by Liz Long
“How so? They were trying to talk you up to get information out of me about my own gift. I deflected their attention away from me.”
“Nice defense mechanism. Maybe they were being nice since you wandered up and joined the table without asking.”
“I asked. You said Delia wouldn’t mind. Despite your defense mechanism, I saw another chair and thought she could have that one just as easily.” He brushed against me; my skin tingled where our arms touched. I ignored it and focused on my annoyance.
“What logic does that even make? Maybe you should’ve sat in the empty chair since everyone was comfortable.”
“Maybe I wanted to sit next to someone interesting.”
“We’re all interesting, I think. But I feel the same way they do—why would I want to talk about my personal life with someone who isn’t willing to put his out on the table, too?”
“We just met. You don’t need to know my entire life story.” He leaned casually against the bar, those clear blue eyes looking down at me. I wasn’t the type of girl to swoon, but I certainly would’ve admired his good looks had I not been sputtering my irritation.
“I don’t…gah, I only mean that if you don’t volunteer information about yourself, it’s hard for people to trust you. That and you need to not bait people into making them angry. Especially not the first time you really meet them.”
“Is this because of Nikolas?”
I was now so confused in this conversation that I stopped my rant dead cold. “I—what? Nikolas? No, this isn’t about Nikolas being rude.”
“Oh, good. I thought it was about you wanting to sit next to Nikolas.”
“What are you even talking about? I have no interest in him, if that’s what you’re inferring. It’s about Nikolas being rude because you were being an ass.”
“That’s where I disagree. I wanted to have a seat and not talk about myself. People always want to talk about themselves. I’d rather hear about everyone else.”
This conversation was going nowhere. I felt a headache coming on from Gabriel’s verbal puzzles. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he enjoyed it. I thought I saw amusement in his eyes and I huffed.
“Then you could ask questions and be pleasant, as opposed to starting a competition between the Firestarters,” I responded. “Or doubt my abilities because I’m female.”
“I never said that. I don’t really care how talented you are; you aren’t here because you’re terrible. Sheffield refuses to take in anyone with just average talents. Even I know that much.”
“Then what about you? Why are you here if you won’t even talk about your gift?”
“I said I don’t use it very often. I didn’t say I wasn’t good at it. You’re assuming things.”
“You just don’t want to talk about whatever gift you’re hiding and good lord how long does it take to get a beer in this place?” I exclaimed, turning around to the old men who were now ordering their rounds.
The one who leered earlier turned around. “Wh-, whassa-matta, sweetheart?”
I knew my mistake immediately. I could feel them mentally undressing me. It gave me the heebie-jeebies.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I’m just impatient.”
“You’re a fiery little thing,” another creeper friend said.
“You have no idea,” Gabriel muttered under his breath.
Now more than a couple men were a part of this, perhaps three others turned to look at me. Officially ready to get back to my table, I looked past them to find the bartender. He had served a few of them and moved onto the other end of the bar.
“Can I buy you a beer?” one offered. I shook my head.
“Oh, c’mon. She wants a beer,” weirdo number one said.
“I can buy my own drinks, thank you,” I responded. I avoided all eye contact and chose to study the tap handles.
“C’mon, sugar. Let me buy you a drink. We can sit and talk at that table in the corner,” he said. Thick gray hair and watery dark eyes accompanied his drunken state.
“I’ve got friends waiting on drinks.”
“I want to buy you a drink,” he said.
“If it helps me get through here any faster, I’ll take six,” I replied.
“I’m not that much older than you, Red.”
“You’re old enough for this to be incredibly inappropriate.” Gritting my teeth together, I forced the heat back down from my hands.
“I’m just old enough to teach you a few things. I bet you can teach me a new thing or two,” he said. His friends laughed and I made a face at him.
“You’re like what, 50? Sorry, I don’t go for your type.”
He took a step towards me and I felt the situation had quickly turned from annoying drunk to possible danger. His friends looked like they’d rather encourage than stop him.
