The Creative Strategist

by Sarah Noffke

  Liv was sampling the pastries Clark had been making when she noticed the giant standing awkwardly in the doorway. She slid into view in the hallway with her arms crossed. “What are you doing?”

  He jumped at the sight of her. “I’m just waiting for Mum. She insisted on parking the moving truck.”

  “Even though you’re the one who has to drive it?” Liv asked.

  His eyes slid to the right, his lips pressing into a hard line.

  “So, about this secret job of yours that isn’t so secret,” Liv began. “We haven’t had a good chance to discuss it yet.”

  “Do we really have to do this now?” Rory asked, looking over Liv’s shoulder expectantly.

  “If not now, when, Rory Laurens?” she questioned. “I mean, you think you know someone, even though they keep tons of secrets and refuse to tell you what they do for a living, and then you find out that they are an accountant.”

  “If Mum hears you talking about the family business, she’ll—”

  “What?” Liv cut him off. “Severely disapprove of me? Tell me I’m uncouth? Complain about my sarcastic nature? Oh, no! And that would be different from any other interaction with Mrs. Laurens how?”

  Clark came up next to Liv holding a tray of stuffed mushrooms. “Here, Rory. I tried the recipe you gave me. It makes the mushrooms the perfect consistency. Not too soft or chewy. Try them.”

  Rory gave him a polite smile as he took one of the mushrooms. He popped it into his mouth and nodded. “Very good.”

  “I’ll see if Sophia and Matilda want to try one,” Clark said, trotting for the back.

  Rory appeared to have swallowed the mushroom without chewing all of a sudden. Liv pretended not to notice this as she rocked forward on her toes and back again. “Did you know there are three different types of accountants?”

  Rory’s eyes fluttered with annoyance.

  “Yep,” Liv continued. “There are those who can count and those who can’t.”

  The giant sighed.

  “Okay, fine. I’m still working on the jokes,” Liv stated. “So, all the hobbies were your outlet to get away from the boring accounting business, which you’re required to do because Mum says so, right? Why don’t you just tell your mum that it drains your soul and do what you really want to?” Liv paused and thought for a moment. “Wait, what do you really want to do?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not telling you.”

  “Typical.”

  “You’ll just make fun of me and think it’s silly,” he added.

  Liv stuck her hands on her hips. “When have I, Rory Jordan Laurens, ever made fun of you?”

  “That’s not my middle name,” he stated.

  She scoffed. “I know that, Rory Marcus Laurens.”

  “Okay, we have fifteen minutes until we have to move the truck,” Bermuda said, breathing with great difficulty as she lumbered up the stairs. “We’re in a loading zone.”

  Liv smiled at the giantess, who didn’t return it. “You do realize we are magical creatures who can just magic our way around parking rules and regulations, right?”

  Bermuda pulled the bonnet she was wearing off her head. She looked like she was ready for Sunday brunch in her usual floral dress and gaudy jewelry. “Really, Warrior Beaufont. Does the House know you go around abusing your magical powers?”

  “They encourage it since my quests save the mortal world and preserve the lives of magical creatures,” Liv refuted.

  Bermuda pulled off her gloves, dismissing Liv as she strode past her. “Really, you can’t always legitimize your bad behavior with those excuses.”

  Liv gave Rory a commiserating expression, which he didn’t return.

  “So, the giant you got to help us,” Bermuda said, laying her handbag on the table, her eyes lingering on the dust on it for a moment. “Is it Zed who works at the zoo in San Diego?”

  “No, actually—”

  “Yes, he’d be at the festivities on the island, wouldn’t he,” Bermuda said, cutting Liv off. “Oh, it must be one of the Simpson brothers. They usually have to stick around since the ferries to Catalina Island run consistently this time of year.”

  “Actually, remember that favor Liam Goldwater owes you?” Liv said, sliding behind Rory for protection.

  Bermuda spun, her face flushing red. “Liam! In Texas! The one who runs the barbeque restaurant? Are you telling me you got him to help?”

