Smokeless Fire (16 page)

When they reached Charlie’s street, Ari pulled Jai to a stop. “You need to hide for now.”

He shook his head belligerently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Question: what happens when I need to pee?”

Jai narrowed his eyes. “You’re so juvenile, you know that.”

She smiled sweetly. “Go away.”

“No. I’ll go into the
Cloak
.” He tried to appease her.

Ari shook her head. “Nah, after Ms. Maggie it kind of freaks me out.”

“Fine.”

Before she could question that resigned sigh of his Jai surprised her by glancing surreptitiously around. He strode away from her, slipping in behind a large tree that hid him from the rest of the street. Ari frowned. “What—” she cut off at the hiss of flames, flickers of reds and oranges and yellows peeking out from behind the tree. Just like that it was gone and her eyes grew wide as a huge Great Dane padded out from where Jai had been standing. Ari gulped, remembering The Red King telling her that the Jinn could take the form of different animals. “Jai?”

He barked at her so she took that as a yes.

Eyeing him as he found step beside her, Ari had to curb the urge to pat his head. He was a white Dane with black spots all over him. His soulful black eyes still managed to contain a hint of disdain and Ari snorted. “Trust you to choose a Great Dane.” Walking, Jai came up past her waist. She imagined when sitting his head would reach her shoulder. Ari had only known Jai a few hours but she already knew he exuded one word. Intimidation. She tutted. “How am I supposed to explain you to Charlie?”

He cocked his head up and Ari had to hide a smile at his comical expression. It pretty much said, ‘Does it look like I give a shit?’

Not wanting to admit she was beginning to enjoy Jai’s dry company, Ari picked up the pace and wasn’t surprised to see Charlie waiting on the front porch for her. He moved towards her as if he were going to hug her and then seemed to think better of it. Her chest ached at the panic in his eyes and she hated herself for worrying him so much.

In a weird way, though, it was nice to know he still cared.

“Where the hell did you go?” he snapped and then his eyebrows drew together in puzzlement when his gaze dropped to the dog at her side. “What the hell is that?”

“That…” Ari shared a look with Jai. “That is… Hamlet.”

“What?”

Ari shrugged, smiling stupidly. “Hamlet. He’s a Great Dane. Get it?”

Charlie jumped down the porch steps, shoving his hands into his pockets as he glared at her. “Witty.”

Trying to remind herself that he was just being a jerk because she’d worried him, Ari nodded her head in the direction of Vickers’ Woods. “Can we go for a walk? Talk?”

He strode past her with a grunt.

Taking that as a yes, Ari smiled and followed him out of the drive. Feeling mischievous she turned back to Jai and patted her leg. “Come on, boy.”

At Jai’s little growl, Charlie threw the Great Dane a dirty look, gently moving Ari so the Dane walked beside him and not her. “That dog is freakin’ me out.”

Confused, thinking Jai was pretty cute as a Great Dane, Ari frowned. “Why?”

“It’s so…” They both watched as Jai’s eyes darted around the street, watching vigilantly for any signs of attack. Charlie made a face. “…human.”

“Oh no,” Ari replied dryly. “He’s definitely not human.”

Ari knew Charlie would bug her and bug her to tell him what the hell had happened to her that night of her party but she remained silent until they found one of the many rough paths that led into the woods. They passed the cherry trees someone had planted years ago without permission, the blossoms adding perfume to the dank smell of the dark soil. Settling on a large fallen trunk, Ari tried to relax, letting her mind and body calm, listening to the familiar sound of the interstate in the distance. Charlie stood before her, his legs wide, his arms crossed over his chest. She winced, noting that the dark circles under his eyes were even more prominent today. It looked like he hadn’t slept a wink since she’d disappeared. Dried leaves and twigs cracked under Jai’s paws as he padded over to her, sitting on his haunches, watching Charlie with a clear hint of disapproval in his eyes. Charlie saw it and eyed the dog with narrowed eyes.

