by Deandre Dean
Travis uncertain façade faltered as he looked from me to MaryAnne. He nodded and sighed. Travis went to the bar and pours some Whiskey into a shot glass. Dumped a few ice chips into the glass, before he takes a quick chug.
“Alrighty, you had enough. Time to answer my questions,” MaryAnne voice carried so much weigh behind it that Travis nodded. He took a long gulp, draining what was left in the glass.
“Ask me whatever you like,” he responds.
Ginger couldn’t help herself when she asked, “What are the Flowers’ twins? They aren’t human are they?”
Travis looked at Ginger a moment, debating his chance of worming his way out. He finally answers, “They are her children. Delia was suppose to protect them into Claudia returned but they got bored. They decided they wanted to run PHD and well ambitious children and all that jazz.”
“Who is Claudia?” MaryAnne demanded.
“The Alpha superior witch, my true boss,” replies Travis.
Ginger asks, “What does she want?”
Travis chuckles before stating, “She would never tell me that. I barely get told any thing with her mutant science experimented children enjoying the attention of mommy dearest.”
“Someone sounds upset that he isn’t getting enough attention. Do you want a cookie?” MaryAnne asks.
“Haha, you are stupid bitches! I serve the winning team, but I know I am not on the top of the food chain any longer. I know you won’t kill me so get on with it,” he barks.
MaryAnne smirks and declares, “Speak for her. I will do whatever I need to do to protect those that I love.”
Never had truer words been spoken. Ginger didn’t doubt that MaryAnne would kill to protect Jensen, Hell the woman was insane enough to clone her dead child.
Chapter 21:
MaryAnne Astrid Kris was not an easy woman to work with, or get along with. She finished pushing Travis Hauser around before stripping him of his powers by taking them. Unlike Piper, MaryAnne was immune to a lot of indigo’s abilities which didn’t sit well with Ginger.
Trusting your enemies isn’t easy? Would this power trip lead to betrayal later on? These and many other questions run on repeat as Ginger tried to be calm when Leo Lions came to haul her off to Moville. The prison in Corona held some of the most powerful threats that Ginger has faced.
Now with one less major figure in play, Ginger wondered what the Flower twins were up to. So they were related to Claudia, the Alpha. Both had been super-powered with all sorts of abilities. As if it wasn’t difficult enough trying to take Delia out of the picture.
Ginger felt a chill standing outside Travis’ mansion while Leo and the team finished sweeping the house clean. Tagging all belongings they felt could be useful. Now that it was done, she didn’t mind being alone with her thoughts especially to consider how dangerous MaryAnne truly was.
She has been wrestling with changing who she is. The thing that scared Ginger the most was how fast she adapts and with little regard to loyalty. Would MaryAnne sway Jensen away from her? Ginger was the only real tie he has to be a force for good. If Ginger wasn’t in the equation, things could turn bad quickly.
Looking back at the empty house, Ginger had an idea. Using her shadow abilities to turn invisible and slid through the door. No alarms went off as she turned back solid, beginning to walk from room to room.
Still not sure this plan would work, Ginger hoped her combined psychic power would pick up a clue that the naked eye couldn’t see. Feeling drawn toward the small hall-closet at the end of the second floor walk way, Ginger walked toward it.
It seemed to enchant her, begging to be open and reveal all its secrets. Once outside the door, she reached out and the handle felt cool to her touch. The clairvoyant in her saw a boy running and hiding in here
The vision ended as gasped for air. Air was struggling enter lungs. It was a large amount of psychic residue inside this room. Ginger quickly opened the door before she could second guess her decision.
Doubt was the beginning of fear. No she will see this through and conquer all fear that presented itself. No immediate vision came to her, so she waited a few seconds to see if anything would happened. Nothing after a few minutes, there were a few items on selves so she figured the psychometry would kick in.
Reaching for the plastic train, and flash she blacked out.
Chapter 22:
The past dragged her down deeper and deeper. She was no longer in control as she felt a ton of psychic energy consume her. Giving in as the visions would hopefully show her what she needed to know.
Swirls of light took her from the edge of reality to a world where Jesse Flowers was seven years old hiding in this closet clutching his toy train. Nora was looking for him and she was pissed, he accidentally chipped one of her tea cups as he was playing. He didn’t mean it, and was sorry but Nora had a huge temper.
The house shook with miniature earthquakes. Jesse quivered, pulled a coat down to try and hide under. He hoped to shrink down to the size of an ant so his sister wouldn’t find him. He feared her the most. Mom was always away doing something and dad.
Well dad was a totally different story all together. He was a doctor, always so kind when mom allowed him to visit us. Daddy never came without mom’s permission. She made sure of that. I saw him argue with her once, and it seems he couldn’t hide anymore.
Mommie cast a spell and all of a sudden daddy was happy again. Jesse stayed hidden when he felt a whirl of cold air hit his back as the closet door slammed wide open. She found me. Don’t move a single muscle. He prayed his body would stop shaking and give away his location.
