by Karen Kelley
Mrs. Jackson always bought those soy candles. Callie loved them because the scent seemed to last longer, as well as the candle. She would have to ask DeeDee where her mother had bought the ones she used.
If they didn’t cost too much, that is. Mrs. Jackson had really expensive tastes. And why not, she and her husband made oodles of money. If Callie had that much money, she would splurge on expensive candles, and clothes, lots of bling-bling, and nice vacations.
Ahh, vacations. It would be nice to take one.
DeeDee’s parents were probably excited their daughter was joining them. Colorado must be nice in the fall. DeeDee once told her the water was clear and unpolluted, and you could see sparkles of gold.
“I don’t think you’ve emptied your mind,” Rogar said.
She jumped and opened her eyes. Guilty as charged. It wasn’t as easy as he’d made it sound. “How can I empty my mind if you keep talking?
“You have to concentrate on breathing, and let everything else go. When you are able to do that, you’ll find your animal guide.”
“Okay. Okay.” She closed her eyes. She really wanted to find her guide. She vaguely remembered the voice from so long ago. When she had felt lonely and unloved, the voice would soothe away her fears.
What would her guide be? Not a bunny or rhino. No, more like an exotic horse. Yes. She liked that idea. A horse. She’d always wanted a pony. She’d gone on a field trip once and they let her pet a pony. The pony had been gray, with faded white spots on her butt. There had been lots of other horses there, too. She remembered it as though it was yesterday.
A familiar feeling began to wash over her. She moaned, stretching her arms out and reaching toward something…something…
“Callie!”
She curled into a ball as fog filled the room. The pain wasn’t as bad. Not so much like the burning sensation of the last two times. Her arms no longer felt like her arms, nor did her legs feel like her legs.
Her limbs began to stretch, the changes happening inside her, as well as outside. Sweat dotted her forehead, and it was hard to breathe.
Then nothing again. Rogar was right when he said it was like Balam was a shadow. Only she was the shadow. She opened her eyes and blinked, then looked around. Rogar stood in front of her, and she was almost even with his chest.
“You were supposed to empty your mind, not think of an animal.”
Had she become the sleek horse she’d been thinking about? She wasn’t sure. She had a feeling this wasn’t her animal guide, though. The connection that Rogar had talked about wasn’t there. It was more like she’d borrowed the animal’s body.
Well, she wanted to see. She turned and walked toward the bedroom, where there was a full-length mirror. It sounded like hooves walking across the hardwood floor. Did Rogar find her exotic?
She had a little trouble turning the corner but made it inside, and by then, she wasn’t sure she really wanted to look. At least, she knew she wasn’t a rhino or she would’ve taken down half the wall. Try explaining that to DeeDee’s parents.
Okay, might as well do this. And then she was looking at herself. Oh, great, this was just great! What, did someone not like her? She’d been thinking about a horse, not a donkey.
She moved a little to the right. Could she at least shift into an animal with a smaller ass—no pun intended? Her ears had to be at least a foot and a half long.
Rogar stepped into her line of vision. Great. She opened her mouth to tell him what she thought about shapeshifting, “Hee-hawwwww.” She quickly closed her mouth.
He laughed.
How could he laugh at her? It was so demeaning. He came closer, patting her on the neck.
“I told you that you might experience many animals before you connect with your guide.”
She turned her head, nipping at his hand, but he was too fast and moved out of the way, which was probably a good thing since she was a little long in the tooth. She might have done some serious damage.
Oh, God, she had buck teeth.
“Just think about your human side,” he told her.
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She closed her eyes and concentrated on what it would be like to walk in the woods behind the cabin, or swim in the manmade lake. When she had come the last time with DeeDee, Callie had really enjoyed those activities.
The country club was another story. That had been pure torture. The people there had made her feel like a lower class citizen. The longer the night had progressed, the more depressed she’d gotten.
“Are you concentrating?”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Rogar was right, she needed to learn how to concentrate. She thought of herself standing in front of a mirror, rather than the donkey.
In her mind’s eye, she saw herself pulling on a pair of size six jeans—easily pulling them on over her small, tight butt.
The fog rolled across the room and the change began. She took a deep breath, then exhaled as the familiar ache began inside her. She stretched out, then curled inside herself. The burning sensation came, and with it darkness. It almost seemed as though she floated through space while the change took place.
“Callie?”
She blinked, then opened her eyes. When she looked at her hands, she saw she was back in her own body. “Please tell me that wasn’t my animal guide.”
“When you connect with your animal guide, it will feel totally different from anything else, as though you’re sharing each other’s bodies and minds. There will be a separation, but a connection as well.”
“I’m not sure I like the idea of someone living inside of me—besides me.”
“That is why you have not made the connection. Your guide is frightened.”
“Of me?”
He nodded. “When your guide first began to speak to you, and you told others, they sent you to a doctor. You made the decision to stop listening, and pushed your guide away.”
“But now I’m not.”
“The guide was smart and stayed dormant most of the time. When you had a strong feeling about something, your guide gently led you in the right direction.
