Open All Hours (Carnival Magic 2) (3 page)

He nodded. “No, I brought you in here. Want to tell me what happened?”

Leesa got up and paced the floor, holding the robe closed as she did so. There was no reason to lie. Who would believe her anyway? Maybe just to get rid of her, he’d give her some money or drive her to her car. If he thought she was enough of a nut job, she’d find herself outside in no time flat. But he’d seen… whatever it was he saw and he was still here. So…

“Okay, I’ll tell you the story. You won’t believe it, but… anyway. I was researching a possible lead and I found this group of people -- figures, really -- in the woods. I was taking pictures and I think one of them put a curse on me. Next thing I know, I’m changing into a cat.”

She looked at him in her peripheral vision, sure that he would grab her arm and toss her out into the night, but he hadn’t moved.

“And you’ve never changed before tonight?”

“What? No, I’ve never --” She stopped. “Wait. I changed into a cat, for God’s sake. You saw me. Why aren’t you running around screaming and waving your arms?”

He chuckled. Leesa shuddered as the warm, hearty sound of his laughter wrenched her desire up a few notches. “Because I’ve never done that in my life. Not gonna start now. Besides, I think you need someone to help you at the moment. And I wouldn’t look like a good candidate if I ran off screaming.”

She would have loved to have a big shoulder like his to cry on, but accepting help meant having to repay it, and she wasn’t necessarily willing -- or able, at this point -- to do that. “If you’ll just give me a ride to my place, I’ll give you some money for your trouble.” Once she started talking, she couldn’t stop. This entire situation was insane. A damn cat? She felt like she’d fallen into the Twilight Zone and now she was spiraling into insanity. “Actually, I’d need a shirt or something too. I don’t want to walk out of here in a bathrobe. Or maybe you should take me to my car instead. It’s somewhere out in those woods, so maybe --”

“What’s your name?” he asked, interrupting the waterfall of words.

The calm, easy tone of his voice stopped her. “What?”

“Your name. What is it? Mine’s Vol.”

“I know,” she said. “I heard the other guy call you that. Is it a nickname?”

“No, it’s my given name. I’ve had plenty of nicknames, but none that I’m going to share at this moment.”

For the first time in twenty-four hours, she managed a smile. At some point, she would wake up and this would all be over. Until then, this person was her best hope for figuring out the mystery. “I’m Leesa.”

“Pleasure, Leesa. First things first. Let’s get you some clothes and try and find out more about this change. Maybe some thing else to eat? I doubt a kiddie burger is enough.”

“A milkshake would be good.”

He pulled his cell phone from a pocket and pushed a button. “Easy. You’ll need your strength when we start training.”

“Training? For what?”

“Your shift was automatic. You couldn’t control it. That’s why I knew it hadn’t happened to you before. Plus, it looked painful. It shouldn’t feel like that.”

It had certainly been painful. Like her skeleton was trying to escape her body. Leesa stammered. “Wh -- what? How?”

He held up a hand for her to wait while he spoke into the phone. “Arthur. It’s me. Can you and El get over to the diner? Yeah, now. I need some help.” There was silence for a moment and then it seemed like he growled into the phone. “And some ladies’ clothes.” His gaze roamed over her and Leesa felt a flush of heat in her skin, making her earlier desire flood back with full force. She hadn’t felt this need, this craving for a man in a long time -- possibly ever -- and it rattled her. Even with her jangled nerves, her sex pulsed in response to him and the soft fleece of the robe now made her feel restricted and she wanted to tear it off. “In small.”

When he hung up, he muttered, “That didn’t sound right.”

“What didn’t?” When he shook his head, she asked the question she really wanted the answer to. “Tell me how you know I can control it.”

“You’re not alone, Leesa.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting right now. At least until I get some advice.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, Vol let a man and a woman enter his apartment over the diner. The man was the exact opposite in stature from Vol. Although he was tall and black-haired like Vol, the close-cut vest he wore over his white button-up shirt accentuated his slender build. The woman was full-figured with a mass of naturally coily hair that went unrestrained. Her smile lit up her smooth brown face and Leesa liked her immediately. She held the slender guy’s hand and clutched a shopping bag with another. They both looked at Vol expectantly.

