The Carver's Magic (18 page)

I pull Cory up as I stand. "Nope. My girl, my team." The lie sounds real, as it’s supposed to. I drill my eyes into the ugly, scared chump to let him know he is getting close to pushing my line. “Got it?” If he says one more thing to Cory, he and I are going to have a small talk about it on the front yard.

Without another word I pull her close to me, as I lead the way through the house and then into the garage where the pool table sat.

Cory grabs my arm as she chews on her lower lip. "Um Shane can you walk me to the car? I need to get my sweater."

Confident she didn’t leave anything in my car but her purse I play along, "Sure."

"Hurry up it's your break," Broken Legs calls out. Ignoring him, we walk to the car and I look down at her with my arms folded.

"What sweater?"

Cory has pulled a nail into her mouth. If she does that again, I am going to tell her to knock that shit off, that doesn’t work on me.

"Um Beth can make my clothes into...I mean, I’m cold and I would like a pair of jeans and sweater."

"Really?" I ask, clearly surprised and devious at the same time. Changing clothes. Damn Beth was a clever Carver. I have never thought to change my clothes with magic.

"Please." She begs, and I shake my head internally. She is driving me crazy with her girly begging. If I could get away from this party without drawing attention, I would probably do that right now.

I open my passenger door and let her get in. Then I walk around and get in on the driver’s side. I let my magic out to ensure the windows darken so no one can watch this. Then I look at her hopeful eyes and trail my finger over her knee up her thigh and seconds later, after she inhales with a light gasp, her dress turns into a pair of jeans. She quickly wraps her arms around her stomach and bra.

Oops. Didn't think this one through, but I wouldn't change it now.

Then I slide my finger down her arm causing goose bumps on her and she is wearing my favorite sweater.

She looks over her clothes and pulls at the sweater. "What is this?"

"It's mine. It will look believable if you are wearing something I left in my car," I say casually, even though it was going to raise eyebrows regardless because now she was in jeans and a sweater instead of her summer dress. She holds out her bracelet and asks, "Can you change this into a hair band?"

I laugh and roll my eyes. "No. Hair down."

She scowls back. "Come on! I was practically naked a second ago, you jerk."

I shake my head and get out. She gets out flipping her hair up on a small plastic thing. With a frown on my face I notice that she took a pen from my car. I reached up to grab the pen and she jumps away from me, "No touch." She looks serious but her tone is playful.

I grab her hand and walk her back to the garage. Aaron notices the sweater. He gives me a knowing look that would suggest he thinks Cory and I are together. We aren't, it's complicated because I am doing this for her so that her party stalker leaves her alone. I look away and see that Broken Legs is looking over Cory intently.

"So what's your name?" I say to the guy who may be crawling out of here tonight. I want to punch him so hard he would fly around the world and become a new resident in Russia.

The guy looks me over before answering, "Brad." I smirk, Broken Legs Brad does have a ring to it. I tell him my name and leave Cory's out because I am not trying to introduce them. I am trying to get a grasp on the idiot that is making Cory uneasy.

We don’t shake hands because I am holding the pool stick and lining up my break. I sink a solid and drop another one on my next shot. The bastard shoots after me and makes two in as well. Cory grabs the pool stick from my hand and leans over the table, lining up the shot like an expert, but while I am admiring her form, the pain in my ass is looking at her ass.

I scowl at Broken Legs Brad.

(Plunk)

Cory sinks a ball and I smile at her good luck. Then she slowly moves to the other side of the table, looking incredibly focused.

(Plunk) She drops another ball, and then another.

I am overjoyed to find that Cory can play pool. I am not saying she is good for a girl, I am saying she is good enough to be sharking people at pool halls. She dropped the eight ball and smiled at me before sitting down on a stool, looking humble. But… I know little Cory a little bit better than that. No one plays that well and doesn’t feel like screaming inside after racking the table.

Next game Broken Legs made in almost all but the eight ball, but, I may have slightly slowed down the ball with my magic so that the ball didn’t make it in.

By the end of game, I call it a night, but Broken Legs is now hot and heavy on the table. They had just won the fifth game, and it was getting old.

