by Shelly Crane
Once we arrived downtown, Jen pulled into the parking lot of a big warehouse looking place. It was dark, dank, dirty and disturbing. There was no indication that it was a club and not an abandoned warehouse used for illegal operations and squatters, except for one neon sign on the front that read ‘Lively Pony’. The Jeep pulled in right behind us and the guys jumped out quickly to meet us.
“Omgosh, look at this place,” Beck said and shivered with excitement. “It’s so mysterious, let’s go in!”
The thump of the music was barely heard as we made our way through the parking lot almost overflowing with cars. We were a train as we zigzagged through the parked vehicles. Caleb towed me behind him with my hand firmly in his, then Beck was being guided with hands on her hips from Ralph. And Bish, if he realized he was doing it or not, walked closely behind Jen and had a hand out to the side slightly, as if to steer her if she tried to go the wrong way.
The bouncer was a strangely gangly guy, not the type you’d expect from a place like this. There was a small line that was started at the underground stairs to the door. That’s why you couldn’t see them from the street.
“I said no and once we’ve reached a certain capacity, I can’t let in the good looking challenged, sorry,” the bouncer whose nametag read ‘Toad’ said blandly. “Next.”
The two guys he turned away were blinding mad, their minds blaring obscenities and anger. I cringed into Caleb’s side and tried to force their thoughts away. He put a hand on my head to press my face into his neck and sent me warm calm. When I lifted my head, I saw Beck watching us. She was smiling but she looked confused.
“Why did they turn those guys away?” I asked to distract.
“Did you see all that metal in their mouth? And I’m not talking about tongue rings,” Ralph explained. “And that one guy had on suspenders under his blazer.”
“Poor guys, that’s so mean.” Everyone chuckled slightly and I looked around confused. “What?”
“Honey,” Beck said slowly like I was a toddler, “that’s what happens at these things. You can’t just throw on any crap you want and not fix your hair and expect to get in. It is important to have a certain look. This isn’t a honky tonk bar from Chattanooga, ok?”
I looked down at my jeans and heeled boots with a little black chiffon top and camisole. I’d put on the new earrings I’d bought the last time we went out. No one had said anything when we left so I assumed I looked okay enough for this.
“So, how do you know if we’ll get in?” Everyone chuckled again and I felt like I was seriously missing something. “What?” I said with more force.
“Have you looked in the mirror lately, sweetheart?” Ralph said and laughed again. “Don’t worry about us lowly,“ he bent to bow at the waist with his hands out, “tools basking in your glow. They always let the guys with the babes in on principle.” He looked around at Beck and Jen grinning and winked.
Beck looked smug and Jen smiled bemused. I just shook my head. Then it was our turn to meet Toad. My heart pounded violently for some reason, fear that maybe he’d take one look at my little seventeen year old self and turn us away. Caleb pulled me to him.
“Hey, man. Six of us,” he initiated.
Toad looked around and his face never changed.
“Cover is thirty for the guys, ladies are free tonight.”
“Awesome,” Caleb spouted and paid the man, waving Ralph’s money away.
Focus on me, Maggie. You’ll definitely overload in a place like this.
Yeah, thanks.
“Go ahead,” Toad spouted.
“Really?” I asked puzzled. “You’re not going to check our ID’s or anything?”
Toad looked back to me and smiled as he gave a slow once over that had Caleb gritting his teeth.
“I’ll check anything you want me to, sweetheart.”
“We’re good, thanks,” Caleb almost growled and pulled me through the big black and gray door as I heard Ralph and Beck laughing loudly behind us.
I was blasted with bass climbing from the floor into my toes and smoke so thick it took a second to catch my breath.
“You’re not going to check our ID’s or anything?” Beck said in a sing-song mock voice. “Ha! Maggie, you’re so hilarious. You need to learn to be hot, honey,” she said as Ralph dragged her away.
