Magic After Dark: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Margo Bond Collins

  “What’s going on?” A gangly guy asks. He flops down between us, grabbing a piece of chicken out of Colin’s hand. “Well, hello to you. I’m Brayden. That’s Riley and Kayla.” He tears into the meat and winks at me.

  “Yeah, what’s going on Colin?” The girl, my age, stands with her hands on her hips, eyeing Colin and me.

  “Kayla, don’t start.” Colin rises.

  “Start what?” she asks. “I don’t start nothing, but I’ll sure as hell finish it.” She glares at me and growls.

  She actually growls at me.

  “Kayla, back off,” Colin commands.

  “Hey cuz.” Emilian helps me up.

  “Cuz?” Kayla’s jaw drops. “She’s a fucking Rom, Colin? Really?”

  Heat rises within me. “What did you call me?”

  “You heard me, you Roma bitch!” Kayla steps toward me.

  “Enough, Kayla.” Colin pushes her back, blocking her from me.

  “You don’t even know me, you cow!” I yell. Thunder booms in the approaching gray clouds.

  “Oh no,” Brayden says.

  Kayla shoves Colin out of the way and lunges for me.

  Adrenaline courses through my body. I move to the side, grabbing her ponytail and thrusting her into the sand.

  The gray clouds turn charcoal.

  Kayla grabs my ankle and yanks me down, sucker punching me in my side.

  The back of my hand connects with her face.

  Strong arms pull me away from Kayla.

  The clouds rage with darkness and lightning dances in the sky. Its path becomes clear. That bolt will strike the object of my anger. Kayla’s doomed.

  Chapter 11

  Brayden plows into Kayla, pushing her out of the lightning bolt’s path. The blinding light spreads outward for less than a second. Brayden and Kayla close their eyes and duck away, instinct driving them to take cover from its power. A booming crack follows moments after it strikes the sand, causing everyone to grab their ears...everyone but me.

  Arms encircle me, pulling me further from the glowing embers emanating from the spot in the sand the bolt hit. Colin holds me. A calmness overcomes me as his hand moves over the rear of my head and continues downward, caressing my back. That’s never happened to me before.

  Dad’s comfort in times of distress never calmed me in this way.

  The charcoal clouds lighten and disperse over the area, making way for the return of the blueness we saw when we first arrived.

  “Did you see that?” Emilian’s bulging eyes dash from the strike site to Riley, who’s helping Brayden with a shaking Kayla.

  “No, you birdbrain. We didn’t see the damn lightning bolt right in front of our fuckin’ eyes.” Brayden gazes at the gray sand where it struck.

  The wet sand pulls inward, making it look like a giant spider formation with many legs sticking out of the center. A shiny tinkle glistens at its core.

  “I’ve got to go.” I push away from Colin, grabbing my bag, jeans, and tank.

  “What? Are you okay?” Colin asks.

  Kayla stares at me. She says nothing. For a moment, her eyes tell me she knows.

  “I have to go.” I repeat and take off down the sand.

  “Wait!” Colin calls after me, but I’m already at the walkway leading toward the boardwalk. I don’t look back.

  I run north, toward the shops lining the streets. I enter the first one I come to, a bait and tackle store. “Hi.” My rapid breathing slows. “May I borrow your phone?”

  The clerk hands me his cell phone. I dig the number out of my bag and call the only person I know to call.

  “Fonso, it’s Alice. Can you come get me?”

  He agrees. I ask the clerk where I am and tell Fonso.

  After putting my clothes on, I sit on a bench under a tall palm tree outside the bait store. Crossing my legs, I clear my mind to meditate, but the events play over in my head and it’s hard to banish them.

  Breathe, Elysia. Dad’s advice plays over and over, like a broken record player. Think of a good thought...a good memory.

  A few months ago, Lalya, a girl I worked with, surprised me with a cake. She made all the other wait staff sing to me as we often sang to the customers. It wasn’t a cheap cake that one picks up at the store. It was a decorative cake like those found in expensive bakeries. She had them put two dolphins on top. It was almost too pretty to eat.

