by Donna Kunkel
Horribly.
She watched Steve and Peter climb back on their snowmobiles and take off back through the pass. When she finally turned, her parents stood by their car watching her. She climbed in the back seat.
Her mom finally spoke, “You came through that slit?” She pointed to where the snowmobiles had disappeared into the pass.
“Yeah.”
“You shouldn’t have risked it.”
“And what? Stay another month before the road crews are able to dig a way through?” Alex shut the car door and didn’t pay any more attention to what her Mom babbled on about. Her parents kept trying to keep her engaged, but she could only contemplate how she was getting farther and farther away with each passing minute. The car rumbled on past one mountain peak then another as the tears trickled down her cheeks. It seemed to take forever before they crested the last pass and started the descent into Denver.
Alex kept her mind focused on getting a new job. She pulled out Emily’s note and looked at the name again. If only this lead would work out. Her money would only last another month or two before she would be in trouble. Her brother, Joseph, had found a job and was helping with more of the rent now. She wondered how Vladimir, her chocolate lab had been faring without her. At least he liked Joe because Joe always took the time to play tug and fetch. Mandy’s smiling face popped into her mind. Alex would miss her and Anna Belle. She’d even miss the demon hen. The hen had formed some sort of truce over the last few weeks. Most of all she’d miss Steve. Miss seeing him every day whether it was across the dinner table, doing chores, or even sitting in front of the fire reading. No more. If she concentrated and worked hard, maybe she could find a new job and talk to Principal Vale before seeing Steve again. He needed some answers so he could adjust to his new life and move on, hopefully with her beside him. She wiped her tears away as they headed into the city.
It took some arguing until her parents agreed to drop her off at her apartment. Alex didn’t want to go into a lot of details yet. She had plenty of time for her parents to grill her about Steve. Right now, she wanted to concentrate on moving on with her life.
When she entered her apartment, Joe and Vladimir were out. Her parents kept fussing until she agreed to let them take her out to dinner later. When she finally closed the door, the apartment was silent. Only it wasn’t really. She could hear the cars going down the neighborhood streets, doors slamming, kids yelling, and dogs barking. It was so different from the valley, where it was actually silent except for the wind and the crackling of the fire. She looked around the apartment. When had she acquired so much stuff? Maybe it was time to clean out some of the clutter.
She lugged her suitcase into her bedroom and tossed it on the bed. Then she pulled her laptop out and plugged it in to charge. In the past, the computer would be the first thing she’d check. Now she wasn’t interested. She didn’t really care what her college friends were doing. The only person she wanted to hear from was Steve, and he would be the least likely to e-mail her. She flipped the top open and looked for any e-mails from Peter. He’d sent something over an hour ago to let her know that they made it back safe and sound. She sent him a short note that she was back home and asked if he’d check on Steve for her. That done, she sent a note off to Principal Vale requesting a private meeting as soon as possible. The apartment door opened and dog toenails clattered across the oak floors.
“Hey, big sis, you in there?” Joe knocked on her doorframe then entered her bedroom. Vladimir was bouncing on the bed trying to lick every inch of Alex’s face. “How you doing?” Joe sat down on her bed and looked at her.
“I don’t know. Don’t tell Mom or Dad any of this.”
Joe did the cross-your-heart gesture. “This is just between us. Give.”
“I’m not sure what to do.” Alex got up and wandered around the room.
Joe watched her progress. “If you could do whatever you wanted, what would you do?”
Alex sat back down on the bed and scratched Vladimir’s ears. She pondered the question for a minute. “I’d have stayed there with Steve.”
“How do you feel about him?”
“I’m pretty sure I love him, but how could I? We’ve only known each other such a short time.”
“Doesn’t matter. When you meet the right person, you know.”
Alex fingered the nearest bed post’s knobs. “I guess so, but this is so complicated.”
“There’s never anything easy about love. It’s the demon that haunts us all, and it’s finally found my big sister.”
Alex really looked at Joe. When had he gotten so insightful? She got up and paced the room some more. After a few minutes she settled into her desk chair. “So what should I do? It’s not like I could move in with him. He didn’t ask, and Mom would have a cow.”
“Mom can spit fairy dust. Don’t let her control your life any more. Do what you want.”
Alex fingered the cording on the chair’s arm. “He doesn’t even have a phone, so I can’t call him to talk about this.”
“That’s a problem without using magic.” This time Joe got up and paced. He finally stopped in front of her, “Would you really want to live in such a secluded place?”
Alex looked at Joe. “More than I’d ever have thought.”
“Then we’ll have to see what we can do.” He patted her shoulder and left the room.
When had her little brother grown up into a young man? She watched her brother leave with her dog following. Great, even Vladimir was deserting her.
Monday, she called the number Emily had given her and set up an appointment for an interview in the following week. Later in the morning, Principal Vale messaged her back to see if Wednesday would be a good day to meet. She called him back and set up an appointment at ten for Wednesday. By lunch time she felt bored so she caught a bus to the library and checked out a stack of books. She missed being able to hop in her car and take off but getting her car back would be a good excuse to go see Steve again.
