Eclipse of the Heart (2 page)

“Ok, thanks Ash, I appreciate it. I hope you added more to
my bag? I don’t think a dozen is enough anymore.” I laughed, but it was more of
a forced laugh. I was still feeling a bit odd. For some reason I felt guilty
about what Ash and I were up to before Lancer walked out. I knew he didn’t see
us, but I still felt like he caught us or something.
Men, ugh I am so
confused.

“Lancer, what did you want to discuss?” I asked as Ash
closed the door to the garden.

“Let’s take a walk.” Lancer put his arm out for me to take
while we started to walk around the other side of the garden.

“B’Lana, I’m worried about your trip today. Every time you
have been outside this compound you have been attacked. One of these days your
luck is going to run out. I don’t want to find out you have been hurt, or
worse, while out sightseeing. Do you really need to leave today?” Lancer
wouldn’t look at me while he was talking, he kept his focus on the path in
front of us as we walked along.

“Thank you for your concern, but since this is a last minute
trip I hope that we will be safe. We are going to be in very public places that
would be difficult to attack; unless they were already planning an attack on the
location. Plus we are taking more guards with us this time. Don’t worry about
me, focus on finishing up your trial so you can go home to Earth with us.”

Lancer looked at me and smiled, “B’Lana, it won’t be worth
going back if you aren’t there. So please stay safe and do everything Ash tells
you. Don’t let him leave your side for even a minute. I trust him to keep you
safe, just remember that.”

“I know Ash will keep me safe. I don’t question that at all”
I just question his motives behind all of the flirting.
I thought to
myself.

“Is this what you wanted to discuss with me alone today? If
that is all, I need to get going.”

Lancer looked at me and opened his mouth, but closed it
right away and looked down and his feet. “Yes, that was all I had to say.
Please stay safe. It may not seem like it, but it would kill me if something
happened to you while you were here trying to help me.”

I reached over and gave him a quick hug. “Don’t worry, I’ll
be safe. Is there anything you want me to bring back for you?”

“Just yourself, safe and sound.”

“Ok, see you later. Try not to have too much fun with that
wonderful judge of yours.” I really did not trust that judge, something was
very off with him.

I joined Ash out front and everyone piled into four SUV’s.
We drove off to the seafood joint Ash told me about.

It was about a thirty minute drive. I could smell the salty
air and knew we were close to the ocean. There were even a bunch of seagulls
flying overhead as we pulled into the restaurant parking lot. The place was
called The Salty Brine. It was rather large and the parking lot was full of
cars, most of which came from Earth.

“Mmmm is that fried fish I smell? Do they do fish and chips
here?” I asked as we got out of the vehicles and started to walk towards the
front door.

“They do have fried fish, but I thought we might have
something a bit nicer. Do you like lobster and shrimp?” Ash asked me as he held
open the door and motioned for me to enter before him.

“Yes, I do! Lobster is one of my favorite dishes, but always
so expensive.”

Xandrie spoke up, “Don’t worry about the cost, Ash is
treating everyone for lunch, aren’t you Ash?”

“Of course I am.” Ash just smiled as he looked at the
display of live Lobster in the foyer.

“Xandrie, do you like lobster too?” I asked.

“Why yes I do. I think we all might be having lobster today.
It’s a real treat here too. This place does it up right. Just wait until you
see how they prepare our meals. So much better than Earth.”

“Ash, what about Cash’s sister and yours? Are they joining
us for lunch too?” I asked Ash as I walked over to the lobster display.

“Anise, my sister, and Cash’s sister, Callie, will meet us
at the mall later today.”

We all sat down at a large table with a lazy-susan on the
top. Ash ordered a family style meal with the lobster he picked out when we
came in. Not too long after we sat down, the lobster was brought out and put in
the center of the table.

Ash turned the wheel and had the lobster facing me. “B,
since it’s your first time here, why don’t you go first.” The body of the
lobster had been cracked and the meat cut up into bite size pieces.

I took my fork and reached over the head to try and grab
some of the lobster meat when I received a huge shock. The lobster was still
alive! Its pinchers reached out and tried to grab me. I yelped as I brought my
hand back and the entire table busted up laughing.

