Magic After Dark: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Margo Bond Collins

  Plamen spoke when something needed to be said. He was as careful with his words as he was with his fire.

  “Plamen doesn’t like not knowing what’s to come. Who does? When we were hunted last time, the attack was forceful and fast. Five of them came. I think they thought it would be easy to take down the three of us.” I lowered my head, remembering that night. Kem had known we had been attacked, he had come to replace Luca, but Plamen and I never spoke about that night again. “The fight was brutal. They never got near the Irizat Luna, but the danger they posed was too close.” A sick laugh escaped me. I wiped the back of my hand over my cheek to wipe away a tear. “I guess we should feel fortunate, they lost all five of their men. But, the death of Luca will forever haunt us.” I looked at Kem. “The hardest thing about that night was knowing it was Gypsies, our own kind, who tried to kill us for the very thing we protect for all of us.”

  He pulled me up to him and wrapped his arms around me. “We won’t let it happen again,” he said into my hair.

  I backed away from him and looked into his midnight eyes. “It’s already happening. This time, they’re taking their time.”

  I went to my room to contact Inerique.

  “Jeta,” Kem called. I turned around. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Lines creased around his eyes and mouth with his conviction.

  We always had each other’s backs. It was the way of the Protectors. We were a unit, a family. If one was hurt, we all hurt. His statement was heartfelt, but this was different. Whoever was coming had more than knowledge; they possessed the magic of knowing. I felt it in every cell of my body. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

  His head dipped and his hair fell over his shoulders, surrounding his bleak expression. I wondered if he regretted his decision to join us. I went into my room and closed the door behind me. The scent of sage lingered between the layers of perfumes and leather. I sat on the floor and found a comfortable position. Rolling a metal bead on my dread between my fingers, I thought of Inerique. Her name alone brought chills to my warmed flesh. She was given the most powerful gift of all by the Irizat Luna. Her magic enabled her to control the minds of people: what they saw, what they said, and what they did. It was an ironic gift for someone who saw the good in everyone. But, I think the Irizat Luna knew she would never use her magic for selfish reasons, or for cruelty. And, as far as I knew, she never had. She died very old, beautifully, and naturally. Naturally... that was important to our people.

  I’ve been taught the ancient Gypsy’s magical ways since the day I came into this world. Protectors aren’t made, they are born. Like Plamen and Kem, and all who came before us, I wasn’t given the choice. But, unlike Plamen and Kem, I was the only one with fair skin, hair the color of summer, and bright metallic mint green eyes in my coven; and I was the only Gypsy who didn’t possess a magical gift. I should, considering the high position I was in. I was able to speak to Inerique. She had chosen me to be her voice. Her spirit is why I govern the other Protectors. Most Gypsies, over time past, had forgotten how powerful we could be. But, even in the afterlife, Inerique’s vow of protection never faltered.

  I closed my eyes. With my legs crossed and my hands on my knees, palms up, I took several deep breaths to relax and welcome Inerique’s spirit to flow through me. The air around me gently stirred. The ink etched into my skin liquefied. My head fell back as the first hint of her energy tingled in my fingertips. She was close, and I was grateful. Her coursing, heated current rode along my veins. It was as if rays of sunlight radiated over my entire body. “Inerique,” I whispered.

  A warm voice filled my head. “Hello, my dear girl.”

  Each time I spoke with the kind woman, I was always awed by the sheer amazement of the moment. I nodded my head in respect. “Thank you for coming, Inerique.” The air in the room shifted as her presence moved about. The rays of the sun darkened as her shadow glided toward the window.

  “Ah, the dead.” Without opening my eyes, I knew she was gazing out at the cemetery. “They used to be so peaceful. These days they restlessly stir without knowing why.” She let out a long sad sigh. “So very sad.”

  I knew it was rude to beckon her and not let her have a few moments to ponder our world, but I desperately needed her guidance more than ever. “Inerique, I—”

  “You should have called me sooner.” The warm sun was on my back. She had moved and I hoped she had not left me yet. She hadn’t. “I sense tension and danger is very close.”

