Waltz into Fire

by L. J. Garland

  “Wyatt,” Fallon said. “You next.”

  With a boyish grin, he thumbed open the brilliant-blue box. After a moment, he angled the square package around toward them. “It looks like a coin of some type. Though with the unusual markings, I couldn’t say from which country.”

  A bright glint caught Fallon’s eye. “Is that a—”

  “Sapphire in the center,” Erik finished.

  “Nice. And look.” Amber leaned forward. “There’s a hole at the top. Just like my padlock has. So maybe it’s meant to be worn as a medallion.”

  Fallon glanced across the table. “Erik.”

  Keeping his gaze locked with hers, he opened his dark-green box. He smirked, an adventurous twinkle in his eyes. At last, he looked down at the contents, an arched eyebrow his only expression.

  When he’d swiveled the container, Wyatt said, “A skeleton key?”

  “With an emerald embedded in it,” Amber added.

  “Our Aunt Serida’s eccentricities seem to have touched on her gift-giving as well.” Wyatt nodded toward the charm. “Yours has a hole, too. Ready for hanging.”

  Fallon stared at the key, wondering if it held any meaning for him.

  “No meaning at all,” Erik’s voice spoke in her mind. She jolted, and a knowing grin formed on his mouth. Aloud, he said, “Fallon, you’re the only one left.”

  She eyed him then glanced at the red box in front of her. Nerves tingling, she opened the lid. Curled on the same black velvet as the other three lay a gold bracelet. She twisted the elaborate container around.

  Wyatt leaned forward. “An intricate rope bracelet—”

  “With a gorgeous ruby.” Amber met Fallon’s gaze then glanced at their brothers. “Does that mean we’re supposed to put all our charms on her bracelet?”

  Erik frowned and looked down at his key. “I don’t think so. If Aunt Serida had wanted Fallon to have all the charms, she would’ve given them to her.”

  “I agree.” Wyatt picked up his coin and squinted at the intricate symbols. “Whatever her reasons, she meant for us to have these specific items.”

  “Then….” Amber fingered her box, turning it until the padlock charm faced her. “Even though we never knew her, she was family. We should wear them in her honor.”

  “Yes,” Fallon said. The sentiment washed over her with rightfulness. Removing the bracelet from the box, she clasped it on her wrist. The bold ruby winked at her as though confirming the decision she’d embraced. “Guardians. What do you think she meant by that?”

  “No clue.” Erik doffed a modest gold chain and strung the skeleton key on it.

  “Me, neither.” Amber reached behind her neck to unclasp a stylish necklace. Taking the padlock from the box, she slipped the charm over the bale.

  Erik glanced at Wyatt, who met him with a wide, innocent gaze.

  “What?”

  “Okay, man. Out with it.” He snorted. “Don’t pretend you don’t have one, too.”

  Chagrined, he pulled the masculine chain from beneath his shirt and reached to open the clasp. A moment later, the coin dangled from the links, the sapphire glinting in the light. “While I think the woman had tipped her rocker and the guardian stuff is a load of friggin’ bunk, you’re right. She was family.” He lifted his coffee cup. “Though I wish it were a beer, I think she would appreciate the unconventional nature of the gesture. To Aunt Serida. Here’s to a good life.”

  “May she rest in peace,” Amber said with her cup raised.

  “May we honor her and our mother’s lives.” Erik picked up his coffee. “And their sacrifices.”

  “May we understand her secrets,” Fallon said, an unexpected rush of apprehension triggering a shiver.

  As they drank in unison, lightning flashed outside, illuminating the arched dining room window. The pendant chandelier over the table flickered and blinked out. A deep rumble vibrated the glass panes, and beneath the thunder came an ominous growl—the same evil sound Fallon had heard after her wreck. She clenched her chair’s armrests, dread writhing in her chest. How had it found her?

  “An omen,” Erik’s voice whispered in her mind.

  “What the hell?” Wyatt said.

