Everspell (16 page)

“Skylar, I know who that is.”

“Are you kidding? Who is it?”

I took a deep breath. I could hardly believe the next words that would come out of my mouth.

“It’s my dad.”

Chapter Twenty-five

LOGAN

I sat on the old sofa in the bachelor pad. Skylar and I were still there, the computer long since dark and cold. Since flashing my name in a single word, the computer had abruptly shut down and there had been no further communications from my dad since. Skylar had gone up to his old room, leaving me to my thoughts alone in the living room.

It had only been four years since my dad had died. Or whatever happened to him. I know I went to a funeral. I know I saw a casket. The rational part of me told my brain there simply wasn’t any way that entity in the computer could be my father; that my father was dead and buried and I went to his funeral. The other part of my brain, the part that had come to understand and appreciate that I
was
a warlock, that the world
was
far more supernatural than I had ever known, and that my own mother and sister
were
witches, had something different to say. It told me that of course it could be my father, who else would it be?

Are you okay?

Serena. She must have sensed how freaked out I would be by this whole computer thing and reached out to me in mindspeak. I replied the same way.

I’m fine.
Things are just kind of
bananas over here.
I glanced over at the now blank-screened computer.

You’re at your old house?
Are you with Skylar?
You know leaving the big house wasn’t maybe the best idea you’ve ever had, right?

Understatement of the century.
I know.
But it had to be done.
Don’t worry, though.
We’re both okay.

I’m so relieved.
The both of you going off and not telling anyone did not set too well over here.

I can imagine.
Serena, you won’t believe what happened here today
. How would I ever explain this to her?

You’ll have to tell me later.
Eden is calling me into another meeting.
Are you coming home now?
It would be a good idea.
I miss you.
It feels like so long since we’ve seen each other.

You don’t know how great that sounds.

I can’t wait to see you.

Skylar came into the room and noticed the change in my mood instantly. “Somebody seems to have lightened up.”

“Yeah. I had a chat with Serena.”

“She’ll do that to you, all right. Right ray of sunshine, that one.”

“Thank the stars I did. I felt pretty confused for a minute there.”

“No wonder at it. Sometimes this life is like living in a funhouse.”

“Don’t I know it. Let’s go home.”

****

I had parked my car across the street from the house and Skylar and the dogs and I were just locking the front door when Sully came screaming up the small driveway in his car. He parked, jumped out and waved.

“Hey! Thought I’d miss you. The message said a half an hour and I drove like crazy to make it.” I realized he was panting and still dressed in his work clothes.

“What message? What are you talking about?”

“I got a message that said to meet you and Skylar here in thirty minutes, that you had something important to tell me about Jade. I dropped everything and got here as soon as I could. So, what’s going on?”

“Dude, I don’t know what you are talking about. Skylar and I didn’t even know we were coming here until about an hour ago ourselves.” I spun around and questioned Skylar. “We didn’t tell anyone we were even coming here, did we, Skylar?”

Skylar shook his head. “No way. No one knows we’re here.”

I started to get that very bad feeling. I wasn’t the only one, either. Skylar’s eyes were darting around nervously. For the first time, I realized we might not be alone on the tiny little street we used to call home.

At the end of the road, a couple of figures walked toward us, dressed in dark pants and hoodies that were pulled down and obscuring their faces. They were tall and leanly muscular, and from their purposeful stride, it seemed obvious that we were their target. For a split second, I had the thought that we, as three, outnumbered them. To my horror, the second I had that thought, a third hooded figure stepped from the shade of the trees and joined them, evening the score. Casually, I inched closer to the guys and lowered my voice.

“Okay, you guys, I don’t want to alarm you, but we’ve got company.”

Both Skylar and Sully swiveled their eyes to the advancing band.

“How are you doing on your invisibility skills?” Skylar asked me.

“Great. But, what about Sully?”

“Oh, yeah. Forgot about the human.”

“Nice. Did you also forget I could snap you like a twig, little man?” Sully openly glared at Skylar.

“Okay, guys. Not the time.”
Were they seriously going to bicker now?

