by Viola Grace
It was now her turn to be the center of Xander's attention. “All right, Abby. Since we don't know what your trigger is, I want you to concentrate on the feel of your own magic. Just keep quiet and recognize the taste and rhythm of your power."
She felt a little silly, but she knelt on the other side of Laura and closed her eyes. She breathed deeply and tried to recapture that tingle that spurred her magic to life. She thought of things that made her happy, then things that made her sad, and when she finally got around to things that scared her, she had her answer. It was adrenaline that made her magic live. She examined the properties of the energy that her body was releasing. It was green, purple and silver. A fantastic swirl of color. “I've got it."
His voice came from far away, “Good, girl. Now look at Laura with your eyes still closed. Do you see your energy?"
She looked over the mermaid from head to toe and saw a layer of her fabulous colors over the greens and blues of Laura's own magic. “Yup."
"Good. Call it back to you, slowly."
She tried several methods to recall it, but finally, it was pulling her own power into a large ball and hovering it over Laura that did the trick. Her magic was narcissistic. It wanted to be with itself. When Laura was clean, she looked over at Verne and saw a light trace of her magic on him. She floated the ball over and her power leapt home.
"There. I have it all. They are clean.” She opened her eyes and looked hesitantly at the werewolf first. He was back in human form and reaching for a towel. Then it was time for Laura.
"Thank you, Abby. I know that you didn't mean anything by it. But the power that you have isn't compatible with existing races. It can create a boost, but it isn't designed to be permanent.” Laura was climbing out of the water and Verne shoved Xander aside as he covered her with another towel.
"I didn't even know what I did. Only that it zapped you and brought those fish to life. How are they enjoying your pool?"
"Eh, they are pretty good company for stuff that was handcrafted in Bali. But they are rather cliquish.” She winked at Abby.
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to.” Abby was hanging her head when Laura padded up to her on wet feet.
"Sweetie, I am positive that you didn't mean to. You will learn control with time. But I hope for my sake that it is soon, ‘cause I really want to give you a big hug. You could use it."
"You can't, I am holding a charge.” Her arms had wrapped themselves around her torso without her volition and she looked up sorrowfully into those wonderful blue green mermaid orbs.
"I know. Now, I believe the next lesson that Alexander has for you is to harmlessly discharge your magic into something else. Something not moving.” An encouraging smile lit the mermaid's face.
A wan, hopeful smile crossed Abby's features. It was that or bawl like an infant. An inanimate object it must be.
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Chapter Nine
Harbinger was pleased, breakfast had been a fantastic hit, “Good idea, Mitsy. The Nexus was very happy with the breakfast and the yard. Can everyone feel it?"
When his siblings nodded their assent, he was pleased. The Nexus was sharing her energy with them passively and they were all benefiting by a form of passive transfer, and being her creatures, the benefits were making them smarter, faster and sneakier.
Their speed was increased as was evident when they managed to set the kitchen to rights in a matter of minutes. Juice was prepared for lunch or whenever the Nexus was thirsty and they scampered outside to work on the yard.
It needed a lot of work. The previous owner must have neglected the balance in the soil shamefully, creating that balance was first on their list for the evening's activities. The refurbished laptop was useful as the mermaid had an unprotected network at her house and they simply hacked her signal. Details of the world around them flowed in a matter of seconds. They had a question, it was answered as soon as they had the right way to phrase it.
"I love this Google thing. It's amazing.” Bitsy was in charge of their Internet access because he seemed to know what to look for. He was pretty good at it, too. They had taken paper from the Nexus's house and made lists of items that they specifically needed for the house and garden to be at their best, all compiled from the information that they had gathered.
It was a really long list.
The yard really needed some work.
When Bitsy came to him and stated that they needed some additional assistance for the Nexus in case the magical inhabitants of the neighbourhood got out of hand, he thought it was a splendid idea. The smallest gnome immediately went to a pharmaceutical website and started to shop.
The others were starting the tunnels that would carry them into the heart of Sargent and throughout their neighbourhood. The ultimate in discrete transportation. No one would see them on their little shopping trips again, as soon as the conduit was complete. This life thing was going to be fun.
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Chapter Ten
"Abby, would you come with me please?” Xander gestured for her to preced him as he moved toward the gate between the properties. He kept a careful distance between them, but stayed close enough to let her know she was not alone. It was cold comfort, but she would take it.
Her own energy was a steady push against her. With no outlet, it wrapped around her like a smothering blanket. An itchy, suffocating blanket.
She stumbled once or twice and whimpered as no one came to her aid. Xander merely waited until she righted herself, then continued to shepherd her into her own backyard. Obviously, touching her was out of the question. That dampened her enthusiasm for his body slightly. Only slightly.
"The rock at the far end of your yard should be a safe target.” He kept his arms at his sides as he followed her to the back of the property and waited for her to discharge her magic.
Suddenly she felt slightly exposed, “Could you turn around?” It was as if he had asked her to disrobe.
"What?"
