Fire and Fantasy: a Limited Edition Collection of Epic and Urban Fantasy

by CK Dawn

  As Gabe tried all the foods laid out in front of him, chewing, savoring it all, his brain worked overtime. How do I get close to this woman without scaring her off? His assignment depended on gaining her trust. How to do this was left up to him. A direct confrontation seemed out of order.

  He needed time. Time he now had in abundance, whether he wanted to or not. Yet patience was never his virtue and he was not about to begin practicing it now. His fingers twirled the fork in his hand, then tapped on the table. He slanted his eyes toward Cassie, watching her fiddle with a basket of utensils. She looks like she’s ready to jump out of her skin.

  Relishing the taste of black coffee on his tongue, Gabe became absorbed by his internal musings. It took him a moment longer than usual to notice Zoey back at the table.

  “Looks like you’re enjoying the breakfast,” she said, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Can I get you anything else, anything at all?”

  “No thanks,” Gabe said.

  As Zoey left the bill on the table and walked away, Gabe made his decision. He’d come in a few more times. Get to know her better. Maybe ask her out the way humans did. Meanwhile, he’d trail her, figure out what it was about her life that got her in trouble. It’ll buy me time. The more information on this mission, the better. The plan was simple and reasonable. He brushed a stray hair from his eyes. What happened to make this Cassie so jumpy, anyway? He pushed the thought aside with annoyance. Genuine concern had no place in his situation. He needed info, yes. But he would not let emotion enter into the equation. This was a job, pure and simple. Nothing and no one would interfere.

  Three

  Cassie turned the key and heard the diner’s front lock click into place. The day’s tensions melted away as the thought of going home for some much-needed rest took center stage.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come? Last chance,” Zoey pleaded at her elbow.

  “I’m positive. All I want to do is see the back of my eyelids.” It wasn’t a lie by a long shot. “Go, have a great time.” She yawned for good show.

  Zoey gave her a quick hug and a smooch on the cheek. Then, she disappeared, or so Cassie thought.

  “See you tomorrow. Love you.” Cassie heard Zoey’s goodbye from somewhere around the corner.

  “Love you too,” Cassie said softly and sighed. The exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her. The long workday let itself show in her aching muscles and throbbing feet. But, fresh air called to her despite the sleepiness and she decided to walk along the river back to her apartment.

  The West Side Highway stretched along the riverfront, unusually empty. A few late-night runners jogged along the Hudson pedestrian walkway. The waxing moon hung yellow and dim above the murky New York water, while a few dark clouds floated across the horizon. The air started to smell of rain. Clean and crisp. Cassie breathed it in. I hope it rains all night. A vision of raindrops falling upon her face came to mind. The image shone so vivid and pure she shuddered. It evoked an almost sensual response. Maybe Zoey is right and I do have to get laid soon.

  Cassie walked down the path, enjoying the moonlight glow on the water. The sky crackled, the promise of a thunderstorm coming in its call. Her senses tingled. Something elemental and powerful came over her during a storm. She could never understand it, but the energy ignited around her in those times, even summoning the purple glow from within. She never felt it more than when she was at her childhood home, upstate. There, in the shade of the old trees, the isolation she so often felt in the giant metropolis of New York disappeared.

  “It’s about time I go visit,” she said aloud. Yet, home also held painful memories. Those same memories she tried to avoid as much as possible.

  Lost in her thoughts, Cassie stopped in midstride when the feeling of being watched haunted her steps. Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. Her internal voice sounded annoyed even in her own mind. It’s way too late for anymore freakiness. She tried to brush away the feeling as if it were a fly in front of her face. “Well, I guess it really is the day I snap.”

  When Cassie whirled around to try to spot her peeping tom, it was with a frown on her face. Yet, irritation gave way to shock as she located the stranger from the diner, the man from her dream, watching her from far across the highway.

  Gabe walked on the far side of the West Side Highway studying the girl. As if alerted to his presence, she swung around scowling in all directions. He stood too far back for her to see even if she looked his way, but his vision was sharp enough to see the frown on her face.

