jinn 03.5 - without a map (2 page)

“What?” I said. “But—no. We can’t.”

She caught my hand and pulled me out of my seat. “Charlie, go. Cut loose a little, I promise you won’t regret it.”

Yeah, fun really wasn’t what I was worried about. Demons capturing me, now that was concerning.

Seeming to read my thoughts, as she always did, she shook her head. “I promise you’ll be safe. We’re only a thought away. You can stay with Aunt Maggie, too.”

Baker wrinkled his nose. “Aunt Femi is cooler.”

Mom gave him a look. “You’ll stay with Maggie or you won’t go.”

He kissed her cheek. “You’re the bee’s knees, Mom.”

She blinked and squeezed us tighter against her. “You’re growing up so fast.”

****

“They’re not going,” Holden said.

He tried to stare me down, but I took his hand and his face softened considerably. “The tighter you hold on, the more likely they are to do it on their own,” I said. “This way we know where they are and can make sure someone is there to keep an eye on them. They’re kids, Holden, no matter who they were.”

His cheek twitched. “I don’t like it.”

I sighed resting my head against his shoulder. “They’re growing up too fast.” I hadn’t even wanted kids—I know that sounds awful—but Charlie and Baker had changed our lives in the best way.

Holden’s hand mindlessly rubbed the back of my neck. “If they go, there has to be rules.”

I smiled, trying very hard not to laugh. “Rules? We can try.”

“You’re too easy on Baker. He’s a menace.”

This time I did laugh as I pulled away. “He is not and you know it. Baker’s sweet. Baker has always been sweet, but he also does what he wants. The key is to make him want to do things your way.” As far as I could tell, Baker didn’t really remember anything from the past, but each year more of the old Baker slipped through. The first time the 20’s slang appeared back in his vocabulary almost made me cry. “He called me the bee’s knees today.”

The corner of Holden’s mouth lifted. “That doesn’t mean he’s ready to fall back into that life. And did it even occur to you that Maggie might not want them to stay with her.”

I nodded. “I spoke with her this afternoon and she’s excited see them. She’s perfectly capable of protecting Charlie and she’ll keep them as far away from the Abyss as she can…but sooner than later we’re going to have to reintroduce them to that world.”

Holden shook his head. “I don’t see why.”

I sighed. I wasn’t going to fight with him about this. I understood where he was coming from. The best way to hide them in plain sight was to make them as normal as possible. Just two regular human kids, but the problem with that logic was neither of them were regular human kids. Baker we wouldn’t have choice on. Once he remembered, he would do whatever he wanted. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressionable. Right now she seemed perfectly willing to follow Holden’s lead, but I wanted her to choose her own path and not follow ours. A weekend in Chicago might be just what she needed.

“Look at it this way. We have Baker for four more years. When he turns eighteen and remembers who he is, you won’t have a say in his life anymore.”

Holden crossed his arms over his chest. “All the more reason to keep them with us now.”

Who would have thought he’d be the one who had trouble letting go. “Charlie should be able to live the life she chooses—not the one you choose for her. No more scaring away boys. She needs to figure out who she wants to be in this life and we need to support her.”

He scratched his handsome as ever jaw. “One weekend?”

I pressed my lips to his. “Yep, just one. Consider it a trial run for when she goes away to school.”

He frowned. “I thought she was staying here.”

She hadn’t made up her mind yet. I didn’t know exactly what she was thinking, but there was something she had been dwelling on for weeks. “I guess we’ll see.”

“What do you know?”

“That it’s been a long time since we’ve had a weekend where it was just the two of us.”

He finally smiled back, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Have I mentioned I love you?”

“Have a great time.” My mom kissed my forehead and hugged me then Baker. “Don’t give your sister a hard time or you won’t leave this house again until you graduate high school.”

Dad’s hands were tucked in his pockets. “Drive carefully, don’t stop at rest stops, and stay with Maggie.”

I swallowed back my fear and nodded.

He squeezed me tight against him and kissed the top of my head. “You’re going to be fine, kid.” He held on a moment longer then went over to Baker who was making Mom laugh and slapped the back of his head. “Don’t get into trouble.”

“Hey,” Baker said rubbing the back of his head. “You’re supposed to at least pretend not to have a favorite.”

Dad smiled and hugged him too. “If you step out of line, I’ll know.”

Baker grinned. “I think you mean have fun.”

He shook his head. “Pretty sure I don’t.” When Baker was about to climb in the car dad said, “Don’t take any wooden nickels.”

I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

Baker grinned. “Applesauce!” He dropped into the passenger side of the car. “Let’s go,” he shouted at me, hand hovering over the horn.

I would never understand the two of them. I looked at Mom and she looked a bit misty-eyed over the exchange. “Are you sure this is a good idea,” I asked.

Dad’s face was serious again and didn’t look sure at all, which made me more nervous, but Mom nodded calmly. “Try new things, Charlie. Discover who you are. We’ll always be there if you need us.” She threaded her fingers through Dad’s.

I took a deep breath and opened the driver’s side door. “Last chance to stop me. By this time tomorrow I could be scantily dressed in a biker bar with burly men ready to show me pleasure like I have never known.”

Dad slowly turned his head toward mom.

Mom nodded laughter twinkling in her eyes. “Biker bars are more Aunt Femi than Aunt Maggie.”

I closed the door, buckled my seat belt, and started the engine then rolled down the window. “Exactly which drugs are legal in Illinois?”

Dad’s eyes shot back to me. “None of them. Absolutely none.”

I paused a moment giving them one more chance to change their minds, but when it was clear they weren’t going to I clenched the wheel and backed down the driveway. This trip was happening whether or not I wanted it apparently.

