Flames in the Midst (The Jade Hale Series)

by Reckenwald, Sarah

  I walked slowly out the front door and onto the porch with the flaking railings. Everyone else busily prepared dinner in the kitchen at the other end of the house, so no one noticed me leaving. At least, I thought no one noticed me leaving. As I ran my finger over the wooden railing, watching the paint chip off and float away, a voice from the other end of the porch startled me.

  “I presume you’re leaving,” Chase broke the silence. I stared at him. His skin had the glow of someone who spends every waking moment outdoors being active, not just laying around sunning himself. His aura worked with his natural skin color, and he was honestly beautiful. I glared at his crystal blue eyes, taking in his wispy blond hair and his muscular physique. Aside from being absolutely gorgeous to look at, I had no interest in this guy. He was months, maybe weeks away from becoming a Guardian. He represented everything I did not want to be. I wanted nothing to do with him, and it was obvious he was glad to see me leave.

  “Yes, I am leaving. I’m sure that will make you happy, but I can’t say I’m sure why,” I told him as brusquely as I could. I glared at him and then turned to walk towards my car.

  “Listen,” he continued, getting up and walking over to me, “It’s not that I have anything against whatever kind of person you are, but you are anything but a good witch.”

  “How would you have any idea what kind of a witch I am?” I spun around to face him, seething with anger, but a little nervous about where this conversation was going. Of course, there were plenty of reasons why I wasn’t that great of a witch, starting with the fact I didn’t want to be one.

  “I know about you,” he told me. “Your mother was one of the greatest Guardians ever. I’m sorry she was murdered, but I am sure she would hate to see how you’ve turned out. She believed in using her abilities and her gifts to help others, and here you have two of the rarest gifts a witch can have, and you want nothing to do with helping anyone but yourself.”

  I wanted to stop him, but he wasn’t done and he wasn’t going to give me a chance to break in yet. He took a quick breath and continued to berate me.

  “On top of that, you have never studied or put much effort into developing your abilities, so frankly, maybe it is better that you’re selfish. If you decided to stay here, you would be a liability to everyone here. There are Shadow Rulers who want you on their side, and as far as I am concerned, they can have you. If you were here with us, it would only be a matter of time before they found us.”

  I thought he was crazy. No one had found me thus far, so I didn’t see my presence putting anyone in danger. Besides, I was leaving. Why did he have to say anything to me at all? If my presence was such a nuisance to him, he should have just shut up and let me leave. I could have been gone already.

  “Well,” I snapped at him, “you have nothing to worry about. I am leaving, so no one is in any danger.” There. I had put him in his place. I turned to leave, triumphant in the finality of my words. Apparently, he didn’t agree with my triumph. He stopped me, grabbing my arm and turning me back towards him. I wished he wasn’t so attractive because as angry as I was, I felt exhilarated to be so close to him.

  “The danger isn’t over,” he warned me, and at first, I thought he was threatening me. “You are irresponsible and naïve about your skills. You are selfish and all of this can only lead to stupid decisions on your part. Anyone who is around you is in danger. You are a catastrophe waiting to happen.” With that, he let go of my arm, turned, and walked back into the house. He had stolen my triumph, and he knew I would not follow him back into the house to get it back. He was wrong. I wasn’t so naïve. I had been through a lot, and really, I had been forced into being alone. I had found comfort in it, and if I was a little selfish, didn’t I deserve to be? I had to go through losing my mother and my aunt, only to find out I was a time traveler and had to lose them all over again. Didn’t I deserve a little me time?

  I searched within myself, regained my resolve, and forced my legs to make strong, solid strides to show how sure I was of my decision even though no one was watching. I stopped five feet short of my car when I realized I had a passenger. Stefanie sat in the passenger seat of my car, windows down, smiling at me with a sort of half smile that showed her sympathy. I stared at her, wanting to order her out of the car, but also not wanting to take my frustrations with Chase out on her. I practiced a deep breathing technique I had learned in Health last semester. I concentrated on drawing each breath out—inhale to a slow five count, exhale to a slow five count. After about ten breaths, I decided I could deal with whatever it was Stefanie wanted in a more amicable manner.

