by M. R. Polish
“Something doesn’t feel right.”
“It’s a plane, you never feel right on a plane. Remember?”
I shook my head, looking everywhere but at him. “No, this is different.” Nothing was out of place that I could see, and I couldn’t feel anything with my powers either.
I settled back into my seat. “Maybe you’re right. It’s probably just nerves.”
The plane lurched as it stopped. I felt my heart drop with the motion. Every inch of my body tingled as the whir of the engines screamed. I was thrown forward a little as the plane sped down the runway and lifted into the air.
I grabbed Ian’s hand and squeezed my eyes shut. Sitting backwards was definitely not helping me. My stomach felt like it crawled up in my throat.
“It’s okay, I promise.”
I peeked out of one eye. “No, I don’t think so. Right now, I am the farthest thing from okay.” I closed my eyes tight again and concentrated on breathing. Breath in, breath out. I could feel the plane level out just a little so I opened my eyes. “I really hate takeoff. I think that is the worst part.”
“You did good.”
I exhaled a long sigh. “Yeah, but I still hate it.”
Chapter Seven
Hiding Bodies at Thirty-Thousand Feet
Esmerelda
“Seriously? A freaking eleven-hour flight and only one of the upstairs bathrooms are working? What kind of crap is that?” I was so irritated. My eyes burned from fighting off sleep for the last nine hours on the plane and I was getting cranky, but there was no way I was going to sleep. Not with Nicholas and Meadow lurking outside my spirit waiting for me to let them in.
It was dark outside, making it eerie inside the cabin. Not that I needed it to be scarier. I bounced in my seat as I tried to hold it in. “What the heck is taking Julie so long in there? Doesn’t she know there are others out here waiting? I bet she fell asleep in there on purpose, just to make me wait.”
Ian lifted a brow, but I could still see it with the small overhead light I kept on. “You really think she fell asleep in the tiny closet they call a restroom, just to piss you off?”
I crossed my legs and tightened every muscle I had. “Yes!” I whispered loudly.
“Princess, I think you need to sleep.”
“Ugh, I can’t! Not with Nicholas and Meadow waiting for me to dream. They’ll know where we are. Besides, can you sleep while you’re trying not to pee your freaking pants?” I couldn’t wait any longer and strode to the stairs. They were small and dark, but I really needed to go, and downstairs had to have an open, working toilet.
Ian was right. The restroom was nothing more than a compacted closet. I couldn’t put into words how relieved I felt at finally being able to use the restroom. I squeezed out of it, trying not to let the door shut loudly. The whole lower cabin was dark with only a few overhead lights on here and there. Most everyone was sleeping.
A short woman with the flight attendant uniform smiled at me as I quietly tried to find my way back to the stairs. A tight grip wrapped around my arm, spinning me around. I let out a force of power that made whoever it was let go. I could feel my magic sizzle in my palm as lightning crackled outside the plane. I knew I needed to be careful since I was much closer to the one source of power I controlled so easily. I really did not want to accidently hit the plane with a bolt of lightning and make us crash into the ocean.
My eyes darted around, looking for whoever grabbed me. The hair on my neck rose as I backed up toward the stairs. Did I imagine the whole thing? On the bottom step beside me I could see the wispy spirit form of Luna; her silver eyes illuminated the dark. If she was here, even if she wasn’t in her true wolf body, I knew something was wrong and whatever it is was bad.
I reached slowly down to run my fingers over her head but my fingers slipped through her spirit, leaving a wake of white tendrils in the air that floated back to her. I wasn’t used to seeing her this way.
A strange but familiar gargle sounded from straight ahead by the restrooms. Luna’s hackle rose and a small growl escaped her snarling lips. I looked around, but no one seemed to notice—yet. I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain how I had a wolf on board an airplane, let alone how she could disappear.
“What is it?” I asked Luna, in my head.
“It almost feels like a crossbreed, but the energy is off.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of.” I leaned forward and scanned the aisles of seats. Nothing, or no one, stood out to me. “Maybe we’re wrong?”
