From the tank, Sylvia shook her head, frantic.
Haseya looked up, amused. “I created this space. Do you think, in here, your magic is more powerful than mine?” Her smile flashed and Rafi felt stupid.
“Forgive me, Healer. I’m still figuring out the new, less vengeful Rafi.”
“You are different. There is much more depth within your spirit.” She rose and poked her fire. “It’s time to bring the witches to remove the spell Sylvia dwells in, so she can learn her new self.”
She’s leaving, I could end Pirro once and for all. Rafi’s eyes locked on Pirro’s as he lay, partially healed but still violently twisted. But, I won’t. I don’t need to. Pirro is learning here, he is less shredded in spirit. Perhaps, Haseya is mending more than bone, muscle, and life force.
As quickly as she left, Haseya returned, accompanied by Topper and Elthera, one of the oldest witches in Magic.
Sylvia recognized them from her visit years before. They had been so lively and interested in her, asking the funniest questions. Now it all made sense. Who would ask, as they are meeting you for the first time, whether you like fish? Or if you see well at night, or how long can you hold your breath underwater? It seemed odd then, but I’m grateful they may have an answer for me.
“Do you remember us?” Topper’s hair was a bright blue today. Elthera shuffled along the tank wearing a black lace gown and peering in with an interested look.
“Look, Topper. She’s a full-blown Nixe. She may command close to full use of both Nixe and Dragon magical powers. My dear,” she continued, addressing Sylvia, “you will be a force if that is your lot. After talking with Theo about that stunt you managed at the reservoir, while under a full protection in absentia spell, well, child, I’m impressed. Trust me, we older witches have seen a lot.”
“Sylvia, we plan to try lifting the spells; this will be unpleasant at first. Don’t worry if you feel sick,” Topper told her. “Are you ready?”
“I am. I know I need to have it removed even if it alters my life forever.”
“Let’s begin.” Topper produced a potion from her pocket. “Drink this, please.”
Her fingers shaking slightly, Sylvia took the vial and tipped it down her throat. “This is the oddest sensation, as though a million little locks are in me, and keys are turning.”
“That was for your dragon side,” Elthera told her. “My work. We elders know the value of a good potion. I realized that the witch they consulted put the spells on in a specific order. So, combining an unlocking spell with the dragon release would allow that side to engage.” She peered, eyes squinting with a touch of concern. “Are you all right, Sylvia?”
“I don’t feel so goo...” Sylvia flicked her tail towards the side of her tank, grabbing the edge and pulling up, ready to throw up. As some liquid flew from her mouth, the vomit changed to dragon fire, shooting across the hut.
Haseya flicked her hands and protective bubbles formed over Pirro, Zayn and the baby, Rafi, Topper, and Elthera. Hands flying, Haseya caught the stream of fire and reduced it to a floating ball. She lay the ball into her cooking fire, glancing up at Sylvia’s shocked face.
“It would appear the dragon is waking.”
Sylvia burped, and another fireball flew out, followed by a ball of smoke. She tried to swallow, then coughed, shooting sparks. Haseya released Topper and Elthera from their protection, and the two exchanged a glance.
“How is your tummy?” Topper asked.
“Not so sick, but tight inside, like I’m all squeezed...” Sylvia’s voice trailed off as she shook in the water, bouncing off the sides of her tank in a frenzy.
“Ready?” Topper murmured to Elthera.
“Ready.”
A dragon tail shot out of Sylvia’s backside, smashing through the glass of the tank as she fell belly first to the floor, her Nixe tail in place below the dragon one. She pushed her chest up with her hands, frightened, looking for water, struggling to breathe.
“Now!” Topper commanded. She and Elthera shot two spells directly at Sylvia’s chest. The power of them flipped her onto her back; with an odd zipping sound of retracting bone, the dragon tail receded. Sylvia thrashed on the wet, muddy floor of the hut as her Nixe features shifted, her human form swimming to the surface. As the last of the scales flipped under, she knelt, surrounded by glass, naked except for her long wet curls hanging over her breasts to her thighs.
Haseya sent a cloth through the air, and it landed on Sylvia, who wrapped it like a towel around her body and stood.