Silence as a mouse. Dead as a log. Time stilled as he waited in fear and anticipation that Nora was prolonging his punishment by making him anxiously wait.
The pitch blackness was replaced with Nora’s rage filled sparking blue eyes looking like cold ice bergs. She tried to yank my train away, before I twisted and turned my back to her. Nora swung and I felt a huge ache in my back. Next it was replaced with a scratch on my arm.
She ripped my sailor’s outfit that mommie gave me. I started to cry as she yanked the train away and slammed it hard against the hardwood floor. Our maid Lupita came to my rescue and slapped her. The damage was already done, the train was destroyed and I just sat there crying. Nora took the slapped before walking to her room.
I had no thoughts of revenge or anger at my sister. No, all I had was sadness that my favorite toy was damaged. Daddy gave that to me, and it was the best birthday ever. It was one of the only things mommie allowed me to keep from him. It was why I cherished it so much and now it was taken from me.
That night mommie came home, cast a spell to fix the train. At that point, I lost interest in the toy. Magic did things to people. This was a lesson I learned that night. Lupita had been fired. Mommie placed a curse on her.
The train lost all its sentimental value. It was now just an object that I hid in the closet to remind me never rely on its connection to daddy. He was gone! Mommie took him away from us. The past was nothing but filled with pain. Nora was all I had when they imprisoned mommie.
I didn’t shed another tear after that day and never would again. Placing a spell on myself to strip away my humanity, emotions and soul down to a tiny magical marble. It is hidden within my childhood home. No one could know this; it held my true strength, love.
The vision ended and Ginger was crying from all the pain that Jesse Flowers had endeared. Why would a seven year old boy cast a spell on himself to remove his humanity? That thought plagued my mind as I closed the closet and took the plastic train with me.
Chapter 23:
Ginger had a lot to consider but she kept the toy train close. Somehow it was the key and if she gave Jesse back his humanity, could he possibly help stop his sister. Nora seemed to be the product of pure evil, but that was a generalization.
The train gave her no more visions. She sat it on her desk in her room. The apartment was dead silent and when Lucas called it mad
e her jumpy. Something about the vision didn’t sit right with her. While waiting for Lucas to show up and cook them sloppy Joe’s. She wrote a few chapters of the new romance novel. It was shaping up nicely, practically writing itself.
After Lucas called, they ate in blissful joy discussing their days. He cleaned the kitchen as she looked for a movie to watch. Ginger decided to play the Age of Adeline and half-way through, Lucas started getting frisky.
It started with a caress up her thigh, a neck massage and moaning for him to stop the movie completely. His hands worked their magic, while his mouth consumed her neck, earlobe and lips. Ginger couldn’t wait to have him. She had to stop and remember her roommates could come home and interrupt this special moment.
When Lucas stood, the evidence of his arousal and interest was on full display. Ginger smirked, grabbed his arm and practically dragged him to the bedroom. She slammed the door, thrust him against the wall and jumped into his arms. He squeezed her ass, grinding his erection deep into her pelvis and she moaned for more.
He carried her to the bed, ripped her shirt off, buttons flew every which way. Ginger could sow them back on tomorrow. In that moment, passion and lust blocked out all rational thoughts. He didn’t have a condom, but she was on the pill and it would only be this one wild, Lustfilled time. What the hell, she thought.
She traced kisses down his body before unzipping his pants. The bulge in his boxer briefs caught her eye and the white boxers left little to the imagination. Lucas growled which stopped her from removing them, her hands inched in the air before finding their location.
“What is it?” she asked.
Lucas grins and states, “I love you. The wanton look in your eyes is what I would love to go to bed with each night. Move in with me.”
She gasps and hadn’t considered the prospect of living together so fast.
“I’m sorry. That’s too fast. I’ll give you time to considered my offer. Now, let me make sweet, passionate love to you Ginger Solis,” Lucas declares.
Without hesitation, she accepts his offer.
Chapter 24:
In the middle of the night, Ginger awakes. That dream felt so real, but it was just that – a dream. Seeing her mom and dad watching her children while she walks with Lucas to a party down the street. She has triplets, that seem insane to imagine at her age.
It must be her mind freaking out about having unprotected sex with Lucas. She loved him greatly and with all her soul, but in the heat of the moment should have stopped to get a condom. From now on, she’d have some stocked everywhere incase she and Luke felt the thrall of the moment.
Ignoring these thoughts, she removed Luke’s arm from around her torso so not to wake him. She went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Before going commando incase Gretchen brought her new bo Dino Appleby or Mark was here. Ginger slipped on an old shirt of Lucas. It went halfway to her knees as she went for the door.
Quietly she grabbed a glass, filled water from the tap. Ginger takes a few slow gulps to calm her nerves from that vivid dream. She refilled the glass and went back to her room to try and get a few more hours of sleep.