“Age ain’t nothin’ but a number. You can do anything you want to me. I’m not your father.”
“Damn right you’re not. My father wouldn’t be this stupid.”
“C’mon. Let’s go somewhere. I’ll let you call me Daddy. Or any other name you want.”
A snarl escaped my lips as I turned away from him. Time to go before I set him on fire. I took a step to the other side of the bar, but the instigator grabbed my arm.
“You should really let me buy you a beer. Let me get to know you better,” he rumbled. His breath smelled of alcohol, stale cigarette smoke, and mustard. Yellowed teeth, slightly crooked, filled his dirty mouth. His skin, wrinkled and pocketed, looked like alligator leather. He ran his other hand down my back and touched my butt.
“And now we’ve gone a step too far. Let go,” Gabriel stepped in. He moved in to take the guy’s hand off me.
“Chill, Gabriel. He won’t do anything,” I said. I glared back at the man. His grip on my wrist tightened. Narrow eyes met my glare, while a smile slithered onto his face. This guy wouldn’t back down. I made my skin as hot as a stove and the guy yanked his hand back, immediately cradling it to his chest. He glowered at me.
“What the hell?” he growled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said in a lowered voice. “But don’t touch me again.”
I took a step back, made sure he wouldn’t lunge at me, and walked over to the other side of the bar.
“Dude, if you don’t give me six beers right now, I’m going to light this place on fire,” I called to the bartender, waving money at him. He rolled his eyes, thinking me melodramatic, but took my money and went to the fridge. He motioned he had to go in back to get more.
“That was stupid,” Gabriel commented. He sauntered up beside me and waited to help carry beers.
“I don’t really care what you think, personally,” I said, looking at him. “I don’t need your help.”
“Think what you want, but I highly doubt you should be alone for the rest of the night.”
I looked at him and felt the incredulous look on my face. “Are you serious? They’re drunk old dudes who won’t even remember that tomorrow.”
“They’re pissed. That one guy knows something isn’t right thanks to your sunburn. He might call your bluff.”
“You’re exaggerating. Don’t be mad because you didn’t get to play hero.”
“I’m hardly a hero,” he said.
The bartender brought me my order and we gathered them to walk back to the table.
“I don’t think you’re a hero. I think you wanted to be one then to follow up that poor performance of masculinity at the table.”
“Ouch,” he said, skirting around a chair. “Did you ever think that maybe I wanted to make sure you didn’t get into any trouble?”
“In that case, thanks. But I still think I’m right,” I added right as we reached the table. I went back to my seat and Gabriel annoyingly sat beside me again.
“Short temper, so stubborn…my, what an Aries,” he said as he pulled a cigarette out of its box.
“You must think all Firestarters have the fire sign,” I said. I
took an angry swig of my beer.
“No, but late March birthdays do.”
“How do you know when my birthday is?”
The hand bringing the lighter to his lips paused and he gave me a surprised look. “Good guess, I suppose.”
“That took forever,” Finley interrupted, waving his hand around for attention. “We finished our last beers when you left. I’ve been without one for like four minutes.”
“Yeah, everything okay?” Keegan said, looking straight at me.
“Your threat’s up at the bar, throwing back those tequila shots right now,” Gabriel said to Nikolas. He gave the table a brief summation of what happened.
“They weren’t happy. Lucy shouldn’t be alone. That dude knows something’s not right. He’s probably forming a coalition now,” he finished.
“Get real. They’re idiot drunks,” I said to him.
“I don’t think I should fight anyone that looks like my dad,” Finley said after a look at the group. “I’m not saying it’d stop me, but I’d feel guilty during the punches.”
I looked over at the men, who went back to another table near the other side of the room by the rednecks.
“See? No problem. Now, Fin, I think you were telling me about why you liked Wolverine’s backstory so much,” I said.
We easily led the conversation back into silliness of heroes and who would win in a tournament match. Brooklyn went outside to make a few phone calls while Delia and Bianca attempted to jump in about the female characters they knew. Even Gabriel participated in the debate and the tension between everyone seemed to disappear. We were friends having a night out after work.
