Convergence

Squeak circled a very large warehouse and started to descend. Rick had stretched out on her back and used his rucksack as a pillow. I reached over and gently shook him.

“Rick, Squeak found something. Wake up.”

He moaned his protest and turned over pulling me into his arms. I tried to wiggle free from his grip, but he was too strong. I stared at his face. He looked so sweet. He smelled surprisingly nice too, like some sort of musk deodorant with a hint of freshly washed laundry. I closed my eyes taking in his scent. I could feel a sudden rise of heat in my cheeks and started to wiggle again.

“Hey.”

His soft voice touched my ears and I looked into his dark eyes. His muscles tightened and felt myself gravitate closer to him. I reached out gently grabbing his shirt. My breath quickened as our noses touched.

“Just couldn’t resist yourself eh, Princess?”

And that mouth.

I shoved away. “You grabbed me, jerk.”

He chuckled. “Jerk? That’s not what you were thinking a moment ago.”

“How do you know what I was thinking?” I caught a glimpse of the intensity in his eyes. My lips started to tingle and I pressed them together. “Y-you should get ready to land. Squeak found something. We’re taking a break.”

We landed in the parking lot near some trees so no one would see us. Squeak disappeared right after we slid off her back. The spots closest to the warehouse were filled with people searching for a good deal. I’d only been to a flea market once when my step-mother was looking for some buried treasures. Even with my hair a windblown mess I felt overdressed.

Rick seemed out of sorts. I put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

“You’re tired and you need to eat.”

“What about you?” Even his voice sounded groggy. “Do you feel dizzy or anything?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay. I’m more worried about you. I mean you’ve been exhausted since we left that crazy old lady’s house. Did she do something to you?”

He gently touched my cheek with one of his fingers. “I’ll be okay, Kari. I’ve got some bars in my bag and we can grab a bite right now if you’re that worried. I can smell the food from here.”

My stomach started growling at the scents in the air. Several food trucks set up business near the entrance.

After grabbing some gyros we entered the building. The warehouse was huge with more than thirty areas of different merchandise, some separated with partitions, others simply by inches of bare floor.

“We should head this way,” Rick said slovenly munching the last few bites of the sandwich he took in three giant mouthfuls. He slurped his soda while studying the magic finding stone and not very discretely I might add. At least his energy seemed to have returned very quickly.

“You’re disgusting. Did you know that?”

“Most men are, Princess.” He didn’t seem the least bit apologetic as he eyeballed the other half of my sandwich. “You gonna finish that?”

As if walking while eating wasn’t bad enough. I let out a sigh and just handed it over. I had an apple and a bottle of water in his rucksack anyway. I held the stone while Rick finished eating. At least he ate my sandwich with a little more class.

We walked slowly following where it was taking us. I stopped at a rack full of old books of all sizes. An old copy of The Cat in the Hat jumped out at me. I remembered back when I was younger and Dad used to read Dr. Seuss to me. I picked up the book and smiled caressing the book as the memories flooded back. I hadn’t seen Dad for more than ten minutes in the last couple of months. He was really busy traveling for his job. Whenever he came home, he left again almost right away. He was always apologetic and hugged me tightly. It was a little heartbreaking but I understood. Besides, I had Leah.

“Are you interested in this, young lady,” asked the salesman.

“Oh,” he startled me. “No, I was just looking.” I placed the book back on the shelf.

“You seemed so intent on it. Are you sure? I’ll sell it to you at a very good price.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, no.”

I tried to walk away, but he stopped me.

“Well how about this book, dear lady?” He held out a small book about four by six inches in size like the book I was searching for. The title was one I had never heard of, Tales of the Demon Princess.

“Um, well I’ve never seen this story before.” I took it from him. The binding was fragile and seemed very old. “This book has been around for a very long time, but I’ve never heard of it. What’s it about?”

“The trials and tribulations of a courageous young girl in the face of great adversity.”

I looked up at his face. He smiled back, but the way he was talking made me believe there was something about this book I needed to know.

“What happens to this girl?”

“She discovers amazing things and has to choose the most responsible course of action. Of course, not everything is as black and white as she originally thought. There are many shades of grey in the world.”

“Many?” The book called to me as if it was speaking to me, but I didn’t want to spend money on unnecessary things and handed it back. “It sounds interesting, but I shouldn’t.”

“Then I will give it to you as a gift,” he smiled. “The book is yours.”

I gasped and looked at him. Upon further inspection, he wasn’t a man at all but some sort of creature. He had three curved horns where each of his ears should be. Instead of hands, he had large claws and his mouth was filled with pointed teeth. I found it strange that I didn’t notice it when I first saw him.

“I had hoped you would arrive,” he continued. “This book can explain the history of your family magic and tell you how to use your power book.”

“Well, we’re sort of looking for that book,” I said.

Rick grabbed my hand and jerked me to him. “What are you doing? You don’t know this creature.”

