Finding Midnight (14 page)

“Hear what?” Tori said.

Disappointed, Summer pointed to the ground
by the fence. “Here. This is where I found it.” The boys scurried
to the fence and proceeded to look around.

Summer prodded Tori. “You didn’t hear a
voice a moment ago?”

“I heard an owl hooting,” Tori said, paying
more attention to the boys and what they might find.

“Exactly. Then it said, ‘Who are you?’”

Tori turned to face her, her brow scrunched
with worry. “You heard an owl ask who you were?”

Summer pasted a weak smile on her face. “Of
course, not…that’s crazy talk,” she said, trying to play the whole
conversation off.

“You crack me up, Summer,” Tori said with a
tiny hesitation, and then her focus was back on the boys.

“Was it lying on the ground or did you have
to dig for it?” Jackson asked.

“Well, Sully was clawing at the fence,
barking at a cat in the window next door, and I guess his back feet
must have moved the dirt around to reveal the—” she hesitated on
the word, “scale.”

“I don’t see anything,” Jackson said.

“What is it we are looking for? You expected
to find a dragon just hanging out by the fence?” Nick said, shoving
Jackson in the shoulder.

“I guess not. I’m not sure what I was hoping
to find. It’s just so amazing to find something like this,” Jackson
said, handing the dragon scale back to Summer. “I’m surprised you
got a drill to go through it at all.” They started to head back to
the cottage.

“Why?” Summer asked, reattaching the
necklace around her neck.

“Dragon scales are known for their strength
and hardness,” Jackson explained.

“Oh,” was all she could find to say.

“They’re also known for their magical
properties,” Jackson noted.

“Magical properties?” Summer and Tori said
in stereo.

“Yes, and one that is off a live dragon,
well, that is about as charged with magic as they come,” he
relayed.

“When you say
magic
you mean like
hocus-pocus?” Nick asked.

“Yes. They were used in potions, spells, and
in healing. They were highly sought after,” Jackson said.

“How do you know all this?” Summer asked a
bit too skeptically.

“I…I…” Jackson wavered. “I read about them.”
Instantly he retreated from any more questions that might be
bubbling to the surface.

Nick noted the awkwardness and announced
they’d better head home. He used some excuse about having to work
early at the Mausoleum, but Summer wasn’t sure if it was true or
just a ‘wingman’ watching out for his buddy—getting him out of an
uncomfortable situation.

Nick and Tori said their goodbyes first, and
then headed for the car. Summer guessed they were trying to give
her and Jackson time to say goodbye in private. Jackson was still
uncomfortable but his fascination with the bauble around her neck
brought him to within inches of her again. He picked the scale off
her chest once more, admiring it, then gently replaced it and said,
“This is truly an amazing find.”

She felt embarrassed by his admiration.

“You are something very special,” he said,
touching her chin.

“No, I’m not. I’m just a girl who happened
on a shiny object,” she said.

“I don’t mean you’re special because you
found the scale. I think you’re special because amazing things
happen around you. I believe things happen for a reason whether it
be destiny, luck, or whatever. You’ve adopted a hellhound, which
most people would never do. You’re sweet, kind and beautiful and
now you have a little magic in your life. That could prove a very
interesting combination,” he said.

“I suppose,” she said, looking into his
dreamy green eyes.

He smiled then leaned in, cupping her jaw
with both hands, and leading her lips to his, he kissed her softly.
His soft, warm lips lingered tenderly as if tasting her. A warm
flush ran up her spine and suddenly it felt as if the cottage was
on fire. Her hands rested on his chest, soaking up his warmth, and
she felt his heart beating beneath her hand. A crop of goose bumps
grew over her skin as he pulled away and the kiss was over. She
smiled widely and though she tried to stop herself, she couldn’t
seem to stop. When she realized this, she felt her face blush and
she averted her eyes from his smile.

From outside arose a voice, “Hey, lovebirds,
we gotta go,” Nick bellowed.

“Right,” Jackson said. “I guess this is
goodnight.”

“I guess so,” she replied still with the
silly smile pasted on her face.

“Goodnight,” he said as he stepped through
the doorway.

“Goodnight,” she said, waving as he turned
to leave.