  I walked up to my Toyota with less force behind my strides. I smiled feebly at Stefanie, but I was sure my exasperation showed through the weak smile. Even though the windows were open, I didn’t say anything until I got into the car. It occurred to me she had probably heard every word of the exchange Chase and I had on the front porch.

  “How much of that did you hear?” I asked, my voice betraying the hurt I felt at his accusations.

  “Don’t worry about Chase,” she answered.

  “So you heard it all?” She shook her head.

  “He doesn’t know what he is talking about. You’re not selfish or dangerous.”

  “You don’t know that. You don’t really know me,” I told her, but I wasn’t angry with her. I felt like there might be something to what Chase had said.

  “You might be a little scared. Who wouldn’t be? You might not know everything about your abilities and gifts, but really, you weren’t raised the way Chase was raised or the way I was raised. Your life has been different. And who cares that you don’t know about your time traveling gift? We may have known you were a time traveler, but you didn’t know. He’s the one who is self-centered,” Stefanie finished with a flourish. I knew there was a reason she was growing on me. I felt better listening to her, even if she was wrong.

  “Thanks, Stefanie. It’s nice to hear that not everyone agrees with Chase, but I think some of what he said might be true. I am leaving, after all.”

  “You don’t have to leave. You’re still here now.”

  I sighed and thought about that for a moment. I couldn’t really stay. Before I could do anything at all, I had to find my family book. I hoped it would be what Aunt Lynn left for me in the backyard of our last house. I couldn’t stay. I had to leave.

  “No, I’m leaving. Like you said, I wasn’t raised the way you were. I am not ready to sign up for all of this. I don’t ever want to sign up for this.” I expected Stefanie’s mood to change. I expected her to get angry with me. I braced myself for another barrage of reprimands and insults. I should have known better. Stefanie may have gotten over-excited the first day we met, but she had not let her emotions get the better of her since then. For whatever reason, Stefanie looked at me and saw a hero. I didn’t see myself that way, but it was certainly a boost to my ego.

  “I thought you would say that.” Stefanie got comfortable in her seat and snapped the seat belt into place.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Well, I figure you are driving back to your place. I need a ride to campus, and I figure you probably need a navigator to get you out of here anyway, so we both win.”

  “You’re not mad? I thought you would be upset that I still want to leave.”

  “Nah. I figured you weren’t going to stay after our talk on the ride here. I think you are coming back, but I think it will take you some time. Like you said, you’re not ready right now.” She was so matter-of-fact and accepting that she reminded me of Amy. She had obviously been around Amy for most of her life. I imagined for a moment what I would have been like if my mother had not been murdered. My mother would be the one leading this group, and I would be standing by her side, a future Guardian like Stefanie and Chase.

  “Okay,” I told Stefanie, “Where are we going?”

  “Can you drop me off at Beatty Towers?” she asked, referring to the older dorms on campus at the university
.

  “You don’t live here?” I was surprised.

  “Well, this house would be too far away from you, right? I thought about living in your apartment complex, but Chase insisted that would be too dangerous.” She laughed at this to show how ridiculous she thought Chase’s concern was.

  “So you live on campus instead?”

  “Lived on campus,” she corrected me.

  “Are you moving?”

  “The semester’s over. Don’t you remember the end of semester party at your friend’s apartment? Besides, we’ve met with you now. There’s no reason for me to stay close anymore. I’ve got to get back and pack up my stuff,” Stefanie explained and smiled at me as if to say, matter closed, let’s go.

  I started the car. Over the past few days, I had learned once Stefanie made up her mind, there was no turning back. She didn’t need to use the tether spell anymore. I backed the car up in an arc in the gravel driveway so I could navigate in drive through the long, tree-lined path leading back to the country road we had come in on three days ago.