“You lost the power book?” the creature pulled my attention from Rick and his eyes widened in fear.

I felt compelled to answer. “It was stolen by a boogie.”

“Boggart,” Rick corrected.

“And where were you during all of this, protector?” the man asked.

“Hey, I tried my best, man. It just showed up out of nowhere.”

“That’s what they do! If Morgan gets the magic in that book….”

“Yeah, I know, fool, I know. Keep your voice down.”

The man noticed the question on my face and smiled at me. “Since the disappearance of Azazel, Morgan’s been after the magic in that book, but he couldn’t even hope to reach it until it was removed from its protective spell.”

“Azazel?”

“Azazel was pretty much the ruler over all things evil,” said Rick. “He was more than happy to rule over his own kind, keeping things in balance. Morgan wanted to rule over everything as a supreme dictator of sorts but there was no way he could overpower Azazel. When Azazel mysteriously disappeared, Morgan saw his chance to take over, but he wasn’t strong enough and was overpowered when the fae joined together.”

“But we’re still looking for Morgan, right?”

“Right.”

The man interrupted. “There’s a woman toward the back who sells accessories that might know a few things about where to find Morgan. It’s the one with that huge tent. She used to work for Azazel but refused to serve Morgan.”

“Is that safe?” I asked. “What if she’s still somehow with the enemy or in contact with Azazel?”

“She’s trustworthy,” he said. “Azazel hasn’t been around for almost twelve years now and she hasn’t done anything that could be considered in Morgan’s best interest. She mostly just keeps to herself.”

Rick loudly slurped the last of his soda. “Yeah, so we’ll get right on that.” He walked away.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry for his behavior. Thank you so much for all your information and this book too.”

“It should be very helpful to you, especially since you were never taught about the magical world. Take care of yourself.” He made a quick dip at the waist before leaving to sell books to a woman and her child.

I took off after Rick. He had already made his way to the back but stood at the entrance waiting on me.

“Rick!” I called.

He put his finger up to shush me. “Hey, not so loud.”

“Loud? Seriously? You were so rude to that guy back there and he just wanted to help. You slobber all over your food like a dog and then tried to inhale the bottom of your cup through your straw. Geez, you’re such a troglodyte. ”

He shook the cup filled with melting ice and took another giant empty sip before tossing it in a nearby refuse bin and smacking his lips. I let out a sigh of disgust before walking through the tent opening.

The inside looked a lot bigger than it did on the outside. Bins were lining the back walls of the warehouse filled with both men and women’s shoes, spinning racks of belts and ties, and tall racks stacked with purses. The shoes were red-tagged and every sign said something about the low, low prices. Nothing looked particularly fashionable, but the customers seemed to be drinking them up like water in a desert. The tent was packed full of merchandise and it was much harder to move than in Great Aunt Augustina’s shop. The only open area was a red door marked “No Entry.”

“I’m heading back there,” Rick said. “Cover me.” He was off before he finished the sentence.

“What? Hey, wait.”

He moved surprisingly quick around the merchandise and dodging the customers. He rounded a circle of bandanas and was in the door before I knew it.

“Hello.” A woman’s voice startled me. “Can I help you find something?”

I turned to her very much aware that the look on my face was one of complete and total shock.

“I was…that is to say….” I stumbled over my words.

“No need to be shy, dear. You want to ask me about something, or someone.”

I looked at her. She was younger than I expected or looked younger than her actual age. She seemed human enough, that or my new found magic sight had left me.

“No. I’m not one of the fae. I’m human, same as you. My name is Caroline.”

I felt the tension in my face as my eyebrows raised and my eyes widened.

“I do have a power, though. Can you guess what it is? I’ll give you a hint. It comes in very handy when selling and haggling with customers.”

“Mind-reader.”

She smiled. “You are a smart one. Beautiful and young with powerful magic and intellect. Some girls have all the luck. Not to mention that handsome young man serving as your protector.”

“Rick?” I hadn’t considered it. I suppose he could be handsome to someone somewhere in the universe in that obnoxious, nerdy sort of way.

“He is very protective of you.”

“Well, I figured he’s just overcompensating for a past family mistake.”

“Not just that, dear,” she smiled and changed the subject. “But you came here to ask me about Morgan.”

I nodded.

She called out to the teenage girl in the tent. “Katie! Watch the store.”

We walked to an area of the tent that was very dimly lit and practically looked sold out of merchandise.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about the book,” she said. “But I do know where you might be able to find Morgan.”

I leaned into her as she began to whisper.

“Morgan is a grand force to be reckoned with to be sure. He already has a great deal of magic power. Most believe that he moves around, never staying in one place too long, but that’s what he wants them to believe. He’s in one place during the day and another at night but it’s always the same.”

She paused and I watched her intently. I watched as the corner of her mouth curled upward.

“What does he do during the day?” I asked.

