Damsel Under Stress

by Shanna Swendson

  Idris ignored her. “Either you call off your dragons and let Ari, Sylvia, and me leave, or I’ll take care of your girlfriend. You might be able to protect her, but that would mean dropping your attention to me, even for a split second.”

  I struggled but couldn’t move a muscle. For a moment, everyone else seemed stuck in the spell I was. They just stared at me. Then I noticed what they were staring at. A blue magical flame pooled around my feet, moving toward me. In moments, it would be on me, and I could already feel the heat. Meanwhile, Sylvia and her goons were taking off toward the exit that led deeper into the tunnels. Ethan tried to catch her in a tackle, but Mr. Bones shoved him aside, sending him sprawling. The dragons roared, but Sylvia did something with her hands, and I feared for the dragons’ safety. “She’s getting away!” I yelled. When the others still focused on me, I insisted, “It’s just a little blue flame. No big deal. Go!”

  When Idris grabbed Ari and made to follow Sylvia, the others finally jolted out of their shock and took action. Owen did something to counter whatever it was that Sylvia was doing to his dragons while Merlin took on Sylvia and Rod tried to stop Idris and Ari, with some dive-bombing from Rocky and Rollo.

  Marcia ran to my side. “What’s going on, Katie? Are you okay?”

  “I don’t think it’s serious,” I said. “I just can’t move. Trust me, this guy doesn’t ever do anything really serious, and he’ll lose interest before long.” The blue flame was coming closer to me, and growing in intensity. I had a feeling it wouldn’t have done anything to me in my magical immune state. Now, there was no telling what might happen, and it didn’t look like the kind of fire a fire extinguisher could put out. Marcia tried stomping on it, then she blew on it, like she was trying to blow out a candle.

  “No!” I said to stop her. “It’s not a candle. If you blow on a fire, it gets more intense.”

  The magical battle continued to rage. Marcia yelped as Rod was tossed aside and hit a wall, and I winced when Idris sent a chunk of rock flying toward Owen. Owen got out of the way in time to avoid all but a glancing blow, but it seemed to me he staggered a little.

  The flame came closer and closer to me. I was sweating, and not just from the fear. It was getting awfully hot. I was all for saving the world from bad magic, but that didn’t mean I wanted to pull a Joan of Arc. I’d like to think I’d be willing to sacrifice myself to save the world, but when you’re staring at flames coming very close to making that a reality, it has a way of changing your perspective.

  “You’re awfully calm about this,” Marcia said.

  “All in a day’s work, I’m afraid.”

  “I guess this is why you’ve been acting weird, huh?”

  “Yeah. It was kind of hard to talk about, and I wasn’t allowed to tell you about magic.”

  Just as I’d expected from my association with Idris, the flame started to die. I could move my fingers and toes, which wasn’t very useful, but it was a good sign. He wasn’t great at multitasking, so when he got sidetracked by fighting Owen, he couldn’t sustain what he was doing to me.

  Then suddenly the flame flared up again, and I couldn’t help but scream. Marcia jumped back, yelling, “It’s going to kill her!”

  “Yes, it is,” Sylvia said. “If you don’t call off your dragons, she will die.” Now, I was worried. Idris was a flake, but Sylvia was focused, powerful, and kind of a bitch. I had no doubt that she’d kill me to secure her own escape.

  Owen whistled, and the dragons left the doorways to come to his side. “You’re free to go,” he said, his voice even softer than usual. It still carried clearly and echoed in the cavern. “Release Katie.”

  And then a lot of things happened very quickly. Sylvia shouted, “Release her yourself,” and ran for the exit. Idris grabbed Ari’s hand and ran after her. Ari pulled back at him, slowing his escape. Mr. Bones got ahead of them and took off down the tunnel while they struggled with one another. The fire singed the edges of my shoes, but then Owen whirled to do something to it. For the first time since I’d known him, there was real fear—panic, even—in his eyes.

  Merlin went after Sylvia, Ari, Idris, and the henchmen, shooting spells to restrain them, but Owen called to him, “It’s a layered spell, I can’t stop it alone.” Merlin hesitated only for a second, then spun to join Owen.