  That was a good day. She was an amazing friend...one of many I’ve left over the years and will never see again.

  Breathe Elysia.

  In the distance, the waves crash against the shore. An image of dolphins pops into my head. They are super intelligent animals...at least that’s what I read. They are beautiful and graceful. I’d watch them for hours on the beach when I was younger. They’d play in groups and jump out of the water. Those were good days, too.

  “A penny for your thoughts?” Fonso sits next to me. “I got here as soon as I could.”

  I hug him.

  “What was that for?” he asks.

  “Thank you for coming to get me.”

  “No problem. What happened?”

  “Another bad mistake on my part, I’m sure.”

  “Let me guess.” He grabs my hand, pulling me off the bench and weaves my arm through his. “Jealous ex-girlfriend ruins perfectly good picnic?”

  My mouth falls open.

  He laughs. “No, I’m not psychic. Emilian called me a few minutes after you did and told me all the juicy details.”

  “She’s an ex-girlfriend, huh?”

  “Apparently.” He opens his car door for me. “I don’t hang around with that crowd.”

  “Why does Emilian?”

  “Wait.” He holds up a finger. When he gets into the car he continues, “Emilian tends to entwine himself with the worst possible element we find in any town. Here, it’s the werewolves.”

  “Not you, too.” I roll my eyes. “What’s so bad about them? Colin was nice to me.”

  “We have an unbeliever in the family.” He chuckles. “Watch them. Observe them around town, but keep your distance.”

  “You’re warning me, too?”

  “Too?” Fonso’s eyebrow rises.

  “Kyle, from the diner, told me to be careful.”

  “I’ve seen him around.” Fonso presses his lips together. “Watch Colin and his clan; see what you notice. Simply being observant can sometimes be a surprising gift.”

  “Yes, Yoda, all-seeing master.” I laugh. “Maybe being observant is your special talent.”

  “Ha. Ha. And being attracted to trouble is yours.”

  “Touché.”

  Fonso changes the subject. “Did you really not know about us...Ma and Aunt Simza?” His brows furrow.

  “Honestly, I didn’t know you existed until yesterday. Why do you still live at home? You’re twenty-four, right?”

  “It’s complicated.” Fonso pauses. “I thought about leaving...several times actually, but Ma has a way of manipulating us. To her, it’s important we stay together. The older we get, the harder it becomes for her. You heard Nadya yesterday talking about wanting to be like you and leaving. Ma says it’s too dangerous to be separated...like we need to remain together to stay safe.”

  “Have you lived in many places?”

  “For a long time...most of our lives, actually, we lived in a traveling carnival. We’d travel north in the summers and south in the winters. Aunt Simza was with us, too. Aunt Simza and Ma would read fortunes and talk to the dead. They were quite popular. There were other Roma with us. They ran several different booths and entertained in freak shows.” His mouth sets in a hard line. “It all changed a few months ago.

  “Aunt Simza said we had to leave. She was adamant. Ma freaked and they argued. We couldn’t figure out what it was all about and Ma won’t speak about it even now.” Fonso turns the blinker on to turn into the campground. “We left and came here. Aunt Simza insisted on living on her own, but Ma visits her often. She’s so stubborn. Whatever the
y fought about, or are fighting about, is bad. They’ve always been together and for this to break them apart—”

  “Must have been extremely bad.” I finish his sentence.

  “But, Aunt Simza was right.”

  “About what?”

  He pulls up to the cabin and looks at Aunt Simza’s trailer. “After we left the carnival, one of my best friends, the snake charmer, called to tell me someone was hunting them. All the Roma left the carnival, a lot of them in body bags.”

  A shiver runs down my spine. It must be the Hunters.

  He shakes his head. “Don’t you have to be at work soon?”

  “I, umm, I have a couple hours, but I’m starving. Do you want to get something to eat at the diner? I’ll be happy to go in early.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He smiles.

  “Let me change. Come inside and give me a few minutes.”

  The diner isn’t busy and Kyle isn’t behind the grill.