  Matilda Goldwater strode out of the hallway, giving Sophia a piggyback ride. Bermuda looked like she was going to faint when she caught sight of the giantess.

  “Surprise,” Liv said, only her head peeking around Rory.

  “Matilda Goldwater? Is that really you?” Bermuda questioned. “Well, I haven’t seen you since you were yay-high to my hip.”

  “Which, incidentally, is how tall I am currently,” Liv said in a hushed voice to Rory. He didn’t laugh, probably because he didn’t hear her, even though she was right behind him. His eyes were centered on the giantess who was carefully sliding Sophia to the ground.

  “Mrs. Laurens,” Matilda said, bowing. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

  Bermuda didn’t reply. Instead, she turned to where Liv was hiding. “Did you say something about the favor Liam owes me?”

  “I did,” Liv said ducking out from behind Rory, but only slightly. “Looks like everything is even between you and him for whatever happened at the Rock of Gibraltar.”

  “I saved the lives of everyone in his village,” Bermuda stated. “That was before Matilda and the restaurant, but really, Warrior Beaufont.”

  Liv decided to act like an adult and stepped out from behind Rory. “And now we have the help we’ll need to get the egg to safety, which is what’s important, right?”

  Bermuda lowered her chin and gave Liv a murderous glare.

  She cupped her ear. “What? Oh, I think I hear Alfred calling you, Sophia.” Liv bolted forward, grabbing her little sister by the hand and dragged her back down the hallway. “We’re just going to give the dragon and its rider a chance to say goodbye. Won’t be long. Then we’ll be off.”

  “She’s going to kill you, isn’t she?” Sophia asked when Liv had finally released her.

  Liv shook her head. “No, but I do have to ride with her on this voyage to transport the egg, and I’m certain she’s going to be rather hostile. It’s fine. We’re taking the 405, so everyone in traffic will be hostile.”

  Sophia smiled, but it was completely forced. Her eyes swiveled to the shimmering blue egg next to her bed.

  “Hey,” Liv said, realizing what was going on. “It’s not forever, and you get to go over there and visit him.”

  Sophia nodded. “I know. I’ve just gotten so used to having him beside me all the time.”

  Liv stooped down and peered up at her little sister. “And for the rest of your lives, you and Frank will be together.”

  This seemed to make the little magician feel slightly better.

  “But I know how you feel,” Liv stated. “Plato is like my familiar. He’s a part of me, and when he’s not around, sometimes it feels like I’m lost.”

  “Where is he now?” Sophia asked.

  Liv didn’t even hesitate. “He’s standing in the doorway at my back.”

  Sophia’s eyes darted to the side, awe covering her face. “How did you know?”

  Liv smiled. “I just did. That’s the thing; when you’re bonded to someone, whether a dragon or a lynx or your amazing little sister, you just know things about them. Kind of like I know you’re going to go on to do incredible things. But first, we need to keep you safe and give you some time to grow up a little. I think that it’s what Mom and Dad would have wanted.”

  Sophia nodded at once. “I think so too, and I have the rest of my life for adventures. But no matter what, Liv, no matter what happens when my dragon hatches, I’ll always be here for you and Clark.”

  It felt so strange to Liv that her little sister was somehow consoling her, being careful with her feelings.


  “Soph, once that dragon hatches, your life is going to take you in new directions,” Liv stated. “You’ll go places where we can’t follow you. And although we will do whatever we can to help and protect you, it’s unwise to think we will always be together.”

  Sophia grabbed Liv with an intensity that made her gasp. Her little arms were strong as she tugged her sister into her. “I know we will, Liv, because no matter what, familia est sempiternum.”

  Chapter Eleven

  With an obvious overabundance of nervous tension, Bermuda Laurens tapped the steering wheel of the truck she was driving. Liv had offered to drive, but the giantess explained that she was an expert getaway driver.

  “What are we getting away from?” Liv asked. “I thought we were following Rory and Maddie with the egg.”

  “Poachers will try all sorts of tactics to get to the egg,” Bermuda had stated, turning the radio to a classical station. “We’re going to have to run interference.”