"That’s not fair, we are just getting started. How about first to ten," Brad says while trying to talk at Cory. Cory stands the pool stick against the table and says sorry to the idiot. Before he can say another word, Aaron holds his hand out to Cory.

“It was really nice to meet you, Cory. Come back next weekend with him, we are having a pool party.” Aaron is being friendly and that is the only reason why I am not saying out loud what I am thinking about the pool party that we won’t be going to.

"Thanks. I’ll check my schedule." I have Cory’s hand in mine now, and give a last look to Broken Legs Brad, who seems pretty disappointed to see us leave. So much so that he grabs Cory's hand and says, "Carver. Brad Carver and it was a pleasure to meet you… Cory?"

What did he just say?
I narrow my eyes.

Aaron grabs Brad's grey shirt, but is pushed off quickly as a large gust of wind blows in the closed garage. Aaron stumbles back against the table and looks at Brad with a look of surprise. Air Carver. Someone’s loosing his cool. I step towards him, tilting my head so only he can see my eyes glow. In turn, he narrows his at Cory. He snickers, “Soon, pretty girl.”

If this ugly bastard thinks he is taking Cory anywhere, he’s going to be extinguished faster than a birthday candle. I can feel my fire at the very tip of my skin. Cory leans into me with her hand on my arm and looks up at me. There is too much in her eyes for me to detect everything she is trying to convey, but I know that at least one of those looks is asking for me to calm down. I lean down and kiss her forehead, marking her mine. Hopefully he’s smart enough to get my warning. "I know. Let’s go." The fire I have has not receded a bit. And I wouldn’t let it. That way, if Broken Legs wanted to play dirty I would be prepared.

Cory stays snug to my side all the way to the car. It’s not totally annoying, but uncomfortable for me because I am not the snugly kind of guy. Once inside she keeps her head towards the window and remains silent. I had expected for her to keep up the snuggling bit when she got in, but once we pulled away, she dropped the 'act.'

I am definitely confused, but pleased at the same time. Maybe she isn’t going to be a crazy stalker after all. The drive is mostly quiet because I forgot to turn the music on while I was plotting in my head about what I was going to do about the new Carver in town.

I pull up to her house. When she opens the door I lean over as she gets out, "Thanks for coming." She smiles and nods. She isn’t giving me a chance to open the car door or walk her to her front door, like I childishly figure I might have to.

Annoyed at the ending to my day, I get out and put my arms on the roof to watch her walk safely to the front door. “Cory,” I call out. Thankfully when she turns around her smile warms me, which also irritates me, “you looked beautiful in that dress today, but I think you look better in my sweater.”

What the hell did I just say?

Her eyes light up and, even though it’s dark, I am sure she is blushing hard.

“Thanks.”

I pat the top of my hood, “Be safe, Cory.” I whisper to myself and sit back down. I am numb inside, I don’t feel drawn to Cory like I used to, but strangely the words feel true.

I reach over to grab my driver door and see two people I never wanted to see again in my life. My father, with his arms folded, looking disgusted; and the orange-eyed girl, wearing a short skirt and go-go boots, eating a licorice with an arrogant grin on her face. I watch as she pulls something out of her bra. The yellow amber stone charm that was in my pocket. How the hell did she get a hold of that?

Broken Legs Brad.

Keeping my face emotionless, I circled a few thoughts on what I would do if I saw Broken Legs again. Next, I let my thoughts discern what my father was up to, and who tipped him off that I was here because I know I blocked him from ever finding me. That way when I left I would know how to avoid him better. Lastly, he was seriously crazy if he and his trashy Carver next to him thought they could recruit me.

The trashy Carver looked up to my father and said something. When she turned back, it was impossible to miss the look that clearly said, “Gotcha.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

SHANE

My father mouths the word, “Soon,” and disappears.

I grip the steering wheel tightly. He always says that to me, reminding me that soon the prophecy will be fulfilled. I refuse to let my father and the prophecy dictate my life. I have been avoiding my father for so long that I almost thought that he wasn’t my problem anymore. I shake my head. Just when I think my biggest problem is getting back my sweater from a beautiful blonde. Ugh.