Vol cleared his throat and made introductions. “Leesa, this is my cousin Arthur, and his girlfriend, Ellie. They’re here to… ah, help.” For the first time, the man looked uncomfortable. “Sorry to call you out on your busiest night.”

“No worries. Amy is handling the manager chair tonight. She was happy to get away from all of the screaming kids for a night. Let’s sit down,” Arthur suggested, moving toward the dining room.

Ellie went into action. “Let her get some clothes on first.” She held up the bag. “I brought you something to wear. They’re not new, but they are from my ‘I’ll fit back into that one day’ collection.” She turned to the men. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m sure it will be much easier explained with alcohol. And fries. Yeah?” She led Leesa out of the room.

In the spacious bedroom, Leesa watched Ellie lay out a pair of jeans, three T-shirts, a sleeveless cotton dress and a tank top. “Wanna tell me anything before we go back out there?” she asked gently.

“I…” Leesa’s natural distrust surfaced. Even looking into Ellie’s open face, she hesitated. “I better change.”

The other woman nodded and pointed to the adjoining full bathroom. When Leesa entered, she couldn’t help herself. “Wow.”

Back in the bedroom, Ellie giggled. “I know, right? The shower’s like being in a waterfall in the forest. Vol and Arthur installed it a while back.” She stuck her hand through a crack in the door. “When Arthur told me to bring some ladies’ clothes, I thought I should bring this as well.”

Gratefully, Leesa took the bag. It held scented shower gel and lotion, deodorant, and a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. “Thanks.”

“Get the water the temperature you want first with the right and left knobs, then turn the middle dial.”

Leesa did as instructed and the heated water fell in sheets from three showerheads imbedded in the ceiling. The room filled with misty steam. In awe, Leesa dropped the robe and stepped under the spray. A pleasured sigh slipped out of her as she stood beneath the streaming water and lathered herself all over with the orange- blossom scented gel. After, she applied the lotion, and deodorant, then brushed her teeth hurriedly.

Dressed in the tank top and jeans, she pulled the T-shirt that proclaimed “Graham’s Greatest Show” over her head. Now that she was clean and dressed, she thought briefly of escaping out of the window, but decided against it. If nothing else, she had to ask Ellie where she got that gel.

The other three were sitting at Vol’s eight-person dining room table, empty glasses and white paper bags shoved to one side. Leesa stood there, thinking about her options: Stand like an accused criminal or take a seat next to one of them. Ellie seemed like the logical choice as she was a woman, but Vol had shown her a lot of kindness. She split the difference and sat between them.

“So,” Arthur said, looking at both Leesa and Vol. “What happened that you called us away from the carnival? Saturdays are busy nights.”

“Carnival?” Leesa repeated. Okay, this was weird. Was he a sideshow act or something? Did he turn into a lion?

“Yes, he runs the show. I help out sometimes. My best friend works there too.” Ellie pointed to her shirt. When Leesa looked at it closer under the full lights of the dining room, it sparkled. Depending on how the light hit it, the design reflected a Ferris wheel or a magician with a top hat and cape.

“It’s just across the way,” Arthur pointed. “That’s why we were able to get here so quickly, even with El running back home for clothes.”

Leesa looked at both men, waiting for one of them to speak. Finally, Ellie filled in the gaps to what was discussed when she was in the shower. “Vol told us about your shift. A cat, right?”

Leesa nodded.

“He said that you might have been magicked because your change was quick, uncontrollable, and painful. That’s why he called us. He thought we might be able to help.”

“You’re not… scared? I thought you’d be.” These people were acting like she’d said she had something normal like tennis elbow or a touch of psoriasis.

“No, but I can tell you are. It’s okay. My first shifter encounter threw me as well. But luckily I was too drunk to be scared.” Ellie laughed and it was a bright, bell-like sound. Leesa relaxed.

“There are more… shifters?”

Both Arthur and Ellie looked accusingly at Vol. “Hey,” he said. “I’m not good at breaking news. I’m the chef, remember?”

“What news?” Leesa’s voice was starting to tremble and it jumped an octave. She winced. Her career had taught her to be cool in any situation, and she’d embraced that. But her training didn’t extend to how to deal with magical shape shifting. She twined her fingers together in her lap to stop their trembling.

