A Wicked Beginning

by Calinda B

“She’s way bipolar. If she stops taking her meds, look out.”

  “Frankly, I think she’s beyond bipolar, Mark. I think she’s more of a witch, to tell you the truth. She’s been doing some strange spells to enter my dreams. And I don’t…I didn’t, that is…I didn’t used to believe in that kind of thing. But my face here is testimony enough. I dreamed she was dragging me through the woods and woke up looking like this.”

  Mark brought his hand to his chin. His dark brown eyes were lined with sorrow. “If you were anyone else, Cam, I wouldn’t believe you for a second. But being here this week, I’ve come to respect you. I don’t think you are making that up.”

  “Angela even confirmed it when I met her in the parking lot. She said something like, ‘I’ve been trying to tell you that I want you in your dreams.’ It’s freaky, Mark. Pure sci-fi freaky.”

  “Sounds like it. When she was a teen, she dabbled in the occult. My family…my parents and my two brothers and me…we all thought that was just a phase.” Mark dragged a hand along his face again. “Well, darn it all anyway. I can’t just send her home. It’s a tricky situation. Let me see what I can come up with as a way to deal with this. I’ll try to coordinate the rest of the day so you two aren’t in each other’s orbits.”

  Cam clasped Mark’s shoulder. “Thanks, man, I appreciate that.”

  The two men shared an uneasy silence for a few. Then, Mark said, “The kids should be waiting in the meeting room with Lightning Rod. Go get started with the last day’s trust exercise, and I’ll meet you down there.” He started to walk away, and then stopped and turned. “Don’t worry about Angela, Cam, alright? These kids need all our focus in preparing them for returning back to their sorry homes. I’ll give Angela something to occupy her zany mind. I’ll put her in the kitchen with Hank or something. She can help prepare dinner. I only brought her here so she’d feel useful. Now I think it was a huge mistake. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Yeah, well, we all make mistakes, don’t we?” Cam retorted, wishing he’d never laid eyes on Angela. “The best we can do is learn something from our screw ups.” He let out a derisive laugh, void of any mirth. “That’s what they say anyway.”

  “Right,” agreed Mark. “Them…”

  “I say, the best I can do is performing triage or damage control on the messes I make and see what’s salvageable.” He gave Mark a nod before heading down the trail to the waiting kids. “Let’s hope for the best,” he called over his shoulder.

  Chapter 38 – Chérie

  Zuri and I were giddy with delight as we headed over to the Re-Fly High Club. We were on our way to dance, dance, dance.

  Zuri looked awesome in her short, low-cut, strapless, sin-worthy black dress with lacy panels cut across the midriff and hip. The panels gave an eyeful to the admirer, and I was sure she’d have plenty of ogling eyes following her tonight. Zuri delighted in male attention. She could strut her curves around a dance floor like a diva.

  As for me, I’d chosen a frisky, sleeveless, short tribal print jumpsuit that hugged my body, but gave plenty of room to move. When I went to a club, I was all about the movement, nothing more.

  Zuri sat next to me, talking excitedly, high on weed and happy. “I can’t wait to see Mad Juju. I’m ready for some excitement. My life has been a little ho hum lately. Honestly, Chér, I’m getting so tired of men who can’t express themselves in bed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, you know, I’ve been with Tony for weeks now. He loves to let me be a dom. He’s a great bottom. But when he comes, it’s just a little grunt, and he’s done. That’s it. Sometimes he’s so quiet I think that nothing has happened.” She giggled. “He’s like a chipmunk when he comes. Remember Chip and Dale?”

  “Those cartoon chipmunks? Uh huh.” I turned on the blinker and prepared to turn left.

  “Imagine Chip is on his back and Dale jumps on top of him. He’d probably make a sound like an ‘Uh’ or an ‘Oof.’ Then he’d start to chatter at Dale. That’s Tony.”

  We both burst out laughing at the image.

  “What’s it like with you and Cam? Any noise? Any expression at all? I mean, can you at least tell when he’s coming?”

  I flicked my eyes over to her, and then back on the road. “Oh, you could say that.” I blushed. “This ka business makes sex…well, it’s hard to describe.”

  “Do tell,” Z urged.

  “Zuri! I’m shy about my personal business.”

