The Storm Tamer

by M. Garnet

  Reaching for a crust of bread that was on the edge of the bowl, she floated it in the soup and played with it for a moment. She could hear the men's spoons moving against their bowls.

  As the soup bowls were being removed and a salad with rolls being put in place, Tarm shifted and used this time to speak again.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  "So tell me Lovely, are you and Rahm lovers now?"

  Margo glanced over first at Tarm and then at Rahm. She finally decided to get interested in her salad, so Margo ducked her head down.

  Tarm's chuckle was meant to draw her attention with that little boy tease in it, but she chewed on a nice slice of cucumber and ignored him.

  In that same teasing tone, Tarm continued talking. "Has he told you that there have been too many ladies and maybe some young men over the eons that he can't keep count of them anymore?"

  Working hard to not choke on her salad, she hoped that she was not letting Tarm know that he was getting through to her. The problem was that he had hit an anger spot in her thinking about the great emotional experience she had felt with the sex with Rahm. It was important to her. She didn't want the smut in Tarm's evil mouth to pollute the one-time act.

  The salad was being removed, and a platter was put in front of her with delicious pink salmon surrounded with lemon slices. There were several small cups of sauces for their choice set at each place. White wine was poured along with water. Added along was fresh hot rolls with butter for each person. Added to this was a small dish of asparagus strips with tiny new potatoes.

  The aromas alone should be enough to make anyone dig into this offered meal. For Margo, sitting between two males with powers that belonged to the Gods, she found she wasn't hungry. What she felt instead was the chains of being trapped. She might as well be in a prison with bars and gates and locks that could not be opened.

  Spearing an asparagus with her fork, she took a small bite off one end and chewed, tasting nothing. She heard the two men talking, but none of the words registered. How soon could she get up and leave this table? She heard the word Florida and looked up at Tarm.

  "Look, Lovely has decided to dial in and join our conversation. Yes, I know you were from that humid vacation state." Tarm picked up his wine glass and tipped it toward her before taking a long drink. At least while he drank it wiped off the smirk from his handsome face.

  She laid her fork down and pushed back her chair. "I'm going back to my room.

  "No, no my Lovely. We need you here." Tarm stood also but didn't move to block her way. Instead, a brief flare of fire danced in front of her, and she jerked back, knocking over her chair.

  Before she could straighten up the chair, a streak of water dumped out of nowhere, and the fire was nothing but smoke over a wet spot on the carpet.

  Great, a couple of boys playing games.

  Rahm's whisper reached her as she fought to breathe.

  "Please sit down, Margo. Tarm won't hurt you—he is just showing off. I would like to see you eat something. I will ask the cook to bring you some soup."

  Margo frowned as she straightened the chair and carefully sat down. She really wanted to leave and go to her room to hide under her bed, but even Rahm was determined she stay at this formal table. She knew she would never walk through this area on the way to the kitchen ever again without thinking of this miserable meal.

  She gathered up her jacket and sat back in the amazing chair. By that time the cook was out with her helper. He took away Margo's uneaten food, and the cook set down a plain bowl with some fresh bread beside it along with some butter. Margo could smell plain chicken broth and nodded her thanks.

  She had already taken a couple of spoons of the first soup, but this time she felt she could eat and keep this down. Rahm seemed to be protecting her and might even be stronger than Tarm.

  Feeling Tarm's eyes on her, she was surprised that he was speaking to Rahm. "My almost brother, I have tripped over another rift. It is why I have sought you out. I thought between all of us; we could enter it and see if it is one we can maneuver."

  The spoon in Margo's hand froze halfway to her mouth. He was still looking at her as his words sank into her mind. All of us. So Tarm was aware that Rahm had her here in his dark manor home on this strange mountain. There went the rest of her appetite.

  "Oh my Lovely, do you know how rare a real conduit is in this world?"

  She had quit eating and had her hands in her lap, clenched to keep her shaking from showing. She felt she should answer. "I think originally it had something to do with water. But I also think in my modern world it also had to do with electricity."

  "Oh, Rahm, how clever our Lovely is, Fire and Rain. Rahm and Tarm. All we needed was a conduit. I wonder where we could find one, hmm?" Now with no expression and only looking at his plate he began to eat in earnest, stuffing food into his mouth.

  Within the quiet room, she could hear him chewing, and she heard Rahm drinking his wine. For her, she heard her heart missing beats on a regular basis. It was strange that there was no noise from the attached kitchen, even with the open door. She knew the cook and the helper were going out of their way to prepare the food with no racket or rattling of pans and plates.

  Margo was getting back to hating this place and hating Rahm, but better still she had a new person to hate. She leaned back against the straight back of the antique chair and looked up at the ceiling that was lit by the chandelier.

  First, she noticed that the plaster was deep and created a smooth background for the artist who had worked in the floral crests in each corner with the coving that was broad and curved to bring the ceiling down to the walls. The whole thing looked like something that was done at the turn of the last century and only in palaces.

