by Quinn Loftis
“It’s going to be okay, Shell,” Tara said from beside her. She took Shelly’s hand and squeezed it. Ra held her other hand just as tightly.
With a deep breath, she let go of Tara’s hand and finally knocked on the door. Shelly could feel her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She’d never been so scared and excited at the same time. After what seemed like an agonizingly long time, she heard the lock on the door turn. It had to be the slowest opening of a door in the history of door openings. Finally, her mother’s face appeared in the entryway. Shelly didn’t know what she’d expected, but other than looking utterly exhausted, her mom hadn’t changed. She was as beautiful as ever. Shelly had inherited her long blonde hair and her fine bone structure from her mom, though her green eyes were all her dad’s. Her mom had stormy grey eyes that were currently filled with confusion.
“Mom,” Shelly said in a pained whisper. The moment the word passed her lips, her mom fell to her knees in front of her and wrapped her arms tightly around Shelly's waist. There was a moment of shock before she returned her mother's embrace.
The familiar scent of Regina Smith hit Shelly’s nose, and the tears that hadn’t begun to fall streamed down her face. She felt her mother’s body shaking as she cried and whispered, “My girl, my sweet girl. My Shelly.”
Shelly wasn’t sure what to say, but all of a sudden, all she could do was apologize. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry.” She felt as if she’d let her parents down in some way. Shelly wasn’t sure if there had been any way she could have prevented what had happened. But she felt responsible for the pain her parents had gone through. As she felt her mom—her strong mother—fall apart in her arms, Shelly knew she would have done anything to spare them this agony.
“Regina, who was at the door?” Her dad’s voice came from somewhere inside the house and then closer. “Shelly?”
She looked up from where her face had been buried in her mom’s hair and met the confused eyes of her father.
“Hey, Dad,” she said with a weak smile. A second later, he wrapped his arms around her and her mom.
“You’re back.” She heard his deep, baritone voice say near her ear.
“I am.” It was the truth and not the truth. She was back, for now, but she wouldn’t be staying. She couldn’t be away from Ra, not that she wanted to be. But she also didn’t want to be away from her parents.
It was a long while before her dad finally pulled back and just stared at her. Shelly wondered if it was the same look he’d given her when she was born. Awe mixed with wonder and hope. It made something inside of her twist and turn. She’d always known her parents loved her, but to see it so raw and powerful was gut-wrenching because it was clear that they’d both thought they’d never see her again.
A few minutes later her mom stood. Her hands moved up to Shelly’s shoulders, and she ran her eyes over her face, seeming to catalog every feature. Then one of her hands lifted, shaking as it rested against Shelly’s cheek. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” her mom said, confirming what Shelly had seen in her dad’s eyes. “I hoped and I prayed, but I just didn’t know.”
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” Shelly said again.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” her mom said. “You’re here and that’s what matters.”
“Who are these people with you?” her dad asked and then added. “Tara?”
“Hey, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith,” her friend said in a bright yet hesitant voice.
“You’ve been missing, too,” Shelly’s mom pointed out. “Have you been with Shelly?”
“Um, well, sort of,” Tara answered.
“Mom, Dad, I have a lot I need to tell you, and these people are here to help me explain it,” she said and then blew out a breath that caused her cheeks to puff out.
Her mom stepped to the side, though the hand on her shoulder did not move. “Please, come in.”
Shelly walked in and felt the enveloping warmth and the smells so familiar to her. She had the sudden urge to run through the house squealing in delight just because she was here.
Her mom walked beside her as they headed for the living room. Shelly took a seat on the couch. As if he understood that her parents would want to be close to her, Ra gave her hand a final squeeze and then released it. He walked around the chairs that were opposite the couch and leaned back against the wall. His eyes never left her. And as usual, the intensity with which he watched her filled her with warmth, a different kind than that provided by her childhood home.
Shelly’s dad sat on her right side, and her mom took the seat to her left. Tara took one of the chairs across from them and Aviur took the one next to her while Elias took up his sentinel-like pose behind the chair where Tara sat.