"Could you turn around? I haven't done this before and don't want anyone to watch. Passing along energy seems ... personal.” Her blush could have sparked a fire.
He gave her an astonished look, but turned his back to her anyway.
The tree in her yard looked oddly patient as if it had been waiting for something for a long time. “Am I supposed to use the oak?"
"No, the stone. Oaks are alive. Who knows what would happen?"
Oops. Talk about belated information. She needed a Nexus manual. How to not be a power flinging idiot in 10 days.
The oak was calling her, pleading with her to share her magic. She altered her path slightly and then was within reaching distance of the rock and the oak. One needed her, the other didn't. She chose.
"It isn't working. Why isn't it working?” She winced a bit at her own tone, the bark under her hands merely waited.
"You need to relax into it, let the power flow away from you and into the rock. May I show you?"
The faintness of his tone left no doubt that he was still facing away. What an honourable guy. Sucker. “No. I need to work through this. No peeking.” Relax and let the power flow. Deep breathing aided her relaxation and with her mind's eye watching her power, she let a trickle of power into the tree and in seconds, she felt it drawing the magic from her with a raw hunger that she was unprepared for. Her hands could not leave the rough bark, but her mouth was free. “Xander, I have screwed up here!"
His voice mercifully grew closer, “You know, I had a feeling that you would do something like this.” He still didn't touch her, but was sitting next to her, shaking his head. “Relax and let it take the surplus. It will take a few minutes, but it will stop when it senses your regular life force."
With the closeness of his body, her magic flared into a second dose for the tree. This was going to take a while if he didn't get his hotness out of her field of vision. She could just about imagine how much harder it would be if he wasn't wearing a shirt. Oh lord, there wa
s another wave.
It was unending, and when Xander finally clued into the little fact that the tree was not letting her go, he made the mistake of trying to pry her away from her wooden companion. The pressure of his body behind her as he pulled at her arms to facilitate the release caused a pulse in her body that gave the tree enough energy to stroke her hair gently with a low hanging branch. That just wasn't right.
"Okay, that is really creeping me out. Xander, can you back up a bit?” Abby hastily added, “Not all the way, just let me get my left leg out."
He seemed to understand what she wanted and moved aside with one arm around her waist, keeping them in contact. Carefully, she extended her leg and reached out with her sandaled foot. As her toe connected with the rock, a massive discharge of magic pulsed through her and into the stone. She also reached out to draw her own energy from the tree and that is when it let her go. The instant that it freed her, Xander pulled her back and they tumbled to the ground with him on top. Oh, this was so going to mean another trip to that rock.
"Hah. I knew that there was a way to do it.” She was smug and more than a little impressed. He felt as hard as he looked.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “What, precisely did you do?"
"What, weren't you watching?” Hmmm. Was that a wand in his pocket or was he happy to see her?
"Yes, I was, but I still don't know what you did.” He was propped up on his elbows.
The fantasies that romped through her head were now guaranteeing another trip to the rock. “Uh, I improvised?” A bright and cheery smile that felt more like a grimace. She almost sighed in disappointment as he moved off her and sat next to her on the grass.
"Seriously."
"Seriously, I drained my magic through the rock. Then started to siphon my own power back from the tree. The tree let go, then you jerked me through the air and here we are.” She gave a small shrug.
"You learn quickly."
"I do try. Whatever this is, I want to get a handle on it quickly. The sooner I control it, the better.” Her own words rang in the air between them and she shook at the truth of it. She really did want to control this thing that was running through her, it surprised her. She didn't even know that magic was real until yesterday and now she was a living fountain of the stuff.
"Don't worry.” With a caring move, he reached out to take her hand. The shock of energy that rushed to him with the skin-to-skin contact made his eyes flare electric blue and seconds later, he leaned forward to take her mouth with his. For a slow kiss, there was a ton of energy between their bodies, lips and tongues in action, but the more power she generated, the more rushed through the circuit until Xander broke from her in a daze. “Abby, I thought you discharged your power.” His tone was not accusing, but his eyes were still glowing.
"I did. It came back.” She was practically flying apart at the seams. Xander had not taken enough energy to drain her and she really needed a stiff one. A rock, that is, not anything else. She rose to her knees and stumbled over to the rock, this time staying clear of the oak as she dumped the power into the rock.
"Xander, I am just going to sit here until you go home. I am a little out of control tonight and want to sit here and meditate for a while.” And to not think about how you felt against me. Definitely not that. She sent another wave of power through the stone. She watched him go and part of her was jumping up and down in frustration. She was pretty sure that if she could get her hands on him, they would end up between the sheets.
Apparently, power was an aphrodisiac. Now if only she could bottle it, she could make a fortune.
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Chapter Eleven
Harbinger skipped the online shopping in favour of keeping an eye on the Nexus. Not once did he feel a tug on the energy that bound him and his brethren to her.
She was gaining control at an amazing pace.
He was interrupted in his musings by her return to her property. Quickly he called out, “She's coming back. Hide!” Harbinger himself tucked a shrub around his body to conceal the paler expanse of his face and hands.
