Magic, Mystery & Zombies: YA starter set

by Elle Klass

  Veronica stood in full view. She lowered her arms, shot Alison a disdainful glare, and strode away. Alison wiggled free of the chain-link, leaving a small rip in her shirt and chased after Veronica. Originally she thought she was a witch of the night but the light ball she held in her hand and her slaughter of the Bloodseeker changed her mind. If she was a witch of the night, her job would be to protect the Seekers, not kill them. No, she was a light witch.

  “Veronica, wait.”

  She halted, her back to Alison.

  Alison jogged up to her and Veronica turned and faced her. “I can’t wipe your mind. What are you?”

  Wipe my mind, what am I? That was precisely Alison’s question. “We’re on the same side.”

  Veronica narrowed her eyes. “What are you?”

  “You just killed a Bloodseeker and you’re asking what I am?”

  “I’ll do the same to you unless you answer. Now.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  If she wanted answers from her then she needed to provide her some too. “I am the next Garnet Slayer.”

  “What the heck is a Garnet Slayer?” Her voice mocked the words.

  “You’re a witch of the light, right? So you should know.”

  “What I know is you and Rodham carry similar auras. His is brighter than yours and green. Yours is reddish.”

  “Because I’m the Garnet Slayer.”

  “You still don’t make sense.”

  Unsure if she was trustworthy, but with little choice, Alison told her the basics of the story. Veronica glared at her, then her eyes grew soft.

  “I’ve never heard any of that, and have always thought of the beasts as vampires. “ She sighed. “When I was very little, my parents died in a car wreck. I was adopted and don’t remember anything about my parents. At twelve, I learned I could make things happen through magic. I guess that makes me a witch, but I don’t know if I’m what you call a witch of the light.”

  “You create light in your hands, that’s what they do. And your job is to protect, and fight alongside Slayers like me and Rodham.”

  “That doesn’t mean I like you.”

  “I don’t have to like you either, but we need to learn to work together.”

  “Blah, blah, blah. We can start with hoisting that thing off the fence and moving it further into the foliage.”

  She tossed the Bloodseeker on the fence post, now wants us to use physical labor to move it? Alison walked towards it, Veronica snickered.

  “You thought I was serious. Move out of the way and watch.” She caught Alison in the stomach and pushed hard, almost knocking her to the ground. She weebled, then caught her balance enough to stay upright.

  Veronica’s pupils grew black and she lifted her hands, palms upward. The Bloodseeker’s body elevated from the fence post, and lingered above it. She moved her hands to the side, thrusting it deeper into the woods. It thumped as it hit a couple large branches then thunked to the ground. She wiggled her fingers, leaves and loose foliage covering the body. She shrugged. “She’ll be bones by the time anyone finds her body.”

  They walked towards the bleachers, “When did you first start killing Bloodseekers?”

  “When I was twelve. I spent most my time levitating objects, but when I first came face to face with one - I didn’t even know they existed. This thing charged me, its teeth sharp and pointed. A surge of light went through me, extending to my fingertips. A ball of light burst from my palms. I rolled it in my hands and it got bigger and bigger, electricity sparked from it. I used my power of levitation to throw it towards the vampire. I’m sorry, Bloodseeker.” She cracked a smile. “It hit him in the face and melted his skin. Then flames sprouted within him and toasted him from inside out.”

  Veronica stopped and pulled a phone from her pocket. “I don’t like you, remember. So we need to split up or you’ll ruin my reputation. What’s your number?”

  They exchanged numbers. She flipped her dark hair away from her right shoulder and strolled off as if the whole scene in the parking lot never happened.

  Alison was left wondering what had happened. She and Veronica had common ground, and within those few moments she began to like her.

  Lacey found Alison, the nachos basket almost empty. “What happened to you?”

  Lying was not one of Alison’s skills and she hoped the darkness of the night would mask her facial expression enough to pull off an innocent white lie. “I left my phone in the car. I should have said something first. I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged. “That’s OK. We need to get back before we lose our primo seats.”