“The power is in you to reject the guide. You are old enough to consciously make that decision. That is why she’s afraid to join completely. If you get scared, you can choose to live without her.”
“What happens to her? I mean, if say I don’t want to share my body?”
“She will die.”
Oh, that was nice. She would be a murderer. “Has anyone ever done that?”
“A few.”
A cold chill swept over her. Damn, she’d forgotten she was naked. As if he sensed her discomfiture, he walked to the window, keeping his back toward her. She started to retrieve the clothes she had on earlier, but changed her mind at the last minute, and grabbed sweats and clean underclothes out of her bag, and quickly dressed.
“You can turn around.”
Rogar looked disappointed when he faced her. Too bad. She was not going to make this a love nest when she was on a mission.
“I liked the other clothes.”
“I’m sure you did, but this is me. I like comfort.” And these clothes made her feel less sexy, less horny. No wonder DeeDee had sex on the brain.
“You look cute in those, too,” he said after taking a full minute to study her.
“Yeah, right.”
He nodded. “Because I know what lies beneath the clothes.”
Only Rogar could make her feel sexy wearing baggy sweats. “Okay, how do I make my animal guide trust me?”
“Talk to her.”
“Talk to her?” Yeah, right. Did he really expect her to go around talking to her invisible friend? That’s pretty much what she would be doing.
“We could always try the ritual.”
He sounded too eager. “Okay, I’ll talk to myself, but not in front of you.” She didn’t want to look any more like a fool than she had to.
“I’ll leave then.”
“That would be great.” Then she thoug
ht about him wandering around the camp. Not a good idea. “On second thought, I’ll leave. You stay inside.”
“It might help if you were nearer the goddess who created the animals. I saw woods behind the house. That would be a good place to connect with your guide.”
“Do you have a lot of deities on New Symtaria?”
“We have many. We pay homage to them at different festivals. Everyone in the nearby dwellings share food, and there are games. The people enjoy it very much.”
“It sounds like fun.”
“You could find out for yourself. Come back with me. We are good together.”
She shook her head. “This is my home. I worked hard to get through college. It took me longer than some because I didn’t have a lot of money, but I made it. I can’t throw that all away.”
“I understand wanting something very badly.”
She had a feeling he was talking about her, but he only needed her so he could complete his mission. Yeah, the sex was great, but it wasn’t as though he would want her all the time once he returned home.
“I won’t be gone long,” she said. She walked through the house, and out the back door.
As she left, she wondered what it would be like to have someone want her all the time. She used to imagine having loving parents, and maybe a couple of sisters or brothers. They could’ve played together, and even had a few fights, but there would’ve been a bond that held true.
But then, not all families were fairy tales. She’d come to the conclusion that most were dysfunctional. DeeDee had once told her that her aunt and mother had stopped talking years ago. So maybe families weren’t that great.
She stepped out of the clearing and past the trees. She and DeeDee had actually explored these woods. The golf course was on the other side.
Callie walked about halfway between the golf course and the house, saw a tree that had fallen, and made herself comfortable on it. Meditating didn’t really work for her so she decided to just talk, as Rogar had suggested. But what should she say?
It had been a long time since she’d actually heard the voice. Her imaginary friend, as the doctor had called her guide. If he’d only known. But the voice had seemed like a friend. Her only real one, besides Alma. Alma had been adopted so that hadn’t lasted long.
Callie thought back, trying to remember what it had felt like. Rogar was right when he said she would know when her animal guide connected. The voice inside her had been different.
“I remember you,” she finally said, closing her eyes so she could concentrate better. “You came to me when I was all alone, and had no one else. We were friends.”
Nothing. But then, Rogar had said the guide was afraid to come out.
“You talked to me mostly at night.” She would lie on her bed, one in a row of eight, and there were eight more across from her. Anyone would think with that many girls she wouldn’t have been lonely, but it was hard to make friends, especially when they would get adopted, and she knew she’d never see them again.
But she’d had her guide.
“Please don’t be afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“Hello, Callie.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “I’ve missed you.” And she knew she had. It was as though an old friend had returned.
“It has been a long time.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, because I really haven’t thought about you at all. I mean, you certainly aren’t the type to run with my crowd.”
Huh? Her eyes flew open. Oh, damn, Constance Gentry. “I was…meditating. Getting in touch with my inner self.”
Constance let her gaze drift over Callie. “I didn’t know people still wore those…things.”
“They’re called sweats.”
“Whatever.” She flipped her hair behind her with one hand.
Constance still looked the same as she had the last time Callie had the misfortune to run into her. Tall, tanned, and blond. Callie wanted to vomit.
“What are you doing in the woods, anyway?” Callie asked.
She bent and picked up a golf ball. “I shanked it.”
“I bet that’s not all you’ve shanked in your lifetime,” she muttered.
“I’d heard you were mooching off DeeDee again and staying in her parents’ cabin.” She laughed. “Mrs. Crane must’ve been hitting the bottle again. She said you were engaged to a prince.” Her laughter was high-pitched enough that it could’ve broken a champagne glass. “You’ve got to remember those frogs you’ve probably been kissing are not going to turn into princes.”
