She did the sign of the cross and then blew on her tea. “Do you have any plans later today?” she asked.
I raised my brows. This was the first time she’d inquired about my activities. Although, I didn’t detect any ulterior meaning behind her question. Maybe she simply wondered about what to do for dinner.
“I’m going to the shelter to work tonight. Around six. I’ll figure something out for dinner.” I’d called my former supervisor, Susan, and she’d been more than happy to have me help out again—even as a volunteer, since budgets weren’t open for new hires at the moment. And besides, I was only going to be home for the summer. It wasn’t like I was staying for the employment.
“Until then, though?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I’ll be sitting here and thinking. Maybe read…”
She set her mug down and scooted to the edge of her seat. Even though she was older than Dad, she didn’t act like a senior citizen. A Pokemon-tattooed hippy would be hard to peg at a certain age, anyway. Hazel always moved with a fluid grace. Perhaps it was all the yoga?
“I noticed you came home with some bruises,” she said.
I bit back a groan. Dad had mentioned it too, when he’d picked me up at the airport. Heck, anyone with functioning eyes could see the bruises fading on my face and arm. Dad had bought my story of tripping over a raised root while I was running. Hazel’s direct stare she leveled on me now suggested she hadn’t believed the lie.
It’s not her business, though.
“Yep.” I shrugged again. Twice in one minute and it was enough overuse to my arm that I wanted to rub at the spot.
“It’s none of my business…”
Uh-huh.
“But I could help you.”
A laugh shot out before I could even try to hide it. She could help me? Hazel thought she could assist me in defending humans from manipulative elves?
“Right.”
Hazel cocked her head to the side and—
Is she smirking at me?
“I’m assuming you know nothing about how to defend yourself.”
Was she implying I was weak? I sat up and frowned at her, anger forming an insulting comeback on my lips. I was a Pure elf. I couldn’t even begin to explain that to her, but I could command animals. I could order plants to my will.
I can— As I sat forward some more and fisted my hands, the ache on my knuckles throbbed, reminding me that I was weak.
When the umibaza had come after me, I’d used plants to protect me, and the crockeys came to my rescue.
But when Stu had wrestled me down in the hotel room, I’d truly been defenseless. Until I knocked into that potted houseplant, I was resourceless. On my own, without plants or animals to aid me, I was nothing more than a skimpy girl. Sure, I could outrun most, but I couldn’t protect myself without my powers.
A fury rose even higher now. Not this useless irritation at Hazel probing into my life and showing curiosity about my injuries. Anger simmered at the memory of my defenselessness. Of my weakness and inability to fight back Stu. This burning need to be strong and never be vulnerable again.
“How could you help?”
She smiled. “My first husband and I owned a dojo.”
Interesting…
“Since I’m currently unemployed, and unless the theater finds money to afford a full staff, I could train you.”
I nodded, trying to keep from letting a smile take over my face.
My own Obi-Wan? Hazel the kung-fu fighter. I never would’ve guessed it. Still, I hesitated from accepting her offer.
“What’s in it for you?”
Her laugh was light and easy. “Perhaps nothing more than the fun of facing a challenge. It can get boring, being cooped up in this trailer all day…”
“Are you saying I’ll be a poor student?” Just because I’d gotten my butt kicked once didn’t mean I’d suck at defending myself forever. I was a fast learner. Now, I was determined to be better.
“I’m saying I’m a tough teacher.”
I held out my hand. “Bring it on.”
Chapter Five
“Damn, girl,” Susan crooned when I walked into the animal shelter one morning near the end of the first month being back home. “Are you sure you’re not lowering your standards and hanging out with Darren and the other seniors? Drinking and partying at the watering hole?”
I huffed a tired laugh as I entered the staff room. My body ached. My muscles cried a pitiful wail. It even hurt to flex my fingers. But the burn made me feel so alive.
“Yeah, um, no.”
