Runes and Roller Skates

by Amanda A. Allen

  “But how will they know where to go?”

  “They’re not stupid,” Scarlett replied. “They know about the path and the awake trees too.”

  “Plus they can smoke us at druid-craft,” Harper said. “Let’s get going or my Gram is going to die chewing out a criminal.”

  “You’re younger and stronger,” Lex said as he finally joined his power in. It was spicy and strong, but Gus was leading, so they didn’t get a full sense of him.

  “That’s not how druids work,” Harper said.

  “I don’t understand,” Lex said, frowning.

  But Gus said, “We don’t have time. Scarlett and Harper know their kind. Just believe them. You want to see a powerful druid, find an old one.”

  Gus and Lex stared at each other and while they did, Scarlett opened her senses again, specifically looking for the trees who had interacted with Bridget. They were settling into quiet, but they wouldn’t be what they were before. The days of this path of trees being dumb trees without awareness or magic were over. Scarlett shook her head and reminded herself again that the druids would need to take over caring for this path of trees.

  What was that? Scarlett's gaze focused right into the trees, but it wasn’t before her physical eyes. It was the knowing. Oh goodness, she thought. Harper caught the direction of Scarlett’s attention and the still, quiet, so easy to miss, feeling was there.

  “That way,” Harper said.

  “Are you kidding me?” Lex asked, but Gus’s more powerful hunting sense followed the knowing of the druids, and his fangs dropped farther. He took Scarlett’s hand who grabbed Harper and who then grabbed Lex’s and the vampire speed ran through their connection. Using Gus’s speed and druidic knowing, they followed the path that Bridget had gone on so often the trees had responded to her fear, her emotions, her riotous, untrained abilities.

  “It’s Gram,” Harper said. “She’s in danger.”

  “I’m…I feel warlock power.” Lex said. He frowned and Scarlett realized that he was only feeling it because of their combined abilities.

  “SEE,” she said, placing her hand on his roughly handsome face full of bluntness and angles that came out to something that was manly before beautiful yet somehow managed to be both. It was an order and an opening of his senses to hers, so that he could feel what she felt, and see what she saw. So he could experience the knowing. The knowing was a soft power, and it required practice to recognize and use the ability. A lot of times the knowing was the softest of whisperings and was far too easily missed.

  Even still, when Lex felt what Scarlett showed him through her own experience and ability, the path seemed to unfold before them. It was full druidic style because they were seeing with magic. It was full of darkness and unfounded awareness. A near-red line of energy that came from Lex and Harper’s abilities to sense energies rolled out before them while Gus’s awareness—his predator’s hunting abilities had them noticing things none of the rest of them would notice. The sounds. The way the birds were singing down here but farther away were quieting. The way there was a heaviness to the air that came from intense emotion.

  And they were off. The four of them near flying down the path, hunting and tracking. Following the druid magic and veering through the bird reserve a few thousand feet beyond the place where Scarlett had left her car as she tracked Bridget the first time. Now that they were retracing the steps, they were able to see a path that perhaps only Bridget and animals had traveled. As a group, they wove into trees that bordered the edge of the reserve, over a fence—that had been cut to make the traveling easier, and into the back of a property that should have been obvious. It was the old, abandoned Day dealership.

  * * * * *

  It was dark behind the dealership with wide swathes of cement pads that had been abandoned for a location closer to town and off the main highway. The electricity was turned on again, which Scarlett felt for sure she should have noticed, but she was distracted by the red and yellow blobs in her vision.

  “Is that what you see when you hunt?” Lex asked Gus.

  “I don’t hunt,” Gus replied calmly. “But if I were to hunt, yes…this is what I would see.”

  “That’s kind of creepy,” Harper replied.

  “Are those people?” Scarlett said. She’d been focused on the knowing and the certainty that they needed to be very careful.

  She had to take a moment to remind herself that she was a mother first, and if there was anything she’d be doing today, it was going home to her babies

  “This seems to be the place,” Lex said. “I’d tell you to stay here while I call for backup, but…”

  “You don’t have backup,” Harper said. “Ya fool. Hire someone.”

