A Time To Kill (Elemental Rage Book 1)

by Jeanette Raleigh

  They were spreading out now, forming a line to find her. Even though she was exhausted, Claire pushed to make another change to water. With so many of the vampires out here trying to find her, she could wreak havoc on the house, pulling down curtains. They would have no safe haven in which to return when the sun rose.

  Claire’s change to water went quickly this time. She let Air maneuver her, catching the breeze in a thousand pieces until she reformed as human on the steps. She ran for the porch, yanking open the door. The vampires were all outside hunting for her. This was her chance to really make a difference.

  Dozens of people lay sleeping on the sofas. Claire tore the curtains in the room down, certain that at any minute a vampire would come through and catch her. Beneath the curtains, the vampires had added a second layer of aluminum foil. The room was still dark. Claire tore the foil off until she could see window and moved to the next.

  She was in the parlor behind a sofa with an old woman snoring when the first group of vampires returned. Claire dropped to her knees and wriggled her way as far back as she could. Claire heard Tasha’s voice among them.

  The vampire from the porch said, “Someone was out there, I swear,”

  “The windows. Somebody destroyed our windows,” another one said.

  Tasha’s voice rang out, “I’ve smelled this one before. Check Pen 3. I think our newest arrival escaped.”

  Claire tried to change back to water. She was so tired. It was one too many times. Water couldn’t hear her. Dread crawled along Claire’s spine as Tasha’s footsteps came closer. She had nowhere to run…nowhere to hide.

  ~~ Raven ~~

  Raven and Jade sat in the hospital room with Mindy. The plan was going well until the sisters realized that their Mom was missing, too. Raven couldn’t believe that Jade was chickening out now. Even if Mom disappeared, they still had to help Claire, and Mindy was the key to doing it.

  Raven was tired and grumpy. She hadn’t slept well the night before either, so she had a headache from lack of sleep. They were sitting on chairs around Mindy’s bed when their Mom walked in, “What are you girls doing here?”

  “Where were you?” Raven asked.

  At the same time Jade said, “Claire ran away.”

  “I thought there was someone watching me. I didn’t want to lead them to Mindy,” Amy said.

  Raven hoped a nurse or doctor didn’t overhear, because at least from the outside, Amy Gray sounded paranoid. She looked exhausted, as if she could use a week of sleep. Raven said, “Mom, we need to find Claire.”

  Jade jumped in, “Mindy said, ‘Claire. Danger. Death.’ We think she’s in trouble.”

  Not to be outdone Raven said, “But she also said, ‘Mom, Stranger’, so….maybe Claire is okay and back at the hotel. Anyway, we were going to break Mindy out to help us find Claire because Earth seemed to be telling her something important.”

  Amy rubbed her temple, “Give me a minute.”

  Raven had to count to twenty to keep herself from interrupting Mom’s moment of solitude. Amy said, “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m driving you girls back to the Motel where you will sleep a minimum of six hours. Claire might be back at the motel. If she’s not, you’re going to stay put. I have a few friends in the area. I’ll give them a call and we’ll see what we can turn up.”

  They all bundled back into the van and trudged up the stairs to the second floor of the motel. Claire was still missing. Jade crumpled up the note she and Raven had written and threw it away.

  Raven sat on her bed, “So, are we actually going to do what Mom says?”

  Jade yawned, “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. Maybe things will look better with a little sleep.”

  Changing into a t-shirt, Jade crawled into bed and fell asleep. Raven thought it wasn’t a bad idea, except for Mindy’s voice. Raven thought there had to be something she could do.

  ~~ Amy ~~

  Amy felt numb. It was too much. She knew Claire was learning the gift of Water. It was obvious in a dozen different ways. She tried to be a good mother. She tried. Maybe she should have stopped Raven and Claire from practicing when they thought they were unwatched. Maybe she should have told them straight out that she knew what they were up to and approved, but to please be careful. Instead, she buried her head in the sand and let it happen without help or intervention.

