WITCH SHIfT

JP

“Mom stop,” I said worn out. “I have to help these people. I don’t have time for this.”

“Excuse me young man, you will make time for me.”

“Not right now mom. People are hurt and we have to make sure the hate groups are out of town. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Jonathon Prestyr Worth you will not hang up on me.” She said fuming.

“From orders of the Guardian I have to get back to work. Goodbye mom.” Then I cut her off.

That was not going to end well. I found Mar helping more and more people to the small area set up for injuries. The doctor made it there and between the two they were busy trying to help as many as they could.

I hurried to catch up to them. When I got to the table she grabbed my hand right away. Her perception, or our shared perception, immediately began going over the assembled group and she began calling out information to the doctor.

With the information Mar was calling out they began shifting people into a more immediate order for care. I don’t know if at any other point that I cared more about her than I did right now. She was so selfless that all she cared about was helping others, damn, I think I love her.

“There is one Aura thin Fairy succumbing fast. We are going to see if we can help her. Are you up for it big boy?” Mar asked me with that little mischievous smile of hers.

“You lead, and I’ll follow, until that is, I want to take control.” I said trying to give her my most intense look. It must have worked because she began blushing and then pulling me back to the job at hand.

We worked all day with no break and by the time we were done I was tired, grumpy and hungry. Damn the woman could go, and if I wasn’t so tired I would try to think of that in a positive way.

“I guess we can go see how the doctor is doing,” she said pulling me toward the office.

“No,” I said stopping her.

“JP, come on,” she said tugging again.

“No. I am whipped and starving. We need to rest and get something to eat and drink. If you won’t admit then I will. Mar I need a break.” I said finally getting her to look at me.

She gave me that smile, evil little witch. “Fine, I was just testing your stamina.”

I didn’t let her say any more. I grabbed her and pulled her close and my lips crashed into her with a desire built on need and passion. It wasn’t a romantic occasion or place but it didn’t stop the hunger I felt for her at that point and I would be damned if I didn’t take full advantage of it. When her mouth opened to mine, I was gone.

Mar

Breathe, yes that’s it, breathe. I had to teach myself how to do it again because the kiss that JP just gave me robbed me of all intelligent thought. Here we were standing in the middle of the street just after a riot and he is kissing me like a man possessed. Of course I loved it. The man could kiss.

Of course before I could push for more he dragged us in search of food, man’s other primal need. I crack myself up. A dwarf had a hot dog cart set up and was giving food away. When he saw us he began hurrying to make us food and he just kept bringing us more and more. I would have been embarrassed at the amount of food I ate but I remember my father telling me once that anyone who works with magic loses energy each time they use it.

We were replacing energy now as I just finished off my fourth slaw dog and second Pepsi. I lost count of the number of chili dogs JP ate and I finally crashed on the bench that was next to the cart. I waited for him to finish not realizing I closed my eyes. I woke to the sound of a horn blaring as it came down the street.

I could feel the exhausted Aura’s from where I sat and I leveled myself up and went to find JP who was talking to the doctor who somehow found us and was having a dog of her own.

The horn belonged to a school bus full of Supernatural kids. I wondered where they had been. There were a lot of hurt children in that bus and I went hurrying to help. JP reined me in before I could get there.

“Doc is going to go on the bus with shifters to help move the kids out safely. Our job is to do what we did before and arrange them in the most crucial need. You with me Mar?” He asked and he looked at me like he was worried that I was losing it.

“You lead, I’ll follow.” I said and he smiled and we went to work as the first shifter came down the steps with a child in his arms. It was well past dark when we finished and I was beat. I had no idea how my parents did this. I wasn’t a doctor but it didn’t seem to matter as the cases piled up and we were all they had.

The good news was that we didn’t lose anyone. The bad news was that more refugees of fights were arriving when they heard we had medical care. It wasn’t just supernatural’s that were coming either; we had humans searching for help to. I was dead on my feet. If I didn’t get some rest soon I was going to fall over.

“Another bus coming in,” I heard someone scream and I buried my head in my hands. I was going to fall over.

“Fancy one,” another said and I looked up as it stopped.

The first person down the bus steps wasn’t a driver it was a doctor, a very wonderful, compassionate, and caring doctor, my dad.

“Dad,” I screamed and went running with what energy I had left and threw myself in his arms.

He hugged me tight and when I raised my head I saw my mom was there too. “Hey mom,” I said smiling.

“Hey Mar,” she said worried looking at me.

“I’m fine. We’ve been busy. More and more wounded keep pouring in. JP and I have done what we could, and the doctor is killing herself trying to keep up. It’s just a lot.”

