by Jean Rabe
Shawn lifted his hand in a gentle wave. “No. I caught it, I’ll watch it. You know I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this.”
“I still say—” Teri cut off her words and jumped out of the chair. Her arm hit the floating glass, causing it to tumble over and shatter against the hard-packed dirt. At the same time she brought her right arm up, and Shawn noticed that she held what looked like a clear glass marble in the palm of her hand. “There’s someone there!”
Shawn reached out, placing his hand on Teri’s arm. Her skin jumped at the contact and the hairs on Shawn’s arm stood up on end. Even without the contact, the energy building around her was tangible.
“It’s OK,” Shawn said. “I have wards in place. The only people who can come here are people I invite.” Teri looked at him out of the corner of her eye. When she relaxed and released the pent-up power, Shawn turned to the road and called out. “Baylee! She didn’t mean to frighten you. Come join us.”
Baylee stepped around the tree that she had taken shelter behind. She wrung her hands in her shirt as she walked forward. Her eyes shifted back and forth from Shawn to Teri. When she came up to the two of them, she stayed on Shawn’s side, keeping him between her and the other woman.
“Baylee, this is Teri, a friend of mine.”
Baylee ducked her head. “Hi, Miss Teri. Are you . . .” She paused briefly. “Are you a witch too?”
Teri’s eyebrows went up and she cast a quick glance to Shawn. He shrugged, but one corner of his mouth crept up in a slight smile. Teri sat back in her chair. “Depends what you mean by ‘witch.’ But I guess you could say that. What do you know about magic?”
“Only what Shawn’s been showin’ me.”
“I see.” Teri waved her hand in the direction of the broken glass without looking at the shards. A ringing filled the air as if several glass bells were rung at once. The shards reassembled into a glass that floated to Teri’s outstretched hand. Baylee’s fascinated stare brought a slight smirk to Teri’s face. She picked up the whiskey bottle and refilled her glass before taking a long swallow.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Shawn offered, turning his hand over. “I’m afraid I’m out of chairs.”
“T’ain’t a problem.” Baylee lowered herself to the ground and crossed her legs.
A few hours later, Baylee left to walk home, leaving the two wizards alone once again. They sat in silence. Once she was confident that the girl was well and truly gone, Teri turned to face her companion.
“Are you taking on an apprentice?”
“She is magically inclined. I can sense her aura.”
“I sensed some power, but that might have just been an aftereffect of you using magic in her presence. Just how much have you shown her?”
“A few simple wards and tricks. Nothing major.”
Teri shook her head. “The council would not approve if they knew you were even considering it.”
“I never said I was going to teach her how to do anything. I’ve just been expanding her mind a little bit.”
“Shawn, don’t give me that. You are introducing her to magic, and you know there’s no going back from that. Even if you don’t teach her anything, you’ve changed her life forever. Nothing can undo that. Did you even think this through?”
Shawn offered a shrug.
“And worse yet, you’ve let her in through your wards. Don’t you think that’s a little reckless?”
“She’s just a kid, Teri. And she has potential—something I never thought I’d find down here in the middle of nowhere. It would be a travesty not to entertain that.”
“Well, you know I’ll keep my mouth shut, but don’t do anything stupid. However, there is one very important thing I need to ask you.” She waited until Shawn turned toward her. Teri smiled and gestured at the now-empty bottle. “Do you have any more whiskey?”
It would be a full moon tonight. In less than an hour, the sun would set and Shawn would need to perform his monthly ritual. He closed his eyes and felt the demon stirring under the surface of the water, hoping to break free as the seal weakened. Shawn sat in the front room of his house, poring over a thick tome. He stopped to reach up and pinch the bridge of his nose, massaging it. He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Shawn jumped to his feet. A shotgun standing in the corner of the room flew into his outstretched hand. He walked to the door, making sure not to stand directly behind it, and leaned forward so he could look through the crack between the edge of the door and the frame. Baylee was on the other side, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. He gently put the gun down next to the frame and opened the door.