  I’d barely felt the flames lick at my feet when they vanished entirely and I could move again. I swayed and for a moment thought my legs might buckle under me, but I caught myself, got my legs under me, and took off running. “Don’t let them get away!” I shouted as I ran.

  The dragons had tried to go after the bad guys but could only go so far before they were too large to get into the passages. I didn’t have that problem. I could see Ari and Idris ahead of me, him dragging her behind him. Sylvia must have been ahead of them. Ari finally broke free, and that gave me the chance to catch up with her and tackle her. Owen caught up with me and sidestepped Ari and me on the ground as he ran after Idris and Sylvia.

  I felt the tingle of magic while I tried to get a better hold on Ari. Merlin then reached Ari and me and said, “I have her. You may get up now, Miss Chandler.” I stood shakily. Ari still lay on the ground, but she looked up at me in an odd way, with some of her usual hostility gone. That was more than a bit unnerving as I remembered that she’d had access to the inside of my head. How much did she know about me? Merlin waved at her, and she shrank back down to a point of light, like the way they depict Tinkerbell in stage productions of Peter Pan. Another wave of his hand sent the point of light to rest inside his vest pocket. “She should be safe there,” he said, lightly patting the pocket. He then held out his arm to me and escorted me back into the main chamber, where the dragons hovered anxiously near the exit where Owen had disappeared.

  Marcia was at Rod’s side, helping him sit up. On the other side of the room, Ethan was stirring. Philip was still out cold. I opened my mouth to ask Merlin if he’d be okay, but a shock wave shook the whole underground chamber. I ducked instinctively as dust showered us from the ceiling. The dragons twitched and whimpered. Ethelinda—who’d stayed out of the fighting—took to the air, and Merlin looked alarmed.

  A moment later, Owen returned. “I couldn’t catch them,” he said with a weary sigh. He had a red spot on one cheekbone that would probably develop into a bruise, and there was a bleeding cut on his temple. There was also a wildness in his eyes.

  “You certainly tried,” Merlin said, and there was an unusual degree of sternness to his voice. “That use of power was unnecessary and could have been dangerous. I expect you to have more control than that.”

  Owen ignored him, grabbing me in a fierce hug. He then shoved me out in front of him at arm’s length. “Are you okay?” he asked. Before I could answer, he pulled me against him again and held me like he would never let go.

  “I just love a happy ending.” I looked over to see Ethelinda dabbing at her eyes with a yellowed lace handkerchief.

  “Yeah, you really helped here tonight,” I said, unable to hide my sarcasm. I figured I deserved a little snottiness, considering I’d practically been burned at the stake, thanks to her interference.

  I expected her to deny messing up anything, but instead, she burst into sobs. “It was supposed to be an easy assignment. You can only go so long based on reputation, and Cinderella was centuries ago. They weren’t even all that happy ever after, you know. They had nothing in common. Sure, the first few years were fine, but then he started going on more hunting trips and she got caught up with the children, and they were like strangers living in that enormous castle.” She gave a big sniff, then blew her nose so loudly that it startled the dragons. “But now I can’t seem to do anything right.” With that, she dissolved into shuddering tears.

  She’d just about ruined my life, and had come pretty close to ending it, but I couldn’t stand to watch her cry. “Wait,” I called out, tearing myself from Owen’s embrace. “You know, those two—” I gestured toward Merlin’s pocket and down
the passage where Idris had disappeared “—seem like they could use some help. He doesn’t appreciate her properly.”

  Her face lit up and her tears dried immediately. “Oh, yes, that young man does need to learn a lesson or two, and she would have better luck if she were more ladylike. Very good suggestion. I’m on the case!”

  Merlin bowed to her. “Thank you for your assistance, but I would appreciate it if you’d leave my people alone in the future.”

  “Oh, I have no need to meddle further here. Things seem to be perfectly peachy. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” She vanished in her usual burst of silver sparkles, and I hoped that was the last I saw of her.

  Owen squeezed my shoulder. “You never did tell me. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I want to sleep for a week, but I seem to be mostly unsinged, except maybe the soles of my shoes. But why did you let them go in the first place? You had them.”

