Magician's Muse

by Linda Joy Singleton

  Penny-Love was wearing all black: snug black jeans, a black aviator jacket over a lacy midnight-black blouse, and an onyx beaded bracelet. Her curly red hair was pulled back severely in a braid and even though the sun wasn’t out, she wore dark sunglasses.

  “Do you like my spy look?”

  “So that’s what the black is about,” I said with a wry smile. “I thought Thorn’s Goth style had rubbed off on you.”

  “Oh, puh-leese! Like that would ever happen! But since Thorn and I are going to find Jacques later, I didn’t want anyone to recognize me.”

  “Embarrassed about being seen with Thorn?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She touched her burgundy-painted nails to her chest in mock indignation. “We may have to follow Jacques, you know, like in action movies. This is my incognito look. You, on the other hand, look like crap. Some makeup would fix your puffy eyes. Are you sick or something?”

  “Good morning to you, too. If you must know, I had trouble sleeping.”

  “Too bad.” She nodded absent-mindedly as she slowed for a stop sign. Her gaze drifted off to ogle a group of guys cruising by. Knowing Pen, she was already lining up someone to take Jacques’ place.

  By the time we reached school, Pen had spilled all the latest gossip: a football player caught his mom making out with his coach; some kids were busted for dealing drugs on campus; and cheerleading friends Kaitlyn and Catelyn were feuding … again.

  It was surreal to be sitting in class, half-listening to teachers and trying to manage ordinary conversation when all I could think about was Dominic. I found myself floating out of my own body, the conscious part of me hovering ghostlike over my physical self. It was calming to rise above it all, detached, without any real emotions. I watched myself, surprised that the blond girl could smile and talk so casually with friends like the world wasn’t slipping off its axis. Penny-Love was right about my puffy eyes, but otherwise you’d never know anything was wrong.

  Sabine Rose performed her school role very well.

  At lunch break I moved on autopilot, heading as usual to the computer room, which had become my retreat since breaking up with Josh. As I crossed a busy hall intersection, bodies rushing all directions, I nearly ran into Manny DeVries handing out flyers.

  Manny looked wickedly hot as usual, a cross between a pirate and a surfer with his sleek black dreads, pierced eyebrow, and leather sandals. Rain or icy chill, Manny always wore his trademark sandals. He was the editor of our school newspaper, the Sheridan Shout-Out, and I worked as his copyeditor.

  “Hey, Beany!” he called to me.

  I cringed at the nickname. Would he ever learn to say my actual name?

  “What are you doing?” I asked, eyeing the thick stacks of paper he was carrying.

  “Spreading my news,” he said with a devilish grin. “Take a bunch and pass them out.”

  “Sorry, not now.” I started to walk past, but he’d already shoved papers into my hands. And since few people had the fortitude to refuse Manny, I gave in and started helping him.

  When I’d started at Sheridan High this fall, my plan was to fit in without standing out, and aim for mid-popularity status. I’d joined the newspaper staff as a way to keep in touch behind the scenes and found a friend in Manny DeVries—a handsome, dark-skinned guy with wild dreads and an outspoken, brazen attitude. Despite our differences, or maybe because of them, we worked well together. I was quiet; he was loud. I was polite; he was bossy and rude. I avoided crowds; his charismatic personality drew crowds like fans flocking to a rock star.

  “So what is this anyway?” I asked, shoving papers at random passers-by.

  “A flyer announcing a special issue of the Sheridan Shout-Out,” Manny said proudly.

  “What special issue?”

  “The one I’ve decided to put out on Friday—the last day before winter vacation—as the newspaper’s staff gift to our loyal readers. It’s going to have special interviews, amazing gift coupons, and bonus predictions from Mystic Manny.”

  He might have been Mystic Manny, but his predictions were all mine. The secret arrangement benefited us both—Manny helped me whenever I needed hacker skills, and I gave him astonishingly true predictions.

  “I hadn’t planned to spend my lunch this way,” I told him.

  “Fun things just happen when I’m around,” he joked.

  “Your idea of fun isn’t mine.”

