Steve closed his notebook and sat down. “That’s it,” he said. Yes, now having read it aloud he was sure he didn’t like it.
Jason’s hand went unmistakably high into the air.
Mr. Nicoletta acknowledged him with a nod. “Yes, Jason?”
“Gotta’ be about a girl.”
Mr. Nicoletta waited for the class’s laughter to subside and then said, “What makes you think that?”
His shoulders rose and fell. “I don’t know. It’s like what you were talking about a couple weeks back; using other stuff to hide the stuff you’re really talking about.”
“Metaphors?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” he said with a point of his index finger. “Metaphors. It sounds like he’s metaphoring about a girl.”
Ed Miller’s hand went into the air and Mr. Nic called on him next. “I think it might be about someone who needs help. The person is tripping and falling, stumbling around. That could be life’s obstacles.”
Mr. Nicoletta nodded as he considered it. “Yes, I suppose it could at that. Good observation, Ed. Anyone else?”
“It’s about love,” Sonya said suddenly.
Steve froze for a moment, then slowly turned his head to look at her; a movement that did not go unnoticed by Mr. Nicoletta. “It looks we might have a winner. Would you care to elaborate?”
“Well…” she said taking a moment to gather her thoughts. “The jungle represents love itself. And the person in the poem seems afraid to enter because he has been hurt by love before.” She hesitated as she cast a shy glance at Steve, and then back to Mr. Nic. “All the branches and vines in his path are the hardships he has endured before—it’s why he knew what to expect—but for the hope of finding real love he had to endure them again.”
Steve sat in stunned silence. How could she possibly know this—about him—and from such cryptic verses? Only someone who knew the reason for the poem should have had any idea about its meaning at all. So how did she know? He swallowed once, feeling suddenly parched, and he asked, “Then why not just walk in? Why hesitate?”
She looked at him and suddenly he felt exposed; like all of his insecurities were laid bare before her.
“Because he was hurt when he tried to love someone before. And there at the edge, looking in, he knows he’ll be hurt again.”
Steve shifted to the edge of his seat and turned to face her. “Then why?” he asked. “Why go in at all?”
Her voice faltered under that gaze; seeing the longing and such hurt in the depths of those blue eyes. “He—he wants to love someone,” she said. “And to be loved.”
Something intangible enveloped Steve--yet he could sense its presence all around. It centered him, focused his mind, heightened his senses and emotions. The blood rushed in his ears, his heartbeat thudding harder in his chest. He felt drawn to her and helpless to stop it. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered and the air seemed to grow heavy, triggering a low murmur through the class. Steve ignored them as he stood and went to her. He kneeled in front of her and placed his hands on the desktop. In a voice barely above a whisper he asked, “And the pain?”
She looked deep into his eyes, their gazes locked one upon the other. She reached out a hand to touch his cheek but then stopped, placing it back upon the desktop instead.
Steve’s emotions swelled within him to bursting, and when she did not reply his impatience burst forward. He placed his hand over hers and willed her to speak. His need to know if she truly understood overwhelmed the need for all else. Heat flashed and spread through that contact to flow up her arm. It reached wholly inside of her to her consciousness, compelling the words. He wanted to know--had to know—if she understood.
“He knows—“ Sonya began and then gasped. “He already knows he is going to fail. But he believes this knowledge a warning, and it will keep him from being hurt again.”
Steve looked to her in disbelief. How could she know this?
He opened his mouth to speak and the door to the class flew open then with such force the doorknob went through the other wall. Following in its wake, a white tiger with black stripes barreled into the room, sending students screaming and tumbling in their desks in their desperate attempt to get out of the way.
Steve turned at the commotion, half rising, and as he released Sonya’s hand the warmth that had accompanied it was gone in an instant. The young woman looked dazed by what had just happened and only vaguely aware of the tumult before her.
