Moondust

by J. L. Weil

  The cat was out of the bag.

  There was no stopping them now.

  I dropped my head into my hands, my cheeks staining red. “It’s no big deal.”

  Tori’s eyes fell. “That bad huh? The first time is never as glamorous as you imagine.”

  “No. That’s not what I meant,” I quickly rushed. “It was…” I struggled for the appropriate word. No matter what I said, Tori and Austin were going to gush. “…life changing,” I finally decided.

  Austin smile was nauseating. “Gavin’s got game,” he chimed.

  I rolled my eyes. “You have no idea.”

  “We would if you don’t hold out on us,” Tori said, scooting to the edge of her seat.

  Austin adjusted his glasses, swiping an invisible tear from the corner of his eye. “Our babygirl is all grown up.”

  I slid farther down in my seat, begging for Mr. Carlson to start class and shut these two up. “Can we do this later?” I begged through my teeth, lowering my voice.

  “Lunch,” they both said in perfect unison.

  I nodded, agreeing to anything if it got them off the subject of my sex life.

  Holy smokes. I have a sex life.

  Still, I didn’t want the details headlined in the school newspaper, which was exactly what would happen if Tori and Austin had their way. Decorum was not in their vocab. Today was the first time I did not wish to speed up time, so of course the day flew by.

  Twirling a fry between my fingers, I sat at our usual round table sandwiched between Tori and Austin. “You don’t really expect me to answer that?” I said in outrage.

  Two pairs of expected eyes stared at me.

  I guess that was a yes.

  “I don’t know who wrote the best friend code book, but this is nuts.”

  “Just spill, Rafferty. There is nothing to be embarrassed about,” Tori scoffed.

  “Did you, you know…” Austin wiggled his brows.

  Good Lord. Had I ever. I didn’t think it wise to tell them that I shot lightning across the sky and sent the room aglow in magic, however much that was precisely what they wanted to hear. I stared down at my burger and fries.

  “OMG. She did,” Austin supplied for me, seeing my face start to turn pink.

  I swear I’ve never flushed so much in my life as I have the last twenty-four hours. It was disconcerting.

  “I knew that boy had swag.” There was an envious quality to his voice.

  I am sure Gavin would be glad to hear it. “Are you satisfied? The freaky deaky details of my sex life are over.”

  A shadow fell over me. “Gross. I am going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Sophie said, her pixie face contorted in pucker face. Her tray clattered on top of the table filled with a chicken Caesar salad and bottled water.

  Her lunch immediately made me feel guilty, and I dropped the greasy fry that was halfway to my mouth. I rocked back in my chair. Then I remembered what I had just admitted.

  Awkward times infinity.

  Sneakers squeaked over the tiled floor, and the common room reeked of sweat, smoke, and burnt pizza—the joys of high school cafeteria.

  And through the masses one person stood out. He couldn’t help it, or maybe it was because I was hyperaware of his presence. The tattoo at my back began to hum in rhythm with the blood in my veins.

  Gavin.

  “Speak of the devil.”

  I threw a fry at Austin.

  Gavin swept down, brushing a kiss across me cheek. “We’ve got work to do after school,” he murmured. The way he said it made it seem like work was code for something dirty.

  “Oooh,” came from Austin, totally misreading, but I couldn’t help think that was exactly what Gavin had intended. “I just bet you do,” Austin added, watching Gavin saunter away.

  I did a little eye-googling of my own.

  ***

  Training day.

  Someone shoot me now.

  It was a perfect day for a little magic, if one actually knew what they were doing. Oh, I was getting better…at striking things with lightning. My weathercasting was unpredictable as always and fueled by my volatile emotions.

  Blue skies. A balmy breeze. The crashing of sea-foam waters. And a really hot instructor.

  Gavin’s backyard butted up to the beach, and he thought that would be a good spot to resume my magical defense skills, which were sorely lacking. I really hoped that I didn’t kill anyone. More than a little tense, I walked down to the shore. Barefoot, sand granules squished between my toes; getting wetter the closer I got to the receding waters edge. A peace I only ever felt on the beach swirled through me.