  Roger greets us when we sit. “Hey Alice! Are you here to eat before your shift?”

  “I thought I’d try some of the food I’ve been serving. This is my cousin, Fonso.”

  “What can I get you?” Roger asks. I see he isn’t holding a pad to write it down. “Sam is cooking now and he’s the best.”

  “I won’t tell Kyle you said that.” I grin.

  “Kyle knows it.” He laughs. “I’m too outspoken not to say anything.”

  “I can see that.”

  “I’ll have a burger, well done, with fries,” Fonso says.

  “With all the fixin’s?” Roger asks.

  He nods.

  “I’ll have the same.” I give him our menus.

  “Sounds good.”

  Roger tells Sam our order through the window instead of writing it down for him. No other server is here, and Abby is nowhere. It’s a one-man show right before the night shift.

  “I’ve never been here before.” Fonso looks around the tiny diner.

  “Do you have a job?” I ask.

  “I work part-time at the bookstore, mainly on weekends. It gives me money for my car, but I end up spending more there than anywhere.”

  “What do you like to read?”

  “Steampunk and Sci Fi mostly. I’ll do the occasional fantasy, but often real life is crazier than what I read in a book.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “Do you like to read?”

  Roger brings us water. “It’ll be out in a moment.” He goes back to the counter and wipes it down.

  “I do, but I haven’t in a while. I’m interested in the environment, marine biology, and some archeology, so I stick to the non-fiction section of the library.” I tap my nails on the table. “I’ve taken several correspondence courses online because we never stay in one place long enough to go to college.”

  “We?”

  Emptiness forms in my chest. “I meant my Dad and me, when we were together.”

  “Where is he now?”

  I wish I knew. “I left him in Louisiana.”

  “And your Dad didn’t tell you about us?”

  The conversation takes a turn for the worse. I’m not prepared to answer these questions, not knowing if I need to answer them truthfully.

  “No.”

  “Here you go.” Roger places our plates in front of us. “Bon appetite.”

  “Thank you,” Fonso and I say in unison.

  I immediately shove the burger in my mouth and take an enormous bite. “Mmm, amazing.”

  Roger smiles. “I know.” He leaves us to enjoy the meal.

  Fonso digs in too, and the questions stop. I’m relieved.

  We finish our meals and Kyle walks through the front door. He waves.

  Fonso stares at him. “That’s Kyle, huh?”

  “Yep. I guess that’s my sign I need to start work.” I dig into my bag. “Lunch is on me.”

  “No, I can’t.” Fonso reaches for his wallet.

  “Nope, it’s on me. Thank you for the ride and the rescue today.” I glide over to the register and give Roger my money while stepping behind the counter.

  Fonso follows me. “Thanks Alice.”

  “See you soon, I hope.” I wave.

  “You bet.” He walks out and heads to his car.

  “He seems like a nice fellow,” Roger says, giving me my change.

  “Keep it.”

  “No, Alice. I ain’t no server and I’ll take no tip from ya.”

  Smiling, I take my money and shove it into my pocket. “Can I leave my bag somewhere safe?”

  “Sure, in my office.” He leads me through the kitchen where Kyle relieves Sam, the burly cook who makes a mean burger. “It’s always unlocked, so you can squeeze in here and get it any time.”

  “Thanks.” I set my bag in the office.

  “Sure thing.” He shuts the door and removes his apron. “I’ll see you all later. It’s you two tonight, so take it easy.”

  Sam and Roger leave out the back door together.

  Kyle leans against the post at the kitchen entrance. “I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to seem stalker-like.”

  “I didn’t...I don’t think you’re stalking me.” I clean the table Fonso and I sat at, bringing the dishes into the back.

  “You didn’t tell me yesterday that you knew Colin.” I said. “You yelled at him for almost running me over, but you didn’t mention you knew him from school.”

  “School?” Kyle’s surprise gnaws at me. Did Colin lie?

  “He said you went to school together.” I wash my hands in the sink.