  “It is. The death bird has cried out,” I said. I waited for her to respond with her usual encouraging words of wisdom and guidance. She didn’t.

  “When the death bird cries, someone always dies. Few believe in its curse. But, it is very real, and soon one of you will face the inevitable.” I knew this, but to hear it from an ancient Protector was devastating.

  “There’s more. Kem found the death bird in the forest this morning. Its gut was sliced for a pocket; a star crystal was tucked inside.” The horrid moment seemed so long ago, but it had only been an hour before.

  My heart raced as her energy went wild around and through me. “Child, listen to me. It is too late, death has chosen. Protect the Irizat Luna. Protect the Irizat Luna. Protect the Irizat Luna,” she repeated, until I felt her fade completely away.

  My body slumped forward. I rested my head on my raised knees. That hadn’t been as helpful or positive as I had hoped. Some direction would have been nice, as would having been told who was hunting us. I was sure if Inerique had known or sensed anything, she would have told me. Wouldn’t she? There had to be something I was missing. There was probably a spell to reveal some sort of connection to whoever killed our feathered warning. But, I didn’t know what it was. I doubted Plamen or Kem did either. Each of their magic abilities was specific and perfect for being a Protector.

  I rose to my feet. Prying up the board, I retrieved the Irizat Luna. I peeled away the silk scarf. The bells chimed as I set it on the floor. The small intricate box felt brilliant in my hands. Pure, unadulterated magic resonated from within it. It was the size of a ring box. On the outside was an X-like design crossed higher than the center. At the crest of it was a small iridescent stone, the same as in its center. Cupped under the design was a larger and more beautiful stone. The rainbow of colors swirled and glinted with the desire to be stroked. I did.

  Inside the box was what we spent every waking moment to protect. Every Gypsy was born with magic. The Irizat Luna simply brought their magic to life. If in the wrong hands, the world could be in very big trouble. I knew I shouldn’t, but I wanted to see it, needed to see it. The latch was small and delicate, but it held as fiercely as a warrior to its sword in battle. Unless, you were taught how to open it, as I had been. I pressed the small stone, then the large one. With my other hand I slid back the hook from the metal eye on the front of the box. The feeling, upon seeing the glass vial inside, was no different than it had been the first time I saw it. The sheer beauty of it awed me, and I was hypnotized by the power it offered. The lid was the hilt of a tiny dagger. Its blade was hollowed out and twisted. It looked as violent as it was beautiful.

  I closed the lid and rewrapped the Irizat Luna in the scarf. The bells sang a happy and light tune. The exact opposite of the stagnate foreboding feeling in the air. I unzipped my makeup case and tucked the magical relic into the secret compartment I had fashioned. It would be safe there as long as the three of us stayed clear of danger. Plamen and I had made this trip twice before, and Kem only once. The challenge this time wasn’t only to get to the top of Rapture Mountain by noon on the day of the Black Moon; it was to not get killed on our way there.

  Keepsake

  For the next hour we packed. Plamen eventually came in, and finished his own packing. Then, he and Kem turned off the water and electricity. I admired them as they worked. They were my men, and they were good, honest, and strong. I was a fortunate leader to have them. Kem, the kind one in our threesome, and the most peaceful one of us, h
ad never raised his voice except to howl into the night in his wolf skin. He wanted to say goodbye to a few of the locals, but I forbid it. We needed to leave undetected and without traces. The Black Moon would not rise for another forty-four days but when it did we had no choice but to be there. My duffle bag was heavier this time. It held more weapons and more clothes for the length of time we would be away.

  Plamen started a fire. The three of us stood around the blazing orange glow. Tossing the death bird into the flame, I cupped the stone in my hand. We joined hands and said a silent prayer for our lives. I went out to the cemetery one last time to say goodbye to the dead as a respect, and thanked them for their protection, and as a reminder.

  When I came back in to get my makeup case, Kem was sitting at the table. His eyes were sad. I knew he didn’t want to leave. His love for shifting and running into the forest to free the creature that lived inside him would always win over his human side. “I’m sorry, Kem.”