  They both chuckled as they headed for their “primo seats” on the last row of the bleachers.

  Alison! Answer me!

  What are you brain hollering for? I’m right here. She waved at Rodham from her “primo seat”.

  I got nervous when you didn’t answer and I couldn’t find you. Something blocked us.

  This made Alison think. She was with Veronica. Does she have the ability to cloak? He can’t read her thoughts… Then she remembered her words, ‘I can’t wipe your mind’. She has some type of telepathic abilities.

  After the game, Rodham scoring the game-winning touchdown, Lacey and Alison stopped for a Smoothie before she took her home. She’d sent a message to Rodham to meet them there. He brought another player on the team, and one of his best friends, Adrian. It was clear through Lacey’s actions that she held a huge crush for him. She stumbled over her words, batted her eyes, and dragged Alison to the bathroom to “freshen up”. Alison didn’t blame her, he was teen man candy.

  Once the door sprung shut behind them, Lacey grasped Alison’s shoulders. “I can’t believe we are sitting with the two hottest guys on the team!”

  And they were. Adrian’s straight, dark hair fell over his eyes. He’d shake his head and it flopped into place, moments later drifting over his eye again. An uncovered, piercing, brown-black eye stared, hair-free from the other side of his face. His sleeves tight around his chiseled arms. The fine features of his Asian ancestry made him a teen girl’s dream. Alongside Rodham, they were a dream duo.

  Turned out Lacey carried a crush on him since he’d moved to the area midway through last year. A year older than her, they had no classes together, but he played sports and was well-known around school. He and Rodham, also an insatiable athlete, became friends.

  The girls returned to the table to walk in on the guys talking about the game. Rodham sent Alison a telepathic message. What happened earlier? I got flashes of light, a dripping Bloodseeker face and something about Veronica, but it was masked. I wanted to run out of the game and rescue you.

  I’ll tell you later. We need to fix up Lacey and Adrian. She has the hugest crush on him.

  We don’t need to do anything. I can read minds. They got this covered. He winked, and his mouth twisted into a dimpled half grin.

  Alison tilted her head to face Lacey and Adrian, their eyes glued to one another.

  After dropping Lacey off, she went home, exhausted. Gran was asleep in her bed and she didn’t want to wake her, instead she sank into the couch, stuffing a pillow under her head.

  Fill me in. Rodham demanded.

  Now? I’m tired.

  Now.

  She rubbed her eyes and explained the events of the evening and her thoughts of Veronica being a witch of the light.

  Are you sure?

  I’m sure she made light in her hands and killed a Bloodseeker. Isn’t that enough?

  Maybe. She’s still a void. Her head is a dark pit and she cloaked your thoughts earlier. She’s a powerful witch, but I’m not sure she’s good. His questioning attitude was evident, even in their head communication.

  Her phone buzzed. What now? She looked at the ID: Veronica. Speak of the witch she’s on the phone. I’m going to answer, stay tuned through my thoughts.

  “Hi, Veronica. I uh… forgot to thank you earlier for saving my life.” Veronica couldn’t see the sheepish expression on her face,
but she was embarrassed. Caught up in the moment, seeing Veronica use her witchy power, she stood ready to interrogate her after the incident instead of thank her.

  “All in a day’s work. I’ve been killing these things for years. Most go down easy. I like to toy with them, watch their faces and bodies melt. Some take a few blasts or wood through the heart.”

  Alison wasn’t sure how to respond to her nonchalant Bloodseeker-killer attitude. To her, they were toys for her enjoyment. She questioned the light witch thing too, except she saw it. “Besides light and levitation, do you have other skills?” Alison’s head still positioned on the pillow, she twisted its tassels with her free hand.

  “I can pierce their eardrums with sound waves no one else hears. That only stops them for moment. Listen, can you and Rodham meet me tomorrow night? I want to show you something.”

  Veronica was to the point, if nothing else. Let’s do it, Rodham prompted. We’ll bring your grandmother’s stakes just in case.

