"Go check out. I'll give you my version over breakfast."
He clearly wanted to tell me something, but didn't want to do it standing in a hospital hallway. Following his suggestion, I went to check out. Thirty minutes and five hundred forms later, we were sitting at a booth at a diner eating breakfast. It was breakfast for me, but at nine-thirty it might be a morning snack for him.
"Jones, you look worse than I feel. What's wrong?" For a normally cheerful man, his aura was dark. While I waited for him to talk I savored a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit.
"What's the last thing you remember?"
"Um, smashing on the pavement." I wasn't sure I wanted to hear this.
He frowned, thinking. "The sorceress is Carrie. She was one of the girls at the chicken farm."
"Thank you. It took me a little while, but I figured out she was one of those kids."
"Not surprising, you never met her, just heard part of an interview."
"She said we'd met, but I guess she was using the term loosely," I said.
Jones nodded. "You were around her a few times, but I don't think you ever spoke."
"Good to know. What happened last night?"
"I'm getting to it." He paused to drink some coffee. "When I arrived, and I was one of the first officers there, you were laid out on the ground. A vine of ivy, briars, and a few other things had circled you. The human, Brian, tried to break the circle, first with a rock and then with his hands. When we dragged him away he was shouting that he would kill you. Along with the FBI, we rounded everyone up."
In the middle of his monologue I stopped eating, starting to feel sick, knowing I hadn't done anything to activate that circle. I should've been dead. I had to clear my throat twice before I could speak. "Ho-How long was he trying to kill me?" Jones looked at the table and muttered, but I couldn't hear it. "What?"
"Ten minutes." He kept looking out the window to my left, like I couldn't tell he was upset. "It, uh, turns out we weren't getting a direct feed. The computer geeks haven't told me what happened, but we had a five minute lag. I thought you were dead. I was outside that circle trying to figure out how to break it when it fell on its own." He dabbed his eyes.
I took several deep breaths, and then took a few more for good measure. I'd done nothing to make those plants grow, or form a circle. Generally, magic didn't work that way. Not that I was going to argue. I'd never been so grateful for a quirky piece of magic.
He continued, "I planted it after they took you away. If you want, we can look at it before you leave."
I nodded, not sure what to say. I'd nearly died because I'd forgotten about an enemy. I shivered, pulled on my coat, and took a drink of my tea. "What did you do with the trolls, humans, and sorceress?"
"The feds took almost everyone. The trolls will be going back to the preserve, and we get to keep Brian. We'd also rounded up several other members of that group who were slowly making their way to you. We're holding them, but I'm not sure who's going to end up charging them."
Lapsing into silence, I forced the food down, needing to eat to restore the energy I'd spent. Feeling a little ill after learning about my close brush with death didn't change that. When it was clear I didn't have anything to say, or left to eat, Jones herded me back to the car. He'd driven me to breakfast, and I wasn't sure where to find my car. He pulled in to the police station, and I could see my car a few spaces over.
"This way," he said, walking away from my car.
Following him through the same, though very clean, parking lot I'd spent such a scary night in was surreal. It looked exactly the same, but wildly different. The daylight revealed what darkness had hidden; spots, lines, gum, and every detail of the surrounding landscape. The lights were working again, emitting a faint glow. I could almost feel my body impacting the pavement.
I should have died on this ground. By the grace of the earth, I was alive, and I didn't know what saved me. With goose bumps on my arms, I knew it would be months before I could look at this place and not see last night. The images were already flashing through my mind, bringing back the fear and doubt I'd had. Night would be worse. I didn't want to be here at night; memories might take over, making me forget that I'd escaped.
He stopped at a bald patch of ground with a large ring of plants. Kneeling down I ran a finger across one of the leaves. I could see little roots sprouting along the bottom of the circle. Pushing a string of power out to taste the plants told me my blood had gone into them, but something else had fueled them too. All of my blood could have spilled through their seeds and they'd never sprout. From their energy, I knew they'd grow for many years to come.
