The Enchanted Crossroads

by Dora Blume

  Just before reaching the door to the car, I tripped. I reached my hands in front of me and hit the ground hard. Of course, I would trip. I stumbled back to my feet and took a step forward. A ball of fire flew right in front of me and I froze. I looked over my shoulder and the guy had recovered enough to throw my own fire at me. I really wish I knew more about what I could do. I hated feeling helpless. Leif met him with his sword and he was distracted again. I could hear the sharp slide of metal against metal. I took another breath and ran again toward the car. I ducked behind the passenger side of the car in case he got any more ideas about throwing fire at me.I reminded myself that I could be the warrior like my mother. I nodded once and flew open the door of the car.

  I began rummaging through the car in search of the vials. In the center council, I noticed a few bottles. I grabbed up two of them. Now, I just needed a few drops of their blood. Yeah, like that was going to be easy. I peeked over the car to see how Leif was fairing against crew-cut. Leif was engaged in quite the sword fight. He kept sweeping his arm out and meeting the guy with every slice of his blade. I was impressed as I took a moment to appreciate the beauty of it. Caroline had stopped chanting and was motioning me to get over there. I nodded and closed the door. I darted to her side as quick as my feet would carry me.

  “We need to get their blood,” she said.

  “I know. The guy on the floor should be easy. I don’t know about the other guy though.” I said taking another look at Leif. I could feel the knot in my stomach as they fought. One wrong move could be the end of him. I kept my eyes locked on him.

  “Come on, let’s deal with one at a time.” We both hurried over to the guy slumped against the cement pylon. When we reached him, Caroline knelt down next to him, pulling the dagger from her belt. When she went for his hand, he moved and backhanded her so hard she fell to the ground.

  “Shit,” I braced myself and took a step back. I tried to call on my power, but my nerves were getting the best of me. I was too worried to be mad. I tried to conjure the same image but nothing came. My hands shook as the guy gained his footing and took a step toward me. I held my hands in front of me and took a step back. The man drew his own knife. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have a weapon. I only had my fire, and I didn’t even know how to use that. I kept backing away. I had a vial in my hand, all I had to do was get blood. I tried hard to focus, but the knot in my stomach was distracting. Leif cried out behind me, and I could feel he was in trouble. I had to do something. My eyes darted frantically around the space looking for some way to save myself. If I could get toward Caroline, I could get her dagger. I began inching to the side like wrestlers did in the ring. I hoped he would mirror my movements. It worked, I kept moving in a circle and he moved opposite me. When I was near Caroline, I dropped down and grabbed the knife. She was shaking her head and beginning to sit up. Good, if I could just keep this guy busy for a few minutes, maybe she’d recover enough to help me. I didn’t really know what I was doing like they did. I vowed that after today, I would spend more time learning how to fight. I understand now why Leif pushed me into training. Fighting was reality in this world. I wouldn’t survive without learning.

  I heard the clacking of metal then an “oof.” I wanted to look behind me because I knew it was Leif. I tried to keep moving in a circle, but the guy lunged at me with a knife in hand. I dodged to the side, barely escaping the blade. I couldn’t beat this guy in combat. I had to figure out how to beat him with my witt. “So, what? You think if you kill me big daddy God is going to reward you handsomely. Ha, he probably won’t even mention it again after a simple pat on the back. Is it even worth it? I’m not even a trained fighter. I’m a lawyer. There’s no real honor in killing me.” I had no idea where I was going with this. I needed to distract him, so Caroline could get her bearings.

  “I’ll be rewarded, don’t you worry.” He lunged again. I side-stepped and he fell forward when he met air. I took the chance and sliced down his arm. At least now he was bleeding. Now, I just had to get his blood in the vial. I looked to the scarlet on the blade and smiled. I was about to win. I reached for the bottle to uncork it. If I could manage to get his blood inside, I could vanquish him. I wasn’t really registering anything else. I pulled at the top of the bottle. I heard the gasp before I realized what was happening. I wasn’t a fighter. A fighter would have known to never take your eyes off of your opponent. I was stupid.