Chapter 25
Several sunny, clear days arrived which helped Alex remain hopeful. If this kept up, the pass would clear and she could get her car. And see Steve again. He called on Sunday, but he seemed reserved. Of course, that could be because he was at Peter’s. She wished she could see him face to face to find out what he was feeling. Had his bear already awakened? He had felt it coming awake while she was still there. She had turned his life upside down. To find out he was a wizard and fall in love over a month’s time would be overwhelming. He had to be contemplating his life and what his future would bring. She was facing a new job and that alone was bothering her. She couldn’t sleep but paced the apartment or read until the wee hours of the morning. Would she be able to function well next week for the job interview? It had been years since she had to interview. Could she do it or would she fumble and get nervous, making a fool of herself? She breathed deeply. She had to get control and not worry or else she would be nervous. She kept repeating to herself, “She’s just a person like me. Relax.”
Alex got Joe to drop her off at the wizarding mall Wednesday morning. Next week she’d have to rent a car. The location for the interview wasn’t on a bus route. She didn’t want to have to walk several miles and arrive all sweaty. Maybe she could rent one for the day? Her budget would take too big of a hit if she did a whole week. After all, other people used the buses all the time, and it worked for them. She’d have to buck up and learn how to plan the bus routes.
She stood outside The Dirty Dog for several minutes thinking. The Dirty Dog was a restaurant which contained the entrance to the wizard mall. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed coming here. Why had she ever wanted to give this up? She’d been a fool to ignore the gift. Not anymore. She was going to embrace the magic and try to do something with it. She didn’t know what, but maybe Principal Vale could give her some suggestions. She yanked the outside door open and strode down the entry hall. For the first time in her life, she proudly signed the entry board and ope
ned the door. She took one of the booths along the edge and watched the other wizards. The candles on the tables were red so someone in here wasn’t a wizard, otherwise they’d be white.
At first, she thought about ordering something fancy for breakfast, but then she saw scrambled eggs on the menu. She missed having some every morning. She dug in when they came. After savoring a hot tea, she went to the back and signed the board which would give her access to the rest of the mall. For the first time she really looked around. Several hummingbirds and butterflies buzzed her head as she wandered around the mall. At a quarter till ten, she headed back to the traveling booths and took one to Aspen Glen, the wizarding school where Principal Vale was. Why did she ever consider not using magic would be a good idea? She could travel in minutes by the booths instead of making long drives. Of course, driving to Aspen Glen wasn’t even an option. The school kept its location a highly guarded secret.
She donned her traveling cloak and stepped into the booth. After signing the board and depositing a token she was transported to the booth at Aspen Glen. Exiting the booth and small building, she reached the gates. The school’s gray stone buildings stood like proud sentinels as several students dashed here and there in the distance. The snow-covered grounds brought back a flood of cherished memories. Would Steve enjoy it here? Would he even come? Maybe she should mention Caroline to Vale. Caroline would love it here.
Alex signed the entry board and waited for the gate to open. The gate clicked, creaking when Alex pulled it open. After entering, the gate shut with a resounding click. Alex headed to the admin building. She took a seat in the hard wooden chairs where she’d spent many times waiting to find out if she was in trouble for some prank she’d pulled when she attended school here. Pranks had been her way of standing out among the more talented wizards. Even old Mrs. Pratt was still here, glaring down her button nose at the troublemakers. Mrs. Pratt was definitely looking older, but she still wasn’t someone Alex would want to have upset with her.
Alex had to clear her throat so she could get something out. “I’m Alex Klein. I’m here to see Principal Vale.”
“Of course you are, dearie. He’ll be with you in a minute.” She glared at Alex for another minute. “Not into any trouble, are you?”
“No, ma’am.”
Mrs. Pratt turned her attention back to the job she’d been doing when Alex came in.
Principal Vale exited his office in his usual flurry, robes billowing behind as he approached Alex.
“Ms. Klein, you have something that we need to discuss?” He shook her hand.
All those years at Aspen Glen, she’d admired him, always feeling worse for disappointing him than about the prank that had gotten her into trouble. He still carried an air of authority and power that she was immediately drawn to. She guessed it was his magic that pulled her in. He had to be the most powerful wizard she’d ever met. She choked out a weak, “Yes.”
He took her elbow and escorted her to his office, holding the door open as she entered.
Always the gentleman. No wonder all the girls at school were impressed, so few men showed such respect to women these days. He held out one of the office chairs as she sat, then he sat in the neighboring chair so he could be close, like a friend.
He moved his chair a little closer and spoke in a quiet voice. “What did you need to tell me? You said it was an urgent matter that only I could help you with.”
Alex looked down at the floor and took a deep breath. She whispered, “I found a magical object.”
“Did you bring the object with you?”
She shook her head. “They’re too big.”
Vale got up and poured her a glass of water from the pitcher on his credenza. He handed it to her then took his seat again. “Maybe you should start at the beginning.”
Alex took a sip and twisted the glass in her hand.
