by J. L. Ostle
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you; you are safe.” I try and reassure her.
She walks closer to me. “This is for my own peace of mind. I love you.” She closes her eyes and raises her arm. She tries to slap me but this force type bubble blocks it, and it blows her away, her body pushed toward the wall, banging hard against it until she is on the floor groaning. “Okay, it works.” She goes on all fours before she manages to stand back up. “Fuck, that hurt.”
I run over to her, helping her up. “You are an idiot at times.” I hold back on a laugh.
I hear little bells, and I turn to the fairy, and it looks like she’s laughing. At least she enjoyed it. I walk back to the fairy, going to my knees. She looks at me and gives me a little wave.
God, she looks so adorable.
“Can you understand me?” She nods. That’s good. “Were the men with red eyes after you?” She shakes her head. So they aren’t after her? But they had her? That doesn’t make sense. “But they had you.” She lifts her hand, tilting it side to side. I think that means kind of. “Do you know who their boss is?” Shakes head. She stands and starts moving her hands around. “I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you are trying to say.”
“If only you could speak fairy,” Emz says from behind me.
That’s helpful.
“You are safe here.” I think it over. She obviously needs to say something; I just wish I knew what it was. She will need somewhere to sleep. I form a doll house but with real life mini furniture, so she can watch TV and sleep in a proper comfy bed just her size.
“Holy shit, that is amazing. It’s like a fairy mansion.” Emz looks through the little windows.
“So you can have privacy. The plumbing works and the fridge will always be magically stocked,” I say to her. “I will see if I can find someone who can understand fairy talk.” She gives me a thumbs up and walks into her little home.
We leave the room and go back downstairs, and I spot the guys in the bar lounge, I walk toward them. When I spot Zeke, he gives Emz a look; Emz gives him a wink in return. They all turn to face me, I smile when I spot Kayleigh with them. She looks Emz over, and she quickly looks at her hands.
I wonder what that was about.
“Hey guys, ummm we have a new guest.”
“Yeah, Zeke said,” Rush laughs. “Emz, have I told you that you are my new best friend,” he teases.
“Feel the love Rush.” Emz places her hand over her heart.
A flashback from when we all first met only a couple of months ago enters my head. Zeke said something similar when I put Rush in his place when he tried to compel me and then Emz. It’s crazy to see how far we have come since then.
“You have a gift too?” Kayleigh peeks up to Emz.
“Afraid not. I’m a boring human being.” Emz sighs. “Unless there is prophecy out there for me, I am the one that will just come out with sarcastic remarks and keep everyone entertained by my playful banter.” Emz smiles at Kayleigh but Kayleigh just nods.
“Kayleigh and I are going to help each other control our magic. More like she will probably teach me.” I walk over to her, putting my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side.
“I think it may be the other way round,” she chuckles.
“But anyway, Emz isn’t the guest I was talking about. Emz found a fairy when she was on holiday. Guess who had her?” I look at each of them.
“The men with red eyes?” Kayleigh answers.
“Yeah. It does look like they are going after supernatural beings not just humans with gifts. It looks like demons are mostly doing the grunt work. We need to get the message out there with what’s going on; the supernatural world needs to know that someone is after them.”
“I’ll make a call and get a news crew to come, and at least that way it can get out faster,” Slate says before taking out his phone and stepping away.
“I’ll go post on our social media.” Caspian stands and leaves the room.
Rush downs his drink and takes out his phone. “I’ll send a few texts to some of the places I know that are similar to our safe haven, so they are prepared and to pass on the message.” I give him a nod.
“I just hope this is enough.” I bite my lip.
“We will do all that we can; we just need to get ready for a very busy hotel.” Zeke comes to my side. “I think it’s best if you and Emz call your parents. I know they are only humans, but it’s just in case they get used to get to you.” He’s right.
“I’m on it.” Emz is on the phone.
“I could just zap them here,” I tell her.
“Hey, I want to look like I’m being helpful. You can zap them here once I fill them in.” She winks at me before continuing her conversation on the phone. I watch while she makes another call, and when she hangs up, she looks at me. “Okay, you can bring them here now.” She comes to my side. Just like that, our parents are standing in front of us with a few suitcases.
“Ivory,” my mom cries, running toward me, pulling me into a hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Mom. This is just a precaution. I don’t want any of you to get hurt because of me.”
“All we care is that you're safe. Have you been looking after yourself?” Dad adds, checking me over before giving me a hug.
“Yes, Dad,” I chuckle.
“Ivory, sweetie, look at you…” Emz’s mom, Steph, comes toward me taking my hands, inspecting me. “She doesn’t look any different.” She looks back at Emz who smacks her forehead with her hand.
“Mom, she only turns into the source of all magic when she needs to. She can’t be a big glowy looking person all day long.” Emz rolls her eyes.
“Sorry, Ivory. When Emz filled me in on everything that happened a couple of weeks ago, I was just curious.” She pulls me in for a hug before quickly stepping away, making me almost stumble. “Holy crap, it’s Beaten Hart. You can’t even tell they are vampires.” You can tell where Emz gets her no filter mouth from, I laugh to myself.
