Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances

by T. M. Franklin

  What had she gotten herself into? Her reflection blinked back innocently, obviously unable to answer. She sighed and brushed her still-damp hair up into a ponytail.

  By the time she walked out of the bathroom, Caleb was sitting at the little table by the window, two steaming cups and two Styrofoam containers before him.

  “I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he said. “So I got a couple of breakfast sandwiches. I figured you could pick off whatever you don’t—” He stopped, fingers raking through his hair nervously.

  “Thanks,” Ava said, crossing to the table and sitting down across from him. She opened one of the containers, and took a big bite of the egg and bacon sandwich inside. “This is great. I’m starving, actually.”

  They ate in silence for a moment, Ava’s curiosity taking a backseat to her hunger. Once she was done with the sandwich, though, she took a sip of her coffee—pale and sweet, just as she liked it—and sat back to stare at Caleb expectantly.

  He sighed. “They didn’t have anything but real sugar—”

  “Caleb,” she said, fighting to keep her voice calm. “I don’t want to talk about my coffee.”

  He stirred his own coffee absently, sparing her a glance. “Okay, then. What do you want to know?”

  “Let’s start with how you could do what you did to me. Blurring my memories, I think you said?”

  “I have certain abilities.”

  “What, like you’re psychic?”

  “Not . . . psychic, really.”

  Ava’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. “Okay, how about this: Who was the man who came after me?”

  Caleb seemed a little more comfortable on this topic. “His name is Tiernan Ross. The woman you saw was his sister Katherine. They often work together. I don’t think Tiernan would have actually hurt you, if it makes you feel any better. His job was to take you in.”

  “That’s what he said,” Ava replied, blowing on her coffee before taking another sip. “He said I had to have some kind of testing.”

  “Yes.” Caleb nodded. “That was the plan.”

  “Caleb, you’re not telling me anything,” she said, sitting back, her coffee forgotten. “I don’t understand any of this. You need to give me something, or I swear to God I’m walking out that door and taking a cab to the nearest police station.”

  Caleb took a deep breath, worrying his lip between his teeth for a moment, his eyes drifting away, unfocused. “We’re called the First Race,” he said finally. “An ancient people who live in the shadows of your world. We’re much like you, really. Enough so that we can walk about unnoticed for the most part—at least those of us who are a little less extraordinary.” He shrugged noncommittally.

  “I don’t understand,” she said. “Are you saying you’re . . . that you’re not . . . human?” After a beat of silence, she laughed. “Yeah, right. So you’re an alien? A vampire? Get real, Caleb. I’m not an idiot.”

  He looked at her steadily, eyes darker than usual behind his glasses.

  Ava swallowed thickly, unable to look away.

  “You’ve heard the myths,” he said to the tabletop where his fingertip drew absent designs. “The Titans, the Nephilim . . . larger-than-life heroes and villains who fill up your history books. Mythology that’s not so much mythology, if the truth were to be known. We are part of that myth . . . the fairy tales come to life, so to speak.”

  “That’s . . .” Ava sputtered. “That’s just . . .” Ava’s head spun as she tried to disbelieve, tried to write off what he was saying as ridiculous, a ploy to distract her from her present troubles. But she found she couldn’t. As incredible as it sounded, she knew—deep down—that Caleb was telling her the truth. “So . . .” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat, took a sip of her drink. “You’re some kind of . . . gods?”

  Caleb chuckled. “Hardly,” he said, shaking his head then running a hand through his hair, damp from the drizzle outside. “We’re really not that different from you. Our scientists have studied our DNA, compared the two races extensively, and we’re really more alike than different. There are just a few genetic quirks that set us apart from ordinary humans.”

  “But, where did you come from?”

  “That’s the age-old question, isn’t it?” he said with a smile. “Where did you come from? It’s what we all want to know, and nobody does for sure. Most people believe that our race developed alongside yours—with a few evolutionary glitches along the way. Some say we were created like you, but with a little extra pinch of this and that by whoever did the creating.” He winked, and Ava couldn’t help but smile, even in the midst of such a strange conversation.