He reached over and touched her arm. “Relax. We are simply wizards discussing something interesting. You do not need to fear me or be nervous.”
“It’s not that…exactly.” She looked into his eyes and set the glass on the edge of his desk. “This place brings back so many memories.”
“Not all bad, I hope.”
“Oh no. I have a lot of good memories of my time spent here. Some of my best memories are from here.”
“Then just relax. We have as much time as you need.” He settled back in his chair, resting his forearms on the chair arms.
Alex took another deep breath. “A little over a month ago, I was driving back from Grand Junction when I got caught in a blizzard. I ended up taking refuge in a cabin where I met Steven Davis. He let me stay and gave me food while the storm lasted for days. One of his neighbors stopped by and later planned a party for the people living there. The daughter of one of the couples kept talking about seeing a unicorn wandering around under the full moon. I spent the next few nights watching and I also saw him.”
“A wild unicorn?”
She nodded. “I remember studying about how rare they are. When the storms finally broke, I went out to find him. I remembered learning that they are drawn to magic. I knew he wasn’t drawn to me so I wanted to find out what pulled him into the valley. It took me a couple of days, but I found him in a cave. He had located two rocks that must have been there for ages.”
“Describe them for me.”
“They are about three feet long and egg shaped. After I brushed all the dirt away, I could get a good look. Both have a crystalline structure for the shell but are as smooth as glass. One is as blue as the deep ocean, and the other is blood red. At first, I couldn’t figure out what they were. I kept asking the unicorn questions. I ran my bare hands across the surface and could feel a strong magic coming from them. I knew they had to be some magical creature, but I couldn’t figure out what would come from an egg that size.” She stopped a moment to catch her breath.
Vale remained silent.
“After another round of questions, I figured out the answer with the unicorn’s help.” She sat up straight, “They’re dragon eggs.”
“Dragon eggs? They have been extremely rare for centuries.”
“I know, but the unicorn was insistent. I figured he would know with his magic being greater than mine and all.”
Vale got up and paced for a few minutes while Alex remained silent. He spoke more to himself than to her. “A pair of dragon eggs. I seem to recall a prophecy about a pair of eggs. I will have to find out more.” He sat back down in the chair. “Can you show me where they are?”
Alex nodded. “There’s a slight problem with that though. The pass I came through to enter the mountain valley is blocked. I only got out by making a hair-raising ride on the back of a snowmobile. We’ll have to wait until the pass has been opened before I can take you there.”
“Okay then. We will have to wait. Are the eggs protected?”
“I covered them with dirt again and the unicorn is staying in the cave watching over them.”
“Do you think he will be a problem if we try to move them?”
“He seemed friendly enough, but you can never tell. He is a wild animal.” Alex took a sip of the water. “That’s not all.”
Vale waited for her to continue.
“The man I stayed with, Steven Davis, promised to bring the unicorn some food.”
Vale leaned forward. “The unicorn allowed a man to approach him?”
“That’s not the problem. The problem is that Steve is a natural shape-shifter. He shifts into a bear.”
Vale touched her arm, “You did not put yourself in any danger, did you?”
Alex shook her head. “The bear’s hibernating right now, although I’m not sure for how much longer. Steve was worried that he could feel the bear waking up.”
Vale pulled his hand back. “A natural shape-shifter.”
“So they really exist?”
Vale nodded. “But they are also extremely rare. The only identified ones have been in the far north. Imagine finding one right h
ere.”
Alex leaned forward and touched Vale’s arm. “He’s really worried about putting anyone in danger. I told him about Aspen Glen. Can you help him?”
“I believe we could, but are you sure he can do any magic?”
Alex leaned back in her chair. “When he touched my wand, some red sparks shot out. That means he’s a wizard, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does. Tell me a little about his family.”
“He said the change is automatic when the bear isn’t hibernating. His mom was one and his dad was normal.”
“That is interesting.”
“The eggs are in the cave where Steve spends his time as a bear.”
“I guess he was pulled in by their magic without realizing anything.”
“He could also feel the eggs’ energy when he touched them.”
“He never knew they were there?”
Alex shook her head. “I guess not.”
Vale got up and went around his desk. He sat down in his desk chair, opened the black notebook that was on top of his desk, and started making some notes.
“I also wanted to let you know about Caroline Gibson. She’s a young girl that spotted the unicorn. I don’t know if she has any magic, but she’s certainly fascinated by magic and everything magical.”
“I guess I will have to look into her while I am out there. What is her name again?”
“Caroline Gibson.” Alex got up and approached Vale’s desk. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal favor?”
Vale closed his notebook, set his pen down, and looked at Alex. “After all you have done, you can ask, and I will see.”
Alex pulled the guest chair closer and sat back down. “When I was here I wasn’t serious about my magic. With what’s happened, I’ve found a new calling.” She ran a finger along the edge of his desk, then asked, “When I was here, the Book of Prophecy responded with a vague answer of writing. I took some time to re-evaluate my life, and I was interested if the Book can give me any better information now. Could you look?”