jinn 03.5 - without a map
Read jinn 03.5 - without a map Online
Authors: liz schulte
by
Liz Schulte
* * * *
Without a Map
A Jinn Trilogy Short Story
Copyright © 2015 by Liz Schulte
Cover design by Karri Klawiter
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Table of Contents
“You know you want to, Charlie,” Baker coaxed.
Staring at the book in my hands, I refused to look at my brother’s big lopsided grin. “Last time I went along with your brilliant plan, Dad like literally burst into flames. Hard pass.”
Not at all deterred, Baker leaned his back against the kitchen island—where I was
trying
to study—and plucked the book out of my hands. “Dad has unresolved anger issues.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. My brother appeared to be your typical fourteen year old, all arms and legs, but there wasn’t anything typical about anyone in my family. Baker took great joy in pushing Dad’s buttons and Mom never really seemed to mind—probably because she knew him in his past life. As I said we weren’t normal. I looked into his gray eyes. “No.”
His head dropped back as he rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re such a daddy’s girl.” I scowled in return. “YOLO and crap.”
Baker still had four years until he’d remember his past lives—I didn’t have that luxury. None of us were positive how old I actually was. I couldn’t remember and was small in stature so they guessed. Carrying the Seal of Solomon wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. I had the capability to remember everything from all of my lives and frankly, as far as I could tell, most of them sucked. Demons had me for a long time—not just at the beginning of this life, but many, many before it. However, the real problem was while all the memories lived inside of me, they weren’t a continuous stream of thought. One moment I’d be fine and then the next something would trigger a crippling experience that would leave me raw and broken. So, for survival purposes, compartmentalizing was something, with my parents’ help, I’d become very good at.
Even now, fourteen years later—fourteen wonderful years—the panic would strike at unexpected time. My heart would race, my hands tingled, and the world felt like it was crushing me. So many of those early nights and days after Holden saved me, he would find me hiding in the closet or under the bed with my eyes squeezed shut. He never said anything about it, mostly he was just there until the tension melted away. Whether it was his presence that calmed me down or his influence over my emotions or just the fact that I felt safe with him didn’t matter. Through him I could piece back together my fractured sense of self. Holden chose to be my father. The first one I had had in a very long time.
Together with my mom, Olivia, they figured out how to help me. They had given me hope and I wasn’t about to repay them by acting like a brat—even if that made me boring. Because of them I could live a semi-normal life—at least as normal as normal could be for me.
“Let’s review your plan. You want me skip my final test,
steal
mom and dad’s car, drive you to Chicago so you can see some lame band, and then what?” I made a swipe for my book, but he held it out of my reach.
“Not stealing,
borrowing
.” He grinned again. “And then maybe for the first time in your life, you could have a little fun. You’ve heard of fun, right? Maybe you read about other people who have fun.”
“Maybe hanging out with you, isn’t as much fun as you think.”
He pursed his lips in consideration. “No, I’m pretty sure it is. It’s a road trip, Charlie. Not the end of the world. Just me and my big sister before she abandons me for college and hopefully gets a life.”
I shook my head. “I’ll still be here.” Sometimes Baker was entirely too intuitive, but there was no way he could know what I was considering.
He stood up, sensing weakness, and slung his arm over my shoulder. “But you will. Someday you will break up our happy little family. Even you, Miss Perfect, can’t stay here forever.”
I laughed though I didn’t feel it. I didn’t want to leave. Holden and Olivia were the only two people who could actually protect me, but if I had a chance at a normal life where I didn’t have to be afraid all the time, shouldn’t I take it?
“Laugh all you want. Remember what happened when Jonathan Danley asked you out?”
Jonathan Danley. I hadn’t thought about him in years. His was my first and last kiss. Some girls had dads who talked to their suitors, others made funny passive aggressive threats, but not mine. One little kiss on the cheek from the next door neighbor that Dad happened to witness and the next day the family announced they were moving to another state and were gone by sundown. “Dad swore he had nothing to do with it.”
“Come on. That had him written all over it. Even mom didn’t believe him. You know what he can do.” A smile was dancing in Baker’s lively eyes. “Face it, sis. If you ever want a life, you’ll have to cut the cord.”
“Oh, like you’ll with mom?” I raised an eyebrow. Baker was all wild and tough until Mommy came home, then he was angel. “Give me back my book.”
“What if I get her permission?” he said, still not relinquishing my textbook.
I sighed. “If Mom agrees—which she won’t—I’ll take you on a road trip. Now can I have my book?”
“Done.” Baker slapped the book on the counter and stretched before crossing his arms over his chest.
Seconds later, Mom appeared, kissing each of us on the top of the head. She was here, but she was also somewhere else. I couldn’t say exactly how I knew that, but I did. I could always tell when she was split between here and somewhere else. It was sixth sense, I guess. I had a few of them where the Abyss and magic were concerned. Probably evolutionary to help ensure I survive.
“What’s going on? How was school?” she asked, stealing one of my carrots that I had completely forgotten were there. “How’d your tests go today?”
“Aced them,” I said. “Only one more.”
Her smile was so bright she practically glowed—the way she did when dad touched her. “I’m so proud of you.” She hugged me tight then looked over at Baker and perched a hand on her hip. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”
He blinked angelically at her. “Who me? I was just waiting for you to come home.”
She laughed. “Out with it, kid.”
“Well, since you mentioned it. There is something. It’s actually for Charlie.” Mom glanced at me and I rolled my eyes. “She needs to have more fun.”
Mom looked at me, clearly amused. “Are you lacking in fun?”
“Let me translate. He wants to go on a road trip. Well, what he actually wanted was to leave you and Dad a note and for us to ‘split’. He said it’d be fun to ‘go on the lamb’. Have you been letting him watch old movies again?”
She pressed the back of her hand over her mouth, definitely covering a smile. “Under no circumstances are either of you allowed to go on a road trip without at least asking or telling us in person. A note is insufficient, Baker. Do you understand?”
“Well, we didn’t actually do it. What’s the big deal?” He shrugged. “Look, this isn’t about me. It’s about her. She’s the most boring teenager in the history of teenagers ever to have lived. That’s a long time and a lot of boring. She needs some life experiences or how will she ever relate to real people. Besides, it’s summer and we’re not kids anymore. Shouldn’t we be allowed to spread our wings?”
She gave him her best stern look, which wasn’t all that stern. “Summer doesn’t start until school lets out.” She took a deep breath, running her hand through her hair. “Where do you want to go?”
“Just Chicago.” He slung an am over her shoulders. “How much trouble could we get into? There’s like a million people you know in that city. I’ll be good, I swear.” He crossed his heart with this finger.
She looked at me and I shook my head then she looked back at Baker. She took a deep breath and put her arm around his waist. “I can probably talk your dad into a weekend, no longer.”