  She tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “And what do you believe?”

  “Me?” He sat back in the chair, head falling back on his shoulders as his eyes hit the ceiling. “I think that essentially, we’re human,” he said after a long moment. “Just a little bit . . .” He searched for the right word. “More.”

  “Of course you are. Whatever that means,” Ava muttered. “But I still don’t understand what any of this has to do with me.”

  Caleb stood, pacing to the window and peeking out before ensuring the curtains were tightly closed. He turned back to her, leaning against the wall. “Our mission is to protect humanity and aid in its growth and development,” he explained. “We watch and offer a nudge here and there in the right direction.”

  “A nudge?”

  “Helping along in the development of science and technology, for example. Vaccines, scientific discoveries . . . agricultural advances. We try to aid where we can, while at the same time protecting you from potentially dangerous mishaps.”

  “Kind of like guardian angels, then?” she asked.

  Caleb smirked and looked back out the window. “Of a kind,” he said. “The number one rule for us is to stay under the radar, undetected. Although we have enhanced abilities, we are far fewer in number than you, and we’ve learned from history that not everyone is happy to learn of our existence.

  “Secrecy is for our protection as much as your own,” he added.

  “Well, I would never say anything,” Ava began, then stopped abruptly, brow furrowed in confusion. “But they came after me before I even knew about you.”

  Caleb frowned in concentration, as if searching for the right words. “Although we live among you, it is forbidden for one of us to get too close to a human. Those who break that law face punishment by death.”

  “Death?” Ava gulped. “But why?”

  “It has happened in the past, more times than you’d think,” he said in reply. “The children of such unions—the Half-Breeds—called the Impure Ones, by some. They are believed to be the biggest threat to our people, and over the years, the Ruling Council has sent out Protectors to hunt them down. Almost all have been either detained or . . .” His gaze flicked up to hers, and down again. “Destroyed.”

  “ ‘Destroyed?’ ” Ava eyed him steadily. “You mean murdered.”

  “The Half-Breeds are often unstable, unable to control their abilities. The Council believes it is in the best interest of both races for them to be eliminated.”

  “And . . .” Ava couldn’t finish the thought.

  “Yes,” Caleb said. “They believe you are a Half-Breed. That is why Tiernan wants you.”

  “But—” Ava’s mind whirled, trying to understand. “That’s ridiculous. I’m no Half-Breed!”

  “I’m beginning to think you are,” Caleb replied. “Your abilities are beginning to manifest themselves.”

  “Abilities? I don’t have any abilities.”

  “Don’t you?” Caleb asked quietly. “Are you sure about that?”

  For a moment, the hamster from all those years ago flashed before her eyes. Ava shook it off. “Of course I am. There’s nothing special about me. I’m just a normal person.”

  Caleb sat back down, leaning toward her over the table. “You never sense things?”

  “Like what?”

&nbs
p; “You saw Katherine,” he said bluntly. “The other night outside your dorm.”

  “You mean . . . the dark-haired woman? I thought I imagined her.”

  Caleb smiled slightly. “You shouldn’t have seen her at all.”

  Now it was Ava’s turn to stare out the window, thinking. “I saw her again last night. With the man . . . with Tiernan. Across the street from where I work. I thought I was hallucinating.”

  “And you’ve felt them, haven’t you? A tingling feeling, like you’re being watched?”

  Ava shrugged. “I was being watched,” she pointed out. “Everybody gets that feeling.” Caleb let that one go, although Ava knew he didn’t agree.

  “And last night, with Tiernan. What happened then?”

  Ava blinked, unsure what to say. “I . . . I don’t know. He came at me, and I closed my eyes, then he was just . . . gone.”

  Caleb nodded. “Has anything ever happened like that before? Something strange that you couldn’t explain?”

  “Umm . . . maybe?” She hesitated briefly before relaying the story about the hamster from when she was a child.