“This is all going to seem very far-fetched, and, frankly, you might think that I’m crazy or on drugs, but I need you to please listen with an open mind,” Shelly said as she looked back and forth between her parents. She stood and turned to sit on the coffee table so she could see them both at the same time and not feel like she was at a tennis match trying to see their faces as she spoke.
“All right,” her dad said.
“We will try,” her mom added.
Before Shelly could get started, there was a knock on the door. Shelly’s dad looked torn between needing to answer it but wanting to stay where he could see his daughter, as if she would disappear into thin air. Which, to be fair, was completely possible with the whole portal thing.
He hurried off and was back a couple seconds later with Carol, Tara’s foster mom, right behind him.
“Where on earth have you been, child?" Carol asked as she hurried forward and took Tara in her arms, hugging her as tightly as Shelly’s mom had hugged her.
“I’m so sorry, Carol,” Tara said as she hugged her foster mom. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Carol pulled back and kept her hands on Tara’s shoulders as she frantically ran her eyes over the girl. “You’re okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re not hurt?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Do I need to hire a hitman to kill someone?”
“No—" Tara started but then frowned. “Wait. What?”
“I'm sure we could find one on the Internet,” Carol said as she released Tara.
“A hitman?” Tara asked.
“I told you when I first met you that she didn’t take no shit,” Shelly said.
“Don’t think I didn’t see you, Shelly Smith,” Carol said as she turned her attention to Tara’s BFFF. “You’ve got some explaining to do, too, young lady. You’ve scared the pants off your parents.” She walked over to Shelly and pulled her into a hug. “I know they are relieved you are all right, as am I, sweet girl.”
“We were just about to get to that part, so excellent timing,” Shelly said as she hugged her back. “I love you, too, Mrs. Carol. And though my parents haven’t offered to hire a hitman, yet, they are happy to see me.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Now”—Carol turned to look at Elias, Ra, and Aviur—“someone needs to explain why my daughter and Shelly have been missing for over two weeks and why she has returned with three devils.”
Tara’s eyes widened. “Why would you call them devils?”
“Because no males that handsome could be anything but devils,” Carol said as she put her hands on her hips, glaring at the males in question.
“This is going to be good,” Shelly said as she took a seat on the couch. “If she gets out the paddle, I’m totally taking a video.”
“Paddle?” Aviur said as he glanced at Shelly and then back to Carol.
“Any time she puts her hands on her hips like that, it means she’s getting ready to get out the paddle,” Shelly explained. “Mrs. Carol is a firm believer in swatting a behind every now and again.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “You’re the only one who has ever seen her paddle, and she didn’t even us
e it on you.”
“Hey, chasing me with it down the front steps is totally considered using it,” Shelly said.
“Guess you shouldn’t have taken a slice of pie when she warned you not to,” Tara replied.
Her mom gasped. “Shelly, I taught you better than that.”
Shelly had to force herself not to roll her own eyes at her mom. Leave it to Regina Smith to chastise her over something as silly as pie when there were much bigger issues at hand. Then again, maybe it made her mom feel peace simply having Shelly back so she could chastise her.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong.” Shelly sniffed. “I’m simply pointing out that Mrs. Carol is not above chasing a person with a paddle.”
“She’s not wrong, either,” Carol said as she stared down Ra, Elias, and Aviur. “Who are you and what are your intentions with my girls?”
“Hold on to your granny panties, Mrs. Carol. And I’ll explain. First,” Shelly began, “I’ll introduce the three devils you don’t know.” Shelly motioned to the fire king behind her to the left. “This is Aviur. Behind him is Ra Nasir and the guy behind Tara is Elias Creed.”
“It is a pleasure to meet all of you. I am the king of the fire elementals of light. I rule with my mate,” Aviur said as he reached his hand across to Shelly’s parents.
