Missing Magic

by Karen Whiddon

  “Did they hurt you?”

  “They didn’t lay a hand on me.” Her tone indicated she’d almost wished they would have.

  “Come on.” Taking her arm, Cenrick steered her away from the house. Oddly enough, with each step he took, he felt better. The dizzy feeling, the way his thoughts had felt disjointed, all vanished.

  What was in that house?

  A sound behind them made them turn. “Wait. What’s that?”

  “Mick! He’s calling my name.” Pulling her arm free, she started back.

  Cenrick ducked behind a massive pecan tree.

  “Dee?” Mick appeared at the end of the driveway. Hands on his hips, he peered left, than right, finally catching sight of the woman as she hurried towards him. “Stop right there.”

  She stopped, maybe twenty feet from him. “Mick? Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” He glared at her. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but I asked you to leave me alone. Go away!”

  “But—.”

  “No.” He held up his hand. “Give me back my key.”

  Silently, she fumbled in her pocket and then tossed the key at him. He caught it neatly, closing his hand around the plastic part of it.

  “Thank you. Now go away. Get out of here.” He turned and made his way slowly back up the driveway. A second later, the front door slammed.

  The instant he was gone, Dee’s shoulders slumped. She ran her fingers through her already disheveled hair as she turned and trudged her way back to where Cenrick waited.

  “I can’t believe the way he’s acting,” she grumbled, speaking as if to herself. “We grew up together, for Pete’s sake. Not only that, but we work with each other.” She cast another look back at the house. “Or we did work together.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She looked at him like she’d forgotten he was there. “It’s a long story.”

  “I’d like to hear it.”

  She swallowed. “Yeah, well…” She sighed. “I’ve been put on leave as a precursor to being fired,” she admitted. He could tell it cost her a lot to say the words.

  “Being a cop is all I ever wanted. I was good too.” Her sharp look dared him to dispute her. “That’s why I don’t understand how anyone could believe the charges against me. They know me, respect me. Those charges are potently false. All the guys know I wouldn’t do anything like that.”

  He studied her. “Is what they think important to you?”

  “It’s not only that.” She bit her lip. “But, yes. Losing their high opinion hurt most of all.”

  “What were you accused of?”

  As if he’d slapped her, she immediately withdrew. “I’d rather not go into that now. After all, I barely even know you.”

  Casting another look towards the house, she winced. “The curtain twitched. They’re watching the front yard to make sure I don’t come back.”

  Punching her key fob, she unlocked her car. “I’m out of here. Nice to meet you and best of luck with your investigation or whatever it is.” She took off, heading towards her car.

  She was leaving?

  “Wait.”

  Glancing at him over her shoulder, she barely hesitated. “Why?”

  How could he explain to her that some gut instinct told him they could help each other. And, being Fae, he always trusted his instinct

  “I need all the help I can get.” He gave her a long look. “And you, I suspect, could use another friend.”

  Though she narrowed her eyes, she didn’t deny it. He admired her for this.

  “Come on. Let’s go someplace where we can talk.”

  “I don’t even know your name.”

  “I’m Cenrick. And you are?”

  “Dee. Dee Bishop.”

  “Please to meet you, Dee. Please, hear me out before you make a decision.”

  Though she shot him a look laced with skepticism, she finally nodded. “Fine. You can follow me and we’ll go to that new coffee shop at the corner of Precinct Line and Main.”

  Looking up and down the nearly deserted street, she cocked her head. “Where’s your car?”

  “I don’t have a car.” He talked fast, hoping he could convince her before she decided he was a total crackpot. “We can take a walk. Talk. Decide if we want to work together.”

  Her frown deepened. “I don’t know…”

  “For Mick,” he added. “We both care about him, both want to find out what’s going on. And,” he tacked on what he hoped would be the coup de grace, “you have your revolver, after all.”