  What the hell? He wondered, then sucked his teeth. Poor choice of words.

  Cassie’s face changed, as she seemed to have spotted him. “It’s not possible. She can’t detect me from there.” The narrowing of her eyes in his direction spoke otherwise. “No way. It’s too far for a human.” He tried to deny the obvious even as his shoulders tensed. I don’t misjudge stuff like this. Yet there she stood, staring at him, and with his keen eyes he could see her go pale.

  His eyebrows shot up. “Damn. Plan B it is. Introductions now.” As he started crossing the highway, he had to think fast. Their meeting needed to put her at ease, not spook the hell out of her. Mistakes didn’t sit well with him. He’d always been right before, certain of his decisions, and that fact wasn’t going to change for some simple human.

  Gabe noticed the uncertainty flicker in her eyes. It was clear she contemplated whether to stay and hear him out or run for it. He had to admire that she even considered staying. It made her more appealing, knowing she had the strength in her. She impressed him further when he saw her legs lock straight. Brave. Or maybe foolish.

  Gabe stood within ten feet of her when she crossed her arms as if to protect herself and asked in a strong voice, “Why are you stalking me?”

  Well, she cuts straight to the point. The silent declaration had him smiling inside. Aloud, he answered formally, “Please let me apologize for scaring you. I found you very interesting when we met earlier today. I was trying to think of how to approach you. You see I’m not very good at meeting women.” He had to restrain his laugh or give away the ruse. In what universe was he not good at meeting women? Or having them do anything he wanted?

  “I doubt that,” he heard Cassie say but her voice didn’t sound as confident anymore. “But even if it’s true, I’m sorry. I’m not interested.” She sidestepped him, waving her hand in dismissal, and began to walk away.

  “No, please, wait.” Gabe matched her steps and touched her arm. “I’m not from around here. This city...well, it’s not something I’m used to. I’m from a...more open place. You know big blue skies.” He let her arm go as something sparked in Cassie’s eyes. Got it. He let a small smile play on his lips. “I was just hoping maybe you could show me around. I’ve only been here for a day or so and it’s a bit overwhelming.” Another internal laugh bubbled up. He was starting to feel like a fool, like one of those base humans walking around, ignorant of anything but themselves.

  He sensed Cassie’s suspicion in her scent, a hint of dark berries beneath the spice. “My name’s Gabe,” he said, extending his hand, hoping the simple gesture would put her at ease. She remained unmoving.

  “Gabe what?” she asked instead. Her posture stiffened.

  Oh, shit. He attempted to cover, “Just Gabe.”

  “‘Just Gabe’,” she mimicked him. “What like ‘Madonna’ or ‘Cher’?”

  “Pardon me?” he said trying to hide his doubt. Another mistake. He’d watched these pedestrian creatures for years. He shouldn’t be confused about these things. “Yes, I suppose so. For now at least. Until we get to know each other better.”

  Cassie’s face changed again, a mask of mistrust and weariness settled over it. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want me to go out with you but you can’t even give me your last name? Do you know how creepy that makes you?” The situation spiraled out of his control. “Look, I’m not interested and now that we’ve established that, move on or I’ll be forced to stop s
omeone and ask them to help me because a strange man’s following me.” She said the entire sentence in one breath, her chest rising and falling faster under her blue jacket.

  Before Gabe could speak again, Cassie spun around and walked away once more. Her strides lengthened as she seemed to try to catch up to some joggers. Gabe moved to follow, but before he had the opportunity, she stopped dead. The jogging couple moved off into the distance leaving Cassie and Gabe alone on the pathway once again. Yet, Cassie remained stock-still. Gabe wondered if she was considering giving him a chance after all when he saw her shudder once, twice, a third time. Her whole body shook. A musky smell of standing water permeated his nostrils.

  This can’t be happening. As soon as the thought flashed through his mind, Cassie went rigid and fell on the asphalt, only her palms stopping her face from smashing into the concrete. Energy singed the air around them. He knew very well what would follow. The sidewalk stood empty now but it might not be for long.

