Enchantment (14 page)

“Okay. I think I’ve got it figured out. You sure you want me to do this?”

“What’s the worst that can happen?”

“It’s just a shield. The worst that can happen, is that it won’t work.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Channie closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she could on Enchantment’s magic while she constructed Josh’s shield. It was by far the most powerful and difficult spell she’d ever attempted. The shield looked like a giant soap bubble as it floated across the room. It encompassed Josh completely then imploded with a loud pop — fitting itself to his form like a second skin.

“Holy freakin’ cow.” Josh stood up and ran his hands over his body. “That feels amazing!”
 

Channie collapsed against the cushions and smiled. “You can feel it?”

“Hell, yeah, I can feel it.”
 

“Can you see it?”

Josh held his arms in front of his body and rotated his hands. “No. Can you?”

“Yes, but it’s fading. It should be invisible in a few minutes.” Which was a very good thing. If Daddy learned that Josh was immune to magic, there was no telling what he’d do to him. Josh’s shield wouldn’t protect him from physical violence.

“What’s it feel like?”

“Like you gave me some sort of super-hero suit. I feel like I can do anything. It’s how I feel when I’m in the starting gate before a race. I don’t want to sound like a stuck-up jerk — but, I feel invincible. Only, it’s not just about racing. I feel that way about … everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, take you for instance.” Josh ran his hands over his chest again.
 

Dang it! Channie wished he’d quit doing that. She squeezed her eyes shut then blinked them open.

Josh said, “Before you gave me this shield, I felt nervous around you all the time. I never knew what to say or do and I was so afraid you’d think I was a dork that it turned me into one — like some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Now, I don’t care what you think of me.”

“You don’t?”

“That didn’t come out right. What I should have said, is that I’m not worried about what you think of me. It’s obvious you like me.”

“It is?”

“Yeah.” Josh grinned at her. “You like me a lot.”

“I do?”

“Come here.” His voice was seductive.
 

“No.”
 

Josh’s smile faded. A flicker of doubt passed behind his eyes. Apparently — thankfully — his shield was only skin deep. “Don’t you want to test it? That’s why you kissed me in the park wasn’t it? To test your power-name before school started.”

“Yes.”

Josh dropped all pretense of seduction. “And all this time I thought it was because of my bean-pole body and awkward personality.”

Channie giggled in spite of herself. The relief that washed over her when the old Josh resurfaced was a revelation. She did like him — a lot.
 

He said, “So, do you want to test this thing or not?”
 

Hell, yeah, she wanted to test his shield, but for once she managed to keep her impulsive thoughts to herself. She said, “Maybe we should wait until after your last race, in case it doesn’t work.”

Josh frowned, pouting like a child that didn’t get his way.

Channie fought the urge to laugh. “We can test it as soon as you’re done racing. I promise.”

~***~

When Channie and Josh got back to the Abrim's tarp, Momma and Daddy both shot her looks full of meaning, but neither of them said a word. Momma’s narrow-eyed glare didn’t bother Channie in the least, but Daddy looked like he’d just won the lottery. He grinned at her and said, “It smells like someone burned a skillet full of onions.”

Channie just smiled. At least the stench masked the scent of Enchantment’s magic. But it didn’t mask the new and improved Josh. When she examined him analytically, Channie didn’t find any physical differences, but something had changed. Instead of a skinny, awkward kid, she now saw a beautiful young man with a lean, powerful body. His eyes had always mesmerized her — now, they held her prisoner. She could not look away.
 

Was the shield making him more attractive? She’d used Enchantment’s magic, so it was a definite possibility.
 
Or maybe it was just his newfound self-confidence. He was chatting Momma up like she was his favorite aunt or something.
 

Channie was still trying to figure it out when a couple of girls walked by and stopped to talk to him. Josh flirted with them shamelessly, as if Channie weren’t even there.

She was already mad, but when Josh introduced her as, “Channie Belks, a friend of mine from school,” Channie’s stomach twisted itself into a knot. She tried to smile at the two girls, Amanda and Lauren, but her facial muscles refused to cooperate.
 

She couldn’t fool herself any longer. She was falling hard for Josh and the last thing she wanted was competition.