  That convinced her. Locking her car, she went with him.He’d noticed a park a block over. Once they reached this, he took a seat on one of the stone benches. A nearby streetlight provided ample illumination.

  Facing him, she crossed her arms. “All right buddy, talk. Your story has too many holes. Even if Mick had family, no true relative would be skulking around in the garage. Explain yourself – and this better be good.”

  How much could he tell her? Though Fae could not lie, they could present partial truths, which sometimes worked just as well.

  Staring down into her suspicious face, he sighed. “I’m afraid Mick might be involved in something… wrong.”

  “Wrong? Wrong how?”

  He scratched his neck, aware he had to be careful. “There have been instances of people in our, er, family having something unspeakable done to them. Their brain has been… altered.”

  “That doesn’t make sense. Explain.”

  He spread his arms. “I can’t. We’re not even sure how it’s been done.”

  “And you seriously think Mick is behind this?”

  “Not I. My father. And his advisor.”

  “Advisor? You talk like you’re in the government or something.”

  “In a way I am. Which is another reason why I don’t think Mick’s involved. He knows better.”

  She started to comment, then shook her head, apparently having decided to let her questions on that topic go. For now. Her frown cleared. “Damn it. Mick has been acting—.”

  “I’m afraid he’s behind it.”

  “Not Mick.” Her answer was instant, totally certain. “He’s a cop too.”

  “Everything points to him.”

  Chewing on her thumbnail, she considered his words. “Could he have been brainwashed?”

  “Possibly.”

  “He’s not acting normal.” She stopped, swallowed, before lifting her chin and continuing. “Anyway, something is not right with him and I want to learn why.”

  “Has anything else changed in his life?”

  “The major thing is that woman. You saw her earlier, at Mick’s.”

  “The tall blonde?”

  “Yes. One of the other guys in the squad room says she and Mick were all over each other. That would be my first clue.”

  “True. Since Mick doesn’t like women.”

  “Right.” She heaved a sigh.

  “I knew Mick favors men, but I wasn’t aware he went public with it. I’d always assumed that with his job…”

  “He kept it quiet. A lot of the guys in the police department would be really surprised to know the truth.”

  Cenrick regarded her thoughtfully. “Ok, then we need to check on the woman. Where she came from, how he met her. Is she living with him?”

  “I don’t know.” She cracked her knuckles, the sound loud enough to temporarily stop the crickets. Eyeing him, she cocked her head, as though considering some deep subject.

  He waited.

  Finally, she took a step towards him.

  His heartbeat stuttered.

  “I normally work alone,” she said. “Except for Mick. I don’t do too well in teams. That’s why I didn’t go out for the Tactical Unit.”

  “I need your help.”

  “You’re still sticking with the Mick’s cousin story?”

  He nodded. “I am his cousin. Honestly.”

  “What are your reasons for suspecting your own cousin
?”

  Cenrick sighed. “Mick does have a rather… spotted reputation.”

  “That was in the past.”

  Another step, and she was close enough that he could lift his hand and touch her, if he wanted. Instead, he clenched his teeth and continued to wait, to see what she would do.

  “My gut instinct tells me you’re okay.”

  He let his breath out.

  “But,” she continued. “I’m also aware you aren’t telling me everything. I told you, I want the truth.”

  The truth? Warily, he considered. How much of the truth could he tell her, without her believing him to be delusional?

  “Look,” she said, deciding for him. “If I’m going to trust you, I need to know. Tell me everything. All of it.”

  All of it. Okay, fine.

  He began with explaining what he was. Fae. A magical being, from another place that co-existed side-by-side with her world. He talked of Rune, my home. He talked of magic and of spells, and how his people had been intermingling with hers for centuries.

  When he finished his explanation, Dee looked blank. Utterly. At a complete loss for words.

  He considered himself lucky. At least she hadn’t immediately denounced him as crazy.

  She was a trained law-enforcement officer. She dealt in realities, all day long. He knew she would not find his words believable.

