Empty Heart

by Al K. Line

  I didn't have the answers, all I knew was that I had Steve's back because if I was in his shoes then no way would I let my daughter be refused her basic human rights, no matter the gifts, some would say curses, she possessed, or was possessed by.

  So I drove, and I drove hard and fast, and the longer we were on the road the more time I had to formulate a plan. Rule number one when it comes to wizards is don't give them time to plot, they are experts at being devious fucks. Never forget it. We really are awful at times.

  A smile spread over my face as the minutes ticked by and the sun rose higher into a huge, washed-out sky.

  "What you grinning for?" asked Steve.

  "You'll see."

  Old Friends

  I knew many people from many places. In fact, over the years, I'd met most of the players in the world I inhabited. Many were scum, some were hard men and women, the majority were to be avoided, and a small group were genuinely nice folk. Odd, but nice.

  With my ear always keen to hear news from the magical grapevine, I knew a lot about a lot of them. Some of it was ancient history, some was very recent. I knew the good and the bad they did, and I can tell you now that most of the magical criminal underground were not the kind of folks you would ever want to invite around for a cuppa, or even let know where you lived.

  My mind raced through anyone I could think of who lived in the vicinity. Closing in as we were on the city, the number was surprisingly high, but I either dismissed them outright as utterly untrustworthy or failed to recall how to contact them in a meaningful time period.

  Then I recalled that one of my very good friends, somebody Vicky already knew so might not freak her out too much, was right about now on his yearly vacation. No matter that his vacation consisted of emerging from his underground lair and hiking around this area of the countryside with as much food as he could carry, which was about enough to last him a few days despite his strength and size. He liked to feel the rain on his face, the wind raging against his dark skin, even the sunshine when it appeared, as he traipsed around the middle of nowhere in the nude if he thought nobody was about.

  There were always strange stories about sightings, people reporting seeing wild animals off in the distance, huge bears and the like, when truth be told, it was just good old Beast.

  And now here he was, right on cue.

  "What the fuck is that?" asked an incredulous Steve as he leaned forward in his seat and stared at the man mountain right now rampaging down the bank at the side of the road and storming towards the van crawling along in the contraflow.

  "That, my hairy friend, is Beast. You met him, remember? He's on vacation, getting some air as he spends the rest of the year working out in the sewers."

  "He works in the sewers?"

  "No, he lives there. He exercises, a lot. Okay, all the time. This is his week off, his down time."

  "He's fucking massive."

  "I know. And he hates people that would dare harm children. He had a hard time growing up, went through the mill worse than most, worse than me, so I knew he'd help."

  "But you haven't called anyone."

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and said, "Been practicing typing without looking. That's why I still use old phones. No touch screens for me. George said I should learn, that it would come in handy. I didn't want you to get your hopes up in case he didn't answer or wasn't near enough. He was, he is, and look, he's ripping the bloody doors off. Awesome."

  We inched forward in the car but needn't have bothered as we stopped almost immediately because the vehicle in front was trying to reverse the hell out of there. Everyone began beeping their horns so me and Steve jumped out in time to see Beast simply tear away the rear doors like they were made of cardboard.

  The two men jumped at Beast but he flung them aside like rag dolls before clambering into the back, making the van rock from side to side and the tires bulge.

  "Good old Beast," I said with a smile as we sauntered forward past the gawping citizens.

  "Yeah, good old Beast," said a confused Steve as we got close enough to see him pull the hoods from the girls' heads and snap the bonds at their hands and feet.

  Vicky grinned up at Beast then leaped up to hug him before he grabbed Sunshine with a free arm and stormed off towards us with both of them grinning and chatting, Vicky presumably telling Sunshine he was a buddy.

  Careful!

  "Look out!" I shouted as something moved from the front of the van.

  Beast smiled a knowing smile then nodded at me before carefully lowering the girls to the ground and turning, all with a fluid grace that defied his lumbering, troll-like appearance.

