by Martha Carr
“There are a few shady open-air markets around here that sell merchandise for prices that make me wonder what truck the merchandise fell from.”
“This is fascinating stuff, really is guys, and I appreciate that you’re conscious of the taxpayer’s dollar, but can we get back to the bigger picture?” Bernie was leaning between the seats, his arms resting on the backs.
“What is he talking about, Parker? What are you talking about, what is it, Ernie?”
“Funny, making up the wrong name for me. It’s Bernie, Mr. Detective. Didn’t your partner tell you anything about our quest?”
“Not now, Bernie.” Maggie kept her eye on the road, while still reaching back, planting her hand firmly in the center of Bernie’s chest and pushing him into the back seat.
Taylor let out a snort, popping a piece of gum into his mouth.
“I’ll take one of those.” Bernie’s large hand came over the seat, hanging right by Taylor’s head till he put a piece of gum in Bernie’s palm.
“Thank you. Mmmm, peppermint. Like I was saying… Don’t bother interrupting Peabrain, I’m gonna keep talking either way. We need allies to get this one done, and he already knows about magic. Rule two is out the window with him.”
Maggie pressed her lips together trying to think of a reasonable excuse that could get Bernie to stop talking. Nothing was coming to mind.
“Yeah, we’re on a quest.” Bernie rested back in his seat. “We have to find a compass, a particular special compass that kind of helps keep the world running smoothly.”
Maggie looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Bernie give her a wink. She rolled her eyes wondering what was coming next.
“Is he for real? Doesn’t the Earth just take care of itself?” Taylor shook his head, looking back at Bernie. “That’s a big leap to go from you being a mouse to an entire world run on a compass.”
“Not exactly what I said, but I can see where there are a few key pieces missing. Tell him it’s important, Maggie Parker.” Bernie’s voice became more serious and he slid forward again, hanging on to the back of her seat. “Tell him the truth or I will. You know I’ll rule number four him, mostly because despite our original meeting I actually kind of like you and we need some help right about now.”
Maggie dodged around a minivan of kids, their faces pressed against the window making faces at her. It made her think of Diana and leaving her behind. “What about your Huldu brethren eating me out of all the junk food I could find at HEB, even as we speak?”
Taylor threw up his hands, a questioning look on his face. “I don’t understand what’s going on and I don’t tend to like that situation.”
Maggie knew she’d gone as far as she could trying to solve this with just Bernie. She was glad she had the excuse of looking at the road while she asked for help. “Here’s the short version because I don’t even grasp the long one yet. You know that bodega robbery I got caught in the other day? Bernie stopped a bullet that was meant for me.” She could feel Taylor glaring at her and could hear him sputtering, searching for just the right swear words to yell. He was so mad, nothing but broken syllables were making it out.
“I should have told you, but in my defense, you weren’t in on the magic thing yet and telling you I got pulled away at the last second and put back a few inches to the right wouldn’t have been a great explanation. Not if I wanted to be taken seriously.”
“There’s more I take it.”
“Oh yeah, brother is there.”
“Not helping, Bernie.”
Bernie held up his hands like he even knew how to be quiet for very long.
“Apparently, right now I’m one extra on the planet…”
“Living on borrowed time we call it,” said Bernie. “Sorry, zipping it.” He pinched his fingers together, running them in front of his closed mouth.
Maggie looked in the rear-view mirror, not feeling good about his odds. “I’ll bet you a dollar he doesn’t even make it past Manchaca before he’s talking again.”
“I’m still mad at you but I’ll take those odds. What’s a dollar? Now spill it, Parker.” Taylor rubbed his hand through his white hair.
“I have to jump ahead and tell you about the missing compass.” Maggie looked in the rear-view mirror again. “That I caught Bernie trying to steal out of my garage.”
“You are the thief!” The veins were standing out on Taylor’s neck. Bernie held up his hands like he wasn’t allowed to speak.