  “You’re saying you’re from another dimension?” There was a certain carefulness in her tone. She spoke in the sort of voice one used to speak to someone who wasn’t quite… right in the head.

  He didn’t suppose he blamed her. “In a way, yes. Why do you find this so strange? Over the course of history, your literature is full of mention of my people.”

  “Elves and dwarfs? Faeries.”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s fiction,” she exploded. “Come on. I can’t believe I’m even standing here talking to you when you’re clearly-.”

  “Delusional?” He lifted a brow, daring her to refute his words.

  “Possibly.” She said. “Actually, definitely. Look, Cenrick. I’ve got enough problems without adding insanity to them. I think it’d be best if we parted ways now.”

  “I’m telling you the truth.”

  “This is ridiculous,” she exploded. “And I’ve had enough. Just leave. Go.”

  He couldn’t say he blamed her. Were their situations reversed, he’d probably think she was nuts too. “All right, Dee. You leave me no choice-.”

  Immediately, she stiffened, one hand automatically going towards her weapon. “I’m warning you—.”

  “Hold on, I’m not threatening you.”

  She didn’t relax. Or take her intent and focused gaze off him for one second. He admired that. Dee Bishop in full cop mode was a sight to see.

  “Will you believe me if I show you?”

  “No,” she growled. “Take your big self and your weird story out of here.”

  Cenrick sighed. Sometimes actions spoke much louder than words. He spoke the words of crossing quickly, feeling that familiar tingling that told him the parting of the veil between worlds had begun.

  Then he grabbed her arm, knowing they must be touching in order to go together.

  “What’s happening?” She tried to tug her arm away, but he held on fast. “Where are you taking me?”

  In the last seconds, while their surroundings wavered before finally blinking out of sight, she fought him. As he had told her, the gun fell to the ground, left behind. “To my home.”He felt a sense of rightness, even though he knew his father and Mort would not be pleased. They wanted answers and wanted them quickly. Taking the time to bring a human woman back with him wasn’t in the plan. But if Mort saw the same things in her as Cenrick, they’d realize she would be instrumental in obtaining those answers.

  The more time he spent with this woman, the more he became certain he needed her help. Thus, he had no choice but to show her Rune. He had to prove to her that the Fae existed. He had the strangest urge to press his mouth to hers, to see if he could turn that scowl into a smile.

  Instead, he tightened his grip on her while her world vanished and his began to take shape. “I’m taking you to Rune.”

  Chapter Three

  AS USUAL, Rune was… more. More vibrant and colorful, the sky sharply beautiful, the trees massive and leafy and proud. Even the scent of fresh mown grass seemed larger than life.

  While they reformed, Cenrick inhaled, not bothering to hide his delight at the familiar aroma of home. Here, he could feel the pulse of the earth, the energy that blazed through all living things felt vibrant and close.

  He wondered how this human female would react, watching as she turned a slow circle, taking in her first glimpse of his home. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d remark on first. Would she exclaim over the glossy petals of the multi-colored flowers, remarking that they stretched like neon velvet towards the sun’s warmth? Or the way each blade of grass seemed separate, yet together in a thick carpet of emerald arrogance, reaching to be first in a quest for the sky?

  They’d arrived in the middle of the lush meadow of wildflowers that stretched from the massive oak forest to the castle. There were snapdragons and paintbrushes, daisies and carnations, and more – a floral smorgasbord of brilliant hues and intoxicating scents.

  “What the…” Dee sputtered. She spun out of his grip, going into a crouch and instinctively reaching for a gun that was no longer there. “How did you do that? Where are we?”

  He spread his arms. “My home. The home of the Fae.”

  “What?” She went still, though her frowning gaze continued to scan their surroundings. “This is ridiculous. Am I hallucinating?”

  “No.” Watching her closely, he gestured at the meadow. “You are in Rune.”

  “How? How is this possible? What’d you do?”