  Even so long ago, the payment to have that type of finish must have cost a small fortune. Why was it done here in this dark manor on the side of a mountain that was located in nowhere? She so wanted out of this room.

  Along with her confusion and anger and looking up at the hanging candles reflected in the crystals of the chandelier, she saw the long chain that connected the beautiful lights up to the ceiling. It was a connection or a conduit.

  Closing her eyes, she saw fire and volcanoes and heat of coals and ovens glowing. The scene changed, and there was thunder and lightning in dark skies and rain and torrents of rivers and floods. Tarm said something about a conduit, and he thought she was it, an energy that could connect the two elements.

  "You are wrong!" She screamed into the silence of this room and even the house. She heard something drop in the kitchen and both men froze in their seats.

  This time she headed out the door and down the hallway. She made up her mind the crazy guy with fire could just burn her up, because she needed fresh air and to see something that was real. The only thing that hadn't changed in this world was the view of the stars.

  The cool evening air felt calming on her face, but it was at this point that she remembered her jacket was still on the arm of the chair. She stood in the middle of the path looking up at the clear sky with stars, small and large, twinkling as she always remembered. She started down the path because it was easier at this time.

  "Miss, the Master sent me out with your jacket."

  Margo turned and found the cook's helper holding out her jacket.

  "Who did you say sent this?" She looked at the young man's face closely.

  The young man had already turned away but stopped. "Why Master Coin. His guest is still eating. Can I bring you anything else?"

  She hesitated, wondering if she might want something. She had to ask herself if she wanted anything. Confusion circled her, and she knew the only thing she wanted was to return home to Oldsmar, Florida and her little dog that was frightened of storms.

  "No, thank you. I just need to be alone and to get some fresh air." She put on the jacket and found the gloves in the pocket, but left them there. She didn't want to go all the way down to the village even though she could see a few lights
between the treetops. It dawned on her that if a real snowstorm hit, they would be stranded inside the manor.

  She had cried enough, so she refused to spill any more tears. She needed to spend her energy on studying these two men and finding a way to escape again. There had to be something she could do that would foul up their plans.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  As usual, the sun on the gold streaks in her black marble floor was the first thing she saw in the morning. The light hurt her head as she had very little sleep during the night.

  Returning to the dark hallway, she ignored the dining room behind the stairway and went on up to the balcony to walk around to her bedroom. She heard nothing from either man as she took a chance for a quick shower and went back to her room to push the little table in front of the door.

  What she had thought about was that she needed a weapon and she didn't think she was good enough to use a kitchen knife on either of these two strange men. She had never seen anything like a modern gun in all of her trips throughout the dark rooms of this mansion.

  That left her with her mind and her body. Her body was good enough to use for something like martial arts, but she didn't have the training. They needed to use her or her body as a conduit, and she might find a way to interfere with that plan. There was also her mind and plans and tricks and schemes. Perhaps she could turn the two men against each other. Rahm didn't seem particularly fond of Tarm. There might be some wedge that she could use in between them.

  Tarm had talked about Rahm sharing his past conquests, yet the thought of having sex with the smug Tarm turned her stomach. She wasn't sure she could have close contact with Rahm again.

  With the sun so bright she was drawn out onto the path again. She pushed her table aside and went down the stairs and out the front doors. There were birds circling high in the blue sky over the treetops far below.

  Margo didn't move when Rahm approached and sat down beside her in the grass. He had a small basket and pulled out a sandwich. He took half and handed half to Margo.

  "What is this, a peace offering?"

  He shook his head. "Breakfast."

  Slowly wiping her hands on her pants, she accepted the sandwich to discover fried egg and ham inside of sour dough bread. Her stomach growled at the smell, and she gratefully ate. She watched him eat his sandwich in two bites and reach into the basket and pull out a mug without a handle but with a cover. He took the wrap off, and she got the smell of rich chocolate.

  Sighing she reached over and took the cup away from him. "Now this is a peace offering." The first sip of the hot chocolate and milk warmed her entire body and brought back good feelings of other times of drinking this sweet treat.

  He had his own cup and did not look at her as he held it to his lips. His eyes traveled off to the tips of the distant mountains.

  Finishing her sandwich, she spoke with a full mouth. "Are you thinking of changing those mountains?"

  Rahm looked down at his cup. "There is no need to change them. I did not grab you for what Tarm thinks. He is a user, not one who fixes."

  She thought about his words and about what had happened to her over the last few days.

  "Rahm, why did you bring me here with you? Please tell me the truth."

  Taking a long drink, he sat his cup down and turned his eyes on her. Right now they were that beautiful clear gem color of the tropical sea. "I don't know. It was a stupid whim. I don't act without purpose. I have spent eons thinking and planning. I have always been careful and not acted on impulse. You were there, and the storm was suddenly out of my control."

  Her drink was almost done and getting cold, so she tipped it out on the ground. Margo wasn't sure if she felt better to know if she was here for a purpose or if she was here because of a mistake.

