Chapter 4 #2
I glared at her again. “Girl, calm your tits. It’s quite possible Artur didn’t do a thing.
” I turned to Artur, shifting in emotion from annoyance with Elena – laced with love, of course– to concern as I looked at the handsome man before me.
A dull ache gnawed at my gut, hoping that the answer forthcoming from him would prove his innocence and spare him from yet another reputational disaster.
“Tell us, what happened? Do you know why you had such an unsavory visitor?”
“Not really. I swear I didn’t do anything.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I sat at my table after – well, you know – and was taking stock of my wares – which wasn’t hard. You were my only sale last night, when the lights started to flicker.”
“That’s common when the undead are around—demons particularly,” I said.
“Then the whole corridor thickened with black shadows, and the shop lights began to blink out. That’s when I looked up and saw it at the end of the alley.
People scrambled to shut their doors and close up their tables.
Most of the vendors live in the apartments above.
I don’t. I can’t afford them. So I was stuck. ”
“Oh my god, I would’ve pissed myself.” Elena was glued to Artur’s story. “This is like a freaking horror movie.”
“Yeah, well, it kinda felt like one,” Artur snapped back.
I placed my hand on his thigh to ease him. It wasn’t hard to see that his experience had scared him, as it would almost anyone. Through his thin summer pants, I could feel the heat of his flesh, and damn if those sparks didn’t happen again.
Artur glanced at me and smiled. He put his hand over mine and squeezed.
“Thanks, Cesar. You are a kind man.”
“Okay, save the kissy kissy for later. What happened!?” Elena urged from the other side of the table, gripping her coffee cup, her knuckles white.
“The thing floated over to my table.” Artur looked between the two of us, then focused on me. “Ice formed under its feet, I swear! It demanded to know who had taken the black tourmaline stone. Apparently, it belongs to him.”
“The gemstone I bought from you last night?” I asked.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. You have to believe me.” Artur glanced at me quickly with imploring eyes, then slumped into himself and stared at the patio stones. “Cesar, he literally choked your name out of me.”
“Artur, you did what you had to do. Does he simply want the stone back? Because if that’s the case, we’ll surrender the gem. It’s not worth incurring the wrath of such a creature.”
“He’s returning tonight to my stall.”
“You know,” Elena started, but then stopped as she stared at me. “The Assembly will want to know about this.”
“We can’t,” Artur blurted out.
“Why not? Elena’s right. Creatures of this sort, if not dealt with, could lead to someone’s demise.
Artur, we have a responsibility.” My brows knitted together.
This was common sense. Everyone knew that The Assembly had been put in place to protect the populace from those beings that were too powerful and who meant harm.
And since the Revelation, those instances occurred more frequently than I cared to admit.
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I can’t go before them again.
If I do, they’ll strip me of my magic.” Panic danced across Artur’s face as his gaze shifted back and forth between Elena and me.
A new layer of sweat appeared instantly on his skin, soaking his shirt more as the air around us became electrified.
The surrounding empty tables and chairs all suddenly converged toward us.
Even the palm trees lining the street bent in close to our direction.
“Artur, breathe!” I said, noting the telekinetic activity.
Instead, he hyperventilated. With Artur’s panic rising, even the tables and chairs with people seated at them pulled in closer, as did several cars parked out on the street, setting off the car alarm in one of them.
“Artur!” I grabbed his shoulders and glared at him, trying to work through his anxiety. “Listen to my voice. I want you to breathe, Artur. Just look at me, focus on me and my voice, and inhale.”
People started to pull away from us. Several left; others were locked in, terrified but too enthralled by the situation to move. Artur’s display of power wasn’t something seen every day. That kind of outburst only came from witches who had incredible power.
Artur’s eyes—glazed, rounded, and far too wide—refocused on my face. He nodded, short, frenetic little bobs of his head, and took a hitched breath in.
“Good boy. Now let it all out.”
The air came out the same way it went in: hiccupped and erratic.
“Good. Now, let’s do that again.”
This time, the air flow was a little steadier. The plants on the boulevard relaxed and returned to their normal positions.
“Okay, good man. One more time.”
The next inhale and exhale smoothed out Artur’s facial expression.
“You keep breathing just like that.”
A couple of minutes went by, me holding onto Artur, him breathing, Elena hovering over us like a protective mother bear. The constant electrical flow between where my hands touched his sweaty flesh made me shiver in delight. But now wasn’t the time.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw we had attracted a crowd.
“I think it’s time to go,” I whispered to Artur and Elena., “Sorry folks, no need to worry. I’m taking my friend home. Just a little panic attack.”
I pulled Artur up, hugged him close with one arm, and whispered, “You’re coming home with me. No Assembly for now. We can talk in private. Elena, sorry to cut short our coffee, but I think we have more pressing matters. I’ll call you later.”
“Of course, Cesar,” she stopped me with a gentle touch to my forearm, “and if you need help, you know I got your back.”
“I know you do. Love ya, girl.” I leaned into her, and she gave me a quick squeeze of a hug, all while I continued to support and brace Artur.
He was better, but his eyes still had a touch of the wild dancing erratically.
I hailed a cab, and as we climbed into the car, Artur frowned.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as the car drove down the street. A gentle ocean breeze fluttered the papel picado strung between the buildings, left over from the last holiday.
“I hate it when that happens. I’m sorry, Cesar. I hate myself.”
We had lots to discuss.