  Sounds of him moving through the room met Fallon’s ears, and then a candle glimmered to life. He lit a second and third before shaking the match he held, extinguishing the tiny flame.

  Amber reached over and clasped Fallon’s hand. “D-did you hear that?”

  “Yes,” Fallon said. Well, at least she knew now she wasn’t going crazy. But the question remained—was that a good or bad thing? “You want to sleep in my room tonight?”

  Her sister nodded.

  “Ah-yuh,” Wyatt said, his furrowed brow contrasting his commanding tone. “It’s late. You’ve all got early flights tomorrow. Guess we hit the racks.”

  Keeping a tight grip on Amber’s hand, Wyatt led them all to the far end of the house where he showed them to a bedroom with two twin beds. After he departed, Fallon closed and locked the door. She turned to discover her sister sitting on the edge of one of the beds, staring at her with wide eyes.

  Fallon fingered the bracelet on her wrist, the golden chain and ruby her aunt had left her, and an odd serenity fell over her. Smiling at Amber, she said, “Everything’s okay, hon. I think Aunt Serida is still watching over us.”

  Chapter Ten

  On the drive home from the airport, Fallon called Zane and arranged to meet him at her house after his shift ended. The overpowering need to see him left her giddy with anticipation, and she grinned while she unlocked the front door. It had been quite some time since she’d felt such a strong attraction for someone. Tossing her bags in the corner of her bedroom, she dashed back down the hallway to the kitchen and dug the makings for tacos out of the grocery bag.

  He’d offered to bring takeout, but tacos were her fallback comfort food. And, right now, she needed all the comfort she could get. Thinking back over the past couple of days was surreal. Everything about the weekend was otherworldly. Hallucinations, red-eyed boogiemen, debilitating noises, and family?

  For some reason, the last one was the hardest to believe. Not that she didn’t. No one could deny the resemblance between the four of them or the connection, but, damn, for so long, she’d had no one. Now, suddenly, she had two brothers and a sister? Unreal.

  Her cell vibrated on the counter. Glancing over, she saw her brother’s name pop up. Her heart warming, she answered. “Hi, Erik. I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

  He chuckled into the phone. “I just wanted to make sure you made it home okay.”

  “I just got in. You?”

  “One more layover, and I’m there.” He hesitated a moment. “Listen, I know you didn’t mention what happened the other night to the others, but I really wanted to talk about it.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure she was ready to talk about this. “What happened?”

  “I was there, too, remember? The night you wrecked. Before I hollered out to you, I saw the eyes, I heard the growl, and I saw what you did with the fire. Scared the shit out of me, but more than that, I saw how scared and shocked you were. Then, on the boat, that noise…it was almost the same. Yet none of us talked about it. Frankly, I was waiting on your cue. I can understand why you didn’t bring it up, but I think the two of us need to discuss it, don’t you?”

  Fallon padded to the living room and sank onto the couch. Once again, she had another witness to what she really wanted to just write off as adrenaline. “I’d love to if I had any idea what the hell it was that happened. I don’t know any more than you do, Erik. I was hoping what happened at the crash was just a result of my overactive imagination and maybe a head injury.” She ran her hand over her face and sighed. “But if you saw the same shit I did, you just blew that theory out of the water.”

  “I’m sorry, hon. I don’t want to make things harder, I’m trying to help. I’m worried something bad is about to happen. I’ve just found you guys. I
don’t want to lose you.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. Damn. “I don’t want that either. Have you read the letter from Aunt Serida yet?”

  “No. You?”

  “No.” She’d been putting it off, but it seemed the time had come. “I guess I’d better, huh?” Rising from the couch, Fallon headed for her bedroom where she fumbled inside her purse for the envelope her aunt’s attorney had handed out.

  “Yeah. Listen, my flight’s about to board. Can I call you when I get home, after I read the letter that’s burning a hole in my pocket?”

  “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. Have a safe flight.” She stared at the envelope in her hand, and a sense of foreboding fell over her, threatening to steal her breath. “Erik, be careful, okay?”