“He learns. He believes he has located everything he needs for total domination.”

“Over the magical world?”

“Over the entire world.”

“Is that why you’re willing to help us? You don’t want him to take over the human world as well?”

“There are only two beings who can stop him.”

“My magic and Azazel. Yes, I’ve heard.”

“If he does have the book as you claim, then Azazel is no longer a threat.”

“Do you know where he is and perhaps how I can stop him?”

Rick came running screaming my name. “We need to get the hell up out of here, now!” He grabbed my arm as he ran by dragging me out of the tent and down the aisles toward the warehouse door.

“What’s going on? She was just about to….”

“Give you to freaking Morgan! This whole warehouse was a setup.” He reached up and grabbed the medallion around his neck calling Ashe.

“What?”

He stopped suddenly and I crashed into his back. When I looked around him, the patrons had stopped shopping and blocked our path. Ashe had appeared and started growling from his shoulder, but it was clear she had no clue what to do next.

“We’re in it but good,” said Rick.

Squeak jumped on my shoulder.

“Where’d you come from?” I asked startled. She immediately calmed me down. “Right, I know. Whenever I should need you.”

Squeak leaped from me turned into a great white dragon with gold-lined scales. She landed with her body shielding us and flung her tail sending the people behind us flying. A shiver of flame built up in her chest and rumbled up her throat before being expelled from her mouth igniting anyone in our path who hadn’t already run from fear.

“Whoa.” Rick stood to stare straight up at her, Ashe still on his shoulder.

“Let’s go.” I grabbed him as he had done to me and slammed my body into the front doors leading us out of the warehouse.

Squeak exploded out of the building grabbing us in her great claws before taking off into the sky on leathery wings. She pulled us into her and tucked her great tail beneath us before transforming in a mid-flight spin into the more comfortable flying stingray with us right on top.

“Wow.” Rick rubbed Squeak’s back and she let out a purr of sorts. “Your summon creature is way cooler than mine.” Ashe growled and bit Rick’s ear before leaving his shoulder. “Ouch! Sorry, Ashe. I didn’t mean it like that.”

I reached out for Ashe but she growled at me too. “Please don’t be angry, Ashe. I still think you’re great and super cute too.”

She turned her nose up and turned from me flicking her tail into the air before disappearing.

“Oh, now I’ve done it.” Rick scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t mean it the way it came out. It’s just that not many summon creatures can change form. Only those whose user has an obscene amount of power can do that and usually only one other form. Yours has three so far, one of them is a dragon of all things, and your magic isn’t even at full strength yet! I gotta tell you I’m seriously jealous of that.”

“Rick, why did you come running out of there when you did? What did you see?”

There was a stern look in his eyes. “I saw Morgan, or one form at least.”

“In that back room?”

He nodded. “It was very dark back there and a little like a maze. I found my way by following a dim blue light. When I rounded a corner, I saw….” He trailed off.

“You saw Morgan? What did he look like?”

His eyes cut to mine.

“What? What is it?”

“He looked how you might think of the devil, but that’s just a form he took for my sake. It was the idea that played most in my mind.”

“Did you see my book? What’s the game plan here I mean shouldn’t we be going after him?”

“No, we’re nowhere near strong enough to face him now. It’ll pretty much guarantee our failure.”

He was right. I knew he was right but it didn’t make me feel any better about leaving someone behind. “Well, what about that man who gave me this.” I held out the tattered old book. “He said it could be helpful.”

Rick opened the book and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He smiled. “That man somehow snuck you a few pages of your magic. There’s a few protection spells here as well as attack spells.” He handed them to me. “Go ahead and read them to yourself so you’ll have the power.”

My body tingled when I read the spells and after each one, I could see a warm glow over my arms that I assumed covered all of me. I watched Rick search through the book the man gave me. He pulled out a yellow post-it note and handed it to me.

“Looks like he knew it was all a trap.”

I took the note. It just said I’m sorry. “Well, I guess I can’t fault the guy for trying. At least he got some good pages.”

“Pray they kill him quickly. Creatures like Morgan tend to torture.”

I took in a deep breath choking back the tears that began to build. “So what do we do now? Our whole mission revolved around getting the entire book not pieces of it and there isn’t much time left.”

“I know, just let me think.”

I let what Caroline the saleswoman said enter my mind and wondered if Rick did have feelings for me. I glanced at him while he let things circle in his mind. He wasn’t a bad looking guy when he was silent. Tall, dark hair and eyes and seemingly mysterious, if he never said a word I’d probably be all over him. The moment before when he was sleeping flashed through my mind and my pulse started to race.

“What is it?” He caught me staring. “You’re not falling for me, are you?”

That mouth! “I was waiting for a response.”

“I need to talk with my Great Aunt Auggie. There has to be a way to increase your power or maybe we can just catch Morgan off guard. Let’s head back home for now.”