Wild Fire

by Heather Glidewell

  *****

  As soon as my feet hit the carpet the next morning everything started moving fast. I think she was waiting for me because the second I was in the kitchen she was pouncing. I put my finger up the moment she opened her mouth and she promptly closed it grinding her teeth together. That was probably the most unladylike act I had ever seen Mona do.

  I poured myself a cup of coffee and hid a smile behind the rim of my cup. Once I had drank half the cup I looked at her again and nodded.

  “Thanks.” I yawned and put the cup down on the table.

  “You thought about last night?” She asked crossing her arms.

  “I don’t have much of a choice do I?” I asked leaning backwards stretching.

  “Not if you want to save the boy.” She answered me. She looked extremely overdressed for it being so early. I was beginning to think that she just woke up one morning and said: I’m never having bed head again.

  “Well then I suppose that is your answer.” I smiled wide. “I just don’t know who would make a good me while I’m gone.”

  “There’s not an exceptional fire carrier that you have grown attached to?” She asked me raising an eyebrow.

  “There’s one I guess but wouldn’t she be missed?” I questioned her.

  “Leave that to me. What’s her name?” She uncrossed her arms put them delicately at her side.

  “Kelly.” I said simply and Mona walked off.

  “Meet me in your room in twenty minutes.” She yelled.

  I finished my coffee minutes later and put the cup in the sink. If things were going to be going this fast I better start packing. Then again if I took anything from that room wouldn’t someone know? I grabbed a quick shower and went back to my room to get dressed. Throwing on a black sundress and my Vans I sat down on the bed. Mona and Kelly entered the room a few minutes later. The look on Kelly’s face was confusion.

  “What’s going on?” She asked me her violet eyes flashing.

  “I need your help.” I said standing up so that I was eye level with her.

  “Of course, anything.” She said. I loved my troops there were eternally faithful and that made my heart beat with pride.

  “I need you to be me for a few weeks.” I said and she broke into laugher.

  “You’re kidding me right?” She said shaking her head. “How I can I pretend to be you?”

  “Mona has her ways of making it happen. I just need someone that can make it appear as if I am still here.” I touched her shoulders and she quit laughing.

  “Oh my God, you’re serious.” Her eyes got wide.

  “Of course I’m serious.” I laughed.

  “But why? Why me?” She stuttered her eyes were intently searching mine for answers.

  “I have to do something quite important. If there are spy’s in the allies I need it to appear as if I am still here. Nobody can know it is you though.” I pointed out as she started shaking her head.

  “How? How is it possible?” She wasn’t grasping the extent of what I was saying.

  “With this.” Mona held up an amulet similar to the one I was wearing. “It’s been enchanted as long as you wear it you will appear as her.” She pointed at me and I just stood there staring at her. Was it really that simple?

  “So I just wear that and everyone will think I’m her? What about my powers? I only control hells fire I do not have the ability to control heavens flame.” She had to sit down. Was I entrusting too much in this small Were?

  “Everything you need is in the amulet. As long as you wear it you will have the ability to do all things that Dawn herself can do.” Mona was trying to get the girl to understand but I still wasn’t completely convinced it was working.

  “Where will I have gone?” She asked her voice small.

  “You will have been charged with a mission. A special one that only you and her know about and had to leave at the last moment.” Mona smiled. Her plan still seemed too simple but even then the simplest plans seemed to work. Don’t think too much into it Dawn.

  “What if we go to battle before she gets back?” Kelly was concerned more about letting me down than actually doing it. At least that is what I gathered.

  “I don’t think that will happen. If it does though Shawn will help you.” I smiled at her again hoping to reassure her just a little bit.

  “And you are sure this is going to work?” She pointed at the amulet that Mona held in her hand. “Am I supposed to sleep here?”

  “Well if you are going to be me then yeah.” I chuckled.

  “Ok.” She agreed nodding. “I’ll do it.”

  “The same gag spell will be on you that is on the others. You can tell nobody of this.” Mona smiled and put the amulet around the girl’s neck. There was a shimmer and in a matter of seconds I was looking at myself. Talk about freaky.

  “How do I look?” Kelly asked. She even sounded like me.

  “Beautiful.” Mona sighed. “I must say they do exceptional work.”

  “Who does?” I asked looking at her confused.

  “Nobody honey.” She winked. I had a feeling she might tell me later if I was a good girl.

  Kelly reached behind her neck and undid the clasp of the amulet. The moment it hit her hands the mirage faded and she was standing in front of us with a big grin on her face.

  “That was amazing.” She laughed. “Do you always feel like so much power is inside of you? It’s a high like no other.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” I felt my pulse calm. This was going to work, this was really going to work.

  “So when you leaving?” She asked looking between the two of us.

  “Tonight. After dark.” Mona said.

  “What all do I need to take?” I asked cautiously I wasn’t sure what she was going to say.

  “Nothing. I have everything we are going to need back in Dallas.” Her smile was wide and sent a chill up my spine. Oh crap! What did she have planned for me now?

  “Do I need to grab anything?” Kelly asked looking out the window towards the fully constructed barn.

  “No. You will wear all of Dawn’s clothing. Including these horrid shoes.” Mona pointed at my Van’s and stuck out her tongue.

  “Hey, these are my favorite shoes.” I said defensively.

  “I have an outfit for you to leave in.” Mona instructed. “Now I’m going to go and spend some time with Rose.” She brushed her hands on her hips and frowned. “She’s so much like her father it drives me insane.”

  “How is it going otherwise?” I asked. I still hadn’t accepted the fact that Rose was actually my step-sister.

  “As good as one can expect. She’s a vicious little cuss. She has it in her head that I want her forgiveness.” Mona shook her head. “I have news for her.”

  “Are you sure she gets her stubbornness from her father?” I raised an eyebrow at her and half smiled.

  “She’s a late bloomer. Normally one of your kind would have their gifts under control by now. She’s just all sorts of messed up.” Mona growled and walked off with a swing of her hips.