“Where did you say you got the dog?”

Ari held up a hand. “I’m about to explain. It’s just… really difficult to explain. You might think I’m crazy.”

“I think your dog might be crazy,” he mumbled, stepping back a little warily. “I get the feeling he doesn’t like me so much.”

“Charlie.”

“What?” He finally dragged his eyes from Jai. “Sorry. You were saying?”

Ari suddenly realized something as she took in his overall appearance. His pupils weren’t dilated and except for the dark circles under his eyes his skin had an almost normal color to it. “Are you sober?”

His brown eyes flashed at her. “Yeah, Ari. I’m sober. You disappeared out of your own bed two nights ago and I couldn’t find you anywhere. I called your friends, I called your dad. No one knew what happened to you. Yes. I’m sober. I’m sober because I’ve been looking for you!”

She tilted her head, eyeing him sadly. “You should be sober because you’re eighteen, Charlie.”

He shook his head, his unkempt hair sliding into his eyes. “Look, I didn’t come here for a lecture,” he told her wearily. “I came here to find out what happened to you.”

“What happened to me…”

Here goes…

“What happened to me… is… I met my real father.”

For the first
three quarters of the story Charlie watched her in taut silence, his eyes concerned and wary. She knew as she went on about being pulled into the realm of the Jinn, being attacked by a Nisnas, meeting her father, The White King, and discovering
she
was Jinn, that he thought she’d gone crazy or was maybe on some kind of drug. Then as she told him about coming home and finding her uncle, The Red King, in the house with a bodyguard named Jai, Ari noted his eyes grow anguished. Like he had lost her somehow.

The sadness turned to anger as she told him about Ms. Maggie being Jinn, about Nick being possessed by one of the Jinn and Mike… he grew so furious as she talked about Mike.

When she was done explaining about the Labartu who killed Mike, the silence between them pulsed with raw fury. She braced herself, determined to be brave.

“You think that’s funny,” Charlie hissed between clenched teeth. “You think that’s fucking funny, Ari!”

Jai growled from beside her, standing up from his haunches to pad in front of her, guarding her.  “Jai,” she begged. “Show him. Please.”

The Great Dane’s head turned to her, his big eyes indignant.

“Please, Jai.”

“You’ve gone nuts.” Charlie stumbled back from her. “Only sane person in my life and she’s gone nuts.”

“No!” Ari jumped up, terrified she was losing control of the situation. “Charlie, I’m telling you the truth, you have to believe me. I know it sounds insane. I know. But it’s the truth. You didn’t kill Mike. One of the Jinn did. Because of me. And I’m so sorry,” she choked. “I am so sorry.  But I can prove it. The guardian I told you about. The Jinn. Jai. That’s him.” She pointed at the Great Dane.

Charlie’s shoulders slumped, his face crumpling, his eyes glowing bright with unshed tears. “Ari… please.”

“It’s him!” she cried, turning on Jai. “Please. Help me.”

The dog stared at her for a minute more and then the air around him shimmered. Ari released a breath of relief. Fire erupted in the air before them, crackling and spitting, the heat licking Ari’s chilled skin. And then it was gone, leaving Jai standing in its place, his surroundings untouched by his magical flames.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “You owe me.”

“Holy fu—” Charlie breathed, taking a few steps back, his eyes blinking wide.

“Charlie.” Ari rushed at him, clasping his face in her hands. “Charlie.” She shook him until his shocked gaze unglued itself from Jai and fell down on her face, so close to his. “Charlie, I told you I’m telling the truth.”

“This is real?” he whispered, amazed, hurt, shocked, scared.

She nodded silently, stroking his cheek soothingly.

He jerked back from her and Ari felt the loss of him like a knife cut to the heart. “You’re… Jinn? Jinn are real?”

“Apparently so.” She locked her jaw, trying not to cry at the distance in his eyes.

That distance suddenly burned bright with wrath. “And… that’s why Mike’s dead? It was what… what did you call it?”

