Her dad gave a rare smile. “Cards. For once, Lady Luck was on my side. Uh…Tess, I…” He looked down. When he looked up his eyes were shiny. “I’m going to try harder.” He looked around before returning his gaze to her. “You deserve better than this dump. I’m…I’m going to get a job. I’ll go out and find one today.”
Tess picked up her laptop and placed it in her book bag. “I know, Dad,” she said, having heard the same promise so often in the past. She pulled on her leather jacket and swung the backpack over her shoulder. Walking over to the man, Tess gave him a hug. “I love you, Dad. We’re all each other’s got. We Wilkersons stick together, right?”
He looked down nodding his head. “That’s right,” he whispered. “I’m going to get a job. You’ll see. I’m going…” His voice trailed off as his shoulders began to shake.
With a final squeeze, Tess kissed the top of her dad’s head before heading out the door. The day was bright without a cloud in the sky. Glancing at her cellphone, Tess noted the time.
“I’m in deep trouble,” she said.
Using her bike’s kick start to relieve some of her pent-up energy, Tess twisted the throttle, then roared out onto the gravel drive. Hitting the main road, she twisted the throttle even harder.
Maybe I can still make part of the class if they don’t keep me in the front office too long, she thought. Even late, I can still get the handouts. I’ve got to do well on next week’s test. I’ve just got to.
The whine of a siren made Tess look in her rearview mirror. Flashing blue lights told her all she needed to know. She glanced at her speedometer. Sixty-five in a fifty-five. That’s great. That’s just great. What else can go wrong today?
Tess sat on her bike, patiently keeping both hands on the handlebars as she watched the sheriff’s deputy speaking into his mic. After thirty seconds, the driver’s door of the patrol car opened. Out stepped a potbellied giant of a man in his forties. The deputy positioned his hat on his head and swaggered forward. Tess thought she saw a half-hidden smile cross the man’s face. She knew him. He’d brought her dad home a couple of times in the past. For a law officer, she didn’t think he was too bad of a sort, but he was definitely by the book. She sighed knowing full well her hopes of getting to school in time to make Jenkins’s class had just gone down the tubes.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Tess Wilkerson. So tell me, Miss Wilkerson, where’s the fire?”
* * *
Tess ran for the school’s front door, pulling out her cellphone to check the time.
Five after nine. Maybe Jenkins is still in the room. If I can catch him before he leaves, at least I can get the handouts. I won’t have the review notes, but the handout will give me a fighting chance.
An image of Alec Johnson flashed in her mind. She wondered if she could get a copy of the notes from him, then doubted it. He’s a jock. He probably doesn’t even take notes. I’ll admit he’s different than what I expected, but I don’t ask people for anything. I learned not to depend on others a long time ago. They’ll just let me down.
As she ran inside the door, she turned left in the hallway to head for the science wing. A familiar face was walking down the hall surrounded by a group of students heading toward their next class. Alec moved out of the crowd and found a relatively clear space near a large window located next to the janitor’s closet. Tess moved next to him and pointed down the hall. “I’ve got to—”
“Don’t bother,” Alec said. “Jenkins is already gone. I tried to stall him after class when I saw you drive up, but he had some meeting with the principal at nine and left.”
Tess stopped running. “Maybe I can catch him—”
“Nope,” said Alec apparently guessing her thoughts. “He said he’s off the rest of the week and heading to Seattle after his meeting. He won’t be back until Monday.”
Tess’s heart sank. Her grade in the class was good, but she needed to keep it high to have any chance for the science scholarship. Her mind started thinking of how she could intercept Jenkins before he made it to his car.
“What kind of car does he drive?” she asked.
“Jenkins?” said Alec. “No idea.”
He opened his notebook, pulled out several printed pages, and thrust them toward Tess. She took them, thumbing through the pages of various formulas and illustrations. “What’re these?” she asked.
“Your copy of the handouts,” replied Alec. “I grabbed an extra set as they went around. Once I type up my review notes, I’ll email them to you.”
