The crowd has thinned down to just a handful. Mandolyn makes her way over to Scott's parents to say a few words of how amazing an archaeologist he was, but also a devoted friend and colleague. While they are talking, Pearl approaches Jake and Charlotte.
"I see you've found yourself some squeeze," the sultry vixen says while looking Charlotte up and down. She continues in her flirty signature style, "You could've had me you know. I do fancy me a soldier." Then as if to knock him down a peg, she runs her fingers over his broad chest and teases, "I guess I'm too expensive for your taste."
"Always good to see you Pearl," Jake replies with sarcasm as he brushes her off seeing that Mandolyn and Paul are getting into their car. Because of Pearl distracting Jake, the couple won't be riding in the back seat of their vehicle this time but will fly behind them, finally taking their place upon the hood of the coupe. The couple is running at a speed of fifty miles per hour and yet it seems to Jake and Charlotte like just a leisurely ride.
They finally return home with enough time left to still attend the MMA fights that a good friend of theirs has bought on pay per view. The two get changed out of funeral attire and into something comfy and stylish to attend the affair. Mandolyn sweeps her hair back into victory rolls; and then puts on a bandana style turban in 1950's panache and a pair of black jeans matched with a red and white striped cotton tee-shirt.
"You look absolutely stunning," Paul says as he takes a good look at the breathtaking woman standing before him. "What do you think of these jeans and shirt?" he goes on to ask as he holds up a pair of pants and a Korean Zombie tee-shirt."
Awesome, but now I wish I had washed my Invicta FC shirt but it's in the dirty laundry," she says a little disappointed.
Paul goes to the bottom drawer of his dresser to grab a thin rectangular box, wrapped in comic book fight scene paper, and then brings it near to his girl with a big grin.
"I know you've been looking forward to our favorite female fighter getting the belt, so in honor of this special evening I wanted to get you something, just because I love you and I know you're going to look smoking hot in it."
She opens the gift wrapped box that fit the theme of the night. As soon as she lifts back the pink tissue paper holding the present, she immediately knows what it is: a top with a picture of their favorite female fighter from Poland in comic book style. She lifts out the red and black V-neck tee-shirt, a real feminine design and holds it up against her thin frame.
"I can't wait to put it on, and it matches my bandana!" says Mandolyn and then removes the old top to put on her fighters shirt.
"You are gorgeous as always," says Paul and then gently kisses her lips.
The couple begins the drive to an upscale neighborhood in the suburbs. They will be attending the event at the home of their good friends, the Patterson's. They pull up alongside the curb next to the driveway already parked with cars of those inside enjoying the good time. They walk hand in hand up to the entrance where two golden lions sit, one on each side of the steps. Mandolyn rings the doorbell and can see her spunky friend, Collette, through the oval stained glass door window.
"Oh my god, you guys were able to make it; come on inside, you've got to try my orange cream colada!" says the bubbly blonde with a hurricane glass in hand, topped with an umbrella, pineapple and a cherry.
"I love the blue streak in your hair, it matches your nails," says Mandolyn to her friend as she quickly closes the door behind her, making a statement to Charlotte and Jake that they're not welcome inside. She and Paul give their gracious host their coats and take a seat on the barstool at the breakfast nook.
The place is bustling with excitement and the home is adorned in true Patterson Christmas fashion. Many of the guests are shooting a game of pool in the old west style billiard room. There is beer on tap in the keg under the bar and a couple of friends are seated on the ladder back stools getting ready to take tequila shots. The air is filled with the scent of fresh baked lasagna and garlic-butter scallops. The buffet is almost ready leaving enough time for everyone to eat before prelims. As always, Collette's husband John has prepared a huge spread fit to satisfy everyone's palate. Besides the lasagna, scallops and honey glazed chicken, there are also pasta dishes and shrimp cocktail, as well as brats, pigs in blankets, crab cakes and salad.