  He looked at me like I was crazy. “Because they were going to kill you!” he shouted. It was the first time I’d ever heard Owen Palmer really and truly yell at someone, and he was yelling at me.

  “But you let them go. Now what’re they going to do?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’ve always managed to stop them before. We can stop them again.”

  “What about the whole saving the world from bad magic thing?”

  “It’s not like my choice was you or the fate of the free world.”

  I sighed and rubbed my still-aching head. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m glad you saved me. I really wasn’t enjoying the idea of being a human torch, but I hate the idea of them getting away. They’re still in business, and we haven’t learned anything about who’s really in control.”

  “We might be somewhat better off,” Merlin said. “They seem to have acquired a major hindrance, due to your efforts. And we once again have our original prisoner. I honestly believe that Ari will be willing to cooperate now, even if it’s only enough to make him suffer for insulting her. In addition, we have freed your friend and preserved Mr. Vandermeer’s claim on his business, which may ultimately cut their funding.”

  Owen smiled then as he put an arm around my shoulder. “If that fairy godmother works with them the way she did with us, then they won’t get anything done for weeks. We said we needed to distract Idris.”

  “And Ethelinda is the ultimate distraction,” I said.

  “Not such a bad day, after all, then,” Owen said, giving my shoulder an extra squeeze.

  “Speak for yourself,” I groaned. “Can I take a break from being a victim for a while? I don’t enjoy playing damsel in distress.”

  “Next time I’m in terrible danger, you’re welcome to come to my rescue,” Owen said with a teasing grin. He sounded almost giddy with relief. I guessed he wasn’t mad at me anymore. All it took to make him get over his hurt feelings and restore our relationship was me nearly getting killed. It wasn’t a relationship counseling technique I’d recommend.

  “Count on it,” I assured him. “But I wouldn’t mind if we avoided terrible danger for a while. I’m looking forward to some typing and filing, maybe updating our marketing campaign. Just as long as I’m not being chased by anything or put under any spells. And in case anyone is wondering, I’d be happy to help train some other immunes to cope with immunity loss, but I am not going through that again.”

  “No, you’re not,” Owen said firmly.

  “Now, I believe all of us need to rest and tend our wounds,” Merlin said. Marcia helped Rod up, and I thought he looked steady enough to walk on his own, but he kept his arm tight around her. Ethan managed to get back on his feet, and then Merlin did something magical over Philip, who soon sat up, blinking. The weary lot of us headed out of the caverns, much to the dragons’ dismay, and ran into Sam before we reached the train station.

  “It turns out he was only bluffing partway,” the gargoyle said. “He did have someone set up in Times Square to demonstrate magic, but we apprehended him under the code provision against public use of magic with intent to expose magic to outsiders. We also caught a few minor incidents around town that weren’t too difficult to deal with. The secret still seems to be safe, and there’s no buzz about the word being out.”

  “It’s a gargoyle, and it’s talking,” Marcia said.

  “Yes, it is, just like the other gargoyles back there, and can we talk about it later?” I replied, patting her on the arm.

  The train station was deserted except for a few security guards who didn’t seem to see us. Rocky and Rollo’s car was still sitting in front of the station. “I’ll get Katie home,” Owen said. “She should probably stay with me until she gets her immunity back.”

  The others piled into the car. I heard Marcia ask, “Hey, how are the gargoyles going to drive?” as Owen turned me away and summoned a cab. I was not looking forward to the conversation I knew would be in my future.

  I fell asleep on Owen’s shoulder between the station and his house. He nudged me awake, then helped me out of the cab. He walked me up the steps and then guided me up the indoor stairs to his part of the town house. Loony met both of us at the door, and this time she rubbed against my ankles instead of hissing at me.

  “Looks like I’m fully me again,” I commented as I listened to her purring at my feet. “I just wish I felt more like myself.”

  “I think both of us could use a stiff drink.”

  “Oh, very good idea.”

  “As you know, I’m not much of a drinker, but I do have a medicinal bottle around.” He winked. “Even Gloria approves of that.”

