Cyrosphere 2:: Lives Entangled

by Deandre Dean

  Each room was so grand, and wonderful. Like it was a fairytale of art. She didn’t quite want to wake up from this imaginary place. This wasn’t her world, but Ginger enjoyed the tiny glimpses into it none the less.

  Ginger asks, “How are you, Penny?”

  Penny answers, “Wonderful. I’ve been sleeping ten hours a night, like a comma patient. I have also been drawing. I missed my passion, which I forgot makes my soul sour. Work takes up so much time, I think this break was a nice change.”

  Ginger gasps and replies, “Wow. That sounds great.”

  Jurnee responds, “Oh, it is. She just needed someone to remind her of all her childhood loves.”

  Penny smiles and states, “True. Most definitely a change from the girl kicking and screaming to be here in the first place This change in scenery and responsibilities has allowed med to focus and reconnect what’s important in my life.”

  Ginger claims, “I am so jealous. You seem so different. ”

  Penny answers with a grin, “Like a whole new person.”

  Jurnee says, “Exactly.”

  Ginger wonders, “Is that so bad? Or, perhaps Jurnee hypnotized her or something.”

  I definitely need to ask Stacey about this later. They chatted some more before Ginger left to go read at a café.

  Chapter Ten:

  Twenty minutes later, Ginger sat in a non-descript building drinking tea. She wanted peace and quiet, and found it here in this secluded place. It wasn’t overly busy, and had comfy seats to allow her to get lost reading in peace.

  She didn’t have head-phones, but didn’t need them to block out all the normal traffic and noise customers brought in places like Starbucks or Coffee-Bean. She smiled to herself, as she opened up her copy of Christopher Pike’s Thirst. This man sure knew how to write, and provoked such enlightening, profound thoughts for her.

  Ginger looked up to see the same guy from yesterday, grinning at her as he tries to hide his smile by sipping coffee. She stepped in before the test, and she remembered he was reading a romance novel called Broken by Chloe Walsh. He was almost done today, and she loved that author as well. She casually got up, ready to leave.

  She thought to herself, “Be brave. Be bold. Be strong,”

  Ginger walks over to his table, takes a seat. Placing her book on the counter and smiles at him. He looks up from the page her was reading, and grins. He acts like her bold move didn’t phase him at all.

  He says, “Hi, I’m Leo. And you are?”

  Ginger stutters and answers, “Ginger. Were you staring at me a moment ago?”

  He looks lost.

  Ginger asks again, “Where you looking at me?

  Leo replies shockingly, “What?”

  Ginger smirks and responds, “Just now. Like less than five minutes ago. Right, over there.”

  She points to her table she just vacated.

  Leo laughs and states, “Caught me, did you? Was I that obvious?”

  Ginger taps her chin and says, “Let me think about that for a minute. …Yes.”

  They both laugh.

  Leo answers, “Let’s start over. I am agent Leonard Desmond Lions. I was assigned to protect you.”

  Ginger fumes and asks, “Assigned? By who?”

  Leo calmly states, “Aaron Darkholme.”

  Ginger thought, “I am going to kill him when I get home.”

  Chapter Eleven:

  Ginger couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea that Aaron hired someone to watch over her. Sure the idea was sweet and considerate, but unnecessary.

  She wondered, “What possessed such a crazy idea? Aside from being hunted by a mad-man. That’ll do it,”

  Ginger states, “I gotta go.”

  Leo asks, “Where to? Need a ride?”

  Ginger replies, “Very far away. I am mortified.”

  She jumps up before he can finish his sentence. Ginger grabs her novel, and high-tails it out of there in a flash.

  Ginger wonders, “How had she not noticed she was being followed?”

  She was angry and wanted to confront Aaron, but had no idea how to get to his job. Clearly Stacey and Yvette would know how, however Yvette was at work. She was probably was even in court, and it was only 3:54 on June 29, Wednesday afternoon.

  Inside the car, Ginger fished out her phone and called Stacey.

  Stacey picked up on the third ring, and before she could think about pleasantries Ginger blurted out what happened at the café. Stacey swore and told her to meet her at the house.

  Thirty minutes later thanks to traffic she was pulling into the driveway. Before Ginger could kill the engine, a pissed off Stacey hauled ass in her direction .Thank God, that anger wasn’t directed at her.

  Stacey says, “Let’s go.

  Ginger gets out the car and asks, “Where?”

  Stacey replies, “To see my father.”

  Ginger nods and realized she never seen this side of Stacey. Worst yet, was the way she said father, with such contempt and hatred.

  Once beside Stacey, Ginger heard Latin being spoken. The murmering and chanting was Stacey summoning a portal to deliver them to Aaron Darkholme. Ginger hadn’t noticed before, but she felt a tingling in her body, as if the energy from the portal was emulating from her.

  That was when she knew that she was definitely pure witch. This build up of magic was incredible, and she was capable of doing the same with magic. The realization crashed into her reality, as Stacey yanked her through the portal.

