Magic and Mayhem: A Collection of 21 Fantasy Novels

by Jasmine Walt

  Chia stared into Cecil’s sincere, windswept gaze. Her emotions began to unravel, spinning into tiny threads to billow about in the winds. She didn’t like this sensation. It felt out of control, completely foreign.

  “Say, lil’ Summer,” Cecil said abruptly, saving her from sinking into places she didn’t want to examine.

  “Yeah? What is it?” She felt yanked into the room by his question.

  “I’ve always wanted to ask you. What was it like when you met your first shifter? Did one of us, you know, come out of the closet for you?”

  “Oh, my God, yes. I split apart on that day. Completely split apart. My parents were living in New York. I hated New York. I returned to Charming at the age of seventeen to live with my grandparents. Missed my friends. Wanted to finish high school with the kids I’d grown up with.

  “My best friend since kindergarten Skylar said when I returned home she had something to tell me. I thought it might be a new love, or maybe she wanted to come out as a lesbian. Whatever it was I vowed to accept it. But man, oh, man, when she came out as a shifter…well…I didn’t do well with it. I mean, come on…I grew up with the world being one of neurotypicals—you know, us so-called normal humans. And animals. Not mash ups of the same.”

  Cecil smiled gently. Ran his fingers up and down her thigh. “What did you do?”

  She returned the smile and gently removed his hand from her leg. It felt far too good to be touched. “Before or after I passed out?” she scoffed. “She was so nervous. She paced the room. Said she’d been hiding something from me for years. I started to get scared, wondering if she murdered someone or worse.

  “I finally told her to stop beating around the bush and tell me. She told me to close my eyes. I did. I sensed a light flash in the room and when I opened them, a hundred and thirty pound mountain lion stood in front of me. I screamed bloody murder.” Chia grimaced, remembering the day in vivid detail.

  “Grandpa taught me some wilderness skills over the years. He always said to get in a cougar’s face. Make myself big. Throw things at them. Make eye contact. But knowing that and doing that when confronted are two separate things. Shaking like a leaf, I couldn’t move. Finally, I stood and waved my arms.

  “I picked up a school book and threw it at her. It hit her in the face and gave her a black eye. She lunged at me, shifting in front of my face, pissed, angry. We fought out of fear, unacceptance, betrayal, who knows?” Chia shook her head. “After that I said I needed time. I stopped hanging out with her.”

  “Oh, man, that’s harsh.”

  “I know. When I finally decided to make up to her, it was too late.” Chia’s eyes teared.

  “What happened?”

  “Charming happened. I know you all make fun of me for all my rules, but townsfolk used to kill animals freely for no good reason.”

  “I remember,” said Cecil. “I grew up north of here. I used to have to pretend to be the family pet when strangers came over and I was in husky form. But we all heard of Charming.”

  “Right? There was no such thing as hunting season. Instead, it was ‘game on’ all the time. My friend…Skylar…was shot and killed.”

  “Oh, no,” Cecil said quietly. “How’d you know it was really her?”

  “I knew. The first time she shifted, I noticed the same scar on her human face on her cougar face. She split open her lip at sixteen. The cougar bore the same marking. And I saw the dead cougar with my own eyes.

  “My grandpa—he wanted me to know the kind of behavior people in Charming participate in. It made him sick. So he made me look. I guess he knew about the shifters. He accepted them.” She sniffled. “After that, I found them everywhere. All over Charming. It’s like gay-dar only I call is shift-dar. I can spot ‘em on sight. I vowed then and there, for gramps and Skylar, to find a way to protect all shifters. Rights are rights. We’ve all got to learn to get along on this fine planet.”

  More growls and roars sounded from outside.

  “Help me up, will you please? I want to look.”

  “You might not like it. It’s grown since we arrived.”

  She waved away his concerns. “Just do it. Come on. Help me.”

  Cecil eased off the bed and assisted Chia off the high platform holding her mattress. She shuffled to the window and peered outside. “Oh, my God, you’re right. It’s a mess out there. It’s a wonder they don’t all kill each other. There are warring species outside.”