The doorbell rings and it is little David, simply known as L.D. He is ushered in with excitement by Collette who quickly takes his jacket and says, "Hurry up and get something to eat before the fights start. I'll prepare you my orange cream colada while you're scarfing down your food." She then looks over at Mandolyn and Paul and says, "You guys are adorable with your fight shirts on, always matching."
The main event has begun and everyone's stomach is full. The moment has arrived for the fight Mandolyn and Paul have been waiting for. The challenger makes her way to the ring wearing the polish flag over her shoulders. The crowd roars as she circles the cage. Next the champion walks in, holding the belt with a solemn look on her face as she enters the ring. The announcer gives his famous shout out: It's time to rumble! The two women make their way to the center of the cage and touch gloves. The fight begins and the champ is able to get one takedown, but the girl from Poland is able to quickly get to her feet and turn the fight around. She makes the champ pay for every attempt to get her to the ground by throwing an elbow to her face. The crowd at the Patterson's shouts and cheers as the polish girl stuffs the champ's best skill of wrestling, and outboxes her to the point of a knock out in the second round of a five round championship bout. Everyone in the room cheers as a new champ is crowned.
The couple says their goodbyes to their gracious hosts and makes their way home down the holiday decorated street. Mandolyn's goodtime is bought back to reality when she catches sight of Charlotte and Jake. They are also being followed by some dark spirits as well, that tries to stay a distance behind, hoping to not look so suspicious. She notices that one has dragon features and there are two more that look like serpents with their creepy scales and piercing tongue; and then she looks over at Paul who is joyfully whistling the Christmas song: Silver bells.
When they arrive home from an exhausting day of mixed emotions, Charlotte and Jake take their post on top of the roof as the dark spirits retreat. The couple makes their way upstairs to get ready to settle in for the night but before retiring to bed, they decide to take a soak in their bathtub large enough for two. The warm water relieves their tense muscles and soon they are drying off with the ultra-soft bath towels and climbing under the cozy flannel sheets. Mandolyn is looking forward to a sleep filled with peaceful dreams to take her away from the nightmare she's been in; if only it was that easy.
Chapter 14
Dinner at Lucia's
Mandolyn awakens and rolls over to snuggle in closer to her man. His skin feels so warm and inviting as he lay next to her. She wraps her arms around him and lays her face against his chest, trying not to wake him but rather to enjoy getting lost in the moment. Then she remembers the other day with Scott's funeral and the numerous spirit creatures that have been lurking about. In fact, she recalls that Charlotte and Jake are still keeping tabs on her. She just wishes she would stop seeing and hearing what she call ghosts. She starts to fidget a little and Paul feels her body movement, draws her in even closer, and then gently kisses her lips. They planned on taking advantage to this being a Sunday morning and sleep in a little longer after having such an eventful evening. With the sun's rays beaming in through the skylight above their bed, they decide to get up and begin their day.
Paul groggily makes his way downstairs to get the coffee perked, while Mandolyn jumps into the shower real quick to feel refreshed and shake off the thought of the lurking spirits. After she has dried off and begins to get dressed she notices a group of gargoyles soaring in the distance outside her room and then something catches her eye; it's Charlotte and Jake looking down through the skylight. Mandolyn lets out a gasp since the couple's faces startles her. Luckily she doesn't have to
explain her outburst this time to Paul. He has the tunes playing and she can hear him singing along as he joyfully makes the coffee and takes out the recycling.
When she enters the kitchen downstairs to join her man, Paul says, "There you are beautiful! Coffee is ready and we have doughnuts, compliments of the Patterson's from fight night."
"Thanks babe," says Mandolyn and then takes a bite of the custard filled treat.
"I was thinking we can put the Christmas tree up today," says Paul, trying not to smile too big to give his excitement away.
This is their third Christmas and for the previous two, the couple has set a tradition of exchanging a gift after the angel is placed upon the top of their tree. The present is always an ornament; so not only will they add it to their collection, but also enjoy it this holiday year. After all the lights and the rest of the decorations have been thoughtfully placed, the two exchange the giftwrapped trinkets. Last year Mandolyn found a samurai figurine at an antique shop. She wanted to make something unique and thought, with a little embellishing, the tiny statue would make a great ornament. It happened to be a huge hit with Paul who can't wait to put it on the tree. This is always a favorite holiday for Mandolyn and she happily agrees to make an afternoon of Christmas cheer.