“Night…” another voice said.

She turned to Sully who cocked his head to
the side. “Did you just say—?”

“Yup!” Sully answered.

Chapter 13

“So I’m not going crazy, you really can
talk,” Summer said.

“Yup,” Sully answered.

“But how is that possible? No one else seems
to be able to hear you,” she said, puzzled.

“I don’t know, I don’t think so. Can we play
with the ball?” he answered.

“No, Sully. I’m exhausted. We’ll play ball
tomorrow.”

“Ooookaaay,” he said disappointedly,
following her into the bedroom. He hopped up on the bed, circled
several times and then plopped down at the foot of the mattress,
while she got ready for bed.

By the time she crawled into bed and turned
off the lights, Sully was snoring and twitching away. Summer
thought about the evening’s events and the conversations. She
rubbed the necklace while she thought about all Jackson said about
dragons, dragon scales, and puzzle boxes—but mostly she thought
about the kiss that curled her toes and made her body tingle with
electricity. With a smile on her face, she drifted off to sleep
making her way into a land of magic, dragons, and princely
kisses.

She to voices in the living room. It took a
moment for reality to take the place where the dream had just
been.

“Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the
ball…” a voice that sounded like Sully’s said. Thunderous paws
clawed at the floor to get traction and Summer was nearly trampled
by Sully as she stepped into the main room of the cottage, rubbing
her eyes.

“What’s going on?” she asked before suddenly
noticing a tall, dark figure bent over Sully and petting him.

The sight of the stranger startled her and
she heard Sully say, “He smells different, but I like him. Don’t be
afraid.”

“Daniel?” she said, squinting as she made
her way towards the two.

“Yes,” his emotionless voice said.

“What are you doing here?”

“I needed to speak with you,” he said.

“What about?” she said with a half yawn.

“That vampire,” Daniel said sternly.

“What vampire? Jackson? Or Nick?”

“The one you kissed…this…Jackson,” he said
with disgust.

“What about him?” she asked.

“You should not be consorting with these,
these…vampires. What were you thinking?”

“Wait a minute. I thought you couldn’t
interfere in my life, or my decisions.” She was defiant.

“I can if it endangers your life,” he said
matter-of-factly.

“Uh! No. I don’t think so. As you explained
it, you couldn’t prevent me falling out of the tree and breaking my
arm—that was certainly an endangerment,” she said, folding her arms
across her chest.

“That’s true, but as I explained, pain is a
part of growing and learning. Hurting yourself and killing yourself
are two entirely different things. Intentionally involving yourself
with a predator like a vampire endangers your well-being,” Daniel
explained.

“Seems to me that it is YOU who seems to
pick and choose the events you intervene with,” Summer said
angrily.

“I…you…it’s…no. Your path can have many
directions. I can’t know what path you’ll take; only you determine
that, but as I’ve watched you all your life, I feel compelled to
advise you against this…you’re getting involved with a vampire,”
Daniel back-pedaled.

Listening to Daniel stumbling over his
words, Summer suddenly said, “If I didn’t know any better, I would
say you might have feelings for me.”

“That’s preposterous…I…you…” Daniel
stammered, and then suddenly disappeared.

“Where’d he go? I wanted to play ball. How
come he doesn’t smell like you?” Sully asked, sounding as if his
nose was packed with cotton.

“He’s an angel, Sully. I suppose that’s why.
I’m sure he’ll play ball with you some other time. Are you feeling
okay? You sound as if you might be getting a cold.”

“I don’t know. My head hurts a little and it
is hard to smell things. Do you want to play ball?” Sully said.

“No, Sully. Time for bed. If you are getting
a cold, you need some rest. I’ll have Dr. Stuart check you out
tomorrow.”

“I like Dr. Stuart. He’s my friend. Will he
play ball with me?” Sully said, jumping back on the bed and
circling three times before plopping down.

“I’m sure he will, Sully. Get some rest.
Goodnight.”

“Night niiiiggghhhttt…” Sully said, falling
asleep as the words came out his mouth. Summer smiled at that.
Rolling to her side, she fell back to sleep.