“Baylee. Come on in.” He gave her room to pass by.
Baylee gave a quick glance to the shotgun resting against the frame. Her attention passed over it and focused on the book open on the table. She took one tentative step over to the table before turning to face Shawn.
“Tonight’s the big night, ain’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Every full moon.”
“I’s wondering . . .” Baylee looked down at the floor of the shack. “Can I watch?”
Shawn took a deep breath. He walked over to the table and closed the book. He leaned back, half-sitting on the table. Both hands were behind him, propped on the edge of the table.
“It could be very dangerous.”
“I can take it.” Baylee raised her chin.
“I don’t mean just for you. If the ritual is interrupted, it could be disastrous for everyone around: your family, your friends, and so many more. There’s no telling how far the ripples would travel. If you do exactly as I say and stay where I tell you, you won’t get in the way.”
“I’d do anything you say. I wanna see some real magic, not just the little stuff. Ain’t that why you done told me’bout the ritual? So I could watch?”
Shawn couldn’t suppress the smile. “All right,” he said. “Come with me and I’ll show you where to stand.”
They walked into the kitchen and out the back door onto the porch. The axe rested in its usual spot against the wall and across from the opening leading down to the water. He stopped her just past the doorway.
“Wait here. You should have a good enough view of the lightshow from here without being in any danger. Don’t come any farther onto the porch. Got it?”
Baylee nodded and stood right where Shawn pointed. He offered her a smile before stepping up to the opening at the edge of the water. He took his customary position with his feet stretching over the edge, inches from the surface of the water. Before he began casting, he took a quick glance over his shoulder. Baylee stood where Shawn had left her, watching his every move. Shawn took a deep breath, faced the water, and began his spell. He circled his arms, trailing the lines of blue-white light as the magic began to take shape. The two concentric circles appeared, and Shawn gave a gentle push with his hands, sending the circles floating toward the center of the water.
Something scratched at his mind, raising the hairs on the back of neck. He turned his head to look behind him, and the magic ward shook in the air. Baylee stood in the doorframe with red eyes, holding Shawn’s shotgun. Shawn twisted and dropped, swinging his hand around and holding his palm up in front of him. Blue energy spread out from his fingers just as Baylee pulled the trigger. The rock salt hit his shield and it shattered like glass, absorbing most of the shock. But Shawn still fell back into the water, bleeding from several small punctures. The ward above the center of the pond burst in an explosion of sparkles.
Baylee walked to the edge of the porch, cocking the shotgun and chambering another round as she went. She brought the gun up so that she could aim and leaned over the edge to see Shawn. He raised his hand and summoned his magic to pull the gun to him. Her arms jerked forward, and it looked as if she would lose the weapon. The red in Baylee’s eyes flared and she yanked the weapon back against her and dropped the muzzle to aim at the prone wizard.
Shawn rolled to the side just before Baylee pulled the trigger.
The water exploded when the rock salt hit it. Shawn jumped to his feet and reached up to grab the porch railing. With a heave, he pulled himself up and swung over. Before his feet hit the ground, his hand was outstretched and the axe flew into it. By the time he had his footing Baylee had turned and was cocking the gun again. Grasping the axe in both hands, Shawn held it out in front of him, and the entire weapon turned blue. A large circle formed in front of him, easily deflecting the projectiles from the shotgun.
Taking two large steps, Shawn drew next to Baylee before she had a chance to chamber another round. He placed his right hand against her forehead and focused his energy. Her eyes lost the red glow and she collapsed as if her muscles had suddenly stopped working. With a sigh, Shawn rested his axe on the floor of the porch and put his weight on it.
A deep laugh caught his attention and his head snapped up to stare out at the lake. The water in the center had risen up to take on a humanoid form. The legs of the creature were connected to the surface of the lake and two white lights pierced the darkness where eyes should be. The entire body of the creature swirled as if it was a barely contained typhoon. When it moved forward, it did not step; it skated along the surface toward the wounded wizard.