  “Come on, Chér, I tell you everything.”

  “Okay…you do tell me things…okay…well…” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “It’s hard to describe. This is one of those situations that Kayden says words don’t do justice.”

  “Ooh, that makes it sound even more enticing. Keep going.”

  “Okay, imagine this. When the ka unfolds inside of me, and I’m with Cam, I become pure earth. I’m a roaring river, a thunderstorm, a giant weather event. Think big waves, wild winds…things like that.”

  Zuri wiggled excitedly in her seat. “I’m starting to get all turned on. Keep it rolling, Chér.”

  “And Cam and I…well, we turn into beasts moving through the landscape. We growl, moan, roar, scream, yell…whatever arises in us is A-Okay.”

  “Oh, yeah, Chér, I want some of that.”

  “And with Kayden...” I began. “With Kayden, it’s more like shifting through the galaxy. It’s quieter, but just as intense. I feel like I become pure energy. And with the two of them together…” I focused on the road ahead; my face flushed a bright pink.

  “What do you mean, ‘with the two of them together?’” Have you had a three-way, Chér? Where did my innocent little friend go?” She laughed.

  “No, it’s not really like that. Cam would die if that were to happen. He’s not thrilled knowing Kayden is a constant in my life. Anyway, the last time I was with Kayden…you know, since we can’t get really physical with one another…I brought Cam to mind. And I experienced that ecstatic pleasure of being with Kayden, coupled with the physicality of Cam. I tell you, Zuri, I lost consciousness for a while, it was so amazing.” My body glowed with the memory.

  Zuri was quiet for a while. I saw her looking out of the window as if she were far, far away. “Z? Still with me?”

  “Yeah, Chér, sorry, I was lost in thought. You know, I’m not ka material; I’m just a girl here on planet Earth. But I’d like to think there was a guy out there who wanted to really let go when he’s sexual with me. Like, not hold back…at all. Not do the Chip and Dale thing all the time.”

  “I imagine there are guys out there like that. I mean, I’ve got Cam, right? He’s just a human…or so he says.” I peered out at the road. “You seem to keep men at a distance, though, Z. All that stuff with top and bottom and whips and pain. I don’t understand it.”

  “Oh, Chér, you’re wrong. S&M can be quite tender…being a submissive, while being a vulnerable role, can mean being the one in charge. Being the dominant one can just be a game of submission. It’s hard to explain.” She picked up her small purse and dug around for some lip gloss. “I do keep myself from getting too close to a man, that’s for sure, though. You know…since Antonio.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” Zuri had been married for a short time to a day trader in New York. It turned out he was an addict.

  “Yeah, that was a charming mess. I don’t know what I was thinking marrying that asshole. The jerk was high all the time, shooting speedballs at night, and gobbling Suboxone and Adderall during the day when he couldn’t cop a bag of dope.”

  “I know, you told me that story many times. Keep an eye out for a parking spot, okay?”

  “I know I’ve told you. It just makes me broil thinking of him. Oh, look, right there,” Z said, pointing to a place to park. “But still…back to what we were just talking about. I’d love to find a man who really knew his stuff in the bedroom.”

  “How about the rest of his life?” I asked, backing the car up into the parking spot. “Can he only be good in be
d?”

  “Oh, sure, he can be handy at other things.” Zuri laughed. “You know, fixing things.”

  When we walked around the corner, we were confronted with a long line snaking out from the front of the club. Boy, Mad Juju must be a sought after band, I thought. I’d never heard of them until Mano had told me about them. We looked towards the front of the line. There, towering over the crowd, was Mano. “Hey, there’s Mano,” I said to Z. “Let’s go to the front of the line.”

  As we approached, we noticed that Mano looked especially fetching tonight. He had his usual loose cargo pants on. Even though the Seattle night air was a bit cool, he had a black sleeveless cotton t-shirt stretched over his muscular torso. The lighting in front of the club was such that the tattoos along his golden-brown neck and face appeared to be lit by a spotlight, while his gold hoops and red-silk braid glinted and winked as he moved. A group of giggly young women, who must have just turned 21, hovered around Mano. They wanted his attention, big time.

  “Hey, girls,” he said to us as we approached. He gave us a sweeping up and down appreciative glance. “Nice apparel.”

