Singing Fire

by T. L. Martin

  “Charlie!” she cheered, embracing me so tightly I could hardly get a word out.

  It felt good to laugh with her again, reminding me of how much I had missed her.

  “It’s good to see you, Stace.” I returned her squeeze before helping her set aside the suitcases and heading to the kitchen.

  Stacy sunk into the sofa, stretching her legs out on the ottoman and draping her arms across the pillows.

  “Damn, it feels good to be home.” She sighed. “I’m pooped.”

  “Just sit back and relax,” I said, setting a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table alongside the tray of pizza. “I have tonight covered.”

  “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” She flashed me her wide grin.

  Her eyes finally caught on to my obnoxious rainbow striped pajamas, and her grin broadened. “Aw. I haven’t seen you wear those since I forced you to last Christmas. You must have missed me too, boo boo.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well don’t get too excited. Remember your matching pair? The one you ‘lost’ at that New York hotel?”

  Her smile dropped as she watched me duck down the hall toward her bedroom. I returned quickly, proudly revealing the matching pajama set from behind my back.

  “Now go get changed. Boo boo.”

  “Nicely done.” With one eyebrow raised, my aunt plucked the outfit from my hands and strolled to the bathroom.

  “So, how’ve you been?” she called from behind the closed door. “Anything new?”

  If only she knew.

  “Uh, not really.” It felt wrong hiding so much from someone who put so much trust in me.

  “No?” She wasn’t buying it.

  “Ray’s been out for a bit,” I offered, changing the subject to something less loaded.

  My aunt popped back into the living room. “What? Since when?”

  She grabbed a slice of pizza and settled into the sofa beside me.

  “A few days? He’s at the hospital.”

  “Oh my gosh. Is he okay?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I think so. He left me a voicemail the other day and said he’s fine. I’m going to get his room number from Diana and go check on him tomorrow, though.”

  She nodded her head satisfactorily. “Well, good. I’ll come, too.”

  I thought back to the demon receptionist and shook my head. “You don’t have to do that. You just got back. Relax a little.”

  Desmond may have given his seal of approval on the creature, but that wasn’t saying much.

  “I’m coming with you,” she insisted through a mouth full of food. “Not only am I worried about him, but I need to make sure he’s going to be back soon. He’s supposed to be looking after you when I’m away, and I can’t just leave if he’s not home.”

  “Stace, I don’t need to be looked after.”—not by Ray, anyway—“I’ll be eighteen in a few months. I can take care of myself.”

  She rolled her eyes and took a sip of soda. “Well, of course I know that. But I’m pretty sure that argument wouldn’t hold up with law enforcement.”

  I grabbed a slice of pizza and dug in, leaning back into the seat.

  “Anyway. Onto bigger and brighter things,” she beamed. Her eyes peaked with curiosity. “Have you decided on a major yet?”

  A major. Probably one of the least important things on my mind these days. But I couldn’t tell her that.

  Taking my silence for the confirmation that it was, she continued, “Remember when you used to always tell me you wanted to study health and medicine? You said you wanted to change the world, fix everyone who couldn’t be fixed. Don’t you remember?”

  My eyes strayed to the window overlooking the distant sea, and I reached a hand into the pocket of my pants, tracing my fingers around the necklace.

  “Of course I do,” I answered softly.

  “Well, what happened?” she asked. Her tone softened with mine, and I could tell she genuinely wanted to know.

  I inhaled sharply. If there was one thing I couldn’t bring myself to discuss, it was them. The two people who gave me life, only to have their own ripped away.

  “I grew up,” I whispered, lifting my shoulder in a half-hearted shrug.

  Stacy lowered her eyes. She was still working on her slice of pizza, and I could see the wheels turning. She wasn’t letting this go so easily.

