by J. E. Cluney
Beer. Almost every shelf was just beer. Oh no, wait, there was a bottle of jack too, and a leftover pizza on the bottom shelf.
I joined Marcus, my heart thumping as he pulled out a few beer cans and shook them up, his hands moving at flitting speed.
I spied the pepper shaker on the counter, and a dark thought crept through my mind.
“Do it,” Marcus smirked up at me.
Ugh, fine. It’s not like it was as bad as what the boys had planned.
Lucas and Skip had headed into his room, and I could hear Skip’s thoughts on how disgusting the man lived.
He wasn’t too annoyed with his taste of playboy magazines though, which were jutting out from under the bed.
I grabbed the pepper shaker, opening up the pizza box and sprinkling a decent amount all over it as Marcus shook up two-thirds of his beer cans before reaching for the milk.
He sniffed it first, satisfied it wasn’t already off, then reached for the salt shaker and tipped a huge amount into the carton.
“Marcus!” I scolded him, but he just smirked and shrugged as he set it back in the fridge.
My guys had a devious side all right. Damn.
Satisfied our work was done, I left the kitchen with Marcus, spying Ollie in the lounge room.
“What’d you do?” I asked, noting his nervous shuffling.
“Nothing,” he said innocently, but a quick pry into his mind revealed he’d messed with all the cords on the TV. The internet was unplugged, and he’d swapped all the leads around so that Scott would have trouble with his TV and Xbox when he decided to use it.
I delved into Lucas’ mind, finding he’d left a magical message on the mirror in the ensuite.
As soon as Scott entered, the message would light up. It pretty much stated that Lucas had taken the liberty of making his life a little more difficult for a day, but it was nothing in comparison to what Scott had done to Emma. And to take these pranks as a warning. If he so much as looks at her funny or goes near her, pranks would be the least of his worries.
Skip, on the other hand, had sprinkled some itching powder into his underwear drawer. I didn’t even want to think of why he’d had the powder ready to go, we hadn’t exactly had notice.
“Red pranks his friends occasionally, not us, thankfully,” Marcus murmured.
Of course he did.
“Well, I think we’re done here,” Lucas called out as he exited the bedroom and headed down the hall to us.
“One more thing,” Skip chuckled as he pulled out his phone.
I waited patiently as Lucas looked over his shoulder.
“How’d you get his number?” Ollie asked as he investigated as well.
“I have everyone’s number,” Skip shrugged as he continued tapping into his phone.
Lucas was grinning stupidly, and Ollie started chuckling.
I just reached out, and was thoroughly impressed with his extreme prank idea.
“That’s a good one,” I noted, no longer as on edge about the whole thing.
The boys hadn’t done anything extreme, just inconveniences, nothing nasty.
And a warning had been left. So Emma wouldn’t have to worry about him again.
I was actually looking forward to her finding out what they’d done.
I hoped it made her laugh. She deserved to laugh at his expense.
Chapter 6
“You guys did what?” Emma hissed, her face breaking into a grin.
I’d talked her into swinging into the uni for my lunch break, and I’d spend it with her before going to my classes.
The boys would have to deal without me.
“Honestly, Skip’s idea for the Chewbacca thing is my favorite,” I snickered.
Emma just laughed, a proper laugh, where she was holding her face and trying not to cry from laughter at Scott’s demise.
“I heard from a mutual friend that he had some issues at home when he got back from the pub. I didn’t know it was you guys!” she managed to gasp out. “Apparently he’s been getting so many random calls, and it’s freaking him out! All the voicemails of people making weird sounds!”
I laughed with her at this knowledge, clutching my sides as I lost it.
Skip had put an ad up on Gumtree and Craigslist saying he was a huge Star Wars fan and had a millennial falcon figurine and a Yoda statue, along with the entire DVD collector’s edition to give away to the best Chewbacca impersonator. He said he had caller ID, so no need to leave a number, just call and give him their best Chewbacca impersonation and he’d add the number into a draw to win the lot in a week’s time.
We both laughed until we were practically in tears, and I was grateful she found it all amusing.
“I can’t believe you guys did that,” she finally gasped, still grinning.
“He deserved it,” I said breathlessly as I wiped at my teary eyes. My chest and stomach actually hurt from the full on laughter.
“I doubt I’ll hear from him again if Lucas left that message. No one wants to mess with a warlock, not even Scott. He’ll just suck it up, accept the pranks and stay as far away as possible from him,” Emma chuckled.
“And you. That was the goal,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, that would be nice,” she sighed, smiling as she looked out across the grounds. We were sitting near one of the small food stalls, and I looked over towards the fig tree, spying Lucas as he sat down with Ollie. Skip wouldn’t be out until later.
“So, how’s the banshee class going?” Emma asked, glancing at the blue skull on my palm. She was always fascinated with them, saying they gave off a unique, powerful vibe.
“Good, I guess. Still haven’t gotten the hang of the incorporeal thing. I’ve done it once while holding a textbook. It fell right through my hands. It’s a tough one to practice because things can go wrong. I don’t want to get stuck somehow, half in something or whatever,” I said, shuddering at the thought. It was a rarer banshee ability.