Topper waved her hands, and the broken glass vanished. Haseya dropped the shielding from the rest of the group, and they all looked at Sylvia.
“Tell me what is happening inside,” Topper cocked her head, curiosity evident.
“Like things are sorting. Does that sound odd?”
“Not one bit.” Elthera clapped her hands. “I think we did it!”
Sylvia tucked herself into Rafi’s arms, eyes glowing. “I understand why Theo eats like he does. I’m starving!”
THEO TAPPED ON THE door of Rafi’s hotel room, hugging Sylvia when she opened it. She looks amazing. At peace, and her full magic is showing. Damn, she’s powerful. The Kid is all grown up.
“So, catch me up,” Theo said, easing into the single chair in the room. Sylvia snuggled under Rafi’s arm as he lounged against the headboard.
“I am on an official leave of absence for six weeks. At that point, depending on how I’m doing with understanding my magic, I’ll either return because I think science is where I’ll make the biggest difference, or I’ll resign, and try living in a new lane.”
“We plan to come and stay in Magic for that time span,” Rafi added. “You can help Sylvia with her dragon mastery, and if she gets into trouble, the witches can plunk her into some water and get her sorted. The witches impressed me; they are kind, powerful, and smart.”
“That they are,” Theo agreed. “So, O’Leary’s?”
“Yes, we’re having a little goodbye party. After all of Sean’s help, where else?”
Rafi got up, holding the door for Sylvia and Theo, and they made their way around the corner to the pub.
“Rafi,” Sean called as they stepped through his door, “I’m glad to see you and sorry to see you go.”
In the far corner, Sean’s father raised his stein, and Rafi smiled. “I will miss this place, and you, my friend.”
Theo turned to the door jingle and watched Boggus and Murphy walk in, heading towards their group.
“Theo,” Murphy said, shaking his hand, “I understand you are leaving. Sylvia too? Heading back to Magic?”
“We are. She’s taking a leave from her job, and she and Rafi are coming out to stay with me for a few weeks. It’ll give her a chance to wind up the insurance claim with her house and decide what she wants to do.”
“I’m interested in an opportunity with more field work,” Sylvia chimed in, “and we’re in talks to see if that’s a possibility.”
“I’ve read a bit of your work,” Boggus told her. “You are a rising star. I hope things work out well for you.”
“I read about the Chiles in the paper,” Rafi commented. “That is an amazing natural phenomenon. I never expected that reservoir to restore.”
“Nobody did,” Murphy replied, giving Rafi a considering look. “Hillsborough County dodged a bullet by reclaiming that water. You might say,” Murphy leaned in and lowered his voice, “it was an act of balance.”
Dark and green eyes met, and Rafi smiled. “It seems that way, Detective. Nature seeks a balance in all things.”
A couple hours later, Tina walked in the door with Puddles.
“You better?” Sean asked, mixing a drink.
“Much. Thank you for your understanding the other day.”
Sean pushed a Cosmos across the bar. “On me. Now get that mutt out to the beer garden. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
“On my way!” Tina blew him a kiss, following MP through the door to stories, h
ugs, and goodbyes.
A few hours later, Tina, Sylvia, and Puddles sat tucked into a corner, laughing. Tina looked at her.
“Is this a snap, Sly?”
“Nope. My best friend told me to make sure I’m living in this life, TNT. I took the advice! How’s your Mama?”
“We find out next week, but my gut says we’re OK. I still don’t remember making that drive, but something made me go and that alone meant the world to Mama.”
Sylvia, knowing Haseya took Tina and her car to Miami, thought things would turn out fine.
THE CAB DROPPED THEM at the rental car place, and Sylvia went in. A few minutes later, she came out, keys jingling, as the employee pointed to the SUV. They climbed in, setting Puddles up with his bed and a toy in the cargo area.
“You aren’t anywhere near ready to try a flight that long, Sis, and we can’t fly in planes. The scanners in security don’t like our bone structure for some reason.” Theo’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and Sylvia laughed. I feel at peace, and happy. Like a child in a way. Real.
