A Spark Of Magic: Chosen Saga Book One

by J. L. Clayton

  I looked at him in shock. Wow, what do you say to that? Uh, thank you. But no, that didn’t sound like what he would truly want me to say. As if this was his way of testing me. Deep down, I had a feeling it was. However, I knew in that moment exactly what I should say. Light bulb if you will: Ding.

  I smiled, swallowed, and in my softest tone I said, “I am more than privileged to witness something so secretly precious that no one outside your own people has witnessed before. I am honored.” Yay, go me. “Thank you for allowing me this wonderful gift.”

  He smiled at me and said, “Welcome, brave one. You stand here with our mighty warriors and still ever humble. Welcome.”

  I looked at him grinning. In that instant, we had a moment of complete understanding. Then I heard some drums beating. I turned my head and saw Tru walking toward the fire. All eyes were on him. For a second, I had forgotten what I was doing or saying, Tru was the most beautiful person I had ever seen in that moment. You know that expression when you look at someone and time stands still? Well, they had me there. Everything stood still when I saw Tru. He knelt down on the red velvet cloth. His black ink hair cascaded around his face, framing it in the bright gleaming moonlight.

  My breath hitched at the sight of him. Tru had on a pair of white loose-fitting slacks. His mocha skin shimmered in the moonlight. If there were any words to describe how wonderful Tru looked then, I would have said ever last word. But as it goes, I was speechless. Tru’s grandfather stepped forward, readying himself for what was to come next. He slowly pulled the cloth back from the altar, revealing what was underneath. I was very curious, but still a little afraid. I readied myself for the worst, saying a small prayer and thinking how silly it was to hope that there was no living thing underneath the cloth. Gradually, Tru’s grandfather pulled the cloth away, and I almost shouted, “Just get on with it.” Almost, but I didn’t.

  Tru’s eyes were fixed on mine. He looked worried. Why? Maybe he was afraid of how I would take it. I smiled at him reassuringly. Tru saw my smile and grinned back. Then a surprised look came over his face. A shudder ran through his body. What did I miss? I looked up at Tru’s grandfather. He was holding some kind of dagger in his hand. With? What was that? Blood! Oh my God, where did the blood come from? Tru’s grandfather chanted something in his native tongue, and then to my horror he brought the dagger down on to Tru’s back. He did it with great quick, smooth movements. One, two, and then three more times the blade cut Tru. I started to get up, run to Tru, and help him. I had to stop what was taking place. I started screaming, “Stop! Stop! Stop! What is going on? What’s wrong with you people? Stop, you’re hurting him!”

  I looked over at Tru’s mom. Her eyes were closed and she was chanting. I quickly looked for Tru’s sister. She smiled at me sympathetically, but she did nothing to stop Tru’s grandfather. I franticly looked for P-J, but their expressions mirrored Tru’s sisters. Then it happened. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach from the memory of the knife wounds. I could still feel the knife sliding through my skin cutting the muscles and tendons. Oh, how much the pain hurt! How much I just wish it would stop. Then I saw evil guys—grabbing, pulling, punching, and kicking—hands, touching and feeling. Pain-Pain-Pain! Max-Max-Max! Mercifully, the memory faded, and I was back in the here and now. Unfortunately, the here and now was not looking too much better. I watched Tru’s grandfather hold the dagger like it was something precious. Not like his grandson, I thought bitterly. Was Tru not precious?

  I started shaking my head, no-no-no! This was not happening. I had to stop this from happening. I had to move. I had to help Tru. I could not let the evil guys hurt him like they hurt me. I could not let Max get us. I took a shaky step forward, then another, and another. I almost collapsed to the ground from the panic in my chest and the voice in my head urging me to turn around and save myself. I shook my head, trying to clear all the selfish thoughts I was having. God, what a good girlfriend I was, already thinking of running away and saving myself. No, I would not be weak. I would not let Tru get hurt. I would not. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly out of my mouth, working up the courage to fight my way through this feeling—this helpless, cowardly feeling. Just when I thought I was ready to help him, ready to run toward Tru and help save him from his family, something stopped me.