On the ground, I took a moment to reaffirm my bond with the earth, spirits of nature. I thanked them, feeling their love and power fill my spirit. With my hands pressed to the bare earth I knew it was happy, glad to feel my presence, and welcoming me home. I also knew it would have welcomed my cooling body, not as gladly, but still welcomed me back.
I hugged Jones. "Thank you. I'm so sorry I scared you." His aura lightened, thankful I wasn't blaming him. Backing away I held his gaze, "Never again. I'm not the right person for crazy stuff."
"Deal."
"Keys?" He dropped them in my hand. "I'll have my report for you in a few days. Until then, don't call."
"Can't promise, but I'll try."
"Fair enough."
Michelle
I'd settled on the sofa when someone knocked on my door. I'd been astonished when my phone didn't have a single message for me, but I wasn't counting on that to last, so it was sitting next to me for easy access when it rang. "Come in," I yelled. I hadn't locked the door, knowing someone would knock. They could come to me. My heavily medicated body wasn't moving from this rather cozy position.
The door swung open showing Landa burdened by a big tray. "The house told me you were back. I've brought you tea and a snack." She set the tray on the coffee table.
"Thank you."
"Not a problem, dear. You look terrible. If you need anything just call me."
"It looks worse than it is."
She cocked her head to the side, not believing me. "I'm sure it does. I'm sorry about the flower, as soon as the elf returns I'll send him in here to deal with it."
"My bathroom still looks like a horticultural experiment gone awry?" I'd been gone for several days and it hadn't been fixed? What did the elf have to do with any of this, other than giving me the flower in the first place? "Why does he need to fix it?"
"Darling, I'd thought you'd seen it." Her cheeks hollowed, showing her aggravation at her inability to fix the flower. "I can't remove the flower. He wants to talk to you about it, something about the flower being stable, external forces at work. He thinks some spell you cast affected the flower. He wants to look at it and sample it before he removes it."
Realizing my jaw hadn't closed and my eyes were drying from air exposure, I pulled myself together. "My bathroom isn't a garden project. I want it gone."
"I know, but I wanted you to know if he was going to be in your apartment. If need be, I'll stand over him with a poker, but he'll fix this mess tonight."
I'd seldom heard the worry I found in her voice. Sighing, I tried to let my frustration go. She'd done the best she could, and I wouldn't be half as annoyed if I was healthy. "Not your fault. Thank you for taking care of me. This tray will make a lovely lunch."
She kissed the top of my head. "I know dear, bad timing. I'll leave you to rest. Call if you need me."
"Landa," I didn't want her to leave without hearing how I felt. "Thank you for taking care of me, really. It makes me feel so much better."
"Not a problem. Your parents are here." Mom and Dad came in as Landa slipped out, closing the door behind her.
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Gre-Dad." He deserved better than to be called his given name. "I thought you were coming over tomorrow?"
"We were worried. You talked us out of visiting you at the hospital, but we needed to see you." Mom gave me a hug and settled
on the sofa next to me.
Dad stood off to the side, shifting his weight. "Would you like a hug, Dad?"
He gave me a small smile. "Yes."
His arms barely touched me, as if he knew even a gentle squeeze would hurt. I patted the cushion next to me. Dad sat down.
"How are you feeling? You look dreadful."
"Thanks, Mom. I've felt better. In a day or two I'll be back to normal."
She laid a hand on my arm. "I doubt it. You left out most of your injuries when you told us what happened. Why didn't they heal you?"
I looked at the wall behind her. "I didn't want you to worry. They said it wouldn't be a good idea to push that much energy through me since I'd depleted my reserves."
"Well, I can't say I agree. Why don't I finish healing you?"
"No, Mom. I think I should keep the bruises for a while, to remind me that my job is magical support—nothing more."
Seeing Mom's narrowed eyes, Dad jumped in. "Not a bad idea, Michelle. I know fighting didn't seem like a good idea after my cousin blackened both my eyes. Now, what gave you the idea that you should go after a sorceress?"
