Hero's Curse

by Jack J. Lee

  If I had to be genetically designed to love someone, at least that someone could use her head. I should have been ecstatic my ‘true love’ was available; I wasn’t. I’ve been trying for the last few decades to become someone I’m really not—methodical, logical, and controlled. My natural inclination is to be an impulsive, adrenalin-seeking idiot. I’m not good at resisting temptation, and I had never met a greater temptation than this young woman. I couldn’t believe my true love was young enough to be my daughter, and that she would look like a cheerleader.

  The ethics of a full professor sleeping with a coed were problematic. The difference between his position and hers didn’t quite fit the legal definition of statutory rape, but certainly qualified as an abuse of power—another reason why Steve was a rectum. I had to be at least ten years older than Willeso. I was a forty-seven-year old paladin with a license to kill direct from God.

  The ethics of me having a relationship with a twenty-two-year old coed sucked. For me, attraction has always been more about the mental than the physical. Mental attraction, at least for me, has always required a similar level of life experiences. I was too jaded and impatient to be with someone who was just taking baby steps into adulthood. All of the women I’ve dated in the past few years have been in their late thirties. Because of the way I looked, even though I was older than any of them, everyone thought my dates were cougars.

  I had no desire to like or respect Mina. I didn’t want to make room in my life for a serious girlfriend, never mind my one true love. I sure as hell didn’t want marriage or a family. It was easier to resist irrational, chemically driven emotions than an attraction based on real knowledge and respect. I was better off not knowing her. I needed to spend my nights in a secure place, but it didn’t have to be here. I reminded myself to ask Aidan if I could bunk at the coin shop. With that thought, I fell asleep.

  Chapter 12: The Kiss

  I woke to the sound of Mina puttering in the kitchen. Andi and Ben were still in their rooms, asleep. I checked the time, it was 6:30. I sent a text message to Aidan asking when I should get to the store. I mentally kicked myself for not asking him last night.

  My plan was to hang out in my apartment until Aidan texted back. My plan went down the drain when I realized I hadn’t had a chance to shop and stock up my small kitchen. I’m psychologically addicted to coffee. I need my fix every morning. I was sure I could bum a cup from Mina but that meant I had to go downstairs and ask her. I was strangely reluctant.

  It took a bit to get my head around the fact that Mina scared me. It took even longer to figure out why. I’ve always been an adrenalin junkie. I’ve never been afraid of physical risks; hell I enjoyed them. I was beginning to understand how frightened I was of emotional pain. I hadn’t realized how much I hated the idea of needing anyone. Mina was freaking me out in a way that Redcaps or an unknown number of Jotunn never could. The worst those monsters could do was to maim or kill me; she could make me care.

  I stared at my phone and willed Aidan to text me so I could get out of here. Nothing happened, there was no message. What the hell had happened to ‘imposing my will’ upon the Universe?

  I was able to kill a few minutes by brushing my teeth and throwing on some clothes. I walked quietly downstairs to the kitchen. I didn't announce myself right away.

  Mina was dressed in a blue T shirt and shorts, barefoot. Her hair was in a high ponytail. Regardless of what she wore, she drew my eyes. She was sitting in a chair at the kitchen table, a book open in front of her, a cup of coffee forgotten in her hands. She sat with one leg tucked under and the other swinging idly back and forth. She seemed to be quietly lost in thought. I looked around; the place was surprisingly clean for the early morning after a large party.

  I decided to get this over with. “Good morning.”

  She turned to me, smiling softly, “Hey, good morning, sunshine. Would you like some coffee?”

  She called me ‘sunshine’ and it didn’t annoy me. I was pathetic. “That’d be awesome.”

  I waited, leaning back against the counter while she got up to pour me a cup. “You want sugar or cream?”

  “No thanks, I’ll take it black.” As she turned her back to me, I let myself look at her. I was immediately drawn to the nape of her neck partially hidden by her ponytail. It was the perfect place to plant a gentle kiss.