“That compass was passed down in my family from one special person to another and my father would have given it to me…” She hesitated but made herself say the words. “But he died before he could.” She swallowed hard. “Short version like I promised, the compass was taken when we got jacked at the car museum and I need it back for more than one good reason.”
They passed the Manchaca road sign and Bernie opened his mouth and took in a deep breath. “Like distracting the Earth so it doesn’t keep trying to kill her.”
“No one said not to breathe, Bernie.”
“I was trying to make things right with Taylor for scaring him with the whole mouse thing. Got you a dollar,” said Bernie, smiling and nodding his head. “You’re welcome.”
Taylor pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “This is who will be saving your life. You’re in some real deep…”
“I’ve already saved her once! I did get her stuck in that tree but that only lasted a few minutes.”
Taylor opened his mouth to say something, but he never got the chance.
Dark red bubbles erupted in the street in front of them as people hit their brakes and others pointed. People out on the street scattered. Maggie stopped the car, trying to make sense of it and caught sight of Bernie. He actually looked afraid.
She felt a shiver go down her spine and felt herself calm down, taking a deep breath and looking around more closely, assessing the given information. A figure emerged out of the center of the bubbles, his eyes a solid black underneath a shock of silver hair. “Simon Wesley?”
Taylor pressed the button on his seat belt, his hand already on his gun. “Help, I’ve fallen into a Marvel comic and I can’t get out. I take it Simon is our arch villain.”
Bernie had his door open and was creating bubbles in his hand, covering his body till he shrunk down to an oversized raccoon.
“Tell me that’s not your fighting mode,” said Maggie.
“We’re related to the mighty panda!” Bernie scurried off, sliding under stopped cars till he could take a position flanking Simon under the bumper of a black Ford Expedition.
The deep red bubbles slid off of Simon, sizzling in the roadway, creating a hissing, bubbling pool around his feet that slowly dissipated in steam. He was looking straight at Maggie, a smile on his face.
She got out of the car slowly, keeping the door open between herself and Simon as she pulled out her gun. Taylor got out, gun drawn and came around to the front of the car, calling out to the forensic specialist. “Simon, what’s going on here? I’ve known you for a few years now. This isn’t like you. How about we take this someplace quieter?”
Simon looked away from Maggie, the smile dropping from his face. He opened his hands, small red and black bubbles oozing out of his palms.
Taylor pointed his gun, warning Simon. “Drop your weapon of choice, Simon. Come on, you’re one of us. We can talk about this.”
Maggie clenched her teeth, even as she ran around the front of the car, putting herself between Taylor and the dark bubbles. She had already seen what bubbles could do to human skin. “Back down, Simon. I don’t know why you’re here, but this will not end well for anyone if you keep going down this path.”
Simon held the bubbles in his hands, not doing anything with them, yet. He tried to smile again as if he wanted to reassure Maggie. “I needed to get your attention.”
“I’d say you have it, but it can’t be so you could put on this show. Tell me what you wanted to say, but can we do it at the station? I can give you as much tim
e as you need.”
“That part of my life is over,” he said, shaking his head as his silver bangs slid across his face, framing his dark eyes.
Maggie looked at him, studying his face. She had never had much interaction with him, but something was off, making him unpredictable and more dangerous. His eyes are usually blue. The back of her neck tingled, and a cold chill went through her. “Why does it have to be over?” She held her ground, her stance wide. She lifted her chin and smelled the air. There was the faint scent of lavender and rotten eggs. Dark magic, great.
“Parker, what are you doing?” Taylor had come up right beside her.
She didn’t take her eyes off Simon. “I’d tell you to get back, but I know you too well. Can you somehow circle around behind him?” she whispered to Taylor, relieved when she saw him move back unnoticed.
Simon seemed to only want her. Good, let’s keep the mayhem to a minimum.
“Why does it have to be over, Simon?” She held his gaze, waiting for an answer.
