I ignored Nick, or tried to. He’d fallen in behind me. I waited for him to interrupt the quiet as he usually did so I could tell him I needed my silence. When he said nothing, I wanted to berate him for that too. What was wrong with me?
Ahead, I watched Sirris pull out her cell and try to make a call. I’m not sure why she bothered. We all knew service on the mountain was spotty. She poked at the screen, and I knew she was sending another text. They worked better on the mountain. Service was spotty at best inside Drae Hallow, but here it sucked.
She glanced back at me with a frown. “I’ve been trying to get him most of the morning. Usually he at least takes time to check his texts.”
Thomas tossed back over his shoulder. “This is your dad were talking about. He probably got busy in that lab of his and forgot about everything else.”
Sirris turned back around and kept walking.
“Maybe.” I heard her whisper.
We were within the last half mile before the trail came out directly behind Sadie’s house. We weren’t stopping to visit, though. My mother was still under the impression that her darling daughter was in North Dakota with her father. I felt a twinge, looking down that trail towards home. I hadn’t seen her in more weeks than I cared to count. I was looking forward to Thanksgiving.
“Hey, is that smoke?” said Nick out of the blue. Even as he said it I realized there was a light hazy gray cloud creeping along the ground and up the mountain as we got closer to Breathless.
Thomas lifted his nose and tested the air. We both picked up on the smoky residue from treated lumber burning. Thomas found more. He frowned, and his face took on an ashy pallor.
“I smell something chemical in that fire...” he breathed.
We ran, dread sinking deep.
By the time we made it down the mountain, our lungs were screaming. We could see the flames leaping into the sky from several streets over and we didn’t need to ask whose house was on fire.
With a strangled cry of anguish, Sirris took off, with us right behind her.
We arrived to her house fully engulfed in flames and firetrucks everywhere. Official personnel ran in a panic, working to contain the flames. It didn’t look to be working.
I stared at the blaze. We could feel the heat a hundred yards away. Nothing was alive inside that.
Sirris didn’t slow down when she got there. Instead, she bypassed the house entirely, heading for the small free standing tool shed at the back. I wondered if grief was addling her mind. With a savage yank, she wrenched it open. It held lawn tools, a small lawn cart and a wheelbarrow. We jumped out of the way as she ran inside and with a strength that could only be superhuman, wrenched the wheelbarrow back and sent it sailing through the door, narrowly missing Nick’s head as he ducked just in time. What the hell?
The cart followed and Thomas swore as it creased his knee on its way out.
I knew we were all thinking it. She’s lost her mind. “Sirris...” I started. She ignored us as she scrabbled on the floor of the shed, pushing aside leaves and grasping at a large ring the size of her fist embedded there. With a scream of rage she hauled back and with a grind of wood on metal, a square piece of the flooring flung back on hidden hinges to reveal a hole in the floor. A trap door in the middle of a tool shed? Sure, everybody had one of those.
I didn’t wonder where it led. I knew. It was a good sign that no smoke filled the corridor; not yet anyway. We followed Sirris as she climbed down the short ladder to the passageway below. She was almost out of site, running through the tunnel as we reached the bottom and followed. Only a hundred feet long, the tunnel ended in a wooden door recessed in the hill next to the house. We still couldn’t see any smoke yet, but we could smell it. She lifted the cross beam and my mouth was open to warn her about the back-draft as she wrenched the door open, but it was too late. The flames hadn’t reached the lab yet, but the smoke hung heavy in the air. The main electricity had long failed, but a secondary main lent the lab a glow sufficient to see through the haze. The flames engulfing the house above were a roar, and we knew we had seconds if we were lucky before the entire thing fell into the basement below. The heat was scorching, and I felt it singe my throat as I tried to breathe. Even as we watched, a beam from above sagged and splintered.
Sirris ignored it all as she ran to where her father lay, unconscious on the floor. He moaned but didn’t get up.
Thomas pushed past me along with Nick. Between them they each grabbed an arm and hauled him up, dragging him between them as they ran for the door. Behind us, Sirris lingered.