I had no idea what she was talking about and looked at Caleb. He was smiling and laughing silently. He pulled me to him with a hand on the back of my neck.
“Oh my gosh, I love you,” he muttered huskily and kissed me before pulling me to meet everyone else at the bar.
“Ok, I don’t care what you do,” Jen started, looking at us sternly, “but I will be watching the bar and if I catch any of you trying to score, so help me-”
“We won’t,” Caleb assured, rolling his eyes.
She gave him a ‘duh’ look and then turned her gaze on Beck and Ralph.
“Oh, come on!” he complained but Jen’s eyebrow shot up ever so slightly and it was amazing how she suddenly looked so menacing. “Ok, fine.”
“Great. See you guys later,” she called and then made her way through the crowd and strobing lights.
Bish watched her with great interest. In his mind, he was wondering if she was going to dance with anyone. He hated that he even cared.
I turned away from him and looked up at Caleb.
“Well, are you gonna dance with me or what?” I said playfully.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He grinned as he pulled me to the growing crowd of thrashers and shimmyers. I figured we would be so packed in there he wouldn’t be able to tell I couldn’t really dance anyway. I was right. It was worse than sardines but I was not complaining being pressed against Caleb. The music was playing loudly some techno generic club stuff that was very Night at the Roxbury.
We found Beck and Ralph on the dance floor. Beck immediately pulled me to her and started twirling me under her arm. I laughed as we danced together in between Caleb and Ralph.
Everyone’s thoughts around me were disturbing to say the least as I slowly let them creep in. It was all sex, sex and drugs and strangely, local bands and eateries. The ones close to us, some were even thinking about me, looking at me and Caleb in ways I’d prefer not, so I quickly moved my focus elsewhere.
Eventually Ralph claimed he needed a drink and dragged Beck away but I could pick my friends out among the crowd, I guessed because I was so attuned to them already. Beck and Ralph were dancing and snuggling by a large column in the middle. Beck’s thoughts were floaty and sweet as she wrapped her arms around Ralph’s neck. And Ralph- well, he was still in love with her, like he’d said that day. He was ready for anything she wanted to give and couldn’t wait for them to get to school and get a few months under their belt so he could propose. I felt teary eyed listening to it.
Then I felt it, heard it, whatever. Bish was somewhere and his mind was burning with jealousy. I looked up and around for him and saw him, leaning against the bar and glaring at Jen and some guy. They were dancing on the edge of the crowd and the guy was pretty much all over her but Jen was moving, eyes closed, just into it.
In her mind, she needed to just get away from everything, just be young for five minutes and forget about thinking about Bish, about anything. In his mind he was freaking upset and wanted to strangle the guy, though he didn’t know why.
I sighed and tried to push them out.
Relax. I looked up to find Caleb watching me. Don’t be the Visionary for tonight. Don’t be an Ace, just be you. Push it all out and just focus on me.
Caleb’s face was so close and so sincere. I pushed all the attention of my mind and thoughts on him only as I stared into his deep blue eyes that were so focused on me. His mind was filled with everywhere his hands were at the moment and I felt flush all over- one for not realizing that they’d been there the whole time and two because of where they were. He had one knee between mine, one hand on the back of my thigh and the other arm wrapped around my waist t
ightly. I’d been so wrapped up in listening to everything around me that I forgot to pay attention to us.
He was so ready to move on with our lives; to not have to hide, to not have our family around all the time in the same house, to have to stop kissing or more when people walk into the room. He was so ready to do more than just touch me, so ready to Mutualize and have my name miraculously tattooed on the inside of his wrist by his crest, however that worked. He was ready for us to be us and nothing else. I had to agree.
I wanted to take him somewhere private right then and finish what we’d started.
He groaned in my mind and pressed his head to mine.
Ah, baby, don’t.
What? I said in fake modesty. I just thought that I’m pretty disappointed we never got to continue-
Not here, please. Think about something else.