  Caroline crumpled in front of me. The Morrigan’s blade protruded from her chest. She had stepped in front of me when he lunged to stab me. She had taken the blade that was meant for me. I heard the gurgling sound as he retracted the blade from her body. She collapsed all the way to the floor. My mouth hung open as I looked down at her. She was stronger than I was. She knew how to create magic walls. Why hadn’t she done that? Why did she step in front of the blade?

  My hands still held the bottle open, I dropped the blood in it quickly and threw it at the guys feet. He screamed out once and then he was gone. I dropped down next to Caroline and held her head in my lap. I watched as blood poured from the wound in her chest. Everything else was a blur. I knew there was another guy here. I knew he could kill me, but I didn’t care. The last link I had to my mother was dying in my arms. I pulled off my suit jacket and pressed it to the wound. I didn’t know what else to do. Could we take a Mage to a hospital?

  I heard the sound of another knife entering a body and looked up. Leif had stabbed the Morrigan through the heart. He evaporated into thin air. I looked down at Caroline. I brushed a piece of her hair away from her face. Her eyes looked so very tired.

  “Kaira, you must know about your…” Caroline gurgled out.

  “Shh, don’t try to speak. We’ll get you some help.” I said, smoothing my hand over her hair. I heard Leif talking on his cell.

  He yelled, “No, get someone here now. A Sage, any Sage. Caroline is mortally wounded.” He hung up his phone and knelt next to us on the concrete. “It’ll be okay, a Sage is on the way, just hold on a little longer.” He took Caroline’s hand into his. His eyes met mine and they were filled with worry.

  “A Sage?” I asked. I didn’t know what they could do to help. “Shouldn’t we be calling an ambulance?”

  “Sages are healers. They can heal her injuries. If someone gets here in time.” He looked toward the exit of the garage. His hand was shaking. I could see blood on his wrist and wondered where he was injured. I didn’t have time to worry about that now. Caroline took a ragged breath. I knew it was becoming a struggle for her to breathe. I was raised by a nurse, but I knew there wasn’t much I could do for her beyond putting pressure on the wound. Nothing but a hospital and surgical staff could repair this kind of damage.

  “Kaira,” she tried to say again, but blood gurgled out of her mouth.

  “Shh, please don’t try to speak. It will only make things worse. Someone is coming to save you. Just hold on a little longer.” I placed my hand on her arm. Her skin felt cool to the touch. I knew that was bad. I began to pray that whoever Leif called would get here in time. She had only minutes left. I watched in horror as Caroline struggled to breathe. She closed her eyes as if it were a struggle to keep them open. Suddenly, she whispered, “protect each other,” her head slumped to the side, and I knew she was gone.

  A single tear slipped from my eyes and I looked up to Leif. “Can a Sage heal her if she’s dead?” I didn’t think it was possible but magic was possible so, I had to ask.

  “No,” he said softly.

  I looked down to Caroline. She was a courageous woman. I didn’t know what she had to tell me about my mother. Now I would never know. She was the last connection I had to my past. I wasn’t sure I would ever know the truth. I mourned for Caroline, for the family I lost with her death.

  Leif cleared his throat next to me. “Others will be here shortly. There’s nothing we can do for her now.” I bobbed my head shakily, uncomprehending. I didn’t want to just leave her. I was surprised no one noticed our battl
e in the middle of a busy parking garage. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen anyone the entire time we fought. That was strange. “Karia, we need to go. There will be others. I’m not ready to fight again.” He gave me a meaningful look, and I knew what he wasn’t saying. I was a liability. I would get him killed, too.

  CHAPTER 13

  I stopped on the way to Leif’s car. “Hold on a sec.” I ran over to Caroline’s car to see if she had any more vanquishing potions with her. It was good to be prepared just in case. I found two more and stuffed them into my pockets. Leif stopped next to me. I saw a set of headlights making their way up the ramp to us. My eyes widened and I flew to the car, fumbling with the door handle before jumping in and slamming the door. I didn’t know if the new arrivals were friends or foe. Leif gunned it toward the exit. I couldn’t help but look around. Glancing at Leif, I noticed more blood running down his arm. There was another stain soaking into his shirt. My mouth dropped.