“Sirris, we gotta go! Whole thing is coming down!” I shouted. I ran back in and grabbed her arm as she snatched something out of a small drawer near the floor. Together we ran, sliding and hacking through the door, slamming it behind us and throwing the cross-bar even as the sound of splintering beams and falling embers screamed at us through the door.
Sirris hacked and coughed, and I knew the heat and smoke had singed her lungs as well.
I heal fast. But what about mermaids?
We made it back to the shed; the boys managing Jerry Waverly between them. In the little building we slammed the trapdoor behind us to block out the hazy of tendrils of smoke that now drifted through the tunnel.
I went to open the shed door when Thomas grabbed my arm. Our eyes met. He shook his head. “Leave it closed.” I wanted to protest. Sirris and her father needed medical attention.
“This was no accident. He’s got a rather good head wound. Someone knocked him out and left him to burn when they set the house on fire.
He was right. “You know, I’m tired of how someone has been one step ahead of us the whole way.” I admitted.
Nick reached out and put a hand on my shoulder, face grim. “How do we change that around? We don’t know who is responsible. It could be anybody.” Nick said, voice raspy from smoke.
Thomas nodded. “We change things up, that’s what. Maybe this time we know something they don’t.”
“Like what?” Nick and I asked at the same time.
“I think we wait here til dark until everyone leaves. We’ll take Mr. Waverly to my dad’s place. We can hide him there where he’s safe. Where no one knows he made it out alive. Whoever did this thinks he’s dead. Let’s make them think they’re right.”
As advantages went it was a small one, but it would keep him safe and that was a bonus. I nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Jerry stirred and came around, hacking like he was giving up a lung. He gasped and his eyes flew open on a moan as he struggled to sit up, panicking.
He tried to focus, blinking. “Somebody hit me!” he admitted, gasping. He ran a hand over the oozing gash high on his forehead. His fingers came away sticky with blood. He looked at everyone gathered around him, kneeling in the dirt. “And why does everyone smell like smoke?”
THOMAS STOOD AT SIRRIS’ left, Nick and I at her right. The rest of Thomas’ family gathered around us on the shore of Bitterroot Lake as twilight bathed the lake in orange fire. The surface of the placid lake was dotted with over a hundred small handcrafted boats, each holding a small tribute to the deceased. The boats were lit on fire and set adrift with whispered condolences from the individuals attending, as was tradition in Drae Hallow when one of their own passed. And although Jerry Waverly had been only human, everyone in attendance recognized his many contributions to Drae Hallow and the Magical Community.
A sea of fire spread before us as we released our own tributes, Sirris going last, her face veiled to conceal her expression. The boat she’d crafted was larger than the rest. It had to hold the small urn containing her father’s ashes. She lit the small craft afire and watched as it drifted to join the others. It would burn through somewhere in the middle of the lake and the ashes would sink and disperse to become part of Bitterroot Lake. Thomas covered her hand with his as she stood up, lending an arm for support.
They conducted the eulogy in its somber entirety with Lucas Seul officiating; the only other one of our group that kn
ew the funeral was fake, and thus the real reason for the gauzy cover that shielded Sirris’ guilty eyes.
It surprised us when Will Bennett and Carol Shamon stepped into our paths, expressions sober. I watched Sirris mouth tighten. Will Bennett had always been supportive. Carol Shamon was another matter entirely. She made no secret of her dislike and mistrust of the human population. Still, her expression seemed genuine.
“You have my deepest sympathies, Sirris. Your father was a wonderful man and a tribute to the Magical Community. His service and devotion were without question.” Her lower lip wobbled and I got the impression she was holding herself together with difficulty. She might not have always agreed with the degree to which the Magical Community trusted and relied on the services of Jerry Waverly, but she’d admired him just the same.
Sirris nodded, her eyes leaking tears she didn’t have to fake. I knew that she had only to imagine the possibility of any one of us in that urn to conjure a respectable grief.
