Green Mage, page 10
part #2 of Mackenzie Green Series
What the hell was I thinking? I just made out with the Dragon Protector! In front of a popular restaurant! Where everyone could see!
The kicker was, as freaked out as I was, I didn’t regret it.
I touched a finger to my lips as I slowly walked in the direction of home. My mind raced with what had just happened.
Why did he kiss me? Is this heat coursing through me normal? Why do I want to skip down the street like a child? Did I affect him the same way?
How the hell was I supposed to work with him now?
One thing was for sure, it would be a long time before I’d be able to face Lucan without blushing like a schoolgirl.
I rubbed my hands over my face. The cynical part of me threw out a comment from the deepest, darkest recesses in my brain. And like the paranoid fool I was, I grabbed onto it with both hands.
Lucan said it himself, you were his last resort. He has to make this look good.
My shoulders slumped. That had to be it. Lucan hated mercenaries. There was no way he’d be interested in someone like me.
“That seemed slightly more involved than a dinner meeting.” I jumped as Saber’s voice entered my mind.
Turning in a circle, I looked for my wayward cat in the shadows. “Did you follow me?”
What I got in return was the mental equivalent of a shrug.
“When I could not hear you during the first test, I decided to wander closer. By the time I was in range, I could sense that you were enjoying yourself. I did not want to interrupt.” I was happy to know Saber took my mental privacy seriously.
“How far from the house did you have to go before you could hear me?”
My shields dropped as my web pulsed out, allowing me to see and feel the life force of any living creature that came within fifty feet. Sparks of light dotted the web as grasses, trees, and a few people entered its field. The more life and magic the being had, the brighter the light.
“Interestingly enough, the wards around your property hampered our communication. As soon as I got outside them, I had no difficulty in reaching you. Curious, I decided to increase the distance. I have been reaching out, without initiating contact, every block for the last ten minutes.”
“Where are you now?” Despite my confusing feelings for Lucan, I was curious about this too.
“I have almost reached the border between what you call the neutral zone and Fenris territory.”
That had to be five or ten miles. Incredible. I guess that no matter how horrible his incarceration was, being surrounded by scientists all the time had amplified Saber’s inborn cat curiosity.
My phone chimed three times, and I paused for a moment. Scrolling through the messages, I saw that the boys had checked in. I had to read Connor’s twice.
Beefsteak: Hey, I’m still home. Saber took off about thirty minutes ago. I reminded him to check in. Brooke’s in her room but says she’s not going to message you. Apparently, she’s still mad. Hope you had a good dinner. Later.
I groaned at the nickname I hadn’t seen yet. Chris must have stolen my phone during my meeting with Lucan. She’d only changed my family’s names this time. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Even though Connor had the build of a line-backer, I didn’t need that mental image of him, ever!
My shoulders slumped as I thought about Brooke. It pushed all thoughts of Lucan and Saber aside.
“You are sad.” It looked like it wasn’t only thoughts I could share with my new friend.
“Yes. Brooke and I are fighting. I don’t know how to fix it.”
“Her scent is odd. I am sure she will mend her ways soon and come to seek your forgiveness.”
Saber’s words reminded me that I needed to look into Ben. Him showing up around the time her rebellion started was too much of a coincidence.
My home loomed. Ten feet from the front door, my wards washed over me. I fed energy into the field. Every time I put power in, the wards became stronger. In a year or so, no one would be strong enough to get through uninvited.
The two-story warehouse screamed dilapidated—an illusion I was reluctant to change. It provided one more layer of security.
Two sets of fifteen-foot high double doors dominated the front, stacked one on top of the other. The lower pair stayed locked, a massive chain looped through the handles. Besides hinting at abandonment, they were impractical for everyday use. The upper set locked from the inside, and Connor used them occasionally to bring raw materials to his forge.
I opened the main door on the right of the monstrous double doors. The first room held odds and ends, including five bicycles. It was narrow but ran the entire width of the building.
