The Emerald Key

by Vicky Burkholder

  “How would they know to come here?” Cass asked.

  “I knew about the cabin,” Greg said. “Dori told me after we got married.”

  “And we told the others this morning,” Phoebe said. “Granny Alma told us to.”

  “So there’s still a chance for them to show up here,” Cass said. “We’ll just keep hoping.”

  Nic didn’t know how to help the women. He opened cupboard doors and started cooking, more to keep his hands busy than anything. He mixed and measured, and put his creation in the oven. A few minutes later, five noses were raised, sniffing the fragrant air. Nic attempted to ignore them as he fixed a tray with mugs of hot tea.

  “Do I smell cinnamon?” Phoebe asked.

  “Thirty minutes,” Nic said.

  “He bakes? Tell me he looks like that, fights like a berserker, and bakes!”

  Cass joined Nic in the kitchen area and hugged him. “And he’s all mine.”

  They all jumped as alarms went off in the bedroom. “Greg!” Nic tossed the rifle at Greg, then headed for the bedroom. On his way past the pictures, he saw something move. He knew it this time. But he couldn’t stop to look.

  The cameras showed two figures stumbling through the woods, but the snow fell too thickly to make out their features. Cass joined Nic at the monitors. “What do we have?”

  “Two. I can’t see who. Odd they’re staying together like that. I’m going out for a closer look.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “Cass—”

  “Don’t bother. I’m going either with you or after you. Your choice.”

  “Fine. Come on. They’ve stopped on the other side of that big deadfall about a hundred feet in from the lane.”

  They donned coats and boots, and Nic let the others know what they’d seen. He handed the shotgun to Cass. “Stay close. Don’t talk.”

  Cass followed Nic out, the cold taking her breath. The snow fell heavily, all but obscuring the barn and narrowing visibility to a few yards. Under the trees, they moved easier, but the silence that only came with snow permeated the woods. They crept forward until they could hear the men talking.

  “I know she’s here someplace. I can feel her.”

  “I can’t go much more. Too cold.”

  * * * *

  Cass chewed her lip. Ignoring Nic’s frantic gestures to stay put, she sneaked forward until only a thin screen of hemlock branches separated her from the men. Another step landed her on a hidden hole and she pitched forward. One of the men jumped up, facing her with gun drawn.

  Nic grabbed Cass and swung her behind him, his own gun pointed at the men.

  “Nic! Stop! Don’t do anything.” Cass grabbed his gun arm and yanked down.

  “Cass?” The one with the gun lowered his arm as he stared at her.

  “Alex, Ryan, it’s okay. Nic, relax. These are the guys with Phoebe and Kyrie.”

  Nic lowered his gun as he took in the two. They had multiple cuts and bruises. The one with the gun had his left arm tied across his chest. The one on the ground had his hand wrapped in a bloody makeshift bandage and another wrapped around his leg. Neither wore coats or other protection from the weather.

  “Phoebe? She’s okay?” the one on the ground asked.

  “She’s here,” Cass said. “Safe.”

  He chuckled, which ended in a cough. “Might have known they couldn’t keep Phoebe for long.”

  “We need to get them to the cabin,” Cass said.

  “Will this help?”

  Nic spun around as Kyrie and Phoebe showed up, a toboggan piled high with blankets in tow. Kyrie rushed to the one with the gun while Phoebe went to the one on the ground.

  “Alex, are you okay?” Kyrie asked as she wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.

  “Yeah, darling. I’m good.”

  Nic, Phoebe, and Cass lifted Ryan onto the sled and covered him with a blanket.

  Cass helped Kyrie and Alex, while Nic towed Ryan. Once they got to the lane, they moved easier but still slow due to the snow. Nic paused before they’d gone more than a few steps.

  “How’d you get here?” he asked Alex.

  “Car. Couldn’t get through the gate.”

  “Cass, can you get them back?”

  “Yes.” She gave him a quick kiss. He slogged through the snow to where they’d left their car.

  Nic parked the car near the barn and caught up to them as they reached the back door to the cabin. He helped Ryan into the cabin, taking as much of the man’s weight as he could. Once inside, he and Phoebe helped him to the second downstairs bedroom. They placed him gently on the bed.

