by Martha Carr
Stay in the game. Feed the chickens, go see Diana, but it's not time to yell peaches, yet.
Maggie went up the steps at her sister's grey bungalow that sat closer to sixth street. Diana had adopted the same approach to lawn care as their mother but with a theme that changed every year. This year's theme was African rivers after Diana had found a statue of a hippo that looked like he was emerging out of her short grassy lawn. Fish leapt into the air in another area, bouncing on wires and one planted into the ground, only its tail sticking out.
Diana met her at the door, smiling, holding out a cup of coffee. "I figure this is your fourth cup this morning but without it, your heart may slow down to a regular beat and throw you off your game."
Maggie laughed, taking the cup and gauging the heat by the warmth from the cup, slurping from the side. "Ooooh, hot."
"You know most people try smaller sips first. I have to wonder if you still have taste buds at this point."
"They regenerate. Saw your new addition. Texas pigs are in Africa?" Next to the heron that was standing among the reedy garden bed was a small hog statuette that looked more like the boars that roamed wild in the area.
"It's standing in for a red river hog. That was the best I could do and I couldn't resist. Did you see the wicker drums by the bushes? Mom has been encouraging my set dressing by bringing her own contributions. She's even suggesting to friends they could randomly make deposits when they pass by the house. I watched Mrs. Stinson from my window put baby crocodiles made out of vines in my tree. They don't get in trees, do they?" Diana held the door open for Maggie. "I just left them there, especially after I saw people stopping to take a look and pointing at them. I'm a local tourist attraction."
Maggie hugged her sister tight around her neck and stepped into the house. "You come by it honestly." Maggie ran her hand over the old brass card holder sitting on a small, round Queen Anne side table. "This is new," she said, lifting a handmade glass bowl with colored glass beads along the rim. It was sitting in tissue paper in a dark blue box that had Hopkins Antiques in raised gold leaf on the outside.
"Carl sent that over. I'm having a love affair with glass right now. You should go see him and ask him about Dad. He's known him since high school."
"I know and that's not a bad idea, but not today."
Diana let it go. Maggie could only be nudged, never pushed. "Did you see the mural? It's finished and I love it!" Diana wiggled her butt, her arms in the air. She danced her way down the hallway backwards, pointing at the black and grey mural painted along the bottom half. "Quint bartered with me for some work on his knee. I came up with the cityscape and he added in these large giants peeking over the buildings."
Maggie smiled at Diana. She was never going to be rich, always ready to help out someone who couldn't pay to have a bone set or put in a new knee. “Bartering is your idea of fun.”
"Who is Dexter? Did you meet someone else?" Diana's hands were laced together under her chin and she was smiling broadly as Maggie followed her into the kitchen.
"You want the truth that includes magic? Or the short answer that leaves out the interesting, creepy parts?" Maggie took another gulp from the coffee, gurgling it with her mouth open.
"It's hard to watch you do that. Hey, Mom said to tell you she's going to put coffee bean shells around your bushes this year for your birthday. Wards off bugs and will make your whole place smell like coffee all the time."
"I love Mom."
Diana hesitated, waiting for Maggie to say something else. "That's it? No comment after that? No but and a follow up?" She shrugged, nodding her head and smiling as Maggie laughed, rolling her eyes. "Progress not perfection, right?"
"I meant what I said, I love Mom. She does know how to give something you'd actually want. The smell of coffee everywhere, check. Fewer mosquitoes, check."
"Who's Dexter?" Diana leaned against the counter, moving over a pile of old mail.
"You never told me your choice so I'm going for it. He's my new dog that I got because I was practicing magic. He was a mouse, and now he's a corgi and even though he had been happily living his life in McKinney Park, I felt badly about leaving an entire dog there alone."
"That's even weird for one of Mom's dream journals. She still keeps those you know."
"I do know, she likes to call me with what she calls the best parts. It's why I won't eat jello anymore. And I agree, I said it was weird and creepy. I now have a dog that squeaks and barks. Are you ready to go?"
