by Chris Cannon
“In a way it is. People travel from all over the world, looking for a cure for rare cancers and diseases. Legitimate doctors work there. They run tests. If there is no other treatment, the demons make an offer. Ten years of health for their soul.”
“That’s wrong,” Jake said. “They’re preying on people who don’t have anywhere else to turn.”
“That’s what they do,” Zelda said. “And that’s why so many people say yes. They sign a contract and go back to their lives and make payments or ignore the problem for ten years until Bane or someone like him shows up to collect.”
“How did you end up fighting against them?” I asked. “Not to be rude, but if I’d known all of the strange crap that went on around here, I would’ve moved out a long time ago.”
Zelda spooned some chicken fried rice onto her plate. “Knowledge is passed down through families. We believed we were fighting the good fight. I’m the first witch in my line to screw up this badly. So is Carol.” She looked at me. “You never knew your grandmother, but she refused the call. She didn’t want anything to do with magic. Sometimes I wonder if your mother would have been better off if she had.”
“My family practiced magic?” Zelda must be confused. I didn’t have many memories of my grandmother. Then again, she’d passed away when I was five. What I knew of her came more from the photos in my mom’s albums than from actual experience.
“I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t part of one of the original lines,” the cat said from the floor. “Since Zelda and Carol have been contracted to Bane, the magical balance in Crossroads has been disrupted.”
Mystery of the talking cat solved. I looked down at him. “What’s your name?”
“Sage.”
“Okay, Sage. Where did you come from?” Was there an abundance of talking cats running around, waiting for a witch-in-training to pop up?
“Familiars exist in nature all of the time. We don’t come until we are needed.”
“Needed for what?” Jake asked. “I mean, what can you do?”
Sage gave him a look which clearly said, “Bite me.”
“No offense,” Jake said. “It’s just that I’ve met Goblin. He follows Carol around, but I don’t know how familiars help witches.”
“When yours shows up you’ll figure it out,” Sage said.
“What?” Jake and I said at the same time.
“You must have potential,” Sage said. “Or all these supernaturals wouldn’t be after you.”
“Are you sure about that no whiskey rule?” Jake asked his aunt like he was sort of joking.
“Sage, do you sense magic in Jake?” Zelda asked.
The air around Sage shimmered and then he stretched up and out, becoming a dark-skinned man with silvery green-gray eyes and close-cropped black hair. His angular cheekbones gave him a feline look. He could have walked down any runway in Paris and made a fortune for some lucky designer.
He sat in the only empty seat at the table, tilted his head, and stared at Jake. “There is something about you that is not quite ordinary.” Sage reached out and plucked a strand of Jake’s hair and sniffed it…like that was the most normal thing in the world to do.
“Dude.” Jake pushed his chair a few inches away from the table.
Sage grinned. “I can smell magic on him, but it’s faint. Might be left over from his fairy possession.” He turned his smile on me. “Your magic is like a single rose that burst into bloom.” He pointed at Zelda. “And you, my lovely lady, are a bouquet of lavender and jasmine.”
Zelda blushed. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a long time.”
“There are familiars who would love to be by your side. Send out a call and you will have a loyal companion once again.”
Zelda’s smile faltered. “I’m not ready.”
“What’s he talking about?” Jake asked.
“One of us was with her for two decades. After he passed, she refused any other,” Sage explained.
“It hasn’t felt right,” Zelda said. “When it does, I’ll know.”
“Sage might need to stay with you until I clear things with my dad,” I said.
“I’m more concerned with your feline friends.”
“How do you know that I have cats?”
He tapped his nose. “I can smell them. The white one is soft and sweet but the orange tabby will not be pleased.”
“Marshmallow pretty much loves everyone, but Pumpkin has a scratch-first-and-make-no-apologies-later policy. I’m the only one who can pet him.” Wait a minute. “They are normal cats…right?”
He nodded. “They are extraordinary as all felines are, but in a purely non-magical way. I can stay with Zelda tonight while you talk to your family and I’ll go home with you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” What else could I say? Sorry, magical cat-guy. I’m not interested, but that seemed rude.
…
Jake
“So you’re going to let this guy move in with you?” I asked Meena. And now I sounded like a jealous jerk…which I kind of was. It’s not like I was insecure about my looks. I was a normal guy. Sage was movie-star material.
“You don’t trust me?” Sage sounded amused.
“I don’t know you,” I said. “Neither does Meena. You showed up on the front porch and we’re supposed to believe you have her best interests at heart?”
“Not a trusting sort, are you?” Sage said.
“No.”
“I trust him, Jake,” Meena said. “I like cats more than most people, so maybe that’s why.”
I hoped my aunt would intervene.
“It’s okay, Jake. Familiars are loyal friends. They keep their witch company and help with spells. They also alert the witch to other magical creatures, which helps keep us safe.”
I still had questions. “So are you a cat that can turn into a person or a person that can turn into a cat?” Because in my mind those were two different things.
