Page 121 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

Don’t tell a Taurus what they can and can’t do, it’ll make them want to do it even more just to piss you off.

Duncan’s phone rings, the Batman and Robin spoof song echoing in the cave. Everyone holds a steady face, not giving away the culprit to this latest dig. Duncan sighs as if dealing with unruly children and grabs his phone. He answers with a harsh, “Yes.” A few curt nods, a stretched silence, and finally, “Thank you.” He ends the call and smashes his phone onto the table.

“She’ll help us,” Duncan declares, his lips thinning.

“What’s the catch?” I ask.

He sighs before leveling a gaze at me. “She wants to meet you.”

“Okay… What’s the problem?”

“She’s dangerous, Natia. And she’s pissed you failed at containing the beast. I don’t think you’re in danger, but I can’t be sure.”

I shrug. “You’ll be with me, right?”

He nods. “Yeah, she wants to meet the five too… seems we’re celebrities, not in a good way.”

Zee stands and tugs his hands in his jean pockets. “When do we go?”

“One hour. Hold on to your skirts ladies, we are going in deep.”

“Deep?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“The bayou.” Duncan shivers. Oh well, if my big bad warlock best friend is crapping his pants, everything will be fine.

* * *

Standing on the edge of the pretty bayou, the fingers of the trees stroke the water in a tender caress, sending ripples that reach our feet. The humid air makes my tank top and jeans stick to me like a second skin. Jed waves his hand in the air, disturbing a swarm of fire bugs. They buzz, peeved at being disrupted in their beautiful dance.

“So where is….?”

“Marsha,” Duncan clarifies. He nods towards an ominous-looking cave in the middle of the bayou.

“Wonderful, why does everything we need live in a dark cave?” I mutter. The last cave I entered was on an island inhabited by a carnivorous tribe. I retrieved the Jar, but little did I know it was the infamous Pandora’s box. A strange being who has since been absent in the chaos that is my life, also delivered a cryptic message. A little direction would be nice, but I doubt anything living in a dark cave would give it to me.

“Can you teleport to the entrance?” Duncan asks, giving me the once over, indicating that I should try to take my clothes with me and not appear naked to his powerful witch friend.

I shrug. “I guess, I have to keep trying.”

Jed grabs Aaden’s arm, whilst Duncan places his hand on Zee’s shoulder. They teleport over to the entrance and wave at me. Easy peasy, right? I glance at Uncle Charlie. “Surely, they don’t expect me to take you? I’m struggling to take me and my clothes, lord knows where I’ll leave you if I try.”

Duncan reappears with a smirk. “Don’t worry, Locks, I’ll wait with Charlie, in case you don’t arrive clothed.” I nod. Good call. Naked in front of the guys - embarrassing. Naked in front of my Uncle… mortifying. I take a deep centering breath and focus on the stickiness of my clothing against my skin and try to encompass the feeling into myself. I home in on Zee’s bright aura across the water. The world twists, ribbons of color thread through my fingers, something darts in the corner of my vision. Eyes that hold the weight of the world catch mine, then I’m toppling down on Zee. He groans as his ass hits the mud.

I look down and pump my fist in the air. “Yes!” I jump up and give a little victory dance. “Not naked!”

“Damn.” Zee pouts, standing and rubbing the dirt of his ass. “Looks like my free show is at an end.”

Duncan chuckles as he appears before us with Uncle Charlie. “Doubt it. She had a knack of being naked before she began teleporting.”

Zee nods and smiles. “True, I’ll hold out hope.”

I smack him across his head. “Keep dreaming.”

He clutches my hand against his heart and gives it a squeeze. “We’ll always have your underwear.”

“I don’t even want to know,” Uncle Charlie mutters as he follows Duncan into the gloomy cave. I shake my head and grin at Zee before following the men into god knows what new danger. Aaden and Jed bring up the rear, keeping me, the protected, in the middle, like some dainty princess.

“You know I can kick your asses?” I point out as Duncan’s footsteps echo deeper into the cave. A smattering of cold, sticky web coats my unsuspecting face. I squeal and jump back into Jed’s arms. They all chuckle. Grr… I am a badass, and I will rid the world of arachnids, my true enemy. “When the eight-legged freaks creep down your throat and devour you from the inside out, don’t come complaining to me.”

---