  I opened my eyes and saw lightning strike down in front of Tru’s still body. I was stunned. What the heck was going on? I looked up and watched veins of lightning streaking across the sky, as the clouds rolled like tidal waves. I stilled myself, afraid to move. Whatever was going on was abnormal to say the least. I turned, ready to run for it. I couldn’t help it. I had to go. As though something knew I was going to make a run for it, something happened. I felt a great massive pressure hit my chest and then my breathing grew shallow. It was like being under water.

  Wind blew all around me, while the Indians danced, chanted their wonderful hypnotic song. I watched in disbelief as my hair lifted up off my shoulders and everyone else’s hair stayed the same calm way. It was as if I was the only one feeling the wind. I wasn’t the only one, though. Tru was feeling it, too. His hair was swirling and slashing around his face. He looked at me. Wonder filled his eyes, his yellow cat-like eyes. What the hell? Tru’s eyes were glowing like an animal’s eyes. Sharp-Yellow-Bright! His pupils started to slit in the middle, and glowed brighter. I shook my head as Tru’s grandfather held up a small metallic bowl and told Tru to drink it in his Cherokee tongue.

  Hello, how did I know that he was speaking in Cherokee? How did I understand? Now I was really, really freaking out. News flash: Like you didn’t know that I was freaking. What the crap was going on? And then Tru . . . oh, my God . . . he howled! No kidding. Tru freaking howled like a wolf. At least the sound was joyful and not menacing—like an animal ready to bite into someone—mainly me! I was now on the brink of no return thinking Avani was right. Her freaking family were wolves. And to prove my point, Tru got on all fours and started shifting. Oh hell! “Houston, we have a problem!” What was happening to Tru looked very painful.

  I could barely take it. My heart was pounding in my throat. I started to panic. I was hyperventilating now for sure. I collapsed to the ground gasping for air, but no one seemed to notice. Hello, collapsing girl on the ground. Help, please! But no, there was no help for me—and who could blame them—what with a freaking boy changing into a wolf in front of their eyes. Yeah, I would watch him, too. Hey, it’s not every day you see that kind of thing! Unfortunately that was not happening. I might not get the chance. I might black out or die before he completely changed. Oh, that would be wonderful! I watched on in fear as veins of lightning flashed down to the ground around Tru and me. This was crazy. Was I going to die and no one would know because they were caught up in this freaking ritual? Caught up in watching Tru change! Well, this was going to suck! I never pictured I would die like this. No, actually I thought I was going to die the night of the school dance. Not by someone’s family that I trusted, but life is just so not fair. I closed my eyes and prepared for the end. Darkness clouded my vision. Before everything went black I thought, dying isn’t so bad really, not when you die by someone you care for . . . even if he’s a fur-ball!

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  So you’re a Wolf

  I awoke in a strange narrow bed with fresh-smelling flowers around me. The cover I was lying on was bright yellow. Huh, I never thought heaven would look like this! Not like a home. I always pictured it white and shiny, with sparkly things. Yet this looked like an ordinary bedroom.

  “C, you’re awake. Thank God. How do you feel?” A very familiar voice asked.

  “Tru, is that you? Oh, God, where am I? Oh no, did you die, too?”

  “W—what . . . die? C, what in God’s name are you talking about? I’m not dead and as far as I know, you’re not either!”

  “I’m not? Are you sure about that?” Tru laughed. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest in a mocking manner. “Good,” I said relieved and a bit irrit
ated. I don’t like to be laughed at. Although, I couldn’t stay mad at Tru when he looked that cute and when I was saying ridiculous things.

  “Tru, I thought I was dead. Thank God I’m not.”

  “Yeah,” Tru rubbed the back of his neck. “That would suck, and what do you think your mom would say if she found out you died while you were with me?” Tru asked jokingly.

  “Oh,” I frowned playfully. “Is that the only reason it would suck?” I smiled. “Mom would’ve killed you.”

  He grimaced. I couldn’t help it. I had to laugh. I laughed so hard that tears fell from my eyes. It felt good to make Tru afraid. “Tru, what’s wrong?” I asked innocently. “Why do you look like someone told you that monsters under the bed are real?” I taunted. Yeah, I knew it was immature, but it was so fun doing it.

