by D. J. Dalton
“We have to be quiet.” She motioned for him to follow her around back. The backyard’s overgrown shrubbery and yard clutter provided decent cover. “Let’s see if we can get in the back door.” She tiptoed up the creaky wooden steps.
“Stand aside.” Ordell held a large rock. “I’ll get us in.” He pulled his arm back, preparing to throw the rock.
“No,” Keren stepped in front of him, raising her hands to block the throw. “Too noisy. What if there’s an alarm set?” Ordell gave her that yeah right face. She agreed. Odds were, no houses in this neighborhood had alarm systems.
“Then how do you propose we get in?” Ordell lowered the rock.
Keren walked up to the dilapidated door. She turned the handle and pushed. The door stuck at first, but then cracked open. While looking back at Ordell, she raised her eyebrows.
After letting out a huff, he dropped the rock. They both stepped into the kitchen, closing the door behind them. Stale pizza and tacos assaulted her nose. A pile of dirty dishes, looking long forgotten, sat in the sink. Their shoes stuck to the floor, causing suction cup noises as they walked through the room.
She turned the corner, entering the living room. Grungy carpet covered the floor. The faint light allowed through the windows by heavy curtains made hard to tell if the color was green or gray, and she didn’t want to know what that large black stain was. While looking across the room, her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
A banner with a black-rimmed circle containing two lightning bolts crossing over one another hung on the wall. Beneath the circle were the words ‘Dark Guild - Masters of Magic.’
A knot tightened in her stomach. She couldn’t believe it. Dan was an arcanum of the Dark Guild. Was he the one who attacked Mom? Her mind raced. She hadn’t suspected Broden’s disappearance and Mom’s attack might be linked.
Her eyes wandered around the room. Newspaper clippings and pictures covered the far wall. As she walked over to get a closer look, her stomach turned. These were documented acts of violence against shifters. Some pictures were of shifters who looked unconscious - she gulped - or dead. They were lying on the ground, battered and beaten. Others kneeled on the ground with their hands behind their heads.
She jumped when Ordell put his hand on her shoulder. “This is really gross.” He focused on getting some black goop off his shoe and hadn’t noticed the pictures on the wall. “I’m going upstairs to search for Broden.”
“No,” she whispered. “There might be someone up there. The door was unlocked.”
In a booming voice, Ordell shouted, “Hello, anyone here?”
“Are you crazy?” she spat out in a whisper. Her eyes darted to the stairs, waiting for an angry homeowner to stomp down, finding them snooping around. She loved Ordell, but his reckless side wasn’t doing them any favors.
After a few moments of silence, Ordell shrugged. “I guess we’re alone.” He started up the stairs.
While taking deep breaths to calm her pounding heard, Keren turned back to the newspaper clipping wall. She scanned the articles, seeing they were about arcanum activity in the city. Bile pushed up her throat. How could anyone be this vicious toward another living being?
She froze when her eyes locked on a picture of Broden sitting at a table handing out buttons and pamphlets, a red X drawn over the picture. Her shaking hand reached for the picture. After tugging it off the wall, she headed upstairs to find Ordell. She found him sitting at a laptop in a tiny bedroom that smelled like dirty, wet socks.
He noticed her come in. “I found something, Keren. There are all kinds of emails talking about group meetings. His calendar has all the information we need to find this group.”
Keren felt a prickle on her neck. This picture would break Ordell’s heart. She considered hiding it until they were back at home. No, he needed to know. After walking up to him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I found something, too.” She slipped Broden’s picture onto the desk.
He stared at it for a moment, then felt his muscles tense. His head jerked up to face her, and she saw his eyes welled up with tears. “What does this mean?” His voice sounded hysterical. “What happened to Broden?”
Keren squeezed his shoulder. “I…” Before she finished, Three appeared next to her. Startled, Keren gave a little squeak, jumping back. Three met Keren’s eyes, then pointed out the window. She gasped, “Nadria.”
Rushing to the window, she saw the two guys from the end of the street, jumping on the truck bed and yelling at the cab. The pictures from downstairs flashed in her mind. She wouldn’t let that happen to Nadria.