  “Well, Joe was telling me about these programs people can do, all over the world. They specialize in different areas, including health, and you get to study abroad—”

  “Stacy—”

  “Just hear me out,” she insisted. Her eyes were lit up, and her hands animated. “You pick a place—stick with an English speaking one if you want, like the UK or Australia; I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. And you submit a detailed written essay on why you think you’d make a good choice for the program. They’ll review your academic records of course, but we both know you’ll blow that out of the water. And you get two or three months of an adventure, learning about the world while getting to dip your toes into the health field...see if it’s something you’re still interested in.”

  “I don’t know…” I kept my answer vague. There was simply no way I’d be able to leave town anytime soon, let alone the country.

  “Look,” she said, “don’t make any decisions yet. Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay? I’ll email you the link, so you can check it out a bit more—just if you want. No pressure.”

  Her eyes were so hopeful I couldn’t argue. It was obvious how much it would mean to her.

  Reluctantly, I gave a brief nod of my head in defeat. “I’ll think about it.”

  My aunt squealed and pulled me into another tight squeeze. “That’s all I’m asking for, Charlie. Take your time.”

  We both knew she wanted more, but I returned her smile. I couldn’t fault her for wanting such things for me.

  Reaching forward, I grabbed the remote control from the coffee table and tossed it onto her lap.

  “All yours,” I said, dipping my fingers into the popcorn.

  She clicked play, glancing sideways at me. “We should totally watch Gilmore Girls after this.”

  “Totally.”

  Soft sunlight snuck in through my window, but I was already awake. I couldn’t stop thinking about Stacy and her many high hopes for my future. There was so much I would never be able to share with her, and the fact made me uneasy. Would it be like this forever? Would I truly be able to hide who I was from her? I groaned. There were so many things overwhelming my mind, and I was afraid it might shut down if it didn’t get a break soon. This would have to be another problem for another time. For now, she was home. And I was grateful to be able to spend some time with her before she took off again.

  I climbed out of bed and dragged my body to the bathroom. Splashing water on my face didn’t help. I popped into the shower, keeping it cold. I would need to be alert when I visited Ray, or he would sense something was on my mind. He always could read me like a book.

  I was dressed in seconds and headed downstairs for a cup of coffee; something that was quickly spiraling into a bad habit. My aunt’s door was slightly ajar, and I could hear her snoring from the kitchen.

  The doorbell startled me, making me almost spill the freshly poured coffee. It wasn’t like Desmond to ring the doorbell. I set the mug down and opened the front door, surprised to find that it wasn’t him at all.

  “Morning.” Matt’s charming grin lit up his face. He wore a light jacket and a pair of jeans and held a disposable cup of coffee in each hand.

  “Matt.” I peeked discreetly around him for Desmond, realizing the chilling sensation was gone.

  “What?” he asked. “Surprised to see me?”

  “Huh? Oh.” I smiled warmly and motioned for him to come inside. “Sorry. Come in.”

  He chuckled and followed me into the kitchen. “I’m messing with you. Desmond had something come up, so I’m taking over. Brought you some coffee.”

  “Thanks, but—” I looked at him
apologetically, picking up my own mug from the counter. “I kind of already made some.”

  I could see the disappointment on his face, but he tried not to let on.

  “Oh. It’s cool.” He set one cup down on the table and took a sip from the other. “More for me,” he added with a wink.

  A loud yawn and heavy footsteps thumping down the hall announced my aunt’s entrance.

  “Mornin’,” she slurred, rubbing her eyes dopily.

  I waited patiently as she took in her surroundings, eventually noticing Matt.

  “Oh! Sorry!” Stacy quickly pulled her robe shut and dragged a hand through her tangled hair. She looked at me suggestively before mumbling, “I didn’t realize you had company, Charlie.”

  Her reaction didn’t let me down, and it was hard not to smile. “Stacy, this is my friend Matt.” I was sure to place a certain emphasis on friend for her. “Matt, Aunt Stacy.”

  Stacy cleared her throat and extended a hand toward him. “Nice to meet you, Matt.”

  “Likewise,” he said.

  “Matt works with me,” I explained, despite knowing it wouldn’t save me from her excessive hints and winks.