  The ride out was much more pleasant than the ride in. The sun beat down on us, and even with my air-conditioning on, we could feel the Florida heat penetrating the car. I knew where I was heading, and Stefanie had taken on the role of a friend, so despite the doubts Chase had filled my mind with, I felt more upbeat as Stefanie navigated me through the country roads and back to University Avenue. We turned on 13th Street, and I pulled in front of Beatty Towers.

  “Thanks for the lift,” Stefanie smiled.

  “No problem,” I surprised myself because I actually meant it.

  “See you around.” With that, Stefanie bounced out of the car, closed the door, and walked energetically to her dorm.

  For the first time in days, I found myself actually alone. My car acted like a fortress. I locked the doors and felt a wave of strength and exhilaration. No one could get in, and I would not get out. I drove through the streets of campus and headed to 34th Street. I drove past the science building, the museum. I turned back towards University Avenue and then decided to take a detour past the law buildings. The roads, though still populated, seemed eerily empty. The bustle of campus life had already lulled as most students headed home for the summer. I reached 34th Street, turned left at the light, and headed towards my apartment. A few more turns and I could enter the new fortress of my apartment. I would have the solitary time I needed in order to reflect over the past few days.

  I pulled into a spot very close to my apartment and under an oak tree. I stayed in the car for a few extra moments—enjoying the solitude and listening to Aerosmith. The song came to an end, and it seemed like as good a time as any to stop burning fuel just to run the air conditioning in my car.

  My apartment, if you could call it that, waited for me nearly the way I left it. I had a small efficiency. The front door opened to a living/dining room. My tiny but cozy kitchen lay to the left. Past the main room, two bi-fold doors hid what amounted to my bedroom. To the left of the bi-fold doors was the bathroom. That was it. My furniture boasted of the mismatched discards of former University of Florida graduates. If you get your apartment early enough, you can get lucky and snag the furniture of the students who are shedding their student lives and moving into the working world where you buy matching furniture from a furniture store and live in the same place for longer than twelve months.

  My blue couch rested under a window with cheap mini-blinds. I had a table with one wobbly leg in between the couch and a large leather armchair with a tear down the side the size of my forearm. On the other side of the couch was a tank with my very hungry goldfish. I fed the three who were still alive and fished out the fourth before the others could turn cannibalistic.

  I plopped down on the armchair to listen to my messages before I started to make out my plans. The last place we lived was St. Augustine, Florida. I always thought it was a bit ironic to pick such an historic town, the oldest city in the nation. We knew there were many other witches in the area, but we chose to live as Unknowns, and I went to high school as a carefree, normal teenager since Aunt Lynn had stopped trying to force me to study. I had also lived with Zach’s family in St. Augustine. I hoped they would be willing to welcome me back for one more summer.

  “Hi, Jade,” Zach’s voice materialized from my answering machine as if my thinking of him had summoned his voice, “thanks for coming to my party. Sorry I missed you this morning. Give me a call if you want to go running tomorrow.”

  “End of message one,” came the metallic voice of my machine.

  “Hey, Jade, I was about to go running and thought I would check in with you. Guess you’re busy. My mom and dad are coming to get us on Friday. Make sure you’re packed. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Well, I guess that answered my question. I had a place in St. Augustine to go home to so to speak.

  “End of message two.”

  “Jade, it’s been two days since the party, and I haven’t heard from you. I assume you made it home okay, but give me a call. Let me know if you need help packing.”

  “End of message three.”

  “Jade, you have not called, and I’m kinda worried. We usually go running together three times a week, as if I needed to remind you about that. Did I do something at the party to upset you? You are still planning on coming back home, right? Call me.”

  “End of message four.”

  “Okay, Jade, this is ridiculous. I saw you at the party on Saturday. Now it is Wednesday. My parents will be here in less than two days, and I don’t even know if you are coming back with us. I’m coming over to check on you.”

  “End of message five.”