“Okay, a news crew will be here in the next twenty minutes.” Slate comes over. “Do you know what you are going to say?”
No. Holy shit, I’m going to have to talk in front of a camera. “I just need to say what’s going on, right?”
He nods. “Introduce who you are, mention that you are the prophecy, say what you have found out, and then tell them about our hotel and that it will be safe for whoever wants to come here until we can stop whoever is after the good in the supernatural world.”
“Right, I can do that.” I hope.
“You got this.” He kisses my cheek. I look at Kayleigh, and she looks away, blushing when she saw that I saw her watching. I don’t blame her for looking at the guys. If I wasn’t with them, I would be staring too.
“It’s all over social media.” Caspian returns.
“I messaged around so hopefully word of mouth will help too.” Rush kisses the side of my head.
“Kayleigh, can you go and get Amber and Serene for me and tell them what’s going on?” She nods and heads to the elevator.
“Where should we put our stuff?” Mom asks me. Oh crap, they need rooms. I want them to be close to me but obviously not in our penthouse… I am taken from my thoughts when Kayleigh calls out my name, and we all run over to her. My eyes pop open when I see two elevators instead of the one.
“It just appeared,” Kayleigh says.
“I take it that isn’t normal,” Emz’s mom says.
The original elevator door opens, and I walk in. More floors have been added by the extra buttons on the panel. My floor is still at the top but it’s like five more floors have appeared. “Emz, can you keep these doors open for me?” I step out and press the elevator door button. When the new elevator opens up, I look at it and there are letters instead of numbers. “I’m going to check this out. You all stay here okay.” I walk inside.
“Ivory…” Mom takes a step forward.
“Mom, I will be fine, all-powerful, rememb
er?” I watch as she goes to my dad’s side; he pulls her in and wraps his arm around her waist.
“We are going with.” The guys all join me. I know they won’t take no for an answer. I press the top floor button first. I wait as we ride the car up. We are all silent until the doors open, and I slowly walk out, inspecting the room and it’s an exact replica of our penthouse. I walk in each room and it’s the spitting double, minus our things.
“What is going on?” I ask.
“The hotel has added more rooms,” Caspian answers.
“Well done, Sherlock,” Rush says sarcastically.
“You are telling me the hotel has a mind of its own?” That’s not scary at all.
“I don’t know, but it happened for a reason.” Caspian takes hold of my hand, and we look at a few more floors before reaching the lobby, and everyone is still there waiting for us.
“Well?” Emz asks straight away.
“The hotel has somehow created more floors with rooms, they are the exact same as the floors that were originally here,” I say to them.
“And I thought I wasn’t going to see anything magical,” Steph says, looking happy.
“Right, well Mom, Dad, Steph, you will be stopping in the penthouse using the new elevator. There are plenty of rooms and space, be good if you all stayed together.”
“You want me to stay in a room that just magically appeared from nowhere?” Steph interjects. “What if it disappears?”
“Steph, this hotel has been created to keep people safe. It must have appeared as it must expect more people to show up.” I guess. “Plus, the penthouse has a Jacuzzi and a multi-power shower…” I sing the last words.
“Dibs on the Jacuzzi.” Steph walks past everyone into the elevator.
“We are just going to drop off our things, and we will be right down.” Mom kisses my cheek before she and dad are gone.
I hear the hotel doors open, and at least twenty people walk in—a few carrying cameras and equipment. They all head our way, asking where they should set up. I thought there was going to be one reporter but there seems to be a hell of a lot more.
“Come on, I’ll take you to our conference room.” Rush gives me a wink and takes them away. I feel like I’m going to pass out. I hate public speaking.
“I thought there was going to be one,” I say with a shaky voice to Slate.
“So did I, but I guess they let it slip. It’s not every day a powerful supernatural being is on TV.” He smiles at me. “Just think of this as a good thing; it means more of a chance of people watching this.” Yeah with seeing me.
Think I’d rather deal with demons then talk live.
“Do I look okay?” Emz asks Kayleigh.
“You look really beautiful,” Kayleigh says then looks down at herself. It’s then I realize why she was eyeing up Emz; it’s because Kayleigh is still wearing the same clothes she arrived here with.
“Kayleigh.” I walk over to her. “There are a few summer dresses in your room if you want to change and, on the way down, can you get Selene and Amber?” I see her eyes warm up with the mention of new clothes.
“Yes sorry, you did ask. Will be right back.” She runs off.
I wait for everyone to arrive, and we all head to the conference room where the reporters have taken seats, cameramen close by. I have to swallow the big lump in my throat. The guys are standing on the platform. Slate walks toward me, taking my hand guiding me up, and I see a few flashes of the camera.
I indicate for Emz, Kayleigh, Amber, and Selene to come stand with us. Our parents sit on the right side of the room on the reserved chairs. Slate really does think of everything. I step forward to the podium that has a microphone attached.
I look out in front of me.
Don’t be sick.
