by Shawn Reilly
Elle watched Ari and Nixon exchange looks. “You’re taking a great risk. That’s not exactly standard issued stuff there buddy,” Nixon said.
“Well, since I’ve become a master of breaking my own rules lately I’d have to say your point is irrelevant.” Asher took another book from Ari. This one looked the same as the other, same size and color but this book was much newer.
“So, what about us?” Nixon asked. “What are we doing? Are we going with you and Bart or heading back in the truck?”
“Better yet, what’s with Grant’s journal?” Ari watched him.
“I’ve hidden solution keys throughout his journal for certain more dangerous spells. They’re meant to be kept secret just in case the spell book falls into wrong hands. But Elle can better answer Nixon.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” she said when Ari and Nixon both looked her way.
“I made myself perfectly clear last night.” Asher pulled the leather coat toward him and dug in the pockets till he drew out the black gloves without the fingers. As he pulled them on, he explained, “You were to give me an answer in regard to the contract this morning. If you’ve decided to accept my terms then Nixon will remain behind with you for a few days until you have completed some necessary errands, and Arimus will return with me. If you wish to have nothing to do with the contract then I will make arrangements for you here. So, you see, their plans are tentative to yours.”
“In other words,” Ari added when he noticed her confusion. “Have you agreed to play Rapunzel and allow yourself to be locked away in his tower, and in this manner, I’m referring to the contract.”
Elle discounted him and looked at Asher instead. “What errands?”
“You have nothing,” Asher said. “You need clothing Elle or do you wish to continue wearing my brother’s shirts.” Her cheeks flushed. She was leaning forward holding the robe closed. The only way he could know what she was wearing underneath was by being present at the time she was dressed in the shirt, by whoever had dressed her, or when his eyes faltered open the night before. Either was an embarrassing thought. “Answer Elle, I’m in a hurry.”
“I’ll accept the terms,” she quickly answered.
“Then…I will prepare the contract.”
Elle noted three entirely different reactions. Nixon thoughtfully smiled. Ari lowered his pensive stare from her gaze, and Asher other than a slight hesitation—a slight flutter of his eyes, closed the phone he had left braced on his thigh. She wondered if he had left it that way in anticipation of her answer. She wondered if he had thought her answer would be different. With that settled, Asher went to work.
The black flame danced on his palms and grew in intensity as he uttered the words off the page of the old book. Eyes wide open, Elle watched as the flames moved up his arms. Asher had pulled on the leather coat, and the leather soon began to give off a scorched smell.
Nixon and Ari watched too, and they were just as shocked when he drew back his hand and sent a fireball across the room at such velocity it smashed into the white wall, and sent a spray of fire back at them. Nixon rushed forward out of the way, and Ari drew his legs up into the chair. With a yelp and some tricky head movement Elle ducked just in time to avoid a chunk of burning wall.
“Good God, Asher, what was that?” Ari exclaimed.
“I told you it amplifies the firestorm spell by combining the spell and what magic I have left together.” Asher closed the books. “And it appears to work.”
Nixon stomping out a flame on the carpet flashed eyes at him. “You think? You mean you didn’t know?”
“Wait, you’re trying something, new, as in something you have never tried before?” Ari asked. “My God Asher, what would have happened had all your magic been stored up?”
“Get dressed. We need to go.” Asher commanded, choosing to overlook the question.
“Are you out of your mind?” Ari jumped to his feet and headed for the door. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m not leaving her or Grant’s kid in the hands of anyone else. I’m staying behind and then seeing them personally to Brokenridge, and Lake Manor.”
It’s your duty to protect me!” Asher stood.
Ari stopped and spun around. He shook his head back and forth and his sad eyes lowered from Asher. “I’m sorry but this battles your own.”
“What about the manor?” Asher demanded. “What about the children?”
Ari threw a hand up in his departure. “Don’t try that manipulation. Linn and Vince will protect them if anyone tries to get in, and the last thing I care about is the manor. It’s never been a home, and you’ve seen to that.”
Asher stood with his back to her, watching Ari go and only when a door slammed in the other room did he turn to Nixon.
“I’ll go,” Nixon nodded. “I know you need me. And dude, that flame throwing was a-a-awesome!” he sang the last.
“Then collect Kennedy, it’s time to go,” Asher said.
Nixon’s gaze fell on her as he grabbed his coat from where it lay across a chair. “See you soon,” he mouthed and hurried from the room.
“Do you still believe this is a dream, Elle?” Asher stood with his back to her, still and unmoving, head lowered.
“No, I don’t.”
“Good because nothing about it feels like a dream to me. Life with us, with me will be hard and sometimes complex and frightening. Are you sure that is what you want.”
“Life was all of those before.”
“Then…you’ve made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
“Then so be it. I will see you in a few days.”
Unsure of Ari’s cooperation, Asher left her in the care of someone named Martaugh, who would arrive later in the day. She would stay behind with Mary, just long enough to obtain certain essentials. She would travel then the distance to Brokenridge, a place she only knew in name to Lake Manor, her future home.
Asher left and Elle was alone.
The Lake’s left, taking their noise, excitement and mystery with them. They left her in the quiet with nothing but her thoughts to pacify her time.
She missed their noise.
She missed their intensity.
And she missed the way they made her feel.
When she was a child and shared such foolish notions and dreams, she thought about her future. She thought of children, a home and a husband. She thought of how it would feel to know a man wanted her bad enough that he would ask her to share his name and life. In that dream though, she never thought it would seem so…cold.