  “I know. We’d better get this fixed, fast. My boys are doing all they can to keep the peace but they’re only canines. They’re no match for lions or wolves or--”

  “We have lions outside?”

  “Yep. Look over there.” Cecil pointed to the farthest reaches of the yard where the lions stood.

  Two hyenas paced back and forth making their maniacal yips. One of the lions, a huge male, lunged and swiped at the hyena but the smaller carnivore leapt out of the way. Beyond the lions stood Hung. He held a powerful high lumen flashlight which he swept back and forth across the menagerie. The light beam slid across the window briefly, illuminating Cecil and Chia. Hung’s arm dropped to his side and he stood, motionless, facing her, the light beam bouncing from the ground, casting his face in deep shadow. He simply stared.

  Caught by his attention, Chia experienced conflicting sensations of arousal and fear. She longed for him. Wanted to touch him. To explore whatever frightened the hell out of her. But rules were rules and besides not following city ordinances, Hung Durand was now wanted for murder.

  How would it look if I slept with the enemy? And then, there are my other, more personal rules. She swallowed and wrenched her gaze from the male. Her eyes landed on the stack of mail D’Raynged had brought in. At the top of the pile sat a letter, written in a bold script. The return address read The Office of Red Mountainbear, followed by his address. “Cecil, look. It’s from Red Spotted Dick.” With trembling fingers, Chia tore open the envelope and removed a crisp piece of white paper. It bore his letterhead and looked very formal.

  “What does it say?”

  “Dear, Ms. Petit. You are requested to turn over land and sea rights to Mr. Red Mountainbear at your earliest convenience. In return, Mr. Mountainbear will cease the pursuit of all shifters, including restoring them to their prior state. All charges against you and the bounty hunter will be dropped.” She stared at Cecil, her stomach in knots. “That’s it? I can simply turn the land rights over to this jackass and things will return to normal?”

  “No, lil’ Summer, we do it our way,” Cecil said.

  “Your and Hung’s way is going to get you both killed. What are a bird and a dog going to do against guns, huh? Or to get the shamans to stop what they’re doing? Hung’s going to peck their eyes out? You’re going to bark at them?

  “No. You’re going to end up with your legs caught in a trap, or worse, with a bullet in your head and Hung’s going to be a dead Albatross. Damn it! I need to think.” She glanced out the window to see Hung watching her, his head cocked to the side. “I’ve got to walk. I can’t simply lay about. This is so fucked up.” She lifted her arm to run her hand through her hair. Pain shot through her shoulder blades. “Crap! I can’t even lift my arms. Give me my meds, please. I’m going outside.”

  “I think you should rest, lil’ Summer.”

  “Fuck resting. There will be time for recovery, either when I’m in jail on trumped up charges or after I get this mess sorted and dealt with.” Maybe I’ll have a jail cell next to Hung’s. She washed down the pills Cecil handed her with a gulp of water and slowly made her way into the hall, a plan forming in her pain-filled, distressed, drug-numbed brain.

  17

  “You’re driving me to town,” she said to Cecil, easing her arms into her jacket. She strapped on her hip holster and shoved one of her guns, a Glock, in the sheath.

  “What? No! I’ve got plans with Hung, remember?”

  “You’re second in command, you said so yourself. That makes me…first.” She jabbed her fi
nger into his chest.

  “Whoa, lil’ Summer, let’s think about this. Hung’s and my idea is a decent one.”

  “It’s a fool’s game. Too much risk. Where’s D?” She moved as quickly as she could to the kitchen, rustling about for the Valentine’s chocolates.

  “He’s in the basement getting ready for a date or something. What are you doing?” He lunged to snatch the knife out of her hand.

  “Give that back to me.”

  “No. You look like you’re going to do something stupid with the knife.”

  “Fine.” She opened the drawer and got out another, whirling away before he could seize that one, too. Figuring she could use some super enhanced skills and awareness tonight, she sanitized it with the gas flame, poked a hole in her finger and squeezed out several drops onto the chocolate. She withdrew her hand, paused, and then added several more drops for good measure.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Cecil tried to grab the blade.

