Firestone

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  “You can stop her,” Jill said.

  “How?” Seth asked.

  “No idea.” Jill shrugged.

  He glanced at Sandy. She nodded and they went in to join the party.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday evening — 8:20 p.m.

  Yvonne gave Heather’s mother a puzzled look and glanced at Rodney. He nodded.

  “We should get Jabari home,” Rodney said.

  When he stood up, everyone turned to look at him. Jeraine glanced at Tanesha, who was holding Jabari. She gave him a soft smile.

  “We can keep him,” Jeraine said.

  “Best not to risk it, son,” Rodney said.

  “We’ll follow you out,” Tanesha said.

  Tanesha stood up with her tiny bundle and moved toward the door. Jeraine picked up the child’s diaper bag, blanket, and his new favorite soft elephant. Yvonne helped Tanesha put the child’s warm jacket on. The child fussed for a moment, but fell back asleep against Tanesha. Yvonne turned to Heather and her mother. She took Alma’s hands and smiled.

  “Thank you for the lovely evening,” Yvonne said.

  Alma gave Yvonne a sickeningly sweet smile, and Yvonne let go. Rodney helped her with her jacket and then held a hand out to Alma.

  “Nice to finally meet you,” Rodney said. He used his other hand to cover his hand in Alma’s. “Thank you for all the kindness you’ve shown our Tanesha.”

  Alma blushed and nodded. Turned away from Heather’s mother, Tanesha rolled her eyes. She turned back and smiled.

  “I’ll be right back,” Tanesha said to Heather.

  Heather nodded. Jeraine opened the door, and Yvonne stepped outside.

  “That was odd,” Yvonne said from the front porch. She turned back through the open door.

  “What is it, Mom?” Tanesha asked.

  Yvonne shook her lovely head and started down the front walk. Jeraine followed Yvonne, and Tanesha came after him. Rodney followed them down the path.

  “What happened at the door, Mom?” Tanesha asked.

  “Oh,” Yvonne smiled. “I don’t really know. It just felt like . . . I don’t know.”

  “Mom,” Tanesha said.

  “Now, don’t bother yourself with this,” Yvonne said.

  Rodney opened the back door of the car, and Tanesha negotiated Jabari into his car seat. She kissed his forehead and leaned back.

  “Thanks for everything,” Tanesha said to her parents.

  “It’s truly our pleasure,” Rodney said.

  Jeraine put his arm around Tanesha while Rodney went to the driver’s seat. Yvonne rolled down the window.

  “What is it, Mom?” Tanesha asked.

  “I don’t think you’ll be able to go back in,” Yvonne said. “I felt like we . . . went through a barrier . . . I don’t know, something. I think you need to try to get back inside.”

  “I will, Mom.” Tanesha nodded.

  “That’s my girl,” Yvonne said. “Love you, Tannie. Jer.”

  She rolled up the window, and Rodney pulled away from the house.

  “What do you think?” Jeraine asked.

  “I think Alma’s going to have hell to pay if I can’t get back in there,” Tanesha said.

  Jeraine gave her a thoughtful nod.

  “What?” Tanesha asked.

  “I was wondering if we had to go back inside,” Jeraine grinned. “That place, that woman . . .”

  “She’s a trip.” Tanesha nodded.

  “But . . .”

  “Heather’s inside with Mack and Tink,” Tanesha said. “Sandy and Jill are there. Katy and Paddie too. We can’t leave them.”

  Jeraine kissed her cheek.

  “Of course not,” Jeraine said.

  They went u[ the walk toward the house. They walked and walked and walked. Tanesha stopped.

  They were standing on the sidewalk where they’d said goodbye to Rodney and Yvonne.

  “Are we . . .?” Jeraine touched his forehead. “I’m sorry, Miss T, I must be high. I don’t know how it happened. I’ve been really careful and going to meeting and my therapy and . . .”

  “I’m not high,” Tanesha said. “And I’m still standing on the sidewalk too.”

  She looked at her watch. Five minutes had passed.

  “Fairies?” Jeraine asked.

  Tanesha shook her head.

  “What would break through this . . . magic?” Tanesha asked.

  “Not fairies, because you would have broken through,” Jeraine said. “Right?”

