The Phoenix Prophecy: Nova

Breakfast with Kole, Tanner, and Mack is strangely normal. While I should probably be on edge, wondering what’s happening back home and whether the Ridgemore police will come knocking at any moment, or whether the three hot mages I’m with will suddenly realize I’ve been branded by the Anti Magick Alliance, I’m not. I’m… calm.

Kole doesn’t say much, but his pancakes are the best I’ve ever tasted, and I eat far too many of them. Watching me, he smiles what I’m guessing is a rare smile. “Glad you like them,” he says, not meeting my eyes.

While Kole is quiet, Tanner is the opposite. By the time we’ve finished eating, he’s given me the rundown on every supernatural being I’m likely to encounter in town — mostly vampires, mages and witches because the wolves like to keep to themselves — and he’s also told me he and Kole live with Mack and Luther in a big house they call The Hollow.

“How do you all know each other?” I ask, sitting back in my chair and resting my hands over my stomach. I really shouldn’t have eaten so much.

Leaning forward, setting down his coffee mug, Mack answers. “I taught Kole and Luther at the Academy.”

When I look confused, he adds, “The Academy is run by the Supernatural Defense Bureau. After the boys graduated, top of their class, the three of us were recruited into a special unit. We worked together for a few years, met Tanner on one of our assignments, then decided we’d had enough of fighting terrorism and moved here.”

“Terrorism?” My eyes widen.

Kole stands and starts to clear our plates. Clearly, he does not approve of this conversation.

“The Human Extinction League. You’ve heard of them?” Mack glances at Tanner, who’s become suddenly very quiet.

“Yes,” I reply. “They’re the supers who believe humans should be…” I pause, trying to find the word. The Human Extinction League is like the Anti Magic Alliance; an extremist group that takes brutal measures to get what they want.

“They believe humans should, at best, be eradicated and, at worst, kept as slaves and subordinates to serve the bidding of supers.” Mack is matter-of-fact, but, still, I shudder.

Kole is facing away from the table, heading for the kitchen, when he stops and growls. “That’s enough, Mack. She doesn’t need to hear this.”

I want to tell him it’s okay, that I’ve heard this kind of talk before because I’ve been surrounded by fascists ever since Johnny got hooked up with the A.M.A. But, of course, I can’t.

As Kole stalks away, Mack looks at me and shakes his head. “I apologize. Kole’s right. What I was trying to say was that we all go back a long way.” He wipes his mouth with a napkin, then pushes his chair back from the table. “And I think that’s my cue to leave you kids to it.”

A smile returns to Tanner’s face as he whispers, “Mack had a heavy night last night. Old man can’t handle his liquor like us youngsters can.”

As Mack narrows his eyes at Tanner, I swear a breathy growl comes from his throat. He doesn’t respond to Tanner’s jibe, but turns to me and extends his hand.

When I shake it, he dips his head and — in a move that makes me full-on giggle — brushes his lips across my knuckles. “It was lovely to meet you, Nova. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” There’s that sound again. Am I imagining it?

Next to me, Tanner tuts loudly and rolls his eyes, but as Mack walks away and I watch his broad frame disappear through the door, the flickering in my belly makes me reach for a glass of water and down three large gulps in an attempt to put it out.

“You okay?” Tanner asks, studying my face with a quizzical expression.

“Mm hmm.” I put down the glass but have to shake my shoulders to nudge away the heat in my chest.

“So, this is the aptly named ‘Main Street’.” Tanner waves a hand up and down the cobbled street outside the bar.

“It’s very old-worldly.” I smile, noticing small details that weren’t apparent when I arrived in the dark last night; wooden shutters, black old-fashioned streetlights, quaint flower boxes, and benches on the sidewalks.

“When I first moved here, I wasn’t so sure about it,” Tanner says. “But it’s grown on me.”

“Where did you move from?” I put my hands into my pockets, checking Sarah’s money is still there. I’m keenly aware that it’s now broad daylight and I’m dressed rather like a homeless person.

Tanner casts a sideways glance at me. “Long story.”

“Maybe another time?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Definitely another time.” He stops and looks up at the building in front of us. It’s red brick with large, dark-green framed windows, and a sign that reads Rev’s Threads.

“Are you sure it’s open?” It doesn’t look like there are any signs of movement coming from inside.

Taking out his phone, Tanner types a quick message, waits a moment, then knocks on the door. “Rev? You in there? It’s Tanner. I have a customer in need of your assistance.”

When there’s no reply, he sends another message, then picks up his phone. It rings several times, but before anyone answers, there’s the sound of footsteps behind the door and Tanner hangs up.

A bolt is slid across. The lock turns, and a woman with pixie-cut jet-black hair, large gold earrings, and a brightly colored headscarf appears. Stunningly beautiful, but obviously tired, she blinks at us. “What time is it?”