  “I’ve only been on the job for a few weeks,” Lex said, and Scarlett caught that reference. He had been in town for that long? Had he shown up at the party because he knew she’d be less likely to tell him off right before the party? Given his arrogance and confidence, she thought that could easily be the case. Her eyes narrowed, but it didn’t matter right then.

  The moment she focused again, she heard Harper say, “That has to be Gram, Henna, Jueavas, and Throdmore.”

  Scarlett turned her gaze to where Harper was pointing and saw four figures creeping along the side of the building. It was like watching elderly elephants try to be sneaky.

  “Oh goodness,” Scarlett said.

  “We better hurry,” Harper said.

  “Good…” Lex choked and then let out a string of curses.

  Their link broke as they followed not Lex, but Gus down the hill that led out of the trees. Lex and Gus veered away from Gram and her friends but towards the warmth signatures that led to whoever was working in the old showroom.

  Scarlett and Harper glanced at each other and then ran towards their grandmother.

  “It’s got to be him,” Mr. Jueavas was saying. “It’s just got to be.”

  “You don’t know that José,” Mr. Throdmore said.

  “Who else is it gonna be? Here? In this town? With Jimmy Day? It’s Santiago.”

  “We’ll find out,” Gram said. “And we’ll deal with it.”

  “This is all my fault. I should have been a better grandfather. I should have paid more attention. If Anita hadn’t…if she had….”

  “Anita’s choices are not yours, José. Please don’t do this to yourself,” Gram said.

  “Do what?” Harper asked.

  Gram and her friends jumped. then Gram snagged Mr. Throdmore’s cane to hit at Harper. She caught it and pulled it away, handing it back to Mr. Throdmore as she said, “What have you been up to Gram?”

  “Who is Santiago?” Scarlett asked, glancing between them. Henna examined her feet while Mr. Throdmore looked into the distance. Mr. Jueavas flushed, but his lips were snapped tight. It was Gram who infuriated Scarlett. She simply looked at her nails and shrugged.

  “You know we’re gonna find out,” Harper said without bothering to hide her irritation.

  There was a huge blast from inside the building and glass went flying outwards. They spun as one towards the large bank of windows that had showered them and the parking lot.

  “Lex!” Harper shouted as Scarlett cried, “Gus!”

  Chapter 13

  Scarlett paused long enough to glance at her grandmother to ensure she was all right. Gram had fallen, but she was cursing and pushing at the cement to get her feet on the ground. Henna was kneeling next to Mr. Throdmore.

  Scarlett met Henna’s gaze, and Henna mouthed, “Go.”

  Scarlett turned and darted towards the blast and tripped over a body.

  “No, no, no, no,” she cried, but she couldn’t hear herself speak. It didn't matter. She was too afraid of who that figure might be. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look, and...found Jimmy Day laying in a bed of glass.

  Her relief was empowering. She sighed and stood, pausing long enough to ensure he was alive and didn’t need immediate help and then hurried on. Her ears we
re ringing, and she’d lost the link to her magic. It took until the ringing started to realize she’d lost her hearing. Smoke was pouring through the building making her eyes water.

  But it didn’t matter. Her friends were in there. Her friends could be hurt like Jimmy was. She cared far, far more about them than that corrupt old man.

  “Gus,” Scarlett cried and then coughed in the deep inhalation of smoke.

  “Shut up,” Harper hissed, sound finally breaking through the ringing in her ears. “If it wasn’t the boys who set that off, you’re calling the bad guys to us.”

  “Indeed,” a deep, smooth as caramel voice said.

  Scarlett paused and turned. The cultured voice didn’t matter when there was that level of threat in it. She grabbed Harper’s wrist. He was holding a black gun on them. She’d have never known what kind it was, but she recognized the runes etched into it. They were warlock runes, and they gave that man far more power over his weapon than the best marksman on the planet.