  When she passed me my coffee, I looked down into my cup. I didn’t want to deal with the headaches that came from looking at her. I could feel the silence turn heavy and uncomfortable.

  Mina didn’t sit back down. She leaned on the counter just a couple feet away from me. I could feel her gaze. Mina spoke first, “If you don’t mind me asking, what did you whisper to Elaine before you left last night?”

  I looked up from my coffee and shrugged, “Nothing special, just goodnight.”

  Mina burst out in delighted laughter. She shook her head. “Vic, where the heck were you raised? You have some serious socialization issues with women. The first night you’re here, you slam your door in my sister’s face. On the second night, in the middle of a party in front of everyone, you act like you’re going to make out with one of my best friends and then all you do is say ‘Goodnight?’ What’s up with that?”

  Her laugh was infectious. I smiled back at her, “You’re right; I have no manners.”

  “Elaine swore that’s all you said but no one believed her. We all thought you were going to throw her over your shoulder and carry her back to your room.” Mina tilted her head, eyeing me thoughtfully, “I think Elaine was really disappointed you didn’t. You want her number? She said I could give it to you.”

  I shook my head and gave a rueful smile, “That’s okay. She seems nice but I’m not in the right place for a relationship now, and to tell you the truth, I’m not attracted to her.”

  Mina’s brows drew together in irritation at my answer. “Buddy, that’s sure not how you acted.” She leaned over, intending to poke her finger into my chest to emphasize her point, “Look, you don’t just lead…”

  I grabbed her hand when it was an inch from my chest. No one touches me in anger. Mina was startled by my response. I don’t know what my face looked like but I could feel my temper about to explode. “I meant what I said. I am not and never have been, attracted to her.”

  She stood her ground, waving her free hand in exasperation, and shot right back, “Okay, Mr. Tough Guy, if you’re not attracted to her, who ARE you attracted to?”

  I spoke without thinking, almost as if I had no choice. My voice was a growl, “I’m attracted to you.”

  “Ha!” She moved a step closer to me. I already had her one hand captured so when she tried to push at my chest with the other, I grabbed that hand as well. We stood face to face, inches apart. “Ha!” she repeated, heatedly. “You haven’t said more than three words to me at a time since we first met. Don’t tell me you’re shy; I wouldn’t believe you for a second. Attracted to me, what a crock! What’s your game, Vic?”

  I didn’t respond with words, I was too angry to speak. Eyes are the windows to the soul. I let her gaze into mine; I showed her my anger and the core of hatred I kept bound in chains. I revealed the monster I kept hidden from the world.

  We stood unmoving-an eternity passed in seconds-and to my surprise she didn’t tear herself away from me. My truth has always terrified the few who’ve seen it; Mina stood before me, unafraid. Without breaking our gaze, she slowly brought our entwined hands up to cup my face. She stood up on tiptoes and gently, softly, kissed me. I buried myself into her mouth with a hunger I’ve had my entire life.

  “Ahem!” We sprang apart and turned. Ben and Andi were watching us from the doorway to the rest of the house. Andi sounded like she was honestly puzzled, “So Vic…you’re not gay?”

  I heard the words but they were so unexpected their meaning didn’t register for a few seconds. When I realized what she had asked, I cracked up with involuntary laughter. “No, I’m not.”

  Ben guffawed, “W
ell that’s not what Mina claimed last night.”

  I turned to Mina. She was beet red. She faced me, started to say something, reconsidered and said nothing. Instead, she looked at her brother and sister like they were something she needed to scrape off the bottom of her shoe. They were hysterical, and had to hold on to the wall and counter respectively to stay upright.

  I was honestly puzzled, “You thought I was gay?”

  Ben wiped tears from his eyes and answered for Mina. “Yeah, after the deal with my developmentally challenged sister and then Elaine, she was sure you weren’t attracted to girls. It looks like Mina proved herself wrong.” After that line, only Ben was laughing. Both his sisters looked like they wanted to kill him.