A second locked door opened into the core part of the house. As I stepped through, a massive staircase to the left would take me to the second floor, while if I continued forward, I’d enter the open concept living, kitchen, and dining room.
Darkness greeted me—it was early, but everyone must have gone to bed. I sighed. It was cowardly, but I was glad I wouldn’t have to talk to Brooke until morning.
***
I knew it was a dream because no matter how hard I tried, I could only move at a snail's pace, and no matter how much I wanted to alter the course, it always ended the same.
It started at the orphanage I’d lived in after my parents died. It was crowded, smelly, and unclean, but it hadn’t been all bad. I’d forgotten the small amount of good that had been part of my time there. It was buried deep beneath the pain and anger. That good came in the tiny hands of a girl and the slightly larger ones of a boy.
They’d arrived long before I did, and when the matron of the orphanage shoved me into the room and told me to fend for myself, they’d elbowed through the crowd and brought me into their circle.
There was a hole in my heart to this day because when the government had broken me, before Alec and Tyr pulled me back, I’d forgotten their names.
“…” The boy shouted my true name, but it was another thing I’d lost in the darkness. His face blurred. The only thing in focus was his dirty blonde hair.
My dream mouth opened, and a name rolled off, but it came out muffled, unclear.
“It’s okay, …” My name again, indistinct. He turned to the other girl and called to her too “… and I will protect you. You’re family now.”
In the dream, I looked over to the girl standing next to him. Her features were as distorted as his, except for her hair. It was light gold and framed her face in tight ringlets.
I sniffled and the dream moved on. The grandmotherly lady who’d smelled of cookies had chosen the three of us at the same time. When the dream settled again, we were each tied to beds, the boy on my right and the girl on my left. We’d survived the first treatment, and the boy was fighting his bonds, desperate to escape. The girl did the same.
“Come on, …! Try.” At only six, he was far braver than I.
I didn’t, not in my dream, not in real life.
The dream shifted a third time. If it followed the pattern of the ones before it, this would be the last time. The boy lay to my left now, tears streaming down his face.
“She’s gone, …! They took her from me, us.”
The boy's heartbreak was unmistakable. I felt hot tears wet my face, a difference from the actual event. At the time, I’d been all out of tears.
I opened my mouth to tell him it would be ok, that we’d avenge her, anything to stop the painful look in his eye. But nothing came out.
He looked me in the eye. “You lost me too. You’re all alone.”
My dream tears coursed harder, and the boy faded. The sound of wheels squeaking on stone floors jolted me awake.
Light filtered through my window and I groaned as my heart slowed from its racing speed. The area under my eyes pinched as the dried salty mixture of my tears pulled at the skin. Not ready to get up, I snuggled deeper, the dream fading as I left sleep behind.
Finally, I got out and showered. I had a lot to do today, and I couldn’t waste it being lazy or sad. With a towel wrapped around me, I went to dress, forever grateful that my bedroom had an attached bathroom. Nothing sucked more than waiting for a teenager to finish primping.
Clothed and my weapons in place, I headed out to breakfast—or what should have been breakfast. Connor and Tyr were at the table eating cold cereal. Brooke, who usually cooked, was absent.
“Brooke not up to cooking this morning?” I kept my voice light, non-judgmental.
The boys looked at me. “She’s making a statement. If she can’t have a friend over for breakfast, we're on our own,” Connor said. He shrugged his shoulders, but there was a slight bite to his next words. “She’s just having a hissy fit. She’s forgotten that it wasn’t so long ago we were eating out of garbage cans. Eating cold cereal for breakfast isn’t so bad.”
Tyr nodded, and I could sense he was just as frustrated with our sister.
“Has she come out of her room yet?” I needed to talk to her and couldn’t put it off any longer.
“She was out for a bit last night, but she spent most of the evening in her room. She left for school about ten minutes ago,” Tyr spoke softly before scooping more cereal into his mouth.