*****

Getting ready for work in the morning,
Summer found Sully slow to get up. It had been Sully who often woke
her these days but today the alarm went off and Sully was still
snoozing. It wasn’t until Summer had showered, dressed and made her
way to the kitchen for something to eat that he finally jumped down
from the bed and made his way to the kitchen.

“Little tired, aren’t you?” Summer said
worriedly, pouring some kibble into his bowl.

“Yup,” he said between chomping his food
down.

She had scrambled some eggs and was sitting
down to the little table when Sully suddenly sneezed ferociously,
sending flames out his mouth and nostrils. Before she could even
take a bite of her breakfast she found herself in a panic running
for the small red kitchen fire extinguisher. It had been a house
warming gift, and thankfully, it readily suffocated the flames that
licked at her pretty white and blue checked tablecloth with wet,
foamy goo that expanded as it put out the fire.

With her forearm, she wiped her forehead of
the beads of anxious sweat and said, “Well, now…that was exciting.”
Sully sniffed and looked terribly guilty and she smiled. “Aw,
sweetie, don’t feel bad…it’s not your fault. You have a cold. We’ll
get you checked out and Dr. Stuart will make you feel better. Trust
me.”

Sully’s pronounced eyebrows rose one at a
time and he answered sadly, “Okay.”

Summer cleaned up the mess by wiping most of
the foam with the unburned portion of the tablecloth which she then
tossed in the garbage. Instead of eating, she opted for grabbing a
bagel and a cup of coffee in a travel mug and headed toward the
door. As soon as the door was barely ajar, Sully bolted out, making
a loud bang and nearly knocking the coffee out of Summer’s hand.
Summer laughed, thinking someone certainly had to do his business
badly.

Summer closed and locked the door and made
her way to the side gate. She glanced at the house next door and
the window that once housed a panicked cat, but today, there was no
sign of him.

She yelled out, “Suuulllll-lllllleeee. Come
on, pup, time to go.”

From behind the little cottage she heard the
thumping of galloping, padded paws coming towards her. As he
appeared, she saw his eyes were watery and the one ear that didn’t
normally droop was now drooping. He had something red in his mouth.
He sneezed, setting fire to some dried weeds on the ground and
throwing the red item out of his mouth.

“Ohh!” Summer said with alarm as she ran to
the growing fire and stomped it out with her foot. “You poor thing.
You know, maybe I should bring along that fire extinguisher, just
in case. What do you think?”

Sully sadly nodded, his eyebrows arching up
and down, making his expressions look almost human. She ran in the
house and grabbed the half empty fire extinguisher and met Sully at
the gate. She opened her door and Sully hopped in, walking across
the driver’s seat to sit awkwardly on the passenger’s seat.

“I think we’re going to have to graduate you
to the back here pretty soon, Sully. You’re getting so big.” He
cocked his head to one side, making his droopy ears sag lower and
his expression seem even sadder.

“It’s okay, boy. That’s a good thing. Don’t
worry,” she said, patting him on the head and shutting the door.
That’s when she noticed the item Sully had in his mouth.

“What have you got there, boy?” she said,
taking a hold of it. Sully was too tired to fight her much. He
released the red item then curled up into a smaller ball than she
imagined such a large dog could achieve and attempted to nap.

Summer looked at the item—it was a collar,
probably for a cat or small dog. Her thoughts once again went back
to the cat in the window.
I wonder
.

There was a shiny brass tag on the collar
with only one word on it, no phone number or address, just “Morti.”
She puckered her lips in disappointment. It would have been much
easier to get the collar back to its owner if it had a number or
address. She slipped the slightly slobbery collar over her hand and
onto her wrist, and then tightened it so it would not fall off.

“Another mystery, Sully. It’s not bad enough
that I haven’t a clue where to look or what to look for with Ms.
Midnight’s mystery rat; now we need to find the owner of collar
too.” Summer released the hand brake and pulled the SUV into the
second part of a three point turn, then off to work. Sully licked
the collar on her arm and laid his head back down, closing his
eyes.

*****

Summer was glad to be at work and back to
her normal routine, although ‘normal’ was a relative word and quite
honestly, nothing had really been normal since she moved out of the
orphanage.