chapter twelve
OZ
We stayed that way, in each other’s arms, just a few minutes more. We seemed to get into these long conversations right around the time we should be eating. Link’s stomach started gurgling quite loudly and I dragged him downstairs to forage for food.
I stood at the stovetop toasting up two grilled cheese sandwiches, drowning them in fact, with tons of butter. Link sat at the counter, waiting patiently.
“Ever get the feeling that we are not in Kansas anymore?” Link asked, after a few moments.
“I can hardly remember what Kansas ever looked like,” I admitted. “This life is really all that I know anymore. I don’t want to do that to you. I feel guilty about opening your eyes to the world that is really out there. Sometimes I think you would have been better off if you weren’t acquainted with all of this.”
“But if I didn’t know this,” he mused, “then I wouldn’t know you and I’m completely unwilling to give you up. So, I’ll just get used to where I am, and say goodbye to Kansas. It’s not as if I can turn back time and prevent the tornado from coming. It already tore through here. But don’t worry, it didn’t destroy anything irreplaceable. I think I was pretty lucky. It brought you to me.” He smiled.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see how you feel about your lucky tornado tomorrow – after you meet the next group of people it is bringing your way,” I said as I placed the sandwiches on two plates and then the plates down on the counter.
“Speaking of tomorrow... Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions that I should be aware of?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” I said after I had swallowed my first bite. “I always go to church. It was something that I did with my parents. James and Catherine joined me after I came to live with them.”
“Church...” Link mumbled, through a mouthful.
“I’ll put it this way - it is the one part of Kansas that I still like to visit. I’ve gone to every kind of religious meeting imaginable during this life of mine. There is a comfort that I get from it, from hearing that a part of me will go on when my time on this earth ends. There is no guarantee that I will live forever,” I explained. “You don’t have to go with me.”
“It’s just that I haven’t stepped into a church since Grandma died. Grandpa shut down after she was gone and I shut down after he was gone.” He shrugged. “I’d be happy to join you.”
“Thank you,” I beamed, but quickly straightened my face. I hated myself sometimes for allowing another person to affect me so much. I was becoming too attached to him.
“Anything else?” Link asked, breaking the silence.
I put a smile back on and answered. “After church we come back home and finish trimming the tree that James will be bringing home any minute now,” I finished.
“I was wondering about a tree. I’m glad you guys do one. That was one thing that I loved to do with Grandma, trim the tree. I saved a few of her favorite ornaments. They’re in the bedroom closet, back at my apartment. We’ll have to stop by there when we go into town tomorrow,” he said.
“Absolutely,” I agreed. “Oh goody, James just pulled onto the driveway. Let’s finish up quickly so we can go outside and help bring the tree in,” I said and took an enormous bite.
“That super-hearing still creeps me out,” Link said as he stuffed the last of his sandwich in his mouth.
James had brought home a hulking monster of a Christmas tree, which was slightly dwarfed by the size of the room we placed it in. The four of us managed to get the tree up and had it partially trimmed in less than an hour. I saved the Angel that would adorn the top, for Christmas Eve. It had been a tradition of my mother’s.
The scent of the evergreen wafted through the air and mixed with the cinnamon laced cider we drank. Soon, the room was filled with the sweet aroma of Christmas.
“It’s looking so beautiful,” I sighed as we finished for the night.
“Why don’t we settle in for a traditional Christmas movie?” James suggested.
“It’s a Wonderful Life!” Catherine exclaimed.
“Grandma and Grandpa loved that movie. We watched it at least once a year.” Link smiled at the memory.
“Perfect choice. I remember going to the theatre to see it when it first came out. There were some great movies that got me through the rest of the Forties,” I sighed.
“Man, you are old,” Link teased.
“And you are a young pup,” I cried, and smacked him soundly on his back.
“Stop fighting, children,” Catherine playfully scolded.
“I’ll put the movie in. Link, why don’t you start a fire? There are some logs in the fireplace already. You’ll find matches in the silver case on the mantle,” James instructed.