  “We can meet you. Where?”

  “At the flag pole in front of the Tradewinds Lounge, across from the Lion’s Bridge.” Without a goodbye, the phone went dead.

  She’s direct and rude. I kind of like her though. The thought drifted through Alison’s head and didn’t go unnoticed by Rodham.

  He responded. Tactless and bossy.

  Goodnight, Rodham.

  He returned her goodnight and sent a mental picture of them kissing. She didn’t need the reminder, as she thought of little else when not entangled with Bloodseekers and witches, but she welcomed the memory from his point of view. Their lips locked, his creamy tongue entwined with hers.

  Through the partially open blinds, the light from the third quarter moon washed over the room, reminding her she had one week before taking over the family legacy of the Garnet Slayer.

  Her mother’s presence denied Gran and Alison time to talk as she hurried them out the door to spend the day window shopping on the streets of historic St. Augustine. The Cathedral Basilica was close. So close she felt its pull on her like the amulet. A desire that burned inside her growing more difficult by the day to ignore. She heeded Gran’s warning and didn’t mention touring the Cathedral again, because she may not be able to control herself and didn’t know how it would affect Gran.

  They crossed S. Castillo Dr. to get to the fort, Castillo De San Marcos National Monument. The bright Florida sun burned against her pale skin as she weaved through people. She’d rubbed in a heavy duty SPF before leaving the house, and wore a floppy hat. None of that made the sun any less intense.

  The fort amazed her and was worth risking her life to get to. Built in the 1600s out of coquina, a shell native to the area, the age and rough edges of the structure made her realize how very old her grandmother was. Born in the 1800s, half the age of the fort. She envisioned her staking and slashing the heads off Bloodseekers as they lunged towards her, razor sharp teeth bared, claws out as described in the journals. Gran and Alda’s stories made them real through graphic imagery.

  “Are you hungry?” asked mom, images of the creatures fading within Alison’s mind.

  “I’m starving.”

  Mom jerked her sagging purse onto her shoulder.

  “I know the perfect place,” announced Gran. She winked at Alison.

  After a long day, the sun sinking low on the horizon, sweat embedded in their brows, they blended into the jungle of people and crossed back over S. Castillo Dr. To Alison, everyone became a supernatural entity. The tall, flawless lady an elf, the hairy-chested man a werewolf, the short older woman a sprite, and so forth. Now that she knew creatures not completely human existed, she was leery of everyone and the many fictional creatures she’d read about came to life, the onlookers assuming their personas. By the time she reached the stoplight and crosswalk that led across the street, she’d had tagged all the possible supernatural creatures walking the streets of St. Augustine.

  Back on St. George Street, a large white two story building stopped Gran cold in her steps. The aromas permeated the atmosphere surrounding them. Alison glanced at Mom, who was nodding a yes to Gran.

  Yes! The grumbling in her stomach turned up several notches, awaiting something delicious inside. A white sign with the word Columbia written in squiggly letters welcomed them. Inside was far more spacious than it appeared from the street.

  Alison settled into her seat and ordered, her impending responsibilities weighing like the pressure of the Pacific Ocean on her mind. All day she struggled to keep the new moon and acceptance of her Slayer duty in the corner of her mind, and enjoy the time she had to spend with Gran. Halfway into her meal, Rodham sent a question.

  I’m here, meet me outside.

  Every ounce of her soul wanted the day to last forever. Small webs creased Gran’s face as she laughed at Mom’s story. Her crimson hair streaked with snow bounced when she laughed.

  “You’re quiet today?” Mom’s question snapped Alison from her reverie.

  Caught off guard, she twisted her mouth, and ran her upper teeth along her bottom lip. “I was just thinking how cool this place is.”

  Mom’s warm smile eased Alison’s tension. Crisis averted.

  Alison?

  I can’t carry on two conversations at one time. Did you get the stakes?

  Of course.

  Her days of private thoughts ended the day Rodham bonded with his amulet. Most of the time she accepted it, and loved its advantages. But today she wanted to savor her thoughts and memories of the day, not share them.