Lying in bed, Ginger couldn’t find peace. She tossed and turned, unable to succumb to the anxiety that danced around what the dream could mean. It wasn’t as if she dreamt the future. Not if her parents had been in the vision. They were dead; it had to be her subconscious playing tricks on her.
Finally an hour and a half later, Ginger fell back asleep to wonderful oblivion. When she awoke, her head was pounding and it felt like she was hung over. The migraine was so intense it felt like somebody had hit her head repeated with a sledge-hammer.
Lucas saw her face when he came in the room with a glass of orange juice and a Spanish omelet. The smell made her stomach roll in revulsion. She happily guzzled down the entire glass. Once she finished looking up to see him shirtless. His magnificent wide shoulders and broad chest caused her to purr with desire.
The headache had subsided a little, but didn’t want to be bothered with Claudia the Alpha or her children. She looked up at Lucas who was now almost fully dressed. Damn, she totally forget he had work.
The disappointment was replaced with the idea of sleep once he left. Lucas kissed her goodbye, promised to check in later on his lunch break and left. Ginger drew the curtains to block out the sun and went back to sleep.
Chapter 25:
Someone knocking at the door seemed like pounding when a person is trying to sleep in peace. Ginger groans as she threw the covers off her body. She rolled her eyes as she made a dash for the front door. She didn’t check the peep hole because whoever it was were about to get a piece of her mind.
Ginger would chew out whoever decide to disrupt her peaceful nap. Throwing the front door open to see Lupio with In and Out bags. The smell of bacon and fries calmed the fury she was about to unleash.
His grin faltered as he took inventory of her state. She wondered what she looked like to make him considered running for the hills.
“Did I wake you?” he asked.
Ginger groans and answers, “No shit, Sherlock.”
He chuckles and his large frame pushes past her towards the kitchen. Ginger relaxed her head to her chest, sighed and closed the door. She put on her nice, kind happy face before turning to one of her bestfriends.
“What brings you by?” Ginger questions him.
“Since I bailed on hiking last night, I’d figured I would make it up with Double-doubles,” Lupio finishes as he fished out the delicious smelling burgers.
He must have stopped by the mansion first before coming to the apartment. Ginger was sure he called, but had no idea where her phone was at the moment. Probably still in her jeans from yesterday before the sex filled the night with Lucas.
“Someone is being dirty. That naughty grin matches your blush. Baby-doll got some Luke love last night,” he teased as he munched on his food.
Not bothering to answer as she reached for her burger and asked, “Off for the day, or just lunch? What the hell time is it anyway?”
He chuckles and replies, “About 1:50 and for the day. That big contract I got yesterday will keep you busy for a few months. New hotel is opening downtown and I heard through the grapevine they need a manager. With your degree, you could easily snag it while you are finishing up your teaching creditals.”
This was true. Ginger almost had her MBA and could run the company. There was no harm in applying, was there? If it lead to a job, that would be great.
Ginger smiles, pushes her bangs out of her eyes and states, “Thanks I’ll apply after you leave. Who knows! So how are things with Stephen?”
“Caliente!” Lupio responds.
Ginger grins and replies, “That good. Color me envious. I am so happy for you. After the drama with Cole, well let’s just say this is a nice change for you.”
He nods. She smiles and they finish eating while not talking of anything of real substance. Once he left, true to her word Ginger applied online. After the application was finished, she went to jump in the shower. When got out, Dino and Gretchen were stretched out watching Get Hard.
The phone start ringing, as Ginger was towel drying her hair. Dino answered it, when Gretchen pauses the movie. The phone was for her so she took the call. It was the job she just applied for not two hours ago. They wanted her to come in for an interview tomorrow.
This was unbelievable as she accepted and took out a pants-suit for tomorrow. Ginger went downstairs to get it dry cleaned. She would pick it up in the morning before her two o’clock appointment. The day had turned out so much differently then she suspected.
Chapter 26:
That night Gretchen made chicken parmesan with roasted potatoes and carrots. It was amazing, as she cleaned up the kitchen. Going back to the safety of her room, she writes in her journal. Twenty minutes later, Ginger wrote seven chapters for the romance novel.
After working on her book, she called Stacey to tell her the news. It was nice to talk to Stacey
. Times like these she missed Hannah and Lucy. Friends were the people she wanted to share her great news with. Or parents, she’d call and tell Jensen after the interview. Ginger printed out a copy of her resume and attached awards. Oh and a photo copy of her Bachelor degree in English Literature.
She printed the online classes for the Masters in Education she was enrolled in. The classes started less then a month away. She was going to try and crash two on campus for her Emergency teaching credentials.
Now that her phone was charged, Ginger saw all her missed calls from Lucas and Lupio from earlier. Oh god, Lucas probably thought she was dead. She quickly texted him and he called so he could be assured she wasn’t lying. He knew her so well, because she definitely would lie to spare others feelings or to avoid getting him sick.
They talked for another twenty-five minutes or so. She hung up, brushed her teeth and went to bed.