It surprised me when Professor Shamon stepped forward and I noticed, for the first time, the delicate chain she held in both hands. At the end of it was a small locket. She released the hidden catch and it opened to reveal a small portrait of Jerry Waverly and Sirris, taken when Sirris was a young girl. The camera had caught them both laughing. It was a good picture of them both, but I wondered how she’d come by it.
Sirris bent forward and allowed the Professor to slip it over her head to nestle at her throat.
“Thank you.” Sirris managed.
Carol Shamon stepped back and Professor Bennett stepped forward to take her place.
He reached out and clasped both her hands in his. “Please accept my deepest sympathies, Sirris. Your father was an invaluable asset to the Magical Community. All will miss him.” Sirris gave a sudden gasp and jerked her hands loose. She let loose with a weak sob to cover up her unexpected reaction.
We watched as they both left to join the rest of the members of the council, gathered at the water’s edge.
Thomas and I each claimed a hand. I leaned in to murmur in Sirris ear.
“What was that? What did we just miss?”
Sirris form shuddered. “Lying,” she whispered. “One of them was lying, I could sense it.”
I wasn’t the only one of us with an uncanny ability to see through bullshit when she heard it.
Thomas added; a downturn to his mouth. “Mermaids are great lie detectors.”
I wondered if we were talking about the same thing.
“Do you know who it was?” he continued.
“No, just that something was off. We’re going to visit daddy still this evening, right? I need to make sure he’s settling in okay.”
“We’re all coming. I’m hoping Kimmie is cooking. I haven’t had one of her home-cooked meals in weeks.” I added.
Thomas allowed a small smile. “The Major is looking forward. Kimmy isn’t cooking. Dad is. He’s roasting an entire haunch of venison to celebrate. He’s been on his own since most of his kids are away at school. Besides, he needs something to take his mind off my brother. Still no word on any of them.” His smile faded and he didn’t have to fake his suddenly grim expression.
“We’ve got him all set up. I think you’ll like what we did. He’s totally hidden from the outside world,” Thomas finished.
DINNER AT THE TUTTLE residence was usually loud and boisterous as dishes were passed and good-natured teasing and banter were shared readily along with the fragrant fare. It was easy to see where Kimmy had gotten her ability to pull off a great dinner. The Roast Venison paired with Asparagus and new buttered red potatoes was delicious. But the usual small talk was absent as everyone ate, the conversation subdued. No one could miss the empty chair next to Terry. Todd’s chair sat as a reminder to all of us there and everyone mourned his loss.
“You’re a great cook, Major Tuttle. This is killer.”
The major looked up, the strain about his eyes clear and visible. “Thank you. It turned out good.” His eyes moved down the length of the table, resting for an instance on the empty chair.
My own eyes wandered to Thomas and Sirris on my right. Nick, who had been invited as well, squeezed in on my left. His father, the Mayor, had opted to hang back in Drae Hallow. Drae Council business, he’d told them.
Sirris was quiet and subdued, picking at the piece of trout, prepared especially for her, as venison wasn’t her favorite. Her face was drawn tight and I knew she missed her father. His lack of presence at the Tuttle table was deliberate. The family knew about his presence, but any unexpected visitors would not. They were taking every precaution they could to conceal his presence.
Nick passed his plate to Kimmy, asking for seconds of the Venison Haunch. His appetite, I noticed, was fine. I wished I could say the same for mine. I reached for my water, my elbow connecting with Nick’s side. He nearly dropped his plate as he grunted, swinging a look full of evil promise in my direction.
“Oops, sorry about that.” I gave him a small smile as I took a drink. I wasn’t sure he believed me.
After dinner, Kimmy prepared a plate for Jerry and handed it to Sirris. She placed her hand over the top of the sealed container, adding several biscuits in a bag on top. She met Sirris eyes. “Make sure he eats it all, he needs to keep his strength up.” She paused and then added another bag to the first. This was heavier and I was sure it wasn’t food.
Kimmy winked at us both. “A few items Jerry asked me for.”