  I wished I could smile at his joke, but I didn’t feel like joking at the moment. I wasn’t sure what freaked me out more, nearly being magically burned at the stake, Marcia being in the middle of it all, Owen letting the bad guys go to save me, Owen having nearly blown up Grand Central in an attempt to catch the bad guys, or Owen having actually yelled at me, which was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Whatever it was, I felt deeply unsettled, like my universe had gone out of whack and I didn’t know how to set it right.

  In contrast to my dark mood, Owen was in bubbly overdrive. He practically bounced as I followed him back to the kitchen and watched him rummage in cabinets. He pulled a bottle out of the back of one cabinet. “I doubt you’d want to drink this straight, but I’m sure we could put it in something. Hot or cold?”

  I blinked out of a stupor. “Huh?”

  “Do you want a hot drink or a cold drink?”

  You’d think that after almost being burned I wouldn’t want anything hot for a while, but I realized I was shivering like I’d never be warm again. “Hot, please.”

  “Okay, then how about that hot toddy like I made when you fell through the ice?”

  “Sounds good.” While he made drinks, I sat wearily at the kitchen table. Loony jumped up into my lap and I stroked her fur automatically, letting her purring hypnotize me. I barely noticed when Owen put a drink in front of me. Loony put a paw on my hand and meowed to get my attention, and I blinked back to reality to see the drink.

  Owen sat across from me and took a few sips of his own drink before saying, “The boss said we don’t have to go to the office tomorrow. I think he wants to make sure your immunity returns, and we could all use some rest.”

  “So I guess you have to put up with me one more day.”

  “I wouldn’t say I’m having to put up with you. I don’t mind at all.” He looked down into his drink and turned a rosy shade of pink. “I actually like having you around. You’re good company.”

  “I take that to mean you’re not mad at me anymore.”

  “I wasn’t really mad. Just disappointed. I wish you’d trusted me enough to tell me what was going on. I thought I’d shown you before, the first time you lost your immunity, that I can deal with a lot.”

  “And you’re going to have to get used to the fact that I’m stubbornly independent. If I think I can deal with it myself, I will. I don’t like always havi
ng to run to others for help.” I allowed myself a smile. “But I will admit that when it comes to magical things I don’t know much about, I should probably try to get over that. And don’t I get credit for going to you the moment I realized I was doing magic, even though I thought you were angry with me at the time?”

  “We’ll call it even,” he said with a smile that lit up his eyes and warmed my heart. We were going to be okay, I was sure, in spite of a few little misgivings in the back of my mind that refused to give up.

  “That’s good, because it’s entirely possible you’ll be stuck with me for a while. When my ‘business trip’ ends we’ll see if my roommates let me back in.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have any problems. Marcia should understand.”

  “If she doesn’t hate me for getting her mixed up in all this.” I hesitated, then added, “I am going to tell my roommates the truth, all of it. Will you back me up?”

  He nodded. “Yes, especially after what happened tonight. They need to know, for their own safety as well as their acceptance of you.”

  “Okay, then. Tomorrow evening when they’re home from work. You can take me home, and then we’ll tell them the whole story.” I drained my cup, then said, “But for now, I’m going to take a shower, then sleep until I can’t sleep anymore.”

  I trudged up the stairs, took a long, hot shower, then put on my pajamas. Loony was waiting for me on the bed, and I was grateful for her presence. I didn’t want to be alone, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to be with Owen. It was dawning on me that I really must have meant something to him. He hadn’t thought twice about letting his enemies escape because his sole priority had been saving me. It’s the kind of thing it’s fun to dream about when you put yourself in the place of a heroine in a book or movie, but in reality, it was unsettling.

  While it was nice to know that Owen would do anything to keep me safe, I wasn’t crazy about the feeling that I was in his way. He had to beat Idris and whoever was running this show. There was no doubt about it. I’d read enough magical history lately to know that when someone tried to use magic to gain real earthly power, things got really bad. They had to be stopped, and could Owen do that if his first concern was for me? In this case, being cherished that much was nicer in theory than reality. If anyone was harmed by their activities from now on, I wouldn’t be able to help but feel responsible.