He heard scrambling in the yard and the slide of the back door so he knew that they had made it to safety. Or to a less obvious watching position.
The Nexus certainly did not need to see them with the borrowed laptop. She had enough on her mind.
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Chapter Twelve
Locking the world out used to be a simple matter of not answering the phone. But now, with a gaggle of gnomes alive and in her house, Abby was having a few difficulties ignoring the last few days.
While dawn cheerfully tumbled through her window, the gnomes were taking turns knocking on her door. Each knock was as individual as the gnomes themselves. Three hours passed with their tiny fists knocking and she ignored them by dragging a pillow over her head.
Overnight her optimism had morphed into panic. What was she doing? These people were nuts and there was no way that the gnomes she had carefully assembled were alive in the world and doing her housework. If she stayed in bed long enough, it just might be true. It was only when a human knock and voice came through the door that she moved the pillow.
"Abby, are you okay in there? We need to talk."
Grimacing, she sat up and ran her hands through the mess that used to be her hair. “I'm up."
Seesee continued as if she hadn't heard anything, “All right, I know that yesterday was rough on you. We had hoped that you would be able to ease into the whole Nexus thing, but you weren't and here we are. We know that you didn't mean to supercharge Laura, but that is why Xander offered his services. As an actual magic user, he has a far better idea of the control techniques needed than the rest of us do."
Abby calmly listened for a while and then announced, “Give me ten minutes and I will make my appearance."
The shower ensuite to her room had never been so welcome. A tiny bit of privacy in an overrun world. Her body welcomed the water while her mind took an opportunity to leave her alone. No thoughts of magic, mermaids or sex were allowed while she showered, and it was only as she towelled off that she noted that all sounds in the house had ceased.
Bemused, she applied lotion to her skin and took her time selecting her clothing. Today was a day for matching undies. Bright blue and black lace and satin hugged her body snuggly as she worked the bra into place. Ignoring her face and admiring the fit of the clothing in the mirror, her mood lifted.
The jeans and t-shirt were her comfy favourites. The warm and soothing scent of her fabric softener relaxed her another notch and she padded barefoot out of her room and down the hall to the kitchen. She braced herself to confront her madness.
Her madness had brought a friend and chocolate croissants.
"Well you look rested at least.” Miranda was helping herself to some coffee and enjoying the pastry.
"I tend to sleep when I am under stress.” Her socks made no noise as she joined them.
Randy poured a cup of coffee for Abby as she moved into the open chair across from them. Seesee's hair loaded her coffee with sugar and cream, the tendrils moving gracefully in the morning light. It was creepy to watch a hank of hair stirring a spoon in the bone china cup, but neat all the same.
Randy said, “That's how Xander takes his coffee."
How the hell would she know? The green monster of jealousy was hopping up and down at the thought of Randy pouring coffee for her man.
"That's nice. Why are you two here?” She set the cup she was sipping at down with a thud.
Seesee took the lead. “We are here to answer any questions that you may have about the magical community. Well, not all of them, but anything that you can think of and that we can answer."
"Seriously? I can ask you anything?” Abby was almost delighted and Seesee's hair twitched in reaction.
"Anything."
"Okay, I had this crazy dream that I had magical talents, my gnomes had come to life and that my neighbours were magical cr
eatures from myth and legend.” She sipped her coffee as the other women giggled.
"Well, Abby, magic is real. Your gnomes are in the backyard, you supercharged Laura and Verne, and my hair is folding your napkins.” She crossed her arms and they enjoyed a snicker. “Any other questions? Feel free to ask."
So she did. She quizzed them about unicorns, leprechauns, dragons and gryphons. Three were real, one was fake. The leprechauns had been invented by a Nexus centuries earlier and had died out. He had only made them male. It had been hard for them to mate, but they had really tried. It was a blot on the magical community.
All magical creatures with enough power could transform into a human format, even the unicorns. Most magical creatures bred within their own species, strictly to conserve magic. No one wanted to water down the minimal magic that let them engage in their transformations.
"That makes sense. So what do you guys need me for?"
Randy fielded this one, “The magic is running out. Intermarriage is weakening magical bloodlines and fewer and fewer mages and creatures are being born each year.” She smiled ruefully. “I am living proof. The only member of my family who can't turn on a light with the flick of a finger from ten feet away."
"Wow. Do you get along with your family?"
"Of course. Now that we are no longer children and they have ceased playing Hansel and Gretel with me."
"I haven't heard of that game, what does it entail?” Seesee was curious now.
Randy took a hefty slug of coffee. “Well, the magical kids take the non-magical ones into the woods, set a disorientation spell and run away giggling while the lost child goes out of its mind with panic."
Abby and Seesee looked at each other, if her face was anything like the gorgon's, the horror that she was feeling was all over it. “Oh god. I am so sorry Randy."
"Hey. I made it to adulthood, didn't I? And all of my cousins have apologized many times over in the last decade.” She shrugged and grabbed a cookie. With her experience ringing in the room, the other two were quiet.