They both turned their heads when there was a rustling of underbrush. Rogar stepped out, and Constance sucked air. And for once in her life, Callie felt as though she had the upper hand.
“There you are, darling,” Rogar said. “I know you said you wanted to take a walk by yourself, but I got lonely. Oh, I see I’ve interrupted.”
“Not at all, sweetheart.” She pasted a smile on her face that was so sweet it probably dripped sugar. “Constance, I’d like to introduce you to Prince Rogar Valkyir.”
They might not be engaged, but he was a prince. So what if she was flaunting his royal status—she’d feel guilty tomorrow.
Or not.
Chapter 22
Another blueblood. Rogar briefly studied the young woman. She wore a white band of sorts across her forehead. The other blueblood, Ms. Crane, had worn a white band also.
Maybe it’s a sacred symbol, Balam’s thoughts blended with Rogar’s.
It looks stupid.
Not nearly as fine as your medallion, Balam agreed.
Rogar found her lacking in other areas as well. Other than her white top and white shorts, she also wore her haughty demeanor out in the open. He didn’t think he liked her anymore than he had the other two.
And he’d heard everything she’d said, and how she’d acted toward Callie, and Rogar didn’t like it. It made him wonder why Callie would want to stay on this planet. She longed for a job she’d apparently trained many years to get, but still didn’t have. The Earthlings he’d met wore masks. They smiled and said one thing, while meaning something entirely different.
DeeDee has a good spirit, Balam reminded him.
One out of many.
True.
“Are you really a prince?” Constance asked.
“Yes.”
Rogar walked over to Callie and held out his hand toward her. She took it. Her hand felt small in his. He helped her to her feet, but didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled her close to him, protective, but he also enjoyed the warmth of her body.
Constance’s eyes narrowed. “I guess you forgot to wear your engagement ring.” She looked pointedly at Callie’s hand.
“It is being designed especially for her,” he smoothly replied. He would need to look up their customs on his database. He didn’t know about the ring. The woman looked skeptical.
“Hey, Constance, did you get lost?”
“Over here, Freddie,” Constance called without looking in the direction the voice had come from.
It sounded as though many large animals were clomping toward them, but then a man appeared. He looked rather odd. Short, with red hair, and funny dots all over his face. Rogar had never seen anyone with dots.
“Callie Jordon, I heard you were staying at DeeDee’s parents’ cabin,” the man called Freddie said. “How the hell have you been?”
Callie relaxed so Rogar knew this person was not a typical blueblood. That, and he didn’t wear the white band across his forehead.
“Hi, Freddie,” Callie said, and Rogar heard the smile in her voice.
“Really, Freddie, do you have to make so much noise when you walk? You sounded like a herd of elephants.”
He only grinned. Then he met Rogar’s gaze, and Rogar saw something besides the odd way the man looked. There was intelligence. This man was no fool.
“I’m Freddie Danbury.”
Rogar bowed slightly at the waist. “Prince
Rogar Valkyir, Callie’s fiancé.”
Freddie looked at Callie as though she had done something very good, then nodded.
“Come on, Freddie, let’s get back to our game.” Constance turned on her heel.
“There’s a get together tonight. A benefit auction for some cause that Matilda Crane dug up. Fancy dress and bidding wars,” Freddie said, ignoring Constance. “Why don’t you two join us at the club?”
Callie stiffened. “I don’t think…”
Constance turned. Rogar could see the fury flare in her eyes, but just as quickly it changed to a calculating gleam. “Oh, do, come. And bring your…prince.”
“We are honored by your invitation,” Rogar quickly told her, and could almost feel the dread coming from Callie. She’d changed since they’d arrived at the cabin. Since the Cranes had dropped by. She’d been more on edge, just like when this Constance woman had begun to talk down to her.
“Great, we’ll see you then,” Freddie said. “And congratulations. You deserve all the happiness you find, Callie.”
“Freddie!”
He grinned again, then left.
As soon as they were out of sight, Callie jerked away from Rogar. Planting her hands on her hips, she faced him, and she didn’t look a bit happy.
“Why do you keep telling people we’re engaged?” she demanded.
“Because they act superior toward you. I don’t like it.”
“But we’re not engaged.”
“You will never see these people again so it doesn’t matter.”
She loudly exhaled. “And I’m not going to their damn auction!”
“Are you afraid?”
“No, I don’t like these people. Why would I want to be around them?”
“To show them you are better. They only gauge a person by their wealth. Tonight, you will be like Cinderella.”
She frowned. “How the hell do you know about Cinderella?”
“When DeeDee told me women liked fairy tales, I looked it up on my database. Cinderella was listed, so I read the story. I enjoyed it very much.”
“Well, you’re wrong about all women liking fairy tales. I don’t want the fairy tale. I don’t even believe in them.”
“For one night, wouldn’t you like to give them a taste of how they treat others they consider below their level?” She didn’t look convinced. “Face your enemies, Callie, then conquer them.”