  Apparently, the poachers would be alerted that a very valuable magical object was being transported as soon as it left Liv’s place on the truck. Once it was at Rory’s, there were force fields that would shield it again. The twenty-minute commute, which could be over two hours in traffic, was their chance to steal the egg. Liv didn’t know how they’d do that since she’d watched Rory and Maddie struggle for half an hour to load the egg into the back of the truck. However, Bermuda had stated that they were using great care, and poachers didn’t have the same considerations.

  “So, how great were those stuffed mushrooms Clark—”

  “You shouldn’t have brought her here,” Bermuda said, cutting Liv off, her gloved hands tight on the steering wheel.

  Liv knew exactly who the “her” was that she was referring too, but she thought it would be more fun if she acted as if she didn’t. “Oh, well, Sophia wanted to live with me, and I—”

  “I’m talking about Matilda Goldwater,” Bermuda stated tersely, following the moving truck as it sped onto the highway.

  “I know you think I hang out with giants all the time, but it may surprise you to find out that you and Rory are the only ones.”

  Bermuda cast a disapproving look at her. “Are you tall enough to be sitting in the front seat?”

  Liv wanted to laugh. That almost sounded like a joke. “Well, I didn’t bring my booster seat, but I thought that if I flew forward, you’d throw a protective arm in front of me.”

  “I won’t,” Bermuda stated matter-of-factly.

  “Namaste to you, too.”

  “And really, of all the giants you could have recruited, you had to go and pick—”

  “What, a Goldwater?” Liv asked. “I’m sorry about the favor thing. Liam gave me an in, and I took it. He seemed to think very fondly of you.”

  “Of course, he does,” Bermuda stated, following every single traffic law down to the letter as she merged onto the congested freeway. “I saved his entire village.”

  Liv leaned forward, watching as a vehicle tried to speed ahead and cut them off, taking the spot between them and the moving truck Rory was driving. “You may want to—”

  “Don’t tell me how to drive,” Bermuda stated. “And no, it’s not that she’s a Goldwater. It’s that she’s—”

  “A Texan?” Liv supplied. “I know, I know. They are very prideful people, but I think most of them are sweethearts if you can get over the fact that they talk slow and make their tea overly sweet.”

  “No, Warrior Beaufont, I mean the fact that she’s…well, a she.”

  “Oh,” Liv said, wondering why it hadn’t dawned on her before. The sedan succeeded in cutting between them and the moving truck. “So these poachers. Could they be in unsuspecting vehicles, like that one?”

  Bermuda shook her head. “No, those are just inconsiderate jerks. Poachers will fly in and try to storm the truck.”

  “Like on brooms?” Liv asked.

  The giantess rolled her eyes. “No, not on…oh, that was one of those jokes, wasn’t it?”

  “It obviously wasn’t a very good one,” Liv admitted. “I’m just wondering what I’m looking for.”

  Traffic was suddenly at a standstill. That didn’t give Liv any confidence. She liked it better when they were moving. It felt like progress.

  “Just keep your eye out for anything suspicious,” Bermuda stated. “I’m used to tracking those guys, so I’ll recognize them when they show up. Then I’m going to want you to employ your combat magic.”

  Liv flexed her pointer finger. “I can do that. I’ve been practicing blasting the mustard off of a hotdog. My aim is really good.”

  Bermuda shot her a look of disapproval. “Only take a shot if the poacher is far from the truck. We can’t take any chances.”

  “You get that I do this kind of stuff for a living?” Liv stated. “Speaking of which, Rory is an accountant, huh?”

  “Yes,” Bermuda stated, sitting up taller. “Laurens Accounting has been in the family for generations.”

  “Really? I would have thought that on the island you wouldn’t need accounting. How hard is it to divide up rocks among…” Liv’s voice trailed away, encouraged to stop talking by the murderous look on Bermuda’s face.

  “I’ll have you know that accounting is one of the oldest professions.”

  “About like prostitution,” Liv added.

  “No, not like…anyway, we are very proud of our business. Rory is quite good at it.”