  He reached Cassie in two steps and grabbed for her, but the electric waves around her body ignited, too intense for him to break through. “Where do you live?” he shouted, as though he was trying to get her to hear through static. Gabe knew it was what she heard inside her head. She didn’t respond, her body going more rigid. He had to get her away from here. Every minute counted.

  “Please tell me where you live. I can help you. Don’t be afraid, I know what you’re dealing with.” But it was a lie he covered under a calm tone. I shouldn’t be telling her that. She should be scared. As he searched for an answer, his gaze fell onto a small leather purse. He snatched it from where it’d fallen and sifted through it. He came up with a wallet. Inside, her driver’s license revealed what he needed.

  “Cassie Durrett. 18 Washington Street.” He had her address. A fact she would be none too pleased to find out once she was back to normal, he was sure. Tough. He had no other choice. A brief side thought gripped him. No pictures of a man or children. Good, less complicated.

  Cutting through the energy at last, Gabe picked up Cassie’s limp body, put her purse over one of his wrists, and started to haul ass. The path walk remained empty and the traffic was light as he crossed the highway toward Washington Street. One block more and he stood in front of the door to her apartment building, an old bricked structure surrounded by warehouses. Balancing Cassie in his arms, he reached into her bag again and dug out a set of keys. The very first try resulted in the right key. “Lucky.”

  A few flights of stairs later, Gabe entered her apartment using another key and looked around. “They call this adequate living space?” he muttered to himself. A Siamese cat meowed at him from the couch, and then scampered into the bedroom as he approached. Gabe placed his fragile package down on the cushions and looked her over. He didn’t observe any visible injuries except for the scrapes on her palms, but he did note the compactness of her body, the smallness of her feet, and the beautiful contours underneath her clothing. She’s not bad looking. Heat spiked through his blood. If she wasn’t my mission, I might be interested in finding out more about this one, intimately. Yet as it was, he had a goal to keep in mind and he wasn’t about to let himself get distracted.

  Cassie moaned as the remnants of the attack wore off. She opened her eyes to stare into her dream man’s gaze. Oh, just great. I need to dream about him again? Her body already tingled with pleasure at the familiar vision. A trench coat molded to his tall frame. Across his chest droplets of water clung to a black shirt, then dripped down to run over his dark jeans and heavy boots. Gabe. The name came to her. How do I know his name’s Gabe? Reality flooded back with a vengeance, the whole encounter snapping into focus as if the picture emerged from a snowy TV. What she didn’t recall was what happened after and why this man was now here, in her apartment.

  Her gaze darted around the room, looking for something to use as a weapon. Bookcases lined the far wall with plenty of thick books inside, but she’d never make it past him to reach the shelves. A tiny statue of a marble angel stood on top of the old TV just a foot out of her reach. Next to the TV sat an opaque yellow vase with a couple of long-stemmed white calla lilies. Neither the statue nor the vase, she decided, would be adequate for the job. When she couldn’t find a satisfactory weapon, she tried to yell.

  Before she could utter a sound, Gabe moved so fast she saw him in nothing more than a blur. His hand covered her mouth and he breathed into her ear. “You fainted. I had to get you home, off the street. Please don’t scream. I mean you no harm. I promise.” As if to punctuate his last words, he took his hand away.

  Cassie suppressed the rising terror as she considered the situation and chose anger instead. She narrowed her eyes and curled her hands into fists.

  “How did you find out where I live if I was unconscious?” she said, her body tensing in the fight or flight response.

  “Your wallet. I went through it.”

  “Oh...” Her hands remained fisted.

  “You’re a strong woman, but you shouldn’t direct your anger at me.” He went to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away. “Look,” he said. “There’s something we need to talk about. But first tell me, how long have you had these headaches, this pain?”

  “How do you know about them?” Her voice raised an octave higher.

  “I just know. I also know what they mean. Do you?” He seemed eager to hear the answer.