Copper eyes reflected off the dim lighting and my heart stopped. We were not wrong. I raised my hand, ready to defend myself, when another hand wrapped around my mouth and another around my middle.
Whoever it was pulled me back away from the stairs and toward the galley. I reached out with my hands, trying to stop them, but I couldn’t grasp anything long enough to get a tight grip. I elbowed my captor as hard as I could, forcing them to loosen their grip. I spun around and shot a stream of sizzling power straight at his chest.
Luna jumped on him, bringing him to the floor. The magic I used knocked him unconscious. Luna and I both looked around for the second one.
Ian came out of the stairwell, followed by Dregan. He ran to me and grabbed my upper arms. “Are you okay? Dregan told me about the breed,” he asked in hushed tones. The last thing we needed was to wake an entire plane full of mortals to witness an immortal act of unkindness.
I pushed away from him, needing to find the other crossbreed. “There’s still another one.”
He spun around. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, she’s sure.”
We both turned to see who spoke. A woman walked around the corner. She had dark brown, curly hair that was pulled back with a purple scarf that matched her flight uniform. Slowly, she brought a finger to her lips, all the while never taking her eyes off the center aisle of the plane. “I think he moved to the back of the plane.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Camilla. I’m actually a hired agent for the B.O.M.B., the Bureau of Magical Beings. I fly undercover in case there are ever problems on board a flight with an otherworldly or magical being. I see that tonight we can say that there is definitely a problem. I’ve noticed a lot more activity the last couple weeks with tons of breeds flying this way.” Her southern accent was heavy and she talked with her hands a little bit too much. She paused briefly as she glanced at me with a raised eyebrow and a hand on her hip. “Anything I should know about that you aren’t telling me?”
I shook my head. “Nothing that I know of. I just got up and was attacked by that one over there.” I pointed with my head to the still-unconscious breed on the floor.
She let out a deep sigh. “Well, I guess we should move him before the other passengers or attendants see him. Come on, help me out. The last one about wore me out.”
“The last one?” I looked over my shoulder as I said it. How many were on this plane?
“Yeah, I had to use a spell to knock him out until we get on the ground and I could get some help. I locked him in the upstairs lavatory.”
“Well, that explains why only one was in working order,” I drawled.
She laughed quietly. “Well, where else do you expect me to put them?”
Ian picked up the breed and flung him over his shoulder while Camilla opened the closest bathroom door. Ian shoved him in there and Camilla waved her hand over his face before locking the door and placing an out of order notice on the door.
“What did you do?”
She looked around before talking. “It’s called a Comotosa, or an involuntary black out that you only wake up from when the person who places the spell undoes it. It is a power that is given to those with a certain ranking at the B.O.M.B. and no one else. You wouldn’t want a bunch of magic hungry witches or warlocks out there with that power now would you?”
I thought back to the sleep spell and shuddered. That spell was bad enough. “No,” I whispered. It was a bit intimid
ating to know all these powers and rare spells were being used. I couldn’t help but wonder how the gift of those powers were given. I thought back to how a witch could bestow their guardian a single gift and wondered if it worked the same way. I would have to remember to ask my mom later.
“Come on,” Ian gestured to the other side of the galley, “we need to find the other one.”
I agreed and followed Ian out into the aisle. I walked as quietly as I could so I wouldn’t wake up the passengers.
The plane bounced as it hit turbulence. I reached out and grabbed Ian’s shirt as I squeezed my eyes shut. My stomach rolled over as another jump made it hard to stand. Please stop, I chanted in my head. Now was not the time to panic about flying—or falling from the sky.
I opened my eyes and tried to concentrate on each passenger. I didn’t want to miss the other breed. The various overhead lights that were on did little in helping me see. “Luna, do you see him?”
“He’s in the back. Wait, there are more. Es, be careful.”
More? They just let anyone fly anymore, don’t they. I tugged on Ian’s shirt. “Hey,” I whispered. “Luna says there is more than just the one in the back.”
