,” he said standing, “let’s go see what we can find nearby.”

  We walked down the street until we found a small café.

  “This looks good,” I told him.

  Inside we both ordered hamburgers.

  “Oh my god,” I told him between bites, “either I am just super hungry or this is the best burger ever.”

  “Maybe both,” he said before he took another bite.

  “Probably.”

  When we were done with lunch, it seemed that neither of us were ready to go back to the house on the lake. And being found was the last thing on our minds.

  So we walked the downtown streets and went into different shops that we came across.

  Most of them were geared toward teen girls and women and I knew that Liam was bored. He was a good sport and accepted that I was just wasting time until we had to go back.

  “What’s this?” I asked as we got to a gate that opened to a grass filled alleyway between buildings.

  “I think a building probably used to be here,” he said peeking through the gate.

  “Cool,” I said and slipped through the opening.

  “We probably shouldn’t go in there,” he warned.

  “Oh, come on,” I said surprised by the wildflowers in the middle of a downtown area in the high grass.

  I twirled around and spent a few carefree moments to myself as I became aware that he was watching me.

  “Sorry,” I laughed and walked over to the side of one of the buildings and leaned up against the wall and watched people walking past the gate.

  “It’s okay,” he said and I looked up to find him standing in front of me.

  “No, I’m sorry,” he said.

  “For what,” I asked swallowing.

  “Avoiding you,” he sighed, “I don’t know what I was thinking,” he stepped closer to me.

  “It’s okay,” I told him my eyes wide. I was surprised because I didn’t even have to ask him about everything.

  “No it’s not,” he said and brought his lips down to mine.

  Surprised by the turn of events, I returned his kiss with fervor I didn’t know that I possessed. It was so much different than the first time.

  My heart raced and I felt the passion of a hundred past lives as he pressed me up against the wall.

  When he pulled back, I had to catch my breath.

  “You aren’t going to leave me here are you?” I asked him.

  “No,” he shook his head and brought his lips down to mine again and I stood on my tip toes this time to meet his lips.

  “Kids,” we heard a voice call out causing us to jump apart.

  We both looked over to the gate to find an older man watching us.

  “I know everyone loves a good show, but well they have to start setting up for a wedding here.”

  “Were sorry,” Liam mumbled as he grabbed my hand and led me through the gates.

  My cheeks were on fire.

  After we passed by the man we started walking down the sidewalk again.

  My breathing was still hard and I was speechless.

  He stopped us in front of the coffee shop, “let’s get one last cup before we go back to seclusion land.”

  I let out a breath, “That would be awesome,” I said relieved that he was speaking to me.

  “Are you guys staying for the show?” the barista asked us as we waited for our order.

  “Uh, I don’t know,” I glanced at Liam and then noticed around us that they had started shifting tables and chairs around.

  This could be interesting, I thought to myself.

  “Do you want to stay?” Liam asked me sensing my longing for entertainment that didn’t come from a f
lat screen TV.

  I looked back at him where he had caught me watching them setting up instruments at the other end of the coffee shop.

  “Can we?” I asked him.

  “Sure,” he said, “what could it hurt, we’ve already been out most of the day already anyway,” he said as he watched a man with long black hair set up a soundboard.

  “Right,” I agreed. The authorities who were looking for us had no idea that my hair was now blonde and well the fact that they kept showing older photos of Liam made it less risky.

  What could possibly happen?

  When the upbeat rock music started, it caused me to temporarily forget all of my problems.

  The woman fronting the indie rock duo had a haunting voice that soothed my soul.

  It was perfect to lift me out of the mood I had been in at the lake house.

  Well, the kiss didn’t hurt either.

  The day was exactly what I needed.

  I stood with a small crowd and swayed back and forth, losing myself in the crowd.

  She sang about love lost, loneliness, heartbreak, love found, and many other complicated emotions. Many I had never experienced myself.

  I just knew them.

  My soul had several lifetimes of emotions and I could feel them all.

  It was both exhilarating and depressing.

  In between sets, I went to sit back down with Liam, who had chosen to stay at our table and brood.

  I just shook my head about it and had accepted after the time we had spent together that this was just him.

  I don’t think anyone ever made brooding look so good.

  “This is a lot of,” I started to say to him, but stopped when I saw two cops walk in the door with two men in dressed casually with outdated hairstyles.

  “What is it?” he asked and followed my line of vision to the door.

  “Dammit,” Liam said and grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the table. He walked briskly but not too quickly so they would notice us.

  We pushed past the crowd as the next set was about to start and exited through a side door.

  Relief hit us both as we found that we had parked the car near the side door.

  With a shared glance we both made a dash for the car.

  “Hey over there,” I heard a voice shout.

  I jumped into the passenger side of the car as Liam took mere seconds to get the car in gear. He took off way before they could get to us.

  Thirteen

  Liam didn’t slow down until we had made it out of city limits.

  “Great,” I muttered they know we are in the area now.

  Liam spoke up, “yeah but they don’t know where we are.”

  I nodded even though don’t think either of us was convinced.

  We drove the dark winding country highway in silence on the way back to the beach house. When we pulled up neither of missed the wide open front door.

  “We locked it, right?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he nodded putting the car in park, “wait here,” he said and got out of the car.

  “No way,” I said more to myself and got out of the car even though he had already disappeared inside.

  Dread filled my stomach as I walked to the front steps.

  This is it, was the only think that I could think.

  At the front door, I paused. I knew that Liam would need my help.

  A pebble skidded across the path behind me.

  My breath hitched in my throat.

