Paranormal Public: Elemental Darkness Part 8

Hey, Charlotte.

Rickys voice woke me up from my reverie. I was sleeping on our couch with a book about elemental earth mages propped open on my chest. When Ricky asked me about them, I told him the book was a fantasy, and above his head. He gave me a scathing look and informed me that he could understand anything I could and more - thats why he always had to calculate the tip when we went to restaurants, not that we did that very often.

My stepfather Carl had become, if it were possible, even more protective during the semester when Id been stuck at Golden Falls. Ricky was nearly frantic when I got home that summer, and I realized that Dacers having forced me to come back for one last time had been a good thing. I had a feeling Id end up having no chance to come home during senior year, and I also realized that I still wasnt ready to tell Ricky who or what I was and who or what he probably was.

It was an omission that would prove very difficult, because Ricky spent the entire summer pestering me about my college and the secrets he thought I was keeping. When I told him I didnt keep secrets from him, he rolled his eyes. He always knew when I was lying, which really didnt help matters one little bit.

When I finally got around to telling him, it was going to change his entire world, and I didnt want that for him yet. I would have to prove the existence of magic, of dream givers, and I wasnt sure how Ricky would react. Worse, it would take him away from everything hed ever known. I wanted to protect him for as long as possible.

The one thing I could sort of confide in him about, and did, was Keller. I had to leave out ma.s.sive chunks of the story of our relationship and what had pushed us apart, and in the end Ricky just ended up thinking that Keller was some rich kid whose family didnt approve of his dating an orphan whose stepdad didnt make any money.

He was an idiot to let you go, Ricky insisted for the millionth time since I had shown up at home for the summer, sad and dejected. Hows he going to find a girl more wonderful than you?

My little brothers grey eyes, so like my own, were wide. I hugged him tightly around the shoulders. Thank you, I whispered. I appreciate it. He stepped back from my grip and grinned at me.

Youre welcome, he said, his eyes lighting mischievously. Since Im so right about your stupid ex-boyfriend, will you tell me whatever secret you and dad are keeping?

Ricky, I groaned, picking up my book again, go away.

He folded his arms. I wont, he said. Sorry for bringing it up again. Keep telling me about Keller. Have you heard from him?

My heart sank. I hadnt. It had been a month. No contact, I whispered, hanging my head. I know he expected that his internship - thats what I was calling the thing his parents had him doing with Malle - would keep him really busy, though. Im not sure hed have time.

Ricky looked at me skeptically. He should have figured out a way.

I mean, it was as much me as it was him, I said, defending him. We both knew our paths were not leading to the same place.

Wheres yours leading again? asked Ricky, pretending confusion and scratching his head.

I grinned. Its leading me to dunk my little brother in a lake if he isnt careful.

Oh, threats, said Ricky. Id love to see you try. Youd have to use magic.

I dont know what sort of face I made, but Rickys eyebrows shot into the air. No need to look ill. I was only joking. Sheesh. Anyway, he said, standing up, Im off to Peters.

His friend lived down the street and Ricky often spent long afternoons there. Peters family was very welcoming, and I was sure that Peters mother spent a lot of time looking after my brother, since Carl missed a lot of the finer points of taking care of his child.

My stepfather and I hadnt talked about Ricky since I had left last time, but I felt that we had arrived at an unspoken understanding. We might not get along or ever like each other, but at least Ricky was the highest priority for both of us.

This time, Carl came into the room before Ricky could get out the door. Carl wasnt a tall or handsome man, he was more the rugged sort. For his entire adult life he had made a living working outdoors. There wasnt anything wrong with that, but I had always wondered why my mother, who loved entertaining and preferred an active social life, had married him. I still wondered.

He eyed me as I sat on the couch with my book. I had thought you wouldnt be here this summer. I thought youd have some fancy internship or something, he said gruffly. Instantly my hackles rose.

I just wanted to spend my last summer as a student with my little brother, I said, ruffling Ricky, who had started to look nervous, as if he was standing near a bomb and he thought it might explode.

Carl grunted again. If you ask me, youd be more useful working. Theyre hiring down at the grocery store if youre looking for work. He thumbed his hand in the direction of the nearby small town. Or you could go back to work at the coffee shop.

Thanks, I said, but I have a lot of studying to do this summer. The truth was that I was still searching for the Globe White, and I hoped to use these quiet weeks to figure out where it was. There had been no sign of Risper, and I could only hope that he was hot on its trail, but with Lisabelle gone we had no way of contacting him to find out.

I was also trying to practice my advanced spells, to be prepared for the time when we went to get Lisabelle back. Sip had made it clear that we werent leaving her with Malle or the Nocturns. Her exact words were, Darkness may call to darkness, but they need to add an extension line for me, because Lisabelles MY friend, and shes going to stay that way.