Chapter 7
After maybe another hour, we decided to head back to the lot. We collected our things and headed out the door. The parking lot was not nearly as full as when we arrived, but we still had to cross through the entire gravel parking lot.
Delia giggled as Bianca tripped; they’d both had more than a little to drink. I’d only had three and a half, managing to sneak the others into Delia’s hands when no one was looking. Keegan had only just caught on with the last round and he’d merely shared a secret smile with me. I might be a little more giggly than usual, but I didn’t want to risk being “that girl” on our first night out.
“I’m calling it even before I see Brooklyn’s boat! Shotgun!” Finley yelled.
“That’s cheating, dumbass,” Brooklyn told him.
“We can still get back to catch Angel’s poker game,” Nikolas said to Keegan.
Keegan replied back in a low voice, but I couldn’t make out what he said. Nikolas shook his head and grinned at him.
“Oh, did you drive, Gabriel?” Bianca asked.
“No, someone dropped me off after we got some supplies in town,” Gabriel answered.
“So I guess you need a ride back,” Nikolas surmised.
“Wouldn’t mind one. I can walk, but I’m not exactly sober,” Gabriel replied.
“Oh, c’mon, of course you can ride with us,” Delia said. “Like we would actually leave you to walk four miles back in the dark!”
I caught a sideways glance from Nikolas. He didn’t look so sure about that part.
“Hey, Red,” I heard a voice growl from the darkness.
I paused, wondered if I imagined it. Surely those men weren’t that stupid to try and jump us in the dark.
The group kept walking, but Keegan noticed I was behind. He turned around to find me. “Lucy? You okay?”
He saw the hesitation on my face. “What’s wrong?”
A rock flew out from the darkness and nailed Keegan on the side of the head. He yelped and clenched his temple, blood already filtering from behind his palm.
“What the fuck?” he shouted. The others turned to see what happened. They saw the blood on Keegan’s face and immediately prepared to defend themselves.
The perverted, drunk old men from the bar stepped out of the shadows. I wouldn’t normally worry, but they carried baseball bats and tools for weapons. Of course we could defend ourselves against them, but it wouldn’t end well. Sheffield would be pissed if the circus got into trouble for any blowback this fight could cause. The last thing we needed was bad publicity of circus members setting a town on fire and hurting citizens. Everyone could find out we used our gifts, which would lead to disaster.
“Don’t do it,” I heard Bianca mutter to Keegan and Nikolas. My own temper flared, but I knew they could be more dangerous. Alcohol and testosterone only fueled their desire to fight. This couldn’t continue further.
“Let it go, man,” I called out to the guy. “You’re just a drunk with a bruised ego. It’ll be better tomorrow.”
“You did somethin’ to me,” he said. “I know I’m not that drunk. I didn’t imagine you scorched my hand into third-degree burns.”
“Ah, Lucy,” Gabriel groaned. Clearly, he thought I acted over the top with my feminist tantrum. I threw a nasty look back at him.
“You don’t know what happened back there,” I replied to the man. “But I do—you offered me a beverage, I said no thanks, and we went along with our separate evenings. Let’s pretend this didn’t happen and we’ll all walk away.”
I looked around. The boys and Brooklyn practically crouched into a fighting stance, while Delia and Bianca eyed the direction of our getaway vehicle. They couldn’t get there instantly without using their gifts and we all wanted to avoid egging the aggression on. Keegan’s hands and face were coated in blood. We needed to get out before the bar caught fire from Nikolas or something much worse. It would be too easy to get caught up in the fight and really hurt someone.
“Can you get to the car?” I heard Delia ask Bianca.
“I can’t just disappear into thin air in front of them! Sheffield would have a fit if they said something. We’ll have to run for it,” she whispered. I turned my attention back to the firing squad and the old guy piped up again.
