Second String Savior

by Rick Gualtieri

  “Maybe we should call your aunt.”

  He shook his head. “I just need some rest. But I wanted to warn you first. Look at this picture. This is holy fire. Like, in my mind I saw pure, white-hot flames of righteousness and I felt power like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “Like a shiny one?” I asked softly.

  “Like a thermonuclear faith bomb, Jessie. I didn’t see any faces, though. I just felt all this power. I think it somehow burned me from the future, which is a really scary thought for a guy like me.”

  I leaned in and grabbed him in a hug. He looked like he needed it, and despite any residual squickiness between us, I was still his friend.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  Gary pulled away and shrugged sheepishly. “I’m sorry if I made things awkward between us. I don’t want you weirded out by me, because I really don’t think I can handle this madness alone.”

  “Now that I can relate to, Gare-bear.”

  He laughed. “Funny thing is, I don’t think I mind it as much anymore. In case you didn’t pick it up from your mental hitchhiking, my folks aren’t the affectionate nickname type.” After a couple of seconds, he added, “Look, if we’re being totally honest now. . .”

  Oh boy. I wasn’t sure I was ready for any more confessions, especially if it involved this morning.

  “Look, I like you. I think you’re . . . pretty cool, but I’m also fine with us being friends, if that makes sense. I don’t want you to think I’m a creeper just because I’m a prophetic wizard and all that.” He paused, a lopsided grin on his face. “That sounded a lot better in my head. Maybe I should use my powers before opening my mouth. I guess what I’m saying is you kicked a lot of vampire ass last night, and it was pretty awesome . . . and now’s probably the point where you should say anything before it gets weird. Unless you want it to get weird, which is also cool.”

  “I went to an arcade with a vampire tonight. My weird card is probably full,” I replied, looking to spare us both from any talk that involved the proverbial choking of chickens. “And we are super cool in the friend department.”

  “Phew!” His face darkened a little, then he looked away. “I mean it, too. Because I feel like . . . something bad is about to happen, Jess.” He again glanced down at his drawing.

  “Like a calm before the storm? Like something worse than being grounded or having a pack of vampires after me?”

  He started to nod just as his phone buzzed. We both laughed for a moment at the timing. It was probably his aunt checking in on him or something, but then he looked down at the screen and the remaining color drained from his face. Suddenly things didn’t feel so funny anymore.

  “Oh shit.”

  “What is it, Gary? Gary?”

  He looked up and met my eyes. “I hate being right.”

  “About?”

  “Things getting worse. The vampires and Sasquatches. They’re about to go to war.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Grounded

  As horrifying as a supernatural war sounded, it needed to be put on pause while I was trapped in the fortress of tedium for the next fourteen days. Speaking of counting. . .

  “One . . . two . . . three, four, five, six . . . seven, definitely only seven.” I closed my eyes and recreated the moment in my mind. I was back on the rooftop with him. The breeze cooled my burning cheeks while Wyatt brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand slipping beneath my. . .

  Okay, hold on, let’s back that up to the hair again.

  I counted my enchanted hairpins one more time. One was missing, and my instincts were screaming that Wyatt was the thief, but why? With my phone still in vampire hands, I had no way of contacting Phil or Other Me. Dad let me have my laptop but had locked down the Wi-Fi like I was some middle schooler sneaking a look at porn.

  Homework and practicing my katas helped kill the time. I even managed a perfect split with one foot on my bed and the other on the chair. Jean-Claude Van Damme, eat your heart out!

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t prepared for my dad to knock at that very moment. All my years of training gave out surprisingly fast, and my father walked in on me flat on my back, squishing my dirty laundry and with legs spread eagle.

  “Timecop split again?”

  He knew me far too well. While I was still partially obscured by laundry, I made certain all seven enchanted bobby pins were in place before getting up. Why couldn’t I have been caught smoking pot like a normal teen? Or while I was . . . an image of Gary behind closed doors flashed in my mind before I was able to push it away.