I knew tears were falling from my eyes and I didn’t care. I was never so happy to see two people in my life. “I don’t know how you two do it day in and day out.”

“We don’t, not like this. Mar you need sleep.” Dad said looking me over.

“I couldn’t agree more,” JP said coming up behind me. “If you could relieve us all for a while, Harper and I will see that she gets back to her room at the Inn so she can sleep.”

“Yes, and I will get a room ready for all of you as well when you are in need of it.” Harper said brightening up.

“Um, yes that would be nice, thank you.” My mom said a little lost for words. Of course she hadn’t taken her eyes off of JP as she talked and dad smiled at Harper and extended his hand to both.

“Thank you for helping Mar.” Dad said.

“Actually, we have just been following her lead. She has already saved so many today that some families will be together after tonight. She is amazing.” JP said and I knew I was blushing.

“She always has been.” Dad said beaming. “We brought doctors from the hospital with us when we saw the footage. Go sleep and we will talk when we have all had a chance to rest.”

I let go of dad and hugged mom real quick and then I let JP and Harper lead me away. I heard one thing from the group as I walked away and it was my mom. “Our daughter ends up at a disaster sight and finds the best looking man this side of the Mississippi.”

I woke up almost eight hours later. I was still tired but I felt better and I was starving. I hurried and got dressed and went down to the lobby. JP and Harper were there sitting at mine and Harpers table. There were donuts, two boxes of them, and my mouth started salivating.

“Good morning” they both called as I came near.

I nodded and went for the food. My mouth was full as I finally sighed and flopped on the other chair. They both looked at me. I took two more bites before looking at each of them. They probably looked like I did, which was tired, but awake.

“Morning, you both look tired.” I said eating again.

Harper slid me a Pepsi and I could have hugged her if I still wasn’t stuffing my face. We all ate in silence till I had three donuts gone and my Pepsi. “I need to hug you for the Pepsi and who brought the donuts?”

Harper huffed and pointed to JP, who was smiling. “I need to kiss you,” I said smiling.

“Always the bridesmaid,” Harper said under her breath but I heard her.

“I’ll take a rain check,” JP said looking out the window. My parents were coming in hand in hand and they looked tired as well.

I was too tired to move so when they walked in we just waved them over. Harper jumped up to get their key for their room and they both flopped onto chairs they dragged over. Both reached for a donut and somewhere JP was handing over two coffees to them.

They both nodded at him and took drinks. “Oh this is good,” my mom said appreciatively.

“It is made with spring water from the highest hill.” Harper said bringing their key over. “Do you have bags I can get for you?”

“Oh, I can get them.” Dad said starting to get them.

“No, you sit and talk to your daughter. JP can help me. Where are they?” Harper asked taking control.

“The bus is coming with the rest of the staff. It’s in that mess somewhere with our names on it.” Mom said as dad retook his seat.

I saw it just pulling in now. JP stood and nodded to us and then went to help unload. Mom and dad just looked at me and I smiled. I knew it was a goofy smile but I didn’t care. I just drank my Pepsi. When neither said anything I finally gave up and spoke first.

“Did you leave any for me to help, or did you get them all?” I asked.

“Mar, you shouldn’t be practicing medicine. I know it was an emergency, but you aren’t licensed.” Mom said.

“However,” dad started. “The doctor expressed to us that she wouldn’t have been able to do much without you and your friend. She said the two of you saved at least three lives and maybe more that she couldn’t have got to. We are proud of you.”

“Thanks guys,” I said shyly.

“Your mom is right though. Without a license you shouldn’t be helping except in the capacity of your first aid training. The witch, the young man, with the powers, should not be doing any. He could get in trouble for practicing without a license.”

“Well I guess we both would be in trouble then since we did it together. I know you saw the live feed. You must know what is going on.” I said bewildered.

“We don’t, as far as we saw he casted all the spells. You just held his hand.” Dad said like that was all he would believe.

“Dad, it’s fine if that is what you want to tell people, but as long as Mom and you know the truth, its fine.” I said.

“Mar, you can’t have powers. You’ve been tested.” Mom said the same thing she had said my entire life.

“Mom I love you but you are wrong. The Guardian himself came to us and cast a spell to keep me in town. He doesn’t want anyone running away from town with me. He said it’s too dangerous.” I tried explaining.

“Mar, why would he say that? I am sitting next to you and I can see your Aura, you have no powers. I mean without real testing I can’t be sure, but I can see the aura of anyone over level twenty.” He said meaning it. “I’m sorry honey but you don’t.”