  Something darted along the side of the vehicle and launched at Beast, gray fur streaked long and razor-sharp teeth and claws glinted with menace.

  People screamed, Beast greeted his attacker with open arms, his huge back spread-eagled like the wings of a mighty eagle, as he leaned into the attack.

  More furry danger sped in from both sides where Beast had thrown the kidnappers, large dogs all the size of wolfhounds. Maybe they were, but the shifters were so fast, so intent, it was impossible to tell the breed.

  As Beast gave the frontal attacker the mother of all bear hugs, the other two landed, one on his back, claws raking deep, the other slammed into his side. Maybe they expected to topple this mighty oak, maybe they weren't thinking a single thought, merely acted on instinct to stop their prize being taken, but either way they came up short.

  The impact didn't budge the man-mountain, but I heard the grunt as he took the hits of the two new attackers before he reached behind and grabbed the dog clawing and snapping at his side and clamped a meaty hand around its neck.

  People gasped from the safety of their cars where they'd retreated, I heard them through the windows as Beast squeezed tight around a dog's throat. He looked around quickly—guess he heard the cries too—and rather than squeeze the life out of it he threw it away again. Bones snapped, people shouted, and Beast tore the dog at his chest away. Grabbing two front legs, he whacked it over his head to batter the dog still with its claws sunk deep into his back.

  A sickening crunch and both animals went limp, nowhere near up to the raw power exerted by Beast without even trying.

  He dropped the inert animal still in his hands then spun and lumbered towards us as Vicky and Sunshine got it together and ran away from the madness.

  We met them halfway, trying not to draw attention to ourselves but doing a bad job of it. This kind of thing didn't often happen on British motorways or anywhere else citizens might be. We liked to keep our business private, and it showed just how desperate, and determined, the shifters were to change in public like this and risk exposure. They'd gotten away with it, all people saw were wild animals attacking a very oversized man, but it proved what they would do to get Sunshine, and these were supposedly the good guys.

  "Thanks for coming," I said to Beast, slapping him on the back and stinging my hand.

  "Anything for you, Arthur, you know that," said Beast, his sweet, gentle voice at odds with his size and demeanor.

  "You two okay?" I asked as Steve hugged Sunshine and Vicky tried to straighten her sweater and do her ponytail.

  "Fine, just a shock," said Vicky.

  "They were going to take me back, hide me away again," said Sunshine before she buried her head in Steve's shirt and began to sob.

  Beast raised an eyebrow, even his eyebrows were buff, and I said, "It's a long story."

  "Another time," he said, before waving and wandering off.

  "Wait, where you going?" I shouted after him.

  "I'm still on vacation, going to walk over those mountains." Beast pointed off into the distance.

  I whistled. "Other people take it easy, you know?"

  "This is taking it easy. But hey, thanks for the diversion, nice to flex the muscles." Beast did a double bicep pose. People oohed and aahed from their cars.

  And then he was gone, running off into the hedgerows
like the incredible Hulk before he changes back into a regular-sized man, except he wouldn't. He just got bigger and bigger every year.

  "Right, to the Wizardmobile," I said, getting my head together.

  Wand in hand, but unused, I nonetheless knew the shifters would be healing best they could, or coming after us broken bones and all. I caught sight of two on the hard shoulder in amongst the bushes and knew they'd be up and after us in a moment.

  Without further ado, we legged it back to the car and before anyone had chance to say a word I was outta there.

  Except I wasn't.

  "Arthur, stop. Stop!" shouted Vicky.

  I screeched to a halt rather than change up the gears just as one of the shifters ran right out in front of us.

  "Goddamn it," I moaned as the man put his hands out in front of him, like he meant us no harm. Guess he didn't, not if we gave him what he wanted.

  "Please don't kill him. That's Sam, he's a good guy," said Sunshine from the rear, still nestled in tight to Steve.

  "He tried to kidnap you," I said, giving the guy a good scowl.

  "I know, but he's read me a bedtime story every night since I was a little girl."