  She took a deep breath and focused on the earth, tangling her fingers and her magic with Harper.

  “Shiza,” Harper muttered, missing the chance to curse the one time Scarlett wouldn’t scold her.

  “So the druids found their little-lost lamb too late?” There was humor in that voice and the melted chocolate gaze that Scarlett had seen her entire life.

  “Santiago, I assume,” she said.

  “I’m afraid you have the better of me,” Santiago replied.

  “You have your grandfather’s eyes,” Scarlett replied. And his broad nose, and his chin and—perhaps—his smile. Though Scarlett couldn’t, of course, confirm.

  “It is unfortunate for you that you put your nose where it doesn't belong,” Santiago said, his gaze narrowing on her. There was fury in that gaze. “It’s time to help you experience the circle of life. Every druids final journey.”

  He straightened and his gun pressed forward. Scarlett and Harper drew in more energy just as there was another crash from behind them.

  “Hold,” Lex shouted. Santiago turned and found Lex standing with his own gun pointing directly at him.

  “Santiago, I raised you better than this,” Mr. Jueavas said. “What could you be doing here? You didn’t…you didn’t…” He pressed his lips together and then finally said, “You couldn’t have hurt that little girl.”

  “Whyever would you say that?” Santiago turned so that he could keep Lex in his line of sight.

  “She was a child,” Mr. Jueavas said.

  “It’s not your fault, José,” Gram said softly.

  “Who’s this? Your new whore?”

  “Oh no he didn’t,” Harper whispered.

  Gram’s head cocked and she simply walked forward. She had dirt on her cheeks and her new pink and gray color weave was coated in dust. Her moss-green eyes had faded with age but were sharp as daggers. As she passed, she placed a hand on Scarlett and took over the link between them. Gram had linked with Henna before she’d even come into the building and the four druids faced off with the warlock.

  He, however, had no idea. Gram stopped directly in front of him and slapped him in the chest and the face. He shook his head before he grabbed her and held the gun to her temple.

  “Santiago, no! Please.” Mr. Jueavas’s had his eyes fixed on Gram.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Jueavas,” Harper said. “Gram will be ok.”

  Santiago laughed, and it was a cruel laugh. “Do you think so, little druid? Do you know who I am?”

  Harper made a pondering face and then said, “I’d go with second rate, loser warlock who thinks he’s big time because he altered a gun and makes drugs.”

  Santiago stiffened and Scarlett added, “A constant burden to your grandparents who can’t and won’t ever stop loving you. Or ever stop thinking ‘what if I had just done something more, would he still be a no-good criminal?’ Even though they’d done all they could.”

  “A loser,” Harper said. “Who took every chance to follow the easiest path.”

  “I will kill your grandmother.”

  A small vine had crept out from where Gram had slapped his chest and Scarlett made a face before she said, “I seriously doubt that.”

  “Ladies,” Gus said. “Think.”

  He was holding onto the ceiling and his gaze was fixed on the vine which was making its way up Santiago’s chest and around his side. The warlock hadn’t noticed it yet, but Gus’s eyes were wide with horror.

  “Gram has control,” Scarlett told Gus. She’d have been far more concerned if she thought for one second that Gram would kill Mr. Jueavas’s grandchild in front of him.

  The vine was unfurling leaves and still Santiago hadn’t noticed. The blind fool.

  “I,” he shouted, “have the gun. Put yours down.” His gaze was directed at Lex who had realized what was happening. His lovely eyes were wide in horror as the vine circled Santiago’s neck.

  “She must have used a charm,” Harper said casually. She sniffed and flipped her hair, but she didn’t let go of Scarlett’s hand.

  “I have a gun on your grandmother,” Santiago shouted at Harper.

  “I can see that,” Harper said. Her gaze was not fixed on the vine like the others. She looked him right in the eyes and said, “This is what comes from being evil.”

  “You have no idea what it was like. My mom abandoned me on my grandparents. She just left me.”

