Freaky fangs, p.5
Freaky Fangs, page 5
part #9 of Mystic Caravan Mystery Series
“What are you doing?” Nellie joined me at the table without invitation. He was drinking iced tea and dressed in a summery frock that showed off his hairy legs in a manner that made me uncomfortable. He was one leg shift away from flashing me, and I knew for a fact he didn’t always wear undergarments.
“What are you doing?” I queried, shooting him a look. “And you’d better be wearing underwear.”
He snorted. “You know I’m the president of the ‘Free the Bits’ movement. Underwear is an abomination.”
I shook my head.
“I think we should all go without underwear. You especially.”
I narrowed my eyes and frowned. “Why me especially?”
“Because you’re wrapped extremely tight these days, and it’s not a pretty sight.”
“I am not wrapped tight.” His tone was aggravating. “I’m perfectly ... unwrapped.”
He laughed at my response. “Right. You’re a loose goose.”
Sometimes he said the oddest things. “I don’t even know what that means.” I went back to studying my screen. “Did you know this area used to be overrun with trolls?”
His eyebrows hopped. “Behold the queen of the rough transition. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’ve been researching the area,” I admitted. “It has a pretty ... colorful ... history.”
“So do we.” Nellie grabbed the computer without asking and shifted it so he could see the screen. “May I ask why you’re researching the paranormal history of Mammoth Caves?”
“I like to be prepared whenever we set up in a new spot. You know that.”
He tilted his head, his expression reflecting amusement. “No offense, honey, but we’ve been here so many times I’ve lost count. This isn’t a new area for us. I have to think that you already did this research the first time we rolled through.”
He wasn’t wrong. “That was five years ago. There’s new information.”
“Ah.” His expression turned troubled. “Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“What makes you think something is bothering me?”
“Because I know you. Up until two weeks ago you were your usual sunny self. Sure, you don’t really get sunny because you’re kind of dark and twisty when you want to be, but I can’t remember ever seeing you like this. Does this have something to do with what happened in Detroit?”
Of course he would think that. They were probably all thinking that. “I’m not upset about what happened in Detroit. We did our job. We left. What’s there to be upset about?”
“I thought maybe you were upset about Cotton and Michelob.”
I stilled. I hadn’t forgotten about the homeless girls we’d crossed paths with while tromping around my old stomping grounds. How could I? We’d all become attached to them, to the point we’d wanted to take them when we left. They were minors, so that wasn’t a possibility. Instead, we promised to keep in touch — leaving a family of reapers we’d met in charge of checking on them weekly — and put them in the system, where we knew they would be safe. How did we know? We used our magic to ensure it. Raven and I went above and beyond when planting suggestions in the social worker’s mind. We had absolutely no doubt that they would be fine, because the social worker had no choice but to make sure of it if she didn’t want to lose her mind ... and potentially her life. Yeah, we went dark with the magic to protect the girls. I wasn’t sorry even a little bit.
“I’m not worried about them. I called the day before yesterday. They’re doing well. They’re still salty about not being able to travel with us yet. I stressed again that they can’t join us until they’re eighteen and we’ll keep in touch.”
“Plus the Grimlock family is going to check on them, right?”
I nodded, thinking back to the outrageous family we’d made acquaintance with during our last big battle. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure I can trust them. They’re mouthy but awesome.”
“They are mouthy ... and awesome. I really like the daughter. She would fit in around here.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “I’m not worried about the girls. They’ll be perfectly fine.”
“So, what are you worried about?”
That was the question. “The accident.” It was the simplest answer, and I was keen to avoid emotional minefields. “I don’t think it was an accident. The news says it happened because of a quick storm and flash flood, but that makes no sense. Kade and I heard some people talking in the grocery store. They said there was no storm.”
Nellie’s eyebrows hopped in surprise. “That’s what you’re over here stewing about?”
“Of course. What else did you think it would be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I thought maybe you were upset about Cole.”
Son of a ... ! I was over everyone assuming I disliked Luke’s boyfriend. Of course, I didn’t trust him, but it was my job as his best friend to protect him. There was no way I would shirk my duties. “I like Cole fine.”
Nellie snorted. “If you say so. But I know you’re full of it. Everyone can see it. You’re acting like a big ... Raven.”
My mouth dropped open as outrage washed over. “I am nothing like Raven.”
“You would be so lucky,” the lamia in question called out as she passed behind us. Obviously she’d been listening. “People everywhere aspire to be like me.”
That was a complete and total load of crap. “Whatever. I’m not acting like you.”
“Of course not.” Raven kept moving. “There’s only one me.”
“Thank the Maker,” Nellie muttered.
“I heard that,” she flung back. “I’ll be back to talk about your attitude later.”
“I can’t wait.” He scowled and shook his head before turning his eyes back to me. “You’re acting like a pouty baby and I want to know why.”
I worked my jaw, frustrated. “I’m not acting like a pouty baby. I like Cole fine. I don’t know why you would think otherwise.”