Channie nearly lost control when Amanda tousled Josh’s hair. She wanted to curse them both. Instead, she said, “Josh, What are you doing? They’re going to start the race without you.”

He grabbed his bike and ran up the hill.

The starting gate hit the dirt with a thud. Channie didn’t even blink. She saw the flash of sunlight on metal and the brightly colored uniforms of the racers as they flew down the track. She heard the cheering crowd and the announcer’s frenzied report of the race. She smelled the dust in the air and the sweaty bodies all around her. She registered every detail. But she couldn’t process it. All she could think about was Josh. And testing the strength of his shield … by kissing him.

If the crowd weren’t chanting, “Jet, Jet, Jet,” Channie wouldn’t have realized he’d won the race. Even Momma and Daddy were cheering for him. Channie clapped her hands, but her mouth was so dry she couldn’t talk, much less cheer.

When Josh showed up, he was surrounded by a crowd of rowdy kids. Amanda had both her hands wrapped around Josh’s upper arm. She was bouncing on her toes and squealing like a stuck pig.

“Oh my god Jet, you are so amazing!”
 

It took every bit of Channie’s self-control to keep from cursing the stupid girl.

“Channie? Did you see my race?”

“Yes.” Stay calm. Amanda doesn’t matter. Josh is not interested in her. Channie read his energy just to be sure. The little slut was annoying him. Good.

“Well? What did you think?”
 

Channie could barely think, much less follow the conversation with Chastity’s energy boiling inside her power-well. If she did not want to test his shield right here in front everyone, she needed to get control of herself. “It was nice.”
 

“Nice?”
 

Josh tried to squirm out of Amanda’s clutches, but she refused to let go. She sneered at Channie then turned to Josh and said, “Well, I thought you were fan-freaking-tastic. I can’t wait to see you race again next week.”

Josh said, “Thanks,” but his gaze never left Channie’s face.
 

Amanda tugged on his arm until his ear was level with her mouth. She glared at Channie and said, “My parents will be at the track for at least an hour watching my brothers’ races. Come with me to our camper and I’ll show you how amazing I can be.”
 

Josh peeled Amanda’s fingers off his arm and said, “Not interested.”

Amanda tossed her hair over her shoulder, said, “Your loss,” and grabbed the arm of one of the other boys. She swung her hips as she sauntered off with the crowd of noisy kids towards the track.
 

Josh said, “Don’t let Amanda get to you. She makes a game out of seeing how many winners she can bag at each race. Just ignore her. I do.”

“Okay.”
 

Josh cocked his head to the side and studied Channie’s face.
 

“Channie? What’s going on? Do you feel alright?”

“I’m fine.” She knew she wasn’t very convincing, but she had to stay focused on controlling Chastity’s power.
 

Josh grabbed Channie’s elbows and steadied her while leading her back to their parents. She hadn’t even realized she was swaying on her feet.
 

He said, “Mrs. Belks, I think Channie’s sick.”

Momma had her hands full breaking up a fight between Zeal and Courage. Both boys had scratches on their faces and Zeal had a bite mark on his hand. Momma didn’t even look at Channie while she scanned her. “She’s fine.”

Mrs. Abrim seemed to float as she rose from her chair. She was as graceful as she was pretty. She felt Channie’s forehead with the back of her hand, then both cheeks with her palms. “You feel a little warm to me and your cheeks are flushed. Do you feel sick?”

Channie closed her eyes and shook her head. “No Ma’am.”

“Well, maybe you’re just tired. These races can wear you out if you’re not used to them. Why don’t you go take a nap in the trailer.”

Josh said, “Come on, I’ll take you.”

Momma grabbed Josh’s elbow and said, “And while you’re at it, take these three with you. If they don’t get a nap soon, we’re all gonna regret it.”
 

~***~

The boys fell asleep in Daddy’s arms on the way to the Abrim's trailer. He’d obviously cast a be-calm spell on the little devils. Daddy’s magic smelled like paper money and there was more than a hint of it clinging to the boys.
 

Josh said, “Do you want me to stay and keep you company.”