“Not my fault I’m not a supernatural in a house full of them. Married one, didn’t I? Isn’t that good enough?”

“Not now, it’s not.”

He was right. It might not be. And the evil little trio was getting closer. We had to think fast.

“We might be left with what Sully and I have used our whole lives.”

“What’s that?” Skylar demanded.

But Sully knew exactly what I referred to. “Good old fashioned butt-whoopin’, I believe is the term.” He pounded his fists together for emphasis.

Skylar rolled his eyes. “Against demons? Were you kicked in the head as a child, Sully? You won’t get near enough to land one blow.” He turned to look at me. “Do you think for one minute they’ll let him get anywhere near them? We don’t even know how strong they are or what powers they have.”

“What choice do we have, Skylar? Don’t underestimate Sully.” I pointed at my best friend. “He’s as strong as a bull. We can only hope they’re half human. If so, we’ve got a chance. We don’t have any other options.”

We didn’t. The three uninvited visitors were almost upon us. And they had their strategy already in place. I could see them separating and making an attempt to surround us. Before I knew it, it was on.

With an inhuman yell, one of them launched himself at Sully, as if sensing he would be the strongest one of the three of us. He whirled in the air ninja-style and tried to kick Sully in the chest. At the same time, the other two came at Skylar and me in the same manner. It took us by surprise, but Sully seemed as ready as ever. He met his attacker with a hard arm chop to the side and the hooded figure went down with a howl.

Meanwhile, I grabbed my attacker by the hoodie, flung him hard to the right and succeeded in dropping him as well. Skylar wasn’t as lucky. I recovered in time to see him take a well-placed fist to the side of his face, followed by a lightning quick jab to his ribs. I thought I heard a crack, confirmed when Skylar yelped in pain.

Sully, obviously joyful this skirmish had turned out to be a fair fight after all, heard the crack too. Enraged over Skylar’s injury, he turned the full scale of his anger on the third attacker who caused the pain. Hoodie Number Three looked around for his comrades and realized with dawning fear that he represented the last man standing in front of this wild giant.

Sully advanced, about to finish him off when suddenly, the sky darkened and became filled with a faint pounding sound. We all looked up toward the sound as it got louder and louder and was soon drowning out everything else. Soon, we identified it. The flapping wings of hundreds of birds filled the sky, so many that they were blocking out the sun. We watched, fascinated, until I realized they were heading toward us, dive-bomb fashion.

“Sully, Skylar, they’re coming straight for us! Take cover! They’ve got beaks and talons like Ginsu knives!” I hollered as loud as I could over the noise made by their beating wings. It was right then that I noticed Hoodie Number Three and his pals didn’t look afraid. I should have known. More demon tricks. Would this ever end?

Logan!
Don’t worry!
We’re on the way!
Gypsy and I are astrally projecting!
We’ll be there in less than
ten
seconds!

Serena!
You always
did
know when to crash a good party.
Be careful!

I didn’t ask how she knew we were in trouble. She just always did. Besides, this time it had been me
and
her brother Skylar. She must have had a direct pipeline into this latest mess I had gotten myself into. I began to feel like Lucy Ricardo and she was my Ricky.

I had barely finished that thought when I saw the astral projection start. Hard to make out with the sky being so dark, the air just in front of me started to ripple in an unnatural way. I could make out the outline of two figures in the wrinkle. In milliseconds, the forms filled in with matter, then bones, then veins and corpuscles, then flesh and in an instant Serena and Gypsy were standing there. We didn’t waste time on hellos.

Gypsy and Serena ran to the middle of the street and holding hands, reached them high into the air. Serena mindspoke to me again.

Logan, keep your new friends busy!

She didn’t have to ask me twice. Skylar clearly had received the same message I had. We looked at each other and nodded. Skylar closed his eyes and put his hands on my shoulders. Instantly, he and I were cloaked in invisibility. We headed over to where Sully and Hoodie Number Three stood. But, we didn’t have to worry. Hoodie Number Three looked way too interested in our girls to move a muscle. Frankly, so were we.