Diana furrowed her brow, still grinning. "Sure, why not?" She picked up her purse, slinging the strap over her head. "Do I get to meet this Dexter? Hey, do I get to meet that Jake? Is he magical?"
Diana's back was turned to Maggie or she would have seen the ripple of concern go across her face. She put the smile back in place, still letting the details play through her mind. No red flags, there's nothing there.
"Let's say seventh date?" A brochure slipped off the counter, sliding on the floor and landing at Maggie's feet. She picked it up and read it out loud. "Above and Beyond Aviation. Learn to fly with knowledgeable instructors." Maggie held out the brochure. "Well, I would hope so. What are you up to?"
"Lenny Adler broke his hand in five places. Took all day to fix and his deductible is in the thousands. He just had his third kid, this would have ruined them."
"Go on... Doesn't explain this." She held up the brochure. "You're afraid of heights. I can't get you to go out on a balcony if it's over three stories." Maggie looked at her suspiciously.
"Exactly," said Diana, as she headed down the hall, outlining the mural with her finger. "I figured this would cure it. Of course, we've only been taxiing the plane around the airstrip for the past month, but I know I'll be ready soon to actually go up in the air."
"You're driving a plane." Maggie took one last swallow. "Hot... hot..." She left the mug on the counter and ran after her sister. "That's not flying if it doesn't go anywhere. Hell, that’s not even taxiing.“
"Says you. Let's go back to talking about Jake. You've been way too skimpy on the details. How was the date?"
They headed out the door together. "Did I tell you that Mom got a hold of his phone number and sent him to my house in the middle of the night?"
Diana laughed, grabbing her sister's arm. "Ohhhh, that's so sweet. Our mom is arranging your booty calls. She's never done that for me."
Maggie linked arms with Diana as they walked down the front walk and onto Pressler toward the busier sixth street and all the antique shops that lined the street. They were mixed in with the art galleries and salons and pet grooming shops. The trees rustled as a cold wind picked up and the nearby oak tree gently swayed its branches in Maggie's direction. She nodded to a red maple as she went by, the hum playing along the back of her neck. "It wasn't a booty call. More of a makeout session, which I'll take. Good kisser."
"That's a relief. So, no red flags."
Maggie pressed her lips together for just a moment. "No red flags." At least that I'm buying.
"You may have a live one on your hands, sister. At last! How are his bones?"
"I don't even know how to answer that one. You're the bone doctor."
"Bring him by so I can take a look." They turned the corner on to sixth street, blending in with the other shoppers.
"I'm not, I'm really not. Hey, there's that vintage dress you keep mooning over. You want to try it on again?"
"It's out of my budget." Diana stood in front of the window, biting her lip.
"Maybe someone has a bad hip. Let's go in and look for anyone limping."
Diana laughed, already pulling Maggie into the store. "Why not, maybe the universe will deliver."
Maggie suddenly felt a rumble along the back of her neck and she had to work at it to keep the smile on her face. She followed Diana into the store, turning around to scan the area. Let go and focus all at once. A round man carrying a bag of groceries began to resemble Bernie more. A mechanic? Maggie wanted to go outside and check but
she stayed where she was. The ears on two teenage girls grew pointed ends. But they all kept on their way, busy getting somewhere and no one seemed to be under any duress. Maggie shook her head. It must be nothing.
Diana grabbed the dress and headed for the changing room as Maggie took a seat on the round pink ottoman nearby. A woman standing near the plate glass window in the front cried out, "What the hell!" A small twig had broken off a nearby tree and blew into the window, startling her. Maggie turned around on the tufted seat and peered out the window. The branches on the large tree were all bending in her direction even though the wind had started to die down.
"Diana, I'll be right back," she called out heading for the door. She went outside and cautiously approached the tree, putting out her hand. Two tourists walking by stared at her as one said, "See, I told you. Austin is weird."