  “Phoebe, help get him out of his clothes while I get the first-aid kit,” Nic said.

  “Forget it,” Cass said. “Phoebs, get the others in here.” She stood beside the bed, her amulet in her hand. Her friends had power like her. All these years together and they never knew it.

  “Cass? Are you sure you want to do this?” Nic asked.

  “No. But I think this is supposed to happen. They need to know everything.”

  The three women joined her in the room, Greg and Alex behind them. All of them looked at Cass, waiting for her to explain.

  “Hi. My name is Cassandra, otherwise known as Cass. I have the emerald key.”

  Phoebe stared at her, then started laughing. “Why do I feel like I’m at an AA meeting?” She pulled her amulet out from a pocket in her waistband. “So what are these amulet things and why do we have them?”

  “Okay. Kyrie, Dori, I know you have amulets like mine and Phoebe’s. Do you have them with you?” She grinned when they pulled them out of pockets or shoes. “Guess you hid yours better than I did. Most of the explanations will wait until later,” Cass said. “Right now, your injuries are more important. Alex, I’ll go out on a limb here and guess you’re hurting too. Join Ryan on the bed.”

  At both men’s wry looks, Greg spoke up. “Trust me on this one. You should do what she says.”

  Alex sat on the edge of the bed opposite Ryan. “Okay, what now?”

  “Cass, what kind of power do you have?” Kyrie asked.

  Cass glanced at a glass vase sitting on a shelf. “Kyrie, you always hated that vase, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, but…” Before she could finish her sentence, the vase shattered, then the pieces floated back together and reformed into a bowl.

  Kyrie, Dori, and Phoebe stared at the vase, then at Cass.

  “I have the power of the earth. Phoebe?”

  Phoebe glanced at the trash can in the corner and flames burst up. “Fire for me.”

  “Well, you all know I’m wind,” Kyrie said.

  Cass chuckled. “I guess now we all know why you talk so much.”

  “I’m water,” Dori said. “I never knew you all could…”

  “None of us did,” Cass said. “I think Aunt Minerva—or our guardians—kept us from being able to do things or know them about each other. Nor could I usually affect anything here in the cabin unless I was really focused on it.”

  “Why now?” Dori asked. “And why do you know about them and not us?”

  “Why now will wait. Why me is a good question, one we’ll have to ask Minerva and the others when we see them. Right now, I need you three to help me. I can do this, but it takes a lot out of me. Helping Greg gave me a beaut of a headache. And I haven’t gotten all my energy back.”

  “Greg?” Dori turned to him but he waved her off.

  “Later,” he said.

  “Give me your amulets,” Cass said. When they did, she unstrung the chains and connected them together to form a pyramid. She crawled into the middle of the bed, the men on either side of her, the pyramid in her lap. “You three, join hands.”

  “Now what?” Phoebe asked.

  “Look, I know you guys aren’t into this stuff, or at least I don’t think you are. I’m not sure of anything anymore. But I’ll do the chant and it would help if you joined me, and thought about the guys being healed and whole.”

&
nbsp; Phoebe shook her head. “I’m not sure about any of this, but if it will help Ryan, I’m in.”

  “Go for it,” Dori said.

  “I’m ready,” Kyrie said.

  “Dori, maybe you’d better join us up here. We’ll see what we can do about your ankle.” She shifted to make room for Dori on the bed.

  Cass said the prayer for healing. As she chanted, she closed her eyes and pictured Dori, Ryan, and Alex as healed and whole. Hands clasped her shoulders, and she sensed the flow of energy from the others and drew on it to help her.

  “Cass?” She heard Nic’s whisper and opened her eyes. Nic and Greg grasped each of her shoulders, their other hands holding the women’s. Bright light filled the room. Like before, her hands glowed, but this time the radiance grew more intense. She picked up the pyramid and moved it over Ryan, then Alex, and finally Dori. When the glow faded, she nodded and everyone dropped their hands. Dori stepped off the bed, then grinned and skipped around the room.

  “Alex? Ryan?”