I giggled slightly and bit my lip. It was amazing how much I could fluster him.
Oh, I’m flustered alright. He smiled beautifully and sincerely, rubbing a thumb over my cheek. You still have no idea how much pull you have over me. I’m completely captivated. I’m enraptured with you, Maggie. You are all there is for me. Ralph was right, too. You don’t know how insanely beautiful you are. I’m the envy of every man in here, I guarantee you that.
You’re insane.
My argument having no real gusto because I’d heard the things people were thinking about me and it was strange. I’d never really been pretty before.
Yes, you were. You were always gorgeous. I hate to say this, but the thing I noticed first on the street that day was your freckles, how adorable you looked. Your hair was blowing around you and it was dark, making your freckles stand out under the lights. You were the most captivating creature I’d ever seen.
Caleb...I took a deep breath and tried to slow my heartbeat. I put my hand over his heart, feeling both our hearts under together; one strong and steady as always and one galloping like a runaway pony. You are so off the mark. You’re the one who had me stunned. I was a stammering idiot trying to tell you I was ok. You were so close and your eyes…were so focused on me. I’d never been looked at that way before.
And I’ll never stop.
I hope not.
And then he was kissing me, moving us back to the shadow as he brought his hands up to hold my face and we continued to sway and move. It was so reminiscent of the time we danced on the beach at that party, before all the kidnapping and drama happened.
Caleb held tight to me and showed me his love and adoration with his lips and thoughts. I made sure to keep my mind on the outside of his and just listen. When I went digging, things happen, energy ribbons and breaking glass. I was sure no one here would appreciate any of that. When my fingers started to cramp from fisting his sleeves of his green and white polo for so long, I pulled back slightly and licked my lips to taste him there. He chuckled and breathed a happy sigh across my face.
We were bumped, jostled more than just by accident, by someone and I looked behind me to see a big guy with a black leather jacket and dark sunglasses on.
“I need you to come with me.”
“Excuse me?” Caleb pulled me behind him. “Who are you?”
“I need the girl to come with me. It doesn’t matter who I am.” He looked back to me, or I assume he did because I couldn’t see his eyes. “Come on. I don’t have all night.”
“Like hell,” Caleb growled.
“I don’t need this from you, boy. She’s waiting and I’m not going to explain it to her why I took so long. The girl is coming with me.”
“Who’s waiting?” I asked and the guy growled, reaching for my arm and I heard his thought.
I’m done waiting.
Caleb’s hand snapped out to stop him, gripping him so tightly the big burly guy actually winced in his mind. It shocked me to see it as he bent down almost to his knees under Caleb’s pressure. How was Caleb doing that?
What the-
“You better think again,” Caleb said and I caught my breath at his control but obvious seriousness. “You’re not going anywhere with her. Answer her question; who’s waiting.”
“Someone you want to see,” the man groaned and tried to pull his arm away. “You’re breaking my arm, man.”
“You reach for her again and I will.”
Wow, somehow…Caleb did have some power. I’d have to tell Peter later. Maybe that will help him in the search to learn why Caleb didn’t get his ascension ability.
“Fine, both of you can come, I don’t care, just let go,” he pleaded in a harsh tone. Caleb pulled his arm away, it going back behind him and around me while keeping his eyes on the man, now rubbing his arm like a sullen child. “Outside.”
“Why would we? What’s it to us?”
“Believe me,” he said snidely and shook his arm out. “You want to come with me. She said to tell you that you’d find answers to your latest questions.”
Caleb looked back at me.
What do you think? Your call.
I think we should go with him. What could it hurt? He looked at me like I was nuts. What? You almost snapped that guy’s arm. I know you can take care of me if something happens.
He gave me a look that said he didn’t like this but was humoring me.
The first sign of trouble, we’re out of there. No arguing.
I nodded and he waved his hand for the guy to lead us. He took us all the way through the back of the club to the alley. Caleb and I both became suspicious but the guy stopped at a limousine. He turned to look at us and opened the door, beckoning us in.