  “You’re not funny, C. You know that, right?”

  “I’m not,” I teasingly pouted putting my lower lip over my top lip giving him my puppy dog eyes. “I, for one, always considered myself a very funny person. Now I hear I’m not! Oh my. Good way to tramp my dreams of becoming a comedian.”

  “Hah, you’re cute, C. However, I don’t want to go around your mom thinking she could off me . . . Uh, like you know . . . whenever something bad might happen while you’re with me.”

  “What are you saying, Tru?” I faked mock horror. “That weird or bad stuff happens around you?” I teased.

  “No.” He shook his head vehemently. “That’s not what I’m saying.” He looked at me and sighed. “C, I don’t want to fight with you.”

  I frowned. “And I don’t want to fight with you either. It was just a joke.”

  “Well, all joking aside, I’m just glad you’re alright. I was afraid, not because of your mom. However, she is scary enough,” he grinned. “I thought something bad happened. I thought I lost you.”

  I looked at him. And I mean really looked at him. In that moment, I could see all the frightening thoughts that had gone through his head. I then realized without a shadow of a doubt that he truly thought I was lost to him. So what do you say to something like that? Instead of using words, I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled down at me looking a tad bemused. I smiled back and asked one of the questions that had been on my mind from the moment I awoke. “Tru, how long have I been out? Don’t get me wrong I love being with you, but if my mom and dad knows something’s going on or something bad is wrong with me . . . Then they would be here.”

  “Your parents don’t know.” I glared up at him. He spread his fingers out in mock surrender. “Yeah, see we were fixing to call them, but you’ve been out less than 30 minutes and one of are doctors said that you looked OK. He told us that you should wake up soon. So there was no point in calling in the parental units.”

  “Cool,” I replied shrugging. That was just fine with me. I definitely didn’t want my mom and dad to know what happened.

  “Cool?” Tru asked sounding a little suspicious and confused. Who could blame him?

  “Yeah, cool!” I added one more time. I then asked something else that was bugging me. “Uh, what happened out there?” I pointed my hand out toward the window. “It was crazy, scary and overwhelming . . . plus so much more. And that thing that was happening to you . . . um, what the hell was that?” Yeah, the wolf thing! I didn’t say that. I held that thought back. “Is that what you felt? Is that what normally happens in your ritual to you people?”

  He laughed. “You people?”

  I shrugged. “You know what I am talking about!”

  “Yeah, I do. Uh, I don’t know.”

  I raised my eyebrows at that. He frowned then added, “C, honestly, I didn’t know that it would be that way. If I did I promise I would not have brought you. After what happened to you those nights of—” Tru stopped and looked sheepishly.

  “Its fine, Tru. The dance is history and I am trying to move on from the whole Max encounters. Hey, I have high hopes that they will find him.” Yeah high hopes that they would find him before he found me, but Tru didn’t have to know that.

  “Yeah, I can see that.” He grinned. “Anyway, my grandfather told me no one should have felt any power but me. He was very surprised. He also would like to talk to you about what you felt. Just not today. You can talk to him later. Now to answer your question, what I felt was the most wonderful feeling ever. The power I felt in my veins was too amazing for words. I‘m just sorry it wasn’t as pleasant for you.”

  “Let me get this straight. What you’re telling me is that I was the first person besides the ones chosen for the ritual to feel anything at all?” Tru nodded. “And it felt good to you?” Tru nodded again, smiling a big smile. I wanted to smack him. Yeah, he liked it. Woo-hoo! But I didn’t. “Tru, it didn’t feel good to me. It was horrifying. I thought that this is it - this was the end of my life. If you felt what I felt, you might not have liked it at all.”

  “Yeah, sorry it freaked you out.” He stopped and rubbed his hand over his face then continued. “But, C, it was wonderful for me. Simply wonderful!” A smile played over his lips.

  What exactly did he feel? I felt like I was suffocating. It overwhelmed me. Like all the air was being sucked right out of my body.

  “I’m sorry. I guess it was kinda, uh, strange for you.”