“Sorry, new to all this,” I chuckle then clear my throat. “My name is Ivory Bennett. I grew up with a magical gift. I was a shield against the supernatural community, but it turns out that I was destined for more. A prophecy was made that a person with a good of heart would become the source of white magic, and the universe chose me to be that source.” I pause as a few reporters are looking at me wide-eyed, probably not expecting me to say that.
“The reason you are all here is that yesterday I had a vision. My first since I received this power. In doing so, I was able to save a very special girl—Kayleigh.” I extend my hand for her to take and she comes to my side. “A demon was after her, to take her to someone who wants one of the things that makes her special.”
“Today the same thing happened; I had a vision while I slept, my magic connecting with another girl with a gift: Amber.” I indicate for Amber to join my other side. “With both our gifts, we were able to bring her and another girl who was being chased here. Amber was being hunted down, and yet she was able to look after Serene.” Serene comes forward standing near Amber and takes her hand. “Yes, they were after Serene, a young child. A demon was after them for the same purpose as the first, working alongside a very bad vampire.”
“What happened to the demon and vampire?” a reporter shouts out.
“One demon and the vampire are in a magical cell until we can figure out who they are answering to. I think the good in the supernatural world is being targeted one by one. I think demons with red eyes are doing the chasing, but I also think they are getting help with those that are also evil. I want whoever is listening to spread the word of this. My hotel, which is a safe haven, a place where they will be protected is open to those supernatural and those with gifts.”
“What do they want with the people they collect?” another calls out.
“Their gift, their magic, what makes them unique,” I reply.
“Then what happens to them after that?”
I clear my throat. “They will die. They are only after their magic, not them in general. Hence why I don’t want this to happen.”
“Do you know who they are working for?”
“We think it could be something called the dark power.”
“They are opposite of what you are then?”
“Probably. I don’t know what they want with these gifts once they get them, but I think we can all agree we don’t want to find out.” A few murmur and write notes down. “Are there any more questions?”
“This one is off topic, but who are you dating from the band? I am sure the world would like to know about this also.”
I feel my face flush. I want to talk about keeping people safe, not my love life. I look over at the guys, and they don’t look impressed. Then they all look at me. I look at my parents, who are holding hands; they give me smile. I don’t want to embarrass them, but I don’t want the guys to know I’m ashamed of them.
Of us.
“They are all my boyfriends.” I say with a strong voice. Then loads of flashes go off, more questions being shouted, but it’s all about me and the band. “Listen, I am not here to discuss our love life. It’s the safety of the innocent people out there we are concerned about. Thank you for your time.” I walk down the aisle toward the doors heading back towards the reception area, my chest feeling a little tight.
“You were amazing,” Slate says, jogging over to me. “You answered that amazingly.”
“Of course, they had to be vultures and ask about our relationship. People could die, but oh no, they just want to be nosey. Bastards.” Rush glares at the reporters as they are escorted out of the building.
“As long as the message gets out there about what’s going on in the supernatural community, I’m happy. Let’s just hope we have done all we can. Don’t think I can handle any more visions.”
“Here, I got you a drink.” Kayleigh passes me a glass of water. “You were incredible out there; you looked so calm.”
I wasn’t. “Well, trust me; I was shaking in my boots. Thought I was going to be sick at one point,” I chuckle. “Thank you for this, really needed it.” I down it and I walk to the reception desk, placing my empty glass there.
“I was w
ondering, maybe we can do some magic before we get dinner,” Kayleigh asks hopefully.
“Can we join?” Serene asks us.
“Of course.” I tap her nose, causing her to smile.
We head to the basement as I think it will be safer, so we don’t hurt anyone accidentally. We all do stretches, and I jump up and down wanting to loosen up. I feel like I’m about to work out rather than do magic. I just hope they don’t expect too much from me. I am still learning as much as they are.
“Right, okay, what do we want to learn or improve on with our gifts?” I ask them.
“I can fly down, but I can’t fly up,” Kayleigh says first.
“Then we can start with that. Amber? Serene?”
“I just want to see if I can do anything more than form orbs. I want to see if I can move things or make things appear.”
“That’s your goal, to see what else you can do?”
“I want to see if I can turn into anything besides a wolf.” Serene rolls her eyes.
“Serene, that is then your goal.” I give her a wink. “I think we need to space out and relax our minds…”
“What about you?” Serene interrupts me. “What do you want to be able to do?”
I think it over. “I just want to be able to control it. That I can do strong magic without having to turn into the other me. The glowy me.” That’s true. Why do I have to change forms to do powerful magic? I’m the same person. I should be able to do whatever without changing.
“Then you can learn from there,” Serene says with a serious tone that makes her so cute.
“That’s the plan. Kayleigh, maybe if you start with jumping up? Keep doing it until it’s no longer a jump, even if it’s a few seconds in the air. Amber, why don’t you create your orb and ask for it to do other things. It could be like a pet. You just need to train it, and Serene, why don’t you think of a different animal and concentrate on that. I’ll try and start off doing little things in this form and go from there.”
“We got this.” Amber claps her hands in determination.
“We do. I bet in a few months this will come so easy we will be hitting ourselves for not trying this sooner.”