Ignoring the panicked students, the tiger ran straight up the horseshoe formation of desks and padded to a stop in front of Steve. Dipping its nose down, it buried its furry head in his chest. Steve quickly glanced to Sonya and discovered much to his relief she was either too amazed or too terrified to utter a sound.
In all the confusion and commotion, Mr. Nicoletta grabbed his desk chair by the back and hefted it over his head as he lunged at the massive animal. The tiger turned with a savage snarl and Mr. Nicoletta let swing the chair. A powerful forelimb lashed out in a blur of white, ripped the chair from his hands and sent it crashing against the wall.
Steve literally grabbed the tiger by the tail and dug his heels into the floor, fearing for his teacher’s life. “No!” he yelled. The tiger hissed and bared its ivory fangs in Mr. Nicoletta’s direction but did not advance. The teacher could only stand transfixed, clearly afraid to move further under the animal’s murderous stare.
The last of the students fled the room like rats from a sinking ship—aside from Sonya and Mr. Nicoletta—and finally Steve felt himself able to think. There was only one way the tiger could be here. Steve let go of the animal’s tail and shook his head as Haldorum entered the room. Behind him followed Lurin and Haze, all of them dressed as he had seen them a week earlier.
“What—“ Steve stammered and held his hands open in a gesture that clearly showed he didn’t even know where to begin. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Here,” Haldorum said, ignoring the question, “take this.” He tossed the crystal pendant and Steve caught it reflexively. “It seems our problems are more complicated than we first thought.”
Forgetting the threat of the tiger for a moment, both Mr. Nicoletta and Sonya looked to these new arrivals with confusion writ clear upon their faces.
“I am sorry about the commotion,” Haldorum shrugged. “I would have used a portal but unlike before I did not know where you were to be found.” He glanced at the tiger with approval. “Your familiar knew where to find you, though. You two seem to have established quite the bond.”
“You guys can’t be here!” Steve snapped frustrated.
Haldorum nodded his agreement. “Quite right. Which is why we must go. Now.”
“Azinon will be after you, Steven,” Haze said. “If you wish to protect yourself, and those around you, you will come with us at once.”
Steve paused, the statement striking home immediately. “I still don’t know why you’re here instead of—“ He stopped then, realizing Sonya and Mr. Nic knew nothing of magic, other worlds, or murderous sorcerers—and did not need to. “Why are you here?” he said finally.
“As you said.” Haldorum turned and then held his hands outstretched. Just as before, his hands parted and a portal opened before them like two oppositely sliding doors in the fabric of their world. “There is not much time.”
Steve knew the old wizard was right, but for entirely different reasons. Right about now, the local authorities were getting flooded with a ton of 911 calls about a tiger running loose in a local high school. He looked once more to Sonya and his teacher then back again. “It doesn’t look like you’re giving me much choice,” he said.
“I am sorry. I will explain everything later, but for now…” He gestured toward the portal.
Sonya rose to her feet, careful to avoid the tiger and touched Steve lightly on the hand. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked, never taking her eyes off of the shimmering doorway.
“Steven,” Haldorum insisted
, “we do not have time. We must go.”
Steve wanted to talk with her; there was still something he wanted to know but the police couldn’t be more than minutes away. “I can’t,” he said. He turned and walked away from her then and vanished into the portal with the tiger close on his heels.
Haze and Lurin each stepped through in turn, disappearing the instant they crossed the threshold. Haldorum moved and then paused, taking a moment as he regarded Sonya. He smiled apologetically and then vanished into the shimmering void.
Steve waited in the living room of his home with his arms folded across his chest and Haldorum standing before him. The tiger, as always, by his side and mirroring in his own fashion Steve’s irritation. Lurin and Haze roamed about the living room, clearly uncomfortable, glancing in pretended curiosity at some of the objects on the mantel.
“So how did you know?” Steve asked sharply.
