Issue #33- A Shattered Clasp

A Shattered Clasp

*~~~~~*

Expletives roll from his mouth as Mikel tugs a cramped leg free from under the dash of Ephra`s severely dented Malibu, their decision to take her car one that had seemed wise back at the club. It WAS considerably warmer than his Rover but her speed at leaving the safety of the vehicle to hurry on without him inflamed him. Nearly falling to the sidewalk the Guardian curses sedans and headstrong women in the same breath.

She smiles up at him with innocence, her fingers gripping the neck of her winter coat to her neck.

“You were to stay in the car!” he barks, eyes sparking like gun metal.

“It`s a woman`s prerogative to change her mind,” Ephra comments through the hot pink scarf over her lower face. A howling wind rips open her lover`s overcoat making her shiver for him. He seems not to notice though as he continues to scowl at her through his dancing ebony hair.

“Indeed it is,” Gallo says as he creeps from the shadows cast by huge cement pylons. Mikel places his girth between the ani-morph and the wee witch, his glower deepening as Gallo eyes the blond openly.”I would suggest you change your mind about who you bed. What I could do for you little magic-maker…..”

“She will never know,” Mikel says, backing up his words with a smooth flick of a Glock`s safety.”Now can we proceed to the gate?”

Gallo raises two large dark hands in a show of mock submission then turns with a pleased smirk to pad softly towards the realm gate.

“I`d choose you,” Ephra whispers as the Glock finds its cow-hide home. The Guardian`s glad to hear that admission and pained at the same time. Without a reply for her he moves to the concealed gate, stopping to watch as Ephra bends over to draw a semi-circle in the trampled snow with one hot pink gloved finger. Her cloaking spell would shield them from curious mortal eyes.

“Can you open the gate?” Gallo inquires in a raspy deep voice.

“I can but I`m not going to,” Mikel replies flatly.

“Your call Guardian, but if I could work inside the Netherrealm I could….”

“Understood. Do your best on this side,” Mikel says as Gallo lowers smoothly to one knee. Ephra snuggles into Rayvenwing`s side seeking warmth as they wait patiently.

“Perhaps you could have called me after a few hundred MORE humans have trampled over the scents?” Gallo`s tone is acerbic.

“Do you have anything besides cutting comments to relay bestial?”

“There`s a track here,” Gallo points to the ground where the gate rests on the re-frozen slush.”It`s contaminated but even so the aroma of shadow realm is….”

Mikel tenses.”You`re mistaken!”

“Think what you wish Guardian but you know my skills. Whoever tampers with the realm gates is one of your own,” Gallo counters.

“Mikel, your cousin…..”

“The message will be sent with haste witchling,” Mikel assures her already summoning his other mentally.