  “Always, sis. Always.”

  Setting the phone on the bed beside her, Fallon stared at the envelope. Usually a take-charge kinda girl, she hesitated, a sense of discomfort wending through her. She suspected once she read this letter, everything she knew and loved might well tumble out of her control. Hell, the change had already started the moment she’d touched down in Maine. Not much she could do about that now. Taking a deep breath, she slid her finger beneath the flap, ripped it open, and pulled out the handwritten note.

  My Dearest Fallon,

  I want to start by saying what a beautiful young woman you have become. Your mother would be so proud of you. There are so many things I have wanted to tell you over the years, but the safety of you and your siblings was of the utmost importance, and I couldn’t risk your identities being uncovered. Since the day you were born, your mother and I have fought to protect the four of you and your birthright.

  You are the guardians of the Portal of Terraperso. As such, it’s your duty to protect the portal from those wishing to possess its power.

  This portal is the entrance and exit between the human world and all the planes beyond—the underworld, the outerworld, and those which are still yet undiscovered. Your siblings and you have the power to fight the evil ones that will try to destroy you. And they will come after you, Fallon. Of that, I am positive.

  Your ancestors before you and theirs before them have all been guardians, dating back to Mesopotamia and the first instant of time itself. Possibly even beyond. Unfortunately, you have a great disadvantage they did not. From the day they were born, your ancestors were trained to fight, trained to guard. This benefit was not afforded you.

  As you may or may not know, you were born on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the sun is the farthest from the equator. This also happens to be when the portal barrier is at its thinnest and when we guardians are at our most vulnerable. Add the labor of quadruplets to that, and your mother never stood a chance against such malevolence.

  I am a strong witch, your father a strong wizard, but we were not as prepared for this evil as we’d thought. I lost my best friends that day, but I saved the four of you. I only wish to the gods I could have kept you. You are my hearts. I’ve had a protective cloak over the four of you ever since, but with my death, it won’t be long before you are found.

  You should have already seen evidence of your power and can guess by now yours is fire. Work with it, Fallon. Fire is your weapon, your strength. You need to harness it and make it serve you. Learn fast, my darling. Trust yourself and your gift, and when the time comes, draw close to your siblings and rid us of this beast once and for all.

  In my library are several books, all handed down from generation to generation detailing the various battles and demons our ancestors have had to face. No one has ever defeated the Original Evil, a leviathan of unimaginable power and cunning…but we’ve never had quads for Sentinels. This is your year. I know this deep in my bones. I’ve sensed each of your powers throughout the years. The four of you, together, can defeat him.

  I love you, my child. You mother and father loved you more than words can say. If there were any other way to keep you safe and with me, I would have done it. Please know that.

  Love,

  Serida.

  Fallon re-read the letter twice more before folding it and placing it in her top dresser drawer. Just when the hell had she fallen down the rabbit hole? Power, demons, alternate planes…. What the hell? It was all crazy talk.

  Damn, if she could only pass it off as that. But she couldn’t, could she? The fire had talked to her, guided her to the exact place the little boy had been hiding. And what about what she’d seen at the wreck and the way the fire had backed off when she’d raised her hand to it? She ran her fingers through her hair and sat on the edge of the bed. Had she done that? Had she controlled the fire for that tiny blip of time?

  Oh, dear Lord. How was she supposed to wrap her brain around all this? She was a firefighter and a restaurant owner. She didn’t believe in all this paranormal bull crap. She hadn’t even seen Twilight for shit’s sake. But what if everything Serida had said was true? And if it was, how the hell did she move on from here? She couldn’t fight a demon.

  Flopping backward on her bed, Fallon let out a frustrated growl. Her head hurt from thinking. She wanted to dismiss it all to the ramblings of a senile old woman, but too much had happened for her to pass it off as bunk. The thought that what her aunt had written could all be true—hell, even if only a quarter of it was true—scared the shit out of her. Fear wasn’t a feeling she was used to. She didn’t like it.