Sasha couldn’t do it, but she knew the theoretics of it, so was doing her best to teach me.
I’d asked her more about her powers, and she’d revealed what she could do.
The sonic scream, the predicting death in patients, and sensing serious illness too. She could also give an extremely accurate time of death if she visited the morgue, and she worked with the autopsy technician on a few occasions with difficult cases. Everyone believed her to be a psychic in her workplace, and she never bothered to correct them.
“What about your scream? You’ve been practicing it too, right?” Emma asked.
“Yeah, honing it to target specific things. It can be quite deadly too. You can pop eardrums and blood vessels if you want to, or you can simply crack someone’s glasses. She’s been teaching me a few things with it, but I’ve got a long way to go.”
“And animating dead things?”
“We’ve played with insects. They seem to be one thing I can do easily. I couldn’t get the fish to come to life that she brought in. So I don’t think I can do bigger things yet. I’m able to access my full power, but being able to and actually doing it are two different things,” I sighed. Animating the dead was only a short term thing too. The bugs only lasted a few minutes at most. It wasn’t true necromancy.
“Your powers are absolutely wicked. And then you’ve got the void, and Walter. It just blows my mind,” Emma whistled in admiration.
Walter still hadn’t paid me another visit, and I wondered how he was doing.
“I better let you have your lunch, I’m sure your guys want to steal you away,” Emma winked as she nodded her head at my group of guys over under the fig tree. Skip had joined them as well now.
“I told them I’m spending it with you, they see me every night,” I snorted, causing her to grin and shake her head.
“So, how’s business with your mom?” I asked.
Emma went on to tell me how busy things were, especially with Easter coming up. Chocolate potions were big, ones that turned water into rich liquid chocolate, ones that added a
melting magic to any chocolate treats, ones that made easter bunny chocolates come to life for children. They had a lot of easter specials to whip up, and she was going to be working extra hours each day, which didn’t bother her, as long as she still got to see George.
This, in turn, switched the conversation to her new beau, and I just happily listened to her gushing over him.
She was happy, and that was all I cared about.
I watched as Ollie tacked up Million, the tall gelding standing still for him.
He was nowhere near as antsy and restless as when I’d first met the big boy. Ollie had truly worked some magic on him.
Today was his day to work Million, before he’d work one of the others.
And I was standing back, snapping some shots of Million, standing tall and proud as Ollie grinned and saddled him up.
“Ollie called ahead, told me you would be joining him,” Penny called out from behind me.
I turned to wave to her, but faltered when I realized she was leading Baby, all saddled and ready to go.
“I’m taking photos today,” I said dumbly as Baby plodded right up to me with Penny.
“You can take photos from her back. You rode her so well last time, you’ll do great. Besides, she’ll just stop if you want her to and you can take photos, she won’t go anywhere,” Ollie assured me as he began leading Million over to the paddock.
“Okay,” I said, giving in. I did actually enjoy it last time, and I hooked the camera strap around my neck as Penny handed me a helmet.
We headed over to the paddock as well, which amped up my nerves a bit. I’d only really rode her in the round yard. Was I really ready to just ride out in the paddock?
“She’ll be fine. She doesn’t take off, you can trust her to take care of you,” Penny said as she bobbed her head around Baby’s and pulled her up.
“I’m not a horse rider,” I mumbled. Sure, it was fun, but I barely knew what I was doing. Hell, I was having a mind-blank on what I’d been told last time.
“Here, we’ll get you in the saddle and I’ll give you a quick reminder, how’s that sound?” Penny offered, grinning warmly at me.
I looked at the little grey mare, at the way her eyes were hooded as she stood patiently for us.
She definitely wasn’t the type of horse to take off on me, I could see that.
“Okay,” I murmured as I reached out to stroke her mane.
Baby let out a sigh, as if she enjoyed the touch, before Penny gave me a run through on how to climb into the saddle.
I managed that with ease, and relaxed into the saddle. Amazingly, my hands didn’t even tremble this time, and I felt quite proud of myself.
‘There’s nothing to be afraid of. I promise,’ Ollie said sweetly.
I just smiled over at him, where he was waiting patiently with the gate open.
Million, on the other hand, was not so patient, and looked restless and ready to race as he snorted and shifted on the spot.
I listened to Penny’s brief reminder on how to use my legs and hands to ride, and then we were moving off at a slow walk to join Ollie.
My camera hung against my chest, and I prayed I didn’t fall and break it.
But Baby was so slow and happy to just plod along, I knew I didn’t need to worry.
Ollie closed up the gate behind me, and Baby’s ears went back as Million sniffed her face before snorting on her.
“He’s so big,” I said, marveling at his size compared to Baby. He really was a tall horse, especially beside my sweet little mare.
“You can take photos if you want, I’m going to take him for some laps to burn off some of this energy, then we’ll go for a ride,” Ollie grinned as Million trotted past us.
I pulled my camera up, grateful that Baby was just standing quietly.
The pair took off, Million’s legs stretching out as Ollie gave him his head and allowed him to race as fast as he wanted.