“Nadria’s in trouble. We have to go.”
Obviously torn between helping Nadria and digging further into Dan’s information, Odell’s eyes had a wide, frightened look. “What about the information? We have to find Broden.”
They wouldn’t get another opportunity for this information. Why not add theft to the list of laws they’ve broken? “Take the laptop.” She pointed to Broden’s picture. “And that.”
She shot out of the room with Three close behind.
While sprinting out the front door, she shouted at the guys. “Hey! Get away from that truck.” She skidded to a stop in the middle of the street.
The guys stopped jumping. They glanced at each other, then hopped out of the truck bed. The one with a baseball cap spoke, “Who’s gonna make us, little girl?”
OK, not the brightest move. She choked down the lump in her throat.
Ball Cap sauntered closer. “That’s what I thought.” He motioned to the truck. “You can have the truck. My friend gets the shifter trash.” He moved his eyes up and down Keren’s body. She shivered. The scrutiny made her feel dirty. “I get you.” He rushed at her.
Not good. Getting manhandled was not on her agenda today. She crouched. Memories of tag with her imaginary friends sparked to life. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
She surprised Ball Cap by shifting out of the way. He stumbled past her. She took her opportunity, kicking him in the back. The kick, his forward momentum, and wet asphalt caused him to sprawl face down on the street.
Ball Cap’s buddy pulled a knife and ran at Keren. Ducking under his arm, she elbowed him in ribs. She got two lucky shots, but she knew she couldn’t hold them off for long.
“You’ll pay for this.” Ball Cap pulled a knife, wiping his bloody lip with his arm.
It had never occurred to her to bring a weapon. A kitchen knife or even the broom she used on One with would be better than nothing. Loud banging drew her attention to the truck. Nadria’s terrified face pressed against the glass. She pointed to Ball Cap’s shoes. Keren gave her a slight nod, then backed down the street. Ball Cap’s buddy cracked his knuckles. His eyes were fierce, like a wild animal.
He went to move forward, but only his body moved. He dropped the knife as he tried to catch his balance. “What the hell?”
Keren looked at Nadria. Her face scrunched in concentration, staring at the guys’ shoes. Looks like sticky-fingers magic is useful for many things.
“Hey, leave her alone.” Ordell ran behind Ball Cap, grabbing his shoulder.
Even with his feet stuck to the road, Ball Cap sent a left hook into Ordell’s cheek. He dropped like a rock.
By now, people had stepped out of their homes to watch the spectacle. Three bumbling fools who are somewhere they shouldn’t be fighting two local thugs. Where’s the popcorn vendor?
Both guys stalked toward Keren. Ordell being knocked to the ground must have broken Nadria’s concentration. Keren knew she needed to buy time so Nadria could get him back to the truck.
“You’re no match for me.” Thankfully, her voice didn’t betray the terror she harbored.
The men glanced at each other and smirked. Ball Cap tossed the knife from one hand to another. “I like girls with spirit.”
Oh, this was getting worse. She glanced at the people standing on their porches. They didn’t venture any closer. If someone was going to help
her, they would have by now. Nadria had Ordell on his feet. They were almost to the truck. She had to buy more time.
“You’re not my type.” She hesitated, trying to think of a good comeback. “I prefer men.”
Ball Cap’s face turned red as a vein popped out on his forehead. Maybe that was too harsh.
“You’ll pay for that.” They charged at her.
She turned, bolting to the yard with the sprinkler. After making a dive roll, she snatched the hose as she stood. Turning, she swung the sprinkler at the men. It made direct contact with Ball Cap’s head. He crashed into his friend. They both slipped and fell onto the wet lawn.
Exhaust fumes came from the truck. As she turned to leave, someone grabbed her foot, pulling it out from under her. She crashed to the ground, mud and wet grass splashing over her.
“I’ve got you now.” Ball Cap grabbed her pant leg, pulling her toward him.
She kicked at his hands, but he held on with an iron grip. He raised the knife, ready to plunge it into her leg.