  Claire nearly killed Mindy. It was her fault. She knew how much power an Element gifted a beloved member of the Gray family. It was clear when she left Claire and Jade in the motel room that they were unhappy. She was juggling children, needing to be with all of them, but they were scattered. If Lawrence were alive, he would know what to do.

  Amy hesitated. Years ago she had switched phones. Along with the change, she had imported all of the old numbers. The name in her address book just said “Bill.” One of the girls once asked who he was and Amy answered with a non-descript non-answer that didn’t tell them anything. He was Lawrence’s brother, and at least a decade ago, he lived in Oregon, in Bandon to be precise.

  She dialed the number, holding her breath. A woman answered the phone, “Hello?”

  “Martha,” Amy let her breath out in a huge swoosh. She didn’t even realize she had been holding it. “I’m sorry to bother you. We’re in trouble. I think whoever killed Lawrence is after me. Claire ran off, and I was hoping Bill could help.”

  “Of course. Of course. Where are you?” Martha’s voice was soothing, gentle. It had been so long since Amy had talked to her, seen her. She remembered a slightly older woman with a vivacious personality and warm smile. This Martha was more subdued.

  “Bandon,”

  “Well, honey, you’re right on our doorstep. Bill and I haven’t moved. Come on over and we’ll get this sorted out,” Amy could just see Martha with her enormously big hair, high-top sneakers and pink leggings. Of course, that was in the eighties. She had no doubt changed by now.

  “Can you give me the address? It’s been awhile.” Amy rubbed her eyes. They were starting to feel scratchy.

  After scrawling down instructions, Amy drove to Bill and Martha’s. She tried to prepare herself for anything. The last time she’d seen Bill was at Lawrence’s funeral. He put his hand over hers and slipped a letter discreetly into her hand. It told her to run and not to look back.

  Bill was in the yard watching the road when Amy drove up. She realized that she had called in the wee hours of the morning and was right now driving in at sunrise. Funny…she’d been so wrapped up in her problems that she hadn’t even realized what time it was.

  When she stopped the car and opened the door, he was there with a big bear hug. Martha met them at the door. It was shocking to see a woman much changed and yet the same. Gone was the mile-high hair and the long button-up shirts. In its place, Martha wore jeans and a blouse with straight hair that framed her face, “It’s so good to see you. Don’t tell us where you’ve been staying. The Keepers still ask Bill every so often if he’s seen you.”

  Amy hugged Martha, “I’m sorry to bring trouble to your doorstep. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Have you given any thought to passing on the secret? I’m sure the older girls would be suitable by now,” Bill led the way into his house to the kitchen where a pot of fresh coffee waited.

  Amy lied.

  To her, the secret Bill spoke of was a curse. She and Lawrence had made the decision together, and they had passed the power on a long time ago, but she couldn’t give that information away…not to anyone, not even her daughters. Better to make herself a target than the girls.

  She said, “Bill, you know I can’t put that kind of responsibility on them. They’re only teenagers. Jade doesn’t show the Elemental ability at all and she’s the most responsible.”

  “When the time is right, you’ll know,” Bill said, and Amy had to silently agree. She surely did know. The power wanted to be passed. It made its own decision in the matter, but had to wait for her to agree. Amy wouldn’t make that kind of decision
alone. She wouldn’t burden any of her girls without Lawrence’s knowledge and approval. He hesitated until it was clear that the Keepers had discovered that the Gray family held the power. She had spent long nights awake and wondering…if she had only passed it on a little sooner maybe they would have stayed hidden…and Lawrence would be alive.

  Martha held her hand out to Amy, “You said Claire is missing. Do you think the Keepers or the Shadows took her?”

  Feeling haunted, Amy took her hand and said, “She ran away. But I just can’t see her staying out all night. She would have walked to the ocean, gotten bored and come back.”

  Martha glanced over at Bill, “Honey, can you grab the map of Oregon and my marking wand, please?”

  Amy realized that they were already prepared to help when Bill pulled open the junk drawer and brought out the two items requested.

  Closing her eyes, Martha said, “Think about Claire. Think of your love for her and that you want to find her.”