“I have eyes, and from where I’m sitting, you’re acting like a jealous child who doesn’t want to share her friend. I hate to break it to you, but Cole seems like a good guy. He’s exactly the sort of guy you should want for Luke, quite frankly.”
“Oh, yeah? Why is that?”
“He’s patient, friendly and interested in what we’re doing here,” Nellie replied, unruffled by my tone. “Because he genuinely seems to care about Luke, and listens to every crazy idea he has. He tempers his responses and gives Luke exactly what he needs ... which is attention.
“On top of that, he’s part of the paranormal community,” he continued. “We both know that relationships with normals don’t usually work out for us ... Raven’s fling with that weird clown notwithstanding.”
“We’re definitely having a talk later,” Raven snapped as she moved behind us again, heading in the other direction. She was in the middle of some sort of task. “You’d better live in fear.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Nellie shot her the finger behind her back and rolled his neck. “She’s a real pill. You need to stop acting like her and start acting like Luke’s best friend. You have a relationship you’ve insisted he get on board with even though he was reticent. You can’t demand things go the other way when the shoe is on the other foot. That hardly seems fair.”
What he said was reasonable, but I was hardly in a mood to be reasonable. “I don’t want to talk about Luke. I want to talk about the trolls.”
“Why would you want to talk about trolls? They’re useless ... and we haven’t seen any in years. They’ve fled to the mountains to keep away from people.”
I gestured toward the mountain behind us. “We’re in the mountains, and this place used to be thick with trolls. Maybe some of the trolls here didn’t want to flee.”
“And what?” Nellie looked legitimately confused. “Do you think they’re lurking by area roads and running out to flip cars and kill families?”
“They’re known to be destructive.”
“Oh, geez. They’re also known as mindless brutes. If trolls were in this area, people would’ve seen them. The population is too dense. They’re not here. They’re all up in Canada ... and the tundras of Russia. Oh, and Montana. I heard a bunch of them went to Montana. If something is here, it’s not trolls.”
Yeah, he was definitely on my last nerve. “You know what? I don’t need your version of a pep talk. I’m busy, and you should be doing ... whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing.” I waved my hand to get him to leave and reclaimed the computer. “Now ... off with you.”
Instead of being offended, he barked out a laugh and stood. “You’re determined to dig your heels in on more than one thing. You might want to ask yourself how healthy that is, because we’re dealing with a real situation here.
“I believe that something paranormal knocked that car off the road,” he continued. “I’ve heard what Cole and Kade have been saying, and the fact that there were no skid marks is a dead giveaway. But that doesn’t mean it’s trolls.”
He took a step away from the table and glanced back at me. “Also, your attitude when it comes to Cole and Luke sucks. This isn’t like you. I don’t know what your deal is, but you need to let it go. It’s only fair to Luke, who has been the best friend you could possibly ask for. He’s always been there for you. It’s time for you to be there for him.”
I WAS STILL FUMING ABOUT NELLIE’S admonishment an hour later. Apparently word had spread that I was in a bad mood and no one — absolutely no one — had bothered to approach me. That included Kade, who I had sensed watching me a few times, but he was obviously keen to keep his distance. That, unfortunately, was a small tear to the heart I wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t rectified.
“Hey.”
I looked up at the new voice, frowning when I realized it was Cole who was finally going to bridge the gap between us. For a split second my anger doubled when I realized he was being the bigger person and reaching out to me. It should’ve been the other way around. Of course, the anger didn’t last because I knew it should be pointed inward. I was to blame in all of this, and apparently Cole was here to fix it. I could read his intent, because it was his lone thought when he joined me.
“Hey.” I was leery when he sat across from me. “How’s it going?”
He laughed at my lame greeting. “I’m okay. How are you?”
“I’ve ... been better.”
“So I’ve heard. You know you’re the talk of the fairgrounds? Everyone is gossiping about how you’re acting ... and it’s not in complimentary terms.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I pursed my lips, considering. “Did you guys draw straws to see who was going to have to talk me off the ledge?”
He shook his head. “No. Kade volunteered, but I asked him to let me talk to you. He wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but he seems desperate to try anything.”
Ugh. That was so Kade. Of course he’d been pouring his heart out to Cole. He wasn’t happy when our little family was in tumult. He wanted it fixed ... and expediently. “He doesn’t need to be desperate. I ... um ... I’m fine.” I forced a smile I didn’t really feel. “Seriously, there’s nothing to worry about.”
His expression was hard to read. “I don’t know you very well, though I’d like to remedy that. I can tell without a shadow of a doubt that you’re not fine. I think we need to talk about it.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. If we talked I would have to admit I was acting like the worst friend in the world. No one wants to admit that. “I’m fine.”
He cleared his throat and pinned me with a serious look. “I’m not asking you to like me.” He looked as if he was searching for the right words. “I’m asking you to give me a chance. You were friendly when we first met. I really liked you, thought you were funny. Then you turned cold on me when I showed up to visit Luke. I want to know why.”