Maggie pressed her hand against the tree even as the hum across the back of her neck skittered down her spine, making her feel like her entire being was vibrating. Please don't let me disappear into a tree. Not this close to home. Her heart was beating faster as she made contact with the bark. The messages passed through her fingertips but were filled with static. She closed her eyes and concentrated. It didn't take long before her eyes popped open and she stared at the tree, pressing her hands harder against it. "Someone is in trouble? Someone I know? That's it?"
She took her hands off and nodded her head at two UT students walking by, glancing in her direction and whispering to each other. She didn't care. She shook out her hands and spit in her palms for good measure, hoping that would help with conduction. Why not? She pressed her hands firmly against the tree, the bark digging into her skin. It was the same message, but she could tell they were warning her about someone she knew. Someone she knew was in trouble. It was the entire message before it changed with news about electrical wires getting tangled in some old maple trees.
Maggie pulled out her phone and dialed her mother. "Pick up, pick up, pick up." She knew there was just as much chance her mother was chanting in the backyard and couldn't hear the phone.
"Hello? Maggie is that you?"
It was her mother's usual greeting for anyone, despite being able to read their name on the phone.
Maggie pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her rapid pulse. "Hey Mom, how's your day going?" She winced, knowing her mother would see right through that and call her out on it. It was Toni Parker's calling card. She was never a fan of small talk just to get to the main event.
"What's happened? Is it Kathleen? Did someone break into your house again?" Maggie instantly regretted the phone call. "No, everyone is fine. I'm fine, Diana is fine. I have no idea about Kathleen." She blew out a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks. "The weather is really nice out here. Diana and I are shopping." She spun the truth as fast as she could, wanting to get off the phone and check on her partner, Peter Taylor. She settled for sending him a text. How's your day going? Her mother was already deep into a story.
"Have you tried the telescope yet?"
"What?" The abrupt question pulled Maggie back into the conversation. She looked through the front window and saw Diana coming out of the dressing room. "Not yet, I haven't had it long."
"Full moon is coming. That's always a good time. Find the other Elementals, dear. Your father never could despite trying with that thing a few thousand times."
Diana was waving to her to come back inside, spinning around in the dress. She felt her phone buzz in her hand and glanced down. Taylor was getting ready to watch the game. He had good money riding on it. Are you in trouble?
She typed as fast as she could, waving at Diana while her mother asked her if she was still there. No more than the usual, she typed.
"Mom, I'm here. What do you mean, Dad tried to use it. I thought the thing was pretty easy to use."
Maggie sent Jake a quick note. Meet for lunch tomorrow? She wasn't willing to ask him if everything was alright in his world. Not a Kashgar. Please don't be a tall bastard.
"Yes and no," her mother said. "You'll find plenty of magicals but it doesn't light up an Elemental any different from other magicals. Well, that's not true. He searched far and wide and as far as he knows he never spotted another Elemental. There's only four more of them."
The realization washed over Maggie. "A needle in a haystack."
Her phone buzzed again. How about mini golf? "Okay, Jake's alright," she muttered.
"What? I couldn't hear you. Maggie?"
"I'm here. You'd have to first know what it's like to find an Elemental to know if you found one."
"Exactly, my dear. Oh, Marjorie is back with more supplies. I'll have to talk to you later." Her mother was gone before she could even answer.
The wind blew in Maggie's face, blowing her hair off her shoulders and the trees once again shivered in her direction. She felt the cold hum fill her body and an ache filled her chest. Something has gone wrong. I just don't know where.
Chapter Seven
Simon stood in front of Carl Hopkins, doing his best to be charming, but he was tired and Carl wasn't helping things. He slid his glasses up his nose and blinked hard, giving himself a moment to think. "What is so hard to grasp about this? We're not on anything real! This is just an outdated ship that can't even get itself moving again."
"By design. I know all about it. Marcus Parker told me all about it."
Simon's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "You knew he was the Elemental and said nothing?"
"Right on both counts. Wrap it up Simon, I need to get back to the customers."