  Since the simple answer was also truth, he told her. “Magic. We’ve crossed the veil which separates our words.”

  Another glance around them had her frown deepening. “Beam me up, Scottie? Like that?”

  At his blank look, she made a rude sound. “Star Trek. Look, whatever you’ve done, stop it. I want things to be normal again. Real. Put me back where we were.”

  “In a moment.” He touched her shoulder, making her jump. “Relax. Take a look around.”

  “Can’t.” While she talked, her gaze scanned around them.

  “Nervous?”

  “Oh, please.” She gave him a look full of scorn.

  “Take a deep breath. Look around. Then tell me what you think of my home.”

  Glaring at him, she went still. Inhaled. Exhaled. Loudly. The only other movement was the gentle breeze ruffling her hair.

  “You want my opinion? Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine, then. It’s so… silent,” she said, the question in her voice wondering why without saying so. “Achingly so.”

  Quiet? Startled, Cenrick considered. Then he remembered when he’d first visited the world of humans as a child, the noise there had overwhelmed me. It had not just been the obvious ones, not the traffic sounds or the roar of the occasional jet flying overhead. Instead, he’d been bothered by the ever present hum of the electricity always on, of whirr and click and growl of the many machines, constantly working. It had taken years for him to grow used to such sounds.

  He’d once asked Alrick if this bothered him. His brother had laughed and shaken his head no, telling Cenrick he needed to use his eyes before he used his ears.

  And now, so many years later, this human woman saw with her ears first, as he’d done. She’d noticed the silence before she even commented on the raw beauty of his home.

  “Now do you believe me?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “So you understand what Mick is, as well as myself. I want your help. If seeing Rune gains your trust, both Mick and I – as well as my people – benefit.”

  She did a double take. “Mick? Are you saying he’s…” />
  “Fae. Yes. We’re related, remember? I was telling you the truth when I told you we’re cousins.”

  “How is that possible? We grew up together in Trixon’s Children’s Home. Mick’s an orphan, just like me.”

  He sighed. “He’s Fae. His irresponsible mother left him in the human world. By the time she decided to go back for him, he was nearly grown.”

  “Then he knew? All this time, he knew he was a… Fae and didn’t tell me?”

  “He couldn’t. Not if he wished to remain in your world.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it.

  He couldn’t help but smile. Then, because she still looked dazed, he touched her shoulder. “Please, take a look around Rune. I promise you we won’t stay long.”

  “I—.”

  “Please.”

  With a sigh, she did as he requested. At first, he mobile features showed no visible reaction, but he kept watching and saw the change come over her as she gradually began to take in the amazing natural beauty surrounding her. Her lovely eyes softened with curiosity rather than hostility or fear and her lips curved in the beginnings of a smile.

  Finally. After all, Rune was a wondrous place.

  With the shadows of the ancient forest behind them, and the palette of color stretched as far as the eye could see, it might be easy to overlook the gold-cobbled path that wound up the hill to the glittering fortress which Cenrick called home.

  As she did as he’d asked, she tugged at one ear with nervous fingers. She turned, her amber gaze darting here and there, taking it all in. Now she saw the scarlet butterfly there, the sapphire dragonfly warring with another the color of turquoise. Now she took in the massive oak forest, the carpet of grass, the splash of the flowers.

  Watching her, he knew what she’d say next. The heady perfume of this fragrant meadow had caused many a female, human and Fae, to exclaim in delight.

  Instead, she sneezed. Once, twice, then again, with explosive force. Then cursed. “Damn allergies.”

  For a startled moment, he simply stared. Then, dragons help him, he laughed.

  Sniffling, wiping at her nose, her smile had completely vanished. “Amused, are you?”

  “Yes.” He grinned at her.

  She sneezed again. “I don’t know why. Allergies aren’t any fun.” Her eyes were red. She wiped at them. “My eyes are running. Can we get out of here, away from all these flowers? Otherwise, I’m going to be really miserable.”