He held up his arms in frustration, pleading his case. His moment to tell his story had finally come. “The veil between one reality and the other is getting torn away. It’s only a matter of time before others learn the truth. I have to make sure they hear the real story this time.” The bubbles melted from his hands, disappearing and he beat his chest with his fist. “We have forgotten who we really are and where we belong. This is not our planet, not where we were supposed to stay.”
He reached into the satchel, still hanging off his shoulder and pulled out the leather diary. “I have proof! We are warriors from another place and time meant to live far away from here. It’s our birthright, but if we’re not careful, we could end up on the wrong end of a deal. There are things you don’t know Maggie Parker, but it’s not too late. You can fix everything. You are the Elemental I’ve been searching for.” Simon slipped the compass out of his pocket and held it up so Maggie could see it.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she could feel her heart beating faster in her chest. “Simon, you have the compass.”
“Yes, yes I do!” He was delighted at his reveal. “And I can show you how to use it. It’s all in this diary.” He held it over his head. “Together, we can ensure…”
A man drew too close to the red slime still in the street and called out in pain as the bottom of his shoes melted. Simon roared with anger at the interruption, losing himself in the dark spell taking over his mind. He raised his arm, black shiny bubbles appearing in his hand, aiming at the man lying on the ground, even as others went to help him.
Taylor emerged behind the crowd, pushing his way through and raised his gun, firing off a shot, the crimson slime rising back up to swallow the bullet, protecting Simon. The air stank with the mixture of lavender and rotten eggs.
His rage only grew as he spun around, throwing the bubbles into the crowd, scalding a woman as she ran. She fell to the ground, rolling over as Taylor holstered his gun and picked her up over his shoulder to get her to safety. Maggie was preparing herself to take a run at Simon, clearing her mind to think about nothing and set an intention at the same time. She clenched and unclenched her hands, knowing she had to do it. “At least I go down fighting.”
She started running, just as a streak of gray and black striped fur flew past her, leaping over the edge of the slime, digging its sharp raccoon teeth into Simon’s thigh, biting down hard.
Simon gave a guttural cry of pain, wounding Bernie with a series of bubbles but the raccoon held on, growling and biting down harder, even as he grew weaker.
Finally, Simon was able to pull him away, throwing him into the air, limp and bleeding. Maggie ran underneath, catching the heavy raccoon against her chest, even as the dark red bubbles grew frothy, consuming Simon once again and he disappeared from view. Simon was yelling out in frustration, the diary still gripped in his hand. “Maggie Parker, no!”
A spark ran through her body, ending in a shock at the back of her neck, her eyes flashing with light for just a moment. A hum went down her spine, leaving her feeling nauseous, but she swallowed hard. Worry about what that means, later.
Huldus appeared on every corner, circling the crowd and blowing clear translucent bubbles that caught their attention, mesmerizing them, absorbing the memories of the last fifteen minutes and floating away with them. A stout Huldu with a shock of brown hair held up a bubble to blow at Taylor. He raised his gun in response and said, “Think again. I’m already in on it.” The gnome shrugged and pivoted, catching a woman in a suit and pearls, her face still in shock, and her mouth hanging open. The bubble splashed over her as her face gently relaxed and she looked at the gnome, puzzled and smiled.
Another gnome bent down over the wounded man, blowing pale purple bubbles over his body, alleviating the burns and restoring the shoes.
Maggie laid Bernie on the ground, still in his raccoon form. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes were shut. “Bernie! Bernie, say something. I’m not sure what to do for you. Take you to a vet, or an ER.” She took off her jacket, wrapping him in it against the cold.
Jack came running over to them, kneeling down beside his friend. “Oh, Bernie, that was something. I saw the leap just as we got above ground. It was amazing, brother.”
“Can you help him?” Maggie rubbed the gray fur on the top of Bernie’s head.
“Of course.” Jack waved to two other Huldus. “Brothers, lend a hand.” The Huldus gathered, hovering their hands, palms down just over Bernie’s furry little body. Bernie stirred but didn’t open his eyes as pale purple bubbles rolled across his body. The air was filled with the scent of strawberries. Bernie’s body began to shiver and shake, and Maggie tried to push her way back beside Bernie to get them to stop but the Huldus gently pushed her back. The fur receded and the limbs lengthened and in no time, there lay Bernie, a gnome once more.