  Ginger thought, “Not again.”

  Chapter Twelve:

  Stepping outside of the portal with Stacey was a totally different experience, then when she done the same with Diego. For one, Diego had held her tight and the trip had seemed magical life a shift toward completeness.

  Traveling with Stacey was empowering. That didn’t make a hundred percent sense to her, but Ginger knew magic was within her. It was like air that she hadn’t realized she was deprived.

  Using magic, or more correctly being by people who wielded magic was amazingly wonderful. She can do all that Stacey can, and hopefully with training more. Ginger smiled at the thought, when she looked around.

  This place was different from the demon world she visited before. The last planet or dimension was a mixture of a town with a castle in its center. Never the less Creston Time Ristlo was beautiful and very advanced.

  The long walk-way was marble tile with both ides surrounded by what can only be described as a garden or forest. The grass was green, fleshly cut and that forest lead to God knows where.

  Ahead of them was a giant dome made purely of crystal and glass. The sun’s gleam made it sparkle like a diamond. The view was magnificent as Stacey stormed toward it. Several steps later, Ginger was lead into a lobby of a modern building.

  The lobby was sleek with chrome and gold, but the woman at the desk looked familiar.

  Ginger says, “Shit. I know her.”

  Stacey looked at her but turns to the woman and demands, “Felicia, I want to see my father.”

  Ginger thinks, “Felicia, that’s her name. The girl that works with Crystal. She has two jobs? Or, did Aaron have her spying as well?”

  Felicia nods and says, “One moment.”

  The girl begins frantically typing away at her computer and in seconds, a door opens to their left side. Out steps Agent Lions, or Leo as he refereed to h.mself.

  Ginger spats out, “What are you doing here?”

  Leo answers, “I work here.”

  Stacey responds, “Who else is trailing us?”

  Leo looks at a silence Felicia for help, but she tries to act like she is invisible.

  He answers, “I am not at liberty to say.”

  Stacey sucks her teeth and replies, “Fine.”

  She walks past them and punches in a code on to a elevator. It chimes and opens, Stacey steps inside the elevator. Ginger runs to catch up to her, stepping inside and seeing a pair of agents afraid of this teenage girl is shocking,

  Chapter T
hirteen:

  Inside the elevator is total silence.

  Stacey says, ‘Oh, I’ll get answers.”

  Ding.

  The elevator arrives to the top of the fifty-eight floor. Stacey steps out and Ginger follows glancing back at the frighten people.

  Ginger thinks, “Damn. Aaron must got some pull as director of COPS.”

  She follows Stacey to a large door without a security or receptionist at this door. Luckily no one was there in Stacey’s way, or they would surely be in a war-zone. Before Stacey can barge in, the door wings open,

  Out steps Aaron, he is not alone but followed by a couple. The man and woman seem like a nice pair. He sees Stacey and before anyone can say anything.

  Ginger places her hand out and states, “Hi. I’m Ginger Solis.”

  The woman doesn’t take her eyes off Stacey, as she greets Ginger. Her name is Alkmene Dharma Kincaid and her husband Riley Terrell Echolls.

  Stacey says, “Hi, aunt Mene and uncle Riley.”

  Ginger does a double take and looks at everyone as the tension grows. Since when does Stacey have a set of family, she didn’t know about? Actually Ginger knew hardily anything about her new family.

  Riley says, “We must be going. See you around, Aaron. I’ll be in touch.”

  With those words, the pair is off without any objection or anymore pleasantries from anyone.

  Stacey waits into they leave and states, “We need to talk.”

  Aaron exhales and asks, “Can’t it wait?”

  Stacey responds, “No!”

  She pushes past him into the black, white and purple office. The extreme dark colors is a interesting vibe, just like him.

  Ginger’s head was still reeling on the fact that Stacey’s aunt seemed so distant. Her uncle was so stand-offish, no more like indifferent. There was a story there, that she would ask later.

  Chapter 14:

  Sitting down next to a fuming Stacey, Ginger waited as Aaron silently closed the door. He easily walked over, sat at his desk like nothing was amiss.

  Ginger thinks, “For him, nothing is wrong.”

  Stacey mumbles and sits up straight in her seat.

  Ginger states, “You’re having me followed, why?”

  Aaron was clearly glad for the change of topics. The family reunion was obviously something he wasn’t comfortable discussing. This he felt he could control, so he placed his hands on the desk and folded them.

  He answers, “Of course. You’re my family now, and I was clearly concerned after your run in with Feltus, now you are more on his radar not previously.”

  Stacey jumps in, “Obviously, but she has a right to know she’s being trailed.”

  Aaron grins and replies, “Yes sweets, but the situation is a bite more complicated then usual.”

  Stacey asks, “How so?”

  Aaron responds, “Ginger wasn’t raised like you. She isn’t used to my take charge, ask questions later attitude. If any of my people were to follow you. They’d tell you from fear of your spooky powers and you face them head on.”