Time stood still. A pulse of energy ignited in her solar plexus. The pulse crawled through her chest and up her neck, ending at the back of her eyes. A flash blinded her.
When her vision cleared, Four floated over the sodden lawn. Not the misty opaque vision, but a solid, breathing creature. Water spun around its front paws. Time restarted, the knife mere inches from striking her leg. A razor-sharp stream of water knocked it away. Ball Cap screamed, then he cradled his arm. Blood flowed through his shaking fingertips.
Ball Cap’s friend faced Four. “What the hell are you?”
He spun, running straight at Keren. Before she could react, a horse’s hoof kicked him in the head, knocking him to the ground. Ordell stood next to her in his horse form.
The black stallion whinnied and shook his head, prancing around her. Her two assailants lay on the ground. One unconscious and one clinging to his wounded arm. Keren stepped up to Four. She put her hand on its eel's tail. It felt cool and smooth to the touch.
Its fox eyes looked down at her. After motioning with its paws, the water and mud lifted from her clothes, leaving her perfectly dry. Four turned to mist and dissipated into the air.
“Let’s go.” Ordell, in his human form, tugged on her arm, pulling her down the street.
Her legs threatened to buckle underneath her, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep running.
He pushed her into the truck. With gears grinding, they sped down the street. Keren’s heart pounded. Had she brought Four to life?
“Oh, my god. Are you alright?” Nadria squeezed her. “I can’t believe what just happened.”
While taking a deep breath, Keren tried to calm herself. “You were great,” she said to Nadria, “you really helped me. Why didn’t you call us when those guys showed up?”
Nadria blushed. “I dropped my phone and couldn’t find it under the seat. You came out just in time.” She squeezed Keren’s hand. “Was that one of your imaginary friends?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Four wasn’t imaginary, it was real, even if just for a few moments. “I think so.” She glanced over at Ordell.
He focused on the road. His cheek trickled blood, and it had already started to swell. Keren only imagined what was going through his head. She motioned her head at Ordell, hinting Nadria should turn around.
After Nadria turned, she let out a gasp. “Are you OK?” She reached her fingers to his cheek, but he jerked away.
Dan’s laptop sat on the floorboard. After putting it in her lap, Keren opened it, finding the picture of Broden.
“We found this.” She handed the picture to Nadria.
She put her hand to her throat. “What does this mean?”
“We don’t know.” Even though she feared Broden was in serious trouble, she wanted to give Ordell some hope. “But we have this laptop. We might figure out what happened to him.”
Ordell’s hands squeezed the steering wheel. “We’ll find him.” A tear dripped down his cheek.
“We will.” Nadria rested her head on his shoulder.
Keren looked out the back window. Satisfied they weren’t being followed, she settled into the seat, closing her eyes.
They stayed quiet all the way back to Ordell’s house.
Chapter Sixteen
Keren
The truck rumbled into the garage as the sun neared the horizon.
Ordell released the steering wheel. He peeled his white-knuckled hands off the steering wheel. “Let’s go inside.”
Keren followed him and Nadria into the house.
Hearing a booming voice, she couldn’t help but cringe. “Is that you, Ordell? Where have you been?”
Ordell winced. “Yeah, Papa. I’ve been out with Keren and Nadria.” He turned to them. “Stay here,” he whispered and trotted off to the living room.
“Your mother’s been worried sick. Can’t you answer your cell phone? And what happened to your face?”
“I’m fine, Papa. It’s nothing. The girls are in the kitchen.”
Heavy footsteps headed their way. Keren tried to make herself presentable by running her fingers through her hair.
Ordell’s dad stomped into the kitchen. He rested his fists on his muffin-top waist. “You girls don’t appear in much better shape than Ordell. What have you been up to?”
His drawn face was pale. The dark circles surrounding his eyes showed the stress of dealing with a missing son and losing communication with the other. His horse's ears pricked forward. She recognized this meant he was tense and on edge.
Nadria stepped in front of her. “Hi, Papa Murphy. We’re fine. Just a scuffle at the café.”