  "Wish I had," whispered Steve. It was easy to forget just how hard this must be for him, realizing how much he'd missed out on, all those years away from his daughter, not being part of her upbringing. I knew how he felt, but how much worse was it for him because he knew he had a daughter but wasn't allowed to be a proper part of her life?

  "Still plenty of time," said Sunshine, smiling at her dad.

  "Too right. I'll read to you until you fall asleep every night from now on."

  "Cool."

  "Um, what about this guy?" I asked as he stared in at us, unmoving.

  "Drive slow until he moves out the way?" offered Vicky.

  "I guess." With a shrug, I inched forward until the car nudged against his body. Still he remained. I slowly eased forward, shunting him back slightly as he kept his hands on the car.

  "Damn, he's half naked, bet he hasn't got any shoes on. That's gotta hurt." You had to admire his stoicism, or stubbornness, but no way was he getting Sunshine. Not now, not like this. Was it for the best? I didn't know any longer but Steve wanted her with him and she wanted her freedom. It was right and fair, even if it would be bloody dangerous.

  I put my foot on the accelerator a little and as the car picked up speed the man finally gave in and moved aside. He banged on the windows as we went past, his eyes full of sadness, pleading with Sunshine to come with him, that he'd protect her. I glanced in the rearview to see Sunshine silently mouth, "I'm sorry."

  Then we were past, and leaving the madness behind, if just for a while.

  What Could be Nicer?

  "Arthur, why don't you let me drive?" whined Vicky, like she was four and I'd promised we could go to the beach but we weren't going fast enough. Um, not that I would let a child drive, of course. Not on motorways, anyway.

  "Because if you drive we'll all die and then I won't be able to cuddle up to Penelope. She'd only moan about me being a stinking corpse."

  "Don't be silly, I'm an excellent driver." Vicky gave me the evil eye; it just made me giggle.

  "Hey, I'm an excellent driver, and what are you laughing at?"

  "You, trying to vibe me. I'm immune now."

  "I'm not," said Steve from the rear. "It's scary."

  "Yeah, very," hissed Vicky, trying harder to get to me.

  "Not any more. I'm used to it now, so when you do it it makes me think of you trying to hold in a fart or something." I giggled, which made Sunshine giggle, which made Steve giggle.

  "Haha, she does look a bit like that," said Steve. "Now I'll never be scared again."

  Vicky turned her attention to her boyfriend, who wilted under her gaze. "You sure?"

  "Um, maybe not. Haha, you sure are one ferocious lady. My lady. Now I have another lady in my life too. You wait until you meet Vicky's kids, Sunshine, you'll all get along so well."

  Vicky faced forward and I caught the look. I smiled in sympathy. This would be hard for her, hard for everyone. I understood her concerns. Sunshine was wild, dangerous, unschooled in the ways of children, especially those younger and more delicate than herself. Vicky wasn't without her own anger issues, like killing husband angry, not to mention the whole lycanthrope business, but she was still more stable than Sunshine, and a lot more experienced.

  There would definitely be several serious talks, and plenty of tears, all of which I planned to play absolutely no part in, if we ever got that far. There was plenty to deal with before any of them got to play happy families, that was for sure.

  Speaking of happy families.

  Had I called since I took this job? Had I let them know I was well? Had I bollocks. It was a bit late now, better to leave it and give George and Penelope a nice surprise. Hopefully.

  Lost to my musings, I snapped back to reality with Vicky shouting in my ear about something or other.

  "What?"

  "The turn. The turn. Don't miss it." Vicky pointed at the exit, but I ignored her.

  "You don't even know where I'm going," I muttered.

  "I do too. By that stupid grin on your face a moment ago then I know exactly where you're going. I'm coming too. Just for a bit, then I have to get home. The girls will be missing me. I know I'm missing them."

  "What's going on, guys?" asked Steve. "Where are we headed? You got a plan, Arthur?"

  "They don't call me The Hat for nothing," I said.