Saber took that moment to wander down the stairs from the second level. He prowled over next to me, and I reached in to give his head a scratch.
I glanced at my watch—an old-fashioned thing with a ridiculous number of gears. It was only seven. Brooke’s school didn’t even open until eight.
“Was she meeting with friends? I don’t like that Ben kid. There’s something hinky about him.” All three boys looked at me.
“He seemed normal yesterday. Do you have anything to back up your feelings or are they just that—feelings?” Connor asked.
He was smirking, no doubt assuming I was being overprotective. It was as if he’d completely forgotten his own feelings about Ben. Connor hadn’t been any happier at the time. I added it to the file of weird things that seemed to happen around the boy.
“You’re right, I don’t have anything concrete. Not yet. But it’s more than just a feeling.”
Connor continued to smile. Tyr’s eyes glowed red. Guardian was testing the waters, seeing if I needed him. Not sensing any immediate threat, the being faded quickly. Saber stayed quiet but seemed to be mulling my words over.
“Is the boy a mage?” he asked, and from the slight strain I could feel in his mind’s voice, he was making an effort to include the others. Good, the practice would help strengthen his underdeveloped mental muscles.
Connor spoke before I could answer. “No, the kid’s human. Kenzie’s just paranoid about everyone.”
He didn’t say it with malice or even a hint of annoyance, but I still felt a pang.
I spoke to Saber, not ready for Connor to see the flash of hurt his words inadvertently caused. “So Brooke says, but there was a subtle niggling in my mind when I spoke to him. I found myself agreeing with things he was saying too easily.”
Saber nodded, then went to munch down on the cereal Connor had placed in a bowl on the floor for him.
“Hang on a minute. Why are you eating cereal?” I asked, momentarily distracted. I had figured Saber would prefer meat for his meals.
“Because it is tasty, and I’ve never had it before.”
His dry response had Connor laughing so hard, he started to choke on his own breakfast.
Having gotten his fit under control, Connor added, “We had a talk last night about food, sleeping, and such.” He shrugged his big shoulders. “The cat made a point. How would he know what he likes if he didn’t experience things and make an assessment?” My brother’s metallic eyes crinkled with humor. “He’s going to shadow me for a week, then Tyr, then whoever the hell else he wants. Whatever I try, he wants to try too.”
I smiled, happy to see my new friend settling in.
Tyr’s next words brought us back to the elephant in the room. “Guardian sensed something too, but he’s not sure what.” He crossed his arms in front of him, his bowl empty. I gave him a small smile, glad he was at least considering the possibility that something odd was going on.
“Thank Guardian for me. Ask him to pass along any insight. I’d be grateful.”
Tyr’s eyes flashed again at my words. He nodded. Guardian had heard and would do as I asked.
I turned to leave. Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry anymore.
“Tell Brooke I want to talk to her. If she doesn’t call me, I expect her here tonight. We’re going to work this out. No more stewing.”
The boys nodded. I was confident Connor would pass the message along when he got to school.
Connor and Brooke attended the best school in the city. They’d gotten in on a scholarship soon after we’d settled. Connor was in his last year, and he’d found a Master he wanted to apprentice under.
Brooke had another two years, and she’d bounced back and forth between studies trying to find out what she wanted to do. Despite her driving me up the wall at the moment, I was willing to support her, whatever she decided.
I didn’t remember anything between leaving my house and Market Row, my thoughts too overwhelming, but the delicious smell of pastries wafting in my direction finally brought me back to the present. I pulled over and headed for what was fast becoming my favorite food stall and noticed I had a shadow. Saber, it seemed, wanted to hang with me today.
Carrie Townsend created excellent meat pasties that melted in your mouth. I’d met her a few weeks ago during my hunt for Lucan’s niece. We’d become friends when I’d had some fun with a couple of undercover police officers, giving her time to get away.
One of the officers was an alright guy. He was the one to suggest the upcoming competition that Carrie had won, and now, thanks to him, she had a successful, growing business.