She laughed at my reply. Even though it’d been a long time since we’d worked together, Susan and I had fallen right back into the easy repertoire we’d had from before I went to Olde Earth. She still got me. She knew I’d never want to hang out with Sabine’s ex-boyfriend. And I wasn’t surprised at her observation of me walking in like a zombie. To anyone else, it would look like I’d stayed up all night.
Instead, I’d gotten a solid seven hours in. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. I’d sleep like a rock until my internal alarm would wake me up. I’d eke out the best run I could first thing in the morning—before the sun rose and the heat was too awful. Then, I’d practice with Hazel.
She hadn’t been lying. She was a tough teacher. That sweet woman turned stern and firm when instructing me the basics of self-defense. I’d graduated from the simple art of blocking strikes and edging myself out of holds. We’d moved on to hits, kicks, God…so much more. Hazel seemed damned and determined to impart all of her martial arts knowledge on me and my philosophy mirrored hers.
Challenge accepted. She wanted to train me to be a version of the Karate Kid, then I’d practice my little ol’ heart out. By the time my senior classes would be starting, I’d be able to defend myself the right way—without using my powers as a crutch.
Because that was something I had to consider. When this year was over, when I graduated from Olde Earth, that was it. I’d be going on to college, hopefully at one of the six universities I’d filled out early applications for. I’d be in the real world, around humans, learning to be a vet. I couldn’t get away with using my powers out in the open.
“Maybe take a break from working out or something?” Susan asked.
It probably wasn’t a bad idea. Give my body a rest from day in and day out of running, practicing martial arts and sparring, and then spending the rest of my free time working at the shelter.
I shrugged. I might be tired, but I could take it easy when I went back to school. I’d admit I liked how toned my arms were, how much faster I was on my feet. It wasn’t like I was keeling over yet.
“Eh, I’m fine.” Before I passed by her completely on my way to the kennels, I turned around. “Hey, do you still want me to run to Creek View to pick up the supplies?” Yesterday, she’d asked me to run errands. I was so happy Dad took me to get my driver’s license last week. And I bet Dad was grateful he hadn’t been the one to instruct me—Marcy had shown me and Flynn the basics at the Academy. Susan was likely just as glad—someone else to handle picking up materials for the shelter.
“You don’t have to. Not today, at least. We’ve got enough to last until the weekend.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Suit yourself,” she answered with a thumbs up before she turned her attention back to the computer monitor she’d been facing at the intake desk.
Truth was, I was looking forward to the trip to the next town over. Creek View was a little bigger than Coltin, and most importantly, it had a pawn shop. As I shifted on my feet, I felt the bump of the gemstone in my pocket. I wasn’t about to get rid of the stone Nevis had given me, but I hoped to finally learn more about it.
“Thanks. I’ll go after I take care of the dogs.”
When I hadn’t been able to read for pleasure, and in the times I wasn’t searching for details about climate change, the Wright family, and such, I’d scoured the internet for info about my stone. This gemstone that Anes
sa had.
The best I could determine, it was a larger-than-usual chunk of alexandrite. A rare gem on Earth, for sure, especially for its size. It had taken me a while to figure out the carat size—Math wasn’t my best or favorite subject, and I was only able to properly weigh the stone here at the shelter. Nevis had handed it to me as it was, with wire wrapped around it so he could wear it on his necklace, next to the other stone. Once I’d pried off the binding, I used the cat scale to determine how big it was. And it was a big one. Bigger than what was typically found.
I might be a Pure Terraine and Airine elf. And a little more than an amateur at martial arts. But I certainly was no geologist. After I loaded the shelter’s truck with supplies, I planned to stop by and ask the pawn shop some questions.
I made quick work of tending to the dogs. I wouldn’t say I rushed, but with the excitement of heading to Creek View, I didn’t dally. If I didn’t have any other pressing chores on my list, I’d spend hours with the animals at the shelter. I’d test out my abilities when I was sure no one was watching, conditioning the dogs to simple commands, comforting them from the stress of whatever abuse they’d come from. Really, I was doing it for their benefit—training them even better for if and when—and I always hoped it would be when, not if—they were adopted for a domestic life. Presenting a well-behaved, potty-trained dog was always better than having a newbie pet owner not wanting a pet because of those details.