An older woman with white hair and a large yellow scarf wrapped around her shoulders was circling a silver coffee pot and it's matching tray. Carl nodded in her direction, giving a pointed harrumph.
"Non of this was ever supposed to be ours. This is all artifacts of our lost time!" Simon showed his wrist, pointing at the four small stars in a random pattern etched into his skin in a dark blue. "This is part of our constellation. The one that belongs to us. We're not from the Milky Way. We're just stuck here, like random squatters!"
Carl walked around to the back of his counter, dismissively shaking his head. "You know, the way I see it, even if you didn't start from somewhere, after a few thousand years, you're already home."
Simon hung his head, frustrated. He kept his breathing even, not wanting to black out again today. It had already happened too often and he was never sure what exactly transpired when he wasn't completely in control. He lifted his head and made himself lower his voice. "I need your help with Maggie Parker." He put out his hands, pleading. "Not to convince her of anything, just to listen to me. She's gotten the wrong impression." He felt a pain in his gut and pressed his lips together, making a pained smile, pressing his hand gingerly against his abdomen. Not now. I still have a chance. He was bargaining with some inner presence that he could always feel lately.
"You okay, son? You don't look quite right. Do you need to sit down?" Carl turned around to grab the stool he sat on behind the counter and carried it out to where Simon could sit down. "You need to let this go, Simon before you ruin your life for good. All of this isn't going to matter in the long run. Think about it. You'll only be around for another fifty, sixty years and then you're forgotten by the same cosmos. Hell, I doubt after all this time that there's anyone who remember us."
Simon's eyes glistened and his throat ached. "It's still home, with people who waited for us, with someone who may still remember us." He sat down hard on the stool, covering his face with his hands.
"Take a breath, Simon. Oh hey, Lucinda, I've got the chai tea brewing in the back." A striking woman in tan slacks and a camel hair coat with a black collar smiled at Carl. She gave a nod to Simon.
"Is this a bad time?" She adjusted her long black hair that had a silver streak shot through the middle of it.
"No, we're okay, right Simon? Check on the tea for me, please. Make sure it doesn't steep too long. It has extra ginger just the way you like it. I'll be right th
ere. You can start without me. I have a little situation to wrap up first."
Simon took a handkerchief out of his back pocket and wiped his face, stuffing it into his jacket. He looked up at Carl who was bent over him, his arm on Simon's shoulder. "I'm not a situation, Carl, I'm an opportunity." He pounded his fist against his chest, his emotions getting the better of him. He could feel the presence rising, creeping forward in his mind. Maybe it's better this way. I need to go home. "I've read the ancient transcripts and they talk about our old lands. The beauty, the vistas and we were all magical! Do you understand? It wasn't just a few of us." He shook his head, frustrated. "We were whole, complete and our lives had real meaning. Surely, you've heard the same stories."
Lucinda poked her head out of the back holding an antique tea cup with a small chip in it, filled with hot tea. Carl got up to take the cup and turned back momentarily to Simon. "I'll be right back. Take a moment and get yourself together. Simon, if you let this thing absorb you, it'll end up being your whole life and you'll miss the wonders of this globe."
"Ship..."
Carl shook his head. "Okay, it's a ship but it's an amazing one that can still make a fulfilling life for you. And you remember magic! You can do magic now. Isn't that enough?" Carl turned without waiting for an answer, sensing the futility of the conversation and disappeared into the back with his tea.
Simon doubled over in pain and felt a gurgle in his throat, swallowing the taste of blood in his mouth. The darkness came over him, faster this time and he sat back up, his eyes entirely black. He was breathing harder, his chest rising and falling and his teeth were clenched. The last bit of Simon was still fighting the transformation, but it was too late. He stood up, his hands curled into fists. The dark magic sensed the one true intention in what was left of Simon's heart. "You get me, you really get me," he said in a hushed tone, a thin smile that never quite reached his eyes. He took off his glasses, sliding them into his coat pocket.