by Martha Carr
Wilmark shook his head. "You did nothing. I keep moving too fast with you, making the same mistake. I underestimated your innate powers, twice now. It won't happen again."
"Okay, there was a compliment buried inside of a ding without any real information. Let's try this again. What just happened? Why couldn't I find out where Bernie is right now? Is he in real trouble?" Maggie looked around for her purse. "Time to go. I'm not taking lessons while Bernie's in trouble. We help him out first."
The elven knight reached for her arm but Maggie pulled away. "Enough with the grabbing my arm. Next time, I put you on the ground. Don't be fooled by my size. Try me. I'm going with or without you."
Wilmark held up his hands and took a step back. "I don't believe the gnome is in any danger. I was trying to stop you from putting Bernie in trouble. He was clearly tracking someone."
Maggie hesitated, stepping easily across one of the larger stones to the far side in the direction of her car. "He's looking for Simon Wesley. It's why I wanted to know if he's okay. That dark magic seems to be beyond all of our skill sets, you included."
"Agreed. That's why I stopped you. Bernie has a lot of experience as a tracker. It's part of being a mechanic on one of these ships. Gnomes have to be able to track a lion, or a wizard, or a human without being detected."
"Rule number two."
"Actually, rule number three. The mechanics are to stay hidden."
"Bernie breaks that one all the time."
"Not when it counts. Bernie knows how to keep his magic to a minimum, below the necessary level to be detected by another magical. Your bubbles increased that level..."
Maggie's eyes widened and she looked around at the nearby trees, barely visible in the moonlight. "And I'm the detective. Damn, I was giving away his position." She rubbed her forehead. "He didn't know, either, did he?" She shook her head. "That's even worse. Simon would have had the advantage, or whatever has a grip on him. No wonder you stepped in and took over."
"It was necessary before the calculations could complete. All the bubbles were showing were where he had been and from what it showed us, he's having trouble finding Simon. The human is covering his tracks well. I'm sure he's using the blood bubbles to hide."
Maggie stepped back across the rock. "There's no way to know if Bernie's alright until he just shows up."
"For a gnome, yes, that's the role they have taken. They wander alone, unless they send out a distress signal and then a hundred more of their kind show up almost instantaneously. But until one of them asks, the others stand back. He has his own form of protection."
"Then we focus on what we can do..."
"And let the rest go, yes. I can teach you how to use your rather impressive power, Maggie Parker. It's interesting to note that apparently some of the folklore passed down is true. The Elemental is a powerful being."
"I'm a sixteen-year-old with a learner's permit trying to drive a semi that can suddenly become a boat."
"Not for long. Now, try again, but this time how about I give you an intention and you see if you can get it to work for you. Can you connect with the idea of changing a rock into a bush? You choose the rock and you picture the bush."
"I can at least try. Sure, why not. If this works, I'll save a bundle on my backyard." Maggie shook out her hands.
"Keep your eyes open. You need to be able to direct the magic and stay present."
"While letting go, got it."
"I see Bernie has been teaching you as well. You listen to him."
"He grows on you, quickly." Maggie stood up straight, widening her stance. "Eyes wide open, got it. Turn a rock into a bush. Turn a rock... into a bush." She spotted a rock that would fit in her hand and focused on it, picturing an azalea bush. Her mother loved the bushes and they lined the back fence of her yard, even though they were hard to keep alive in Austin. Ignoring common sense was one of Toni Parker's specialties, with mixed results.
Maggie concentrated on keeping her breathing even and looking at the rock, seeing an azalea in its place. Bubbles emerged on her hands and floated in a lazy string to the rock, surrounding it. The rock began to sprout green tendrils that stretched into branches until all that was left was a bush, unfolding in front of them.
"Well done," said Wilmark. "The pink blossoms are a nice touch."
"That's what I grew up with. Pink in a thousand different shades is my mother's favorite color." Maggie smiled broadly, feeling her shoulders drop down. "I just might be able to do this." And survive all of this.
"It's a good start, a very good start." Wilmark gently nodded, pressing his lips together like he was holding something back.
"Let's try another one. What can I change next?"
"We need to try something different. A defensive maneuver. Changing something shows you're getting a handle on your abilities and can focus enough to go after Simon, but..." The Godwin Knight hesitated.
"I have very few things that set me off, despite the rumors," said Maggie. "I grew up in an interesting family and learned to let a lot of things go, but holding back information, or worse, lying, gets me every time. I can't do my job if I have bad intel, so spill."
Wilmark studied the young detective as she threw up her hands and turned to leave. "Alright, fine. You're not what I expected, you know. I heard it was a young woman..."
"And you thought you'd get the damsel in distress. I told you once already, I work beside people, not behind them. What is it?"
"If he hasn't figured it out already, Simon soon will understand that you have to be holding the compass for it to work and he is desperate to make it work. He will be coming after you."