“I am what I am.” Sage stretched and yawned. “I think I’m going to have a nap in a sunbeam on the back porch.” The air shimmered, and Sage’s arms and legs contracted into his body and then his body contracted toward his head and then his face was gone and poof, he was a cat.
With a meow, he hopped off the chair and headed for the back porch.
“That was interesting,” Meena said.
“What’s the ratio of normal people to supernatural creatures in this town?” I was tired of being blindsided.
“It’s about sixty-forty,” said Aunt Zelda. “Most of the older families that settled here have some connection to magic. The authorities know about the different factions that live here and they expect everyone to abide by certain rules. They allow the vampires and demons certain leeway, but they do their best to protect everyone from harm.”
“The witches,” Meena said. “Are they all like you and Carol, trying to protect people from demons?”
“Unfortunately, no. Carol’s line and mine have always tried to keep the demons in check. Other witches use their powers for personal gain. The mayor’s family have used their skills to make sure that someone from their line holds the town charter at all times.”
“So they own the town?” I asked.
“In a sense. The charter gives them the ability to hold their own against the demons. Otherwise, the demons could claim the entire town rather than the dimension beneath it.”
Thunder crashed outside, making all of us jump. And then it started to pour.
“Is that normal?” I pointed out the kitchen window. “Or does that mean some sort of weather demon is coming to get us?”
“Ninety percent chance it’s natural,” Zelda said.
Meena swallowed a mouthful of chicken fried rice and sipped her water before speaking. “Back to the demons. Are you saying there is a demon dimension attached
to this town?”
“There are always other dimensions around us. But the demons are physically tied to the crossroads. So the demon dimension is like a layer underneath the town.”
“I…I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with that reality,” Meena said.
“Unfortunately, ignoring it won’t make it go away.” Zelda dipped a crab rangoon into the sweet and sour sauce. “The best we can do is try to keep the balance of power intact. If the demons were ever to take possession of the charter, our entire town would be sucked into the demon realm.”
“That sounds fun.” I shoved an entire crab rangoon into my mouth.
“Not the word I’d use to describe it,” Meena said. “Since we’re talking magic and deals and otherworldly dimensions, is there any magic that can break these contracts with Bane…something so you and Carol and I could all go back to our normal lives?”
“I’ve been looking into that,” Zelda said. “Since you’re peripherally tied to Carol I’m hoping there’s some way to end your contract. Unfortunately, Carol and I don’t have much wiggle room.”
Meena slumped in her chair. “There’s something else…about my mom…could we use magic to wake her from the coma?”
Zelda frowned. “Due to her lineage, your mother should have some residual magic power inside of her. If you could reach that, there is a slim chance you could spark life back into her body, but I have no idea how catastrophic the damage to her mind and body is. You might make her aware of how awful her circumstances are. I don’t think that would be doing either of you any favors.”
“You don’t know if that would happen,” Meena said.
“You’re right, I don’t. But if there is a chance you’d wake your mom up enough to know she’s trapped inside a body that no longer functions, would you want to take the risk?”
“But her body is fine,” Meena said. “She breathes on her own.”
“That’s good.” Aunt Zelda placed her hand on Meena’s forearm. “I’m not saying this to be cruel. My husband and son were in a car wreck. My husband passed instantly. I knew before the doctors called me because Sam appeared next to my bed. He was confused at first, but then he pieced it together. We talked.” Zelda sniffled. “I cried. A lot.” She laughed and picked up a napkin to wipe her eyes. “The waiting was horrific. I knew about the accident an hour before the hospital called me. Sam couldn’t tell me what hospital they’d taken Gary to or even where the accident happened. When the phone rang, I found out they were in Chicago. Carol drove me there.
My son hung on for days. I thought of trying to spark him awake, but the doctors said that if he woke he’d be paralyzed from the chest down.”
“But he’d be alive.” Meena blinked like she was trying not to cry.
“I argued the same thing with Carol. She suggested I reach out to him on the astral plane. I did. He was dreaming of playing football with his friends…not aware of his situation. I asked if he’d want to come back with me if it meant he’d never be able to run and play again. He said no.” Zelda took a deep breath and let it out slowly as tears streamed down her face. “So I kissed him and told him his father would be there to pick him up soon.”
I cleared my throat and looked away, swiping at my eyes. I’d known Aunt Zelda had a family and that there had been a crash, but I’d never known the details.
“Did you contact your husband?” Meena asked.
“I tried, but he’d already passed over, which is a good thing.”
Meena leaned closer to my aunt. “Could you contact him if you wanted to?”
“Probably, but it’s not a good idea. Holding on to the past doesn’t allow you to heal and move on. I’ve seen it in so many of my clients. Sam and I discussed it and we agreed that whichever one of us went first we’d come back to say goodbye and then we’d move on. Spirits that stick around too long sometimes become stuck and it twists them, turning them into unhappy creatures who seek to make others unhappy.”
“Could you contact my mother?” Meena asked.