Lough and I had chuckled until wed seen just how serious Sip was. She had every intention of getting Lisabelle back with our help, even if it meant taking on all the demons, h.e.l.lhounds, and darkness mages in the world to do it.

You dont look like youre studying, Carl grumbled, bringing me back to the present. Looks like youre lazing about doing not much of nothing.

I raised my chin. Im working hard.

Carl stared hard at me, his small eyes angry. I knew he wanted to say something about magic, and how in the real world it didnt matter, but he couldnt bring it up with Ricky there.

Son, Carl growled, I thought you were going to Peters.

Ricky looked between us and sighed; he hated it when we fought. Then you came home. I thought we could all have dinner together, he said hopefully.

Carl didnt even look at him. Instead he said, Im just going to watch some TV. The TV was in the living room, where I was reading, but Carl turned it on anyway. He ignored both of us as he started to flip through channels.

I want you to work at the coffee shop, he said to me. No child of mine is going to laze around.

I slammed my book shut. He just wouldnt leave it alone, so fine, I thought. Before I stomped out of the living room I said over my shoulder, Neither of those things are true.

Ricky watched me slam out of the house and walk away in the bright summer sunshine, but I couldnt bring myself to comfort him.

I would never understand Carl or why he hated me so much.

Chapter Thirteen.

The coffee shop was under new ownership; a young couple from Alaska who wanted to make a go of it in Maine had bought it. I guess they were struggling a bit, because when they heard I had worked there years ago and already knew my way around, their faces lit up like it was Christmas.

Wed love to have you, said the open and smiling Nick. He was pale and thin, with a sprinkling of freckles over his nose and a wide smile.

Yes, gushed Nicole, his wife. She was short, with choppy blond hair and large brown eyes.

When can you start? Nicole asked.

I shrugged. Any time.

She smiled brightly. How about now?

I smiled back. I came to like Nick and Nicole a lot, and I was glad to be back with Ricky, so much so that I could almost ignore Carls surliness, and I almost forgot all the trouble in the paranormal world.

Almost.

And so the summer dragged on. I had gotten home at the end of May and it was now mid-July. Dacer had encouraged Sip and me to limit our correspondence, in case it was being intercepted. Contact Stones were not a terribly safe form of communication, so Sip started writing to me in code, as shed been doing with the articles she was still publishing in Tabble, contrary to Olivas orders. Apparently Caid wasnt pleased, and was starting to view Sip as something of a rival. I learned as much from Sips brief messages.

Given that my friend was still in college, we both found it kind of funny that the president of all the paranormals, who had sat down for a casual chat with Malle not that long ago, thought of Sip as compet.i.tion.

Lough also wrote, but his letters were entirely different. Never once did he mention Lisabelles name, but I knew better than to think it was because he didnt miss her.

He mostly wrote about Bartholem and how he had thought pets were wonderful until hed met that cat. To make matters worse, his parents loved the white fur ball of death, as Lough dubbed him. At least the dream giver had been upfront with his parents, explaining that Bartholem was his friends cat, and he was merely taking care of him.

Bartholem sleeps in my room, which boggles my mind, because all he does is meow the whole time Im asleep. I tried explaining to him that it was just rude, and how would he like it, but he just blinked his purple eyes at me and played dumb. We both know he knew what I was talking about. At first I thought it was because he was in a new place, but now hes made himself right at home and he still does it. Why couldnt we have gotten a dog?

Being in contact with my friends, even if somewhat irregularly, was the only thing that kept me sane that summer. I couldnt risk looking at Tabble much, in case Ricky found it, and I could only practice magic at night when I snuck into the woods to do it. Even then I was always afraid of being caught.

The other thing I spent a lot of time doing was writing letters to Keller, even though I knew hed never see them. It calmed me. They often went something like this: Dear Keller I miss you. Simple words I know, but it feels like you died. I know thats dramatic and I know its not true. Im just not sure its possible for me to be any sadder.

I would stare at the words for a long time. Somehow I felt closer to him for having written them, so I kept on writing all the while I was at home that summer. I told him how home was day to day and I always told him that I missed him. Once I was finished I burned the letters, because I didnt want them to fall into the wrong hands and be used against me, or worse, against him. Dear Keller, I miss you.

Often I would go to sleep and wait for Ricky to do the same. Then, once I knew the house was quiet, I would creep outside in the dark. The first time I tried it I stubbed my toe so hard on the banister, I was sure my friends all the way back at Public could hear me yelp in pain. But eventually I perfected the art of sneaking out without incident, making my way into the woods behind the house, wondering at all the protections we must be surrounded by. Sip had pointed out, in a somewhat amused voice, that I was our main protection, because Id yet to lose a battle to demons. I had merely scoffed, insisting that it was our friends, and the dragons, that had saved us. But shed kept that small smile on her face.

I looked up when I heard the jingle of the bell on the coffee shops door. It was the end of July, and I didnt care how much I liked Nick and Nicole, I was tired of the shop, tired of not knowing where the Globe White was, and very tired of not yet being allowed to return to Paranormal Public.