"You're straight with me, I'll be straight with you." Maggie licked her lips. "There's also the little hiccup with Mother Earth." Maggie brushed her hair out of her face and looked at the nearby trees. She felt the magic move through her head and this time, extend down her spine, spreading a cool line of energy throughout her body. She lifted her hand, wanting to connect and listen to the network of trees. Not now, later. "There was an incident yesterday... Wow, was it just yesterday morning? My entire view of the world has changed in a day and a half. Okay, I'm getting to it. Hopefully, the Earth isn't an eavesdropper. I got caught in the middle of an armed robbery and a bullet was heading for my brain, but Bernie broke the rules and, voila, I'm still alive."
"Bernie broke rule number two." The words came out in a hushed tone. "You're not supposed to be here."
"And the Earth has figured that out, too. She's already tried to get rid of me once. But if I can get the compass back and find the Elementals, I may be able to override the ship's data."
Wilmark shook his head, pacing on the ground, the ball of light staying just above him. "The Earth isn't a giant computer bank. It doesn't work like that. It's a living, breathing organic ship that was designed with magic. It's overriding thought it what is best for the greater good. You would have to show you're important enough to the well-being of the masses."
Maggie pursed her lips. "Yeah, I get it. One little compass can save the world, and hopefully save me." Maggie's voice grew quieter. "Look, you don't have to tell me how tricky this is. I get it. The date for my tombstone should have been yesterday. So, show me how to protect myself against Simon and get the compass back, and then we'll chat with the Earth. Do we have any other options?"
"No, not any more. There's a chance I could have hidden you from Simon, even with the power he's using."
"But where on Earth do you hide when it's the blue marble that's looking for you?"
"Take my hand." Wilmark held out his hand. "Go on, you want me to show you how to defend yourself. Take my hand."
Maggie put her hand in Wilmark's, his fingers easily closing around hers. "Now tell me, have you ever wanted to have a different look? Change your hair color or grow a longer nose?"
Maggie tried to pull her hand back but Wilmark held tight. "Definite no on the nose job." Maggie felt her nose with her free hand, making sure it was still exactly
like she left it. "I can handle the hair. Why not, I've always wondered what I'd look like as a blonde."
"Don't be afraid to change more than your hair color. One day you may need it in order to pass by someone in plain sight. But we can start with just your hair. After today, that's probably wise."
"What do you... oh!" It felt like a cool river suddenly running from the connection to Wilmark, into her body, traveling up and down her skeleton and out through her veins. The magic was calmer than what she was used to, making it easier to welcome it in. "Feels like I've been eating one of Mom's special cookies."
Wilmark looked at her, puzzled.
"Never mind, if you meet Toni it'll be kind of obvious."
"Look at your hair," said Wilmark, smiling.
Maggie pulled off the tie and shook her head, her hair falling forward around her shoulders. She lifted a thick strand and watched the color change in a gradual wave up toward the roots.
"Ostende te," said Wilmark, as sparks flew from his hand, creating a mirror image floating just in front of Maggie.
Her eyebrows went up as she turned her head from side to side, still holding onto Wilmark's hand. She put out her hand to touch the image, watching it pass right through to the other side, a ripple going across it.
"Now, let go of the idea and reverse the process."
Maggie heard Wilmark's voice like an echo inside of her head. "You are going to get along with my mother like gangbusters. Okay, letting go." She felt a tug inside as the magic receded, soaking into her skin and she watched the reflection of herself as the hair went back to it's natural brown state. "Whoa, that was amazing." Frost floated out of her mouth, turning into snowflakes that melted as they headed for the ground. The humming was back in her ears and she felt a sudden lurch in her stomach, making her swallow hard. "Hang on, this may not be pretty. I had nachos at lunch."
She let go of the knight's hand and stumbled forward, putting out her hand to lean against an old cypress tree and retch onto the gnarled and twisted roots.
Fire in Waco, threatening a pecan grove. Share water.
Butterflies migrating into Nogales and need shelter.
Winds picking up off Port Arthur, building into a storm.
She pressed her hand harder against the bark, listening to the trees as she emptied her stomach, holding back her hair with her other hand. "Oh, that's not a good look." She wiped her mouth on her sleeve and rested her head on her arm, still leaning on the tree.
The Elemental is in need.
"What..." The world went black as she easily slipped inside the tree. She gently put out her hands and felt the smooth, veined interior of the tree as the pale blue light spread, illuminating everything. A track of ants, glowing in the light made a path across her hand and back onto the tree. She watched, fascinated as each one left a tiny blue footprint on her hand. The light grew in intensity, bathing her in the glow.
She could hear Wilmark's deep baritone outside. "Are you alright in there?"
But she was listening to the tree. Take care of the Elemental. The light washed out the interior till she shut her eyes and felt her stomach settle down, the nausea passing. She started to breathe more evenly and felt her head clear, just as her hand passed through the tree again and she was once again, back outside standing under the stars. She looked back down at her hand but the small, blue footprints were already gone.
"Wait, if you know who I am, do you know the other Elementals?" She pressed her hands against the trees, focusing on her question but the chatter passing through was already shifting to faraway locations.
"The trees do what they want to do." Wilmark was standing right next to her, waiting patiently. "It doesn't mean they don't know. But for whatever reason, if they do, they don't think you need to know yet. They may be waiting for the compass too."
"I can't believe I had it in my garage for years and didn't know it."