  He chuckled, and then flashed a flirty smile at a brunette with pretty dark eyes and a very low-cut blouse. “Just pass out the papers. Then I’ll tell you all about your big assignment for Mystic Manny. You’re gonna love it.”

  I shook my head, but kept up a polite smile as I handed out papers.

  “Come on, Beany, you know you’ll end up doing what I want, so let’s just skip the arguments. Pretend I’ve already spent a day begging for your help and you gave in because that’s just the kind of sweet person you are.” He gave me that cocky grin that won some girls’ hearts. But not mine. I had Dominic … but for how long?

  “Fine. Whatever.” I didn’t have the energy to battle today. “What does Mystic Manny need from me?”

  “Nothing much … just a few extra Ten Years in the Future predictions.”

  This feature was Mystic Manny’s most popular—a random student was given a prediction of what his/her life would be in ten years. Last week I’d predicted that Carrie Marquez, a junior on the track team, would invent a gadget which would make her rich.

  “How many more predictions?” I raised my eyebrows. “Two or three?”

  “Twelve.”

  “TWELVE!”

  “It’s a Twelve Days of Christmas theme.”

  “Forget it. It’ll take weeks of meditation to come up with that many!”

  “I need it by Thursday.”

  Three days? He had to be kidding. I looked at him, waiting for the chuckle at his joke, but his black eyes met mine with seriousness. I didn’t even bother to argue. There was no winning with Manny. But I didn’t give in either, and with an exasperated “Humph!” strode past him into the computer room. I pulled out my sack lunch and ate while playing mindless computer games.

  During sixth period Manny didn’t bring up the subject again, and when the final bell rang, I was so out of there. Every minute away from Dominic was torture, and all I could think about was being with him. So when Penny-Love offered me a ride home, I jumped at the chance to see Dominic sooner.

  When I saw Thorn sitting in the front seat next to Pen, it was weird. Like looking at one of those puzzles where you’re supposed to match things that belong together.

  Thorn and Pen definitely did not belong together.

  “Where are you two headed?” I asked, slipping into the back seat and clicking my seat belt.

  “Jacque’s apartment,” Penny-Love answered as she started the engine.

  “So you found out where he lives?” I asked.

  “Thorn did her Finding magic.”

  “I told you, it’s not magic.” Thorn gave a long suffering sigh. “I just looked at a city map and kind of saw an apartment and address. Although not the exact apartment.”

  “But that won’t be hard to figure out once we get there,” Penny-Love finished.

  “Well, thanks for dropping me off,” I told them.

  “Actually …” Penny-Love caught my gaze in the rear-view mirror. “Actually, we’re not dropping you off.”

  “What!” I exclaimed. “Why not?”

  “Thorn and I need you around to prevent us from killing each other. So we agreed you should come with us.”

  “Well, I didn’t agree. Take me home right now.”

  “Too late. We just passed your road,” Penny-Love said without an ounce of regret in her tone. “Guess you’re coming with us.”

  Short of jumping out of the moving car, what could I do? They were my friends. I guessed it wouldn’t kill me to go with them—except every mile took me further away from Dominic.

  Do not resist the unexpe
cted journey, my spirit guide advised in my head.

  “Opal?” I closed my eyes so I could see her clearly …

  queenly black hair coiled on her head like a crown, high cheekbones, wise ebony eyes.

  You’re uneasy, which is understandable, but you would do well to conserve your energy for the road ahead, when your choices will influence those close to you who balance precariously between life and death.

  Whatever that meant, it couldn’t be good. I was already on a road I hadn’t chosen, with my two closest friends—was one of them in danger? I bit my lip, glancing at Penny-Love and Thorn in the front seat of the car. Thorn was criticizing Penny-Love for making such a sharp turn out of the school parking lot that she nearly ran down a kid lugging a tuba case.

  “Is there something I should know?” I wordlessly asked my spirit guide.

  Knowledge would deter the natural course with cumbersome negative emotions. You continue to be the nucleus of events which will bond or break those you hold dear to your heart. Your challenges are the stepping stones upon which others will tread during their climb to enlightenment.

  “Huh?” I thought back.

  You’ll understand in time, but when the moment of choice comes, your decisions will either open doors for a loved one or slam them shut forever.