“Perhaps, when we get to Magic,” Rafi mused, “you can teach me how to drive. I’ve never needed to, but it looks entertaining.”
“Done,” Theo replied. “There’s a lot of desert to play with there. ”
Sylvia blew out a sigh, looking at Tampa sliding away. I wonder if I’m turning a page. A whole new life scooped me up. I will learn to fly! This has been one hell of an extended vacation.
Rafi leaned over and kissed her ear, murmuring, “We are at the edge of something new, love. This is our beginning.”
THEY DROPPED THE SUV at the airport and took a cab to a little mom and pop hotel on the edge of town.
“Let’s rest for a couple hours, then we’ll fly into Magic,” Theo said.
At four in the morning, they stepped around back. Theo stripped and shifted while Rafi vanished to smoke. Sylvia gathered up all their clothes into a bundle, set Puddles up on Theo’s neck, grabbed the crook behind Theo’s wing and pulled herself onto Theo’s back.
The great head turned, yellow eyes gleaming in inquiry. Sylvia blew out her breath, tucking MP into her, giving Theo a grin.
“Let’s fly!”
Chapter Twenty
Theo landed behind the jail in a cloud of dust. Sylvia slid off, heading in the back door with Puddles on her heels, while Theo and Rafi shifted and dressed.
“May I help you?”
Holy crap! This guy looks like an alien! “Um, no thank you. I’m Sylvia, Theo’s sister. We landed out back.”
“Welcome to Magic. I’m Frost. It’s nice to have you here.”
“Morning, Frost.” Theo’s boots thudded across the wooden floor, Rafi following behind him
“Theo, welcome back.”
“This is Rafi, a Djinn. He’s visiting with Sylvia.”
“Nice to meet you. Say, Theo, Topper asked about you. She’d like you to drop by.”
“We’ll head over to Topper’s, then I’ll come back and take over. Thanks for covering for so long, Frost.”
Frost nodded, pointing at the map at Sylvia’s new dot.
“At last,” Theo said, as Sylvia and Rafi moved to look. “Welcome to Magic, Kid.”
THEO TROTTED UP THE steps of the big porch, tapped on the door and let himself in. “Topper, you looking for us?”
“I am! Do you have your truck? Care to take a little ride?”
Rafi, Sylvia and MP hopped in the back, and with Topper’s instructions, Theo soon pulled up to a little house.
“Go on in, Sylvia, take a peek. Theo called me after the roof blew, and I did what I could.”
She shot a puzzled glance at Rafi, the two climbed the steps and went into the little house. Inside the door, Sylvia came to a dead stop. This is my house! These are all my things! My laptop! Oh! Here are my theses, my diplomas, my pictures! Puddles turned around and plopped on his doggie bed, favorite chew toy in his mouth. We’re home. Her knees gave out and Rafi caught her as she tumbled, overwhelmed.
“I said goodbye to these memories, knowing I had to let go, and now, everything is here. Rafi, it’s like Pirro never exploded my life! The pieces returned just as life heads into uncharted territory. These mementos are a touchstone to the past. I can’t believe Topper did this.”
She turned, wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him, letting him lift her as tears of gratitude flowed. He held her till the storm subsided, then set her down and knelt before her.
“There was so much I needed to learn about humans, Sylvia, and your grace in loving and teaching fill me like food after a fast. You are my one, the only star in the firmament. In your eyes, I swim in all the seas, buoyed by your fathomless love. All I can ask is for permission to love you forever. Will you grant me that wish?”
The cerulean blaze of her eyes was all the answer needed.
THE TRUCK ROLLED TO a stop in the middle of nowhere, and Sylvia, Topper, and Theo climbed out.
“If you shift in your clothes, they will shred to bits. I’ve gone through a lot of jeans.” Theo’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “You’ll end up caching stashes of clothing all over the place. That helps, but you’ll still end up naked and kicking yourself for poor planning. But, that’s a lesson for another time. Today, Topper will give you some privacy while we practice.”
