by Dyan Chick
The further I got from the tree, the longer the gap between the lightning and thunder. My chest burned, but I was afraid to stop. I wanted a little more distance from the storm. Eventually, I had to stop and walk, pressing my hand into the stitch my right side. The lack of running the last few months had left me out of shape. I'm buying a treadmill when I get back to reality.
My breathing started to even out as the rumble of the thunder faded. I tossed the flip flops back on the ground and stepped into them. My feet ached, and I knew I'd be facing blisters when this was over. Looking up at the stars, I realized I had veered completely off course. If Miles and his friends had been trying to trick me, I was probably better off not going north. Squinting into the dark, I looked around, trying to find any sign of life.
My heart leaped when I spotted it. The pink glow of city lights south of me. I laughed, right there alone in the dark. It made me feel a bit like a crazy person, but I didn't care. Those lights meant hope. They meant regular people who could die and didn't have scales or fur covering their bodies. Adjusting my bag, I picked up the pace, determined to reach the lights.
16
I tried to swallow, but my mouth was so dry there wasn't any saliva. The only thing keeping me going was the lights getting brighter ahead of me. Every so often, I would hear noises and hope a car might drive by. At this point, I'd get in a car with just about anybody.
A new noise drifted through the darkness. Distant howling. I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk faster. It didn't sound near, and I wasn't typical prey. You're going to be fine.
I walked a few more steps, then stopped and slid my bag to the front. I opened it up and dug through it, trying to find something that might be useful if an animal decided to attack.
My fingers wrapped around the can of pepper spray. I wasn't even sure if it was still good. My dad had given it to me when I left for college. The school was less than ten miles from where we'd grown up, but my dad still acted like I was moving to a war zone. Right now, I was grateful for his overprotective ways. I doubted it'd be much help against a large animal, but at least it was something. I zipped the bag up and slid it to my back and started walking again.
This time, it was the reverse of the thunder. Instead of the sound of the animals getting quieter, it grew louder. I clenched the pepper spray in my hand. I wasn't going to turn around this time. I had to get to this city. It was my only hope. With any luck, the sun would be up soon and the nocturnal creatures would go back to their dens.
In front of me, something shifted in the darkness. My heart raced. I wasn't alone out here. Jaw clenched, I narrowed my eyes to try to make out what I was walking into. As I got closer, I realized there was more than one figure in front of me.
You have got to be kidding me. I stopped in the middle of the street, frozen in fear. In the light of the moon, I could make out six huge wolves staring back at me. This can't be real.
One of them took a few steps toward me, growling. It sounded real.
Everything happened quickly. The creatures charged me, teeth bared. My breathing picked up to match the pounding of my heart. Turning, I ran.
The wolves chased me, surrounding me on both sides. I stopped running. There wasn't any way I was faster than them. Trying to recall what I learned camping as a kid, I lifted my hands above my head to make myself bigger. "Go away!"
The wolves moved in closer. All six of them were in front of me, watching me. Dropping my arms, I adjusted my grip, the pepper spray sliding in my sweaty hand. I glanced down at it. I'd forgotten it was there.
Holding up the can, I aimed at the wolves and pressed down on the trigger. Surprisingly, it still worked. I aimed for the eyes, trying to send them away from me.
The wolf in front howled in what sounded like pain, then batted at its eyes with its front paw. I pressed down on the nozzle until I'd used all of the spray. I thought the animals would run. Instead, they moved in closer to me. They moved slowly, surrounding me in a circle. Was this how wolves normally acted? It was like being in a movie and I didn't like the way it seemed it would end.
A gust of wind blew past me, whipping my hair into my face. I pushed it away with my forearm, not wanting to get pepper spray residue near my eyes. Another huge gust brought pebbles pelting against me. I shielded my face with my arm and turned my head away.
When the wind stopped, I dropped my arm, ready to try my best to fend off the waiting wolves, but they were gone. It was just me in the middle of the road. I moved in a slow circle, heart pounding in my chest. Where had they gone? Did the pepper spray or the wind scare them away?
I jumped at the sound of a howl nearby and twisted in the direction in came from. The wolf wasn't in sight, but that didn't mean it wasn't out there, waiting for me. It took every ounce of my willpower to start moving toward the city again.
Just as my heart was returning to a normal pace, the sounds of growls behind me stopped me in my tracks. Seriously?
Slowly, I turned to see all of the wolves behind me, haunches raised, upper lips curled back revealing their teeth. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. This was so far from how I imagined my life would end.
The therapist in rehab had implied that my overdose was purposeful, that I wanted to die. I still wasn't sure if that was the case. Either way, I knew I didn't want to die here and now.
A huge gust of wind rose up, temporarily blinding me in a cloud of dust. When it subsided, I found myself looking at the shadowy form of a woman. The wolves moved over to her, surrounding her. Their snarls were replaced by what could only be described as affectionate yapping noises. She touched their heads as she walked toward me.
Frozen in place, my whole body trembled. None of this was normal. I should not be looking at a woman who had pet wolves. I should not be running away from a Fae circus. I should be getting ready for my first real job. How had my life spiraled this far out of control so quickly?
The sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the woman as she walked toward me. Her movements were graceful and delicate, yet somehow powerful. A classy black dress hugged her curvy figure, complete with black designer pumps. Curly dark hair cascaded down her back. I rubbed my eyes, not fully trusting my senses.
She took a few more steps, then stopped about a foot away from me. "Hello, Ara."
My mouth dropped open and I snapped it closed.
She smiled. "I know you've been through a lot, my child. Please know, I'm not here to hurt you."
The wolves were in a semi-circle behind her, watching our every move. If she wasn't here to hurt me, why did she have these deadly creatures with her?
Noticing that my eyes had moved past her to her pets, she turned to them. "That's enough. Go home."
The wolves took off at a run and the woman looked back to me. "I didn't mean for them to scare you. I sent them to watch out for you, in case any of your new friends returned."
"New friends?" She couldn't possibly be referring to the members of the Rose Circus.
"Perhaps you feel the same way about them as I do?" she said. "Abominations, all of them. They are a risk to human life and they should be stopped."
I wasn't sure I liked where this was heading. Whatever feud she had with them, whatever kind of creature she was, I didn't want any part in this. All I wanted to do was return home to be around normal people. I didn't ever want to see magic or flying or trained wolves ever again. "I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are or what's going on."
Her brow furrowed and she made a clicking sound with her tongue. "Of course you don't, my dear. And you shouldn't have to. I'm sorry they involved you in all of this. I never wanted my children to find out about the monsters that live among you."
She extended her hand, palm open and out of nowhere, a green sprout appeared. "My name is Terra, and I'm a friend." The little sprout grew until it formed a bud. The plant opened to reveal a bright orange rose.
I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. It was the same type of flower that covered
the walls of the Rose Circus party. The same petals that I woke to find on my bedroom floor.
Why was this woman growing flowers in her hands? From the look on her face, she wanted the trick to ease my mind, to somehow separate her from the other members of the Rose Circus, instead, it told me she was the same as the rest of them.
She handed the flower to me. It was so similar to what Brenon had done. These two had to be connected somehow. Yet, she seemed angry at the members of the Rose Circus. I supposed I couldn't blame her. Some of them had tried to kill me, twice.
Despite all I had endured there, there was something about this newcomer that had me on edge more than the members of the circus ever had. She seemed far more dangerous than any of the other creatures I'd met in the last few days. My sense of self-preservation was telling me I needed to stay on her good side.
Forcing a smile on my face, I accepted the flower. "Thank you."
She inclined her head and moved closer to me. Draping her arm around my shoulders, she coaxed me to walk with her.
My heart raced and my whole body tensed at her touch, but I walked with her despite the warning bells in my head.
"You need rest and a good meal," she said. "Why don't you join me until you regain your strength? You can tell me all about your time with the Rose Circus."
A black Escalade with tinted windows showed up from out of nowhere. I looked around. We still seemed to be miles from civilization, yet here was this upscale car arriving to pick up Terra.
A man in a chauffeur uniform stepped out of the driver side and opened the back door. Terra nodded to him then stepped in, scooting across to the far seat. "You coming, Ara?"
She posed it like a question, but I could feel the urgency of the demand. I glanced at the chauffeur. He stood like a sentinel, devoid of expression as he held open the door. He had the same kind of feel about him as the creatures of the Rose Circus and I could almost make out a faint glow around him. I would be willing to bet that he wasn't human. If I made a run for it, where would I go? Between Terra and the chauffeur, I didn't think I'd make it far.
Swallowing hard, I stepped into the car. The door closed behind me and we were moving before I had time to process what I had just done. I had a feeling I had just exchanged one form of prison for another.
17
The car moved fast as it drove away from the empty fields toward the city I had been trying to get to. Part of me was happy that I had at least chosen the correct way to walk while lost. My stomach growled, and I pressed a hand to it.
"We'll be in the city soon," Terra said. "My kitchen staff will make you whatever you want."
She smiled at me as if we were reunited, long-lost friends. It made me uncomfortable. I felt safer on the Rose Circus train than I did with her and those people had tried to kill me. There was no logical reason for my fears, and intuition had never been my strength. If it were, I might have avoided falling for the absolute wrong boy in high school. I’d only dated one other guy since him and that was a disaster. Since then, I’d sworn of dating because I didn't trust my gut when it came to my romantic choices. The feelings I got around Brenon were a prime example of why I should not be allowed to date.
"They didn't hurt you, did they?" Terra asked.
Startled by her question, I stuttered a few times, trying to find my words. Where did I begin? I looked at my knees, pressed together as close to the door as I could get.
Terra let out a sigh. "You aren't the first human that group of freaks has harmed. I'm just glad I found you before they could hurt you any more."
Her expression seemed kind, and she sounded genuine. Why did she give me such a bad feeling? Maybe she wasn't the one I should be afraid of. I knew whatever I stumbled into was bigger than me. Bigger even than some curse that the beings of the Rose Circus were concerned with. "What's going on here? Are you a..." I wasn't sure if it was rude to ask somebody if they were a supernatural creature.
She raised her eyebrows, encouraging me to continue.