Tess looked at him dubiously. “You take notes?”
Instead of being offended, Alec laughed. “Yep. I’ve also been known to read and write on occasion.”
Tess noticed a twinkle in Alec’s eyes. Suspicious, she asked, “What?”
“Oh, I was just thinking you’re somewhat of a snob, Miss Tess.”
“Me? I’m not the rich—”
“Neither am I,” said Alec. “And even if I was rich, which I ain’t, but even if I was, it wouldn’t mean I’m stupid or lazy. I work hard to keep a four-oh average. You’re not the only one who has high aspirations.”
Tess glanced at the ground frowning. She looked back at Alec as if seeing him for the first time; dark hair, trim physique, semi-handsome. She wondered what else she’d missed about him.
“But you’re a jock.”
“So?” smiled Alec. “I like to play football. I enjoy the camaraderie. You like to ride motorcycles and wear religious pants.”
Tess raised her eyebrows. “What?”
Alec’s smile grew wider. Tess thought he had a nice smile.
“You know,” said Alec still smiling. “Religious pants. They’ve got holes in them. Holy. Religious. Get it?”
“Uh, maybe you should stick to football,” Tess said smiling in spite of herself. “I think your career in comedy is limited, to tell you the truth.”
“Could be,” laughed Alec. He stopped laughing, seeming to grow serious. “I saw you pull into the library. You know, I don’t think anyone would bother your wheels if you parked at the school. It would save you a walk. By the way, did you happen to talk to Aunt Mamie?”
Tess shook her head. “No. I came straight here.”
“I didn’t think so. Grandma wants us at the library at seven tonight. Aunt Mamie said she’s got some information about the rings.”
“Seven?” Tess shook her head. “No can do. I’m working a shift at Jack’s tonight. I need to be there at six.”
Alec turned away, looking out the window in the direction of the library. The crowd around them had thinned considerably.
We’re running out of time, Tess thought. I’ve got to report to the office and he’s got to get to class. She noticed Alec’s lips move as if he was having an internal argument. She doubted he knew what he was doing and decided it was kind of cute.
Looking back at her, Alec sighed. “Look, Tess, I don’t want to tell you your business, but I think you’ve got bigger issues to worry about than missing a shift at Jack’s.”
Alec looked around at the near-empty hallway, then leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I’m worried about Grandma and you. Obviously, those rings aren’t normal. If the wrong people found out, they might… Well, it could be dangerous.”
Tess was half-tempted to tell Alec about being able to see in the dark the night before, but only half. Confiding in people wasn’t something she was in the habit of doing; not even to her dad. Glancing through the window at the library, she reached her left hand towards her right ring finger before catching herself. Don’t twist it, she thought. Ignore the itch.
Turning back to Alec, she said, “I’ll see if I can get Mary to cover the first part of my shift. If I can, I’ll be there. If I can’t, then I won’t.”
Alec looked at her a couple of seconds before nodding his head. “All you can do is all you can do. If you don’t make it, I’ll try to fill you in later.”
“All right then,” Tess said. She remained w
here she was, smiling. For some reason, she hesitated to end the conversation. “I’ll see you when I see you…rich boy.”
Alec gave a smile of his own. “That’s right…bad girl.” He laughed. “I still owe you a four-wheeler ride for that trip from hell you gave me the other day. You are definitely one crazy girl.”
Tess thought of the motorcycle ride the night before without lights. You have no idea, she thought. You have no idea at all.
Chapter 15 – The Library
__________________________
At five minutes to seven that night, Alec walked into the library through the front. Tess, Grandma, and Aunt Mamie were already sitting at a small table near the receptionist desk. He tugged the collar of his jacket around his neck against a definite chill in the room. He glanced to the left, at the rows of bookshelves that filled most of the building. Like the five other tables spaced around the large room, the aisles between the shelves were empty. A glimpse of the upstairs’ research rooms through the wooden banister confirmed they were also empty.
