by Sarah Noffke
“Yeah, and not a moment too soon,” Plato said, ducking back under the shelf and disappearing completely.
Liv looked up at the door as John entered the shop, shock covering his face.
Chapter Fourteen
“What in God’s name happened here?” John asked, throwing his hand to his chest and stumbling back.
Liv’s synapses apparently weren’t firing at the moment. She couldn’t believe what she’d done, or that she’d caused any stress to John. Shaking off the guilty emotions, Liv rushed forward. “It’s totally fine. Some kids were in here this morning. I think they broke in through the back. They were in the shop when I entered and I ran them off.”
John stared around in disbelief, looking at the various broken appliances. Then, as if his thoughts had caught up with him, he looked at Liv, worry making the wrinkles around his eyes deepen. “Are you okay? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
She shook her head, the well of guilt overflowing. “I’m fine. I was just trying to clean up before you got here.”
John pointed to the empty bottle that was still in Liv’s hand. “I’m guessing the shitheads drank all my good whiskey.”
Liv found herself nodding as she covered her mouth so John couldn’t smell the booze on her breath. “I’m afraid so. I was just about to chuck this in the trash.”
“Did you file a police report?” John asked. “And the door in the back? Do I need to fix the lock?”
Liv was going to have to tell him the truth soon…once she understood it better. “No, you’re fine. I fixed the lock already. You won’t even be able to tell that anyone broke it. And no, I haven’t had a chance to file a police report.”
“Those hoodlums,” John asked, pulling out his phone. “You get a good look at them?”
“Oh, yeah,” Liv said, putting the whiskey bottle in the trash can and grabbing the broom and dustpan. Her dumb magic had broken more than a dozen appliances. She had to figure out how to fix this for John.
“What did they look like? How many were there?” John asked, dialing the police and pressing the phone to his ear.
“There were three of them,” Liv began. “One had short black hair, like a bowl cut. Another had sort of poufy brown curly hair, and the last was bald.”
John covered the phone with a hand. “Liv, did you just describe the Three Stooges?”
Sweeping the floor, Liv covered the blush on her face. “I was still half asleep when I came into the shop. Maybe I didn’t get such a good look at them.”
It took Liv longer than it should have to clean up the shop while John spoke with the police. It was hard for her to concentrate with the whiskey rolling around in her stomach. With each passing minute, she worried that the alcohol was going to wear off and her magic would be out of control once more. That was why her training was crucial. If she couldn’t get things under control soon, she was going to have to ask the House for help. That was the last thing she wanted after her display of independence the night before.
“Okay, that’s done,” John said with a heavy sigh as he reentered the shop after talking to the police out front.
“What did they say?” Liv asked, dumping her dustpan into the trash.
“Apparently, there’s been a string of similar incidents in the area,” John reported. “Damn kids have nothing to do.”
Liv’s chest lightened.
John looked at the trash bin filled with appliances too broken to repair and grimaced. “I’ll have to credit or pay most of those customers for their devices.”
“You can take it out of my paycheck,” Liv offered.
John gave her a confused look. “Why would I do that?”
“Well, because maybe I was running a few minutes behind this morning,” Liv insisted in a rush. “If I’d been here on time, maybe the kids wouldn’t have done all this.”
John laughed good-naturally. “You haven’t been late to work a day in your life. No, these things happen, Liv. We’ll clean up and be fine. Don’t you worry.”
“Hey, John,” Liv began, her tone careful. She wanted to tell him everything—about her magic and Plato and her family—but the longer she stalled, the more she thought she couldn’t. What if he rejected her? Pushed her away? Kicked her out? No, she would tell him in time, once she could prove she wasn’t a danger to anyone or anything. “Have you taken your heart meds today?” she finally asked.
He looked at her absentmindedly and then nodded. Pulling the pill bottle from his jacket pocket, he opened it and took one of the small white pills. “Today I won’t fight you on that, although I wish those heathens had left me some whiskey.”
Liv turned her back to John, pretending to tidy one of the shelves. Buy John more whiskey, she reminded herself silently.
“Maybe Rory will bring me some stuff today,” John mused. “I could use the work after this.”
Liv spun around, an idea occurring to her. “How much does he sell those to you for?”
“Sell?” John asked. “He doesn’t. Rory just gives them to me. He says it’s stuff he finds in the junkyard.”
“Really?” Liv asked.
“Yeah, and most of it doesn’t even need much repair. You know that from working on the stuff in the past,” John stated, waving at the display in the front of the shop where the repaired appliances were on sale. “So it’s really all profit, whatever Rory brings me.”
“Are you expecting to see him today?” Liv asked hopefully.
John scratched his head. “I never know when I’ll see the fellow, actually. He just sort of shows up.”
“Well, do you know where he lives?”
John looked up from the pile of appliances he’d started to sort through. “I’m not sure. Why do you want to know?”
“I’m just wondering where he gets his stuff,” Liv lied. “I was thinking I could do some scavenging for you. Help to make up for what happened here today.”