Shelly’s dad reached out and slowly shook the fire king’s hand. His brow furrowed as he stared at the inhumanly handsome man. After Aviur had shaken Regina’s hand, he turned to Carol and took hers as well.
“Uh-huh,” Carol said slowly. “I see.”
Shelly’s eyes widened at the older woman’s declaration.
Tara frowned. “You do?”
Carol glanced at her and shrugged. “I’m not going to declare him crazy until I’m sure. Things are not always what they seem, not even supposed crazy people.” She turned to Elias. “And who are you? Your eyes haven’t left my girl. Either you’re a creeper or she means something to you, and you mean something to her.”
Elias stepped closer to Tara and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. “I am Elias Creed. I am an earth elementalist and Tara’s soul-bonded.”
“Soul-bonded,” Carol said slowly as if she was trying to figure out the words and what they meant. “Is that like a soul mate?”
Elias nodded. “It is. A part of my soul lives inside of Tara.”
Carol’s eyes widened. She looked at Tara, meeting her eyes and narrowing her own. “Is that the light I see in your eyes, sweet girl?”
“What do you mean?” Tara asked as she tilted her head.
“Don’t take this the wrong way because you know I’ve always seen the light inside of you,” Carol said gently. “But there has also been darkness. Your eyes have always held the pain of the loss of your parents, and because of it, the light has faded from your eyes more and more over the years. But now…” She paused and her lips turned up, the wrinkles in her cheeks becoming more prominent even as the light in her own eyes shone brightly at Tara. “But now, the darkness is gone, and your eyes are full of light and hope.”
Shelly swallowed down the emotions that were rising in her chest. She’d known there was darkness inside of Tara. She’d seen it many times over the years, but she also knew there was light, and Shelly constantly fought to pull the light to the forefront. Shelly had also noticed since Tara had met Elias, who shared his light and his soul with her, Tara looked as if she could finally breathe for the first time since Shelly had met her all those years ago in the park.
Elias leaned over and pressed his lips to Tara’s temple. She leaned into his touch. Shelly understood what she saw in her BFFF’s eyes. Comfort and relief. She recognized it because she felt it when Ra touched her. She was so thankful to Elias for giving that to her friend who’d become a sister over the years.
“I’m sorry, Carol,” Tara whispered. “I’m sorry I worried you for all those years when you did nothing but provide for me and love me.”
Carol walked over to her and lifted her wrinkled hand to Tara’s face. She caressed it gently like a mother would a daughter. “Tsk. You have nothing to apologize for, sweet child. You have been a joy to me. Has there been pain? Yes, but we cannot know joy without heartache. We cannot rejoice in triumph, like this, if we had not first experienced loss.”
Tears began to fall down Tara’s cheeks. “I love you, Carol. So very much.”
Shelly felt her chest tighten as she swallowed down her own tears. Carol and Tara needed this moment. They needed to say the things that had never been said before because she knew that Tara hadn’t been able to say them in the past.
Carol’s smile widened as her own tears fell, and she wrapped Tara in a tight embrace.
“I’m sorry I never told you that,” Tara said, her voice hoarse with emotion.
“You didn’t have to,” Carol said. “I knew. Even at the hardest of times, you showed me through the respect you’ve had for me.”
They stood like that for several minutes, and then Carol released Tara and took a deep breath. She turned to Ra and, after wiping her cheeks of the tears, asked, “I’m going to take a gander on you and say you aren’t normal either, am I right?”
Ra’s blank expression didn’t change as he answered. “I am human, but like the others of my group, I am also more.”
Carol’s eyebrows shot up as she looked first at Shelly and then at Tara. “More? You two?”
Tara sighed. “We should probably sit down for this.”
Shelly started to sit down but paused as she watched Ra walk over and, to her surprise, kneel down on one knee and bow his head. “It is an honor to meet the parents of my bonded.”
Shelly’s eyes widened, and her stomach dropped to her toes. Okay, so much for subtlety. She heard Elias chuckle behind them and had the strongest urge to throw something at him.