  “Oh my God, Leif. How badly are you hurt?” I turned to look at him as he shifted and continued driving.

  “I’ll live,” he said. I could hear the annoyance in his tone.

  “Is that why I have a knot in my stomach? I felt it shortly after you started fighting with swords. It’s like a dull ache in the side of my abdomen.” I studied Leif’s shirt. My ache was where the blood was pooling on his shirt.

  “You shouldn’t be feeling that already. We’re not bonded yet.” He glanced toward me but kept his eyes focused on the road.

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Can we not talk about this right now. I need to make sure no one is following us. After this attack, they’ll know you’re vulnerable. I wish I knew where the hell your guardian was. She should be helping you.” He cursed. His phone vibrated in his pocket. When he tried to reach for it, he winced.

  “Stop, let me get it.” I dipped my hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “You drive, I’ll talk.” I answered and pushed the speaker button.

  “Leif, what in the bloody hell just happened. I can sense your injury. Why didn’t you call me to head over there?” Haskell’s voice was sharp over the phone.

  “There was no time, Haskell. We were attacked in the parking garage. Caroline is dead. Antons gang are on their way over there now to clean up. I need you to stay at the house until I get there. We’re only a few blocks away, have everything ready. It’s a bad one.” Leif focused back on the road. I pulled his jacket away from his shirt. The fabric was soaked in blood. Leif must be in some serious pain if he’s losing that much blood.

  “Should I call my mother. She’s an emergency room nurse. She can help with this.” My eyes were wide as I took in the amount of blood he’d lost.

  “No, I just need to make it to Haskell. We’re almost there. I want to make sure we weren’t followed. I don’t want to lead an army to my home.” He gave me a sideways glance. I wasn’t sure what I did exactly, but I knew Leif was angry with me. Maybe even pissed off. I know I didn’t exactly live up to their skill in fighting, but I tried to help. Caroline’s sacrifice for me proved what a fuck up I was when it came to this stuff. I wasn’t a trailed fighter. I was a lawyer. I fought battles with words in the courtroom.

  He pulled into the driveway and parked in front of the house. I jumped out of the car and ran around to Leif’s side. I flung his door open and his hand dropped motionless at his side. When his body began to fall toward me, I quickly caught him and pushed him back into the seat. He had gone a sickly white. “Haskell!” I screamed. I used my body to hold Leif up in the seat. Haskell came running out of the door.

  “What happened?” Haskell asked. When he looked at Leif in the car, he said. “Bloody hell, I need to get him back to the house to heal him.” He slid his arms under his legs and behind his back. “Could you open the doors for me, love.” He hoisted Leif up into his arms, grunting and walked to the door. I shook my head and ran up the steps. I yanked the door open quickly, so Haskell get get through with Leif in his arms.

  “When did he gain so much bloody weight” Haskell huffed out as he carried him into the house and dropped him down on the couch.

  “You’re the one who feeds him. You only have yourself to blame.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that.

  Haskell chuckled. “Maybe I need to make this one more salads and less bacon. He could lose a few pounds if he expects me to carry his sorry ass around.” He pulled the jacket off Leif’s shoulders. “Love, do you think you can help to get him out of this?” He continued to try to pull the jacket, but it was difficult to hold him up and take off the jacket. I hurried over and bent next to him. He held him up while I pulled the sleeves from his arms and behind his back. Once his jacket was off, Haskell ripped his shirt open, exposing his bare skin. My breath caught at the blood smeared across his chest. “So, what exactly happened?”

  “Ah, we were attacked at the courthouse. Leif got in a sword fight with a Morrigan. He won but obviously was more injured then he let on at the time. I’m amazed he was able to drive here.” I took Leif’s hand in mine. It felt cold in mine. “Can you heal him? I don’t know anything about Sages, but Leif said you can heal.” I huffed out a frustrated breath. “We wouldn’t be in this position if I had been able to fight them. Leif wouldn’t be hurt and Caroline wouldn’t be dead.” I drew in a ragged breath and dropped my head in my hands. I knew it wasn’t the time to lose it because Leif was bleeding on the couch, but I couldn't help it. I felt like such a failure.