  Amy closed her eyes. Martha’s hands were plump and soft. Amy remembered the lean, supple woman she used to be. Amy focused on her daughter, her third child, the artistic one who couldn’t help but blurt out all kinds of uncomfortable truths. She thought of how much she loved Claire. Martha’s hand started moving.

  Energy prickled the palm of her hand and Amy followed the energy down. Martha said, “You can open your eyes.”

  Amy did.

  Bill cleared his throat, “Would you like to stay for coffee and muffins?”

  “I’m sorry,” She put a decade of sorrow into the apology. She missed Bill and Martha. If she could stay without putting them or Claire in danger, she would.

  “They hardly ask about you at the meetings anymore,” Bill was losing the hair on the top of his head. The stray thought crossed Amy’s mind as she wondered if Lawrence would have, too. She would never know.

  “Bill, don’t wait for them to ask. Tell them you’ve seen me. They already know we’re here. We were followed,” Amy lifted her arms to Bill and they hugged once more.

  Bill said, “I can’t betray you like that.”

  “It’s not a betrayal. You gave your oath to the Keepers not to me. As soon as I find Claire, we’re leaving. Just give me a few hours. Tell them I was planning to bring the girls back here to stay but never showed,” Amy pulled away and turned to hug Martha as well, “Thanks for everything.”

  She drove away feeling a keen sense of loss, and a keener sense of time passed. So much had been taken from her. She drove to the hospital, wishing that she could somehow erase the past seven years.

  Amy Gray’s elemental gifts were a combination of all of the elements, meaning that each element was weak but they worked together to do things that some Elementals couldn’t handle. When Lawrence was alive, he liked to tease Amy that persuasion was her biggest gift. Maybe he was right.

  Mindy had stopped coughing hours ago and all of the tests were clear. She was a little more ‘spacey’ than usual but that happened sometimes with Mindy, especially in the morning when they were going to school or when she was tired.

  Jade and Raven were already up and dressed. Teenagers. At any other time they’d sleep until noon, but tell them you want them to sleep and they’re awake.

  “Jade, you stay here with Mindy. Raven, I’ve got a map. We’re going to get Claire,” Amy used her best Mom voice, but still faced resistance.

  “Mom, I have to be there. I really hurt her feelings,” Jade said.

  Mindy, who hadn’t said a word since the hospital, nodded vigorously, “Mindy come. Earth. Claire. Help.”

  Thinking of the map, Amy realized that they would have at least an hour drive ahead of them anyway. If the Keepers were watching Bill’s house, they wouldn’t have much time.

  She would find a way to leave Mindy in a safe place before they arrived. “Fine,” Amy said, “We’ll all go.”

  It was still early in the morning when the Gray women headed to the parking lot with bags and totes in hand. The sun just peeked over the horizon. Jade carried Mindy out to the van and buckled her in while she slept. Raven loaded bags into the back while Amy walked around the front.

  A man called across the parking lot, “Excuse me. I’m looking for the lighthouse. Can you tell me which direction I should take on 101?”

  Amy asked Air if she could trust the man. Air didn’t know. He belonged to the Universe. Keepers belonged. Their power over Death and once, Time, gave them an advantage over the Elementals, and yet in all these years, the Gray family had managed to hold onto the Keeper’s magic, Time.

  Amy shrugged and told him, “I’m a tourist here myself. We haven’t been to the lighthouse yet. It’s near one of the campgrounds, I think.”

  She felt the faint twinge of discomfort creeping up the base of her spine that warned her of danger. Before she could call to Air, the man said, “Stop. I know what you can do. Look at me.”

  Amy turned slowly. The Keeper held a gun pointed at her chest. He was of medium height with a big bushy beard and matching eyebrows. Given the spiky short hair, Amy was certain it was a disguise.

  He talked low and quickly, “I don’t want to hurt you or your girls. My orders are to bring you in. Get your girls up here. Now.”

  With a glance back to see what Jade and Raven were doing, Amy called, “Girls, can you walk to the front of the van please? Walk slowly and don’t do anything foolish.”