“Got it,” Link said, flashed me an exaggerated scowl, and crossed the room to the fireplace.
I smirked back at him as Catherine and I each sat on one of the overstuffed leather sofas, waiting for our partners to join us. I grabbed the blanket that rested on the back of the couch and draped it across my lap, tucking it under my legs. I wiggled my toes, enjoying the feel of the soft fuzzy material against my bare feet.
James inserted the DVD and took his place beside Catherine, remote in hand. She immediately snuggled herself into his side.
Link knelt down in front of the fireplace, removed a long match from the silver case, and was about to strike it - when it happened.
A ball of glowing red whizzed between the two couches. My hair stirred and my cheek grew warm as the breath of hot air blew by. The fireball streamed through the room, barely missing Link’s left shoulder as it landed in the fireplace. The logs were instantly bathed in flames as a roaring fire appeared. Link fell backward, bracing himself with his hands, abandoning the silver case to let it fall, clanging onto the floor. I jumped up.
“Marcus,” I cried out with joy, turning around to find him. “And Eve!” I smiled when I saw the two of them standing in the back of the room. “You’re early!” I exclaimed as I rushed over to give them each a hug.
I stood there a moment, taking the two of them in. Marcus was the perpetual stylish, modern young man, no matter the decade. He wasn’t a tall man, standing around five foot ten. But if some thought he lacked height, he made up for it in sheer confidence. Simply the way he walked through a room, and his well-maintained frame, turned heads wherever he went, I was sure of it. But he only had eyes for Eve.
Eve had cut her formerly waist length hair much shorter. It now fell just below her shoulders, like mine. People had often mistaken us for sisters, and now the resemblance was even greater. We had the same hair color, eye color, were roughly the same height and weight. She rarely packed a bag when they came to visit. She loved to raid my closet.
“We decided to surprise you,” Eve giggled.
“How did they surprise you? Couldn’t you hear them?” Link wondered aloud as he stood and straightened himself back up.
“Yes,” James puzzled. “How did you do that?”
“Eve gained a new power. She can block sound now,” Marcus glowered. He cocked his head toward Link, raised an eyebrow, and asked with the ever-present hint of an English accent. “What’s with the mortal?”
He could make the accent disappear if he really wanted to.
“Charity has found a companion. She’s in love with him,” Eve answered, absorbing the details from my mind.
“With a mortal? Really, Charity!” Marcus exclaimed.
“Leave it be, he will not expose anyone. He’s quickly becoming part of our family. He’s good for Charity,” Catherine said as she crossed the room to greet our friends. “Welcome to Telluride,” she finished.
“Welcome,” James echoed her greeting.
“Come,” Eve instructed Link, gesturing with her hands. “Give your new friend a proper greeting.”
He walked forward, but came to a stop a few feet in front of Eve. He seemed unsure of what to do next. Eve closed the distance between the
m in the blink of an eye. Link took an automatic step backward, stunned by her too-quick movement. Eve paused, waiting for Link’s reaction.
I went to his side and took hold of his arm. Link looked down at me and gave a small crooked smile.
“Link, may I introduce my friend Eve,” I began the introductions. “Eve, as you’ve already extracted from my head, this is Link.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Link finally spoke, and held his hand out in greeting.
Eve grabbed him and hugged him tightly. When she pulled back, she held onto his hands with her own and stared into his eyes. She held his gaze for a few moments, taking him in, absorbing him. The smile she wore grew broader, warmer, as she silently got to know the man that I was helplessly in love with.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Marcus asked, resting his arm across her shoulders.
“We like him,” Eve answered as she let go of Link’s hands and wrapped her arms around Marcus’s hips.
“Good enough for me. I’ve learned to never argue with your judgment. But really, Charity... a mortal.” Marcus shook his head.
“Lincoln comes from the same bloodline as Charity’s first love,” Eve offered.
“Fate brought us together,” I said.
“Fine...” Marcus conceded, “Good to meet you, Link,” he said, offering his hand.
“It’s good to meet you too, Marcus.” Link smiled a more confident smile and firmly shook the Witch’s hand.