Jack looked up at Maggie. “That’s the best we can do for now. He took direct hits at close range. He’ll be fine but it’ll take a little time. We’ll carry him back with us.”
“I want to talk to him first.”
Jack saw how determined she was, her hands firmly placed on her hips. He moved aside, gently nudging his fellow gnomes. “Let her in, she’s not your average Peabrain. It’ll be okay,” he said, nodding reassuringly. They all looked at Maggie, waiting to see what she was going to do to their friend.
Maggie knelt down beside Bernie, his eyes still closed and took his hand. “Bernie, thank you. That was one of the bravest and weirdest things I’ve ever seen.”
Bernie opened one eye and looked at her. “Sometimes what’s needed is one good raccoon bite.”
Maggie let out a laugh as her eyes filled with tears. “I thought you were a goner and I was going to have to finish this quest alone.”
Bernie opened both his eyes and tried to lift his head but the other Huldus pushed him back. “Leave me alone, fellas, I have something to say and I’m going to say it.”
“Stubborn till the end,” said Jack. “Go on, Bernie, take your victory lap.”
“You’re not alone, kid,” he said, squeezing Maggie’s hand. “You’re a Peabrain and you’re not even using the best part about being a Peabrain. Oh geez, you don’t even know what that is, do you?” Even the other gnomes were rolling their eyes at her.
“What, what am I missing? It’s that hidden magical peabrain, right?”
“Maggie, no, it’s your ability to rise above anything and when it seems impossible, suddenly cooperate for a common goal, even when it benefits someone else. Even when it means the end of you. I saw you about to make a run through those bubbles.” He poked Maggie with a thick finger. “It’s your humanity, it’s even named after all of you, for pete’s sake. Don’t run away from your basic chemistry, use it.”
“I can’t do this without you, Bernie. Whatever Simon’s become, it looks pretty nasty.”
“What? Who said I’m not coming right back? This is gonna take a night, tops.”
“He’s a Huldu
after all, not a Kashgar,” said the gnome behind his head.
“Those tall bastards,” said Bernie, smiling at Maggie. “This is our quest and now we know who has the compass. Big leap forward.”
Maggie’s phone buzzed in her pocket and she slid it out, reading Jake’s text. She felt the tightness in her chest ease.
“It’s her new boyfriend,” said Bernie to the crowd of Huldus. A general ‘ooooh’ went up from the group.
“He’s working late at the CVS,” muttered Maggie, reading aloud, as she put away her phone. “He always manages to text just after a near death experience. Weird. I’ll answer him later, what?” She looked up to find every Huldu was staring at her, including Bernie but no one would say anything.
“It’s rule number four, isn’t it? You already don’t like him. Okay, I get it. It’s like I have a hundred uncles all of a sudden.”
“When’s that next date?” Bernie tried to push himself up on his elbows.
“You’re not going, so you don’t need to know.”
“I’m going, it’s final.”
“I’m grown, you’re not going. This is outside the quest scope. My mother can’t go, frankly she can’t meet him for a while. That’s way too risky. She’ll ask him his sign, when he was born and tell him we were siblings in a past life. That will be a hard thing to forget. No, you’re definitely not going either.”
All the gnomes looked at each other, not saying a word.
Finally, Jack broke the silence. “We need to get Bernie home. We’ll have him back, good as new tomorrow. Come on, a bunch of little men all hanging out in the street together is an Instagram picture for sure. We need to break it up and get moving.”
They helped Bernie off the ground, walking away till they could get out of sight to an area of dirt and grass and disappear beneath the ground. Maggie called after them before they got too far away. “You’re not going, Bernie, that’s final!”
Bernie lifted his hand to wave, looking back at her, not saying a word.
“Damn that rule number four. What are you not saying?”