  “You know, when I was your age, Papa found me with—” Please don’t finish my thoughts! “—my arms pinned behind my back because I thought I was strong enough for Rico’s resistance cables. You may find this hard to believe, kiddo, but once upon a time your dad’s physique wasn’t much better than Skunk Boy’s . . . I mean Gary.”

  I nodded my approval at his correction. “Is that how you got that scar on your shoulder?”

  Dad let out a stilted chuckle. “That’s one of those injuries we don’t talk about. Adult stuff.”

  Oh, yeah. Definitely not asking.

  Fortunately. he changed the subject to this afternoon’s barbecue, the one fun activity which overruled my grounding. He not so subtly mentioned that he’d be bringing Sensei along as his plus-one but stopped short of calling her his actual date. He still seemed to think she was the reason I’d acted out yesterday, but I reiterated my story from the night before, the lie coming so much easier this morning.

  Not wanting me to be alone—as if I could ever be alone at one of our family gatherings—he offered to let me bring Gary, provided I clean up my room first. There was just one small problem with that plan.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I let out a deep sigh. “However, I can’t invite Gary because I’m still missing my phone.”

  “Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me.” He pulled a familiar-looking hunk of plastic from his back pocket. “Some good Samaritan dropped this off at the gym for you.”

  They did? Why did I have a feeling this was less an act of good faith, so much as a subtle reminder from Todd regarding my family and what could happen to them? “Thanks. That was . . . really cool of them.”

  “There’s still good people in this world, kiddo. Never doubt that. Now call up Skunk Boy and then hand it back over. You’re still grounded.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Fortunately, Dad didn’t deem it necessary to hover while I called Gary. “Come on, pick up.” I was just about to text him to answer his damned phone when there came a click from the other end.

  “Jessie?”

  “The chosen one and only.”

  “How are you calling? I thought you lost your phone.”

  “Well, hello to you, too. Lovely weather, isn’t it?” I stopped teasing him and told him about the cookout, insinuating his presence was not optional. Priorities and all. Then I turned serious. “As for my phone, it was dropped off at the gym.”

  “Oh, that’s nice.”

  “Not nice. Todd was the one who took it.”

  “Todd?”

  “The vampire. One of them from the alleyway in Boston.”

  He was silent for several seconds. “They’re probably trying to intimidate you. Most vampires are little more than bullies at heart. I think this Todd . . . wow, talk about a nonthreatening name. Like, who would ever be afraid of Todd the vampire?” He chuckled before continuing. “Sorry, I know this isn’t funny. Let me talk to Aunt Phil. Maybe she and Sienna can work out a way to ward your gym against them.”

  “Will that work?”

  “In theory,” he said. “Older vampires might be able to sense it, though.”

  “They can do that?”

  “I’m . . . not entirely sure. Vampires and the Magi have traditionally been on neutral terms with each other, but more in a don’t-cross-me-and-I-won’t-cross-you kind of way. It’s not like they’ve been handing out flyers detailing their strengths and weaknesses.�
��

  “Listen. That’s not all. One of my magic hair pins is missing. I think Wyatt may have stolen it last night while I was distracted—”

  “How were you distracted?”

  “That’s not important right . . . crap, I can hear my dad coming. Just be at my Uncle Jimmy’s place at three. We can talk then. Gotta go.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Cleaning wasn’t my favorite activity, but it was a small price to pay to get a reprieve from the four walls of my bedroom. Ugh, what a mess. I found sweaters I hadn’t seen in months, an entire ecosystem of dust bunnies, and even one or two things I couldn’t identify, like this weird bundle of what seemed to be potpourri. Ah, the joys of owning a secondhand mattress. But in the end, I finished, at least enough to enjoy the barbecue and subsequently resume my conversation with Gary.

  “I have no idea why a vampire would want an enchanted hairpin,” he whispered from his spot next to me at the fire pit. “Not unless this Wyatt dude secretly doubles as hairdresser to the undead. Are you sure you didn’t just lose it?