His face changed from anger to concern. “Well, I’m glad you’re alright.” He motioned around the kitchen. “Help yourself if you’re hungry.” Turning to Ordell, he examined the cut on his cheek. “Clean that up and get some ice on it. I’ll go upstairs to let your mother know you’re home.” He walked out of the kitchen.
Ordell’s face reddened. “Sorry about that.”
After grabbing a damp towel, Nadria dabbed at his cut. “You can’t blame him.”
Ordell flinched when Nadria pressed the towel to his face. He dropped his chin to his chest. “I know, I wasn’t thinking.”
Keren rummaged through a cabinet, pulling out a box of Cheese-Its. “I haven’t had these since I was a kid.” She stuffed an entire handful in her mouth.
“Ew, gross. Get some manners.” Nadria’s nose wrinkled.
“What, I’m hungry.” Cheese-It bits flew from her mouth.
Nadria shook her head. In a low voice, she asked, “What happens now?”
They found proof Broden’s disappearance involved the Dark Guild. Keren shuddered, remembering the explicit pictures of violence against shifters on Dan’s wall. But Broden’s picture looked different. She hoped they had time to find him before he ended up like them.
The laptop they stole from Dan might help them find Broden and also give her more information to help Mom. Time was running out to find evidence to prove Mom’s innocence. The trial was just days away. She picked up the laptop.
“We look at the information on Dan’s computer.”
“Let’s go to the guest room. That’ll give us some privacy.” Ordell headed toward the stairs. “Let me make sure it’s OK with Papa.”
Nadria rummaged through the refrigerator, pulling out three water bottles. “I’ll bring the food.”
After picking up the laptop, Keren walked to the guest room. Polished oak hardwood floors gave the room a warm feeling. A blue daybed with Ishani weave fabric sat against the far wall. She set the laptop on the round, cushioned ottoman in front of the daybed. The faint scent of potpourri drifted in the air. Four appeared over the daybed, back in its opaque state. It flew around the perimeter of the room, settling by the far window.
Nadria brought in a plate of celery, carrots, and hummus, along with the bottled water. Keren’s stomach growled. But she hated celery and healthy food.
>
“Papa said it was OK to use this room.” After grabbing the laptop, Ordell sat on the daybed. The girls sat on either side of him.
“So, what did you find out?” Nadria crunched on a carrot.
He flipped the laptop open and within minutes had Dan’s calendar open. He stopped scrolling when he reached Sunday. “Look,” he opened the detail, “Masters of Magic, Initiative Update, Sunday 9 pm until midnight. No location, though.”
“What’s the Initiative Update?” Nadria asked, picking up a piece of celery.
Keren’s stomach growled again. She picked up her cell phone. “Anyone else up for pizza?” While pulling out her credit card, she hoped the inquisitors hadn’t canceled it. “I get double-meat, double-cheese, with extra thick crust.”
Nadria squinted at her and chomped on the celery, chewing as loudly as possible.
Without looking up from the laptop, Ordell said, “Yeah, sounds great.” He didn’t notice Nadria's disapproving glare.
“I’m looking through Dan’s browser settings. This guy never cleared his history or cache, and there are loads of sites here.” He winced, touching his cheek. “I don’t see any sites relating to the Dark Guild.” His laugh came out as a snort. “But Dan sure likes his porn.”
“Grow up.” Nadria swatted his shoulder.
“Can I see his calendar?” Keren held out her hands.
“Sure.” He passed the laptop to her. “When is the pizza going to be here? I’m starving.” He cradled his face in his hand.
“Let’s get you some ice and ibuprofen.” Nadria stood. After taking Ordell by the hand, she led him to the kitchen.
While flipping through Dan’s calendar, Keren noticed he had regular arcanum meetings on Wednesdays. This progress on the initiative was something special. A crazy idea popped into her head. They could spy on the meeting.
She rolled her eyes. Right, because they were so good at spying. While tipping her head side-to-side, she felt stiffness settling into her neck. The last thing they needed was a repeat of today’s fiasco.
Ordell and Nadria came back into the room. Ordell held a mammoth-sized Ziplock bag filled with ice on his face. He sat next to Keren. “You’ll have to type.”