I push my hand in my pocket and see Cory in her room, pulling books off her bookshelf frantically. I let the coin loose and decide to check in on her later when I’m not driving and I can find out what exactly she’s looking for, and why the first thing she was doing after our date was look through her books.

My eyes close at a thought that dropped in my mind. She better not be looking for a journal.

I hit my steering wheel to bring my mind back to what’s actually important. My father. He came here to make a point. He obviously knows I took a human on a date and he must be furious because I am supposed to be with some Carver chick. I slap the steering wheel again. I should have warded her house, like I’ve done mine. At the next stoplight I focus on the picture of Cory’s house in my mind, and say a few words that will keep her safe. I feel my stomach drop and I know that, no matter what, my father’s magic will never be able to harm her. Trusting my magic, I pull forward at the green light.

* * *

The next morning I wake with a start, as if something was wrong. I don’t remember ever waking up in a panic.

I grab my phone off my night stand. No messages. I check my clock. I am not late to work, not by a long shot. I eye my jeans from last night and reach inside. My coin is no longer in my right pocket.

I give myself a half second to feel the dread that something may have happened. I rummage through my room to make sure I am not overlooking a single inch of the damn room, then I search the rest of my apartment, and lastly my car. I try and ignore all the thoughts that are buzzing in my mind, wondering if that trashy Carver somehow got into my house through all my spells. I trust my magic and refuse to let those doubtful thoughts take root.

I sit down on my bed and take in a few breaths and visualize Cory, then the coin. The words seem to come to me easily and I open my eyes as the coin floats from under the bed into my palm. Relieved, I close my hand around the coin.

I see Cory sitting at a big round table with two women on the other side. One woman I don’t know, she’s old and haggard looking with long, white hair. The other is a slim black lady with long, thick braids.

I don’t hesitate, I make myself invisible and teleport next to Cory. The next moment I am standing next to her. I step behind her as she says, "So you asked me here because you think I have some influence over my sister and Shane?"

I can feel my jaw tighten down. I fold my arms over my naked chest and leaned against the pillar next to their table. Then, like I had done for Cory the other day, I use my magic to change my clothes.

Patra, the woman in braids, answered, "We think you are just the person to influence Beth and Shane."

Cory laughed arrogantly. Something I have not heard before, "You don't know them very well then. I have no say in what they do."

The old lady with her grandma voice said, "Dearie you’re very clever aren’t you?"

Cory made a noise that said she agreed.

The old lady continued, "Then you are clever enough to have noticed that you have two very powerful Carvers watching over you.” Cory smirked. “So you can see why we would come for you, don’t you?”

The vampire rolled her eyes. “Duretta’s trying to be nice about it, but I’ll be straight with you. I don’t like Carvers and I don’t like that you are covering for them. I know you’ve seen them do magic and I know that Beth showed you how to do fairy magic as well, but she messed with the bottles before I could get them analyzed.”

The old lady sipped her tea, with a smug look towards the vampire. Obviously she didn’t seem to agree with the vampire.

The vampire continued, “So with the council’s permission,” she sneered at the old lady, “I have brought you here to be tested."

Cory’s shoulders are stiff. I don’t know what her expression is, but I can hear her leeriness in tone. "Is that right?"

The old lady places and empty teacup on the saucer and smiles again like a sweet old grandma. “I tried to tell Patra and the Magical Council that no one who isn’t fairy can do fairy magic. We invited you here –”

“–More like teleported into my lab and kidnapped me,” Cory pulled up her arm, “and I go to lunch with Beth in one hour and a half so you better get me back before then, or she’s going to flip out.” I saw Cory point at the vampire, “And you know best how easy it is to piss my sister off. It’s in your best interest to return me… soon.”

Patra defends, "I was ordered to leave you two alive. Trust me, had I been allowed, you both would be dead.” The vampire swirled her glass of wine in front of her smoothly, “and I would have become a glutton on your blood.”

Cory picked at the sautéed vegetables on her plate, “Perhaps.” She picked up a carrot from her plate and ate it, “Or perhaps not. But I can promise you, when the day comes to find out, it will be eventful.”