When Tis Done – Part 62

After fighting Chase, Brian turns to go. Marissa’s father confronts him, and Brian binds him in clay, warning him not to attack him, or he’ll lose. He storms off, and Jordan follows him, finding him on the back road that leads to his house.

“We should go back.”

“After that exit? Hell, no. Let them stew. Let’s go get something to eat. Let your mom know where we’re going. I’ll text Dad.”

“We walking?”

“To my house, for the car.”

“Talked me into it.” She sent a text to her mother and he sent one to his father, before they headed, hand in hand, down the road.

It was getting dark when they approached his house. A car he wasn’t familiar with was parked across the road. Since they approached from the back of his house, Brian had ample time to inspect the car. He sent out mental feelers to examine the occupants and his probe bounced off hatred. Two people were in that car, both of them seething with anger.

“Fēng and Fēng, Junior,” Brian said.

“What are we going to do? Because I know you can’t take both of them on by yourself.”

“What any good citizen should do. We’re going to go in the house and call the cops.”

“They could get hurt!”

“I hope Fēng is too smart for that,” Brian said, unlocking the back door. “He won’t attack the police. He’s not ready to make his move yet. This is just a fear tactic.”

“Well, it’s working. I’m scared shitless.”

“Don’t be. Unless I tell you to run, you stick with me. Fēng and Jian aren’t the big guns.”

“Who is?”

“I don’t know yet. When I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.”

They were safely inside and Brian mentally searched the house from top to bottom. Satisfied that they were alone, he called the police and reported the strange car on the street. No one parked on the street around here, unless they were having a party. Friends and family were expected to park in the driveway, or the yard, unless there were too many of them to fit. In those cases, they told their neighbors they were having a party, because they were usually invited too.

“This is Brian Casey, Miles and Maribelle’s son.”

“Yes, sugar, what’s wrong?” the desk sergeant, who was a woman his mother’s age, asked.

“There’s a strange car parked in front of the house. My folks aren’t home, it’s just me and Jordan here. We were going to go out for pizza, after studying and we spotted it. Jordan’s scared to go out, so I said I’d call.”

“Officer Berger is on her way. Do you know her by sight?”

“Yes, ma’am. She goes to our church.”

“Okay, when she gets there, you tell me.”

“Thank you. She just pulled up. She’s getting out of her car and approaching the vehicle.”

“You’ll be okay now?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jordan clutched his arm, digging in her fingers. Jian had gotten out of the car and circled behind Officer Ellen Berger. She put her hand on her weapon, turning to caution him, but his father jumped out and grabbed her.

“Send soemone else! They’re attacking Officer Berger!” Brian yelled. “I’m going out to help.”

“No, Brian. No. Stay in the house. Brian!” the dispatcher’s voice faded as he dropped the phone and ran to the door.

Jordan called her father, hoping that somehow, they could get there fast enough to help out. With Officer Berger in danger, she knew Brian would go to her aid. But who would help him? Casting about for a weapon, she spotted a bag of salt and cumin Maribelle had left out on the table. She grabbed it up and picked up the silver candlestick from the piano. Armed with her makeshift weapons, she ran outside.

Fēng held Ellen in an unyielding choke hold. She was fading fast. Jordan could see her aura dim as the life crept out of her. Screaming like a banshee, she launched herself at Mr. Fēng, throwing salt at him. It wouldn’t hurt Ellen, but it could harm him.

“Let go!” she screamed. “Let her go right now!” It took a second to realize she’d used power words, not English.

Ellen was too far gone to notice, but Fēng wasn’t.

“You think salt will hurt me, little girl?”

She didn’t reply. Instead, she summoned water. Making it as cold as she could, she hurled it at him. The icy blast made him snarl, but he didn’t let go of Ellen. A ball of cold air hit him in the head and he staggered, losing his hold on Ellen. Jordan sent a warm gust of air down her throat to help expand her starving lungs as she swung at Fēng with the silver candlestick. It connected with his arm and he tried to grab it, but it burned. Screaming, he ducked as she swung again. A sweep at her legs made Jordan stumble and fall. She caught herself on a cushion of air before she hit the pavement, but Fēng was on her.

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

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