A sharp intake of breath was immediately heard as Link extracted his hand from Marcus’s grasp and lightly shook it at his side.
“Marcus, be nice,” Eve scolded.
“I didn’t burn him. I was just having a little fun,” Marcus turned toward Eve. She frowned at him. “Sorry, man, bad joke,” he added, offering Link an apology.
“That’s a good trick you got there,” Link said.
“You think?” Marcus quipped and held out his hand, palm up.
A swirl of dim red light began to glow in the center of his open palm. A tiny spark flew, then another, and another. He was performing his “trick” in slow motion. A small flame flickered and then came to life, dancing in Marcus’s hand. The flame grew into a ball of fire. Marcus then brought his hand up, closer to his mouth, and gently blew. The flame began to separate, breaking off into six tiny shoots. Then, as if each of the six were in a race with each other, they darted away from him and flew across the room. Each flame brought to life one of the six different candles that were spread across the mantle.
“Marcus, you are such a showoff,” Eve sighed.
“It’s my one good power darling. Can’t I make the most of it?” He smiled a seductive smile.
“It’s a good thing I love you,” Eve scolded and kissed him full on the mouth.
“How are you doing?” I whispered to Link.
“I’m fine. I’m with you.” He flashed me my smile.
“So, what’s been going on with our favorite family of Immortals?” Eve began.
The movie was abandoned. Our old routines fell into place and we sat down to talk. We often found ourselves in deep conversation, for hours on end, when our friends arrived. It was our way of catching up, of finding out what had happened in the time we had spent apart. But we discussed none of the usual things. Eve had learned about our current worries, when she had done her thorough scan of Link, and that was first on her list of topics.
“So, the Lords have found you again,” Eve stated.
“Really, James, you must let us stay and help out this time. I won’t take no for an answer,” Marcus added.
“But we don’t know that they are aware of your existence. We’d be putting you at risk,” James replied.
“Nonsense,” Eve said.
“But they are only after us. It is our responsibility,” Catherine pressed the issue.
“No more buts will be heard. We are here. We are your friends. We will stay, until we are sure that you are safe,” Marcus insisted.
“I have to agree with them,” Link spoke up. “After seeing the fear in Charity’s eyes, and the concern in both of yours,” he directed to James and Catherine. “I think a little extra help would be appreciated.”
“You are right, Link. It would be appreciated. I just do not want our friends to put themselves in danger,” James explained.
“You worry about your family, and we’ll worry about ourselves. They’re just two mortal boys,” Marcus countered.
“Two mortal men with access to an assortment of modern weapons,” James clarified. “And, I am quite sure they are well trained in combat.”
“We are not worried about those boys. We do have a slight advantage. I realize that our powers do not make us impenetrable, but they do tend to give us the upper hand, and can cause a fair amount of damage.” She smiled.
“That’s my girl,” Marcus beamed.
“Thank you both,” I whispered as a sense of calm washed over me. I knew that we were not in the clear, but the odds had changed, hopefully in our favor.
“So, you spotted Levi in the city of Montrose. Then he departed and was headed in the opposite direction,” Eve replayed the details.
“It’s only a matter of time then, until they find you here in Telluride,” Marcus surmised.
“What makes you so sure?” Link asked.
“They are hunters, trackers. It is their life’s work. They have no other goal. And, each generation seems to have become more skillful. If they are so close again after just a matter of months then, I hate to admit it, Marcus is right. It’s just a matter of time until they discover us,” James concluded.
“I’m glad you agree,” said Marcus.
“So, we’ll comb the town. I’ll scan everyone that I can get close enough to. If the name Lord, or the image I got from Charity’s memory, is in anyone’s head I’ll know,” Eve offered.
“And if either of them misplaces anything, I can tell you where it happened. Woo Hoo!” Marcus bragged, with heavy sarcasm. “Worthless,” he scowled.
“The fire thing is pretty cool,” Link assured him.