With the cab’s windows down, I sped along the highway toward the bigger city. Being in an older model truck reminded me of those first days when Flynn and I had begun working under Marcy and Wolf, on those trips back and forth to the Menagerie and the greenhouse—later, the stables for my work under Otis. Those were fond memories, those simple moments of Flynn and I growing closer together.
I smiled at the thick leather band Suthering had given me, the identical accessory Flynn wore. The metal rivets and studs glinted in the sunlight as I drove. I wondered if bright light reflected from his right now. He’d texted me earlier this morning, stating they were in Mount Olympia National Park, seeking Stu because Suthering’s PI had found a credit card transaction at a gift shop there. Flynn had reported it was rainy—wait, no. Sabine had texted that. That and several grumpy face emojis. If she was so miserable, and they were having no luck, I was curious why she stuck with the guys.
Flynn had a guess for that when I’d mentioned it in a text.
Sabine had developed a habit of being stubborn—not that that’s new— and bickering with Lorcan. About any and everything. Seemed Lor’s crush may not be as unrequited as it was the first three years. It sounded like she was paying plenty of attention to him now, even if it was the combative kind.
Below the leather band Suthering had gifted me for helping me curb my floral power was a new present, something Hazel had offered to me. There was no way she could have known any better, but she gave me the opposite of what the leather band stood for. A simple cotton braided thread with wooden beads on it. Japanese symbols were engraved in the ovals of tan deadwood, markings she’d translated as a saying or mantra to destress and balance my mind.
Instead, I used it as a way to test my energy. Alone, of course. I’d deliberately direct my energy to the beads, gauging how much or little effort it took to grow new saplings, or how differently I’d need to phrase my thoughts to grow roots rather than shoots. Likewise, I used it as a means to see how quickly I could pull my energy back in.
Once I arrived at Creek View, I helped the scrawny old man load the bags of feed and other miscellaneous supplies into the truck.
Never mind his insistence to the shopkeeper that “he’d help the little girl” get the ordered materials. My strength training with Hazel, plus my running, and my experience hauling things at the stables all gave me the stamina to pick up the bags and toss them into the bed. Much to the guy’s chagrin, being slower than a young female.
On a bright note, I went to the pawn shop and received the news I’d expected. The gemstone Nevis had given me was an atypically large cut of alexandrite. The man provided basically the same details I’d learned online. He’d tried, poorly, to cajole me into selling it. Maybe my dirty attire—from working in the kennels—gave him the idea I needed money. There was no way I was parting with it.
When he asked if he could take a picture of it for record-keeping, for some rock and geode club he belonged to, I agreed.
“I’ll just take it back to my office, where there’s better lighting for my camera…” he said and reached for the stone.
“You can bring the camera out here,” I said, not quite from clenched teeth, covering the stone with my hand.
Like hell, you’re taking this out of my sight…
“Oh. Huh. Yeah, uh-huh. Okay. Be back in a minute then,” he stammered.
When he left, I shook my head. I tossed the stone in my hand and it dropped out of my reach.
“Whoops,” I whispered. Well, Hazel was teaching me how to be graceful and smooth with protecting myself. My catching skills had always been mostly crappy. Only, the gemstone landed in a nearly empty glass of water. I was sure there were cameras recording every niche and corner of this pawn shop. If this was the guy’s glass of water he’d been drinking…
I stuck my hand into the glass and retrieved my stone.
I’d just tell him to get a new glass of water.
Shaking my hand, I tried to fling the excess water from the rock. I brought it closer to my eye and squinted.
That’s new…
Lines of bright greenish-blue rose in a shape. An emblem? Logo? Narrowing my eyes, I raised the gemstone even closer to my face.