“Not funny guys. Why would you bring out a live lobster?
Shouldn’t the meat be cooked before serving it?” I asked as I took another look
at the lobster. It was a deep red, like it had been boiled. But the claws still
moved a bit.

“B, they just dip it into the water for about a minute and
then bring it out. Technically it is dead, the pinchers moved from a muscle
reflex.”

“Ash, I don’t believe you. That thing tried to pinch my hand
right as I reached out, it has to still be alive.”

“B, haven’t you ever been to Asia? This is how they serve
lobster in the finer restaurants. Then they take what is left, including the
eye balls and put it in the soup. It is good luck to get the eye ball in your
soup. Let’s hope you get one! You need all the luck you can get.” Ash said as
he laughed at me.

“No thanks, I don’t need an eyeball in my soup.” I was not
going to eat a lobster eyeball, I didn’t care if it brought me luck or not.

We finished our nice lunch about an hour later and all
headed out to the vehicles. Ash and the guards checked them to make sure no one
tampered with them while we ate. Everything seemed fine so we all piled in and
drove off to the mall.

Their mall looked very similar to an Earth mall. But theirs
was four stories tall and only about a quarter of the length of my favorite
mall, but with another level on top. They had two department stores that bookended
their mall. One was called Forever Fae and the other was called Fae Fashions.
In between the two big stores was a collection of smaller ones. They sold
everything from music to coffee to women’s fashions, and children’s clothes. It
really felt like I was home, except for the difference in fashion. And of
course all of the red eyes and pointy ears.

Callie suggested we try Forever Fae first. “B’Lana if you
are looking for summer clothes I think this store might have what you want.”

We tried that store and I found a few things, including a
decent swimsuit. But Ash complained that it covered too much.

Anise wanted me to try her favorite coffee shop, so we took
a break and had some fae coffee. It was actually very nice. It was similar to my
favorite Christmas coffee, but had a bit more spice to it. It was naturally
sweeter so I only put a little bit of creamer in it.

With our large group, we stood out.

I looked around and noticed that fae were staring at me and
pointing and whispering. Then I noticed that some of the rippers where looking
at me as well. I felt uncomfortable and walked into the first open store to
catch my breath.

It was a men’s clothing store. Most in our party were men so
we didn’t stand out too bad, other than being a large group. I walked towards
the back of the store to see the different fashions. Fae men liked their
leather.

A Sendryl Ripper came up to me and asked if I needed any
help. “No, I am just looking at the different types of leather pants. Do you
all really wear leather pants every day?”

The attendant chuckled a bit and introduced himself to me,
“Hi, my name is Cove. It is nice to meet you B’Lana.”

I was startled he knew my name and I took a step back.
“Don’t worry, I am not a stalker. Everyone here knows who you are by now. The
first human fae hybrid to come to Sendryl in over 200 years. I don’t know
anyone who has ever met one before. You are a celebrity on this planet.

Cove was a ripper, working in a men’s clothing store. He
didn’t look like he had been to Earth, he only looked like a fae who had
partied too hard for the past couple of weeks. His eyes looked more bloodshot
than anything else and he had bags under them.

“Nice to meet you Cove.” I started to walk away when he
asked me if I would take a picture with him.

“No one will believe I actually met you, one photo will go a
long way for me and my friends.”

I looked to Ash and he just shrugged his shoulders.

“Ok, I guess I can do that. I am not used to taking photos
with strangers.”

Cove handed his cell phone with a camera to Ash and he took
our picture.

As we walked away I looked back and noticed he was texting
the picture to some friends of his. I was curious what he really thought about
meeting me; so I took a peek into his thoughts.
This is the girl you are all
looking for. She is here right now in my store. Hurry up and you might get her
before they leave. But they have a large group of guards with them, along with
two female Sennafae. This is your chance, don’t blow it.

“Ash, that guy is working for the bad rippers, he just
texted his friends that we were here and how many in our party. He told them to
hurry if they want to get us. We gotta get out of here, quick.”
I told Ash
via mind speak while I looked around for everyone else.

Ash motioned to the group to get moving and we left as
swiftly as we could, with all of the traffic in the mall. We made it out of
there and back to our vehicles and were looking them over for any evidence of
tampering when Xandrie noticed that a group of rippers had just pulled into the
parking lot.