He stopped and looked around. We were close to the middle exit rows with at least twenty or more rows to go before we would be in the back. Camilla stopped to talk to another attendant, who walked back the way we just came.
I reached out to feel for any abnormal energy, but I couldn’t make direct contact with anything that wasn't human. The breeds were masking their energy. But how? They never did that before.
“Es,” Ailaina whispered behind me. I turned to see her over by the stairs. A hand clamped around her mouth and whoever it was dragged her back into the shadows of the first class area.
I took off after her, not caring who I woke up. “Ailaina,” I cried out as I reached the first class seating, and then froze. Ailaina’s eyes were wide over the top of the breed’s hand. I could feel his sickening hunger for her blood thick in the air. His bloodshot eyes stared at me while he smirked. About six other crossbreeds stood behind him, filling each aisle.
“Princess, stay right where you are,” Ian said behind me.
“No, I thought I’d ask them to dance. Where did you think I was gonna go?”
“Now is not the time to get snooty, Es.”
“Now is not the time to argue either,” I whispered over my shoulder at him.
The man holding Ailaina was tall and his dark ebony skin blended well with the shadows of the cabin. He tipped his head with a scowl. “Yous betta listen cuz she's right, ya know. Now ain't a good time to argue.”
“Let her go,” I demanded through clenched teeth.
“Aw hell nah, ya know that ain't how it works.”
Ian stepped in front of me. “Don’t make me kick your ass.”
The man flung his free hand up. “Whatchu gonna do, wolf boy? She's gonna die before you get to me.”
“Es,” Luna’s voice entered my head. “ Ian wants to cause a distraction while you use your power to shock him. Dregan is getting ready to pounce when you do that, and I will help Ailaina.”
One of the breeds behind Ailaina, a lady with long black hair, dangled a vial out in front of her. “I wouldn’t try anything if I were you. Each of us has enough Belladonna to kill all of you.”
I saw Ian flinch slightly at her words, but I knew that wouldn’t deter him from saving Ailaina. I let the power inside me build so I would be ready. My hands tingled as magic pooled in my palms, itching to be released. I could hear a loud rumble of thunder that shook the plane, and a streak of lightning flashed next to the windows where we stood.
Ian smirked. “You think I’m scared of you?”
Ailaina moved against her captor and struggled to break his hold. Her muffled cries where in vain as he squeezed her tighter.
Ian took one step closer to Ailaina and I lifted my hands just a little, but not enough for any of the breeds to see.
“I’d stop right there, wolfy,” Ailaina’s captor said. Ailaina’s eyes widened as he bent his head low, his elongated fangs barely brushing across her neck, his eyes never leaving Ian.
Ian stood straighter. “You hurt her and I won’t give you a chance to fight back.”
Dregan appeared behind the group of breeds. His black fur blended into the darkness, making his eyes glow eerily. He snarled, showing off his sharp teeth. He lunged for Ailaina’s captor, locking his jaw around his arm. This was the distraction I needed. I shot out a stream of power, knocking him to the floor. Luna rushed to Ailaina, helping her get out of the way.
Ian lunged forward, jumping over the back of a seat to grab one of the breeds, waking the man who slept in it. He cried out in surprise and tried to scoot back in his chair even more. The guy’s eyes widened and never left the body of Ailaina’s captor, who lay dead on the floor. The woman who held up her vial leaped toward me. She stood about an arm’s length away from me, sneering.
Luna lunged onto her back, pulling her down. I jumped on top of her and twisted her head. Adrenaline rushed through me as I thought of what they would’ve done to Ailaina, and I ended her life.
A bloodcurdling scream filled the plane. I spun around to see one of the passengers standing in the aisle on the first class side of the partition. She screamed again and Ailaina rushed over to her and placed a hand over her mouth. “Shhhh… It’s okay.”
Commotion filled the plane as I heard cries and screams throughout the cabin. Passengers afraid of what caused the screaming cried out in terror. Great. So not what we needed.