  Tanesha shrugged and shook her head.

  “It’s that Alma, I know it,” Tanesha said. “She wouldn’t dare go against Fin. But get rid of us?”

  Tanesha nodded.

  “I just have to figure out who inside can help us,” Tanesha said. “Get us back inside.”

  “Heather, Tink, the baby . . .” Jeraine said.

  “Mack,” Tanesha said.

  “Jill and Katy and the kid,” Jeraine said.

  “Paddie,” Tanesha said.

  “Sandy,” Jeraine said. “I’d bet Sandy can open the door.”

  “Why?” Tanesha asked.

  “Because she’s so loving and warm.” Jeraine nodded. “Call her.”

  “I don’t have my phone,” Tanesha said. “It’s inside. Do you?”

  Jeraine checked his pockets and shook his head.

  “What about in the car?” Tanesha asked.

  They went to his car and got inside. Jeraine began digging around in the car. Tanesha closed her eyes and rested in the seat.

  “You’re angry,” Jeraine said, more as a statement than a question.

  “No,” Tanesha said. “I feel this pressure building. A kind of . . .”

  She looked at the house. When she did, she saw Tink open the door. The teenage girl peered out. In her side mirror, Tanesha saw Charlie walking down the sidewalk. Tanesha got out of the car and met Charlie at the walk. He waved to Tink.

  She kept looking from side to side.

  “I don’t think she can see us,” Tanesha said.

  “Tink!” Charlie yelled.

  Tink seemed to hear his voice, but she seemed unable to see him. He ran toward the house. A moment later, he was still standing next to Tanesha.

  “Tink!” Charlie yelled.

  Tink gave a quick shake of her head.

  “I was supposed to meet her,” Charlie said. He glanced at his watch. “At exactly now. I’m trying to work on my timeliness. It’s my goal this month.”

  Charlie looked up when Jeraine joined them. He smiled at Jeraine, and Jeraine nodded.

  “He can’t get there either,” Tanesha said.

  Tink took a step out of the house onto the porch. The light around her bent as if she’d stepped through a membrane or some kind of bubble. She took another step, and she was standing next to them.

  “There you are!” Tink said. “Come on, let’s . . .”

  She turned to gesture to the door she’d left open and realized she was at the end of the walk.

  “What?” Tink asked. The girl’s anxiety became palpable. “But Heather . . . she . . . and I . . .”

  “Sandy’s inside!” Charlie said. “I’m supposed to bring her home!”

  “It’s okay,” Tanesha said. “We’re all in the same boat.”

  “What do we do?” Tink asked.

  Alma came to the door of the house. She looked out and then closed the door.

  “We wait,” Tanesha said.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday evening — 8:42 p.m.

  “Mommy?” Katy asked Jill.

  She climbed up on Jill’s lap, and Jill held her close for a moment.

  “Paddie and me, we’re getting sleepy,” Katy said.

  “We can go anytime,” Jill said. “Auntie Heather seems okay and . . .”

  “It’s time,” Katy said. “That’s what I’m saying.”

  “Time?” Jill asked.

  Katy nodded.

  “You should get the baby,” Katy said. She looked at Sandy
. “You need to get your dad. He’ll know what to do when the man comes.”

  “Man?” Jill’s voice rose with concern.

  Katy threw her arms around Jill’s neck.

  “Love you, Mommy,” Katy said in Jill’s ear.

  As fast as the hug came, Katy jumped off Jill’s lap and ran to where Paddie was standing.

  “Katy?” Jill got up.

  Paddie drew his wooden sword. The air filled with the sound of a bell. With the sound, the sword turned from wood to shining gold and steel. Intricate designs appeared on the blade and handle. The child’s arm strained for a moment until he got the feel of holding the weight of the blade.

  Fin and Abi gasped. Alma ran out of the kitchen. Jill tried to stop her, but Seth beat her to it. Seth grabbed Heather’s mother by the shoulders.

  “Where did you get that?” Fin asked.

  Fin took two quick steps and towered over the boy. Paddie set his feet and held the sword in front of him.

  “He’s a child,” Sandy said. “You will step back.”