"It's my job?" I offered, hoping it would satisfy them. Their matching glares said they didn't buy it. "I don't know. It didn't seem like a bad idea at the time. Please don't lecture me. I learned my lesson, and have the injuries to prove it."
They exchanged a look over my head. "Very well." Mom said. "But, you don't have to work with the police. There are other options."
"I like my job. I get to help people, and see something new every day." Having one parent give you disappointed looked, was bad enough. With both of them giving me the look, it made me want to hide in my room."
"Nancy, stop pestering our child. Michelle, if you change your mind about this job, please talk to us. Your mother's right, there are other options."
"If I want to change jobs I'll talk to you." I'd promise anything to make the guilt trip stop.
"Good. Now, we need to talk about the classes I'm helping you teach."
From the look he gave me, I suspected he knew I was tired of the guilt trip. Dad and I swapped ideas for thirty minutes before Mom decided it was time for them to leave. I gave Dad a long hug before he left. I was lucky to have a father who would rescue me.
After they left, I snacked on the triangular turkey sandwiches, flipped through channels, and finally settled on the Science Fiction channel, falling asleep to a show about a world populated only by humans with no magic. The show was easy to doze to and I learned a few things about humans in between naps. Shortly after hearing that making fire would be challenging in a primitive setting, complete with footage of a theoretical human tribe attempting to make fire from sticks, my phone rang.
I checked the caller name before answer, confused by my date's name appearing. "Andrew?"
"Michelle?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry to call like this, but I heard you were hurt and wanted to visit. Are you okay?"
Not being sure what to say, since we'd only had one date, I strove for a middle ground. "I'm fine, a bit battered but fine. I'm so sorry I didn't call. I meant to, but with everything, it slipped my mind. You don't need to drive all the way down here. I'm home and resting. It's nice that you called."
"Please don't hang up. I had a great time the other night. If I'd known you were that busy I would have called. We heard you'd been hurt over the radio, but it was hours before we had an update on your condition. I worried about you," he pleaded.
He sounded so sincere. "I guess you could come over, but really, I'm fine."
"You don't want me to come."
"No, that isn't it. We don't know each other well, and I'm rather tired."
"You're a great girl, who helps people. You said before you weren't much good with healing spells, and I bet now isn't an exception. I can heal you, and bring you tea while you watch a movie and nap. I don't mind."
Releasing a breathy giggle I answered, "Sure, come on down. I live at Landa's Lodge. Do you need directions?"
"No. I've been there before. I'll be there in thirty minutes. I had some business in Ellijay, so I'm close."
"Alright. Call me when you get here."
The next thirty minutes flew by. I think I napped, but it was hard to tell one group of humans starting fires from the next, so I couldn't be sure. The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing. Rather than walk all over the place, I talked him through the turns to my apartment. I heard his cell phone click shut through the door before he knocked.
"Come in."
His gorgeous self and neat clothing made me feel even more dreadful. Both hands were hidden behind his back, forcing him to toe the door closed.
"What do you have?"
"You're hurt." He sounded sad.
"I'll feel better if you show me what's behind your back."
With a flourish, he produced a small ceramic bowl containing a hunk of wax. "Spelled, by me, to release scent without a flame."
I held it up to my nose, "Ooh, I love cinnamon." I floated it to the center of the coffee table. "What else?"
"My very own blend of Banish Bruise." He presented it as if it was a fine wine. "I don't think this will do the trick. I thought they would've done more healing."
"It's perfect." Even if I didn't use it now, I'd use it eventually, and I'd never been any good at making the stuff. "Sit." With a soft grunt I pulled myself to more of a sitting position with bent knees, giving him access to the last cushion.
After sitting down, he pulled my feet across his lap. "You'll be more comfortable this way. What are you watching?"
"I'm not entirely sure. Some show about a completely human world where they don't have any magic, and the trials they would have faced in a primitive society."
"Odd."
We quietly watched the show, as the smell of cinnamon slowly filled the air. We chatted, and laughed through two hours of shows. It was fun and relaxing, exactly what I'd needed after my last few days.