  For just a moment I closed my eyes and breathed in the sharp smell of the ocean and listened to the intangible roar of waves.

  “You look like an illusion,” Gavin said, his voice rising just above the tides. “There is something here that calls to you. I can feel it shimmering in the air. Your gift responds naturally to the water. It’s beautiful.”

  I was caught by the intensity in his eyes. “I feel it too.”

  His lips twisted into a smirk. “Are you ready to kick some ass?”

  I dug my foot into the sand. “You are braver than most to spar with me.”

  Eyes trained on me, he crocked his finger. “I trust you. It is time you did too.”

  Trust had to be earned, and I needed to earn my own before I felt confident. I gave a slight tilt of my head and center myself. It came instantaneously, the flood of energy and surprised me. Usually it took more effort. This had been seamless.

  Gavin noticed and arched a brow.

  A violet light hurled from my fingers, spinning in dizzying colors at a grinning Gavin. With a flick of his wrist, he deflected the spell, sending it back toward me. I wasn’t so savvy on the return, and the shimmery light hit me in the chest. On impact I fell backward, my butt thumping in the sand. It hadn’t been a very dangerous conjuration, more of a stun gun.

  I blew out a breath and shoved to my feet, brushing the sandy partials off my jeans. Seeing the curl of amusement on Gavin’s lips sparked my annoyance. I bit the inside of my cheek, concentrating and threw my second spell. Shards of magic glittered, slicing through the air like jagged daggers. I gasped, not meaning to unleash such a lethal spell. He spun around, his arm cutting through the charm. I watched in awe as the magical spears dissolved, raining in sparkling ash to the ground.

  Show off.

  I turned away to hide my burning face. “This is so stupid,” I barked.

  His shadow appeared over me. “And you have the patience of a two-year-old.”

  I scowled and kicked water at him. “I suck at magic.”

  He kicked some right back, laughing. “On the contrary. You are extraordinary, just not at fighting.” A few minutes later, we were both soaking wet and grinning. He had taken the edge off.

  I tried to ring the water out of my hair. “Again?” I asked, glancing up. Glistening droplets clung to his lashes, making his eyes incredibly blue. I swear I could see the ocean in them. My irritation dissipated, and my belly fluttered with fireflies.

  His lips curled faintly. “Bring it.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I would think you are enjoying this.”

  He shook the water from his hair, looking wickedly handsome. “I am.”

  I flung up my arms and ran my tongue over my lips. The other spells I had just relied on the energy inside me. This time, I extended my power to the elements around me. The winds whispered in my ear and the lapping waters answered my call. A miniature tsunami erupted in the waters behind him. Magic danced over the sea. With each roll of the waves, they climbed higher, thundering toward us.

  “Bri!” he yelled, stepping backward, eyes centered on the towering wall of water. “Bri! Stop!”

  Chapter 14

  It was wrong to play with his arrogance, but this time I actually knew what I was doing. My purple irises illuminated, and just as the massive wave reached the shoreline, threatening to sweep us both away, I t
hrew my arms out to my sides. My head fell back.

  I laughed as water sloshed around us, but never touching us. Contained, I kept the formidable surf from reaching past where we stood and sent it back into the ocean with rocky force. A light mist tickled my face. In all honesty, I really had not a clue how I had done the spell. There was nothing technical about it, but just born from feelings.

  Once the water show quieted down, Gavin eyed me. “How did you do that?”

  I shrugged, feeling exposed. “It’s weather related. I don’t have to think about it so hard and the elements response to my emotions. Watch.” The soft breeze from the ocean swirled around me, picking up pieces of my hair. Smiling, I used the warm gust as a hand, stroking the side of his cheek.

  He blinked, startled. “You never fail to surprise me.”

  I caught my reflection in the water and gasped.

  Oh God, I look like the Swamp Thing.

  He gave me an appraising look. “I think we should call it quits for the day.”