Tanner waggles his phone at her. “Time you were up. Late night?”

The woman doesn’t answer. Instead, she looks at me, takes in my sweatpants, and raises a shapely eyebrow.

“Nova’s new in town, and she needs some…”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Clothes?” The woman shakes her head at me. “Ah ha. I’ll say.” She steps back and opens the door, ushering us inside. “Come in. Sit down. I’ll be with you in five.”

As she disappears through a curtain at the back of the store, Tanner flicks on the lights and flops down on a large mustard yellow couch near the window.

“Rev’s a sweetheart once you get to know her. She’s just not great company until she’s had coffee.”

“Is she related to Kole?” I ask, the sarcasm coming out before I can stop it.

I glance at Tanner. He’s grinning at me. Slapping his knee, he laughs and says, “Ha! No. But you’re right. I’ve always thought they have a lot in common.”

When Rev returns, she seems brighter. She’s holding a mug of coffee, an orange kimono hanging loose on her smooth shoulders. Underneath, a plain black vest and skinny jeans. “So,” she says, “You’re a runaway human?”

I blink at her and look quickly at Tanner.

“Rev’s a seer. Not as powerful as Kole, but…”

I swallow hard. “A seer?”

“It means I have great intuition.” Rev taps her fingernails on her mug, then starts to wander around the store. Looking at me over a rack of colorful shirts and dresses, she adds. “And outstanding taste.”

Without asking what size I am, as I start mentally tallying up the potential cost of what she’s picking out, Rev takes item after item and slings them into Tanner’s arms.

After the tenth or eleventh, I clear my throat and say, “I’m not sure I can afford…”

But she simply tuts and wiggles her fingers at me. “Don’t worry. They’re just options. We’ll pick out a few key pieces to see you through your trip…” She’s mid-sentence when she stops, frowns, then looks up at me. “But you’re not sure how long you’re staying.” She tuts and shakes her head. “No matter. You can always come back another time if you need more.”

Unsettled, wondering what else Rev has ‘intuited’ about me and—more importantly—if Kole’s ability is even stronger, what he might have seen when he looked at me, I follow Tanner as he carries the bundle of clothes to the changing room out back.

“I’ll leave you ladies to it.” He moves to step back into the body of the shop, but I find myself taking hold of his arm.

“You’re not staying?” My voice is urgent and more high-pitched than normal.

Swiping his hand softly over mine, Tanner says, “I’ll wait on the couch. Just thought I should give you some privacy.”

I nod slowly. My stomach is fluttering. I don’t want privacy. It feels good to have him close to me, but as I look at the flimsy curtain surrounding the changing cubicle, I realize it’s far too risky for him to stay. If the curtain moved and he saw me… my hand goes to my chest. Even through Kole’s tee, I can feel my raised, angry skin.

Stepping between us, shooing Tanner away, Rev says, “We won’t be long. Go.”

When Tanner’s out of earshot, she puts her hands on her hips, exhales loudly, and says, “Girl, I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but he’s got it bad.”

“Got it…?”

“A crush. A huge, mother-forking crush. I’ve never felt Tanner so worked up.”

Taking the clothes from the stool where Tanner left them, I shuffle behind the curtain and pull it shut. “He’s just being kind,” I say, angling myself so I’m pressed into the corner of the cubicle and facing away from the curtain.

On the other side of it, Rev laughs loudly. “If you say so… Now, try the jeans first. I’m pretty sure I got your size. Then the tank tops. Then you can start layering with the shirts.”

I tug on the jeans with ease. They fit perfectly, hugging my ass in a way I haven’t seen jeans fit before. The tank tops, however, are a no-go. They’re all low-cut. Like the one Rev is wearing.

I put them aside and sift through the rest of the pile. None of them will work. Without taking off Kole’s tee shirt, I stick my head around the curtain.

“Rev? I’m sorry. I should have said something sooner. I have a scar from an operation I had when I was a kid. I don’t like showing it. Do you have anything…” I rub the neckline of the tee I’m wearing. “Higher cut?”

Rev blinks her dark brown eyes at me. She’s wearing three bangles on each wrist, and they jangle as she lifts her finger to her chin and taps it thoughtfully.

Holding my nerve, I try not to let the image of the A.M.A. crest into my brain, because maybe, if I’m not thinking about it, she won’t be able to sense it; I have no idea how this ‘seeing’ stuff works, and truthfully, it’s starting to freak me out. Tanner being an empath is one thing. Kole and Rev being able to ‘see’ stuff about me? Well, that’s worse than finding out Mack and Luther are cops.

“Sure.” Rev nods. “It’s a shame. You have great cleavage. But I’ll see what I’ve got.”

As she disappears back into the store, I exhale slowly and put my hands on my hips. I’ve never been a good liar. I perfected the kind of lying that was necessary to survive life with Johnny; pretending to enjoy it when he undressed me, pretending to feel something when he writhed around on top of me or pounded me from behind, pretending not to be afraid of him or to be just the right amount of afraid. But I’ve never been able to lie about big stuff.