She goes to the roll top desk in the study and opens the little box of Christmas cards that she has been looking forward to send out. The couple had photo cards made about a month ago of the two of them. Paul is in full Santa suit and Mandolyn is seated on his lap wearing the cute Mrs. Claus outfit. She takes a seat at the desk and begins to sign their names on the cards and also say a personal greeting. As she's sealing the envelopes, Paul puts on some holiday music. They created a playlist of their favorite Christmas songs and were excited to find some classics redone in metal style.
She enters the living room and Paul has the tree out of its box and already standing unadorned in front of the picture window. The container filled with ornaments is sitting under the tree with the lid off and some garland hanging over the side. She can see that he is excited about decorating and finally hanging the samurai ornament in its proper place. Luckily the tree is covering a large portion of the window so Mandolyn won't be distracted by Jake and Charlotte. Before they get started in trimming the tree, they make some hazelnut cocoa topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Paul begins to string the lights and makes sure to check if the bulbs are all functional. Everything seems to look good and so it's time to trim. As they carefully take out the decorations, they reminisce and laugh about some of the places they found their little treasures. She notices the slice of pizza and block of Swiss cheese ornaments and just smiles; remembering the novelty shop with its quirky gifts. The time has now come for them to exchange their gift to hang on the decorated tree. After they have both opened their present, they bust out in laughter. They had each made each other a dream catcher and didn't even know it.
Charlotte and Jake have now taken post on the roof of the house directly across the street; they can see two dark ones make their way up to Mandolyn and Paul's home. It's a couple spirits from The Shape Shifting Clan, and they can only be here for one thing. Before the changelings can disrupt Mandolyn and Paul, the guards jump into action, the opposition never seeing them coming from across the street. Charlotte grabs one and tosses him into the road, then coming down hard with a knee and her sword, but only to hit nothing. Jake takes the opportunity of her distracting the second, and quietly cuts him down to white ash, then takes a seat on the roof to watch how Charlotte does in actual combat. He knows the Shape Shifters are no one to joke with; so he keeps a close eye just to be safe, although it doesn't look like she will need it.
She is blocking every punch that her enemy is throwing at her, and returning with counter striking; always keeping the upper hand, never letting him get a chance to form a weapon. She lands a high kick to his face, then swings a wing and sends him back. He flies towards her but she comes down with a well-timed hammer fist; smashing his face into the ground. She forms a sword to come down with her killing blow, but he moves out of the way. He grabs onto her legs and yanks her off of her feet, quickly getting back to his own. Once he is up, he forms a sword of his own and swings it down at her; she raises her blade and blocks the attack. She shoves her foot into his gut, when he reels over she uses her other foot to land square in his face. Jake shrugs as if that hurt him.
When Charlotte is to her feet, she forms a long whip with nine razors at the end of it, and when she cracks it at the shape changer, it cuts him in nine different areas of his body. He then changes his form from a lizard man to more of a demon lizard, hoping the gnarled and grotesque form will frighten her. He couldn't have been more wrong, if anything, she becomes even more enraged, or maybe its confidence, knowing that she's getting to this slime. They charge each other, the dark one running on the ground and the Indian styled beauty coming with ferocious intent in the air. When they collide it is felt in the 1st Realm so much that a number of car alarms are set off up and down the street. Charlotte comes out of the impact almost unscathed as she holds her opponent by his shirt, floating in midair. She looks at her accomplishment with pride as the Shape Shifter drifts away in white ash.
A few hours have passed and they have made plans to have dinner at La Cocina de Lucia's. They have been craving some authentic Mexican cuisine and there is no better place to go than to Mama Lucia's, as the locals call her. They also want to pick up some of the details on her catering their upcoming wedding. They get changed out of the comfy lounge around home clothes and into their dinner date attire. Mandolyn makes sure to grab the box holding the desired key and puts it into her bag. As she is getting ready to close her bedroom door she curiously looks up at the skylight. Just as she expected, she sees Charlotte and Jake and thinks to herself, will this ever end.