“I don’t think so much of your offer there, Red. See, we thought about it. Us old drunks aren’t so dumb. We recognized you. You’re all from that freak show circus. And I don’t know about the rest of your friends, but you’re one of them freaks. Something’s wrong with you. You’re not welcome here,” he replied with a low tone.
“Look, old man. It’s about an even fight as far as numbers, but we’ve sort of got you beat with age. You should really rethink this,” Keegan said. He shot me a look and I was glad he saw the problem with this situation as well.
“Weapons only go so far,” Gabriel added. “Your bones can break easier than ours.”
“We ain’t the only ones offended by you weirdos,” the old man encountered. As he said it, I heard a rustling behind us. I turned my head to see those slimy rednecks from the bar. There were several of them; they all looked healthy, muscular, and eager to put a few bruises on us.
Well, shit.
“We can all walk away from this!” I shouted.
“Not this time. You don’t deserve to walk away. You can’t come into our town and talk to us like that. We tell you what to do!” a redneck yelled back. Several of his friends shouted their agreement.
“This is your fault, Red. You burned me and now you and your freak group’s gonna pay. Brought it upon yourself,” the old leader growled at me.
“This is bad,” Delia whispered. “This is really, really bad. Someone will get hurt. Or they will tell humans about us.”
“You don’t even know what we can do to you,” Nikolas threatened. “You’re pushing it.”
“Nothing a large wrench can’t solve,” an old man replied.
“We’re gonna beat the freak outta you,” a redneck chimed in.
“This is ridiculous. Like, if this were a movie, this is the part where everyone rolls their eyes type of ridiculous. Please find a synonym for the word freak,” Brooklyn said with an exasperated sigh.
“What’s your talent, metal face?” a redneck asked her. “You gonna glare at us to death? Hope you fight good for an ugly girl!”
>
“Oh good lord, even their insults are retarded,” she muttered to us. She yelled back at him, “You’re too busy thinking about going home to fuck your sheep. It should be easy to kick your ass!”
A redneck grabbed another rock and chucked it in our direction. Bianca managed to duck down as it whizzed by her head. That ripped through the tension and all hell broke loose. I heard Brooklyn shout at Bianca and threw her the car keys. I looked over to see Bianca and Delia bolt to find the car. I couldn’t help it; I let out a gasp of terror. Did I run with them or stay to fight?
Fuck it. I turned to run but one of the lankier rednecks grabbed me from behind. I struggled but he squeezed so hard I thought my ribs would crack. I sent volts of heat through my upper torso and his grip loosened enough for me to throw my head into his face. His nose crushed beneath my skull with a gross crunching sound. He dropped me like a ton of bricks to clutch his bleeding face.
I glanced around to see how my side fared. Keegan, the closest, was on the ground attempting to throw a redneck off him. Blood still streamed down his face. I could tell that he tried not to catch fire, but thought I saw a flame or two leap off his hands. I could see another idiot headed over to help keep Keegan down. Nikolas had taken on king ding-a-ling of the rednecks, who had a giant steel pipe; he dodged and weaved, but I was sure I saw him catch a hit or two in the ribs. Finley was winning his fight with an old guy; he threw him into a tree in time for another guy to jump him. Brooklyn jumped on some man’s back, put him in a chokehold, while Gabriel had three men with weapons circle him. They couldn’t help me.
Dust and gravel kicked up everywhere. I whirled around and swept my hair out of my eyes. I looked up to see the old man walk straight towards me. He carried a baseball bat and an ugly snarl on his leathery face. That was enough to make me worry that I might kill him; I’d have no choice but to defend myself and clean up the mess later.
“Don’t touch her!” I heard Keegan yell from the ground. He couldn’t save me. No one could. I had to save myself before I could help anyone else in this mess I created.
Using our gifts was the very last resort. I could punch and kick all I wanted, but I couldn’t avoid a baseball bat to the head. I did the only thing I could think—I ran as fast as I could toward the direction Delia and Bianca had taken. I needed to find the car.