  “Positive. That’s the only time I was distracted.”

  “Jess, you get distracted in normal conversation. Look at you. You’re distracted right now.”

  “Am not.”

  “What was I talking about two minutes ago?”

  “Um. . .” Saved by the crunch of leaves from behind us. “Hey, Sensei!”

  “What are you two over here whispering about?”

  “Just getting caught up,” Gary said. “Between news of this war and Jess losing a hairpin—”

  “And Todd the vampire stalking me.”

  “Todd . . . the vampire?” Sensei blinked a few times, then shook her head. I brought her up to speed, giving her the Cliff’s Notes version. “And here I thought dealing with the Flores clan would be the most exasperating thing I had to deal with today. As for the war, you can calm your tits. There hasn’t been any formal declaration. We’re still getting conflicting reports about what’s going on between the factions, so just chill. Jessie, Gary is probably right. I’m betting your hairpin is probably in the locker room or stuck to one of the mats. Not everything is a vampire conspiracy.”

  “But what about Todd?” I was not digging her tone, no matter how sound and logical her words might be.

  “Might be legit, might be vampire bullshit. We’ll look into it, but for now, keep a low profile, Jess. Relax. If the bloodsucking Worcester Coven wanted to make a move, they would have.”

  “So says the witch who apparently isn’t a trouble magnet.”

  “At least I don’t go fucking looking for fights,” she snapped back. “And why didn’t you use your bracelet the other night? If vampires—”

  “Because you never told me how to use it! I tried tugging at it, turning it, even thinking really hard, and nothing happened.” I lowered my voice a little as I realized my dad was drinking a beer by the back door.

  “It’s a touch ward. All you need to do is. . .” Sensei leaned over and gave the band still around my wrist a quick tug. “That’s strange,” she murmured, taking a closer look. “It’s like the enchantment has been sucked out of it. Have you been around any other Magi, Jess?”

  “You mean other than you guys? No.”

  “Maybe I did it,” Gary added. “The other night when I linked up with her.”

  Good choice of words. If he’d said hooked up, I’d probably have to deck him.

  He made eye contact with me as Sensei was examining the band, lifting his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. Oh, yeah. She still thought my abilities were the result of an enchantment gone wrong. But why not tell her? It wasn’t like she hadn’t proven herself by now.

  Sensei finished her examination then looked up. “Gary, please go get us both a drink, if you don’t mind.” Just in case he wasn’t motivated enough to motor, she leaned over and whispered to him, “Girl talk.”

  The moment he left, she sized me up thoroughly. “Are you okay, Jessie? I may not specialize in mind magic, but I can tell you’re off your game. Did Gary take too much from you?”

  “I don’t know.” My teacher raised a brow and I returned the gesture. “I really don’t know.”

  “Has Phil given you any arcane instruction?”

  I shrugged.

  Sensei shook her head. “Fuck. Listen, I have a theory, but I don’t want you to freak, okay? The fact that this enhancement hasn’t worn off yet tells me that you’re likely a dormant adept . . . I mean, you were. Now you’re like me and Gary. Whatever Phil did to you, it . . . activated your latent powers somehow. So now you’re in the club and she should be doing her goddamn job.”

  “I really have no idea what you just said.”

  Sensei McAdams devolved into grunts and grumbles and I heard several four-letter words muttered under her breath. “Sorry, that wasn’t for you. It just frustrates me to no end. Phil always does this shit. She hoards her knowledge and never tells anyone more than the bare minimum they need to know. Tell me the truth, Jessie. How long have you been wrapped up in this?”

  “Only for a couple weeks,” I confessed.

  “All right, listen to me. Don’t worry about what I just said, for now anyway. Like I told you, it’s only a theory, but I’m going to do some digging on what she did to you, find out exactly what happened. When I know, I’ll tell you everything.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I simply nodded and hoped that was enough.

  She finished up just as Gary wandered back with our drinks. She took hers, gave me a slight nod, then wandered off to chit chat with my Dad.

