by Ron Francis
"Yes, I did, TJ, I had to make sure you would notice me."
"Really? Because it doesn't seem to me that there would be a man alive that wouldn't notice you, Abby, you didn't have to mess with my mind!"
"Is that what you think I did?" She seemed frustrated by his comment. He understood why she might be frustrated, he seemed to be okay with the shocking part of her powers, but he was having trouble accepting that fact that she could place an image in his mind.
She looked up at him and said, "Let me get this straight, you're okay with the fact that I can become a tiger, or a wolf, but you're mad that I put an image of us kissing in your mind?"
"No, I'm mad because you were manipulating me. Don't think I missed the fact that you were dressed exactly the same as the image you sent me when we shared our first real kiss! I thought it was a coincidence and it made me want you more, but I suppose that was the whole point, wasn't it?" He didn't know why, but he found himself growing angry as he spoke. "Abby, I don't trust you. Instead of just meeting me, and reminiscing about our childhood together, you set up an elaborate charade, and then manipulated me into participating. How do I trust you after that? I'll never be able to trust that my thoughts are my own. I don't want to live like that!"
"But that's not—"
"I need some time to process all of this." He felt betrayed, while wondering why he cared so much. After all, he had only just met her. He turned his back to her and waited for her to leave the room. The length of time it took her to get to the kitchen indicated her reluctance to leave to him.
*****
Abby couldn't believe her ears. Asa had warned her about playing these sorts of games. The man she loved was upset with her over something she didn't even see coming. She was so confident that it would never matter that she didn't even hesitate to push those images, but now it was a problem. He accepts my shape shifting, but he cannot accept my image pushing. Either way, it's the same fear I have always harbored, that TJ wouldn't be able to accept me because of my powers. She began to tear up while he stalked around the room.
After several minutes, Thomas found her in the bedroom where she had been pacing. He was still upset, but he needed to talk this through. Without preamble he began, "Abby, I'm the one that was misled! I should be the one that's upset, not you."
She didn't know which would be worse, his rejection or the fact that it would be her fault. She stopped pacing, looked into his eyes, and answered, "My whole life I have feared that you wouldn't accept me because of my powers, I just never imagined that my ability to place an image in someone's mind is what you would be unable to accept." She was about to break down, but she didn't want to. Her lips began quivering and she looked into his eyes seeking the approval she had waited her whole life for.
After a long moment, he seemed to relent, he moved to put his arms around her, but then he withdrew. He broke the silence that had grown awkward when he said, "Abby, I'm not just having trouble accepting your powers. I'm honestly still trying to wrap my head around all of this, my parents, my powers, you." He paused and looked out the window at the pecan tree in the back yard. He took a deep breath and continued. "I'm upset with how you chose to use your powers on me. I'm upset about the lies and the manipulation, and that you withheld the fact that we were friends growing up." He paced over to the bed and sat down.
"I'm so sorry, TJ, I knew we were short on time and I had to get you interested. I'll never do it again. You have my word." She sat down next to him and put her hand on his arm, and felt the pleasant current return. She prayed the rest of this conversation wouldn't be as tough. Thomas even seemed to be less upset.
"Abby, does all of this Ethereal stuff explain why I feel that jolt every time we touch or why I was in so much pain when we were together before? I mean, I've never had a problem being intimate with any of my former girlfriends. You know what I mean?"
She didn't catch his meaning, but she answered his question. "Yes, it does have something to do with that. A Mage cast a spell on us while we were infants. Our touch will always be pleasant but we will never be able to consummate or even get too close until we are married. We are forever bound together." She wasn't sure if she should mention that the Mage who cast the spell was his mother. She didn't know if he was ready for that information yet.
"A spell, a spell is what prevented us? Is that real, or is it more convenient lies meant to protect me?" The frustration was evident in his voice and eyes when he spoke, Abby flinched at his comment. "Why did these Mages cast spells on me when I was a kid? I can't remember my parents because of a spell. I can't be with you because of a spell. Any other spells I should know about?"
She knew this was going to hurt him, but she had to tell him. "I was told a spell was put on you to make you cautious because Paladins always desire to stand out and the Council didn't want Devlin to find you."
"Cautious? As opposed to what?" he asked.
"As opposed to your true nature in which you would have had no fear and excelled at almost everything you tried to do." She almost didn't want to meet his eyes anymore. She felt terrible that the course of his life had been changed before he was even aware of it. "The spell the Mage put on you should break as your memory returns," she tried to comfort him. All of a sudden, she caught his earlier meaning. He said he had never had a problem being intimate with his former girlfriends. The realization caused instant anger. She stood up and paced across the room, then she rounded on him.
A look of shock crossed his face as he asked, "What's wrong, what just happened?"
"You said you never had trouble being intimate with your other girlfriends!"
"Yeah, but now I know it was the spell. We're not even really together. I barely know you, and as much as I'm attracted to you, you've given me no reason to trust you. It's no big deal."
"No big deal?" she repeated. "It's a huge deal! You've been with other women, TJ!" Her tone was accusatory and she was angry as she continued. "I've waited my whole life for you! For you!" Her voice was starting to rise. "How could you do this to me?"