  Caleb listened intently, murmuring almost to himself, “Manifestation, possibly . . . or telekinesis. It’s difficult to be sure.”

  “God, this is crazy!” Ava exclaimed, standing to pace across the room. “An ancient race of super humans? Myths that aren’t really myths at all? Me, having some kind of psychic powers? It’s ridiculous!”

  Caleb sat and watched her silently, letting her work through it on her own.

  “And you,” she said pointing a finger. “You can blur memories and hide in plain sight? What else?”

  Caleb shrugged. “A few things.”

  “Let me guess,” she said mockingly, “you can read minds.”

  “Not exactly.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Suddenly, Caleb stiffened, and Ava felt a tingling along her spine as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

  “What is it?” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

  Caleb turned to her, eyes wide and alarmed. “They’re coming.”

  “What do we do?” Ava asked, panic setting in, not even bothering to ask how Caleb knew they were near. Because she realized she knew it as well.

  “We need to go—now,” he replied abruptly, striding through the room and throwing their extra clothes and toothbrushes in a small duffle bag. “There’s a safe house in Mead. If we can get there, they won’t be able to track us.” He cracked the door, peering out and then slamming it shut suddenly. “Too late,” he muttered, grabbing her hand and dragging her into the bathroom. Ava’s heart raced, adrenaline surging through her body as Caleb shoved the window above the shower, tossing the bag through the small opening then turning to her and lacing his fingers together. “I’ll give you a boost,” he said urgently. “When you hit the ground, run. Don’t go to the car, just run, you understand?”

  “But—”

  “We don’t have time,” Caleb said through gritted teeth. “They’ll be breaking down the door any second. Just run, Ava. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Ava stepped into his hands, pulling herself through the window and out into the cold morning air. She landed on the ground with a grunt, rolled to her feet, and began to run. She heard Caleb hit the ground a moment later, his pounding footsteps closing in quickly. He grabbed her hand, pulling her to the right.

  “This way,” he said, looking over his shoulder. She heard a shout and turned back to see Tiernan under the open window, pointing their direction. Caleb cursed under his breath, yanking her behind the motel office. “Wrap your arms around me,” he ordered.

  Ava didn’t think. She just did what he asked.

  “This is going to feel a little weird,” he said. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Don’t move, whatever you do.”

  Ava inhaled deeply, clenched her eyes shut . . . and the world fell away from her feet.

  For a moment, she felt like she was floating—spinning—like going around a curve on the top of a roller coaster as it crests the peak, sending your stomach up into your throat. Wind whipped around her like a tornado, her hair flying around wildly, and she clung to Caleb, unsure of what was happening, but not daring to move, to breathe . . . or to open her eyes.

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to see whatever was going on around her.

  Ava couldn’t say how long it lasted—perhaps only a few seconds—but suddenly the wind dissipated and the ground rose up firm beneath her feet. Caleb’s knees buckled, and she stumbled to stay upright, opening her eyes.

  “Caleb? Are you okay?” she asked, struggling to keep him from collapsing onto the ground.

  “Tired,” he mumbled, his face pale and drawn. “Need to rest.”

  “Perfect,” Ava grunted, glancing around and gasping in surprise when she realized her surroundings had completely changed. The motel was gone, and instead they stood in an empty field, stubbled with frozen grass. A house and barn stood in the distance, as well as a handful of cows, munching lazily, who regarded them briefly with disinterest before turning back to their meal.

  “What in the . . . ?” She shook Caleb, who leaned on her heavily. “Caleb, what did you do? Where are we?”

  “Took you . . . as far as I could,” he forced out, fighting to keep his eyes open. “Couldn’t make it . . . all the way. Need to . . . sleep.”

  “Crap.” Ava heaved Caleb up a little more, holding his arm tightly over her shoulder. He slumped against her as she tried to figure out their next move. Obviously, Caleb was out for the count.

  With only the house, the barn, and a rather sad-looking shed in the immediate vicinity, Ava opted for the barn. Hopefully, they wouldn’t encounter an angry, shotgun-wielding farmer, and maybe she’d be able to figure out where in the world they were.