  Really? I had never realized how paranoid Zach could be. Of course, I did pretty much disappear, and as the only person left on the planet without a cell phone, I guess someone who thinks of himself as my brother might be a bit worried. I really didn’t want to see Zach. I really didn’t want to see anyone. I picked up the phone to call and let him know I was okay, but I could see I was already too late. Zach’s black Camaro pulled in next to my puny Corolla. That car was his baby. His parents had offered to match whatever he saved for his first car. I bet they had not expected him to save every penny for two years straight. His little sister, only ten, was already plotting for her turn, but I suspected they were going to set more clear parameters for her. The Camaro wasn’t new, but constant attention from Zach kept it looking new.

  I met Zach at the door before he could knock. I tried to look as nonchalant as I could. It wasn’t like I could explain anything to him.

  “You’re here,” he announced, with obvious surprise.

  “I’m here.” Zach pushed his way past me into my apartment.

  “Where have you been? You haven’t returned any of my phone calls, and,” he stopped as he looked around my apartment. I thought maybe he realized I hadn’t been home in days, but that was just paranoia. There was no evidence to show my absence. I had cleaned all the dishes before his party and taken the trash out.

  “You haven’t even gotten boxes. Aren’t you coming back home with me?” He tried to keep up his appearance, but I could hear the hurt in his voice. I sighed and closed the door. Zach stood in the living room, still looking around for packed boxes, half expecting them to materialize. I sat down on the couch.

  “Zach, I’ve been busy. I know I have a lot of packing to do, but I am coming with you.”

  Zach looked a little more relieved, but I think he would have felt better if there were at least empty boxes lying around. He sat on the leather chair.

  “Okay, well, I’m done packing. I’ll go pick up boxes for you, and I’ll be back to help. Are you keeping the apartment over the summer? Are you subletting?”

  “Actually, I sub-leased in the first place. The lease is up this month.”

  “Well, my parents have some room for our furniture in the garage, but not everything. What do you want to keep?” Just like Zach. He would focus on the tangible rather than deal wit
h the five voice messages he left me and the mystery of my disappearance. I was grateful for the easy friendship Zach and I had fallen into when I moved in with them. Almost from day one, I was his sister, no questions asked.

  “I don’t know. I can always get more living room furniture. You know how easy that is to find or pick up at a garage sale. Can we get my bedroom furniture into the garage?”

  I knew we could. It was the only thing I had kept from Aunt Lynn’s house. Zach’s parents would probably move it back into the spare room for me in their house.

  “Of course, Jade,” Zach laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  Zach only stayed for a few minutes. He could tell I wanted to be alone, but I also knew he would be back soon. I did need to pack, and he would be the friend to help me.

  Aunt Lynn had known Zach’s family for a few years before she died. We had lived in St. Augustine since halfway through eighth grade. Aunt Lynn and I hadn’t talked about why we moved. Sometimes, we just picked up and moved. I knew it had to do with being a witch, but I never really thought much about it. Now, I realized she was protecting me. She, and others, knew about my gifts, and she made it her mission to keep me safe.

  When we moved to St. Augustine, Aunt Lynn took a job working in a large medical office. She met Patti, Zach’s mother, working in the office. They became friends, but we didn’t all start hanging out until my sophomore year in high school. By that time, Aunt Lynn knew she was sick, but she didn’t want to tell me right away. Patti knew, and she agreed to take me in if things went for the worse. Of course, Aunt Lynn had known for years it would not end well for her based simply on the look on my face the last time we spoke in the bar. I didn’t tell her what happened, but I’m sure she could see the loss in my eyes.

  Patti and my aunt came up with a plan to integrate our families slowly, with activities a couple of weekends a month. We had barbeques, camping, pool parties, and movies. I don’t think Zach or his younger sister found anything odd about including us in their weekends. We were new family friends. But Aunt Lynn and I had never had family friends. The whole experience was surreal and suspicious for me. After a few months, I finally confronted Aunt Lynn.