  “Thanks, Manoko. Did we disturb your groupie fest?” I asked.

  “Nah. Just keeping the peace out here, like usual.”

  “Is that what you call it?” Zuri cooed.

  Uh oh, I thought. She’s turning on the charm. Zuri was a big flirt, as well as a big woman. A wicked little thought appeared in my mind at the thought of her and Manoko getting together. What a match that would be!

  “Hey, Chérie,” Mano said, not taking his eyes off of Zuri. “Isn’t a proper introduction in order here?”

  “Oh, sorry…Manoko, this is my best friend Zuri Davidson. Zuri…Manoko. Sorry, Manoko, I don’t remember your last name.”

  “It’s Magnetic,” he said to Zuri. “But you can just call me Mano.”

  Geez. I rolled my eyes. He’d never said I could call him Mano, and I was the ka, after all. And I was the one in a relationship with his close friend. And Magnetic? Good grief…whatever…

  “You, too, Chérie,” he added, as if sensing my reaction. “Start calling me Mano.” Still, his eyes never left Zuri’s.

  “Well, hello, Mr. Magnetic,” Zuri said, extending her hand. “Pleased to officially meet you. How are you tonight?” she said, giving him a coy look.

  Mano took it and brought it to his tattoo encircled lips. “Charmed.”

  The two of them exchanged a heated look. The crowd was humming like a bee hive, restless to be allowed inside. I felt like a third wheel. I watched Zuri reach out to finger Mano’s braid. He clasped her hand and gently extracted it from his hair.

  “Not so fast, girl. We don’t know each other all that well…yet.”

  “Are you saying that we might get to know each other better?” Zuri gushed, her voice a sultry purr. She stalked around him in a circle, brushing his body with her hips.

  “You do have ‘hotential,’” Mano said, his voice low and rich. “We may just have to find out if there’s more than meets the eye.”

  Zuri stood directly in front of him and again reached for his braid. This time his demeanor shifted, becoming charged and serious. He took her hand, looked at her sternly, and said, “The braid’s sacred, Zuri.”

  I saw her shiver.

  No one, and I mean no one, told Z what to do. Zuri stood there, all sauciness drained from her, her blue eyes shooting sparks of fire at Mano. Tension passed between them like bolts of lightning. Even the crowd quieted, shuffling about like lowing cattle in a pen. “Well, this is sacred, too,” she uttered, tugging at her hand gripped in his. “As is all of me.”

  “Damn straight it is,” Mano said, holding her gaze. “Don’t forget that.”

  I didn’t know what was passing back and forth between those two, but it was intense. The tension in the air was so thick; I believed everyone was holding their breath. I took a deep inhale of air and blew it out over the crowd, hoping to break the mood. My breath passed over the throng of people like wind over wheat, causing them to stir in a ripple-like wave effect. Wow, that’s cool, I thought. I’m getting good at this stuff. They all blinked and looked at one another, perplexed. Then laughter broke out throughout the crowd. It was as if I’d infused them with joy. I saw Mano observe the crowd, distracted by their actions, and then he looked over to me. His tattooed face shifted into a fierce frown.

  “What are you doing, ka?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t really know, Mano. But it worked.”

  Mano looked back over to Zuri. He was still clutching her hand. “You two ladies have a good time in there, alright? Maybe you’d like to have a beer with me later?”

  “We just might,” Zuri responded, her eyes boring with defiance into Mano’s. “We’ll let you know.”

  Mano released her hand and reached out to lift the thick velvety barrier cord that kept people from walking into the club. He ushered us through the opening before beginning his check of the club-goers’ ID. “Nope, just those two are the only ones who get to pass go. They’re VIPs. Cards, everyone, please. Show me your ID, and then you can enter. Pay at the door.”

  When Zuri and I had reached the bar, she said, “I need a drink, a really stiff drink. Maybe two or three.”

  “Yeah, Zuri what just happened?”

  “I don’t know, but I feel strange inside. Both schooled and turned on.” She turned to the bartender. “A Dirty Martini, please. Chér?” she asked, turning to me.

  “Um, I’ll have a Cosmopolitan.” I started laughing. “Zuri, that was amazing!” I spluttered.

  “What?” she snapped.

  “You didn’t have control over Mano. I think you are a match for one another.”