Jarak and Julie were the first to enter behind the woman. Julie’s eyes went wide, then she left to go into the main seating area. I spun back around to help Luna with another breed who struggled against her tightened jaw around his neck.
I saw a flash of white and knew that Maztic and Jarak were helping. I stood up and looked around. The woman who had been screaming was crumpled on the ground with her eyes closed. I glanced around; all the passengers were asleep again. I wasn’t sure how, but I was grateful. Ian and Dregan stood in the opposite aisle from me with Jarak and Maztic. All the crossbreeds were dead—well, for now. We still needed to behead them, but it would have to work for the moment.
Camilla walked in from the back seating area. A streak of blood trickled down her face from a scratch over her eye.
“Are you okay?” I asked her while catching my breath.
“Yeah, I found that one breed in the back, but we don’t have to worry about him anymore.” She looked around. “I can see you guys were busy.”
I shrugged. “You could say that.”
“Ah, shoot, this was nothing,” Ian added.
Julie walked in, stepping over the sleeping woman. She folded her arms. “Next time you get in a fight around humans make sure they are unable to see you. I put them all to sleep, but that’s something you should’ve done before it got that far.”
Ian strode forward. “Julie, you have no idea what was happening down here before the fight. Es had no warning and no time. You either shut your mouth for the rest of this trip or I’ll shut it for you.”
Jarak came up behind Ian. “I don’t care if you’re my brother, you will not talk to her like that.”
Ian turned to face him. “You know, you’re just jealous because Es chose me and not you, and you got stuck with that witch over there.”
Jarak pulled his fist back and threw a punch at Ian, but Ian ducked out of the way.
“Hey!” We all turned to see Lauren holding her side, standing at the first-class entrance. “I hate to break it up, because I’d love to see Ian kick your ass, but we’ve got bigger issues.”
I rushed to her side with Ailaina. “Are you okay?”
I moved her hand from her side, revealing a dark red, sticky stain on her purple blouse. “Oh my gosh, Lauren, what happened?”
“It was nothing, just a stupid breed caught me off-guard. When we heard that woman screaming we all ran to see what was wrong
. As soon as Jarak and Julie went downstairs, one grabbed me from behind. I never saw him the whole time we were up there. I think he came out of the closed bathroom.” She winced as she placed her hand back over the wound.
I glared over my shoulder at Camilla. “I thought you said they couldn’t awaken from your stupid Comotosa spell until you or someone with the B.O.M.B. awakened them?”
She backed up slightly. “I don’t know how he’s awake. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, then, who else with the B.O.M.B. is on board this plane?”
She shook her head. “No one other than the co-pilot. I screened the flight myself.”
Ian spread his arms out over the bloody scene. “Yeah, and that worked out so well, didn’t it.”
Tears filled Camilla’s eyes. “It wasn’t my fault. Andrew said that if I didn’t let them all on board that he would kill me. I didn’t know they were gonna try and kill you. I swear.”
The plane shifted with turbulence and I grasped the sliding door to the entrance. My stomach rolled as I remembered we were thousands of feet above the ground, or ocean, and all my adrenaline left, returning my fear of flying. “Who is Andrew?”
Camilla wrung her hands. “He’s the co-pilot, but he doesn’t have magical abilities.”
Oh, my night was just getting better and better. The man who might want to kill me was flying the plane. “Then how did he know about the breeds? How did he know about me?”
“He is one of the few humans that work at the Bureau. He used to be so sweet, and cared about helping all of the magical society, but lately he has been short and easily irritated. This afternoon before boarding, he came to talk to me. That was the worst I’ve ever seen him.”
“How did he get to be part of the Bureau?” Jarak asked.
Camilla chewed on her lip for a moment. “Every flight must have two agents on board. One in the cabin and one in the cockpit. It’s a security measure. There aren’t enough of us with powers that have a pilot’s license. So, they hire humans for that part when needed.”
The plane jumped again and I could feel a slight descent. “Wait a minute. If he doesn’t have magical abilities, then Julie put him to sleep too, right?” A larger jolt of the plane left us all grasping out for something to hold on to.