  “We never went to school together. I’d be surprised if he even attended high school.” Kyle goes back into the kitchen, grabbing pans and placing them on the stove.

  “Why did he say that then?” I move to the window separating the kitchen from the counter.

  The bell above the door rings and our first customer enters, taking me away from the conversation.

  For the remainder of the evening, Kyle avoids me, cooking and doing kitchen tasks. When eleven o’clock rolls around, Roger comes in and closes the diner. Damn, I realize I missed the bus again. I need to ask Roger about leaving a few minutes early so I can catch it.

  I wait for Kyle outside.

  “Why were you avoiding me?” I cross my arms.

  “I wasn’t.” He walks to his Jeep.

  “Yes, you are.” I walk behind him.

  He breathes loudly. “I’m sorry. Colin is a sore subject.”

  “That’s obvious.”

  “Do you want a ride home?”

  Sheepishly, I lower my head. “Yes, thank you.”

  Once in the passenger seat, I repeat the question that’s been lingering on my mind all night. “Why did Colin say you were in school together?”

  “Colin and I trained together. It was in a fighting class, like martial arts.”

  We pass the bus stop. Colin stands by his truck where he parked last night, watching me as Kyle drives past. Kyle doesn’t see him. Colin’s face heats with anger.

  “It was a long time ago,” Kyle continues. “I didn’t like him then and I don’t like him now.”

  “Thank you for telling me, and for the ride home.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  We near the campground.

  “You can drop me off here, at the entrance.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind going in.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” I don’t want to stir Deena or anyone else and draw attention.

  “Okay, here you go.” He pulls up to the entrance, turning his Jeep around.

  “Thanks again.”

  He drives away, leaving me to think about Colin and the look he had when we passed. Guilt bubbles inside me. He was waiting for me and I ignored him.

  On the way to my cabin, I see Fonso’s car. Fonso stands outside Aunt Simza’s trailer arguing with her.

  Chapter 12

  Aunt Simza shakes her head and slams the door in Fonso’s face. He raises his arm and opens h
is hand. The ground shakes and a rock shoots through the air slamming into the closest tree trunk.

  My mouth hangs open.

  Fonso spots me and races in my direction. He slows when he nears me.

  I raise my hand.

  Fonso stops a few feet from me. “Alice, we need to talk.”

  “W-w-what was that?” I point to the tree trunk near Aunt Simza’s trailer. “The rock just flew...without you touching it.”

  “I can explain.” Fonso holds his hands up as if trying to hush me. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Was I dreaming? I’m tired, for sure, but I’m certain of what I saw, damn it.” I walk toward my cabin, ignoring him.

  “Alice, please listen.” He grabs my left arm.

  I drop the cabin key.

  He picks the key up and hands it to me.

  “You told me you have no abilities. Your family said the same.”

  He lowers his head. “I lied.”

  I hold the door open for him. “Why?”

  He exhales and walks inside. I gesture to the couch and he sits, making himself comfortable. “It’s a long story.”

  I should have been exhausted from the day’s events, but I was too pumped. “Let’s hear it.” I close the door and place my bag on the counter.

  He scoots over, making room for me sit next to him. “First off, my family didn’t lie to you. They don’t know what I’m able to do.”

  “What was that?”

  He leans on his side, facing me. “Telekinesis.”

  “What? Like moving things with your mind?” I ask. “What kind of things? How doesn’t your family know this?”

  “Aunt Simza knows. She’s the one who told me to keep it a secret because it’s a dangerous ability.”

  “Dangerous? How?”

  “How much do you know about your mother?” He lifts an eyebrow.

  “My mother?” A deep-seated sadness rises in the pit of my stomach. “I don’t know anything. Dad told me she died giving birth to me. She was beautiful, he told me, but I’ve never seen a picture, so I wouldn’t know.”

  “He didn’t mention her gift?”

  “No.”

  “Aunt Simza told me she had the same ability I do. Her family knew and often used her for profit when she was younger. Our grandfather would charge fees for people to see her, like a circus freak. He used all of them, actually.”