Theo stepped to the other side of the truck and stripped, laying his jeans and shirt on the seat, laying his boots on the floorboard. As he walked and shifted, wings erupted from his shoulders, and smooth leathery scales layered across his body as his snout grew and his tail built out behind him. The sun glinted off him in an orange shimmer; he waited in the warm, late June sun, puffing smoke and sparks.
He looks happy. Sylvia watched Topper wave her hand, producing a large screen. She undressed, pushing into her mind for the keys to unlock the dragon side. My shoulders itch. Shaking them, blue wings pushed through her upper back, unfurling with a slow snap. Holy crap!
Blue leathery skin grew across her body. My legs feel weird, like super strong. She glanced down and jumped, rising and landing with a thud. Hindquarters. I’ve got hindquarters and a tail! It’s gotta be twenty-feet long! She looked at Topper and realized she could see for miles beyond her. Curious, she lifted a hand, looking at a clawed... foot? hand? I don’t know what to call my parts! and touched her face. A snout and a long neck rewarded her curiosity.
Topper whooped. “You did it!”
Sylvia thudded from behind the screen and Theo nodded in approval. “Remember Kid, you can’t get hurt, so don’t be timid.”
She nodded. Eyes on hers, he whomped his wings down, lifting his feet off the ground. She copied, rising and landing with a stumble. Theo began a short run, punctuated with hard down beats of his wings, and lifted off.
Oh boy, here goes nothing. She ran, wings beating and tail dragging until she was airborne. I did it, I’m flying! Theo led her through maneuvers, turning, diving, and flowing in flight. She looked across the desert, seeing a herd of pronghorn antelope, and miles away, a flat, circular depression. Up here, I am everything. This sense of freedom is absolute.
Theo landed, wings scooping the air, extending his hind feet forward as he ran out of the sky, slowing to a stop. A cloud of dust rose around his belly as he turned to watch her try a landing.
Sylvia came in, scooping her wings and kicking her back legs forward. The result was a half somersault in the air that landed her flat on her back in a huge puff of flying sand, skidding across the desert, and raising a cloud of dust twenty-feet in the air. She slowed to a stop a few yards from Theo. She rolled and got to her feet, sneezing sparks, and shook out her wings.
“Not bad, Kid. Try again?”
“Oh, yeah!”
THEY STOOD IN THE LITTLE town square. Sylvia wore a shimmering dress of sea colors, and Rafi towered in a red silk chola and turban.
“I pronounce you husband and wife,” Theo said, the crowd whooping as Sylvia and Rafi kissed.
“Thank you, big brother,” Sylvia
whispered as they hugged. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Sis. There’s a little something on your table when you get home.”
“Sylvia, I left you a little gift,” Topper said, with her trademark sassy grin. “It’s by the back door.”
They shared a wonderful meal with their new magical neighbors. I’ll be a month trying to learn all the names. I’m not sure I can leave this. It feels so right.
As the cake plates cleared, Rafi bent down, kissing the curves of her ear, and murmured, “It’s time for us to go, my love. I can’t wait to peel that dress off you and expose your true beauty.”
Blue eyes glowing, she caught his hand. Theo drove them back to the little house. Rafi scooped her up, carrying her inside the door before kissing her with thorough attention to detail and setting her down. On the table was a cardboard box.
“Go on, find out what’s inside. We have the remainder of time to be lovers,” he teased.
In the box were pictures, scrolls, and journals. A folded note was on top.
DEAR THEO,
I’m sending this because you are old enough to learn everything about yourself. You are special, Son, and I am proud of you.
A witch placed a spell on both you and your sister, one I agreed with, to make it so your mother could raise you without drawing difficult questions or attracting enemy attention. Any competent witch can lift the protection spell on you. When reversed, it will unleash your dragon. I believe, given your natural protective temperament, that you will use this magic well.
Your sister is similarly protected, but in multiple spells, because my darling Nixelle was a Nixe, and this combination of entities required more complicated spells to keep Sylvia safe. Still, I hope you will find a talented witch who can release her. When you do, share the contents of this box with her.
I check in on you, and Sylvia too, and there is no prouder father in all the Universe. Be strong in your magic, true to your past and bold in your future.
Swimming for Air Page 11