“Your years serving as a glorified watchdog have left you weak and careless. My servants can manipulate you easily with just a possession charm. There was a time when Shawn Jacobs was a name to be feared and respected. I see that time has long since passed.”
Shawn stood straight and regained the axe with both hands. It still had a faint blue glow around it. “I can see all that time stuck in my lakeside prison has done wonders for your complexion. You should really get out more.”
“Foolish human. I will make your death agonizing for the suffering you have caused.”
The demon raised an arm and pointed at Shawn. A stream of water shot toward him with more force than a firehose. Shawn focused on the axe, and the stream parted just before making contact. The separated streams went past him and burst through the back wall of his shack. Even though he was protected from the brunt of the attack, Shawn slid back until the heels of his feet hit a piece of the wall that was still intact.
The creature vanished.
Shawn stared out at the lake, but the surface of it appeared undisturbed. He looked at the edges, but saw nothing in the darkness. Shawn took a few tentative steps forward, keeping his weight on the balls of his feet. His hands clenched so tightly on the axe that his knuckles turned white.
Suddenly water burst up between the cracks of his porch, wrapping and clamping around his ankles. Shawn swept down with the axe, managing to cut one foot free from the aqueous embrace. Another arm of water lanced up, taking Shawn along with it. The water demon swung Shawn through the air, tossing him toward the center of the pond. He landed with a loud splash, but still managed to hold onto the axe. He floated, forcing out the mouthful of water he’d swallowed.
The demon didn’t hesitate to pursue his quarry. It appeared mere feet from Shawn, gaining in height to tower over him. It raised its arms above his head and brought its still-growing fists down with the force of a tidal wave. Shawn squeezed the axe handle as the impact propelled him from the pond and through the air. He crashed against a cypress, the axe finally slipping from his numb fingers.
The demon’s harsh laughter filled the clearing. “I thought you would pose a greater challenge. In truth, your performance tonight has been a disappointment. I expected much more.”
Through half-closed eyes, Shawn watched the demon glide toward him.
In a last-ditch effort, Shawn managed to lift his hand and spread his fingers. He pushed his energy through them, lifting himself off the ground in the process.
The demon laughed louder.
He righted himself and let his feet touch the now-soaked ground, one hand extended toward the axe as he coaxed it to rise.
At the same time the demon’s arm raced forward, intercepting the haft in midflight. He pulled it toward him and dropped it in the water.
The laughter stopped and the demon slithered onto the bank. “Now, I finish this.”
The demon summoned a stream of water, and Shawn barely managed to evade it, realizing too late that he stood in a puddle that constricted around his ankles. Locked in place, he watched the water climb up his legs.
The demon licked its bulbous lips and watched. “You have no hope, wizard. I shall flood your lungs to the point of death and bring you back. Then I will drown you again and again until I tire of your suffering.”
Shawn lifted his gaze and smiled at the demon. The swirl of water was around his chest now, and it was so tightly wrapped the wizard had difficulty breathing. “It would appear I am not the only one out of practice,” he managed. “I remember you used to be more aware of your surroundings.”
The demon cocked its ugly head. “What trickery is this?”
At Shawn’s behest a blue circle rose out of the water, surrounding the demon before it could react. The axe surfaced, tracing a ward and trailing energy that solidified into an arcane symbol.
The demon let loose an unearthly howl and tried to surge forward but struck an invisible wall. As the blue energy intensified, a whirlpool formed and sucked the demon back into the pond, pulling it below the surface. The watery prison holding Shawn broke into a harmless sprinkle.
Shawn collapsed and gulped the fetid swamp air deep into his lungs. He forced himself to breathe slower and evenly. After a few minutes he picked himself up and looked at the back porch; Baylee was still unconscious. Shawn let his eyes close, and willingly submitted to the waiting oblivion.