Heat grew from the stone as I peered at it, my hand holding it inches from my nose. A symbol of some kind—not an Olde Earth glyph, because I could read that ancient language—glowed from the rock’s surface. Curved circles interweaved almost in a knot but then opened at opposite sides.
“How about we set it right over here?” the pawn shop guy suggested as he returned.
I rubbed at the gem’s smooth face and the lit-up symbol faded, the brightness receding into the stone again. I doubted the man would be able to see what I had, since he wasn’t an elf. Still, the show of light would be suspicious to anyone who might catch it.
My heart beat faster at this new discovery and I schooled myself to look calm, like I had been before he walked to his office. “Sure.”
A large camera was strapped around his neck. He fiddled with it with one hand and with the other, he gestured toward a white, velvet-lined and cushioned tray near other jewelry items.
Well, at least he understood I didn’t want him handling it anymore. I brought the stone over and rubbed it more, in case there was any water still left on it. I didn’t want to dampen his cloth or get it soggy. No traces of moisture remained, and I wondered if the stone had absorbed it all when the symbol lit up. Perhaps the water activated it?
I stood back while he took pictures from so many angles I was curious how he’d be able to tell one shot from another. I dodged his repeated questions about how I’d come to get the gemstone. A family heirloom. While it wasn’t a lie, it didn’t feel true either. Anessa hadn’t even lived to see me, to know me to pass on her alexandrite to me. But it was a gift within family.
After I left, I couldn’t decide how to interpret what I knew. On one hand, I was happy that my research was confirmed. It was alexandrite and rare. On the other, though, seeing it absorb water and glow… I had a feeling only Nevis might be able to tell me about that phenomenon.
As if I’ll see him again. There was always a chance I could ask Suthering or Wolf for Nevis’s whereabouts. But what good would it do me? Classes were going to start in a month. I’d be at Olde Earth—a location where my uncle did not want to be seen.
I wrapped the wire around the rock as it had been when Nevis gave it to me and then slipped it on the simple chain necklace I’d bought at the pawn shop. With it secured to me, I headed for the animal shelter’s truck.
I might be a new driver out on the streets of the real world, but I was a diligent one. My caution of backing out of the space and maneuvering onto the main street of town didn’t exactly put me in the old grandma driving style, but I was careful to be slow and observant of my surroundings as I picked up speed.
Before the last intersection that would lead me to the highway back to Coltin, a blur of white darted over the road—right in the middle of traffic. The oncoming car didn’t slow down at all, going full speed and nearly colliding with the animal. I, of course, slammed on the brakes.
Why the hell didn’t that guy stop?
As he drove past me, I glared at him through the window. My mouth hung open and I heaved fast breaths at the fear of an imminent vehicle crash. This driver raised his brows at me, likely wondering why I’d stopped so abruptly in the middle of the road.
Didn’t he see it? Does he not care about running stuff over?
With my immediate and unexpected harsh stop, the car behind me clunked into my rear end. It wasn’t a crashing thud, more like a tap.
“Crap.” My first day of driving in the real world and I’d already have an accident on my record.
The sound of a car door slamming shut broke me from the shock. I tore my gaze from the rearview mirror and exited the truck.
“What in God’s name is wrong with you?” an older woman hollered from a rusty convertible. She stomped toward the space where her car hit the truck. “Why’d you stop like that?”
“So I wouldn’t hit the…dog.” As I said it, I ignored her and looked to the side. No creatures lingered on the sidewalk and I couldn’t see any sign of an animal of any kind.
I know something ran across… I frowned, disliking what this might mean.
“Dog?” She huffed, one hand on her hip. “Where? I don’t see a dog anywhere?” Now, she stepped closer to me, likely dismissing the slight dent on her bumper. It matched the other nicks and dings, I wondered how she could even tell which one just happened. “Are you even old enough to be driving?”
Victory: Year Four Page 4