“A Labartu. They’re like some kind of Jinn that targets kids. She was the cyclist that ran you off the road. It wasn’t your fault, Charlie.”

He gulped, trying to draw in air and Ari reached for him only to have him push her hand away.  Heaving in rapid, jerky breaths, Charlie dropped his hands to his knees, tucking his head into his chest as he tried to collect himself.

“Charlie,” she whispered desperately.

“Ari.” She felt Jai’s hand on her arm, attempting to pull her back.

Finally, Charlie straightened, his breathing still uneven, tears streaking his cheeks. When next he spoke, he didn’t even look at her. “Was it yours?”

Ari shook her head in incomprehension. “What?”

“Was it your fault?” he bit out.

Feeling the rip in her chest lengthen and deepen, Ari’s eyes blurred with tears. “I don’t know.”

Without another word, Charlie turned and strode out of the woods, leaving her there shivering in the aftermath of his silent blame.

She was surprised
when Jai remained quiet for a whole five minutes, letting her gulp back the tears and gather herself. Her head felt too hot and her ears were buzzing with disbelief. She could barely breathe, her chest hurt so much from the fear that she’d lost Charlie.

Finally, though, Jai sighed at her back. “I know you’re worried about him but we have bigger problems.”

Ari shook her head, unable to look at him. “You don’t understand.”

“You think you’re in love with him.”

“There’s no ‘think’ in that sentence.”

When he didn’t respond, Ari turned around and gazed up at him, trying not to let the defeat shine in her eyes for him to see. For everyone to see. “I guess you’re right about the bigger problems though. So… how do we exorcise one of the Jinn?”

He shrugged. “You got Yellow Pages?”

“Seriously?”

Jai snorted. “Yes, Ari. There are Aissawa Exorcists in the Yellow Pages.”

Huffing, Ari walked away from him. “You really need to work on intonation when you use sarcasm. That way people will know when you’re being an asshole.”

“And you need to work on your gullibility.”

“Well, I was under the impression you have no sense of humor so forgive me for believing everything you say.”

“Well that should be fun.”

“See!” she threw over her shoulder. “No intonation. Jeez, Jai, drop the monotone.”

Stepping into stride beside her, he sighed as if he were dealing with an infant. “You were less annoying when I was invisible.”

“I think that says more about you than me.” When she glanced up at him for a reaction Ari was surprised to see something spark in his eyes – like he was enjoying himself with her. The ache in her chest refused to ease but for a moment, as they shared a long look, she had to work hard not to give him a sad smile.

Abruptly, Jai cleared his throat, shifting his gaze directly in front of him. “I take it you want an Aissawa Exorcist for your friend Nick?”

“I would say yes if I knew what an Aissawa Exorcist was.”

“The Aissawa Brotherhood are experts in exorcising homes, buildings, material goods and people that have been possessed by the Jinn. I’ll make a call.”

After muttering a thank you Ari let silence fall between them, suddenly realizing that after years of being alone for much of the time, she was never going to have a moment’s peace from this guy for the indefinite future. Sure, Jai could turn into the Great Dane again so her dad was only questioning her about a mutt rather than a hot, older guy in jeans that did wonderful things to his ass, but where was he going to sleep? Did he intend to sleep in her room? With her?

The heat of someone watching her brought Ari blinking out of her thoughts and she glanced up to see Jai looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “What?” she asked warily.

He shook his head in disbelief. “Hamlet?

PART TWO

~11~

Let Me in to Your World, I Don’t Belong in Mine

“Maybe you should stop calling him,” Jai offered without looking up from his copy of
Earthborn
by Orson Scott Card. He was lying on the floor in her bedroom, propped up against the wall, sitting on top of the sleeping bag he’d conjured since he refused to leave her side for more than five seconds. It had been a few days now and if Ari never had to see another copy of a Scott Card novel it wouldn’t be a bad thing.