“It’s, uh, nice to meet you,” her mom responded. The statement sounded like a question, as if she wasn’t really sure if meeting Ra was in fact nice at all.
“Yes,” her dad added. “We are glad to make your acquaintance. I think.”
Ra stayed there a moment longer and then stood and walked back to the spot he’d claimed.
Elias was next, but he didn’t move from behind the spot Tara had claimed on the couch. “It is very nice to meet you both,” he said, and Shelly could hear the sincerity in his voice.
Shelly’s parents both nodded at him then turned their attention, albeit somewhat hesitantly, back to Shelly.
“I don’t want to sound rude,” her mom said, “but what the hell is going on? How did you meet them?”
Shelly took a seat next to Tara. Aviur sat in the recliner, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. He looked like a king lazing on his throne, waiting for his subjects to fawn over him. Tara snorted as Shelly shook her head at him. Aviur saw them staring at him. He winked as if spilling the secrets of the supernatural world to three freaked-out humans was just normal, everyday stuff.
“With all due respect, fire king—” Elias said in a tight voice.
“Relax, Elias Creed,” Aviur interrupted. “I was not flirting with your female. I swear you soul-bonded males are going to be the death of me.”
“They are a bit much,” Shelly agreed.
“You are in enough trouble,” Ra rumbled. “Do not provoke me further.”
Shelly pinched the bridge of her nose as her mom gasped at Ra’s words. “Reel it in, pharaoh,” she muttered.
“Well,” Carol said as she sat in the chair next to Aviur, “I can agree with Shelly in this, despite not knowing the two gentlemen. You are both quite intense. But you”—she pointed at Ra—“if you are Shelly’s beau, I do believe that will be a good thing. She needs a firm hand to keep her in line.”
“Mrs. Carol,” Shelly gasped as if she was insulted by the words. Tara knew her friend was not. The outrage in her voice was as fake as a three-dollar bill.
“Hush,” Carol said, waving Shelly’s pretend exasperation away. “We hav
e important things to discuss. Like where you two have been.
“I keep trying to explain, but people can’t seem to shut their traps,” Shelly said, her exasperation clear in her voice. When everyone just stared at her, she took that as her cue to get on with it. “Well, this is where things get a little strange. I mean, stranger than it’s already been. If that’s possible. You see, well, it’s that, I mean…” Okay, she was totally botching the whole explanation thing.
“I will begin,” Tara said, saving Shelly from her mess of a beginning. “As you know, my parents died in a car accident. It turns out that the crash wasn’t an accident at all. They were murdered.”
Shelly’s mom sucked in a sharp breath, and her hand rose to rest against her heart. “I’m so sorry, Tara.”
“I am sorry you had to find that out on your own,” Carol said, her eyes full of sympathy.
“Thank you. But I wasn’t alone,” Tara said as she looked over her shoulder at Elias. He brushed his finger across her cheek. Shelly loved how tender he was with her best friend.
“The ones responsible for the crash are called acolytes,” Tara continued. “They are humans who’ve become supernatural because they’ve agreed to serve creatures called dark elementals. The elementals are magical beings that draw their power from an element of the earth.”
Shelly’s father cocked an eyebrow. “Elements? You mean like oxygen and radon?”
“No, even more basic than those types of elements. I’m talking fire, wind, earth, and water. The dark elementals, like any villains, want to take over the world and put the whole human race into slavery and yada, yada. But they aren’t the only supernatural beings.” Tara paused. “With me so far?”
Shelly watched her parents and saw the panic in their eyes. They obviously thought Tara had lost her ever-loving mind. Carol stared at Tara intently, as if she was digesting everything her foster daughter was saying.
“I’m not really sure,” Shelly’s mom said. “I mean, I hear your words, but what you’re saying is—”
“Crazy as the dude from The Shining,” Shelly offered.
Her parents nodded in unison, and that was a little creepy. She began to wonder if the information Tara was telling them was going to break them.