  A knife was instantly placed at my throat and a think muscular arm wrapped around my body.

  I’m gone.

  This is my end.

  Even though, the situation was dire, my thoughts went randomly around.

  I wouldn’t graduate high school.

  My brother would have no family left.

  And I would never find out what there could be between myself and Liam.

  “Get inside,” my attacker said shoving me through the door.

  My heart pounded, the living room was destroyed.

  “I’ve got the girl” he called out.

  A woman with long curly red hair walked out of the kitchen. She looked beautifully harsh but the look in her eyes wasn’t right. Most of these people we ran into had a blank look, but she looked. She looked evil.

  “Where’s the boy?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” the faceless man holding me said.

  She frowned.

  “I’m right here,” Liam’s voice came from the top of the stairs.

  “Get down here,” the man told him as he tightened his grip on me.

  Liam snorted, “no.”

  “My stomach dropped, he was going to let them kill me.

  I closed my eyes and felt moisture gathering in the corners of my eyes, he was going to let them kill me.

  “If you don’t,” the woman spoke her voice monotone, “we will kill her.”

  My eyes opened, and I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

  He looked me in the eyes.

  I thought I saw a flicker of something in his eyes. I couldn’t be sure though, I was too scared.

  He looked at the woman, “you’re going to kill both of us anyway,” his face was still blank.

  “Don’t be so hasty,” the woman held a hand up, “maybe there’s something we can work out.”

  Liam shrugged, “you want us to keep the secret and to ensure that you have to kill us,” he shrugged, “what is there to work out?”

  “Where’s Robert?” the woman asked the man holding me, ignoring Liam’s question.

  “Out around back waiting for orders,” the huge man holding me replied.

  “Oh him,” Liam said pulling out a knife, “he’s gone,” he said, his voice not portraying any kind of emotion.

  “You’re lying,” the woman said.

  “Am I?” he asked.

  My eyes widened at the sight of Dr. Griffin coming through the kitchen behind her. They were both too busy watching Liam to notice her.

  “Marcotte will not be happy if you did, but he wants you brought in anyway.”

  “He’s not going anywhere with you,” Dr. Griffin spoke from behind her.

  Told you,” Liam said

  The woman was surprised to hear the doctor behind her.

  She turned around and Dr. Griffin punched her in the face knocking her to the ground.

  “Do it,” the woman said while she was sprawled out on the ground.

  The man brought the knife away from my throat and I began to struggle to get free.

  “Do it” she shouted with Jill standing over her and Liam running down the stairs.

  “Jack,” was the only thing could say as my brother walked through the kitchen door.

  The man brought his knife down and I was surprised at first but then there was the blinding pain.

  “What?” I mumbled, “it hurts,” and I looked down to see the knife protruding out of my stomach.

  Jack was rushing for me, Dr. Griffin was finishing off the woman, and I could hear Liam running down the stairs.

  It seemed like I moved in slow motion as I fell down to my knees. My brother laid me on my back as he looked at my stomach.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Jack kept saying as he removed the knife and applied pressure.

  Jack kept saying for me to keep my eyes open.

  "I can't," I croaked out.

  "Yes you can," Jack said as he applied pressure to the wound in my stomach.

  My vision was growing blank and I could feel the wetness all around me.

  "Hang on, hang on," Jack kept muttering, "Dr. Griffin, help me press down. We have to stop the bleeding."

  "Yes," I could hear her say, as I felt her touching the wound.

  "He got her twice," Jack said, "Liam, right?"

  "Yeah," I could hear his voice and I tried to look for him.

  "Keep her head the way you have it."

  And I realized that my head wasn't on the ground but being head in Liam's lap.

  "S
leep," I muttered, before everything finally went blank.

  Fourteen

  "Millie," A voice caught my attention, "yes?" I asked Rose as she rushed into the room.

  "Your father is looking everywhere for you," she said.

  "Wonderful," I muttered as I placed my half written letter into a book where it couldn't be found.

  There would be hell to pay if he did.

  I followed Rose down stairs and into my father’s library.

  “Father, you asked for me?”

  “Yes, dear,” have a seat. My father was a balding man who had made his fortune in the steel industry. He had recently allowed me to come back to Pittsburgh from boarding school in Connecticut.

  I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk and waited for him to speak while he shuffled around some papers.

  “Millie,” he said slowly, “as you know I have invested a lot of time and money in making sure you had the best education and upbringing that money could buy.”

  “I appreciate that, sir,” I had a terrible feeling about what he was going to say next.

  “As you know the Carter family has a vast fortune much like my own.”

  I nodded. I knew all of this.

  “Their son is your age, he just finished his law degree.”

  “That’s lovely for him.” I said, fearful, because I knew where this was going.

  He was going to marry me off to the boy.

  “I have made arrangements for you to meet the boy,” I have a feeling that it would be a good fit or you.

  “If that is your wish,” I told him, as long as I was in his home I would be at his mercy and wouldn’t be able to choose my own path.

  I didn’t dream of marriage, I dreamed of travel and adventure.

  “We will have lunch here with his family on Saturday,” he told me.

  I nodded, “I will be ready, sir.”

  “Good girl,” he rubbed his hands together, “now let me get back to work.”

  My heart beating a mile a minute, I left them room and the raced back up the stairs.

  I had to finished my letter to Julia, I had to tell her about everything that has changed. That we wouldn’t be able to see the world and help educate those less fortunate.

  It broke my heart to let my best friend down.

  When Saturday came, I wore a new dress that my father had made for me. He wanted his only daughter to look her best.