“Until the next full moon,” he whispered.
THE TASTE OF STRAWBERRY JAM
Elizabeth A. Vaughan
Elizabeth A. Vaughan writes fantasy romance; her most recent novel is Destiny’s Star, part of the Star Series. At present, she is owned by three incredibly spoiled cats and lives in the Northwest Territory on the outskirts of the Black Swamp, along Mad Anthony’s Trail on the banks of the Maumee River. You can learn more about her books at www.eavwrites.com.
“There’s one, Chiquitita,” Nina said as she eased the big Mountaineer through the parking lot. “Get ready.”
Natalie turned and knelt in the big leather seat, getting ready to roll down the window. She wrinkled her nose, careful not to let the others see. She hated that nickname . . . little one . . . but the others loved to call her that, and she really wanted to be one of them.
Nina slowed the big SUV as it came next to the grocery cart. The fat lady unloading the food into her minivan didn’t even give them a look. The big purse was sitting in the child seat, the handles sticking up.
Alicia and Juanita were in the back seat, scanning the lot through the shaded back windows. “It’s clear,” Alicia said, popping her gum.
Nat hit the button and the window slid down quietly. The hot humid air blasted her face as they rolled past the cart. Nat held her breath, leaned out, grabbed the handles, and pulled the purse in through the window in one quick, quiet move.
The cloth of the purse was hot against her chest as she settled back into the seat. She hit the button again and the window slid back up, sealing out the air. There’d been no shriek from the lady. Nat could see her, still taking bags out of the cart.
Nina accelerated slightly, just enough to get them out of the lot and onto the street, headed for the expressway.
Alicia and Juanita erupted in the back seat, laughing and cackling with glee. Juanita thrust her hands between the seats, and pulled the purse away from Natalie. “Let’s see what you scored, Chiquitita.”
Nat remembered to breathe again, her heart rate returning to normal as the others chortled over the contents.
“Some cash . . . some credit cards . . . oohh, what’s this?” Juanita held up a paper bag from a store pharmacy. “Drugs, maybe?”
“Open it,” Nina ordered as she drove. “I’m getting us out of here. Back to the turnpike.” She looked in the rear-view mirror.
“Best we get out of here, esa.”
“Si,” Juanita said, holding up two vials of pills. “Our little one has done well. Oxycontin and morphine.”
Nina laughed and looked at Nat, her dark eyes flashing. “Soon you will be one of us, eh?” She turned the SUV into the entrance of the turnpike gate. “Find us some music, Chiquitita.”
Natalie played with the radio as they merged onto the busy pike. Out here in the sticks, there was nothing but country. She managed to find a rock station, and Nina turned the music up so that the bass shook the windows. Natalie settled back in the leather seat, and watched cornfields pass by as they sped down the road. Nina did the smart thing and set the cruise.
It had been Nina’s idea to ’jack the SUV and head down into Ohio along 75. They hit the exits in Ohio on the way to Chicago. The Succubi of Chicago would put them up and deal with the SUV. They’d also witness Natalie’s take and vouch for her to Detroit. She’d be a member of the gang then, an . . . she frowned, thinking. What word had they used? Initiate. Yeah. An initiate. She sighed, and adjusted the blower so the cool air was on her face.
Natalie pulled her tank top down, and looked at her tattoo again. Freshly inked, it had healed really fast. The small female demon perched on her breast, kneeling, her wings slightly spread.
She glanced over at Nina, who was focused on the road. Her tat was inked in; she was a full member. Natalie wanted to be like her some day, so confident and strong. A full member.
This little trip would earn her some color on those wings, Nat was certain of that.
Alicia was lighting up a cigarette in the back seat, and Nat wrinkled her nose at the smell.
Juanita had sorted through the purse, stripping it of anything of value. She tossed the bag itself into the back of the SUV. “Nina, we should stop someplace, throw out these bags. The next rest area.”