  “Gladly,” I agreed, thinking I needed a brush and a bottle of leave-in conditioner pronto. “As long as I don’t have to hurt you anymore.”

  He snorted. “You can’t hurt steel.”

  That was an invitation I couldn’t refuse. “Oh really.” A bolt of lightning sliced through the air, hitting the sand a fraction from his bare feet.

  He gave me a wicked grin. “See, that’s what I am talking about.”

  I laughed. This hadn’t turned out to be such a catastrophe after all.

  ***

  School dragged. The teachers all spoke Greek, and my mind was anything but focused. It was Friday, and I was ready to get my weekend on.

  It had been too long since I had a night out with friends. After the recent attacks on my life, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but when Gavin insisted and with Sophie tagging along, I relented. We all deserved some girl time, Austin included. He would take not offense in calling it such.

  “Vampires, werewolves, and witches. Sounds like a concoction for a blockbuster,” Austin said, staring at the promotion for the paranormal movie premier.

  We were standing in line at the ticket booth of Wilmington theatres. It was one of those posh movie screens with leather recliners, pillows, blankets, and free popcorn. Great except the price of admission was a night’s shift at Mystic Floral. But I figured my friends were worth the splurge.

  “Why does Tori always pick the films?” I grumbled, eyeing the pale, extremely jaw-dropping vampire with his teeth sunk erotically into some lucky bitch’s neck on the poster.

  Sophie raised her slender brows. “This should be interesting,” she murmured.

  I knew what she meant. We were living paranormal. A ghost of a smile touched my strawberry glossed lips. “It always is.”

  “What or who are we gossiping about?” Austin asked, squeezing beside me and draping an arm over my shoulder.

  “You,” I replied, poking him in the chest.

  “Hmm. My favorite topic.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Austin and I walked through the doors behind Tori and Sophie who were scoping a guy who had apparently caught their eye in two-seconds flat. Boy-crazed Tori couldn’t go anywhere without checking out the goods.

  “And she’s off,” Austin whispered in my ear, causing me to laugh a little too loud.

  I covered my hand over my mouth.

  “I’ll get the extra buttery popcorn and you save us some seats?” Austin suggested.

  Still smiling I nodded, snagging Sophie along the way.

  “It’s nice to see your aura so sunny,” she commented. “Your friends make you happy and carefree.”

  That they did.

  “But you still worry about them,” she added.

  “I can’t help it. With everything that has happened lately, I don’t want them to get hurt because of what I am.”

  She smiled and it lit up her pixie eyes in the dim theatre. “It’s a good thing you have me. And my overprotective brother, I guess.”

  “I’m really lucky to have you both. I think your family is the only witches not hunting me.” We climbed the stairs to the very top row, our preferred seating. The theatre was pretty much empty. “How come you aren’t trying to make magical mincemeat out of me? Not that I am ungrateful, I’m curious.”

  “Are you planning on sucking me dry?”

  I was horrorstruck. “No,” I quickly replied.

  Sitting in a seat smack dab in the middle of the row, she wrinkled her nose cutely. “I was only teasing. We were raised not to judge a witch based on gifts or power, but on the pureness of their light. Plus Gavin loves you.”

  I exhaled. If only love was enough. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  “I see your aura and not once has there been anything that has given me alarm. I don’t care what other say about the powers you possess, I know you wouldn’t cause harm on purpose, but when pushed comes to shove, who wouldn’t defend themselves the only way they know how and protect the people they love?”

  I propped my feet up on the empty seat in front of me. “Thanks, Sophie. I don’t know what I would do without you guys.” Go out of my mind crazy.

  Austin and Tori stumbled their way through the dark, arms loaded with junk food. Just as soon as they planted their butts, the theatre went black and the red curtains drew back. During the movie there was some thrown popcorn, (which got stuck in my hair) uncontrollable snickering, (my gut hurt) and really bad acting, but it was the best time.

  Because we had arrived fashionably late as Tori declared, we had to walk a few blocks to get to where we had parked the car. You think I could have gone down a few streets at night without bringing out the freaks.

  Wrong.