I saw the flower when I used the bathroom. Though it hadn't expanded anymore, it looked to be settling in for the long haul. I wasn't happy. Andrew chuckled after seeing it. I told him, honestly, that I hadn't a clue how it had happened. Removal was at the top of the to-do list.
The sun was sitting low in the sky when he turned the conversation to more serious things. "I need to leave soon. I have work tomorrow, but I want to heal you first."
"I'm fine, really. I've been seen by witches and doctors. I'll heal faster when I have more energy." Healing could be personal; besides I was sore, not dying.
"Michelle, I can feel your injuries at this distance. The burns on your legs started out worse, but could be healed. I know they've mostly scabbed over and have started healing from other spells. I can feel the pain in your head, the scrapes on your face and arms, and which muscles are giving you pain. You might not be able to heal this easily, but I can. I'll be fine for work tomorrow."
I'd lost any ground on which to protest. He was going to argue this until I conceded. "Just a light healing. I don't want to risk anyone who's seriously injured for my bumps."
"Done."
It was too late when I realized I hadn't defined light healing, he could interpret that any way he wanted to. He flipped the blanket off my feet, pushing the sweat pants up just far enough to settle a hand on each ankle. A tingle ran up each leg, surging over the injured areas before fading. Standing up he placed his hands on each side of my face, relaxing into the magic as he exhaled. His shoulders dropped, and eyes closed as a soft glow surrounded him, glittering with a sky-blue light.
I gasped as the power flowed through me, erasing the large pains first. His power gently licked over each scrape, bump, or swelling left over from last night. The pain in my ankle faded to nothing, as did the cuts on my hand and injuries to my head. Rolling through me like the gentlest wave he soothed and relaxed the sore spots left from impacting the ground. His power retreated, whispering, "Blessed be," in my ear.
"There y
ou go, not as good as new, but close."
Chewing on the inside of my lip was a nervous habit I thought I'd squished. "I'll walk out with you. It's the least I can do after this."
"Never argue with a beautiful lady."
Arm in arm we walked down to the door. Looking up at him, I didn't see anything but a man looking for a woman to be with. Because I couldn't resist, I placed a goodbye kiss on his cheek, rubbing my power through his aura. It felt wonderful, like sky and water mixing, forming something primal.
With colored cheeks he said, "You really must call me for that second date. Stay healthy." Then he was out the door and striding to his car.
Walking back to my room was easier without the pain. I sank into my sofa with a grateful sigh. I pulled the blanket over my legs and was reaching for the remote when someone knocked on the door. "Come in," I bellowed. I may not have been sore anymore, but I was still tired and lazy. I'd earned a rest.
Landa marched in with Elron in tow. "I found him sulking in the parlor, but he'll fix your flower problem."
I might have dropped dead from the anger in those eyes if they'd been directed at me rather than Landa.
"I would be honored if you would escort me to the bathroom," he said, looking at me.
I heaved myself off the sofa again, rather annoyed that she wouldn't just do it. Landa studied the two of us for a moment. "You two play nice. Elron, fix it to make her happy. I'll be down stairs cooking if I'm needed." Her tone said that she better not be needed.
He relaxed marginally when she was gone. "May I see the two guardians?" It was a reasonable request since we'd be walking between them since the bathroom was attached to the bedroom.
"Sure." I turned to the two lions. "Relax. He is allowed."
Elron knelt down, petted them, and examined them. I could feel little shimmers of power, but he was doing exactly as he'd requested, inspecting them with eyes and basic magic. "They are lovely. Thank you."
"Not a problem." We walked through the bedroom and I pushed open the door to the bathroom, revealing the crazy expanding plant. "Can you fix it?"
He walked in, astonished by the transformation. I guess he hadn't trusted Landa's version of events, not that I blamed him. The little flower had been sitting on the sink, but was now attached to the wall in a bed of vines and leaves. The bloom had expanded to nearly a foot in diameter, while the vines trailed across the back of the sink, around the towels on the towel rack, and over the edge of the tub. Some of the more ambitious vines were even twining around the curtain rod.
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