“Thanks, man.” Marcus gave a half smile. “My brother got all the really cool stuff. He can freeze every muscle in a living being. The effect lasts only about sixty seconds, but the skill is very useful. He knows, without fail, if someone is truthful with their words – Witch, Vamp, Immortal, whatever. Plus, he’s got the fire power too. I got the lost and found department.”
“I got nothin’. So you got two up on me,” Link offered.
“True... True enough,” Marcus admitted.
“Hey, if you don’t mind my asking, when were you born? It’s just that Charity will pop up with slang words from a different era every now and then. But I don’t get that from you, you seem more... I don’t know... modern,” Link asked.
“Born in the Nineteen Thirties, my friend,” Marcus answered. “I make it a point to keep up with the times. I don’t cling to the old. Twenty or Thirty years ago, in England, Eve and I met a Witch that was still speaking in this dialect that hadn’t been used for years. We could barely understand her; the mortals had an even harder time. She definitely drew a lot of unneeded attention her way.
“Another time, I spotted this Dark One who was wearing a... had to be an eighty year old suit. He was walking down the main street of some small town in Idaho, of all places, and sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone was staring at him as he passed by. Those kind of things stick in the mind. They make me want to be aware of the changes around me. I dump my wardrobe every few years, I observe the people around me, and at times I probably watch too much Television,” Marcus answered.
“I dress modern,” I protested. “I admit right now it is High School modern. But I blend,” I went on.
Link put his hands up in defense, “I never mentioned your clothes. He brought up clothes all on his own. But you have to admit to the slang,” he insisted.
“Whatever you say, Big Daddy,” I smirked.
“... coming from the woman who
is old enough to be my Great Grandmother. The best looking senior citizen I’ve ever seen,” Link teased. He then turned to look at Eve.
“Nineteen Twenties, like Charity,” Eve offered the information before being asked.
Link’s jaw dropped open, “Did you read that out of my mind?” he asked.
“No. Just a good guess. Freaked you out a little, eh? I don’t read minds. I just scan short and long term memories. If it’s locked up in your brain somewhere then I can see it, hear it, and almost experience it the way you did,” Eve explained.
“Okay, I don’t even want to go there. So... moving on then... Catherine?” Link asked. “You’re the only one I don’t know yet.”
“I’m the oldest one here... and we’ll talk about it later,” she brushed the topic away.
“Older than James?” he asked. Catherine nodded. “I’ll hold you to that,” Link said.
“So, Link, you up for playing tour guide tomorrow?” Eve pulled his attention away from Catherine.
“I think I can manage that,” he answered.
The next day while Catherine and I went into the boutique and James went to work at the medical center, Link took Marcus and Eve on a tour of the town.
After an hour spent pacing up and down the center of the boutique and then fidgeting with the cash register a little too much, I’m pretty sure I was getting on Catherine’s last nerve. As soon as Lisa Ann, the part time sales girl, arrived, Catherine practically pushed me out onto Colorado Avenue and sent me out to find our friends. I couldn’t blame her though. I was getting on my own nerves.
I sent a text to Link immediately, “Where r u? Just left to find u.”
A few seconds later, the phone buzzed in my hand with his response. “Coming your way. Stay on CO.”
I slowly walked along Colorado, waiting for them to show up. People were bustling along with their last minute purchases in hand. Their heavy coats, thick scarves, hats, and gloves protecting them from the bitter cold. Marcus was an easy target to spot, as he strolled my way, Eve and Link were in deep conversation right behind him.
I shook my head at him as he neared. “With all that talk of blending in last night, you’ve failed miserably today,” I chided him.
“We told him bundle up more,” Link and Eve chorused.
“It’s so claustrophobic. How do you put up with all the layers of clothing?” Marcus replied. “”There is a reason Eve and I have never chosen to live in such weather.”
“I know the cold doesn’t bother you. But at least Eve wore one of my coats and a pair of gloves. Long sleeves... Really, Marcus, was that all you could manage?” I continued with my criticism.
“It’s a sweater!” he protested in defense, raising his arm to show off the thinnest version of a sweater I’d ever seen.