  Jade was trying to find room for the cooler and a grocery bag of chips and crackers that they’d taken into the motel for snacks. Her Mom didn’t believe in eating out.

  She called to her Mom, “What’s wrong?”

  Raven closed the back door and came up front.

  Amy used her Mom voice to say, “Just get up here.” To the man she said, “I have what you want. Leave my daughters alone. Please?”

  When Raven saw the gun, her eyes widened and her fingers twitched. Amy could see her daughter’s mind processing the possibilities. She said, “Don’t, Raven. Just listen and do what I say.”

  Jade joined them. Amy hoped the man didn’t know about Mindy. She had been fast asleep in the van while everything was loaded.

  He didn’t seem like a bad sort. The Keepers were actually similar to the Elementals. They had their place in the Universe and most of them were good, upstanding citizens. The kind of power they wielded, however, meant that any deviation or aberrant behavior could turn them into monsters.

  “Do you know why you’re holding a gun on me?” Amy asked. It was more than curiosity. If she knew how much he knew, she might be able to save her children. His orders made all the difference.

  “The three of us are going to walk to my car. You’re going to walk slowly and with big smiles on your face. If anyone tries to run, I will shoot your Mom. If anyone screams, I will shoot your Mom. Get my drift?” He had a gravelly voice and Amy tried to memorize his features. It might help later, if she survived that long.

  “Whatever you say,” Raven said which made Amy nervous. She knew her daughter, and Raven was using a passive tone, which usually meant that she was going to do the opposite.

  “What happens when we get to your car?” Amy asked, mostly to keep Jade and Raven from talking or planning. She had to protect her girls from the Keepers. When they figured out who had their precious gift of Time, they would stop at nothing to take it back.

  Raven flashed Jade a signal. Amy caught the end of it. She hoped Raven would be smart about her plans to escape. The Keeper noticed, too, “You, making the hand gestures. Open the car door and tie your Mom’s hands. This gun will shatter bone. Your little wind tunnel won’t do much to me, but this bullet will kill your Mom.”

  Flushing a deep red, Raven stared at the man. She was furious and wanted to do something. Amy couldn’t believe that the parking lot could be so absolutely quiet. Surely there had to be someone around, someone watching who could call the police.

  Amy said, “Let my girls go, and I’ll go with you. I have power.”

  He threw his
keys at Jade. She fumbled and dropped them, “Sorry. Sorry.”

  “Open the trunk and pull out the rope.”

  Jade did as she was instructed, her hands shaking the whole while. While Raven reacted to everything head on like a bull, Jade was more sensitive. In a fight or flight situation, she would run.

  “Give that one the rope,” He didn’t wave the gun around. He held it steady. That meant he knew his way around weapons. Amy had to get her girls free.

  She spoke in her mind to Air. Please help Raven. When the Keeper is not watching Raven or Jade, tell her to fly with Jade to the van. Tell her to run. Get Claire, and run as far and as fast as she can. The keys are in my purse next to the driver’s seat. Credit cards are in my wallet.

  The Keeper grabbed Amy’s shoulder and pushed her so that she was facing the car. “You, tie her up.”

  Air passed the information to Raven. She whispered, “Mom.”

  In a loud voice, Amy said, “Honey, don’t. Just do what he says. Tie up my hands. Everything will be all right.”

  Everything will be all right. Amy remembered those words. They rang sour in the early morning air. They were the same words she had used seven years ago as she clutched her two little girls the night Lawrence died.

  “Help your mother into the trunk, and leave enough room for all of you.”

  Jade watched the man, watched the gun, watched her Mom, watched Raven. Jade would try to reason through all of the possibilities.

  Amy had to get her daughters away from him. She spoke to Water, cried out to Earth, begged Fire, and cajoled Air to give her some means of escape. Fire started with a roar. The gas station across the street suddenly blew up. Shocked Amy tried to see from the trunk.

  Scared, the man said, “What the…”

  Then it was Earth’s turn. Earth slid, knocking the Keeper off his feet. Unfortunately, Jade and Raven went down, too, but not for long. Air swept them up into a strong embrace and carried them all the way to the open door of the van.