I worked my jaw, unsure how to answer. Finally, and only because I believed brutal honesty was often the best policy, I sighed and decided to go for it. “At first I thought you were going to be a temporary fling. Luke needed some attention and you were there to give it. It was a good thing.”
“And you don’t think something more lasting is a good thing?” Cole was calm, not forceful in the least. He acted as if he was genuinely interested in hearing my answer.
“It’s not that,” I replied hurriedly. “It’s just ... Luke is one of the most important people in my life. In some ways, he’s the most important, even though things have shifted a bit.” I flicked my eyes to the ticket booth, to the spot I knew Kade was loitering even though I couldn’t see him. He was watching us and I could feel his worry wafting over the fairgrounds.
“He’s not the only one spying on us,” Cole volunteered. “Luke is behind that tent where they sell shrunken evil humans as voodoo dolls.”
I jerked my head back to him, surprised. “How do you know that? Did someone tell you?”
“I’m magical,” he reminded me. “I have abilities, the same as you. Sure, my elemental abilities are different — I can conjure fire out of thin air if it becomes necessary — but we’re largely the same ... and by that I mean we both care about Luke a great deal.
“I don’t want to hurt him,” he continued, somber. “I like him. He’s ... funny. He’s charming. He has you for a friend. All of those things stack up in his favor. But if you won’t give me a chance it’s best that I leave now, because he’ll never accept me the way I want to be accepted if you don’t at least make an effort.”
I wanted to argue the point — mostly because I felt like an idiot — but I couldn’t. He wasn’t wrong. I was standing in the way of Luke’s happiness, and it wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing. “I’m not trying to be difficult,” I said finally. “I know it probably doesn’t seem that way, but I’m aware of how I’m acting and I hate myself for it.”
“Believe it or not, I can see that. Why do you think I’ve been trying to reach out to you? I don’t think you’re a bad person. You are, however, ruining what could be a good time.”
“I know.” I rubbed my forehead and exhaled heavily. “It’s just ... what’s going to happen? You only have a few weeks of vacation. Once that’s over, you have to return to your job. Luke will be even more attached to you then. By that point he’ll be upset when you leave, and I’m afraid he’ll go with you ... back to Ohio ... the land of nothing.”
Cole looked genuinely delighted with my response as he snorted. “Is that really what you’re worried about?”
I nodded. “I don’t want to lose him. Yes, it’s selfish for me to treat you this way because of my fear, but ... for a long time, he’s all I had.”
Cole’s expression softened. “Do you think he’s forgotten that?”
“No, but ... .” I was genuinely at a loss.
“He loves you so much that he can’t be away from you any more than you can be away from him.” He adopted a soothing tone. “You two are not going to be separated,” he promised. “There might be a week here or there when he visits me, but ... he can’t be without you over the long haul.”
“Then how is that fair to you?” I was legitimately curious. “How will you guys have a meaningful relationship if you’re separated for forty-eight weeks a year?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you willing to leave your job and come on the road with us? It might come to that.”
“I don’t know.” Cole remained calm. “Luke and I don’t even know if we’re going to be compatible more than a few days. That’s why I took my vacation now and decided to travel with you guys. We can only take it one step at a time. The big step is making sure Luke and I actually want to take the other steps. But even that won’t have a chance if you keep throwing up roadblocks.”
He was right. I was wrong and he was completely right. I was acting like an imbecile. “I’m sorry.” I choked out the words. “I want Luke to be happy. I don’t want you to be miserable. I actually like you. I just ... for some reason, I keep fighting with my instincts. I don’t know why.”
“That’s because of me.” Cole’s smile was rueful. “As an elemental, I have certain ... things ... that happen around me. One of them is that those who have strong mind powers are often affected negatively by my magic. You’ll have to learn to shutter better around me.”
I was flabbergasted. Again. “What? Are you saying I’m acting like a maniacal mess because I can’t help myself around your powers?”
He nodded, his smile returning. “I figured it out a couple of days ago. The pixie twins were having the same problem, although Raven is seemingly immune, which I find interesting. I warned Naida and Nixie, and they’ve been much better.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Because it seemed like another reason for you to hate me, and you don’t want to admit to the guy you’re dating that his best friend is essentially allergic to you.”
The simple statement made me burst out laughing. It was a relief to let go of some of the worry and anger I’d been carrying. “You should’ve told me,” I said as I wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I’ve been having this vicious tug-of-war in my head. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.”
“That’s why I finally decided to bite the bullet. I need you to give me a chance or this will never work, no matter what we decide.”
I nodded and sighed. “I’ll give you a chance. I’m really sorry for how I’ve been acting. Believe it or not, it makes me feel better to know that not all of it has been my fault.”
“That’s another reason I came over here.” Tentatively, he reached across the table and patted my hand. When I didn’t pull away, he let loose a charming smile. “You’re going to like me if you give yourself the chance.”
“I think I already like you. That’s why I was so territorial about Luke.”