  Both men stretched and stared at her. Alex tugged off his tattered shirt and flexed his arm. “I know they broke my arm. In at least two places.”

  “And I had a couple of broken ribs, along with the gash in my leg and arm,” Ryan said. “What the hell is going on?”

  Greg peeled off his shirt and showed the group the thin white scar extending across his chest. “I’d say don’t ask questions, but I know I have about a thousand myself.”

  Cass took the pyramid apart and handed the pieces back to her friends. “Since it’s a little crowded in here, I suggest we go out to the living room. I’ll see what I can do about some answers, although I don’t know it all myself yet.”

  “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starved,” Greg said. “Nic, did I smell cinnamon buns earlier?”

  “Showers first,” Phoebe said. “I have a couple of days’ worth of grime to get out of my hair.”

  “Me too,” Kyrie said. “I’ll head upstairs.”

  “I’ll take the downstairs shower.”

  “The rest of us will wait,” Dori said. “We’ll help Nic with breakfast. What’s on the menu?”

  “If it isn’t ruined, I have Dutch oven pancakes with baked apples.” At Cass’ raised eyebrow, he shrugged. “Alma must have brought more supplies when she stopped by.”

  “Granny Alma was here?” Dori asked. “Where is she?”

  “She and Minerva have gone elsewhere,” Cass said. “I think all three of our guardians have.” She led the way to the living room.

  “Dori, since you know my culinary talents,” Cass said, “you can help Nic with the food.”

  “No problem,” Dori said as she joined Nic in the kitchen area.

  “Greg, do you think you and Alex can get some wood in? Use the pile at the end of the porch. It’s sheltered so there shouldn’t be a problem with snow.

  “Ryan, can you help me extend the table? The leaves are in the closet by the front door.” She strode to the closet, surprised when Ryan didn’t immediately join her there. She turned to find all four men staring at her. “Is something wrong?”

  The other three women laughed. Phoebe spoke through her giggles. “You guys will get used to it. We all knew Cass had power, we just didn’t know it had to do with magic. Cass is an organizer and a whirlwind when she gets going. Trust me, it’s easier to just go along and do what she says.” She waved and headed into the bathroom.

  A few minutes later, everyone worked at their assigned tasks. Outside, heavy snow still fell, cocooning them in the isolated cabin. As one person came out of the shower, another went in.

  Nic and Dori set out slices of the oven pancake, topped with soft cinnamon apples and whipped cream. They also had a platter of sausages and another of breakfast ham. Dori set out mugs for tea, coffee, and cocoa to finish off their repast. As if by silent agreement, they didn’t talk about recent events, but spent the time getting to know each other better. Cass had only met Alex and Ryan once and only Greg and Dori knew Nic.

  Finally sated, Cass directed the cleanup and they eventually settled into the living room, mugs in hand.

  “Guess it’s time we figured out what’s going on,” Cass said as she sat in one of the oversized chairs with Nic. They explained what they could, getting a lot of incredulous looks and more than a few snorts of disbelief from the others.

  Late in the afternoon, Cass sat back against Nic. They’d gone around and around in circles, getting nowhere. They needed to take matters into hand.

  “Okay, you can’t deny all four of us are different, right?” Cass asked.

  “Granted,” Kyrie said.

  “Greg, you had a sword. Know anybody else besides Nic who carries one?”

  Alex and Ryan both jerked. “Swords? You used swords?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah,” Nic said.

  “Long, double edge, silver hasp with a whonking big ruby in the handle?” Ryan asked.

  “Mine’s an emerald,” Nic said.

  “Sapphire,” Greg said.

  “Diamond,” Alex said.

  “To match our amulets,” Cass said. “Greg, do you have any, um, other skills?”

  He paled. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, what else can you do besides fight with a sword?”

  Nic spoke up. “I can hear Cass’ thoughts and do an astral projection.”

  Everybody stared at him.

  “The image I saw in the room…that was real?” Phoebe said. “I thought they gave me some sort of weird drug.” She grinned at him and wiggled her eyebrows. “I really am impressed now.”

  Nic felt his face heat. “No drugs. Somehow I managed to find you and get there, at least in spirit.”