At least it was raining today, raining hard. I was glad of the wet weather, because it was the first relief in weeks from the oppressive summer heat. The summers in my home town werent usually so warm, and I wasnt used to it. Now the rain was coming down in sheets, pelting the pavement and creating little streams on the edges of the streets. I couldnt even see out the big front window except for the blur of color when a body scurried past in rain gear.

I brushed stray strands of brown hair off my forehead and picked up a bin filled with empty coffee mugs just as the door to the coffee shop opened. Then I flushed with pleasure.

A red-headed man stepped through the door. He wore black slacks and a black shirt with a red, silver, blue, white, and green stripe down each sleeve.

I hear this is the best coffee in town, said Cale, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amus.e.m.e.nt. I snorted and grinned, delighted to see my old friend.

Cale had been a year ahead of me at Public, so he would have graduated in May if he hadnt left college for the Paranormal Police Academy.

He looked older, more adult, and bigger. His red hair was cropped short and he was wearing the uniform of the new police force.

Its the only coffee in town, I said, smiling. So yeah, its awesome.

Cale grinned at me.

Right, well Id love a cup, and a good conversation. He took a seat at the coffee bar and I hurried to fill a mug, glancing at the door to the back room, where Nick was working on orders and accounts. Nicole hadnt come in yet.

I scurried around and put the mugs away so Nick couldnt accuse me of chatting when there was still work to be done. Then I took a seat next to Cale, who was sitting on a stool, cradling his mug in both hands.

How are you? he asked, his eyes filled with concern.

I wondered how much he already knew. He must have seen the silent question in my eyes, because he nodded and said, I heard all about Golden Falls. The Academy graduation is a week after Public is supposed to get out for the year, and it was the talk of the school.

I nodded in relief. I didnt want to have to tell him about Lisabelle, because every time I so much as thought of my friend, never mind having to talk about her, my throat tightened and my eyes burned. I wasnt sure Id be able to say her name. Ricky had made the mistake of asking about her once, and I had broken the plate Id been drying after a pizza dinner.

Im fine, I said, feeling my shoulders relax. Long summer.

Cale nodded sympathetically. For me, too.

How long are you here for?

He shrugged. Not long.

Cale smiled at me, but like all the paranormals Id seen since returning to Golden Falls, he had shadows behind his eyes. He kept looking around as if he expected us to be attacked at any moment. I wondered what sort of school the Paranormal Police Academy was.

Im sorry about . . . I started to say, wanting to tell him how sorry I was about Kia, but he looked at me sharply and held up his hand, giving another furtive glance over his shoulder.

Thanks, he said, looking at me again. I was pretty upset when I heard. I wanted to come right to Golden Falls, but of course my training wouldnt allow it.

We had a hard time being there, I said, not knowing what had happened to her.

Cale nodded sympathetically. I would have gone crazy. I got in touch with Camilla for the first time since we broke up. It wasnt easy, but you probably dont want to hear about it.

I wanted to tell him that I was nosy, and that Sip was a lover of gossip like no other, but before I could, he asked, Hows Ricky?

Before Cale had gone to the police academy, he had been around town and made sure my little brother was alright. Now I smiled, still grateful to Cale for taking care of him.

Hes good, I said. Hes taller every time I come home.

Cale chuckled. Yeah, I guess that happens.

So, tell me about the - but Cale again held up his hand to silence me, giving me an apologetic look.

I leaned over the counter, so that my voice was only a whisper. Is it really that dangerous?

He nodded. Its really that dangerous. Do you have any idea how many times demons have come after you this summer? Weve barely contained it. They finally gave up, but we have no idea why.

I racked my brain, but I couldnt think of another time when the demons had ever given up on their prey before.

I hope Olivas starting to regret leaving me here, I said angrily. I should be at Public with Sip.

My friend was the only one of us who had been allowed to stay on campus. It turned out that to no ones surprise but Sips, she was the number one student in our cla.s.s, and therefore, when she sweetly explained that she wanted to have access to the library over the summer, they bent over backwards to make that happen. Clearly their unhappiness with her Tabble articles didnt outweigh the value of having such an outstanding student a.s.sociated with Public.

Whats she doing there? Cale asked. How is the old place?

I could tell from the tone of his voice that he missed it. I dont know, I said. I was at Golden Falls and then I came here. At least the demons havent overrun it.

Like they did Vampire Locke? I cant believe Queen Lanca left it unguarded, said Cale heatedly.

I quirked an eyebrow at him, surprised by his strong words. This has been a topic of discussion at the Academy?

Cale looked sheepish.

Yeah, it came as a shock to our superiors when they were told that Vampire Locke was gone. Its really bad news, not just because the demons now have a place where they can consolidate their power, but also because it means well need forces to take it back, and our forces are already spread thin.

Its not like its her fault, I said defensively.