  “Is this about Dominic? Is he in danger?”

  I can’t answer that without influencing your choices. Remember, heed your heart and act from love not anger.

  She faded before I could ask anything else—an annoying habit.

  I tried to decipher Opal’s message. She’d been warning me about Dominic, I figured, and the mention of shutting doors hinted that Dominic was going to leave if I couldn’t help him. I needed to talk to him—before it was too late.

  When I pulled out my cell phone, Thorn twisted around in her seat to look at me. “Calling the cops on us?” she asked, the corners of her black-shimmered lips curving with wry humor.

  “I should.”

  “And what would you say?” Thorn chuckled darkly. “ ‘Officer, I’m being held captive by a dangerous Goth chick and her cheerleader accomplice.’ ”

  “Accomplice?” Penny-Love snorted. “Taking Sabine was my idea.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell that to the cops when they come to arrest us,” Thorn said.

  “No one is getting arrested,” Penny-Love said, catching my gaze in the rear view mirror. “Sabine won’t admit it, but she’d rather be with us than anyone else.”

  “I’d rather be with my boyfriend,” I insisted, waving my cell phone.

  “Can’t blame you.” Pen wolf-whistled. “Dominic is hotter than a heat wave, you lucky girl.”

  Not so lucky if Dominic leaves, I thought anxiously with a glance at the illuminated clock on the car’s dashboard. Precious seconds I could be with Dominic flashed by, and the phone kept ringing, unanswered. “Damn. He’s not picking up.”

  “Don’t stress,” Penny-Love suggested. “He’ll call back.”

  He might … or maybe not. Getting a better idea, I called my grandmother.

  “Oh … Sabine.”

  Was that disappointment I heard in Nona’s voice? But there was no time to quiz her about who she’d hoped was calling (a certain Mr. Heart Lights?). Quickly, I explained that I was with friends and would be home later. When I asked about Dominic, she said he’d gone to talk to the instructor at his horse-shoeing school. Was he dropping out?

  As I snapped my phone closed, Thorn asked softly, “Things okay with you and Dominic?”

  “Never better.” I summoned a smile. “We’re doing great.”

  Thorn studied me. “Then why do you seem uptight?”

  “I was hoping to be with him by now. Not here.”

  “This shouldn’t take long,” she assured me.

  “Going with me is not torture,” Penny-Love interrupted. “You see Dominic every day, but how often do you get the chance to watch the drama of a romantic reunion?”

  “Romantic?” Thorn snorted, the map spread across her lap slipping down her knees so she had to grab for it. “You wish.”

  “Hey, it’ll be reality-show worthy. When I show up at Jacques’ apartment, he won’t be able to resist me and he’ll beg me to come back.”

  “What planet were you raised on?” Thorn asked. “Guys don’t work like that.”

  “Jacques isn’t boring and childish like most high school guys. He’s exciting and mature.”

  “Mature means too old for you,” Thorn said.

  I nodded, agreeing with Thorn. The few times I’d been around Jacques I’d had an odd feeling, like something was out of balance. He did seem older and I’d heard rumors he was into drugs, although Penny-Love refused to listen to anything negative about him. He’d seemed okay enough—at least until he dumped my best friend.

  “He’s eighteen,” Penny-Love told Thorn. “I prefer older men.”

  “He’s that for sure.” Thorn tapped her black-painted fingernails on the arm rest. “Did he get held back or flunk?”

  “He did not flunk—he’s an A student and a senior. Who cares if he got held back twice? That’s only part of why he’s so mature. And what do you know about guys anyway?” Penny-Love’s voice rose in anger. “You don’t even date.”

  “I’ve dated,” Thorn argued. “I’m just not into anyone right now.”

  “Or like, ever. What about the geeky guy who follows you around.”

  “Who? You can’t mean KC?” Thorn shook her dark, pink-streaked head.

  “Yeah, average looking and all around forgettable. And he’s always following you around at school. Didn’t he used to be homeless?”

  “So what if he was? He’s living with my family now.”

  “Sharing your room?” Penny-Love kept one hand on the wheel as she turned to wink at Thorn.