Everything after that happened all at once. Daddy cast a violent bolt of energy at Josh. It bounced off his shield and went straight back to Daddy. He deflected his own curse, glared at Channie, grabbed a fistful of Josh’s racing jersey and cocked his left arm back. His fisted hand looked like a sledge hammer.
 

Channie grabbed Daddy’s wrist with both hands, lifting her feet off the floor. His arm barely moved, but he turned his head to the side and glanced down at her out of the corner of his eye.
 

Josh should have taken advantage of the distraction and tried to slide out of his shirt and run away. Instead, he puffed out his chest, narrowed his eyes and raised his chin. “Get your hands off me.”

Channie didn’t want to curse Daddy if she could keep from it. He was strong as a bull and twice as dangerous, but his heart wasn’t as young and strong as Josh’s. Chastity’s magic was more potent than it had been when she’d cursed Daddy before. If she wasn’t careful, she might kill him.

She put her feet back on the floor but held onto Daddy’s wrist. “What do you think we’re gonna do in here with the trips in the bed and your damn curse knocking Josh on his butt every time he looks at me?”

“I don’t like it—”

“You don't have to. Now let go of Josh and get out of here before I lose control.”

Josh’s aggressive body language wasn’t helping. Daddy was so mad the whole trailer shook from his barely contained rage.
 

Chastity’s magic churned inside her. “At least raise your shield!”

Daddy’s anger drained away along with all the blood from his face. He let go of Josh’s shirt, leaving behind a spider web of wrinkled fabric, and lowered his still fisted hand. “You and I are going to have a talk before this day is over, baby girl.”

“Don’t make me curse you.”

Daddy hunched over and turned sideways to squeeze out of the trailer. He gave Josh a parting glance that would have made most boys wet their pants — but not the new and magically enhanced Josh. He just smiled and waved good-bye. What an idiot.

When Daddy disappeared from view, Josh said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to piss him off like that. He looked like he wanted to kill you.”

“Me? What about the way you puffed out your chest and glared at him? You were practically daring him to hit you.”

“I was?”

“You ordered him to get his hands off you.”

“Huh. I did, didn’t I.” Josh scratched the back of his head and chuckled. “I guess your old man isn’t so scary after all.”

“Don’t be a fool. Daddy’s still dangerous. He obviously believed that I protected you with my own shield. If he finds out that Chastity’s curse can’t hurt you, he’ll kill you with his bare hands.”

Josh shut the door … and locked it.
 

“Did you hear a word I just said?”

He grinned and leaned against the door. “Are you ready to test my shield?”

“You’re incorrigible!”
 

“I know. Come here.”

Channie’s feet refused to move but all thoughts of Daddy and the outside world grew a little more distant with each beat of her heart.

Josh crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders. Channie lifted her hands to his chest.
 

He leaned forward, lips softly parted and eyes half-closed. His breath warmed her cheek. Blood surged behind her ears, drowning out all other sounds.
He’s going to kiss me.

“Wait!” Channie arched her back and pushed away from Josh. Her whole body trembled. “I’m not ready.”

Josh frowned, “What’s wrong? This isn’t the first time we’ve kissed.”

Channie closed her eyes and nodded her head. “I know. But that didn’t count.”

“Why not?”

“Because I made you kiss me. It was just a test. This is real.”

“Is it?”

Channie cringed. Heat flooded her cheeks. She knew Josh wanted her body, but that didn’t mean he also wanted her heart.

The right side of Josh’s mouth curved upwards into a crooked smile. “It’s real for me, too.”
 

He slid his hands down Channie’s arms. She shivered under his touch — until he reached the bare skin of her wrist. Pain flashed up her arm, across her shoulder and into her jaw. She jerked away from him and gasped. Josh swore and shook his hand, then popped his fingers into his mouth.

Channie rubbed her arm, tracing the path of the pain. “You … zapped me.”

“Oh man, I’m so sorry. Is that the first time you’ve felt it?”

“Yes.” Channie’s arm still ached. Josh must like her an awful lot to put up with this kind of pain on a regular basis.

“If it makes you feel any better, you zapped me too. I’m sorry the shield didn’t work, but thanks for trying.”