When Rev returns, however, she’s smiling. If she suspects or sees that there’s more to my ‘scar’ than I’m saying, she isn’t letting it show.

I thank her and duck back into the cubicle. This time, she’s given me several plain fitted tees, some thin sweaters — gray, pale blue, and white — and two halter tops. A black one and a red one.

I pick out the halters. They could work, but… I pull aside Kole’s tee shirt and look at my singed, gray bra. Barely holding my breasts up, it is definitely not fit for a purpose anymore.

A hand appears around the curtain. “This should fit. Ladies like yours need proper support. The bra you’re wearing is a terrible fit.” Rev is dangling three different colored bras on her index finger. One has adjustable straps.

I smile as I pick it up and hold it in front of me.

For the first time in years, I feel excited to see myself in the mirror.

When I emerge from behind the curtain, Rev folds her arms in front of her stomach and nods approvingly at me. “Yeah,” she says, a smile curling her lips. “That’ll do just fine.”

“You think so?” I smooth the top over my hips. I’ve paired it with a long, gray cardigan, but I’m aware the halter is showing off my boobs.

“Are you kidding? Tanner will barely be able to keep his dick in his pants when he sees you.” Rev laughs and, as she turns around, I catch a glimpse of the back of her neck. A large tattoo that reminds me of Kole’s snakes out from her kimono and up into her hairline.

“Wow,” I breathe. “I love your tattoo.”

Rev stops and looks at me over her shoulder. “Thanks.” She shrugs the kimono down so I can see it properly. What starts as a vine-like pattern at the base of her neck turns into a pair of enormous wings which fan out across her shoulders.

“Kole’s handiwork,” she says, pulling the kimono back on. “He’d hate to admit it, but he’s quite the artist.” She shrugs. She’s chewing gum and I hear it pop between her teeth. “Seers often are.” She pushes the door open and stands aside so I can step through first. “We’re good at knowing what’s inside people. Deep down. Empaths too.”

I’m brushing past her when she catches hold of my wrist. I stop and look at her fingers, gripping me firmly but not tight.

“You can trust them.” She catches my gaze and holds it. “All of them.”

I’m holding my breath, unable to speak because I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to say, when I catch Tanner in the corner of my eye. He’s standing up, hands in his pockets, staring at me.

“Frogs and snails, you look…” He breathes out hard and scrapes his fingers through his hair, brushing it from his face.

“She looks smokin’ hot. I know. I’m a genius.” Rev strides over to the counter and puts down the other items I chose. One of the thin, knit sweaters, two tees, the red halter, a second bra and five pairs of black lacy underwear. Also, miraculously, the right size.

Tanner’s eyes catch on the underwear, and I swear he licks his lips.

When he turns to me, though, he’s smiling gently. “So,” he says, “you all fixed?”

“I think so.” I put Kole’s clothes down on the counter and take Sarah’s cash from the pocket of the sweatpants.

“One sixty-five,” Rev says, punching numbers into a handheld device that she’s connected to her phone.

I look at the fistful of money I’m holding.

“You have enough, hun?” Her voice is surprisingly soft.

“Here.” Before I can answer, Tanner steps forward and curls his fingers around mine, pressing Sarah’s money back into my hand. “Let me get these.”

“No. Absolutely not.” My cheeks start to burn. I have never accepted charity and I don’t intend to start now.

Sensing the indignation flaring beneath my skin, Tanner leans casually on the counter and fixes his eyes on mine. “It’s not a gift. It’s a loan. Until you figure out what you’re going to do for money.”

I’m about to object again when Rev interjects. “Honey, let him pay. He lives rent free in Mack’s big old mansion. He can afford it.”

I want to say no. But I’m also keenly aware that this money is all I have in the world right now. “Okay,” I tell him. “But as soon as I find a job, I’ll pay you back.”

Tanner smiles at me, already taking his credit card from his wallet.

Outside, he hands me the bag of clothes. He looks genuinely pleased with himself, but not in an arrogant way. As if he’s truly happy to have helped me. “I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman,” I laugh.

“Is that so?” Tanner raises his eyebrows. “In that case, I’ll come knocking on your door later… no kissing on the mouth, though.” As he finishes speaking, and notices I’m not laughing, he starts to blush. “Because Julia Roberts’ character says her one rule is no kissing?” Heat is creeping up his neck. “Okay, I know way too much about 90s romcoms. And that sounded much cooler and less creepy in my head.”

I paint a mock-disgusted look on my face and shake my head. But I don’t make him wait too long before nudging him in the ribs and saying, “You know what? I don’t think I’d mind if you did knock on my door.”

Tanner is trying not to grin.

“There would definitely have to be kissing, though.”