“Your magic,” came the wizard’s reply. “Several times you have made use of your powers and each time I could feel it across the worlds. You will need practice focusing your will to properly harness your gift.” He nodded once then, indicating the crystal in Steve’s hand. “I tried, but I cannot use it. You, however, seem able whether you are in possession of it or not. You have some sort of bond with it—maybe similar to the one you have with the tiger.”
Steve flopped backward into the easy chair behind him as though exhausted. He rubbed his face with one hand saying, “Do we have to do this now?”
Haldorum seated himself on the leather ottoman before the young man and smiled his understanding. “Steven, I regret putting you on the spot like this but there is no other way. Right now Azinon is a very real threat to you because you, in turn, pose a threat to him. Only one wizard aids the Resistance that opposes him, and that wizard is me. As it now stands, we are not enough to tear him from his stolen throne. But with the prospect of two wizards to stand against him…”
Steve opened his clenched fist and looked at the tiny crystal he held there. Even across worlds the tiny ornament was reaching out to him, infusing him God-knew-how and lighting him up on the supernatural radar of every magic-user worth his salt. It seemed to make no difference from what angle he thought about it: there was no way out. If Haldorum had sensed the use of whatever power he had, from an entire world away, then Azinon had to know too. And based upon their first encounter he could not hope to stand against the sorcerer on his own.
“But what about my friends and family here?” he asked. “If I help you, what’s to stop Azinon from going after them to get to me?”
“Nothing at all,” Haldorum confirmed matter-of-factly. “But, like me, Azinon grows weaker the longer he stays on your world, and he cannot step between the realms as easily as I can. Further, he does not know who your friends and family are—at least not yet—and he certainly cannot afford to spend the time searching for them if you are with me on Mithal. If you have not already noticed, the three of us have the ability to sense when one or another is on the same world. The magic we have serves like a vague sort of beacon. Although we cannot precisely locate it, we can sense it readily enough. At my word, the Resistance would not hesitate to take advantage of any extended length of absence Azinon might wish to endeavor in. No, those whom you care about are safe here so long as you do not remain.”
Steve had indeed noticed the strange sense of foreboding in the air when he had first encountered Azinon, but he refused to accept the idea that all those he cared about were safe. “Everyone, that is, except for Amy,” he said. “Remember, I got into a little song and dance with Azinon in the Welands’ garage.”
Haldorum considered this with an upraised brow. “Yes, I see your point.” He then shrugged and said rather casually, “Well, I suppose we will just have to take her with us.”
Steve barked an exasperated laugh. “Come again? You can’t just up and take her. Even if I could get her to believe this story, she’d never agree to come. Like me, she has a life and home here with friends and family. She has plans and goals.”
“And like you she is a target for Azinon,” Haldorum replied. Steve looked suddenly grave at not having an answer. Then the wizard added, “Like you, she has little choice. You care for her and that sorcerer knows it. So long as she remains here she will always be in danger.”
“He is right, Steven,” Haze said. From his place by the mantle, his large hands rested on the pommel of the longsword belted at his side. “You do not yet know Azinon as we do, but I promise you he will not hesitate to seize any advantage he can.”
Steve was silent for a very long time as he weighed his options—or lack thereof, as the case seemed to be. When at last he spoke, he shook his head and sighed.
“I’m going to miss this place,” he said.
Haldorum let out his own sigh just then. He placed his hand on Steve’s shoulder, his voice low and comforting. “Perhaps with our combined strength you and Amy will not be gone long.”
Steve smiled his thanks but knew better. “Right, it’s only a war. These things never take very long.” Then, as though finding new strength within himself, Steve stood abruptly and clapped his hands once. “Okay, if we have to do this thing then there’s no point in wasting any more time. I don’t know where Amy’s school is, so I’ll wait until tonight—if that isn’t too late.”
“Not at all,” Haldorum said getting to his feet, sounding more than a little surprised by the young man’s attitude. “Unlike myself, Azinon cannot transpose worlds until the stroke of midnight: the time when the veil between our two worlds is weakest. That should give us more than enough time.”