  She lifted her lips into a half-smile. “Right. Work.”

  Grabbing the extra cup from the table, he courteously offered it to my aunt. “You drink coffee? It’s still hot.”

  “Yes.” She sighed emphatically, immediately retrieving the cup and bringing it to her lips. “Mmm. Thank you. You can come over any time.”

  She snickered at her own joke, and Matt smiled.

  “Well.” I set my own empty mug into the sink. “I was just about to head outside for a walk.”

  Remaining in place as she leaned against the table, Stacy stared blankly at me for a moment. Then it clicked.

  “A walk. Of course.” She gestured awkwardly toward her room. “And I have to, uh...I have things to do, too. So...”

  I knew how it looked. Seeing me have a guy over for the first time ever was a huge deal to my aunt, and suggesting we go on a walk alone only made it more so. But I needed to speak with him, and there were too many things we could not discuss in her presence. She would eventually form her own conclusions, regardless.

  “I’ll be back soon,” I promised.

  “Take your time,” she said, knowingly.

  “And make sure to keep the doors and windows locked,” I firmly added, ignoring her implication.

  Stacy rolled her eyes. “What’s gotten into you lately? Have you forgotten what town we live in?”

  I grabbed a jacket from the coat rack and slid it on. “I mean it, Stace. Please.”

  She let out another sigh. “Fine. But, you? Make sure to have a little fun.”

  I followed Matt outside. It was still early, and the breeze was strong enough that I could feel the sea’s moisture. Ambling down the steps, we made our way toward the water.

  “Do you always leave your shoes behind?” Matt asked, eyeing my bare feet.

  I smiled slightly. “Not always.”

  The ocean’s current was holding back this morning, with each wave more tired than the last. It was calming, watching the drifting ebb and flow, and I could feel my shoulders begin to relax without realizing they had been tense to begin with.

  “Go ahead. Shoot,” he said.

  “What?”

  “Well, I’m assuming you didn’t get me out here alone for personal reasons.” He winked playfully. “So...shoot.”

  “And here I thought I was so smooth.”

  Matt snickered.

  I couldn’t help but notice the glaring differences between him and Desmond. Matt was warm, welcoming. Even now, his hands rested casually in his pockets, and his smiles came often and easily. Desmond, on the other hand, exuded enigma. Brooding and deadly, everything about him screamed stay away. Such a contrast from Quinn’s warning, I realized now. In fact, he didn’t seem to be trying to draw me in at all.

  Matt followed my lead as I stopped and lowered myself onto the sand, ensuring I could still see my house clearly from where we sat. The sand felt cool as I scooped up a handful and let it slowly trickle down.

  “So, how does this Guardian thing work?” I asked finally. “How exactly are you supposed to protect me?”

  He leaned back, resting on the palms of his hands. “Basically, I’m supposed to be able to act like a shield for you.”

  “Not bad. But how can any Guardian practice shielding me without me being there?” The light in my kitchen switched on, and I could vaguely make out my aunt answering the home phone.

  “Well, most Guardians have witches for parents and won’t need any training. They’ve been attracted to this area, like me, sure. But they won’t actually be summoned until the time is right. And once they are, they’ll just be able to do their job.”

  “But your parents are human, like you.”

  “Exactly,” he said, kicking a foot into the sand. “And on top of that, I’m supposed to be the Alpha. The top dog, the head honcho of Guardians.”

  I was about to respond when he glanced sideways at me.

  “I know,” he said. Turning his head upward toward the sky, he shouted, “Very funny, guys!”

  I grinned. One of the many likable things about Matt was his sense of humor.

  “Anyway,” he continued. “Lucky me, there are two parts to my training. I just finished part one the other day.”

  “And what’s that?” I asked.

  “Shielding myself,” he replied. “We started by training me to shield against Quinn’s magic, but it wasn’t until this week that I was able to hold up against Priscilla’s. Could still afford to work on that, actually.”

  “So, how do you know if it’ll work on me?”