  “Back away, dawg-man. I’m the one with the knife. You already set yours down.” She swished the cutlass back and forth like a tiny sword to get him to back off. Then she grabbed a notepad and scribbled, D, I promise, swear, give my word that no harm shall befall Sultana. I owe you twice as much as before. Love, Chia, your landlady. “Let’s go,” she said.

  “Why the rush?” Cecil said, taking her knife and putting it next to the other one, out of harm’s way.

  “Please. You call this rushing? I call it making do. My whole upper body feels battered.” She shuffled to the door, headed outside and stepped toward the SUV. “I’m merely inspired and I intend to change things.”

  Hung rushed over to her. He stood between her and the Jeep. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To town. To do something I should have done a long time ago.” She turned to look at the shifters. “Hold tight, everyone. I have a plan for the long run and a plan for your immediate needs. We’ll get this taken care of.”

  “I’m going with you.” Hung opened the driver’s door.

  “Right. Not a chance. You’ll get us both shot. There’s a bounty on your head, remember? You’re on guard duty here. Make sure none of the shifters gets out of hand.”

  “Is this your idea, mutt?” Hung gave Cecil an icy stare.

  “No way. I tried to talk her out of it. I don’t even know what she’s doing but I wanted her to stay put.”

  “Come on, woman, go back in the house.”

  “No, dear.” She smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes at him. “This is important.”

  He glared at her, giving her a look that conveyed his total displeasure about her idea. “Come on, Chia. You’re in no shape to go anywhere.”

  “And yet I’m going. I’m done with indecision.” At least when it comes to practical matters.

  “What’s your goddamned rush?” Hung looked like a bomb about to detonate.

  “This.” Chia fished in her pocket, pulling out the letter from the Office of Red Mountainbear. She fluttered it in front of his face. “Bribery.”

  He snatched it from her grasp.

  As swiftly as she could, which wasn’t fast at all, she moved to the passenger side of the Jeep while Hung read.

  Cecil climbed in the driver’s seat.

  “Turn on the truck. Let’s go!”

  “Wait!” Hung roared. “You are not going to leave me on babysitter duty. Cecil and I have a plan.”

  “Yeah? Well, you’re not in charge of this town. I am. Now go, Cecil. Get. Go on.”

  Hung bellowed, “Goddamn it, woman, if you give the land rights to Red Mountainbear he’ll shoot every one of the shifters, including me. You’re making a huge mistake.”

  “I thought you could take care of yourself. That’s how you always boast. Bye, bye,” she said, gingerly lifting her hand in farewell.

  The Jeep lurched along the road, with Cecil turning to and fro to avoid hitting any of the shifters.

  In the dark, with her shoulder aching, the drive seemed to take forever. Chia kept peering out the truck window, trying to identify familiar landmarks. Everything seemed bewilderingly unfamiliar. Thirty minutes into the drive she knew why. “You know how I squeezed a few drops of my blood onto the chocolate with a note for D’Raynged?” she asked Cecil.

  “Yeah, what was that? I thought you were acting crazy.”

  “I might have been. I think I overdosed. I’m not feeling like myself over here.”

  Cecil slammed on the brakes causing the Jeep to jerk and slide to a stop.

  “Ow! Damn, dawg-man, watch it with the sudden stops.” Chia lifted her hand to softly touch her shoulder but paused, looking at the space where her hand was supposed to be. Instead, she found herself looking at shimmering, psychedelic, colorful lines of energy, pulsing with light. She let out a laugh. “Oh, shit, did I give D too much blood, or what?”

  “What’s going on, lil’ Summer?”

  “I, uh. I have a strange connection with my roommate.” She turned to look at Cecil and nearly wept with joy as she gazed at him. He glowed with pure, clear, colorful light, like a puppy at play. Looking at him, she saw vistas of fields and mountains, wind ruffling his fur like a spirited hand. She saw jubilation rippling through him. The guy didn’t need to follow a normal plan of “get a job, buy a house, and find stability.” He lived life the way he saw fit and it was perfect. “My God, you’re beautiful.”