  “You can’t blame yourself, love. They were protecting you. Protecting the future you represent. They would have done it even if they didn’t know who you were. We’ve been raised this way. It is who and what we are. It’s why Leif protected you from the very beginning.” He rested his hands over the wound. I watched as blue light emanated from his fingers. After he was finished, Leif flew up and gasped.

  “Where’s Kaira?” he asked. His eyes met mine, and I watched him blow out a sigh of relief. I thought he was being sweet. Then, I thought back to what Haskell said. Was he really doing all this because I’m a descendent? Would he be helping me if I wasn’t? Would we even know each other if it wasn’t for me being a new Mage? I felt his hand tighten around mine.

  “Are you okay?” his eyes narrowed on mine.

  “I don’t know. You scared me to death. You were so cold and pale. I thought I had lost you too. How is it you healed so quickly?” I asked. I stared at the spot where the stab wound had been moments ago.

  Haskell cleared his throat. “Because I am amazing, love. But I thought we already established that at breakfast. Sages have the power to heal. We are by far superior because of our healing ability. Highly coveted among our kind.” He turned his attention back to Leif who was shaking his head.

  Leif’s eyes met mine. “Is the pain in your stomach gone?” he asked.

  “Yeah, as soon as you were better it went away. Why?” I wasn’t sure why he was asking. I wasn’t the one bleeding out on the sofa moments ago.

  “I’m not sure what it means that you felt it before we were even bonded.” He turned his head to Haskell. “Have you heard of another Mage couple who could feel the injuries of their mate before they were bonded?” he asked. Haskell took a step back, so Leif could turn and sit up on the couch.

  “Not that I’ve ever heard. I’m not saying it’s impossible, bit it’s never been written about that I can recall. The Mage bonding is strong, but it’s only after an official bonding has taken place. Are you sure you didn’t consummate the bonding?” Haskell’s eyes roamed over my body and my cheeks flushed.

  “No, Haskell. I think we’d remember that.” Leif rolled his eyes.

  “I bloody well hope you’d remember. I’ve been snockered and I remember every lovely lady who was graced with my fabulous assets.” I let out a laugh and Haskell narrowed his eyes at me before continuing. “Maybe it’s different because she’s a descendent. I’m not sure how she felt your injury though. You’d think it would be reversed. M
en are always feeling the blight of woman. It’s a bloody wonder we put up with them at all.” He shrugged.

  Leif eyes lingered on me a moment. He tightened his hand in mine. “Haskell, do you think you could give us a minute?”

  “What the hell? You were just attacked and wounded. You want me to leave you alone?” He rolled his eyes when he looked between us and stormed out of the room. I could hear him mutter, “Where’s the appreciation?”

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Are you okay, like really, okay?” He stroked the back of his knuckles down my cheek.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. Caroline’s dead because of me. I wasn’t paying attention. She stepped in front of me when the guy went to stab me. I should have listened to you. Training is important. If I’d spent time learning to fight, maybe she wouldn’t be dead.” I dropped my head and stared at the different speckled browns in the carpet.

  “It’s not your fault. You’ve only known about this for three days. I’ve been training for a lifetime and one of them was able to injure me. You can’t blame yourself. They’re after you because you are strong and have the ability to save us.” He lifted my chin so my eyes met his.

  “I’m not strong. I just happened to be born into this. I couldn’t even get my fire power under control. I’m a mess.” I felt a tear slide down my cheek. He wiped it away with his finger and his hand lingered on my cheek.

  “It’s okay, It’s been three days. Give yourself a break. Come on, why don’t you turn on the television and I’ll go get us some dinner. Your deposition is over and you’ve had a rough day, you deserve to relax.” He stood up from the couch.

  “Wait, weren’t you mad at me?” I asked, looking up at him.

  “No, when?” he asked looking puzzled.