  Stacey smirks and says, “True. I would.”

  Aaron states, “Exactly. Different matters for unique circumstances.”

  Ginger says, “Sure, no problem. Is there anything else?”

  Stacey shakes her head and answers, “Gotta go. We have plans later. See ya at home.”

  Before Ginger could object, Stacey was on her feet and inches from the door. Ginger followed, but still wondered about uncle Riley and Aunt Alkmene.

  Chapter 15:

  Sitting inside her room alone, Ginger wondered how things had turned upside down so fast. She wasn’t tired, so decided to do so yoga and Pilates. They do practically go hand in hand.

  Twenty minutes later, Yvette was knocking on her door, telling her Stacey was finishing up dinner so better wash up. This was a ten minute warning, which Ginger nodded and headed up for a shower. Once dressed and downstairs, Yvette seemed oblivious about her aunt and uncle’s visit.

  Ginger thinks, “She doesn’t know, but why?”

  Before she could voice her concern, Stacey gave her a strange look that said leave it alone. The thoughts that she was sent confirmed this suspicion.

  Stacey thought to her, “It’s complicated. Our families don’t speak since my mom died about eight years ago.”

  Ginger answer her thoughts, “Ok, I won’t mention it. That is horrible. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Stacey thinks back, “Not much to tell.”

  Yvette says something which Ginger was too distracted to answer.

  Ginger states, “Oh, sorry. My head is somewhere else tonight. Yeah, I am excited to start school in the fall. A little nervous actually, but in a excited way.”

  Aaron nods and replies, “Restless excitement perhaps.”

  Yvette responds, “I’m the same away about work.”

  Stacey chuckles and says, “No wonder Ginger fits in with us so well.”

  The warm chatter clears away today’s strange events, so she ignored the questions that had piled up since this afternoon about a certain aunt and uncle.

  Chapter 16:

  After dinner, Stacey volunteered to do the dishes, and told Ginger to go do her make-up. She’ll be up shortly to pick out her clothes.

  Ginger thinks, “Pick out my clothes?”

  The concept wasn’t lost on her, but Monica nor Hannah had ever did that for her before. This would be her first time letting someone else dress her, and what kind of trouble was Stacey dragging her into.

  She grinned and thought, “I guess I have to trust my friend to help me out. I need to see how Frost is doing about Crystal. Tomorrow, she promised herself she would.”

  Her make-up was flawless, ready for any occasion. Light to minimal always prove to be wise. Before she could contemplate going to a club further, Stacey popped her head around the corner.

  In a flash, she was in a blue and black poke a dot dress just reaching her knees. A pair of wedges and a navy army jacket to top off the look. Stacey had heels, five inch to be exact. A pair of black stretch material pants that could pass for leather pants. A long sleeve red shirt that showed off her tone body, and a gold hoodie.

  The girls were out the door when while Yvette was studying at the kitchen counter, going over briefs. She yelled out bye, but Aaron hadn’t seen them leave and Ginger wasn’t so certain he’d approve of their look.

  Ginger wonders, “Am I ready for a club? She’d never been and was a tad anxious since a minor.”

  She reached inside the glove compartment and pulled out some gum. Ginger took out a piece and handed one to Stacey, as they sang along to Breaking Benjamin.

  Chapter 17:

  Ginger didn’t know what to expect, but arriving in downtown LA in Ktown was not it. Apparently the club they were going was in this district.

  Ginger smelt wet grass and a hum of energy. Magic was close by, a lot of it. She was getting better at detecting it and hopefully soon she’d get to use it. Stacey walked over to a grimy, dirty off white building and starting chanting Hebrew. Ginger didn’t have a clue what she was saying, and only knew it was Hebrew because Monica had dated a Jewish guy back in middle school.

  A strange orange glow opened up and another shift in the atmosphere. A door formed and Stacey swung it open, and inside was a huge three floor club. Just like one sees in movies, music was pulsing off the walls through her. It was loud and inviting, a melody of pure unadulterated rock.

  Stacey shouts to her as they walk in, “Welcome to club Sidalor Kingdom, and that band playing is Eternal Frontline Decay. They are awesome to watch perform.”

  Ginger replies, “They’re badass.”

  Stacey grins and answers, “Wait into you see them up close and personal. Total packages, hotties with talent. God truly gives with two hands.”

  Ginger turned around and the entrance had disappeared.

  She thought, “That’s comforting. Locked up in a magically hidden club..”

  Stacey laug
hed and replies, “Shield up or others might get inside there.”

  Ginger nods and answers, “Gotta remember that I ain’t the most powerfulest telepathic like back home.”

  Stacey responds, “Ready to meet the owners and my contacts.”

  Chapter 18:

  Stacey waltzed to the VIP lounge on the second floor where Lupio was there with Peter. Ginger waved before Stacey was full lip-locked with her boyfriend. She adverted her eyes, at their private moment as Lupio was drinking what looked like alcohol.