I snapped off shot after shot, smiling dumbly as I watched the pair torpedo around the paddock. Ollie was in sync with the massive beast, and they continued for another lap before he pulled him back into a canter.
“All right, lets get closer, if they’re going to do some jumps, I want photos,” I murmured to Baby as I let my camera hang once more and held the reins in my hands.
I clicked my tongue and gave her a soft nudge with my heels, and she started forward at a steady walk.
By the time we actually reached the jumping area, Ollie had taken him over a few of them, and Million had a sweaty sheen to his chest.
I pulled Baby up gently, and took a few photos as Ollie pushed Million over the jumps. They cleared them with utter ease, and then Million was off again, desperate to run.
I laughed as they rocketed off once more, opening myself up to his feelings of utter joy and happiness.
Ollie loved this more than anything.
‘Not more than anything,’ he thought.
I chuckled as they did a swift skid around a barrel at the far end before shooting my way.
I was almost ready to kick Baby into movement at how fast they were coming my way, but Ollie pulled Million up, and they fell back to a walk as they rejoined us.
“I love you just a little more,” Ollie said as he pulled Million right up beside Baby and leaned down.
I just giggled against his lips, finding the awkwardness for him hilarious. How he was leaning over this way and not falling off Million was beyond me.
“I mean it,” he chuckled as he broke away and righted himself.
“I know, it’s just that that looked so painful,” I laughed.
“It’s not the easiest,” Ollie admitted. “How about I take you for a ride? This paddock actually goes down over the hill there and down to a creek.”
“Sure.”
Once I urged Baby to keep in step beside Million, she settled into it, and I didn’t need to continue to push her or anything.
Instead, I listened to the strangely relaxing sound of their hooves thudding on the dirt and grass, the birds singing and the trees rustling.
It was mid-afternoon now, and it was finally cooling down a little bit.
Just plodding along like this, enjoying the peace and quiet, was quite freeing.
“There’s a show on the weekend after Easter, just here in Maple Grove. A small barrel racing competition. I was going to sign us up, see how Million would fair in an actual competition. We’ve done a few barrels, he enjoys it,” Ollie spoke up, breaking the quiet.
Not that I minded, I loved his sweet voice, so soft and smooth.
“That should be fun, I reckon he’ll win,” I grinned at him.
“Will you come and watch? Give us good luck?” Ollie asked, smiling shyly at Million’s mane.
I loved when he reverted to his shy self. It made him so utterly adorable, I just wanted to kiss him.
Ollie laughed, overhearing my thoughts as he shook his head.
“I can’t help it if you’re cute,” I shrugged.
Thinking quickly, I pulled my camera up, letting go of the reins and snapping some pictures of him smiling adorably as he rode.
Baby didn’t put a step wrong, and I let the camera hang again as I took up the reins.
Ollie began telling me about the barrel racing, how they’d have to circle the barrels in a certain order and gallop back to the finish. He was surprised Million had picked it up so easily, not faltering in the insanely fast turns.
I could never imagine trying such a thing.
I was content to just plod along with Baby, at the one nice speed.
We reached the creek after a few minutes of easy silence. We were both enjoying the moment, not needing to clog up the time with conversation.
Million walked right down to the water’s edge, and Ollie loosened the reins so he could duck his head and drink.
I urged Baby to the edge as well, and she had a small drink before stepping away from the water.
I circled her back onto the bank, a few meters from Milli
on.
I was glad I did when Million began stepping into the water more and pawing.
Ollie cried out, laughing as Million splashed water everywhere, and I took a few photos of the pair.
Today was going to produce some wonderful takes.
After Million was done, Ollie walked back over.
“A little wet there,” I chuckled, taking in his wet jeans.
He’d finally started wearing jeans when working with the horses now that the curse was lifted, and he looked fine as hell in them.
“Yeah, I think I better take him back and untack all this wet stuff,” he laughed.
“I’m glad Baby didn’t do that.”
“She’s a good girl, always has been,” Ollie sighed. “I hate that she’s getting old.”
“We all get old,” I murmured, but the memory of what Sasha said came to the forefront of my mind.
I wouldn’t age normally. Not anymore.
By the time Ollie had finished untacking Million, Penny had swung by and told him not to worry about the other gelding. She’d checked on him and he was acting a little lame in the back end, so she was going to keep an eye on him.
Instead, he showed me where to take Baby back to so she could be turned out with the geldings, and then we went for a walk through the property.
I smiled softly as he slid his warm hand into mine, loving the soft tingles his touch alone gave me.
“Want to go for a run?” he asked as he neared one of the large paddocks.
I turned to him, peering into his mind. He wanted to shift and run. He’d been shifting a lot lately, practicing it more now that his curse was lifted.
I broke into a smile. There was no way I’d deny his joy, besides, a run would be nice.
I peered back the way we came, glad we were hidden from all the buildings by trees. No one could see us, except for a few horses in a nearby paddock, but they were busy grazing.
I winked at him as I tugged my shirt over my head, and he just watched me with a gleeful grin as he began undressing as well.
In less than a minute we were hurtling through the paddock on all fours, me in my wolf state, and Ollie had shifted into a stunning golden-brown timber wolf as well.