  She got between Paddie and Fin. Surprised, Fin looked at Sandy. She pushed at his shoulders, and he stepped back. He gave Sandy an assessing look. Jill moved to Sandy’s side.

  “I got it at the smelly dead place.” Paddie smiled. “From the guy with white eyes.”

  “We found it!” Katy said.

  “The guy with the white eyes said I could keep it,” Paddie said.

  “Why?” Jill turned around and knelt down to Paddie.

  “I don’ know,” Paddie said.

  “Do you know what that is?” Fin asked.

  “What is it?” Seth asked. His grip remained tight on Heather’s mother.

  “It’s a shiny sword.” Paddie gave them a gap-toothed grin. “I have it to protect Katy.”

  “It’s the Sword of Truth,” Abi said. “It’s a legendary sword that is supposed to have been made by Manannán himself before he met Queen Fand. It cuts through all lies and fabrication. All magic is useless against it.”

  She reached down to take the sword from Paddie. Lightning shot from the sword at her. She yelped.

  “So it’s yours,” Fin said.

  “The man with white eyes said I could keep it,” Paddie repeated.

  “What is this?” Heather asked Alma. “Why do you care about some stupid sword?”

  “You cannot understand,” Alma said.

  “Mom!” Heather said. “What is going . . .?”

  Katy ran to the door. Before anyone could stop her, she pulled open the door. Paddie jogged after her. Katy pointed, and Paddie used the sword to slice at the door’s opening. Katy and Paddie ran back stand with Jill.

  “Close that door!” Alma said.

  A huge lightning storm began outside. The house rumbled with the power of thunder and the yard lit up with lightning. Tink, Charlie, Tanesha, and Jeraine ran inside.

  “Tink!” Heather met her daughter at the door. “What happened? I’ve been calling all over for you!”

  “We were stuck outside and . . .”

  There was a bright crack of lightning and a man stepped through the door. He was as tall as Fin and wore a kind of leather tunic. He had olive skin and dark curly hair. He looked ancient and young at the same time. He was lovely to look at but had the fierce look of one not to mess with. He had an arrow notched in his bow, which he held in front of him.

  Alma broke loose from Seth. She reached out her arm and grabbed Heather’s shoulder.

  “NO!” screamed Paddie.

  Paddie jumped toward Alma and Heather. He flicked the sword, and Alma let go of Heather’s shoulder. The man raised his bow and arrow.

  “NO!” screamed Paddie.

  The boy turned to the man just as the arrow took flight. Fin raised his hand to divert the arrow but his magic couldn’t stop its path. Paddie deftly knocked the arrow from the air.

  The man gave the boy a hard look. He was reaching for his quiver when Tanesha knocked the arrows out of his hand.

  “Enough with the arrows,” Tanesha scolded.

  Sandy grabbed the arrows and held them to her chest.

  “Mirth,” the man said to Tanesha.

  “Splendor,” he said to Sandy. He turned to Jill.

  “Where is my daughter, Good Cheer?” the man asked.

  Chapter Three Hundred and Two

  Eros arrows

  “In the first place,” Tanesha sneered at the man. “I’m not Mirth.”

  “I’m not Splendor,” Sandy said. Her voice had an edge that made Charlie move to stand next to her. He took the arrows and held them close.

  “I’m not Good Cheer,” Jill said.

  The man stepped back to assess the women.

  “Can you believe this guy?” Sandy asked Charlie in an artificially indignant voice. Charlie gave her a confused look.

  “Dude here thinks we’re the Three Graces.” Tanesha shook her head. “We’re human.”

  “You’re a fairy,” the man said. He gestured to Jill and said, “And she’s . . . ah shit.”

  The man hit his hands against his thighs and spun in a circle saying, “Shit! Shit! Shit!”

  The man reached to take his arrows from Charlie just as Jill’s father, Perses, walked in the door. Charlie pushed the man away from him.

  “Hello,” Perses said. The man dropped to a knee.

  He looked from person to person. Perses grabbed the front of the man’s tunic and pulled him to his feet.

  “Did you aim an arrow at my daughter?” Perses asked.

  “I . . ., uh . . .” the man said. “I am very sorry, sir. I didn’t realize she was your daughter. I thought she was a Grace.”