  “We’ll see about that. I am never, ever a bottom.”

  “Don’t take his behavior as a threat, Z. From what I know, Mano’s a good man.” I swirled the colorful toothpick in my drink and took a small sip of my Cosmo. “Cam told me something about the significance of Mano’s braid once, but I forgot what he told me. Something like, ‘only a woman of substance gets to unbraid it.’”

  “Good memory you have there, ka,” Zuri said before downing a healthy slug of her martini. “He’s sure hot, I’ll give him that.” Zuri fanned her face with her napkin. “I couldn’t tell if I wanted to fuck him or punch him in the belly.”

  My face reddened at Zuri’s bluntness. “He’s got a tattoo…” I began.

  “Well, duh, he’s got them everywhere.”

  “Yeah, but he’s got a…a…he’s got a snake crawling up his belly.”

  I watched Z’s eyebrows shoot up. She fanned herself even harder. “Oh, my God, Chér…how do you know that?”

  “I saw it once when his shirt slipped up over his tummy. It’s…it’s quite provocative looking. It made me blush when I saw it.”

  “Well, when I see it, I’ll give you a full report, like how far down it extends. My, my, my,” she said, the paper napkin fluttering furiously in front of her face. She looked over to the dance floor. “Let’s go get our spot – you know the same place we were when you met Kayden.” She shot me a meaningful look.

  “Maybe he’ll show up tonight, you never know.”

  When Mad Juju took the stage, the night shot off like a rocket to full, ecstatic dancing bliss. Did I tell you I love to dance? I love to dance. I think if the people of the planet just up and danced more, the world would be a happier place. I sure would. Mad Juju had a wall of percussion players, flanked by a full drum set. And they had some pretty powerful bass beats, played by a pock-marked faced, long haired guy wearing a headband to keep his stringy locks out of his eyes. The guy’s fingers flew along the strings. The guitar player, a good-looking blond haired guy with a body to die for, traded riffs with the guy throughout the night. At one point, the guitar player stopped playing and started stomping one of his legs to the hypnotic percussive beat and the crowd matched his movement. We all stomped in unison, creating a sound that went straight up into the heavens, adding to the beat
of the planet, I was sure.

  When the second set ended, Zuri and I made our sweat soaked bodies to the back of the room, searching for Mano. Z had decided on accepting Mano’s invite for a shared moment of beer, even though she was still in a twist at him. We found him at the bar, leaning back on the counter, one arm propping up his weight.

  “You two girls looked like you had fun out there.”

  “Oh, we did,” I gushed. Zuri said nothing. It seemed like a sudden bout of frostbite had washed over her.

  “How about you, Zuri? You have a good time?”

  “I suppose,” she said coolly. “We decided to take you up on that beer,” she added, fingering the lines of the smooth wooden counter.

  “I don’t know, Zuri. You seem colder than the frosted mugs behind the bar. I might have to go home and have a beer with my dog, Severe, instead.”

  A smile formed at the edges of Zuri’s mouth. “You have a dog named Severe?” she said, amused.

  “Sure do. She’s a handful. But I have a way with beasts. Ask Cam.” He flicked his eyes over to me before aiming a dagger-sharp look in her direction, and then he folded his arms across his massive chest.

  Zuri kept her back to Mano. “Is that supposed to intimidate me, Mr. Magnetic?”

  “Does it?”

  “Not hardly. I’ve had strong men before.”

  “Not this strong,” Mano replied, flexing his arms. The snake tattoos along his arms writhed.

  I gulped watching those muscles move.

  Mano lowered his voice and leaned in close to her. “And, besides, what makes you think you can have me?”

  “Okay, okay, you two.” I’d had enough of the sparring. “You barely know each other, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to find a fire hose to get you guys to let go of each other’s throats.”

  “Zuri and I are just feeling out the edges, Chérie. Right, Z?” he asked with a predatory smile.

  “Right,” Zuri replied. “Mr. Magnetic…”

  Both sets of eyes turned towards me. I started to say something when a terrifying image started to form in my mind. “No!” I shrieked. “No, no, no, no no! Oh, God, oh no, oh Cam!” I pressed my hands over my eyes to block out the vision and began rocking back and forth on the bar stool. “Mano, help me, Cam’s in trouble. Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God…”