  Oh, no he didn’t. Now I was t-totally ticked off! Was he not hearing a word out of my mouth? Did I say, oh by the way Tru it was kinda sorta strange that’s all. No, I didn’t. I threw my hands up in the air. I was a little aggravated. In a harsh, disbelieving tone I said, “Strange. Oh, hell, strange is so understating it, Tru. Tell me exactly how strange it was, because I have no clue.”

  “Calm down, C. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Calm . . . calm—I’m past that point, Tru. What I felt and what apparently you felt was so different. And then to top it off, you were cut by a knife. Do you know what that did to me? Plus you turning—” I abruptly shut up.

  Tru looked away. I kinda felt bad, but I still finished. “Yeah, I guess you can say it was very strange.” I rolled my eyes, hugging myself for some comfort. I was feeling alone, angry, and just plain tired. I was ready to go home.

  “C, I’m sorry.”

  I looked into Tru’s beautiful eyes and started to feel guilty. I was being so unfair and overly dramatic, too. Yeah, sure I saw the evil guys again, but still Tru brought me here to witness—what exactly—I didn’t know . . . him becoming a wolf—anyhow this was supposed to be wonderful, amazingly wonderful for him, and now all I seem to be doing was bringing him down.

  I Looked into Tru’s eyes and thought about how they looked so different earlier. How his eyes took on an eerie yellow glow. And then he howled. Freaking howled. And started getting hairy! OK, let’s not go there. It was strange seeing his eyes with slit pupils and that hair and his howl. Ugh! Tru was a wolf. I didn’t know how I’d feel with a fur-ball for a boyfriend, but I would have to learn to like it or he might eat me and not in the good way. Plus what if we kiss, would he start changing . . . and would I get a mouthful of hair? And would he only change on the full moon? How did this work? I’d have to ask him. I took in a deep breath, calming myself and getting back on topic and off of my wolf thoughts.

  I said, “Look, I’m calm now . . . see!” I pointed at my face and smiled a brilliant come- hither smile.

  “Well, like I said, C. I’m truly sorry and wished you hadn’t gone through that.”

  “Darn. Tru, my smile didn’t faze you. I must be losing my touch.”

  “No, your smile is perfect. You’re perfect. I just feel awful about everything, that’s all. It’s no reflection on that gorgeous smile,” Tru grinned. I grinned back, then the edges of his grin faded leaving uncertainty.

  I looked up at him and said, “Its fine, Tru.”

  “No, it’s not, C. It hurt you. I feel extremely bad about that. I never want anything to hurt you. And I didn’t want you to relive those nights.”

  “I know you didn’t, Tru. Although, it did hurt like
hell, but I lived.” I chuckled.

  Tru frowned and pulled me in for a hug. “Your life is precious. Please don’t joke.”

  “Sorry. Tru, I’ll try not to joke.”

  “Good,” he said and looked at me intently. “Now to lighten the air around us, what did you want to tell me before all this happened?”

  “I will but first answer one question, and don’t think I’m crazy.”

  “OK, C, what is it?”

  “Uh, err, umm.” I sighed, “Are you now a wolf?”

  Tru’s eyes went wide, he choked and sputtered. “If I say yes . . . what will happen between us?”

  “So you’re a wolf?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “No, but you implied it.”

  “Uh, my mom told me she told you the legend about Isha.”

  “Yeah, what of it?”

  “Well, she will never be a wolf. None of the females in our tribe will be. So when she told you the story, my mom thought that was all it was, just a story. She didn’t know the truth. None of the women know the truth. Only the men are burdened with the knowledge until the night of the changing.”

  “But your mom and the other Indian women where there, and I saw you start to change so I know your mom had to see as well.”

  Tru rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, um the thing is . . . no one other than the warriors and chosen’s should have seen the change, unless we show them.”

  “So what you’re saying is that I wasn’t supposed to see that, but somehow I did. But your mom, plus the other women in your tribe are in the dark?” He nodded. “OK, so all the women just go about oblivious, while you guys hide the truth?” He nodded again. “Well, that’s kinda shitty!” Tru frowned. “However, I get it. You hide the truth to protect them from the evil Traveler . . . but hello, Tru . . . your mom knows the story. She just doesn’t believe it. I think you guys should give them a little credit and fill them in on the whole wolf is real thing.”