  “I don’t,” he answered simply. “That’s the second step. The good news is that it’s supposed to come naturally now that I’ve gotten the basics of shielding down.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough. How long can it really be before the next person comes after me, right?”

  I was surprised to see that Matt didn’t seem to share my amusement on this one. His eyes were serious when they looked at me, and there was no trace of a smile on his lips when he spoke next.

  “I can protect you, Charlie. And I will. I didn’t think I’d be starting this soon, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad Desmond had somewhere else to be today.”

  His eyes narrowed, and he looked away.

  “You too, huh?”

  “It’s nothing personal—I don’t even know the guy. But I’m your Guardian.” He shrugged and turned back to me. “There’s also the gigantic elephant in the room no one seems to want to talk about. His diet?”

  I froze for an instant, the image of him feeding resurfacing in my mind, loud and clear. Dropping the sand, I leaned back and gazed idly at my house. Did Matt even know about the other night?

  “What do you know about his diet?” I asked, feeling around. “Where he gets his...food...I mean.”

  “If the rumors are true, he only feeds off of the guilty. Those who’ve committed gruesome and deadly crimes.” Matt paused and raised an eyebrow. “The Robin Hood of vampires?”

  When I didn’t crack a smile, he gave it another shot.

  “Vampire Dexter?”

  His endearing smile had returned, prompting me to smile with him in spite of the terrible and cheesy nicknames. But it only took a second before my thoughts had already darkened. The reality of his words was sinking in, and so was the grimness behind them.

  “So is that supposed to make him some kind of hero? At least he chooses his victims strategically—is that it?”

  Matt stood up, dusting the sand from his hands. “Honestly? I doubt someone like Desmond Stone cares what people think at all.”

  He extended a hand, and I took hold, allowing him to pull me up. The walk back to my house was quiet, and Matt’s words still lingered with me when we approached the front door. Turning the knob, I was glad t
o find it did not budge. I gave the door a loud rap, and my aunt was quick to answer.

  “See?” she asked with a wink, making way for us to enter. She was fully dressed now in a pair of designer jeans and a silky red blouse. “I can be a grown up and do as I’m told.”

  I rolled my eyes playfully. “You know I don’t mean it like that.”

  She chortled and leaned back against the table. “Oh. Diana called for you.”

  “Yeah?” I grabbed two bananas from the fruit bowl, tossing one to Matt and peeling the other open for myself.

  “She said he’s in room 13. Or was it 14?” Stacy frowned and glanced at the kitchen phone, as if seeing it would help her remember.

  My mouth turned up, and I retrieved the basket of marbled banana bread slices I had prepared for him the night before. “We’re lucky it’s a small hospital.”

  Stacy smirked and grabbed her jacket. She glanced at Matt, then back at me. Her grin broadened. “You coming with us?”

  Matt looked at me questioningly, and I suddenly took solace in how perfectly the timing had worked out. We wouldn’t have to face the demon alone, after all.

  “Our neighbor, Ray,” I explained. “He’s at the hospital.”

  “Only if I can drive,” he offered politely. “That is, if you don’t mind trucks.”

  Stacy looked impressed, and she made sure to flaunt it. “Morning coffee and an offer to drive? Can you come over every day?” she teased.

  Matt smiled and led the way to his vehicle—a silver GMC pickup. I tried to slide into the back and let Stacy take the front seat, but she wasn’t having it. She snuck into the backseat before I could stop her.

  “So. Where are you from, Matt?” Stacy asked from behind me.

  “Is it so obvious?” he asked, flipping on the radio.

  “It took me all of three seconds to determine you weren’t from Oregon,” she answered with a chuckle. “And I’m willing to bet you aren’t even from the West Coast. You may look like a surfer dude, but that doesn’t fool me. No...you seem more like a Kansas boy to me.”

  I looked over at Matt, and it dawned on me that I had never even asked where he was from—or anything else personal about him, for that matter. How selfish of me, I realized. Even when I had asked about his training, it was in reference to me.