  “So it’s all right to point your arrows at my aunt’s children?” Perses’s voice rose.

  “No, no, no,” the man said.

  Perses scowled. As if he was reading the situation, he looked from person to person.

  “Put the blade away, Paddie,” Perses said to Paddie. “I will take care of this.”

  “Not yet,” Paddie said.

  With the man in one hand, Perses walked over to Paddie. The towheaded boy looked up at the man. For a moment, the child and the Titan stared at each other.

  “May I?” Perses asked.

  He easily took the sword from Paddie. Still holding the man in one hand, Perses held the sword before his eyes and looked down the blade.

  “Nice sword,” Perses said. “Where did you get it?”

  “From Maughold,” Fin said.

  “Isle of Man?” Perses looked down at Paddie.

  “It’s a magic sword,” Paddie said. “That’s what he said.”

  Paddie pointed to Fin. Perses turned.

  “What’s your stake in this?” Perses asked Fin.

  “Stake?” Fin asked.

  Perses looked at Fin and then turned to look at Tanesha. He gave a knowing nod.

  “I never would have put that together,” Perses said. He smiled at Tanesha. “She’s been my daughter’s friend most of her life.”

  “Yes, sir,” Fin said.

  “G’mpa, give Paddie his sword back,” Katy demanded.

  “Katy,” Jill pulled her daughter to her.

  “No, she’s right.” Perses turned to Paddie. “That’s a very important sword.”

  “Made by Manannán,” Jill said.

  “Oh no.” Perses looked at Jill. He smiled. “It’s much, much older than that. More important.”

  Perses turned to Paddie.

  “Are you the man to own this blade?” Perses asked.

  “I’m five,” Paddie said. He stuck his chest out in a gesture of pride.

  “You’re not five!” Katy said. “You’re only four and a half!”

  “I’m four and a half!” Paddie said. He stuck his chest out again.

  “So you are.” Perses grinned. He held the sword, hilt first, out to Paddie. “It’s yours for life. No one will ever be able to take it from you.”

  Paddie hopped up and down for a moment before taking the sword back
. Perses gave a slight nod and touched Paddie’s forehead.

  “Yes, sir,” Paddie said, and smiled.

  Perses grinned at the boy.

  “Perses? If I may?” Fin started.

  Perses turned back to look at Fin.

  “You should let Eros up,” Fin said.

  Perses raised his eyebrows at Fin.

  “He’s just looking for his wife,” Fin said.

  He gestured to where Seth held on to Alma. Perses turned to look at Seth.

  “Seth,” Perses said.

  “Perses,” Seth said in a low voice.

  “You know what you have there?” Perses asked.

  “Think so,” Seth said.

  “Good,” Perses said. “Can you hold on to that one for a bit?”

  “I’ve got her,” Seth said.

  “Don’t let her touch anyone,” Perses said.

  Perses set the man he’d been holding onto his feet, and stood right in front of him. Perses patted the man’s shoulders, which seemed to awaken him.

  “Eros,” Perses said to the man.

  “Perses,” the man said.

  “You know where you are?” Perses asked.

  “No,” Eros said. “I’ve been looking for my wife, my daughter for . . .”

  Eros gave a sad shrug.

  “A few thousand human years,” Perses said. “Yes.”

  “My mother . . .” Eros started.

  “I want to know . . .” Tink said.

  The girl walked up to where Perses and Eros were standing. They were so surprised by her interjection that they turned to look at her.

  “Why did you let your mother do it?” Tink asked.

  Eros looked at the girl and then at his captor. Perses gave a slight nod.

  “How was I to know that my mother would be so cruel?” Eros asked.

  “Oh, come on!” Sandy said. “That’s the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard. You abandoned your wife and child because of your ego.”

  The mood in the room tightened with electric tension. The people turned on Eros.

  “She broke a sacred promise to me,” Eros said.

  “To not look at you?” Jeraine asked. “You think any of these women wouldn’t want to know who is in their bed? How stupid are you?”

  “You couldn’t imagine that your mother would be cruel?” Tanesha asked. “What did she do the last time you fell in love?”

  “Uh . . .” Eros said.