  I’m not used to caring about how others see me, and I’ve never worried about other people’s feelings. Mina was my genetic ‘true love.’ It made sense that she’d feel the same overwhelming attraction to me as I did to her. I had been doing everything possible to avoid her. I could see why she thought I was immune to her feminine charms. It was hilarious; I burst out laughing. After it was clear I thought the situation was funny, Mina started laughing too. It took a few more seconds but Andi started laughing as well.

  I got a call on my cell. My voice wasn’t completely under control when I answered, “Yeah.”

  It was Aidan, “Victor, we have an emergency. We need you immediately at the Carmelite Monastery on 5714 Holladay Boulevard. Get to Foothill and head south…”

  My need to laugh vanished. Aidan sounded like his mother had died. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll use my GPS.”

  “Oh good, we’ll be waiting for you on the street, out in front.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I turned off the phone. Mina got serious as soon as my expression changed. I put my hands on her shoulders and pulled her toward me, my back to the others. In a low undertone I said, “I’m sorry, I have to go to work. I wish I could tell you when I’ll be back but I can’t. I really want to talk when I get home.”

  I still couldn’t believe I had broken down and kissed this girl. I was tempted to try to take it back, maybe peck her on the forehead on my way out. She was calm now but, but that could change like the weather. I decided if I kissed her forehead she’d kill me.

  Oh well, the milk had been spilt. A major part of me was glad. She was about to say something when I kissed her. The first time we’d kissed had been a surprise. Although I knew I had to leave, I took the time to savor the experience. I slowly tasted her lips and took pleasure in the pressure of her body against mine. I used every sense, both mundane and magic. I could hear the rhythm of our heartbeats begin to synchronize. I smelled the lemon and herb scent of her shampoo. Every time I moved my lips, I pulled back slightly to caress her with my gaze. I took in her clear blue eyes, and the red fullness of her mouth.

  To my magic senses, she felt like the first ray of sunshine after weeks of rain. I realized I was peering directly into her soul; it was beautiful. I could feel her power. It was less than mine and even more unschooled. She had protection spells on her, but I knew she hadn’t placed them herself. I had to force myself to pull away. With my eyes, I promised her I’d be back. I walked out the door. As soon as door closed, I heard Andi say, “Oh my GOD, Sis!”

  I ran to my truck and headed toward the Monastery.

  Chapter 13: The Sisters

  It was one of those days; I hit every red light. While I was waiting for a particularly long one, I pulled up the official website for the Carmelite Monastery. The nuns had been in Utah since 1952; they had been in this location since 1972. The seventies was the decade of really bad taste—the leisure suit, disco, hairy-chested guys with thick gold chains, and a specific style of butt-ugly brick architecture. The Monastery didn’t disappoint. The picture on the website showed a long, single story, dark brown brick building attached to a chapel. I couldn’t tell for sure but based on the pictures on the website it looked like the complex was on a couple acres.

  I heard sirens while I was still a couple blocks away from the monastery. Cop cars were lined up on the side of the street opposite the complex, and gawkers were lining up on the sidewalk. A six foot tall stone wall blocked my view of the building, but I could see flames and smoke shooting high into the sky. I drove slowly by the entrance gates and spotted Aidan and Tim. When I pulled up, Aidan motioned for Tim to stay while he jumped in my truck. He directed me to a side street nearby where I could park.

  His usual jolly demeanor was gone. He looked grim. “Victor, the monastery is on consecrated ground, and members of the Oath Brotherhood have been living there since it was built close to forty years ago. There are hundreds of protection spells on these grounds. It should be impossible for a fire of this magnitude to occur; I seriously doubt this fire was accidental. I need to get into the complex to see if Sisters Catherine, Josephine, and Beatrice are still alive, and if possible, determine how the fire started.

  “Since it is daylight, it’s unlikely we’ll be attacked by minions. However, the impossible has happened; the unlikely seems extremely probable. If we get attacked, you will need to gear up and defend us. Don’t worry about bystanders or witnesses. If we’re not attacked, please keep it low key.” He handed me a small flat disk of polished wood on a loop of leather cord, and motioned for me to put it on over my head. I did so, and he continued, “The pendant has a spell that makes people want to ignore you. It’s not quite the same as an invisibility spell, but in some ways it is more powerful. Instead of seeing you, the spell causes them to see ‘just some guy’, nobody special, not worth a second look. Do something unusual—make a loud noise or fight a minion, and the illusion will be broken.”