  With a heavy sigh, she started toward the barn, dragging Caleb along beside her.

  9

  Ava sat, knees drawn up to her chin and her arms wrapped tightly around them, as she watched Caleb carefully. She’d pulled him into an empty stall in the barn and just hoped he would be safe until he came around again. He was dead to the world; he had collapsed as soon as she released him, crumpling to the dusty hay in a heap. She’d found a couple of old wool blankets and used one to cover him against the cold, wrapping the other around her shoulders. The barn was surprisingly warm, despite the cold temperatures outside, and Ava at least felt confident they wouldn’t succumb to frostbite or hypothermia.

  The other occupant of the barn, a swaybacked, gray mare, nickered as she eyed Ava steadily.

  Ava smiled, a tentative hand extended as she approached the wary horse. “Hi there,” she whispered, reaching out to stroke the velvety nose. “Sorry, I don’t have any treats.”

  The horse huffed and head-butted Ava’s arm as if annoyed. Ava laughed, glancing around the barn and settling on a covered bucket. She opened it to find it half-full of oats. The horse whinnied.

  “Oh, you want some of this?” she asked with a grin, dipping her hand in the bucket and holding it out to the mare. She petted the horse absently as it lipped up the grain. “You think you can—” Ava’s blood ran cold as she looked up through a gap in the barn wall and spotted a man coming out of the house. “Crap,” she muttered, brushing the remnants of oats onto her jeans. The man strode toward the barn, and Ava hurried back to Caleb, shaking him lightly, then a little harder when he continued to snore.

  “Caleb, wake up!” she hissed, the man’s footsteps getting closer. Caleb, however, didn’t respond, and if not for the firm beat of his heartbeat, Ava might have wondered if he was dead. Unsure what else to do, she dragged Caleb into the corner, covering them both with the blanket, then a layer of scattered hay. She wiggled down under the scratchy camouflage, scattering some of the hay haphazardly over her head and holding her breath as she heard the man enter the barn.

  “Hey, there Lily,” he murmured, gruff and low. “You want to head outside and ge
t a little air?” The mare whinnied, and Ava heard the stall door creaking open, the clink of a bridle. “Come on then,” he said, clicking his tongue.

  Caleb shifted, snorting lightly, and Ava slid a hand gently over his mouth, her skin tingling as the urge to run battled the need to stay hidden. She lay motionless under the blanket, the scent of hay tickling her nose, heart racing in the silence.

  Could he hear her heart?

  The quiet rustle of boot heels across the floor sent a surge of panic racing through her. She knew there was no way they could make a run for it, not with Caleb’s current condition. So Ava did the only thing she could—stay as quiet and still as possible, and pray that the man wouldn’t notice them huddling under the hay.

  “Who’s there?” the man said gruffly.

  Ava stifled a hysterical urge to reply, “No one.” She didn’t, though. Caleb’s hot breath steamed against her palm, and she willed him to be silent.

  “I know you’re there,” the man continued, followed by the ominous click of what could only be a gun. “I suggest you show yourself before I start shooting.”

  Ava took a deep breath, sliding her hands out first, palms open. She sat up and the blanket dropped around her waist, the hay scattering about. The man eyed her warily, dark eyes peeking out from under his worn baseball cap, a rifle held loosely in his hands.

  “Please,” she said in a shaky voice. “We didn’t mean any harm. It’s . . . my friend . . .” Ava wasn’t sure how to explain Caleb’s condition in a way that wouldn’t result in her either being shot or sent off to a psych ward. “My friend is sick,” she said. “I needed to get him somewhere he could lie down.”

  “And you chose my barn,” the man said gruffly, lowering the rifle slightly and pushing the front of his hat up a bit. He was younger than Ava first thought, although his face was creased along the edges, burnt brown by hours working in the sun. He jerked the tip of the rifle toward Caleb. “What’s wrong with him?”