  “But does he like it?” Liv asked.

  Bermuda opened her mouth to answer but stalled. “Well, of course, he does. What’s not to like?”

  “Are you a part of the business?” Liv questioned.

  “Of course not. You know very well that I’m an explorer. I chronicle magical creatures and plants and other things.”

  “Oh, because that’s your passion,” Liv stated.

  “Yes, because it’s my passion.”

  “But Rory doesn’t get to follow his passion,” Liv kept going.

  “Well, it’s not that. He loves accounting.”

  “Does he?” Liv questioned. She knew she might be overstepping her boundaries. Rory could hate her for it. But she’d rather that than her friend continue to do something he didn’t enjoy because his mother intimidated every living soul on the planet. Well, not her, but that was because she’d met the most soulless creatures.

  “Yes, I know for a fact that Rory loves accounting,” Bermuda stated.

  “Because he’s told you this?”

  “Warrior Beaufont, where are you going with this?”

  Liv took a deep breath. Sat up straighter. Turned to face the giantess whose head was rubbing the ceiling of the truck she was driving. “Mrs. Laurens, I respect you a great deal, but you don’t accept people for who they are. Instead, you cast judgments, criticize, and try to make us all conform to what you want us to be. I wonder if, for just one moment, you could simply look at the people in your life through the same lens that you do the creatures you chronicle. Simply appreciate who they are with unyielding understanding for their uniqueness.

  “I think you’d find you’d understand those around you with the same grace and beauty as the ones you’ve written about in your books, which are famous for a reason. You have a wonderful perspective, but only when you’re not—”

  “Shush!” Bermuda yelled, making Liv tense. She’d gone too far. She was surprised the giantess had allowed her to talk that long and say that much.

  “I’m sorry if I overstepped my boundaries,” Liv said.

  “You did,” Bermuda stated at once. “But we will discuss that later. For now, we have poachers to attend to.”

  She pointed out the window to where a bird was flapping its wings, soaring only feet above the stalled truck.

  “Let me guess,” Liv began. “That’s not a bird, is it?”

  Bermuda shook her head, looking around at the other cars, also not moving in traffic.

  “It’s something that’s glamoured, isn’t it?”
Liv dared to guess.

  “Yes,” Bermuda answered.

  Liv opened the car door and stepped out onto the pavement.

  “What are you doing?” Bermuda asked.

  Liv ducked back through the open window. “Doing what I came here for. You spot the poachers, and I make them pay.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Once out of the vehicle, Liv felt strange standing around a bunch of idling cars on the freeway. Many of the drivers gave her cautious glances, as if worried she was a road-raging passenger about to go crazy from sitting in traffic.

  If they think I’m crazy now, just wait, Liv thought, pointing her finger at the hawk circling above the moving truck. She wasn’t sure what the bird actually was. It could have been a person or a helicopter glamoured to look like something inconspicuous. There was only one way to find out, and that was to knock it down.

  A blast of green light shot from the end of Liv’s finger, narrowly missing the hawk, which squawked its disapproval when one of its wings was almost hit. She tried again, but whatever it was was fast, darting away from her attacks.

  “Hey! Don’t mess with that bird!” a guy yelled from his open car window.

  “I’m a Warrior for the House of Fourteen!” Liv exclaimed, trying to anticipate which way the bird was going to fly so she could cut it off.

  “I don’t care who you’re with,” someone else yelled. “We don’t hurt animals.”

  Ironically, these mortals didn’t realize that was exactly what Liv was trying to do: protect an animal from harm. She sort of missed the days when mortals couldn’t see magic. Back then, they would have just seen Liv pointing into the sky or something else of little interest or concern.

  Liv shot more bolts in quick succession, none of them hitting the bird-thing.

  “Hey, lady!” the guy yelled again. “Leave the bird alone, or I’ll have to stop you.”

  Liv spun around. “Look, I’m a police officer, in a way, for a magical organization. Stop me, and you’re going to be sorry.”

  “Where’s your badge?”

  Liv grunted. She needed a freaking badge.