Gypsy was the star of this show; Serena had just come along for the ride. Gypsy looked up to see where the birds were. They had formed a triangle and were targeting Sully now, since they could no longer see us. Holding her hands, joined with Serena’s high in the air, Gypsy began to move in a circle. I could see a small ball of fire forming at the tips of her fingers. Serena dropped her hands and stepped away from Gypsy as the ball grew larger and larger. Suddenly, Gypsy grabbed the ball and hurled it as high as she could. At that moment, the heavens opened up and great cracks of thunder could be heard all over the neighborhood. I waited for the rain, but it never came. What did come was lightning, hundreds of sparks, which shot out of the clouds and struck each demon-bird as it dove down toward Sully. Each time a lightning rod made contact with one of the birds, it disappeared with a flash. It happened so fast, it looked like the sky had ignited with fireworks. Sparkles showered down and the whole effect resembled the fourth of July.

Try not to let them get away, Logan!

But it appeared we were too late. We were so mesmerized by Gypsy’s show, we had failed to notice that the Hoodie trio had disappeared. We never saw them go. Even Sully, who stood right by Number Three, had to admit he didn’t see the creeps sneak away.

“How did they even get here?” Sully looked up and down the street. “I never saw a car.”

Skylar sighed. “Have we taught you nothing? Do you really think they drove a
car
, here?”

Sully turned his gaze to the ground. “Yeah. Maybe not.”

Gypsy walked over to where Skylar stood with Serena and me. “Are you okay?”

Gypsy grinned brightly. “I’m fine. I actually feel invigorated. I know some supers feel exhausted after using their powers, but I always feel like running a marathon!”

“Supers?” Skylar gave Gypsy a questioning look.

“Oh, that’s my word for supernaturals.” She giggled. “I’ve always hated the word witch. It’s always had such a negative connotation, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“A better question is how are
you
feeling? I saw you take a bad hit before we could get here.” Gypsy put her hands on Skylar’s side and he winced in pain.

“Oh, you better let me take care of that.” Serena stepped forward and placed both her hands on the side of Skylar’s rib, where I knew he had suffered a couple broken bones. She closed her eyes and began to hum softly under her breath. I watched, familiar with the process. Presently, Skylar straightened and twisted his torso from left to right.

“Yup. Good as new. Thanks, sis.” He leaned over and pecked Serena on the cheek.

Gypsy clapped her hands together. “Much better trick than my silly little fireballs.”

“What? No way. Those were awesome. Sure saved the day today.” Skylar and Gypsy strolled away, deep in conversation.

Serena slipped her arm around my waist. “See that? I think my brother might have found his match.”

“Oh, no. There is no way Skylar is Gypsy’s match.” I hugged Serena back. “She is way too much woman for him. He’s just figuring our world out.”

“She may just be the one to help him do that. Look how well they get along.”

I glanced back at Serena’s brother with Gypsy. They were standing close and laughing together. He looked relaxed and at ease and why wouldn’t he? He was being entertained by a beautiful and talented woman. Definitely no Serena, but she had his attention. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she finished her light show. I could think of worse things than for him to find a nice witch to settle down with. I hugged Serena closer. It seemed we were all finding someone.

“Hey, you guys. What do you say to putting this place in our rear view mirrors? I’ve had enough drama for one day.” Nobody disagreed.

Chapter Twenty-six

SERENA

We walked in the front door of the big house and were all but accosted by Eden and Eve, who were waiting for us in the front room. Eve immediately ran to Gypsy as soon as she saw her.

“Mom, I’m okay. Please, you’re embarrassing me.” Gypsy squirmed a little in the face of her mother’s embrace.

“Yes, Eve. She’s more than okay. You should have seen her. She amazed us.” Skylar went a little over the top jumping in and Eden didn’t miss it. Her eyes raised, she looked over to me for explanation. I didn’t want to betray any confidences, so I merely shrugged my shoulders. Eden wasn’t about to let that go, and I got a look that I knew meant there would be more discussion on the topic later. I nodded.