  Scarlett’s fingers squeezed Harper’s. She knew, all too well, exactly what that was like. She’d been left behind on a park bench. Her mom had gone for drugs, and she never came back. She had been tossed from foster home to foster home never knowing what she was until Maye heard about the druid child in foster care and went for her.

  “I’m still a fan of the fire method,” Harper said conversationally and the vine clutched tight.

  Santiago screamed. In a rush of power, it matured wrapped around his body and squeezed tight. He squeezed the trigger on his gun, but it malfunctioned, and then he toppled.

  “Oh my goodness,” Scarlett said. She turned to Harper and grabbed her close. “You are fantastic.”

  “I am, aren’t I?”

  Gus dropped from the ceiling and told Gram, “Don’t kill him.”

  “I’m just teaching these boys about flower witches.” Her attention was on Lex.

  He gave her a single nod and then said, “If you kill him, I’ll have to arrest you.”

  * * * * *

  Lex had been forced to call the meter-maid to bring his cop car to the old Day Dealership, and by the time he had, he’d found and bound 4 warlocks. Included were 3 strangers and Santiago Jueavas. He had lived through what Gram had done. She wasn’t fighting very hard. The other three weren’t from Mystic Cove. One was in handcuffs. The other three were bound with vines that Henna had grown around their wrists.

  “Let’s go,” Lex said. Lex took 3 of the warlocks to the station. Gram, Mr. Jueavas, and Gus went with Santiago to the hospital. There wouldn’t be any getting away because he wasn’t properly watched.

  The fire engines had come, but it turned out that druids were pretty good at keeping a fire from spreading. By the time the fire trucks had arrived—there was no saving the old building.

  “That means no one except Santiago has any idea Bridget got away with cash,” Harper told Scarlett.

  “What should we do about that?” Scarlett asked. She could not wait for a shower. No, a bath. With bubbles. Followed by a shower. She hadn’t slept well since Bridget had died, but Scarlett was sure that knowing Maeve was safe would give her the peace of mind, she needed.

  “Nothing,” Harper said. “She can have it.”

  “I wonder how much it is.”

  “Not enough,” Harper said. Scarlett nodded. That was far too true.

  Chapter 14

  The steak was placed in front of Scarlett with grill marks and a fine sear. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She hadn’t had a steak in so very long.

  “We lived,” she told Gus.
She smiled and wished that what had once been thoughtless hadn’t become so very hard. His face was all angles and shadows and for once she couldn’t read his gaze. His black eyes were fixated on her face.

  “We did,” he agreed. “Maeve is settling in nicely.”

  “Ella’s doing better,” Scarlett said. She pushed back her hair. It was on her neck and around her face—she missed her mom-bun instead of the irritating curled lanks. She wished that they could just be eating pizza in her living room while they watched a cheesy horror movie, but instead—they were here. With the eyes of their neighbors on them. With Diner Abe across the room on a date with a girl from the witch coven. With Ella’s grade school teacher out for date night with her husband. With Henna’s daughter and son-in-law enjoying a quiet meal without any of their seven daughters. Scarlett felt like every set of eyes was watching their every move, even though she knew they weren’t really watching.

  But, then again, she was also sure that each and every person here who knew them had taken note.

  Gus cleared his throat and shifted before he said, “I knew she would be. With your family how could she not be?”

  Scarlett shrugged uncomfortable with the idea that they were somehow a superior family. They weren’t. Thankfully, the waiter approached with wine and lit the candle on their table. Scarlett took a deep breath and wondered why it was so hard to know what to do with her hands. She grabbed her wine glass the moment it was full just to do something with her fingers. Even with food in front of her—she felt awkward.

  “Elle, Lune, and I went skating today,” Scarlett said. “The weather has been so nice.”

  And then she heard what she’d said and she started giggling. She laughed until it hurt and Gus laughed with her because he got the joke as soon as it had occurred to her, it had occurred to him. Weather. They had started talking about the weather.

  “This is weird,” Scarlett said finally. She felt bad about saying it but what she didn’t expect was Gus to agree.

  “It is. I thought…”