  “I’ve had these episodes forever,” Cassie said, unsure why she answered him. “They’ve been getting worse lately.” Her head titled to the side. “Are you a doctor or something?”

  “And have you ever felt any other feelings or sensations during or after the headaches?” Gabe went on, ignoring her last question.

  “Yes...Maybe...But how on earth would you know?”

  “Tell me more,” Gabe insisted, his voice flowing smooth like water.

  She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Enough. I’m not telling you anymore until you tell me what the hell is going on, who you are and what you want from me.”

  Cassie heard him whisper under his breath, “Easy...” It seemed more instructions to himself than to her. She ignored it and waited for his answer.

  “Cassie, I know what I’m going to say will sound crazy, but you’ve got to listen to me. Haven’t you ever wondered at all the weird things happening to you over the years, at the feeling you get with the headaches, the energy?” She was about to interrupt but he raised his hand to silence her and continued, “This is not going to be easy for you to understand but...there’s more to you than you think.”

  And I thought I was crazy. Cassie started to tremble. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Well...you’re not exactly...technically...you’re not...” He struggled with whatever he was trying to get out.

  “Just say it.”

  Gabe locked his gaze with hers. She didn’t look away. She couldn’t.

  “You’re not completely human.”

  Silence hung thick in the air between them. Then with one swift motion, she sprang off the couch and into the kitchen. Without pausing, she jerked one of the drawers open and grabbed a steak knife.

  As he followed her toward the kitchen, she turned to face him with the knife extended. The light in his eyes faded, but a glimmer of humor appeared in them. She was not, however, in a humorous mood. “Listen Gabe, or whoever the hell you are, you’re crazy and I want you to get out of my house now! They have places for people like you.”

  Cassie inched toward her bag, which Gabe had dumped onto a little stool between the kitchen and the couch. She held the knife pointed at him with one hand while she rifled through her bag with the other. She never took her gaze off the man. Her hand came out holding an old model flip cell phone. With a flick of her thumb, she opened it and pressed three numbers.

  “If you don’t get out now, I’ll call 911.”

  Gabe’s brows lowered as he gave her an intense stare. After a few seconds, he raised his hands as if in defeat and said, “A
ll right, I’m leaving now. But I want you to think about what I said. I would know. I’m not quite human either. As a matter of fact, not at all.” Gabe walked to the door and opened it as if to leave. At the last moment, he turned to her and added in a gentle voice, “You may not be safe anymore, Cassie. I’ll come back when you’re ready.”

  “Mister, you should seek serious help for your problems,” Cassie said. “If I ever see you again, I’m going to call the cops and get a restraining order. Do you understand me? Now, get out.”

  Without another word, Gabe left. Cassie slammed the door shut and slid all the bolts in place. A tremor ran through her. Maybe I should change the locks tomorrow. The idea of going through all the work made her miserable. Yet, she couldn’t help but wonder about the man who came into her life in such a bizarre way. “Every day just gets weirder and weirder.” She slid against the closed door to the floor and put her head in her hands. A dim purple glow radiated from her palms. “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!”

  Four

  “Ah. Here comes another one,” said the old man, cocking his brow. “Look at him strut as if he is somebody. Humph. We’ll soon lay that arrogance to rest.” He grabbed the nearest book and turned his back on the would-be visitor.

  Gabe stepped into the room and pretended not to have heard the old man’s remarks. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying to suppress his displeasure at the mess. In every space he found objects strewn about – books, magazines, newspapers, tapes, and even napkins with scribbled writing. Anything ever printed, written, or put into media in some form, probably existed somewhere in this hobble. Past issues of Gossip Queen magazine were stacked in a pile nearest the old man. What am I doing here?

  “Revered One,” Gabe said with an attempt at civility. “I seek your counsel.” He waited for the old man’s attention. When silence ensued, Gabe repeated louder, “Sir, I would seek an audience with you.” Still no movement, no answer from the old man. This is a waste of time. As Gabe turned to leave, a gruff choking noise crossed the room.