“Not one of your busy nights, I see,” Alec said as he walked over to the others. “And why’s it so cold in here? Did the county forget to pay the heating bill?”
Apparently taking his intended joke seriously, Aunt Mamie shook her head. “No, not really. It’s been cold all day. The repairman said the furnace is just old and needs to be replaced.” She gestured toward the sparse shelves and lack of computer equipment. “I keep telling the board of directors we need to modernize, but they keep telling me they’re short of funds.”
Aunt Mamie looked around as if making sure no one else could hear, which Alec thought was a little funny since no one else was there.
“To tell you the truth,” she said, “I think the library is having financial difficulties. It may have to close down.”
“Sorry,” Alec said not really caring about the library’s future all that much. He supposed a lot of smaller libraries had money problems. He glanced around the room as memories of roaming around the place during the summer months when he was young came flooding back. Actually, he thought, I guess I would miss the old place. At least it’s got character.
Grandma was the first to recover. “Let’s not get sidetracked from why we’re here. Tess says she has to leave by eight, so we don’t have much time. Why don’t you sit down and we’ll get started?”
Once Alec sat down in an empty chair next to Tess, Grandma looked at her sister. “What’d you find out, Mamie?”
The eternal smile Alec had always seen on his aunt’s face disappeared and she grew more serious than he’d ever seen her.
“Not much more than you and I already knew,” she said. “I tried contacting Wilbur, but he’s not answering his phone.”
“Wilbur?” Alec asked searching his brain but coming up empty.
Grandma reached across the table, touching his hand. “Wilbur’s our brother; your great-uncle.”
“I’ve got an uncle?” Alec asked. “You’ve never mentioned him before.”
“No, I haven’t. Anonymity is our best defense.” Grandma looked at Aunt Mamie sitting to her right. “That’s why it was dangerous to try and contact Wilbur. We agreed not to do that except in an emergency.”
“Ha,” said Aunt Mamie looking over her spectacles at her sister. “You agreed to it, not me. Besides, you’re the one who sent him a card.”
“That was years ago,” said Grandma, “and it was a mistake. I admit it. I wish—”
“Why?” asked Tess.
Grandma took her gaze off her sister long enough to ask, “Why what? Why did I send him a card?”
Shaking her head, Tess glanced at Alec before looking at Grandma. “No. You said something about dangerous. Why dangerous?”
Alec noticed Grandma and Aunt Mamie trade glances before looking back at Tess.
“People in our family have a habit of dying unexpectedly,” said Grandma. “The rings were given to the safekeeping of eight people two hundred years ago. Mamie and I don’t know the specifics of the other rings. We only know the history of our ring.”
“You said our ring,” Alec said. “You’re the one with the ring, right? Does Aunt Mamie have a ring also?”
“No, I don’t,” said Mamie. “I don’t want one either. They’re nothing but trouble. I’m quite happy Grandma Ocela gave it to Myiata instead of me.”
“Trouble?” asked Alec getting wide-eyed. “I’d think having a ring that healed would come in handy.”
“You do, huh?” said Grandma. She looked at Tess. “What do you think? You said your ring makes you impervious to fire. Have you found dealing with your ring to be worth having that little ability?”
Tess looked down at the table and shook her head. “Not really. There’s been side effects.”
When she remained silent, Alec made a give me motion with his hands. “Well, don’t stop now. What side effects?” He smiled, trying to get her to relax. “Do you like turn into a werewolf when the moon’s full or something?”
Tess stared at him without returning his smile. “No…at least not yet.”
Alec tensed. “Uh, are you saying—”
This time Tess did smile. “Relax. I don’t bite.” The young woman winked at Grandma. “At least not on the first date.”
“Not funny,” Alec said not at all appreciative of being the butt of a joke. “You said there were side effects. What?”
The smile left Tess’s face. “Nightmares, for one. Sometimes I’m being chased. I try to hide, but they always find me and I have to run for my life. I wake up sometimes with my sheets soaked in sweat. Plus, I told you about the plane crash and what I thought I saw. I could’ve imagined it since I was only nine. Still…” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at her right hand.