“Okay, fine. This is going to be an information overload for you,” Arthur said. “Your change may have been brought on by magic, a curse of some kind, you said. I deal with and come across a lot of magic in my field, so I may be able to help narrow down what happened to you. And yes, there are shifters -- plenty of them who were born to the change. Vol is one of those.” He shrugged, and tugged on his moustache.

“I’ll help you with this,” Vol started.

“No! You… you could have told me this earlier. What are you?”

“A bear. Grizzly to be specific.” He looked at her closely to gauge her reaction.

He got one. “This is crazy!” She stood up and pointed at the diner owner. “There’s no way that you can just change into a bear, for God’s sake. It’s not possible.” She felt the skin on her back prickling with heat and a fierce itch spread over her. Leesa stiffened as a heavy pressure pressed down on her from all sides.

“Easy,” Vol crooned, his voice soft and soothing. He got up slowly from his chair and put his arms around the frightened woman. “Try to relax into it. Fighting it only makes it hurt.”

Leesa’s breath came in fits and gasps. She could feel the tufts of fur emerging from her skin and she opened her mouth to scream, just as twin needlelike fangs slid from her gums. She took in the rest of the table, but the other two just sat and allowed Vol to attempt to soothe her.

“Breathe deep,” he said, his scent enveloping her. Now that she was in the change, instinct had hold of her and he smelled of man, and fierce strength and fiery heat. “Acknowledge the change, but tell it not now. Another time, you will let the beast free.”

She felt herself shrinking. Go away, go away… Leesa wasn’t sure if she was talking to herself or to the feline inside of her. It was scared and wanted to flee. Vol’s big hand pressed down on her back, holding her tightly to his hard, muscular body.

After what seemed like hours, the urge to run abated. The cat inside was calmed and no longer agitated. Vol released her and she sank back into the chair. Ellie passed her a glass of rich, dark, red wine, and she drank gratefully.

Arthur had his fingers steepled and was looking at Leesa, the expression on his face one of curiosity mixed with concern. “Leesa,” he said quietly, “Now that I’ve witnessed what happens to you, I have some good and bad news for you.”

“Please give me the good news first.”

“It is magic-induced. A spell, or a curse, I don’t know yet.”

“What’s the difference?” Ellie asked, as Leesa was too overwhelmed with questions to let one get out of her mouth.

“A spell means that anyone with the skill level and the right combination of ingredients and incantations can reverse it. If it were a curse, you’d have to find the person responsible and convince them to undo it.”

That news unstuck her tongue. “And the bad news?”

“You’ll need to stay here until we can figure out what that reversion spell would be.”

“No! Hell, no!” Leesa flung her hands up. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized she’d been holding Vol’s hand. She stomped off to the bedroom, then changed her mind and turned back to the table. “I have a life, you know. A job and a family. Well… a job anyway. Speaking of my job, I need to get to a computer and write up this story and send in the pictures of this cult or whatever that cursed me. Only thing that will get me fired faster than not having a headline story is not showing up for work.”

“You can’t control your change right now, and you can’t just go out in public. Not everyone is going to understand if you morph into an animal mid-sentence. And I’ll be honest with you: I don’t know if it can be reversed. The best place for you is here, where it’s safe and I can help you control the change.” Vol’s deep bass voice held urgency and a hint of worry. “Believe me, it won’t bode well if any non-shifter sees you change.”

Leesa knew he was right, but she still didn’t want to accept it. Vol was attractive, yes, but the last thing she needed right now was to get into a situation which might make her be in close quarters with a man who could see her naked at any point in her change. She turned to Ellie. “Why can’t you help me?”

Ellie shook her head, making her fluffy mop of coils shake. “I’m not a shifter. One of these two can hopefully help you with that. What I can do, is help you keep your job.” She pulled out a slim laptop from her bag. “This is one I was going to get rid of. I suggest logging in and checking all of your e-mail, then getting time off approved. Maybe the promise of the biggest story you’ve ever sent in would be an incentive?” She motioned to her boyfriend and they both got up to leave.

Maybe. It depended on her boss’s mood. She took the laptop and booted it up. “What about my things? My keys, my car, my camera?”