"What? What are you talking about, Abby? I didn't do anything to you."
"How many?" She yelled.
"What?"
"How many?" Her volume and crisp annunciation let him know she required an answer.
"I don't know, five or six, what's the difference?"
"Five or six?" she repeated, growing angrier by the second. "How could you?" she whispered, then she turned to leave.
"What's the big deal? I didn't even know you, and we're not even together. It's not like I cheated on you, or lied to you." She was still walking away, and she paused slightly at his last remark, and then he added, "Abby, I'm twenty-four years old, you didn't really think I'd be a virgin, did you? I didn't even know you 'til three days ago."
She spun towards him so fast he flinched, and stalked back in his direction. Her anger was hot, but there was also something else there... a deep disappointment, and somehow that bothered him more. "We've known each other since the day I was born, and you were six months old. That day, when the Mage cast the spell it was because we were betrothed to one another. We were always destined to marry. I have loved you my entire life and have waited patiently far longer than I should have had to, while you... You were out sowing your wild oats all over Texas!" She stopped and almost to herself added, "What am I supposed to do now?" She turned and began to make her way to the door.
He yelled after her, frustration evident in his voice, "Oh yeah, well maybe someone should have conveyed that fact to the genius that took my memory away, maybe he should have left that one."
"It doesn't work that way," she yelled back without turning around. Then she was out the door with a powerful slam, and she was gone.
*****
Asa sprinted into the room, concern etched on his face. The look soon turned to a look of confusion. "What just happened? Where did Abby go?"
"Little Abby can't seem to handle the fact that her precious TJ has grown up withou
t her," Thomas replied while he continued to fume.
"What do you mean?"
"It's kind of hard to explain, Asa."
"Try!" he growled. Thomas figured patience had never been Asa's strong suit.
Thomas was beginning to realize that he didn't like Asa very much. "She's mad because I've had girlfriends and I'm not a virgin. She says we were betrothed the day we were born, and that some Mage cast a spell and we are forever bound together. I don't even know what any of that means. I'm the one who should be mad here, not her."
"That is most troubling, Thomas. This is going to be devastating to Abby."
"Why, we barely know each other, she doesn't get to decide who I should and shouldn't have been with."
"That is not exactly what is upsetting Abby," Asa said. "The problem is that she has been in love with you her entire life and she has just found out you have cheated on her with several women."
"I've never cheated on any of my girlfriends, Asa," he said in protest. "Not even in my mind!"
"No, of course not, I'm sorry. I meant that in her mind, you cheated because you are betrothed to her."
"Yeah, but someone took my memory of that. Plus it happened when I was like six months old. None of this is normal! None of this is not my fault, Asa. I didn't do anything wrong."
He looked up and put his hand on Thomas' shoulder. "I know you haven't, but Shifters, while very loyal, are also very sensitive. Your actions have left a deep wound, even though you are not to blame." He turned and left the room.
This was turning out to be one of the most frustrating days of Thomas' life and he had a feeling it wasn't going to end any time soon.
Chapter five
Abby flew over the Metroplex. Tiger may have been her favorite shape, but falcon was the shape she always took when she was upset. TJ's infidelity had hurt her. Even more, he didn't trust her. She couldn't really blame him for that, or any of it. She wondered if things would ever be the same. She knew he didn't understand, and it wasn't his fault. His parents hadn't raised him and his early memories had been taken from him. He couldn't have known that he had a fiancée that had waited a lifetime for him. Still, it hurt, and she needed some time alone to think it through. She had always kept the image of seven year old TJ in her mind. He was so kind to her and would have done anything for her, even at that age. She was almost overjoyed when she had seen the strapping six foot three, dark haired, dark eyed adult version. She feared he would have no motivation, having been raised to not stand out, but she was even more pleased when she learned of his passion for baseball, and his drive to compete in bike races. His Paladin spirit had not been completely broken.
Now, however, she had to confront the fact that he was raised by normal humans, and did the things normal human boys did growing up. She had to believe that if he had known of his future wife he would have never strayed. That was just one more detail that was so frustrating. She knew she had to forgive him, but she also knew she could not go back just yet. She had to figure out a way to get him to trust her again. As she spread her wings and soared through the night sky, she lost herself to the sheer ecstasy of flight.
*****
Thomas snuck out of the house he was sequestered in, and had a car service meet him on the next street. He needed some space from Mages and Shifters, and he needed time to process everything he had learned. He needed a beer and the one man he knew would not say no to that was Lucas. He took out his cell phone and made the call.
After the second ring Lucas picked up. "Dude, it's almost one o'clock in the morning, why are you still up," he said.
"So I take it I didn't wake you."
"No, I'm at Dannyboys with Darcy, you should come by."
"I tried to find you at the club before, but you weren't there."
"Sorry, Darcy wanted a quieter atmosphere. I should have texted you sooner."
"No worries, bro. I just can't believe Darcy got you out of the club. She must be really special to accomplish that!"