  He took my hand in his. “Don’t be. I understand.”

  My need to protect him was deeper than a sunken ship in the Atlantic. If I let my guard down and anything happened to him or Plamen, another part of me would die, like it had with Lucas. The three of us had become one. Kem turned away from me. “I’ll put your bag in the car.” He bent and picked up my duffle I had set near the door.

  As Kem opened the door, Plamen came in from outside. “Are you ready to go?” he asked me. Plamen wasn't always the kindest, soft spoken, or had words that could ease your sorrow, but he had his own way of making you feel like everything would be okay. We had known each other since we were just kids. I lost my first tooth with him. Over the years, our relationship never faltered, even when I was given the position as leader of the Protectors, he stood at my side. He was my rock, but I was never brave enough to tell him.

  When you became a Protector, nothing in the outside world mattered except protecting the Irizat Luna. There was no room for the majority of what it took to lead a normal life, or for love. Now that I was twenty-two, the thought of having someone in my life, on a different level other than the comrade, appealed to me. But, it was also something I knew our elders would never approve of. For centuries it’s been like this. When you commit to being a Protector, you’ve committed one hundred percent of your body, your soul, your mind, and your magic. You’re trusted to keep the ultimate secret of the Irizat Luna. Recently, I’ve asked myself, “what do I get in return for this life,” I didn’t like doubting what I was born to do. I had no answer.

  Scraping together the more important thoughts of getting us out of here and on the road, I said, “Yes,” to Plamen. He gave me a look suggesting I wasn’t quite sure of my answer. But, to prove him wrong, I picked up my makeup case from the table and strode past him. “I’ll be in the Jeep.”

  It was eleven AM when we left. Not bad, considering what had to be done. We wanted to take our time to get to Rapture, but I feared that would be dangerous, considering what Kem had found this morning. So many angry thoughts flooded my head, and the questions were out of control. The worst part was I didn’t know if we would ever know the answers to most of them.

  Plamen climbed into the driver’s seat and Kem took the back seat. The motor grumbled to life. We left pebbles and dust flying up in our wake as we left our home.

  “What did Inerique say?” Plamen asked. There was a hope in his tone I had rarely heard. I looked at him and his gaze drifted from the road to me, and back again. His hair had fallen over his eyes. The messy style made him look more menacing than he did already. I could tell, like me, he hadn’t gotten much sleep, if any.

  “She only told me what we already knew. She...” I trailed off, not wanting to continue what I began to say.

  “What, she what?” he pressed.

  Looking out the window, not wanting to see the disappointment in his features, I said, “She seemed distraught. She said, “death has chosen and it’s too late”.”

  He said nothing.

  We headed north on 75. The sun was high. Plamen kept his eyes on the rearview mirror to make sure no one was following us. Which was important, because someone obviously knew where we lived, so they would most likely watch and see what our next move was. I still couldn’t imagine how anyone found us in such a remote, measly town. Someone had to have very good resources for contacts. I couldn’t imagine there was a leak in our coven. But there was no other explanation. There was no need to have that conversation. Plamen had said as much. As always, our thoughts were one and the same.

  The drive was long. Kem was sprawled out in the backseat, exhausted from being up so early and tracking through the forest. I lay my head against the warm window as the air conditioner blew on my face. After hours of driving, we had made it out of the state. It was well after midnight when we arrived at a dingy motel. Only the ‘O’, ‘T’, ‘E’, and ‘L’ were lit. We didn’t care, we could pay with cash and we were exhausted.

  Since Kem had the most pleasant demeanor, he went in and got a room. Plamen’s sneering gaze would have the person behind the front desk remember who he was, even though just passing through. Shortly after, Kem came out of the closet-sized building dangling a key. Plamen drove to the backside of the second building. As he parked in front of unit 11A, I cringed, praying the inside was cleaner than the outside.

  The moment Kem unlocked the door and pushed it open, a God awful scent wafted past us. It was the combination of cigarette stench, K-9, and bleach. I seriously considered sleeping in the Jeep, before Plamen nudged me inside.