She started gathering dishes and we left, crossing the front yard and heading towards the barn where most of the livestock were locked overnight. It was for protection against the Demon wolves that had been attacking them during the night.
Inside the barn Thomas kept walking, past the tack stall and to the sheep pen on the end. The large ram and several ewes eyed us balefully when we entered their enclosure and walked around the perimeter of their pen to the back. Thomas reached out and pushed a palm in the center whorl of a wood knot, dead center in the pine board that formed the back wall.
In amazement I watched as the knot sunk in beneath his hand and a section of the wall swung inward. The soft glow beyond illuminated an immense hidden space.
We entered to a long narrow room that ran the length of the barn. As we did, I recalled that this side of the barn butted up against a hill on the other side.
I nodded to myself.
Clever.
I sent a sly look in Thomas’ direction. “So, when you aren’t hiding guests, what else do you use this room for?” He smiled back. But it didn’t reach his eyes and he didn’t answer.
Jerry Waverly stood in the room's front, working on something at a long table. Sirris broke into a run, sidestepping piled boxes and stored equipment before she flung herself into her father’s arms.
He snatched her close in a fierce hug. I looked away to hide the sudden lump in my throat the warm reunion brought on.
Thomas moved closer and handed him the container that Sirris had plopped onto the table on her way by.
Sirris looked at her father. “You need to eat it daddy. Build your strength back up.” She ordered.
He nodded absently. “I will, I promise. But, later.” He snagged the bag that Kimmy had added on top and opened it, grin widening as he started plucking items from the bag. “Ah, nice. This will do well, yes it will.”
He glanced at Thomas. “Tell your sister thank you, Thomas.”
Motioning them forward, we gathered around what he spread out on the table, covered with bowls and beakers and other implements one might find if they were to wander into Frankenstein’s kitchen. Laying open on the table was the small journal Sirris had risked her life to grab as they ran from the burning lab of their basement home.
Jerry spoke. “I did it. I had to make some alterations and a few substitutions. But I think it will still work.” He showed several small baseball sized orbs that bore a distinct resemblance to the airborne bombs we’d used before.
He waved to another sphere, di
fferent from the others, with a spidery web of green veins striated over its surface.
“Before I was knocked over the head and left for dead, I was working on something else. When they interrupted me I was opening the shop up in the morning. I hadn’t had a chance to get this baby back out.” He fingered the small journal, rubbing the last page between his fingers. He looked at his daughter.
“Thank you Sirris. Without this I don’t think we would’ve had a chance. I wouldn’t have been able to finish that.
“What is it?” Nick asked. We were all wondering.
“That, young Nick, may just be the answer to our portal problem.”
His eyes fell on me. Was part of me inside that greenish bomb? Or had he developed the synthetic substitute we’d talked about earlier. I realized it didn’t matter, as long as it worked.
Jerry was speaking to me and I shook my head and listened. “You’ll only get one shot at it. Go ahead, take it. It activates like the others. You will need to send this through that portal doorway so it explodes on the other side. If it works like it should, it will seal the doorway when it explodes.”
“What does it do to it then?” Nick asked, stepping closer, curious.
“Well, I used the same genetic make-up that makes Sadie’s blood poisonous to the Macu and Demon wolves? My theory is that their DNA exists as part of what makes up the portals into that world. So, what poisons the demons, I hope, will also poison and damage the wormhole and cause it to snap shut. It should work,” he added hopefully.
Ignoring our alarmed glances in his direction, Jerry picked up the container of left over dinner we’d brought him. He popped the lid and sniffed in appreciation. He moved stuff aside on the counter until he came up with a dusty spoon. He brushed it off on his pants and dug in, closing his eyes on a groan.
“And it’s not even fish.” He sighed.
WE ENTERED THE SHEEP pen, the startled lambs scattering, baaing their alarm as we intruded, skirted the straw in the middle and closed the gate behind us. Kimmy was waiting for us, looking anxious and waving her cell phone.
Fire Born Dragon (Rule 9 Academy Book 1) Page 27
