Ancient Fire

by Judi Calhoun

I studied the menu, but I had no desire to eat. Mostly because Ian’s strong, Old Spice aftershave was turning my stomach sour, and also because I hated everything they offered in this stupid place, Rosario’s. Wasn’t this supposed to be Italian, for crying out loud! Why do they offer Chinese food?

  Ian was making lame jokes and doing stupid napkin tricks, all to impress Aunt Linda. Both Mom and Linda were laughing hysterically, but not Peter, thankfully. In front of everyone, Ian wrapped his arms around mom and kissed her on the mouth. Someone poke my eyes out puh-lease! I glanced at Peter and pantomimed sticking a finger down my throat.

  He laughed silently then glanced down in his lap.

  I asked Aunt Linda to trade seats with me so I could talk with my cousin. She gladly moved closer to mom.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered.

  He pulled a small hand-held computer out of his pocket.

  “Oh...you are playing games,” I said.

  “Yes.” He said, swiftly put it away.

  “You want to tell me what secret you’re obviously withholding from me?” I asked softly.

  “No,” he said.

  I stared at my cousin, totally bewildered. I was beginning to wonder if I could trust him. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I liked him anymore.

  “Ian has a new job!” Mom proudly announced to everyone at the table.

  “Don’t keep us in suspense,” said Aunt Linda, “tell us what you’ll be doing, Ian.”

  Mom started to speak when Ian stopped her, placing a finger over her lips. “Remember you promised.”

  Mom smiled bashfully. “He wants it to be a surprise,” she said, “I’m not allowed to say anything...but, you’re going to be very surprised!”

  “When will we find out?” asked Aunt Linda.

  “Tomorrow night,” said mom. “He’s going to announce it at dinner.”

  “It must be an important job,” said Aunt Linda.

  Ian pulling himself up straight, “one of the most important jobs I’ve ever had.”

  I shot Peter a sideways glance. “Crypt Keeper,” I suggested loud enough for everyone to hear. “Wouldn’t that be perfect, having such close access to all those… dead bodies?”

  Ian glanced at Mom. Her smile faded. She was burying me with daggers. Ian burst out laughing. “You certainly are a funny girl, Shonna.” He winked at mom. Her face relaxed and she laughed a little.

  Anger flared inside me. I stood up. “You are…” I grit my teeth, starting to tell him exactly what I thought. “Don’t,” Peter pulled at me to sit down. “Your mom,” he whispered.

  Her eyes were pleading with me not to ruin this evening. I sunk back into my chair and said nothing more. I wasn’t exactly sure how much more I could endure of this crap.

  “I’m a good worker,” joked Ian. “That’s what you were going to say, right Shonna?” He took mom in his arms again. “After tomorrow I’ll be working just for you.” He touched the tip of her nose with his lips.

  Aunt Linda smiled. “Well, I’m just dying to find out what this new job is all about. I can’t wait to hear.”

  Ian took his arm away from mom to adjust his jacket and tie. His eyes met mine. “I have someone else to surprise first.”

  Did anyone else observe his evil overtures directed right at me? I glanced around the table; apparently not.

  I got up fast, tossed my napkin down, and headed for the ladies’ room. At first, I hadn’t notice Ian following me. When I stepped into the narrow empty hallway, he latched onto my arm. If it were not for mom, or the fact that I was not completely sure he was a demon, I would have shifted right then and taken him out.

  “What do you think you’re doing? He snapped, “Can’t you see you’re upsetting your mother.”

  “Let go of me!” I demanded between clenched teeth. “I’m not the one who plans on killing her. You are.” I knew I should not have said it. Now it was too late to take it back.

  Ian’s expression turned white with shock. He let go of my arm. “What are you talking about? I would never dream of hurting your mother. As far as I’m concerned, she deserves some happiness in her life. I am going to make sure she gets it. Look, I know I can never replace your father, and I’m not going to try. I just want to know why you don’t give me a chance, Shonna. I really am in love with your mother. What do I have to do to convince you that my intentions are pure and honorable?”

  I almost starting clapping, his performance was Oscar-worthy, playing the role of a misunderstood man in love. The worst part was, I really wanted to believe him. Because he was right, mom deserved someone who made her happy, but was it Ian Corbet?

  I was more than a little surprised by Ian’s persuasive powers, almost shocked actually. I started to doubt my own judgment. Could he really be in love with mom? Suddenly, I remembered what Gauge had said about Familiar Spirits. Ian fit that description all too well; he was crafty, personable, and able to deceive anyone.

  “If you hurt her, I’ll follow you into hell and I’ll cut you into little pieces!” I warned him, pulled free from his hand, and walked into the ladies room.

  I could not wait for the evening to end. I had to leave, now. When I returned to the table I grabbed my jacket and bolted for the door. Instead of taking the walkway, I ducked under low branches of the grove of trees that surrounded the building, searching for the shortest distance to the parking lot.

  “Shonna!” I heard Peter calling, following me.

  I ignored him. I also ignored the signs warning people to stay on the walkway. I’d never been to this place. I didn’t know about the drainage ditch running the length of the parking lot. The dirt bank fell away into a nine-foot gully.

  The darkness of the trees blocked out all street lamps. I kept walking, believing I’d eventually find the edge of the pavement to the parking lot.

  “Shonna!” Peter’s voice was urgent.

  I took another step, my right foot found no solid ground. I uttered a low gasp, stumbling, falling. Now to my horror, I could see sharp rocks at the bottom of a ditch. This is going to hurt.

  Everything seemed to move in slow motion. My body twisted as I fell forward and my heart began to hammer. My arms jerked up to protect my face.

  In an instant, someone caught me, jolting me incredibly fast out of my fall. I collapsed, breathless in the dirt at Peter‘s feet. How had he seen the ditch? Wasn’t he far behind me?

  My whole body trembled as he helped me to my feet. I glanced up to thank him, and I gasped in horror. Peter’s eyes were glowing like an animal…bioluminescent, almost the same as Ariel’s, my cherubim trainer. How was that possible? Since Ariel was a supernatural creature and Peter was only human…I think.

  He took my hand and led me slowly back to the front steps of Rosario’s.

  “What just happened?” I whispered.

  “Nothing,” he said, “You’re okay, right?”

  “Um…I guess.”

  We didn’t talk all the way home. I kept staring at Peter. My cousin was a mystery in many ways, and those eyes were just plain freaky, and this mystery was more than my pounding head could stand for one evening.

  * * *

  Chapter 11