Thankfully Anise and Callie had left in their own vehicles
already. We had a group of ten warriors along with Ash and I.

The rippers saw us and came right towards us. We had just
finished checking the vehicles for tampering when they surrounded us. There
were five Ford F150 trucks and a Ford Econoline white van all around us. The
van had what looked like a satellite dish on top. One ripper stepped out of his
truck and said hello to us.

“HI there! My name is Merv and I’m with Channel 8 news here
on Sendryl. Can I get an interview with you B’Lana? This would make for the
story of the century!” Merv said as he walked towards me.

“Sorry, I’m not doing interviews.” I said as I tried to walk
around him to get into my vehicle.

Merv held out his hand to stop me. “Come on, just one quick
interview. I promise it won’t take long and you might even enjoy it. How many
times do you get to be on television?” He gave me a very snarky smile that made
me feel like ants were crawling all along my arms.

I yanked my arm away from him and said, “No means no where I
come from. I am not interested at all in your interviews or being on TV. Please
get out of my way.”

I had a strange vibe from him so I tried to listen in to his
thoughts, but he didn’t have much to hear. It felt like he was consciously
trying to keep me from reading him. I tried some of the others in his group and
they were doing the same thing.

Merv looked at me and smiled. “You can’t read us can you.”
It was more of a statement than a question.

“Excuse me, I don’t understand?”
Oh stink, he knew or at
least suspected what I could do.

“You were just trying to read our minds just now, weren’t
you?” Merv asked with a haughty laugh.

“Ugh, how many times do I have to tell you rippers, I don’t
have any mind trick powers. Now just leave me alone before my guards attack you
guys.” I exclaimed while flailing my arms around.

“B, they have the cameras rolling, unless they hurt you,
I can’t attack them. We need to get out of here now.”
Ash told me through
his thoughts, then said to Merv, “We need to leave as we have an appointment
across town that we are late for. Please excuse us.”

I pushed Merv back a little as I passed him and walked to
the SUV. We all got in and pulled out once their trucks moved out of our way.

As we were leaving the parking lot I did get a read on Merv.
He was thinking that I did have the ability and they needed to get me before I
left for Earth. They couldn’t let the girl of the prophecy escape them, again.
Then I ‘heard’ him start a phone call to his boss explaining that he did not
get an interview but he did get some good video that they could edit to make me
look bad.

Great, that’s all I need; a stupid Sendryl version of TMZ
putting up negative video about me.

We made it back to the Reverend’s compound safely. I asked
Xandrie if Anise and Callie made it home safe and she said she would check with
them. I really liked both of them and hoped I would get to spend some more time
with them before leaving.

As I walked into the living room, Lancer walked in behind me
and asked me how the day went. “Fine, lunch was fun and shopping was awesome,
until we met Merv from Channel 8. Is his show like a Ripper version of TMZ or
Extra?”

Lancer laughed and said, “Only you would get caught on video
by Merv. He isn’t even as respectable as TMZ. I can’t wait to see how he edits
your encounter. This should make a fun night. Time for popcorn.” Lancer laughed
as he walked back out and went to the kitchen.

Then I heard him making popcorn…

I turned around and went to my room, to put away my clothes
I bought and to escape from the ribbing I knew would come as soon as Merv aired
his dirty little video.

The Reverend found me in my room about an hour later.
“B’Lana you can’t let anyone like Merv bother you. He’s just a bully, I am sure
you have dealt with them back on Earth as well, right?”

“Yes, but on Earth bully’s never put me on their TV show. I
handled things a bit differently. I have always been tough and never backed
down. But here I am afraid that if I did anything to Merv or his crew I would
be in trouble. Back home, it would always be my word against the bully’s word.
I usually ended up on top. I’m not sure how to deal with someone like Merv.”

“I imagine it would be similar to what most Earth girls do,
just ignore the boy. He will go away eventually, and if you pretend like he
doesn’t even exist then he will look bad and you will look to be above it all.”

“Hmm, I usually gave the bully a black eye and then no one
would bother me for at least a year. You mean I have to just take his taunts
and ignore him? Do you know if he is part of the terrorist group or is he just
an idiot?” What I heard from his thoughts could go either way.