  The doorbell rang, and she jumped off the bed. Zane. What the hell had she told him?

  She opened the door and there he stood, his gaze so intense, so filled with desire her heart stuttered. Stepping over the threshold, he reached for her, bombarding her with delicious sensations—a hard-muscled chest, strong arms surrounding her, and soft powerful lips covering her mouth and taking her breath away. The door slammed shut, and he spun her around, pressing her against the cool wood slab. Zane’s kiss was all consuming.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she ran her fingers through his thick hair and became a full participant in the mind-melting kiss. Time slowed, and all she knew was the command of his mouth as his tongue dueled with hers, seeking dominance.

  Zane’s strong hands gripped her hips, and she molded her body to his—a homecoming she’d only dreamed of. Never before had she felt so attracted, so connected, to a guy, let alone one she’d met less than a week ago.

  His kisses had become an addiction she didn’t want to kick. Strength and safety emanated from his embrace, and she immersed herself in the warmth of his hard body. To hide from reality and take the solace he offered was all she craved.

  When he broke off the kiss, she whimpered at the loss of his hot mouth on hers. Glancing up at his face, she trembled at the hunger she beheld.

  “Wow,” she said, her voice breathy with the passion swirling through her veins. “What did I do to deserve that?”

  He traced her jaw line with his finger, his touch searing. “I missed you.”

  Fallon ran her thumb over his lips, the intimate act surging desire anew. “I missed you, too.” She hadn’t realized how much until this moment in his arms.

  Zane cupped her face, a dark uncertainty surfacing in his eyes. “You had me worried after that phone call. I had a hard time not jumping on the next plane and hunting you down, but you didn’t tell me exactly where you were.”

  Her breath caught. She’d had no idea he felt that way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I was just shaken up, and you were the first person I thought of to call.”

  He grasped her hand, laced his fingers with hers, and led her to the couch. “I’m glad you called. I’m just not used to feeling helpless. Especially when it’s someone I care about.”

  He sat and pulled her down onto his lap. Fallon’s stomach did a little flip-flop. So, maybe the chemistry and feelings weren’t all on her part. She had no doubt he found her attractive, that he wanted her—the evidence was difficult to hide. But how wonderful was it that he cherished her?

  Smiling, she burrowed further in
to him. “So, you care about me, huh?”

  With a muttered groan, he dipped his head and devoured her mouth once more, and again she was left dizzy and out of breath. “Yeah, is that okay with you?”

  “Oh, yes.” It was more than okay.

  “So.” He grinned and wound a lock of her hair around his finger. “Tell me about this impromptu trip of yours.”

  The warmth that had spread through her body vanished in a flash. How much should she tell him? Would he run screaming out the door, thinking her a crazy woman? Probably. She didn’t want to scare him off. In the short time she’d known him, he’d become far too important to her to risk losing.

  “Come dice tomatoes and shred lettuce while I brown the hamburger, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  He tightened his grip on her. “That requires letting you go.”

  Fallon chuckled. “Only temporarily, I promise.”

  The glint in his eyes told her he would hold her to that promise. In the kitchen, she grabbed a frying pan, set it on the stove, and dumped the ground beef into it. A moment later, meat began to sizzle.

  He pointed toward the cabinet holding her trophies and pictures. “Wow. What’s all this?”

  Turning, she strode to the refrigerator and opened the door. “Up until four years ago, I held the state title in Women’s Calf Roping.” After tossing him a head of lettuce and a tomato, she closed the door. She withdrew a knife from a drawer for him and set it on the cutting board. Crossing back to the stove, she said, “Have you ever been to a rodeo?”

  “Yeah, I went a week ago with a bunch of guys from the squad. Is calf roping where you lasso the little cow and then tie its tiny legs up?”

  She pivoted from the frying hamburger and brandished the spatula at him. “That easy, huh?”

  Zane laughed, mischief dancing in his eyes, and held his hands up in surrender. “Now, honey, I didn’t say that.”