“Yeah. I just…m-m-m-missed you.”
My cheeks warm, and I’m glad no one’s around to see me swoon.
“I missed you, too. I’m surprised you called instead of texting.”
“I know. Hate it.” We both laugh, and it fills my heart with joy knowing we can still share a friendly rapport. “My instinct told me…to chat. Auntie says it’s…more effective.”
“Facts. So listen, I was actually thinking about coming to see you. The last time we spoke, I, uh…”
“I need…to apologize.”
“Why? I’m the one who fucked up.”
“But I…need to communicate…better. You’re my partner, not a pet.”
A smile grows on my lips. “That means a lot. And thank you for calling me. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” I hear a car getting close, the smallest bus I’ve ever seen. “Hold that thought, Lox. This conversation is best in person. I have some serious apologizing to do.”
“Oh, you don’t…”
“Yes, I do. I’m taking the bus across town to you. Here it is now.” The car that pulls up has dark windows and no bus signage. “Wait, that’s just some car.”
When the black unmarked van stops directly in front of me, my brow furrows.Huh? “Gordy?” Loxley asks over the phone.
Ignoring him, I try to step back when the van doors open. I see a person bound up in the dark of the passenger seat. On instinct, I squint my eyes and peer closer. “Hey, aren’t you??”
My words are cut off by a puff of white smoke in my face. The last thing I remember is falling to the ground.
CHAPTER 21- GORDY
EVERY PART OFmy body is sore. My tail can’t move, and it feels like my arms are being pulled up like I’m a puppet. My lips are super dry despite the humid air.Where am I?
Blinking my eyes open, it takes me several moments to absorb what’s around me. I’m in an unknown environment, some sort of dark basement. A singular lantern illuminates the area, and, as I focus, a male figure comes into view. A tall man I don’t recognize, wearing overalls, stands toying with some ropes. He seems menacing, and every instinct tells me to snap at him with my reptilian jaws. Oh, it seems I’m in my turtle form.
And my tail and feet are bound by rope at my ankles. I’m seated on the dirty stone floor, and my arms are held up above me, presumably by more rope. When I try to pull my arms down, the motion draws the attention of my captor.Shit.
“Well, well, well, look who’s awake.” The man puts down the rope and takes out a pistol. Panic fills my heart, and I struggle against the ropes. As he slowly steps toward me, I attempt to muster up magic. If I’m in my turtle form, Loxley’s magic dampener necklace should be gone. Still, it’s almost as if the fire inside me remains bottled up.
“You might as well quit struggling. It’ll make it easier on all of us.” The older fellow crouches down and gazes at me. With a sinister, confident tone, he says, “Well, I’ll be. You really are the ultimate catch of the day.”
As I gulp and try not to hyperventilate, my life flashes before my eyes. I’ve been kidnapped, and I might get murdered. I’ll never see my roommates or my folks again.
I’ll never see Loxley again.
At this, my inner turtle grows enraged. Working against the ropes, I flail and snap at him with my sharp teeth. My magic may be gone somehow, but I still have jaws.
The man steps back and says, “Whoa, nelly!” He points the pistol at me, and I immediately calm down. My expression is filled with fury, I’m sure, but I don’t want to give my captor a reason to kill me so soon.
“I don’t want to have to use this, but I will.” Biting back a growl, I stare at him in contempt. He simply smirks at me and steps forward. “Good little Godzilla. Since you know what a gun is, I’m guessing you’re human-like. Perfect; when we sell you to the tabloids, we’re gonna make a pretty penny.”
He chuckles as I assess my situation. I’m bound up, but there has to be a way out of here. I’m one of the Four Guardians, a mage shifter, for heaven’s sake. I ought to be able to free myself from some guy who has to resort to using a gun and ropes. I doubt he even has magic.
But where is my magic? I’ve gotten so used to being able to pull the arcana from within my body in the past few weeks. Now, it’s as if there’s a massive cage binding up my inner turtle’s power. To cast a spell, all I have to do is think of Loxley’s face, his scent, his body, his voice…
Loxley. I might never see my fated mate again. The despair sets in, and a tear falls from my eyes. If I hadn’t argued with him, none of this would have happened. Now I might die at the hands of some kidnapper.
The man walks over to the lantern table and picks up a shiny piece of metal. “Maybe I ought to dissect a part of you. You’ll still sell well with one less finger. Or claw, whatever.” He grins like amaniac, and it’s then that I recognize the metal as a small knife. When he reapproaches me, I tense up and try to shift away from him. Why has my magic abandoned me now?
“That’s enough, O’Connor!” A small voice from the far end of the room pulls both of our attention. The light from a stairwell cloaks the figure in a silhouette. My torturer, O’Connor, stands up and walks back to the figure. My relief turns into confusion when the new, petite person steps forward and reveals themself. After blinking and scrutinizing this second person, I remember that face was in a van. That’s right?I was at the bus stop. I saw the face of a kidnap victim, so I went to check, and it all went blank.