"Were you part of the circus?" I finished.
"Gods, no. Is that what you think this is about?" She leaned closer to me. "What exactly did they tell you?"
I recalled the curse, the different creatures, the threats on my life. What should I tell her? Something was still nagging at the pit of my stomach warning me not to trust her. You don't owe those people anything. I straightened in my seat. I didn't even know those people, creatures, whatever they were. Why not just spill? So far, at least Terra seemed to be trying to help me.
She leaned closer to me. "You can tell me anything; you're safe here."
In an instant, I felt all of my hesitation and fear release. She had saved me from the middle of nowhere, after all. I took a deep breath. "They told me they were fairies and other things. They said they were cursed, but they didn't want me to break the curse."
The whole story tumbled out. I told her about my brother and how I kept getting sucked into the Rose Circus. I told her about the rose petals on my floor and the way Brenon had saved me from Miles. Every detail came pouring out of me. The more I spoke, the less tension I felt, the less weary I was of Terra. Why had I been fighting her? She was trying to help me.
When I was done talking, I slumped back against the seat, feeling exhausted. It was as if the words had come of their own volition.
Terra was silent for a long moment. "Oh, Ara. You've been through so much. I'm so sorry."
"Thank you," I said.
The car pulled to a stop, and the driver turned off the ignition. He opened the door for Terra. She reached over and squeezed my hand in hers. "Come on. You need some breakfast and some rest."
I nodded. She was right. I did need breakfast. "Pancakes?"
She smiled. "Anything you want."
I followed her out of the car and found myself staring at a dingy looking pool hall. A huge sign above the entrance read Terra's Place. The windows all had bars on them, the sidewalk was cracked and had seen better days. Behind me, sirens wailed. Looking up and down the street, it was clear that we were in a dangerous part of the city. I stopped in front of the door as an unsettling thought settled over me. "Where are we?"
The chauffeur held the door open for us, and Terra paused in the threshold. "This is my place. I know it's seen better days, but don't let her fool you."
"No," I said. "It's not that. Your place looks great, don't get me wrong. I mean, I don't know where I am."
Terra's eyes widened in recognition. "We're in Denver, Colorado."
I looked around again. I'd never been to Denver. Hadn't I just been in Chicago? How fast did that train move?
"You okay?" Terra asked.
"Fine," I said, walking toward the door. "Just trying to get my bearings. Last I remembered, I was in Chicago."
Her heels clicked as we walked across the shiny tile floor. "Chicago? Was the whole circus there?"
"Yes, that's where I met them." I looked around her place. It was beautiful inside. The floor was probably marble, not tile. The walls were covered in an ornately patterned wallpaper and above us hung crystal chandeliers. Along one wall was a long, dark wooden bar. Several pool tables filled a corner. The wall across from the bar had a stage set up and two dozen intimate tables were situated around the stage. Each table had a white tablecloth and a candle in the middle. "This has to the most beautiful pool hall I've ever seen."
"I keep wanting to get rid of those tables, but my boys just love them so much. In the 20's, I ran a jazz club in Chicago. When I moved here, I brought the chandeliers with me. Maybe one day people will learn to appreciate jazz again." Terra looked back at me. "Do you like jazz?"
I was more of an alternative rock kind of girl, but I'd never say that to Terra. I was starting to warm up to her, but she was still intimidating as hell. "Who doesn't like jazz?"
She smiled, looking at me as if I had passed some kind of secret test. "I knew I liked you."
We went through a large set of double doors into an even more luxurious roo
m. The walls were covered in wood paneling, the floors were thick, red carpet. There were four tables in here. Larger, but still covered in white table cloths and candles. Terra motioned around the room as she walked. "This is our private party room. Usually reserved for VIPs."
We continued through another set of double doors into a bright, noisy kitchen. I was surprised to see at least six people in aprons running around, hard at work. Terra and I had been the only people in the whole place. Who were they cooking for?
"Morning, boys," Terra called out.
All of the staff stopped what they were doing and greeted her cheerfully.
"This is Ara, she's going to be our guest for a short time while she recovers from a run in with that dreadful circus," Terra said.
The room reduced to grumbles and a few curses aimed at the Rose Circus. I couldn't say I blamed them. The more time passed since my escape, the more I began to question how I had ever found even an ounce of good about any member of that circus.
"We're going to need some pancakes." She smiled at me, then turned back to the staff. "Bring them to the greenhouse, please."
"You got it, boss," a man in a black chef coat said.
"Come on, Ara. You'll love the greenhouse." Terra led me to the other end of the kitchen and out another set of double doors. We walked down some hallways, and through a few more private dining areas. Her place was much larger than I would have ever guessed.
Finally, we emerged into a huge, sunny glass enclosure. The greenhouse was teeming with life. Trees, bushes, vines, flowers. I'd never seen so much green in one place at one time. A blue and yellow butterfly landed on my shoulder. I stared at it in awe, watching it open and close its wings before it flew away.
A red brick path wound its way through the vegetation until we reached a white table surrounded by four chairs. It was a simple, beautiful setting. The tension I had been carrying eased as I sat down in one of the comfortable, white chairs.