  The walls were a grungy light green. It was the color my mind contrived when thinking about a psych ward. A decrepit nightstand, missing the front corner foot, hobbled between two double sized beds. An old tube TV sat on the opposite wall, on a wooden dresser that looked like it would crumble at any moment. The carpet was brown shag. God only knew what creatures had made their home in it. I most certainly would not be taking my shoes off in this place. Actually, I decided to sleep fully dressed. And, with the danger that couldn’t be too far behind us, I would sleep with my knives on my hip like I’ve done many nights before. The sleeping arrangements wouldn’t be awkward. Plamen and I would share a bed, and Kem would take the other one.

  Plamen set down the bags and went into the bathroom. I couldn’t imagine what I would find in there. My brain already conjured a rusted bathtub, clogged sink, and rings of whatever was left from the previous tenants, in the toilet.

  My assumptions and sick imagination was confirmed when Plamen came out. “I’m glad I’m a guy,” he said.

  I cringed and shivered with the disgust of everything surrounding us. But, this place was on the way to Rapture, and no one would remember freaks like us. “I'm thirsty—I’m going to find a vending machine. Anyone else want anything?” I asked.

  Each of them did. When I closed the door behind me, I noticed a car had parked next to ours since we arrived. The rest of the motel parking lot was empty. Odd, I thought. The black sedan was backed in and there was a sticker in the top right corner of the windshield—with a bar code. Putting my radar on high alert, I walked down the corridor in search of the vending machines. Some of the overhead lights were out, while others flickered. It wasn’t the atmosphere that had me on edge, although it didn’t help, it was something I couldn’t place. I heard the hum and clattering of an ice machine, and knew I was close. As I reached the end of the corridor, I turned to the right to find a small area with an ice machine, and a soda and snack machine. The red bottles beckoned me. The soda would not help me sleep, but I didn’t care. My body was amped up so tight, I didn’t think sleep was in my cards anyway.

  I fed a dollar into machine and pressed the letter/number combination for my selection. The bottle crashed to pit of the machine. I fed two more dollars in and pressed the combination for Plamen’s and Kem’s soda. I pushed the flap inward and retrieved the drinks. I turned and ran into someone. I looked up into the eyes of a man wanting more than a late night snack. I hadn’t heard him
come up behind me, which was very odd since my senses were always on high alert.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “Yeah,” was all I managed, and walked around him back toward the room.

  “Excuse me,” he called. I turned around. “You forgot your change,” he held up quarter.

  “Keep it,” I said.

  He studied me like I was a creature in a zoo. Ignoring me, he flicked the quarter in the air. I raised my hand and caught it in my palm. Awed or amused by something he saw, a sly grin crept over his face. The gleam in his eyes, as colorless as ice, coiled a knot in the pit of my stomach. His hair was similar to Plamen’s, but short on the sides. A dark shadow of a beard lined his chin and rose to meet trimmed sideburns. He looked like he had been traveling all day, like us.

  “Are you heading out tomorrow?” he asked.

  Ignoring him, I turned away and headed back to the room. His stare bored into my back as heavy as steel and as sharp as barbed wire. Shoving the quarter into my pocket, I had a feeling the black sedan was his. When I got back to the room I didn’t tell the boys about the strange encounter. It would only put them in protective mode, and they needed rest. Despite wanting a drink, both of them were already laid out in their beds. Kem was already asleep. Plamen had the remote in his hand, switching through the few stations that were available. After the third go-round, he turned it off.

  The soda burned my throat as I took a drink. It was a welcomed sensation. I went to the bathroom to freshen up as best I could without touching anything, and came back into the bedroom to sprawl out beside Plamen.

  The morning sky was dark. It was going to be a rainy day. I wanted to get on the road before morning rush hour traffic, so I went outside to put my bag in the back of the Jeep. The black sedan was gone. For the small favor, I was grateful, no matter what it meant. My heart seized as every cell in my body trembled when I saw the black keepsake tucked underneath the wiper blade. Plamen and Kem came out to bring their bags. The moment they saw me frozen in place, and realized what I was staring at, they halted. I pulled out the feather from under the blade.