“If you think I’m putting her in that car you’re crazy,” Caleb said.
“Now, Caleb,” a woman’s voice crooned and I stiffened. The voice seeming familiar but no thoughts were coming to me from inside the car. “Come on now, I won’t bite.”
Caleb’s arm tensed under my hand and I could take the suspense no longer. I leaned to look inside and saw someone I not only never wanted to see but never expected.
“Marla?”
~ Thirteen ~
Marla.
Marcus’s sister who had cleaned me up when I was kidnapped and told me the story of the supposed beginning of all Aces - the guy down the well, which was the basis for Sikes’s putting me in the well to begin with. Here she was in the flesh and wanting to speak to us. I freaked because she’d see the mark on my neck and know what I was. I pulled the collar up on my neck and covered it with my curled fingers.
“What are you doing here?” Caleb said breathlessly, fighting for control, and pulled me behind him once more as Marla exited the limousine to stand in the open door. “Wow, you have some nerve,“ he spat out.
“I’m here to help you, believe it or not. I had to wait until you were away from the house, away from your parents, away from the others. I know my brother visited you in the echo.” She rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. “Idiot. Well I’m here to...elaborate. Please, sit inside with me, for just a minute.”
“A limo,” I scoffed. “This is a little bit too much Godfather, even for a Watson.”
“I drove here straight from the airport,” she reasoned, like that explained it.
“How did you find us?” I asked. “Does your uncle know?”
“No, he doesn’t but how I found you doesn’t matter, the fact that I’m here isn’t important. Please,” she asked again and held her hand out for us to enter.
I climbed in and Caleb climbed in closely behind me. Marla sat back in her seat and shut the door but we didn’t go anywhere. The guy who came into the club to get us came and got in the other side to sit beside Marla. We sat in the still limo and stared at each other for a minute before anyone spoke. Finally Marla sighed and crossed her ankles, her hands in her lap.
Keep it covered, Maggie. She can’t find out that you’re the Visionary.
I know. I will.
I kept my hand curled on my neck, putting my chin on my hand to look casual.
“Ok, look, I know you have no re
ason to trust me. But think about it. When did you see me with them? I never agreed with your kidnapping. I only complied with them because I had to. I helped you. They wanted to just leave you in there and not let you bathe at all but I told them that was too cruel. So I went in against my uncle’s wishes.”
“Oh, that makes it alright?” Caleb roared. “They tortured her and because you weren’t the one to actually do it, that makes you innocent?”
“No,” she cried. “But I didn’t have a choice.”
“Yes you did! You chose when you sat there and let them do that to her!”
The big guy scooted closer to her, as if to shield her if Caleb meant to hurt her.
“What was I supposed to do? They’re my family but they’re... evil.” She covered her mouth and my heart skipped for her.
Why couldn’t I hear her thoughts? Why was her mind shut to me when everyone else was a wide open book that I read whether I wanted to or not?
“Oh, stop the water works,” Caleb muttered and I chastised him silently.
Caleb. She’s here. Let’s hear her out.
He sighed harshly and unhappily, squeezing my hand.
“What do you want?” he asked her more softly.
“I want to help. I want to let you know what they’ve planned. Give you a head’s up. I at least owe you that.”
“Yeah, you owe her more than that.” Caleb looked around and between the two of them. “Ok, fine. What?”
“Sikes is furious. He wanted nothing more than to stop your ascension.” She pressed her lips together and looked between us. “You know I’m pretty jealous myself. It’s amazing, you two. I hope you appreciate what you have.”
“I absolutely appreciate it but get on with your point.”
She blew a long breath and smoothed her board straight raven hair.
“Sikes is convinced that you’re going to be the end of him. That...for whatever reason, you two have something between your abilities that’s too powerful. You’re a seer and Caleb’s a…” she paused and looked at him but he kept silent, “a what?”