  I immediately leaned in toward Gary. “When are we going to tell her? About me being a shiny one, I mean.”

  “Let’s wait until we talk to Aunt Phil first. With everything that’s happening, it might not be the best time to tell everyone that you’re the Icon.”

  “She’s not blind, Gary. She’s already noticed that magic seems to go all wonky around me.”

  “Minor spells fizzle. Major ones still work,” he mansplained in a tone that put decking him back on the agenda. “Look, we’re still figuring it out ourselves.”

  “Well, I don’t even know enough to lie effectively. . . Oh no, it must be halftime. Here comes everyone. Act cool.” We both plastered goofy grins on our faces as the rest of my family joined us.

  “—And I’m saying this now, if Diego doesn’t come back with at least a two-year contract, I’m gonna show those suits what it means to screw the Flores family, no?” Papa seemed redder than usual, and his steely hair stuck out in every direction as he blustered. “You saw how their eyes lit up in round three. Diego made mincemeat out of that pretty boy!”

  “He back yet?” one of my other cousins asked.

  “Do you see him here?” Dylan replied, rolling his eyes. “He’s still up in Boston getting wined and dined.”

  What?

  Gary and I exchanged looks. “Diego is still in Boston?”

  Papa replied, “Heck yeah! I just wish he’d have taken family instead of his lawyer! What does a lawyer know?”

  “Enough to stick around for the free food,” Uncle Rico chimed in, causing everyone to laugh.

  I didn’t find it particularly amusing, and from the look on Gary’s face, neither did he, but then, right before I could say something that would probably cause my entire family to think I’d gone insane in the membrane, Dylan added, “I can’t believe that agent lady came all the way from New York to see him. No way is he coming back without a contract.”

  Lady? New York?

  Oh, thank goodness. If that was the case, then it was probably a legitimate talent scout. We’d incinerated the only lady vamp in sight. Gary confirmed my feelings once the game was back on, leaving us alone to converse again.

  “One less thing to worry about,” I said with a sigh of relief.

  “Maybe not.” When he saw the look of alarm on my face, he quickly amended. “Not about your cousin. He’s probably fine, but I checked my phone while everyone
was talking. Phil sent me a message.”

  “Oh?”

  “She says she has news, big news.”

  “Well, don’t leave me hanging here.”

  “I don’t have much choice in the matter. We’re talking big as in she won’t say over the phone.” He grinned sheepishly. “Listen, I know you’re grounded and all. . .”

  “Trust me, I’ve noticed.”

  “So, how do you feel about sneaking out tonight?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Time Off for Bad Behavior

  “You okay, kiddo? You seemed a little quiet at the cookout.”

  I looked up from my big book of myths, because what else did I have to do, and let out a sigh for his benefit. “I’m fine, Dad. Just a bit bummed because I was stupid and got grounded for it.”

  He nodded but remained standing in my doorway. “Call it cop-dad instincts, but I can’t help but feel like you’re holding back.”

  Holding back? About what? The fact that I’m some chosen one with glowing hair, magical friends . . . and a vampire I kinda made out with? Oh, and there might be a supernatural war brewing, too.

  “It’s about Sienna, isn’t it?”

  What?! “Listen, Dad—”

  “You know, back when you had that . . . incident with the debate club, I sort of blamed her—told her she was teaching you to be too aggressive. I was basically my worst, overbearing dad self to her.”

  “Really? I never knew.”

  “For the longest time I thought she quit the gym because I . . . well to be frank, was a dick to her. Sorry about the language.” I raised a brow at him. “Let me at least pretend you haven’t heard worse. Anyway, the reason I asked her to coffee this weekend was to apologize, or at least it started off that way, but then. . .”

  “You had a good time? It’s okay.” Please just leave it at that, Dad.

  “Are you sure you’re not upset? Because you’re still my number one girl, and nothing is gonna change that.”

  I gave him a big hug. “So, any chance your number one girl can get a reprieve?” Nothing ventured. . .