On the drive to the restaurant she continues to see some dark spirits that have a demonic look but keeping them at bay are her loyal protectors, Charlotte and Jake. This brings a little ease to her troubled mind but it's still hard to focus and not let Paul know that she feels like she's going crazy. She puts on some music and they both start singing, this way he'll think it's just for enjoyment but he doesn't know that it's also a way for her to not be distracted.
They pull into the parking lot and circle around to find a parking space. A car is leaving its spot so they wait to take its place. As they exit their car they immediately smell the wonderful aroma of Mexican deliciousness. Thankfully they have a reservation because the restaurant is at full capacity. They make their way to adobe style building with its Christmas wreaths upon the dome shaped windows. Before they can get through the door, Mama Lucia comes rushing towards them.
"It's so good to see you, come here, I have the perfect place for the two of you." She takes them to a quiet location in the back corner of the room and then with a smile that makes anyone feel at ease she says, "This will give the privacy you two love birds need and we won't be distracted when I go over the catering menu with you, of course that is after you've finished your meal."
"This is a wonderful spot, thanks mama," says Paul. He then pulls the chair away from the table set for two and motions for his lovely lady to take a seat.
"Thank you babe," says Mandolyn as she pulls her chair in closer and takes a menu that mama is handing her.
The couple orders two of their favorite dishes. Paul goes for the carne asada with sour cream on the side, since his girl doesn't like it; and Mandolyn orders the enchilada with shrimp, crab and cheese with lettuce and tomato and mama's own guacamole sauce. This is their version of surf and turf since they will be sharing the scrumptious cuisine.
While they are seated Mandolyn sees a strange looking figure. He is leaning against the wall next to the entrance. At first she thinks he's a statue since he's not moving and seems out of place with his old west attire. He's wearing a tattered cowboy hat and packing a pistol. She briefly looks down and then immediately looks up, in a blink of
an eye, he moved from that fixed position of a wallflower, to behind the bar getting ready to serve up drinks. She realizes that this strange man is another spirit. After everything that's been happening; from the initial battle she witnessed between Jake and the Minotaur, to the creepy spirits at Scott's funeral, and now this; she knows she has to tell Paul and she needs to do it now.
"There's been something that's been weighing heavy on my mind," Mandolyn begins, "You've probably noticed that I've been very distracted lately." She rearranges her food items with her fork, not intentionally but with a touch of nervousness of what she's about to tell him.
"You've been going through some tough shit this past week babe and it's understandable for you not to be feeling like your cheerful self," Paul says and then takes a drink of his margarita.
Realizing that she's just playing with her food, she looks up from the platter of delicious cuisine that now resembles a smiley face and replies, "It's not just that. I don't know how to tell you this without sounding like I'm crazy."
Paul puts his drink down onto the table; takes Mandolyn's hand into his and with heartfelt emotion he says, "You can reveal anything to me, you do know that don't you? I'm always here for you, no matter what, I'm all ears. What's bothering you Blue?
"It all started in Cairo after I touched the artifact that was encased in that secure box. The relic was put in that chest for a reason and I know what that is."
They are interrupted for a moment when the waitress stops by to check in on them, to see if they would like another margarita or perhaps order some desert. Since the conversation is about to get deep, they decide to have just one more drink and then place an order for the chocolate lava cake with strawberries.
Mandolyn picks up where she left off and begins, "After I returned home and had an amazing night with you, might I add, the next day was not so amazing. In fact, after I left to head to the office, everything went downhill." Her face now has a troubled look as she starts to mention the first incident. "On the drive I thought I saw a tree person, like a real tree was following me. I thought that I might just be seeing things because of jet lag along with the wine and stress."
The 2nd Realm Book One (The 2nd Realm Trilogy 1) Page 7