John picked up an electrical heater, examining it. “Think we can salvage this one.” He handed it to Liv. “Maybe you can try fixing it. And don’t worry about doing anything to make up for today. It’s not like it was your fault.”
The guilt was almost too much for her. She gripped the heater and bit down hard on her lip.
The toaster banged strongly into the top of the vintage trunk, making the lid pop open slightly.
Liv’s eyes bulged at the sight. Damn it, what the hell was up with that damn toaster?
John turned around at the sound, eyeing the trunk suspiciously. “Is Plato knocking around somewhere?”
“Yep,” Liv said, hightailing it for the back. “That trouble-making cat is probably getting into stuff.”
“Where are you going?” John asked.
“To the back to fix this heater,” Liv said, disappearing before John could protest. They both knew the better tools were sitting on the workbench out front, but Liv couldn’t chance being around John right then or she might make an even bigger mess.
She let out a giant exhale, pressing her eyes closed. The whiskey was wearing off faster than she would have expected, or maybe her magic was that difficult to subdue.
Liv counted down from ten, picturing herself riding an elevator down. It was a technique she often used to get to sleep. When she was almost to the first floor in her mind, she felt much more relaxed.
“You going to hide back here for the rest of the day?” Plato’s voice called, making Liv’s eyes open.
She nodded at the cat standing on the cluttered workbench in front of her. “I think that’s the best plan for right now, unless you have a better idea.”
“Blaming all your problems on me seems to be part of most of your plans,” Plato said, offense in his voice.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Liv said, using a screwdriver to open the back of the heater.
“Why don’t you use your magic to fix that like you did with the microwave?” Plato suggested, nodding at the heater.
“Because I don’t know what I’m doing,” Liv argued. “What if I blow
it up or make a disaster of the back of the shop too?”
“What if you fix it?” Plato countered. “And now that you’re relaxed, you appear to be in better control. You just can’t let your emotions get away from you again.”
Liv peered into the back of the heater. “It’s fried—another appliance that can’t be salvaged.”
The objects on the table began to shake.
“Calm down,” Plato warned.
Liv’s eyes widened as the objects on the table began to bounce around more wildly. She closed her eyes and started to count back from ten again, trying to block out the gentle knocking sounds. When they died away, she opened her eyes again, a relieved smile on her face.
“Good,” Plato said. “Now try focusing that power on fixing the heater.”
Liv drilled the broken appliance with her gaze, seeing it as repaired as she’d done with the microwave. She felt the energy pour out of her like wisps of smoke, lacing around the heater’s parts and changing them.
In her mind, she saw the heater working. Somehow, she could see deep into the appliance, observing as the parts were returned to working condition. It was like being in multiple places at once, her intention transporting her. It was brilliant and inspiring, and absolutely one of the most amazing feelings she’d ever experienced!.
Sparks shot out of the heater, making Liv shield her face. Plato jumped from the table, once again taking cover. Smoke billowed from the heater, which had caught fire.
Liv ran for the back where the fire extinguisher was located, and she yanked it off the wall and returned as the fire grew, scorching the workbench. She sprayed the heater, sending white foam all over the place.
“What’s going on back there?” John called from the front.
“Nothing!” Liv yelled, stopping the extinguisher and waving her hands to disperse the smoke.
“Do I smell smoke?” John asked.
“Damn it. Damn it. Damn it,” Liv muttered under her breath, setting down the fire extinguisher and starting to clean up yet again. “No, you’re just going senile, old man.”
“Yeah, that seems about right,” he replied with a chuckle.
Picking up the heater, Liv tossed it in the trashcan. “I’m useless today. I should just go home and stop making trouble for John.”
“Or you could go to the House of Seven and accept their training,” Plato offered, materializing on the table again and sniffing the white foam.
Liv grimaced at the notion. “I’m not sure I’m that desperate yet.”
“Or,” Plato said, drawing out the word, “you can try asking the giant for advice.”
Liv sighed, looking at the spot where the heater had been. It was now permanently scorched. “I would, but I don’t know how to find him.”
“I know where to find him,” Plato stated.
Liv looked up. “You do? Why didn’t you say anything? Where is he?”
“In the front of the shop with John,” Plato said, a hint of amusement on his face.
Chapter Fifteen
“Wait,” Liv said, striding to the door and peering through.
Rory was, in fact, standing next to John, looking around the shop with a worried expression. He was so tall that John had to crane his head to look up at him. Beside him was a large box with various wires hanging over the side.
Liv looked back at Plato. “Why didn’t you tell me he was here?”
“I thought you might be able to fix the heater,” the cat answered.
Liv looked at the mess she’d made, and the objects on the table began to rattle again. “Next time have a little less faith in me,” she said, poking her head through the swinging door dividing the back of the shop from the front.
“Hey there,” she said casually, getting both men’s attention. “Oh, Rory, you’re here. I had no idea.”
The giant eyed her suspiciously, not saying a word.
“Well, since you are here, would you mind grabbing something off the top shelf back here for me?” Liv asked, pointing behind her. “It’s way up on the top shelf and I can’t get to it.”