  "What does that mean?" asked Sunshine.

  "Don't worry, he always says weird stuff like that. You'll get used to it."

  "It is not weird," I snapped, replaying what I said and silently admitting it made little sense. But I was The Hat, and I did have a plan, and Steve seemed utterly chilled about the fact he had no idea what to do save go home and wait for someone to come take his daughter from him again.

  "Well?" asked Vicky.

  "Fine," I sighed, "we're going home. My home." I took the turn.

  Just for a While

  Peace, that was what I craved, if just for a short while. The problem I faced, along with most wizards, was that I longed for rest and quiet times after a cool fight, or some other derring-do, but when I got it I became antsy and craved action. The curse of the wizard, I guess. First World problems though, nothing to moan about.

  I weaved into the city, ever vigilant for homicidal shifters, dysfunctional wizards, indoctrinated Hounds, or anyone else who looked shifty. Everyone was just going about their business as usual, which is a surreal experience when you've had the kind of night we had. People muttered in their cars, tapped the steering wheel, glared at the rear of the vehicle in front, and generally acted the same as everyone else stuck in rush hour traffic with a day of work ahead of them.

  We had different lives and lived outside of their world, strangers looking in, and I often found it astonishing that people didn't stare at me and Vicky and point, shouting, "Look, they aren't citizens. They're different. Let's get 'em." But they never did, because everyone was too busy trying to cope with this thing called life, something that takes up all your time and energy, leaving little left over for worrying about strangers in hats or tiny red sweaters.

  How did Vicky do it? The school run, parent's evening, sports day, then go home, hack into someone's computer, go deal with the wild characters, and get involved in my nonsense? It was too big a leap from one world to the other. I preferred to remain in a place of magic and mayhem and more excitement than was necessarily good for me at times.

  "Here we go," I said as I pulled up outside the city house, as nondescript as always, just another semi in another city drowning in poverty with a veneer of shininess as fake as Vicky's eyelashes.

  "It's just a house," said Sunshine. "I thought you said it was awesome, and in the country?"

  "Aha, just you wait and see, you little rascal." I winked at her then got out of the car.

  Everyone followed and we ma
de it to the door without incident or anyone trying to gnaw our legs off or anything.

  Inside, I breathed deep of the faintly musty smell of a house given insufficient airing. It was divine because it was mine, and meant I was one step closer to home and the people I loved.

  "Come on, no time to dawdle."

  "Can I have a word first?" asked Steve, looking concerned.

  "Sure, buddy. You two wait in the living room, we'll be back in a mo." I nodded to Vicky who took Sunshine inside and Steve and I retreated to the compact but clean kitchen.

  I closed the door and said, "Take a seat."

  Steve nodded and sat at the small table up against a wall. I joined him.

  "You sure about this? I don't want to impose, or be a bother. And it's dangerous, we both know that. Maybe we shouldn't come to yours." Steve fidgeted, clenching and unclenching his hands; his foot tapped on the lino.

  "Unless you have a better plan?"

  "I didn't have one. I just wanted my girl back, didn't think the rest through. You think there will be more shifters after her?"

  "I dunno, but those chancers on the motorway probably aren't finished with her, or us. There will probably be more, yes. And others maybe."

  "So what should we do?"

  "Dude, I really don't know. She's your daughter, so you need to think long and hard about your future. Both of yours. But for now, for today and tonight, you are welcome in my house." I took a breath then said what had to be said. "But I give you fair warning. You need to control Sunshine. She has to behave. No affecting anyone's emotions, making them do stuff they wouldn't normally do. No shifting, and absolutely no killing of anyone."

  "Cross my heart." Steve grinned his most handsome of grins and waved his finger about over his chest. "She's a good girl really, just had it hard."

  "I know, and I know this is rough on you, but you have to think about the future now. This won't be easy, or quick. She has a lot of catching up to do, a lot to learn, and she's always going to be different. Special. Unique, and a right bloody handful."