  Deep lines marked his face. “And you’re freaking me out. What’s the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I believe I’m seeing your essence. You know that old movie, The Matrix?”

  Cecil’s face furrowed into a frown. “Yeah, what about it?”

  “I keep seeing it on TV. Neo keeps staring at me. It’s like he has a message for me.”

  “You’re crazy. It’s Matrix month on the movie channel.”

  “No, no, no. Neo…he keeps staring at me. I think it’s the partial truth.”

  “What do you mean by partial?”

  “Imagine the special effects multiplied by a hundred. The world is a beautiful and terrible place, dawg-man. I’m witnessing the beauty right now, and man, oh, man is it beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

  “And you’re not making any sense.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Drive.”

  Cecil stared at her a few seconds longer, his head cocked, and a funny expression on his face.

  Chia laughed. “Go, dawg-man. I’m fine.” She felt immortal, like a gazillion bucks instead of D’Raynged and his million bucks appearance. Her shoulder didn’t even hurt. Maybe I’m healed. Thank you, D’Raynged! She gazed in wonder at the world around her, in its fluid, throbbing, mind-blowing glory.

  Lines of energy in a full spectrum of hues intertwined all around her. Even though darkness loomed, it didn’t matter to her sense of sight. She could see as clear as on a sunny day—even more so since she saw the essence of life vibrating all around her. Animals were color bursts. Their murmurs, yips, and vocalizations created a tapestry of sound. She felt in awe of the beauty of life.

  When they reached the edge of Charming, the town pulsated in full nighttime swing. Noise and ruckus came from the bars and restaurants on either side of the road. Vibrant air glowed everywhere. Even the vacant buildings glimmered in muted hues. “Take the roundabout way to my office,” she told Cecil. “Park around back.”

  They parked and Chia slowly emerged from the truck, tripping-out hard on the vamp’s blood. She giggled as she unlocked the door. As they entered, she heard voices as loud as if they were shouting. “Shhh,” she said to Cecil. Her own whispered voice sounded like a hurricane. “Great, first visual enhancement, now auditory.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “High on vamp, remember? Let’s quietly make our way through the building.” She tiptoed as stealthily as she could, hoping her footfalls didn’t sound as loud to the people in the building as they did to her.

  In her ears, she stomped along the wooden floors with cans on her fe
et. They crept down the hall toward the voices. A light shone underneath one of the doors. Dag nab it! They’re in my office. She waved Cecil behind her and kept up her stealth maneuver, hoping she could ghost walk as good as Hung could.

  “I think we’ll knock this wall down. I’m going to need a bigger office.”

  It’s Red! Is this a convenient coincidence, or what? She started to laugh at the absurdity of the moment. “I’ve never met the man and now he’s in my office?”

  Cecil clapped his large hand around her mouth. “Quiet,” he hissed in her ear. “You’re acting like a lunatic.”

  “Yeah, same here. I’ll need something fine, too.”

  And Dick! I thought he was in critical care in Anchorage. Cecil’s hand felt scrumptious against her mouth. With her vamp high, even touch had a different, more intense sensation. She arched her back like a cat and wiggled her rump at him.

  “Jesus, lil’ Summer, this is hardly the time or place.” Cecil’s voice sounded strangled, as if caught between pulling her into a closet and dealing with the situation at hand.

  “About that. I don’t think I’m going to need you. You can keep your job. It will look better that way.” Red spoke with the confidence of an arrogant man.

  “What? No fucking way. You promised I’d be your vice-manager or whatever your second in command will be called.” Dick, his underling, sounded pissed.

  “You forget you’re supposed to be critically injured. Good thing you have a twin who got shot up pretty bad in a barroom brawl.”

  “I am injured. The bitch got me in the leg.”

  “She missed your dick, didn’t she? Count your blessings.”

  “Goddamn it, you’re a fucking liar.”

  “No, I merely manipulate facts. Put a spin on things. Let’s check on the other room. I’d like a big bar in my new office so I can entertain.”

  “If I’m not getting a new office, you’re not getting a new office.”

  “Calm down, Dick, I was only playing with you. Of course you get a new office.”