“The least you could do is shiver a little, pretend it’s cold out. Come with me.” I seized his arm and dragged him into the nearest shop.
“Take your time,” Eve whispered in my ear, when we got inside. “I’ll see what they know.” She nodded toward the two girls behind the counter.
“A scarf and gloves,” I stated, pointing to the rack that contained both items.
He stood still, not wanting to give in to my demands.
“Please,” I pleaded with Marcus.
“Okay, okay, but I’m not promising to come here next Christmas,” he muttered. “What do you call all the old people that flock to Arizona in the winter?” He turned to Link.
“Snow Birds?” Link responded
“Yeah, Snow Birds. Consider me a Snow Bird – if there is snow on the ground then I’ll be flying away from it,” Marcus replied.
“You can’t fly, and you love me too much to abandon me at Christmas. Anyway, you don’t hate snow. You just don’t like bundling up. But we’re out in public, and you know you like to blend. So blend,” I finished and threw a scarf at him.
“What’s her name here again?” Marcus whispered to Link.
“Emily,” he whispered back.
“Do we really love Emily too much to abandon her at Christmas time?” Marcus called out to Eve as she pretended to browse the items at the sales counter.
“Yes we do,” she answered back.
“I concede,” Marcus bowed to me and picked up a pair of leather gloves.
He took his purchases to the counter and we were soon out the door, walking down the street again.
“Get anything?” Link asked Eve.
Eve batted her eyelashes at Link. “Other than listening to them whisper about how cute you are, and how upset they are that you’ve chosen to rob the cradle instead of date one of them? No, they don’t know anything useful,” she teased. “They think you’re cute too,” she hooked arms with Marcus.
“Well everyone thinks that.” He smiled a devilish smile.
“Cute like a puppy, I think.” I messed with his hair.
“Hey, you, stop that,” Marcus protested.
Eve ignored us both. Her mind had moved on to the task at hand. “Okay, we’ve pretty much covered this main street here. You found Levi at a diner. Everyone’s got to eat sometime. So, let’s sit down for lunch, somewhere off the main road,” Eve suggested.
“We’ll go over to the brewpub. They have these bread nuggets, sprinkled with parmesan, and served with marinara... mouth watering. I have been craving them since I got up this morning,” Link suggested.
“Mortals!” Marcus shook his head and we started the quick walk to the brewpub.
We sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant. This gave Eve a central location, enabling her to scan as many people as possible.
“Getting anything?” Link asked, after consuming his (had to be) eighth nugget.
“It’s hard to say. I’m only tapping into the last two days or so, a quick scan. But when I do it to so many people, it starts to muddle together. I have found, that people sure are concerned with dogs around here. I’ve already seen at least four images, from customers and the staff, of some guy walking a dog that looks, and I quote, ‘a heck of a lot like that other husky, but the eyes are different’. One of the sales girls, at that last shop we were in, had that in her head as well. Who the heck pays that much attention to a dog?” she sounded tired.
“The people here do, especially the locals. They’re all about dogs,” I answered her. “Look around... woman walking a dog, dog tied up outside a store, another dog, and another... dogs are everywhere in Telluride.” I pointed out just the few I could see immediately outside the window.
“What did the guy look like? Did he look like the guy we saw in Montrose? Was it Levi?” Link badgered her with questions.
“No, it wasn’t Levi. Unless he grew a full head of hair, stopped wearing glasses, gained twenty pounds, and lost a few inches of height in the short time since you two saw him in Montrose,” she groaned. “Sorry guys, I got nothin’.”
“Don’t worry about it, darlin’, you’re doing your best,” Marcus assured her.
“I’ve got a surprise though it seems,” her face immediately brightened.
“What did you see?” Marcus asked.
“You mean who do I see,” she said with a smile.
“Who?” Marcus puzzled.
“Turn around, my dear,” Eve told him.
We all looked in the direction of her gaze to where a man stood, not three feet away from our table.
“What the...” Link was at a loss for words.
“Bro, you came,” Marcus leaped out of his seat, and hugged his twin brother - Oz.
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