  “Not even!” Thorn glared. “He’s sharing with my brothers, and he is definitely not into me. I mean, he’s like another brother.”

  “The way he looks at you isn’t brotherly,” Penny-Love said, and she’d know because she didn’t miss much of what went on at school.

  “Keep talking stupid and I’ll shove this map down your throat,” Thorn warned.

  Penny-Love only laughed. “Oh, I’m scared!”

  “If you weren’t driving, you’d be dead already.”

  “And if you weren’t-”

  “ENOUGH!” I screamed, straining my seat belt and spreading my arms between them. They weren’t kidding about needing a referee. “Let’s focus on the goal here. Finding Jacques, remember?”

  “But what she said—”

  I stopped Penny-Love with a scathing look.

  “Fine, fine.” She backed down. “I don’t care what she thinks anyway. After Jacques is mine again, I won’t get five feet near the Goth pit of losers at school.”

  “And I’ll avoid pathetic cheerleader clones.”

  Penny-Love started to retort, then suddenly pointed to a street sign. “Thorn, isn’t that where we turn?”

  Thorn quickly consulted the map. “Yeah.”

  “Right or left?” Penny-Love asked.

  “Right.” Thorn made a gesture toward the window. “Then go about a mile and make another right.”

  “This can’t be the way.” Penny-Love said, biting her lower lip as she glanced around at the businesses with barred windows. “Jacques wouldn’t live in such a yucky area.”

  “You expected a mansion?” Thorn asked.

  “No, but something better than this. Maybe a nice condo, you know, in the suburbs.”

  “Not everyone can afford a house,” I pointed out. “Maybe his parents don’t have a lot of money or lost their jobs.”

  She shook her head. “Jacques doesn’t live with his parents. He lives with an older brother who’s a phlebotomist.”

  “A fleb-what?” I asked.

  “A blood sucker.” Penny-Love laughed. “Drawing blood at a hospital. And Jacques does some construction work on weekends, so he’s got plenty of cash—once
I saw a bunch of hundreds in his wallet. I figured he’d live somewhere nice.”

  “Not so nice,” Thorn put in as she pointed to a faded, puke-colored, three-story apartment complex called Gable Lombard Apartments.

  Penny-Love groaned, swerving to avoid a hole in the pavement and jerking me backwards. “Thorn, your Finding radar is wrong.”

  “Not wrong.” Thorn waved the folded map. “He’s here all right. I can feel the energy stronger, coming from somewhere over there.”

  “The first floor?” I guessed, following her pointing finger. “So that narrows it down to about a dozen apartments. How are you going to find the right one?”

  “If he’s here, we’ll find him.” Penny-Love pulled over and shut off the engine.

  “Keep me out of this,” I told her. “You made me come along, but I’m not going any farther than this car. I want to try calling Dominic again. Good luck finding Jacques.”

  And no matter how much she whined, I refused to leave the car. I was relieved that Thorn didn’t push me. She simply stepped out of the car and started for the apartment. Penny-Love gave me one last exasperated look, then hurried after Thorn.

  I watched my two mismatched friends walk up a cracked sidewalk into the apartment complex. Was it a good idea leaving them on their own? Could they get along five minutes without killing each other? For a moment I had my hand on the door handle, ready to go after them. But then I dropped my hand and reached for my phone.

  I listened to five rings until Dominic’s recorded voice invited me to leave a message.

  “It’s me,” I said. “Talk to you later.”

  Clicking off, I gave a deep sigh of frustration, worry, and loneliness. I was sure Dominic hadn’t left … yet. He wouldn’t until he’d helped Josh and Horse, and since Josh still wasn’t at school, I guessed he was still missing. And I was definitely worried about Dominic.

  I tried to imagine what he was doing right now and closed my eyes, willing a vision. Nothing came, as if the connection I usually felt with Dominic was blocked by a wall. He was shutting me out. Was it intentional? Was he pulling away from me so that when he left for good, I couldn’t find him?

  I don’t know how long I stared out the window thinking about Dominic, but suddenly I heard someone shouting my name. Jerking up so quickly that I bumped my elbow on the door, I saw Thorn dragging Penny-Love to the car, their auras a firestorm of blazing reds.