Before Alec could ask, Aunt Mamie reached over and patted Tess’s hand. “What is it, Elizabeth? You can tell us. You’re among friends.”
Tess looked from Alec’s aunt to Grandma and then back at him. He nodded his head. She wants to open up, but she’s scared to trust us, he thought. “It’s all right,” he said. “Whatever you say stays here with us.”
Staring hard at him, Tess nodded. She started to open her mouth but closed it right away.
“You’ve got to trust someone, Elizabeth,” said Aunt Mamie. “It may as well be us. We won’t let you down. You’ll see.”
The tenseness left Tess’s face and her lips quivered. “I had something happen last night. I grew all warm, and I could see in the dark. It was like looking through high-definition thermal goggles or something. It’s never happened before.”
Alec sensed Tess staring at him as if daring him to laugh. “Well, uh, that’s not so bad. Seems like a pretty good trick to have up your sleeve, if you ask me. I think having night vision and not getting burned would be worth a few nightmares. I guess I don’t understand.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” said Grandma taking off her ring and placing it on the table. The blue gem appeared to give off a flash of yellow from deep within. “I can’t speak for Tess here, but as far as I’m concerned, any benefits of this ring are outweighed by the consequences of having it in my possession.”
Alec glanced down at her ring. He started to reach out for it but pulled his hand back. He thought he saw another flash of yellow in the ring’s gem, but he couldn’t be sure.
“Go ahead,” said Grandma. “Take it. It won’t bite. It’s just a normal ring to you. It has to be passed to someone in the bloodline to be effective.”
Alec tore his gaze away from the ring on the table. “I am in your bloodline.”
He saw his grandmother look at her sister. Alec noticed them smile at each other before Grandma turned her attention back to him. “Yes, you are, and I couldn’t be prouder. Despite your mischievousness during your younger years, you’ve turned into a nice young man. But the fact is, the ring has to be passed to someone in my bloodline. Passing is more than just giving it to someone. This ring and I are connected. I would have to give the conne
ction away along with the ring. Once I did, I could never take it back. It’s an all or nothing thing.”
Looking back at the ring, Alec took his grandmother at her word and picked the ring up. He felt nothing strange. Holding it up, he inspected the intricate carvings of shields on both the outer and inner parts of the ring. “Can I put it on?”
“Go ahead,” said Grandma. “It’s just a ring without the connection.”
Slipping the ring onto his right ring finger, Alec was surprised to see it expand enough to fit on his finger. Other than that, he felt nothing strange. On a whim, he stood and walked to the receptionist desk. Spotting a thumbtack on a corkboard, he pulled it out and jabbed the point into his index finger. “Ouch.”
Both Grandma and Aunt Mamie laughed. He noticed Tess did not.
Alec watched a drop of blood ooze out of the small pinprick. As soon as he wiped the blood off, another drop took its place. Sticking the tack back into the corkboard, he removed a tissue from a box on the desk, then wrapped it around his finger before returning to the table. He looked at Grandma, his face growing warm.
“I guess I thought it would heal,” he said taking great pains to avoid looking at Tess. She hadn’t laughed, but he didn’t like making a fool of himself in front of her.
Grandma smiled. “I’m sure you did. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.” She looked at Tess. “You told us your mother gave you the Fire Ring during the plane crash. I reckon she did more than that. She must’ve also passed on her connection to the ring. That’s the only reason you weren’t burned. Your ring protected you because she gave the connection to you along with the ring.”
Grandma reached out her hand toward Alec. “May I have my ring back, Grandson?”
Removing the ring, Alec placed it in his grandmother’s palm. She promptly put it back on. As soon as the ring touched her finger, it disappeared from view.
“It’s turned invisible again,” Alec said. “It didn’t do that when I put it on.”
Tess glanced at him before looking down at Grandma’s right hand. “Actually, the ring hasn’t disappeared. I can still see it. It’s translucent, but I can see it plain as day.”
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