“Not us,” Steve corrected, “me. You guys are staying here.” Haldorum opened his mouth to protest but Steve stayed him with a hand. “No, just listen for a second. Not only is this a personal matter, but if I go there with all of you in tow she’ll likely just get scared off.” The tiger nudged him then, and he listened to the strange inner voice that was the tiger’s thoughts. Not speech exactly, but more a kaleidoscope of emotion that was strangely more illustrative than words could ever be. When finished Steve stroked the fur of the great cat’s head. “I know. I couldn’t make you stay if I wanted to.”
“I think, Steve, it is not such a wise action for you to go alone.”
“I won’t be. My furry friend here and Scott will go to keep me company.”
“I still do not—“
“I know you don’t like the idea,” Steve interrupted. “But look at it this way: it is not going to take all that long. I know of two things I can do with this power—three if you count the fact I can run like a horse. Azinon can’t get here until midnight; I have a friend to watch out for me and a tiger to protect me. What more could you ask for?”
Haldorum looked to his young charge for long moments as he considered. At first, it seemed as though the wizard wasn’t going to go along but, finally, he sighed and put up his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“Great!” Steve said relieved. “I’ll call Scott as soon as he gets home from school and tell him to bring his dad’s van. My back seat isn’t near large enough to carry--” He stopped then, realizing the tiger didn’t have a name. “What am I supposed to call a magic cat?”
“If I may,” Haldorum offered. “In the ancient mage tongue the word ‘kae’ translates roughly to the word magic, and ‘liss’ to cat.”
Steve said the name a few times silently to himself and then nodded his approval. “Kayliss,” he said. “My ‘magic cat’.”
The tiger growled in agreement.
Steve turned to go and Haldorum stopped him asking, “You will, of course, try to hurry?”
Steve smiled. “No problem.”
Scott stopped the van on the street in front of Amy’s house and parallel parked along the curb. The waning light of dusk painted the horizon in brilliant shades of orange and red over the Puget Sound, prompting the street lamps to life in the fading sunlight.
Steve turned in his seat as they stopped. He had changed clothe
s before leaving into a white shirt with red embroidered Celtic knot work over the right breast pocket and belted, khaki pants. “How do I look?” he asked.
Scott looked at him with his ‘are-you-serious’ face. “No different than the last time you asked.”
“All right, all right; I get the hint. I just wanted to be sure I look okay.” Steve opened the passenger side door, motioning for Kayliss to remain as he did so. He took a moment on the sidewalk to adjust the cuff of his pants while Scott exited and moved to the front of the van.
Glancing up to the living room window that overlooked the street, Scott noticed the curtains were drawn but the light inside cast the moving shadows of at least two people against the fabric. Someone with long hair—probably Amy—darted by, pursued by another, slightly larger shadow that appeared to be male. They paused in the middle of the room while the female shadow playfully fended off the male.
She had company.
To Steve Scott asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Steve straightened, his expression clearly annoyed. “Did you miss the whole earlier conversation about evil sorcerers and potential damsels in distress? Besides, this whole thing should work out.”
“Should?” his friend asked with a raised brow. “It sounds like you have your doubts about this. Maybe somewhere along the way you finally came to grips with what Amy has probably been trying to tell you.” He hated to be so cold, but he had to speak his mind. He owed his friend that much.
Steve shook his head as he walked past. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He did not look back until reaching the Welands’ front door, then turned and waited at the top step.
Scott sighed, then shrugged and trotted up the steps to join his friend.
Steve rapped on the door twice and glanced to Scott with a reassuring smile. Scott smiled back, but the expression lacked conviction. After a few moments, Amy opened the door wearing a pair of blue jeans, tennis shoes, and green T-shirt.
“Steve!” she exclaimed alarmed, “what are you doing here?”
Steve’s smile grew wider still. “Surprised?”
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