“I could,” Zelda said, “but I won’t.”
“What the hell?” Meena exploded out of her chair.
“It’s not a good idea. Your mom has been gone for years. Even if you could talk to her, she wouldn’t be the person that she was. It’s best to let her rest.”
“The doctors said she could linger in this vegetative state for years,” Meena said.
“And that would be a tragedy.” Zelda stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
After Zelda left, Meena stared blankly at me like she was waiting for me to fix it.
“I’m sorry.” What else could I say? I was shocked Aunt Zelda hadn’t offered to help. Everything I knew about her told me she was kind. “If she doesn’t want to do it, she must have a valid reason. Maybe Carol could help you instead.”
Meena stood and pushed her plate away. “I…I need to go.”
Since I had no idea what to say, I watched her walk away.
Chapter Eleven
Meena
I stalked out into the rain, not caring that I was going to get soaking wet. Nothing mattered right now, nothing but finding a way to reach out to my mom, whether Zelda or Carol helped me or not. It’s not like I was going to try and raise a demon—I just wanted to talk to my mother.
By the time I climbed into my car, my hair was plastered to my head. I grabbed a ponytail holder from the glovebox and twisted my hair into a bun. Then I drove down the two-lane road, swiping at my eyes as tears clouded my vision.
Zelda had one last moment with her son and husband. Why couldn’t she understand I needed that, too? If I could talk to my mom, maybe I could wake her up or convince her to let go. Nobody deserved to be stuck like she was. It wasn’t fair.
The bracelet on my arm zapped me with a wave of cold. “Haven’t I been traumatized enough today,” I yelled, not knowing if he could hear me. Maybe I could ignore it. The cold hit again. Why couldn’t he freaking text me like a normal person? I headed to Carol’s house wondering what fun new errand Bane wanted me to run.
When I made it to her driveway, the rain was still coming down in sheets. I checked my car. No umbrella. Damn it. It’s not like I wasn’t already drenched. I opened the door and dashed toward Carol’s front porch.
The door opened before I could knock. “This time I knew you were coming.” Carol held a towel out to me.
“That makes one of us,” I muttered as I walked into her front room, wiping water off my face.
“Bane popped in and gave me a to-do list. He included one for you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask Carol about helping me speak to my mom, but I didn’t want to have my hopes destroyed again just yet. Maybe if I did some research I could make a better argument for why she should help me.
“So what am I doing this afternoon?” I asked.
She held out two blue envelopes with Bane Industries stamped on the front but then she pulled them back, studying my face. “You’re not just wet from the rain. You’ve been crying. What’s wrong?”
Did I want to get into this right now? “Give me the envelopes and let me see what I have to do. I’m not sure I have time to share my issues.”
One envelope was for the principal of the high school and the other was for the school counselor. That shook my faith in the Crossroads educational system. Then again, most of these deals were personal. Maybe they’d been sick or taken a deal for a loved one. It was none of my business. There was one problem. It was summer. “How am I supposed to find these people?” It’s not like Bane included their phone number or address.
“I’d suggest checking the school. Now what’s going on with you?”
Maybe she would help me. I walked over and flopped down on the couch. “Zelda told us about her husband and son. I asked if she’d help me contact my mom and she flat out refused.”
&nb
sp; Carol sat next to me. “You’re going to ask me to help you contact your mother, aren’t you?”
My heart beat faster as I met her gaze. Would she help me or was I about to get another lecture? I swallowed over the lump in my throat and nodded.
“There might be a way to contact your mother but there’s no guarantee it will be a heartwarming family reunion. There’s a chance she won’t know who you are or even remember her own name.”
“What?” That was total crap. “Why would you say that?”
“Your mother’s higher brain function has been shut down for a long time. What’s left is her lizard brain. The part of her brain that tells her lungs to expand and contract and her heart to beat.”
I’d dreamed of being able to speak to my mom one last time. If I found her and she didn’t recognize me, didn’t even know who she was…my chest ached at the thought of it.
“Really think about it, if you want to go through with this.” Carol reached over and patted my arm. “I’ll help you but you need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and if you don’t think you can handle that, then we shouldn’t do it.”
I took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to get myself under control so I could speak. “Thank you for offering to help. I’ll let you know what I want to do.”
Cold zapped up my arm, making me jump. “Damn it. I’m going.” With no better plan in mind, I decided to head for the high school. Principals worked through part of the summer, I knew that much. I’d start there.
“Take this.” Carol held a purple umbrella out to me.
“Thanks.”
Driving to school in the summer seemed wrong. It’s not like I hated school. I was good at memorizing stuff and taking tests. That didn’t mean I thought it was fun or missed the institutional atmosphere during the summer.
I parked in the teachers’ lot which was closest to the principal’s office. It felt like an act of rebellion since the student lot was much farther from the building. After I turned off the engine, I stared at the building through the rain-blurred windshield. A crash of thunder made me jump, and then the rain stopped.