  “I seem to be able to move things around—levitation,” Alex said.

  “My senses are enhanced,” Ryan said. “Extrasensitive hearing, night vision.”

  “Not sure what I’ve got,” Greg said. “I can’t read minds or do any of that other stuff.”

  “No, but you survived an attack that would have killed anyone else,” Nic said. “That gash was worse than anything we saw overseas, and we saw some bad stuff. And yet you not only got away, but made your way here.”

  “But Cass had to heal me.”

  “I think I just finished what you started,” Cass said.

  “So what does all this mean?” Dori asked. “We have these strange powers, but why? And why did they all show up now?”

  “Because we have a job to do,” Cass said. “There is a power out there, an evil power who wants to control the doorway to Lemuria. And if he gets control, he will also have ultimate power here. Our job is to stop him.”

  “Who is he?”

  “All I know is what he looks like, and that his name is William. I don’t know a location, or anything else.”

  “Well, that makes our job a lot easier,” Phoebe intoned. “What about Minerva and the others? They have some pretty powerful strengths.”

  “They do,” Cass said. “I’ve known about Minerva for a long time. But I think we’re on our own for this one.”

  “We are,” Nic said. “They are not allowed to interfere more than they already have.”

  “How have they interfered?” Kyrie asked.

  “We’re all here. Now. And we have abilities that will help us. Greg, you’re the computer expert. Use my laptop to do some searching.”

  “What are we looking for?” Greg asked.

  “Cases where museums or jewelry stores had break-ins—”

  “Don’t forget spiritual stores,” Cass interrupted.

  “And spiritual stores where historical jewelry in the shape of a triangle has been stolen or the store vandalized.”

  “Alex, Ryan, what do you do for a living?” Nic asked.

  “I’m the Fight Master at the Ren Faire,” Alex said.

  Nic laughed. “I don’t believe this. You’re a weapons master?”

  “He’s why I’m alive,” Ryan said. “We didn’t have our swords, but he used so
me fancy moves to keep us from getting hurt worse than we could have been. I’m guessing if he’d had his sword, we wouldn’t have lost the girls or gotten hurt.”

  “I think it needed to happen,” Cass said. “We needed everything to happen as it did or we wouldn’t be here together.”

  “How ’bout you?” Nic asked Ryan.

  Phoebe laughed. “You want to tell them, or can I?”

  He shrugged and she tried to calm her hilarity. “He’s a former fireman turned arson inspector.”

  “You’re what?” Cass’ hoot of laughter filled the room. Soon all of them were laughing.

  “Not sure what kind of help I can be,” Ryan said. “But I’ll do what I can.”

  “Actually, you and I are going to do some work out in the barn,” Nic said. “You’re going to use your skills of observation to help me find something.”

  “Nic?” Cass said. “Do you really think it’s there?”

  “I do. It may not be obvious, but I think I found the door for a reason.” He glanced at the pictures on the wall, his lips pursed. “Cass, I know Minerva had these same pictures in her place. Do any of the rest of you have them?”

  “We all do,” Phoebe said. “Minerva presented a set to each of us when we got the amulets.”

  “Have any of you noticed anything strange about them?” Nic asked.

  Cass stared at him as the others shook their heads. “Why?”

  Nic studied the paintings. “Call it a hunch, but I’m guessing there’s more to those paintings than just art.” He stared at the pieces until his eyes burned, but nothing twitched. Finally, he turned away.

  “You’re not wrong, Nic,” Cass said. “The pictures are different.” She waved her hand and the images blurred, then changed, especially the one of the cabin and barn. Smoke curled from the chimney on the cabin and heavy snow fell on the forest. Everyone stared at them, then at Cass. “They are enchanted pictures. Aunt Minerva told me about them last year.” She crossed the room to the one of the cabin. “You can come out now.”

  Nothing emerged, but light giggling filled the room. Cass shook her head. “Okay, stay where you are. I know you don’t like the cold.” She turned to the others. “The tree faeries have been tasked with watching over this property. When we were younger, they also watched over us, but that job went away when we became adults. You’ll almost never see them, but they are there.”