The line in front of her stall was five people deep. Two figures darted back and forth behind the counter. I took my place in line and looked around. The person ahead of me glanced back. His brown eyes and dark skin were familiar. A smile caused deep lines to crinkle around his eyes. He shifted to face me fully.
My confusion must have been evident because he held out a hand. “So, we meet again. You know, Ellison still bitches about the day you tripped him.”
It all fell into place. How had I not recognized him? I was just thinking about him as I walked up. This guy was one of the undercover cops. Go figure.
I shook his hand, impressed he’d offered it with Saber’s bulky, menacing presence next to me. “It was a good learning experience. The kid needs to learn to curb his ego. It’s the only way to earn respect.”
The older man chuckled and I gestured to the cat next to me. “This is Saber, my familiar.”
“Hello, Saber. I haven’t seen an animal like you before. Bet however you two met is an interesting tale.”
Saber declined to answer him and simply stared unblinkingly at the man I’d nicknamed Mentor. I mentally shrugged.
When he didn’t get a response, he turned back to me. “You’re right. I’d love to tell you that Ellison’s learned his lesson, but he may have to be humiliated a few more times for it to sink in.”
There was a deep twinkle in his eye. The man before me didn’t take life too seriously.
I laughed as we moved forward. “I’m not sure humility is something you can teach. It has to come from the inside.” He smiled, and I decided to take a chance and introduce myself. “I’m Mackenzie, by the way, Lifer for Catch and Release.”
“Nick, Senior Patrolman for the New City Wardens.” Wow, Nick was high up—an accomplishment for someone I pegged to be in their early thirties. “I’ve worked with a couple of Jack’s from your guild. Good people.”
“Our Guild Master is known for finding the best,” I said.
We moved forward again. It was almost Nick’s turn.
“You come here often?” I asked. I was surprised to see him here. New City folk didn’t often slum it in the south side market.
“Well, your pasties looked so good that day, I decided I had to try some.” He glanced at the stall. “After the last vendor’s contest, I came back and searched your girl out. Best decision I’ve ever made. Now I can’t go a week without having my pasty fix.”
His stomach grumbled just in time. The person ahead of him finished.
“What are you getting?” Nick asked, and Saber chuffed. I narrowed my eyes at the cat. Why the hell was he laughing?
“I can get mine, thanks.”
Not that Carrie would let me pay. But if she wasn’t determined to repay what she deemed was “the best thing to happen to her ever,” I would cover my own. I was nobody’s charity case.
“Not what I asked.” Nick smiled, and Saber made another amused chuffing sound.
“Something to say, oh mighty feline?” I looked pointedly at my cat.
Saber didn’t say anything, but his purple and teal eyes narrowed and he grinned, showing his massive fangs. I wanted to throttle him.
I sighed. Nick seemed like the type of guy to keep asking until I caved in. “The three meat pasties for ten.”
A part of me felt bad, like I was conning the man, but he seemed happy that I’d answered, and at least Carrie would be getting the extra income out of it. Maybe I’d use my freebees to feed my persnickety familiar.
Nick nodded, turned to the counter, and ordered six meat pasties. He handed over the money and turned back to me.
“Don’t think of this as charity. Consider this a thank-you. Ellison needed to learn a lesson, and you did it in a semi-legit way.”
Carrie handed him the two bags. When she noticed me, she beamed. “Kenzie! So good to see you. Should I get your usual ready?”
I pointed to my cat, and she got the hint.
“I’m being treated today, Carrie.” I smiled at Nick. He handed me my bag with a grin.
“Ohhh, a man treating a lady. Nice,” she teased, then handed me a bag for Saber.
I smiled. This was nice. “Well, thank you, Nick. Maybe I can return the favor one day.”
He smiled in return, and Saber’s chuffs became a genuine barking laugh. I might have to call Curtis and tell him my familiar died a tragic, unforeseen death.
“I hope so.”