Baker gave me all of 2.3 seconds before he turned up the music to a screeching level and drummed his hands on the dashboard as he bounced around in his seat. His hand darted over and he fluffed up my hair.

“Don’t distract the driver.”

He thumped on the dashboard again. “Are you going to lighten up this weekend or what?”

“Or what,” I said under my breath as I flipped on the signal to turn onto the highway. My hands trembled and my jaw clenched against the fear raging inside of me. It had been fourteen years since I had been without Olivia or Holden or one of their friends watching over me. I wasn’t ready for this. I blew out a shaky breath.

Baker turned down the stereo. “You know I won’t let anything happen to you, sis. I got your back.”

I shot him a look out of the corner of my eye. That was a very sweet thought, but Baker wasn’t anymore magical than I was. If a demon came after us right now our only hope would be that our parents could get to us fast enough. “Let’s just avoid trouble and we won’t have to worry about it.”

“You can’t live your whole life by the rules, Charlie. The rules don’t apply to people like us.”

“Sure they do.”

He shook his head adamantly. “We belong to a world of magic, with vampires and fae and demons and angels. Do think Mom and Dad got to where they are by playing by the rules?” He leaned forward. “If you’re the only one playing by the rules, you’ll be an easy target.”

I sighed. “Can we not talk about this?”

The truth was I didn’t know that I wanted to go back to living the Abyss. I was a void which meant there was hope I could live the rest of my life in the human world. I aged like a regular human, I had no special abilities that would single me out, and so long as I avoided the Abyss, demons especially, I could be fine. I could go to college, become a social worker so I could give back, and not have to spend this life in constant pain. There was one problem with this plan though.

It meant leaving my family…forever. So long as I was still tied to any of them, I could be found. Both of my parents were deeply rooted in the Abyss, Baker would jump back in as soon as he could, and all of my fake aunts and uncles were also from the Abyss. Outside of school, I didn’t know anyone who wasn’t somehow connected to that world.

Naturally, I hadn’t discussed these thoughts with anyone. I loved my family and they did a wonderful job keeping me safe. The thought of hurting them made me sick, but I wasn’t like them. I wasn’t brave. I didn’t want adventures or anything like that. I just wanted to be normal. All I had to do was figure out what normal meant.

So the rest of our drive I stewed over the problem that had been on mind since graduation had come within my grasp. By the time the GPS led me to Aunt Maggie’s house, I had decided that once I knew where I wanted to be, I’d have to talk to my parents. Either way it went, I’d need their help. Either they would have to help me fake my death so I could cut all ties with them or they would be stuck with me hopefully forever.

Baker squinted at the little house with warm lights glowing inside as the sun was starting to set. “What a piece of shit,” he said, climbing out of the car and grabbing both of our bags before ambling up to the front door.

As always I moved a little slower. I got out of the car, stretching out the kinks in my neck and the tension from my back. We made it without incident. That was good start to the weekend. The sound of a can tumbling against the asphalt behind me sent me swinging around. I stared into the shadows of Maggie’s less than safe neighborhood, waiting for whatever it was to come out as I put the open car door between me and whatever was out there.

A guy around my age stepped out of the shadows on the street, hands in his pockets and a fedora perched on the back of his head as a lock of curly dark hair fell against his forehead. He was skinny and not particularly tall—though quite a bit taller than me. And he wasn’t human.

I couldn’t really tell what he was, but not human I was sure of. He didn’t seem to be aware I was standing here. I let out my breath and pushed the car door shut.

His head snapped up and eyes found me. Our eyes locked. His feet slowed until he stopped walking altogether. “Hey,” he said.

I gave a half wave, pressing the button to lock the car doors before I headed to the house. I could feel his eyes on me as I went up the steps.

“What’s your name?” he called out before I opened the door.

I glanced over my shoulder nervousness twisting in my stomach. He flashed a smile that was sweet, appealing, and innocent, for lack of a better word. All in all, he was cute. “Charlie,” I said.

He nodded taking a couple steps onto the grass and pointing at his own chest. “Fisher,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”

I blinked. My hands suddenly like ice and my mouth dry. “Have a good night.” I opened the screen door.

“See you around,” he said as I slipped into Maggie’s house.

Maggie smiled brightly. The happy dimples on her cheeks almost made her red eyes less creepy. “I was just coming out to look for you. Baker’s eating—”

I laughed. “Of course he is.”

She hugged me carefully. “How was the drive?”

“Uneventful,” I said.

She held me at an arm’s length away as she looked at me. “You’re so grown up. Has it really been that long since I made it down to see you two?”

I surveyed my jeans, t-shirt, and hoodie. I didn’t really feel grown up. “Ummm, it’s been about a year, right?”

She nodded slowly. “That’s sounds about right.” She hugged me again. “Well, you’re beautiful and congratulations on graduating. I have present for you! Do you know what you’re going to do next?”

I shook my head following her into the tiny little living room where I could see Baker at the kitchen table eating everything within his reach. “Not exactly. I figure I still have a little time.”

Maggie handed me a box wrapped in pink and black leopard print paper.

“You didn’t have to buy me anything,” I said automatically as I began tearing open the paper. Inside the box was a short floral dress made out of a pretty, soft material.

“If it isn’t your style we can take it back and you can pick out something else,” she said, watching me with hopeful eyes.

The dress, any dress for that matter, wasn’t my style. I pretty much only ever wore jeans, yoga pants, t-shirts, or hoodies. “I love it,” I said, giving her a hug. “Thank you so much.”

Baker, of course, chose that moment to pay attention to us. He snorted. “You don’t wear dresses.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe I’m going to start.”

“We can take it back,” Maggie said, reaching for it.

I clutched it to my chest. “I love it. I really do. I’ll wear it tomorrow.”

Maggie chuckled as she went into the kitchen. “You’re so much like your mom.”