  “It sounds like a useful item. Can I keep it?”

  Aidan gave a flicker of a smile but shook his head. “I had to make the pendant this morning. The spell wears out in a couple hours. It would have been much easier to cast the spell on you directly. One of these days, when we have the time, I’ll teach you how to cast this spell on yourself.” He gave me a sharp look. “Your inability to trust is an inconvenience.”

  He kept looking at me like he wanted a response, so I shrugged. There were things I’d change about myself if I could. Being more trusting wasn’t on the list. We got out of my truck and walked back to the entrance of the monastery. Tim waited for us, holding a large leather satchel. He looked nervous, but then he always did. He acted like he was about to speak, but he took a quick look at Aidan’s face, reconsidered, and gave a wave instead.

  Three cops were standing guard at the entrance. The leprechaun held up his empty hand like he was flashing a badge, and they let us through. Firefighters were swarming around the outside of the burning building like ants on a rotting carcass. We stopped about twenty feet from the firefighters. Tim opened his satchel and pulled out some sort of antique optical instrument made of brass and copper, that was mounted on a short tripod. He pointed it at the monastery, and Aidan stepped forward, made some adjustments, put his eye to the scope and began slowly surveying the building. He described what he saw in a low monotone; Tim took notes.

  I didn’t have the vocabulary to adequately describe how the monastery grounds appeared to my magic senses. Aidan had said that this was consecrated ground. There were a few spots here and there where I could still feel peacefulness and calm. The rest of the grounds were filled with a metaphysical stench, one that defied detection by the ordinary senses. It was so similar to the stench of troll I had killed, I wondered if I had ‘smelled’ it with my magic senses and not my nose.

  I was here to provide protection. I ignored Aidan and Tim and kept a lookout for anything unusual. The flames roaring out of the brick monastery were too intense to be the result of a natural fire. I couldn’t tell if the fire had been caused by magic, but some sort of accelerant had to have been poured throughout the building. The firefighters’ efforts had no effect, and it looked like they’d given up trying to put it out and were just controlling the burn. None of them tried to enter
the building.

  There are times when you can feel an emotional aura coming from an object or a place. Walk through a graveyard at the dark of the moon and you’ll know what I mean. As I stood guard and watched our surroundings, I could feel pain emanating from the burning building. It seemed ludicrous to use the word ‘raped’ to describe a building but I could feel a sense of loss and mourning—of something loved, now defiled.

  I hadn’t been paying attention to what Aidan was saying. I knew I had missed something when Tim froze, closed his eyes with a sigh and then bowed his head. Aidan got up from his instrument, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. He looked weary. I walked closer and gave him a questioning look. He faced me and in a cold, flat voice said, “Sisters Catherine, Josephine, and Beatrice were dead before the building ignited. There is a holocaust spell that prevents the fire from being extinguished until all the fuel is consumed. There’s nothing left for us to do here.”

  Tim and Aidan took down their equipment. We walked back to our vehicles; no one said a word. At the entrance, there were reporters with their camera crews, and there were now hundreds of rubberneckers. The street where I’d left my truck was now completely lined with cars. Tim used his remote control to unlock a white van parked a few cars ahead of mine.

  Aidan turned to me. The brogue in his voice was strong. He had the expression of a man who’s given up. “Victor, nineteen Jotunn attacked the monastery. They have the numbers and the power to overwhelm the defenses at our store and at your home. I am going to make some calls and see if I can get help from another city’s Oath Brotherhood.” He gripped my arm to make his point, “Mina, Ben, and Andi Swenson do not know their father was a paladin. They don’t know how much danger they’re in, and we need to convince them to leave the city. Tim will take the van back to the store. I will head back with you.”