“Why don’t you use the ladder?” John asked.
“It’s broken,” Liv lied.
John frowned. “That too? Damn this place is falling apart before my very eyes.”
“I’ll fix it,” Liv stated. “Don’t worry. But Rory, if I could have your help, that would be great.”
The giant nodded, showing John a calm expression. “I’ll be back in a moment. Pick through the box and let me know what you want. You can have it all.”
John nodded, digging into the box in front of him.
Liv rushed back into the work area, starting to pace back and forth. What was she going to say to this giant? How could he help her? She wasn’t sure, but of all the people she knew, he was the only one she was sure knew anything about magic. At least, she hoped her instinct was right about that. Otherwise, she was about to make a fool of herself.
Liv froze when Rory ducked through the doorway. His gaze fell on the scorch marks and foam on the worktable and the objects vibrating around it.
“I knew I sensed magic,” he said, his voice a low whisper.
“You did?” Liv asked with relief. “When you showed up here?”
Rory shook his head. “I felt it from miles away. It was like a magical bomb went off. That was why I came down here.”
Liv’s face flushed. “Yeah, so apparently you know about magic. That’s a good thing. One concern down.”
Plato crawled up the ladder by the tall shelves and perched at the top, looking down at them.
Rory eyed the cat for a moment before looking at Liv. “So you don’t need my help retrieving something from up high?”
Liv twisted her fingers together, trying to figure out the best approach. “No, I actually have a confession to make, and I need your help.”
“Besides the fact that you’re the one who destroyed the shop and that your cat talks to people?” Rory asked, not looking at all impressed.
Plato lifted his paw and licked it. “I only talk to Liv, not to people.”
“Yes, besides that,” Liv said sheepishly, looking at the objects that continued to vibrate on the table.
Rory crossed his large arms over his chest and frowned. “Go on, then.”
Liv took a slow breath, and on the exhale, the tools settled down a bit, not making as much noise. “So, as it turns out, I’m a magician, and have just had my magic unlocked. I don’t have the slightest clue how to use it, and I desperately need someone who can help me or I fear I might destroy this shop.”
Rory looked at the scorch marks on the table. “I fear you’ll do worse than that. Keep this up and you might destroy half of Los Angeles.”
Liv forced out a laugh. “Now, let’s not exaggerate.”
The screws on the worktable all rolled off at once, bouncing on the floor like Mexican jumping beans.
Rory gave her a challenging look.
Liv combed her fingers nervously through her hair. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m a bit out of control. It’s just that I’m not used to my magic, and apparently, my emotions are affecting it.”
Rory nodded. “What do you want from me?”
“I was thinking that maybe since you’re a magical creature—”
He coughed tersely.
“Magical person,” she corrected, but the look on his face didn’t soften. “Anyway, I’m not good with the terminology, but I thought you might be able to direct me to someone who can help me.”
“Help you do what?” Rory asked.
“Train me on how to use my magic,” Liv answered.
“Why are you asking me?” Rory questioned. “If you’re a magician who has just had your magic unlocked, you have access to the House of Seven. They will surely train you.”
Liv shook her head. “That’s the thing. I don’t want their biased help.”
For the first time ever, the skeptical expression on the giant’s face disappeared. A commonality seemed to connect th
e two. “So you’re not with the House of Seven?” Rory asked.
Liv looked down at the floor. Giants weren’t fans of the House of Seven. Liv wanted to tell Rory everything, but she didn’t know him well enough to know if he’d reject her at once. She had to play this carefully. “It’s complicated,” she admitted.
“Why was your magic locked?” Rory asked.
“I didn’t want it, and I gave it up so I didn’t have to be governed by the House,” Liv stated. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth.
“And now?” Rory asked.
“Well, you have magic, right?”
He blinked impassively at her, not answering the question.
Liv coughed. “Right. Yes, of course, you do. And you know how much better your life is with it. I decided I’d embrace my magic.”
“But you have zero idea what you’re doing, obviously,” Rory pointed out, waving at the front of the shop, his arm like the wing of an eagle.
“I know what I’m doing,” Liv argued. “I just don’t know how to control it.”
Rory offered her a skeptical expression.
Liv softened. “Okay, fine. I don’t know what I’m doing. That’s why I need your help. Do you know someone who can train me? I don’t have any money, but I can work in exchange for help.”
“Those I know wouldn’t want anything in exchange for helping,” Rory replied. “Keeping a magician from abusing their powers would be enough for them.”
“Wow, so you’re going to send me to someone who knows about magic? Are they well-trained? Where can I find them?”
Rory considered her for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, they are the best I know for training, but know that if you’re going to work with them, you have to take everything they say seriously.” He looked at the objects clinking around on the table. “You’re going to have to work on disciplining yourself, or I suspect they won’t keep training you.”
Liv nodded. “Yes, I can do that. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just tell me where I can find this person.”
Rory slipped his hand into his jeans pockets and withdrew a jagged piece of paper. He handed it to Liv. “Here’s their address. You can find them there.”