"Oh, she's special all right," he said and then laughed his conquest laugh. "You coming or what?"
"I'm on my way."
When Thomas arrived at the bar, he was greeted by an exuberant Lucas, and an awkward hug from Darcy. It had felt weird to him, but he shook it off and said, "Hey guys, what's up?" He wanted to tell Lucas everything that had happened, but how? There was no way in which he could tell the story in a believable manner. Plus, he didn't even know Darcy, so he held his tongue.
"I went by your place earlier to see if you wanted to come here to grab a beer, but some creepy mover guys said you weren't around. What's up man? Are you moving?" Lucas asked as he stepped up to the bar and ordered another round. The bartender opened three Coronas, and slid them one at a time to Lucas.
"I was told they are renovating my building and that I would have to find a place to stay for a while. It's all kind of recent and I haven't even talked it over with the landlord yet. I think I'm gonna crash with Abby until I find another place to live." He hated to lie to his best friend, but it would be some time before he could tell him any of the truth.
Lucas smile grew wide as he replied, "Why bother? You're staying with a beautiful woman, I would use any excuse possible to live with her for as long as I could." He handed one of the beers he ordered to Thomas and another one to Darcy.
"That's the difference between you and I, my friend, I wish to respect her boundaries."
Darcy began to laugh, "I don't think Lucas understands what boundaries are."
"You may be right, Darcy." Thomas said, raising his beer to hers and they each took a sip.
Just then, Lucas noticed the bruise over Thomas eye. "What happened? Is that from when you tackled the purse snatcher?"
"Yeah, it's no big deal," Thomas replied. He was glad his shirt was covering the bandage on his arm, he didn't want to have to answer any questions about tonight. He looked around the bar. The light in the establishment was dim. It was brick walled with mismatched furniture and an old pool table in the back. A light hung low over the center of the pool table and had a slight sway to it. The bar was almost stereotypical. He half expected a fight to break out, complete with broken pool cues and all. Something about the place didn't sit right with him, though, and it wasn't the stale odor. There were maybe a half dozen or so other people in the bar. It wasn't the usual type of place Lucas would spend his time. It was devoid of Luke's three favorite things besides beer; loud music, beautiful women and crowds of people. In fact, Darcy was the lone woman in the bar. His friend must have noticed the look on his face because he shook him.
"What's wrong, bro?"
"I don't know. This just doesn't seem like your type of scene, Luke."
"It's not," he said. "Darcy wanted to come here. No big deal, it's more your type of scene anyway, that's why I texted before. She wanted to invite you."
"How does Darcy know what type of bar scene I prefer?" He tried to hide his interest, but after all he had learned, he couldn't be too careful.
"I didn't know, Lucas mentioned it." Darcy replied before Lucas could speak.
"I did, I told her when we arrived here and I saw how dead it was, that this was the perfect place for you." He winked and touched his beer bottle to Thomas' bottle with a loud clink. They both began to drink, when three men dressed in black and wielding guns disturbed the quiet bar.
"We need to get out of here," Thomas whispered to his friend as the fear welled up inside him. Lucas nodded and reached for Darcy's hand, but she was no longer there.
"Where's Darcy? We can't leave without Darcy." He started to panic until he noticed she was talking to the armed men.
"How does she know them?" Lucas asked Thomas.
"How could I possibly know that? We need to go, now!" Just then, Darcy pointed in their direction. Then, three armed men and the voluptuous blonde were heading their way. Thomas was looking for the quickest exit he could find, as confrontation seemed inevitable.
*****
"TJ, we need
to talk," Abby called out as she walked back into the safe house. Asa walked into the room with a serious look on his face and she asked, "What's wrong? Where's TJ?"
"We do not know. He slipped our perimeter shortly after your tantrum. We have no idea where he could have gone. Why did you not tell me he was your betrothed, this could have been done with far less complication had I known."
"I didn't tell you because I had to make sure I was on the mission and not another female Shifter. I couldn't take the chance he would fall for one of them."
"Still, you could have told me once we were already here. You have put our entire mission in jeopardy."
"I suppose." Her eyes warned Asa to drop the subject, and she was thankful he didn't pursue it any further. She had been through enough already tonight, and they needed to find TJ before something terrible happened. She liked Asa, even though their families had never gotten along, he seemed like he had TJ's best interests in mind. "He probably met up with his friend Lucas somewhere. He may have needed time away from us to process everything he has seen and learned."
"Doesn't he understand how dangerous it is for him out there right now, Abby?"
"No, Asa, he doesn't. He still has very little understanding of what is going on. Not to mention that he doesn't exactly trust us right now. We opened his eyes, but he has yet to step into our world. He was upset after our argument and my departure, so he probably did what most normal people would do; call his best friend and go out for a drink. Have our people start patrolling the drinking establishments around the west side of Dallas,."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't, Asa, not for sure. That's just where Thomas said his friend Lucas might be." She turned to leave and he followed her out. They had to find Thomas before one of Devlin's henchmen found him again. They needed to begin his training and make sure he was ready if it came to a confrontation with Devlin.