“Dad I felt it.” I said knowing what I felt and saw.

“Maybe the young man is so strong you felt his. I don’t know Mar. All I know is that I don’t sense anything coming from you.”

“I’m not imagining this. If I have no powers why would the Guardian care? Why would he not want me to leave town?” I was getting upset.

JP must have seen me on one of his trips through with bags. He rushed over and I let him wrap his arms around me. I felt the magic as soon as he wrapped his arms in mine. I was washed in it and I felt alive. My whole body screamed for more but I kept a lid on it not wanting to draw anymore from JP.”

I looked at my father to ask him a question and both he and my mom were five steps back with an expression on their face I had never seen before. Um. It wasn’t a good expression. I wanted to laugh at them but I didn’t. Instead I just asked “what do you sense now?”

“Oh shit,” My father said and for the first time in my life I heard him swear.

“Tom, what does it mean?” My mom asked and I wanted to know too.

“Mar, what did the guardian say when he told you to stay in town?” Dad asked.

“First he said he put a spell on me so I couldn’t be taken from town. He also said I was a focus. I know that’s bad, but if we don’t tell anyone, maybe it will be alright.”

Dad looked at JP. I’ll give my man credit he didn’t back down.

“No one but you and us and Harper know. I will not tell my family.” He said.

Dad nodded like that was the end of it. But mom, she had to know. “Who is your family? What is your name young man?”

“Jonathon Prestyr Worth, my friends call me JP. I’m pleased to meet you both.” He extended his hand to both of them, and when they touched I got another zing from each contact. They must have felt it too because their eyes opened wide.

“Secrecy would be good.” Dad said flopping back down on the chair.

Mom and I joined him and JP went to finish taking bags up to rooms. Dad didn’t say anything for quite a while. Then he held his hand out to me. I took it in mine. Nothing happened. He motioned for mom and she did the same and again nothing happened.

JP came back and instead of sitting he placed his hands on my shoulder and we all felt it. “My goodness, you are a personal focus.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means you are safe for being used alone. However, you and this young man, JP, if taken together could cause real trouble. I would like to speak to this Guardian. It would be better if you two were separated, not together.”

“Um, too late for that,” I said releasing their hands and placing them on top of JP’s so he wouldn’t let go.

“Honey, be reasonable, if you aren’t together you are both safer.” Mom said.

“Except it would destroy me,” JP said. “Not that I wanted to do this publicly, but too late for that. I am falling for Mar, hard. If she leaves, I’ll go with her. I don’t want to be without her.”

“And I feel the same,” I said gripping his hands harder. “We have only known each other a short time, but I can’t imagine another day without him. I’m staying here like the Guardian said.”

Dad was looking at us funny. I turned to catch his eyes and he was evaluating us and he shook his head when I went to ask what he saw. He kept his own observation to himself and finally he dropped his gaze but I could feel him still searching. Finally I had enough, “dad, what are you looking for?”

“The spell,” he said.

“It’s a little uncomfortable. It feels like fingers walking up and down my body.” Of course after saying that if it had been JP’s I wouldn’t have minded. I was a naughty little girl, I thought smiling.

“You can feel my probe?” He asked confused.

“Of course, right now it feels like you are in my toes?” I threw back and then all of a sudden the whole thing stopped and he looked at me. Then he turned and looked at JP.

“JP, without Mar what did you test at? My guess would be a fifty, but it may be important to know.”

“Yes sir. Last time I was tested was eight years ago and I topped fifty. The test doesn’t run higher than that. I should know,” he said chuckling.

Dad smiled back at that. “We have levels to determine who can hold which offices. Like a minimum requirement kind of deal. Fifty is the highest rating but certain witches could be more. I won’t guess, but when you and Mar are combined you are the highest I have ever seen.”

“Is that bad or good?” JP asked and I wanted to know that too.

“For now, I think we keep it to ourselves and not rock the boat till this Guardian person lets us know what they think.” Dad said.

Harper came running over. “Sorry to interrupt, but the Sheriff just called; we got more wounded coming in from the state parks. It seems an extremist group of humans went Shifter hunting. The first truck load of wounded will be here in an hour.”

I stood up and everyone looked at me. “Mom and Dad get a shower and some sleep and I will send for you when we get overwhelmed. JP and I will do like we did yesterday till it’s too many. Harper, please make some calls, and get us a place to work and a place to accept them. We can’t continue working in the street.”

“JP and I will get started and we will go see the doctor and see what else she needs. Love you both, see you soon.” I said getting up and dragging JP out the door with me as both my parents watched us leave with a weird expression on their faces.