  She fed Mom an excuse that she was meeting a group of friends to hang out. The fib dripped off her tongue with an ease she didn’t expect. Gran narrowed her eyes, tuning into the lie. She didn’t know about Veronica, but Alison knew what she saw, and felt safe enough, having seen her kill the beast.

  Mom stayed oblivious, elated that she had friends - plural. She wrapped an arm around Alison, slipped another twenty into her hand, clueless to the evil lingering in the approaching night.

  A melody of colors filled the sky and the nocturnal air created a moist blanket around her. Street lights blinked on, glowing in muted shades of yellow, casting shadows on the road beneath them. The moon a sliver in the sky.

  Rodham stood against the building across the street, a knapsack over his shoulder. Gran’s eyebrows formed a V, tossing Alison instant disapproval, wrapping an arm around her she whispered, “Be careful.”

  Chapter 14

  The flagpole outside Tradewinds Lounge surrounded by construction tape, Veronica’s thin frame slumped against the lounge’s salmon colored concrete wall. She turned towards them as they approached, loose raven curls spread over one shoulder.

  “About time,” she mumbled, a hair band hanging from her mouth. Gathering her tresses into her hand, she slipped the band over them and twisted three times.

  Rodham stared her down. “So, what is it we need to see?”

  “Pushy aren’t you?” She shoved off the wall, and sauntered past them towards the road, and kept walking.

  Alison followed, it was safer to have her as a friend in close proximity. Rodham shrugged and caught up, clutching Alison’s hand in his. Tingles swarmed through her fingers and arm.

  I hope you’re right and this isn’t a trap.

  Me too. In his knapsack were Gran’s stakes. Alison had slipped her key under his welcome mat as they left in the morning. The stakes were good for killing Bloodseekers, but probably not witches of the night.

  Veronica’s ponytail swished as she turned left, then right, then left. Alison stumble-walked to keep up with Rodham’s long strides. His hand grasped firmly around hers, squeezing her fingers together in his overprotective, manly way. They dodged crowds of people until catching up with her.

  Older style homes lined the streets, and the hordes of people disappeared. Bushy trees and hanging branches brushed against her shoulder, Rodham switched sides with her to avoid them walking in the street.

  Without turning around, Veronica announced, “
We’re almost there.”

  Rodham’s long arm reached out and his free hand grabbed Veronica’s shoulder, electricity buzzed through him, crackling against Alison’s hand scrunched inside his. For a second their combined power ran through her body, jolting it like lightning.

  “What the…” His face went white and he dropped his death grip on her hand.

  “Combination of powers, hon,” she said with a tilt of her head. “That’s why you two can never be together.” A shrewd smile swept across her oval face. Her steely eyes flickered white twinkles in the darkness.

  Shuffled footsteps and scraping against the dirt made Alison’s heart flutter. She spun around to watch an older man pulling his trash can to the front of his yard.

  Rodham ignored her comment. “How much further?” We’ll find a way, Alison.

  “It’s around the corner. Come on.”

  A chill ran up Alison’s spine as they turned, and a pungent odor assaulted her senses. She clutched Rodham’s hand for security. Veronica halted, and slid behind an unkempt tree, she motioned for them to join her.

  In a whisper, Veronica asked, “Do you feel it? The chill. Malevolent forces live here. Sometimes I see them walking the night.”

  “What is that smell?” Alison wiped her eyes as the odor crept towards them, causing water to bubble in the corners.

  “Death.” A simple enough word, only five letters, but the ring in her voice and the meaning of the word made Alison want to hide her tail between her legs and run.

  “You brought us here, at night, to their home?” Rodham’s quiet voice grim, his face stern. This was the same area he’d followed his Bloodseeker neighbors.

  She rolled her eyes. “Ok, the smell isn’t death. It’s their pheromones. Lighten up.” She rolled her eyes. “Didn’t she tell you what I can do?”

  He nodded and shook his knapsack. “I’m not helpless.”