  Looking off at the peaks like he did she asked, "Does Tarm want something from you?"

  "Trade."

  Sucking in a deep breath, she turned to face him. "He wants to trade something for me?" Her voice trembled.

  "No."

  Rahm got up, leaving the basket and her in the grass. He was returning to the dark house without explaining anything to her, as was his usual way of handling things.

  Jumping up, Margo quickly caught him and grabbed his arm firm enough to stop him.

  "What does he want in a trade? Come on Rahm, at least tell me what is going on that involves me."

  Rahm looked down at her and then without moving let his eyes return to the peaks, but he did begin to talk.

  "Tarm is a user. He wants a trade. He wants me to do something with him, and in exchange, he will do something with me, whatever I need. The problem is that both involve you participating."

  Not letting go of his arm, Margo looked down, hating to believe such a beautiful male. "What happens if I don't participate?"

  Rahm sighed deeply, "You don't have a choice."

  Now it was Margo's time to sigh as she let go of his arm. "I remember you saying to me one time that you could make me do whatever you wanted. At that same time, you said you were fascinated by my freedom. It sounds like besides keeping me here that you are threatening to take away my choice."

  Walking away from her on his long legs toward the tall stone stacked home he stopped and spoke. "I don't think I will take away your option of choice. It will make Tarm angry so be prepared."

  With these low almost whispered words, he continued up to go through the doors and disappeared into the shade of the hallway.

  Left out by herself in the sunlight she had the room to pace back and forth. She spent another hour burning off some calories and putting away some of her anger. That left her with a whole lot of confusion.

  At the top of the stairs and turning toward her bedroom she was stopped against the balcony railing by the one person she didn't want to meet.

  "Hello Lovely. Been out for a walk?" His eyes showing a slight reflection looked across at what she knew was the office. "Did Rahm join you? I didn't think he liked the sunlight since he keeps this place so dark."

  The tall man had stopped her by placing a hand on the railing, blocking her progress.

  "Tarm, it is obvious your mother never taught you any manners. Get out of my way." Margo let the anger show in her voice.

  He didn't move his arm as he leaned into her. "Rahm didn't tell you we didn't have a mother. The God's just waved their hands and dropped us here."

  Trying to hide her fear, she still spoke in vexation. "Yes, and they dropped you on your head." She leaned into the railing, and when he did the same, she did a quick couple of steps around the outside of his body. She was a few feet beyond before he turned and she heard his laughter.

  "Oh Lovely, I am so going to enjoy working with you."

  Her reply was over her shoulder just before she closed her bedroom door. "In your dreams, Tarm. In your dreams."

  There was no laughter and only silence behind her as she leaned against the wooden door. She needed the support of wood behind her to help hold her upright with her shaking legs.

  Could she depend on Rahm's promise of leaving her with the choices in her life? Perhaps the answer would be in finding out what her choices were. For some reason, after all that had happened with Rahm, deep down she trusted him. Margo wondered if there was something that Rahm needed that he could only get with the help of Tarm.

  She realized she was beginning to believe these two men were more than human. From everything that was said, they didn't claim to be aliens. They were amazing beings that had been on this world longer than humans and for some reason messing with the world and mankind for results that only they seemed to understand.

  Her chance of getting an intelligent and complete explanation from Rahm was rare. It was not in his system to sit down and explain or describe any situation. How could she convince him that he had to take the time to share with her the details of what Tarm wanted and what Rahm needed? It was the only way that she could make the choice to help him—or not.

  Chapter Twenty-Five
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  It took Margo two days of avoiding Tarm, hiding in her bedroom and taking quick showers at odd times before she found Rahm in his office by himself.

  She was in the kitchen when the cook called in a helper. She had a tray ready to be delivered.

  "Take this up to the Master in his office."

  "Wait." Margo looked at the tray the cook was about to cover. It was set up for one person. "I'll take it up. I need to see him anyways."

  Before the cook could argue, Margo stretched across the wide work cabinet and pulled the tray over so that she could lift it easily. Then she smiled and turned to go out through the dim dining room that now was in its usual plain order.

  Being careful with her load she was soon up the steps, saying a prayer that Tarm would be away or out of the house. She breathed a sigh as she entered the office and set the tray on the usual table inside the double doors.

  Turning she pulled the doors closed and leaned against them. Rahm was standing by one wall where he must have been putting away some scrolls. There was more light in the room, and she saw him stop and look at her, raising his eyebrows.

  "I brought you a meal. They didn't have any ambrosia for the gods, so you will have to settle for a ham sandwich."

  Margo watched him slowly pace across the room to approach her. She didn't move just let the door hold her in place. At last, he was right in front of her.

  She had come to love his low, whispery voice.

  "What else did you bring me?"

  Giving him a weak smile she also gave him an answer. "I can give you my choice to help you."

  With that answer, he moved in against her. At first, she wondered what was stronger, the door or his body? When he lowered his head and took over her mouth with his, it didn't matter. The kiss was all heat and contact with a man that was real.