"We will retrieve it, one way or the other. One last lesson for tonight, then we've done enough. A lesson on how to grow armor."
"Seriously? That's very fifteenth century of you. Okay, you're in charge. I'm game." She looked up at the night sky. "That's Draco and just beneath it is Ursa Minor. My dad taught us how to recognize the stars."
"Focus, Maggie. Try this one on your own and remember how it felt when I connected my energy to you. You can do this. Now, focus on a layer of armor and repeat after me. Protected in lumine."
"Protected in lumine, protected in lumine, protected in lumine." Blue light flowed out in strips from underneath her skin, shooting out in every direction and covering her body. "Amazing! This is what you did on the plaza against that red tide."
"Focus, Elemental. You have to do your part to make it work. The energy works in conjunction with you but if you stop, it responds to that request and the magic stops."
"What are you going to do with those?"
Wilmark was holding an armful of pecan nuts that had fallen to the ground. He pitched one directly at Maggie with a sideways spin, an amused grin on his face. It came within inches before bouncing back harmlessly on the ground. He scooped up a handful and hurled them at her head and Maggie flinched but stayed upright, her eyes open as they came closer, pinging back harmlessly.
"It's a good start," he said. "You can ward off any stray nuts."
"I was starting to wonder if you had any sense of humor in there." Maggie lifted her hands to look at the blue light more closely. "Magic...Hey, wait, what was that?" She startled as something ran back and forth across her foot, it's small claws digging into her shoe. She looked down in time to see a small field mouse run between her legs, crisscrossing the open area, unsure where to hide. "Son of a..." Maggie let out a yelp, pulling her hands back and dancing around the mouse as it scurried between her feet, trying to get away.
"No... don't!" yelled Wilmark, rushing to grab Maggie as the blue light peeled off of her and came together to form a solid stream aimed right at the mouse. The mouse let out a squeak, followed by a low growl and a belch as it rolled onto its side.
Maggie stepped back, finally able to get some distance and watched, her eyes wide as the mouse wriggled on the ground, red tufts of fur sprouting out of everywhere. She pointed at the mouse, taking another step back. She looked up at Wilmark. "That rodent is growing, Wilmark." The pungent scent of magnolias was everywhere.
"What was your last thought? Before the mouse started to change, what were you thinking?"
Maggie whipped back around, the pale purple light from the ball of light above them, shining down on what was quickly becoming a small dog. "I was thinking, why can't it be a dog?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Mice creep me out. I know, I know, I can face down a gun but not a small rodent. Look, it's a corgi."
Standing in front of them, still letting out a series of squeaks mixed in with barks was a corgi, panting away, its tongue hanging out.
"I think it needs water. Can you change it back?"
Wilmark put his hand on top of his head, looking down at the dog and back at Maggie. "This is frankly, a new one."
"Seriously? No one has managed to accidentally change something they don't like into friendlier territory before?"
"Not a corgi."
"Change it back."
"It doesn't work that way. You changed it, you have to change it back."
Maggie shook out her hands. "Okay, tell me how. Do you need to take my hand?"
Wilmark let out a deep sigh.
Maggie tilted her head to one side as she looked at Wilmark. "You can't, can you."
The corgi looked up at Maggie and let out a squeak and a bark.
"That is so creepy. I've ruined one of my favorite childhood memories with a Frankenstein dog. A couse or is he a morgi? Geez, I have to try. Hang on, I've got this." Maggie shook her hands again and held them out, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Corgi back into a mouse. You can do it, Parker." But there was nothing. The dog yipped and squeaked and came closer to lick her shoe. "Abracadabra, alakazam,
bippity boppity boo." She shook her head. "I've run through my basic Disney knowledge of magic. Nothing's working. What do we do now?"
"We stop for dog food on the way home. Maybe a leash."
"What? No, that can't be the answer. Come on, I was kidding around. There has to be a spell or some sparks or a nice ball of light. Change it back into a mouse and let it run home. There must be some tiny mice wondering where their brother is. He's a giant squeaking corgi. What's the opposite of protected in lumine? I'll try that."
"Quae tenebris operiuntur."
"Got it!" Maggie put her hands on her hips and stared at the dog. "Quae tenebris operiuntur!" The ball of light over their head winked and went out, shrouding them in darkness as a cloud moved in overhead, shutting out the moonlight. "Well damn, that wasn't what I meant."
"I think we're done for the night."
"I can hear you but I can't see you. Crap, what is basically a giant mouse is now licking my hand. Can you at least put up another light? I can't see anything."
Wilmark's face appeared just above the ball of light he was holding in his hand. His eyebrow was arched and his lips were pressed together. He shook his head at Maggie and gently tossed the ball of light into the air above them where it sizzled and went out.
"Oh, got it. Still won't work. If it makes you feel any better, I know this place like the back of my hand. I can lead us out of here. But what about the dog?" Maggie held out her hand, walking slowly forward till she ran into Wilmark, poking him in the chest. Nice pecs, dude. Think about something else, Parker. Jake... think about Jake. Jake, Jake, Jake.
"You can take your hand off my chest now, Elemental. Thank you."
The dog rubbed up against her leg. "I don't need a dog."