  Tingles crept up my spine, and my skin prickled with coldness.

  We weren’t alone.

  Laugher exploded behind me, the haunting kind. I jumped.

  “Just keep walking,” Sophie muttered under her breath, looping her arm through mine.

  Easier said than done. My fight-or-flight response had kicked in. And flight was winning marginally. She was more or less dragged me down the road as I fought the urge to peak behind me.

  This wasn’t happening. Not now. Not with my friends. They could get hurt and I would never forgive myself.

  It took Tori and Austin a few steps to sense Sophie and my uneasiness. They had busy arguing about which werewolf had been smexier. Austin snuck a glance over his shoulder. “Oh. My. God. They are going to mug us,” he hissed.

  Tori chewed on her lip, securing her Michael Kors bag closer.

  I jabbed him in the side. “They don’t want our money, dinglebat,” I quietly snapped. I needed to think, and I couldn’t do that if my friends were spazzing out.

  Austin’s manicured brows slammed together. “And what makes you so sure?” he whispered.

  He might just find out. Dammit.

  “Walk faster,” Tori barked, speeding up to a power walk.

  The clomping of feet hitting the pavement increased behind us, and so did my heart rate. “Shit,” I muttered, turning the corner and coming face to face with a witch, blocking our only escape.

  Sophie and I shared a look of oh-shit-this-isn’t-really-happening.

  My worry spiked. I was going to vomit chucks of popcorn and gooey raisinettes. It wouldn’t be pretty.

  The four of us stood back to back. There were three of them. Under normal circumstances, we might have been able to hold our own, but the humming in my blood and the warmth radiating from my tattoo pointed that these guys were witches.

  I knew what I had to do, but it didn’t make my decision any easier. After this there was no going back, no backspace to erase my exposure to the two people who meant so much to me, but I was left with no other choice.

  Three against two wasn’t exactly fair odds. I was a novice, so I didn’t even think I counted as a full witch. Tori and Austin, they were about to get the shock of the decade, and I wanted them out of
the crossfires.

  “It must be our lucky night,” a young woman, maybe in early twenties with bright pink hair sneered, breaking the silence. Her eyes were trained on me, flanked by two very scary dudes.

  Not very reassuring.

  In a bold moved, I stepped forward in front of my friends. “Do you have any idea who I am?” Stupidly, I thought maybe I could scare them off, threatening them with my magic vacuum powers.

  It didn’t work.

  The girl with the power puff hair laughed. “Why do you think we’re here, bitch?”

  Oh. This one had it coming.

  Anger ricocheted inside me. “Good. Then you know what I am capable of.”

  She gave me the stink eye. “That’s why I brought backup.”

  Her two muscles closed in. One was bald with crazy shimmery marks on the side of his glossy head. Enchantments like the tattoo on my back. The other looked like a shaggy dog with a mean snarl—both looked daunting.

  I slanted my head. “This is your last chance to leave here intact. I suggest you take, for I won’t offer a second time.”

  Austin grabbed my arm. “B, are you crazy? What are you doing?”

  “I’ve second that,” Tori agreed. “Let’s just give them whatever they want.” There was fear quivering in her voice.

  “They want me.” I shook Austin’s off hand and glanced over my shoulder at them. “No matter what happens…stay behind me—stay close,” I growled to Austin and Tori. Their eyes widened, and I knew that mine had begun to illuminate.

  Obliviously reasoning with these witches wasn’t going to work—I don’t know why I even bothered. It was time to brew up a nice pot of kick-ass.

  Sophie was at my side. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Probably not,” I muttered.

  The leader of the pack cast the first strike. Sophie reached out like she was catching a ball and closed her fist around the neon pink light. When she opened her fingers, it was empty. “Nice try,” Sophie said like a bad ass.

  Poo hit the fan. Sparks started to fly.

  Unison gasps of “holy shit” came from Tori and Austin as they got their first glimpse of magic. I couldn’t believe this was happening, but I didn’t have time to dwell on their reactions, not when psycho in pink had her claws out.