jinn 03.5 - without a map Read online

  by

  Liz Schulte

  Without a Map

  A Jinn Trilogy Short Story

  Copyright © 2015 by Liz Schulte

  Cover design by Karri Klawiter

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  To keep up with Liz’s latest releases sign up for her newsletter here

  http://lizschulte.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=b24d896a4369244959d216887&id=a525d7447f

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  About the Author

  More books by Liz

  “You know you want to, Charlie,” Baker coaxed.

  Staring at the book in my hands, I refused to look at my brother’s big lopsided grin. “Last time I went along with your brilliant plan, Dad like literally burst into flames. Hard pass.”

  Not at all deterred, Baker leaned his back against the kitchen island—where I was trying to study—and plucked the book out of my hands. “Dad has unresolved anger issues.”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. My brother appeared to be your typical fourteen year old, all arms and legs, but there wasn’t anything typical about anyone in my family. Baker took great joy in pushing Dad’s buttons and Mom never really seemed to mind—probably because she knew him in his past life. As I said we weren’t normal. I looked into his gray eyes. “No.”

  His head dropped back as he rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re such a daddy’s girl.” I scowled in return. “YOLO and crap.”

  Baker still had four years until he’d remember his past lives—I didn’t have that luxury. None of us were positive how old I actually was. I couldn’t remember and was small in stature so they guessed. Carrying the Seal of Solomon wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. I had the capability to remember everything from all of my lives and frankly, as far as I could tell, most of them sucked. Demons had me for a long time—not just at the beginning of this life, but many, many before it. However, the real problem was while all the memories lived inside of me, they weren’t a continuous stream of thought. One moment I’d be fine and then the next something would trigger a crippling experience that would leave me raw and broken. So, for survival purposes, compartmentalizing was something, with my parents’ help, I’d become very good at.

  Even now, fourteen years later—fourteen wonderful years—the panic would strike at unexpected time. My heart would race, my hands tingled, and the world felt like it was crushing me. So many of those early nights and days after Holden saved me, he would find me hiding in the closet or under the bed with my eyes squeezed shut. He never said anything about it, mostly he was just there until the tension melted away. Whether it was his presence that calmed me down or his influence over my emotions or just the fact that I felt safe with him didn’t matter. Through him I could piece back together my fractured sense of self. Holden chose to be my father. The first one I had had in a very long time.

  Together with my mom, Olivia, they figured out how to help me. They had given me hope and I wasn’t about to repay them by acting like a brat—even if that made me boring. Because of them I could live a semi-normal life—at least as normal as normal could be for me.

  “Let’s review your plan. You want me skip my final test, steal mom and dad’s car, drive you to Chicago so you can see some lame band, and then what?” I made a swipe for my book, but he held it out of my reach.

  “Not stealing, borrowing.” He grinned again. “And then maybe for the first time in your life, you could have a little fun. You’ve heard of fun, right? Maybe you read about other people who have fun.”

  “Maybe hanging out with you, isn’t as much fun as you think.”

  He pursed his lips in consideration. “No, I’m pretty sure it is. It’s a road trip, Charlie. Not the end of the world. Just me and my big sister before she abandons me for college and hopefully gets a life.”

  I shook my head. “I’ll still be here.” Sometimes Baker was entirely too intuitive, but there was no way he could know what I was considering.

  He stood up, sensing weakness, and slung his arm over my shoulder. “But you will. Someday you will break up our happy little family. Even you, Miss Perfect, can’t stay here forever.”

  I laughed though I didn’t feel it. I didn’t want to leave. Holden and Olivia were the only two people who could actually protect me, but if I had a chance at a normal life where I didn’t have to be afraid all the time, shouldn’t I take it?

  “Laugh all you want. Remember what happened when Jonathan Danley asked you out?”

  Jonathan Danley. I hadn’t thought about him in years. His was my first and last kiss. Some girls had dads who talked to their suitors, others made funny passive aggressive threats, but not mine. One little kiss on the cheek from the next door neighbor that Dad happened to witness and the next day the family announced they were moving to another state and were gone by sundown. “Dad swore he had nothing to do with it.”

  “Come on. That had him written all over it. Even mom didn’t believe him. You know what he can do.” A smile was dancing in Baker’s lively eyes. “Face it, sis. If you ever want a life, you’ll have to cut the cord.”

  “Oh, like you’ll with mom?” I raised an eyebrow. Baker was all wild and tough until Mommy came home, then he was angel. “Give me back my book.”

  “What if I get her permission?” he said, still not relinquishing my textbook.

  I sighed. “If Mom agrees—which she won’t—I’ll take you on a road trip. Now can I have my book?”

  “Done.” Baker slapped the book on the counter and stretched before crossing his arms over his chest.

  Seconds later, Mom appeared, kissing each of us on the top of the head. She was here, but she was also somewhere else. I couldn’t say exactly how I knew that, but I did. I could always tell when she was split between here and somewhere else. It was sixth sense, I guess. I had a few of them where the Abyss and magic were concerned. Probably evolutionary to help ensure I survive.

  “What’s going on? How was school?” she asked, stealing one of my carrots that I had completely forgotten were there. “How’d your tests go today?”

  “Aced them,” I said. “Only one more.”

  Her smile was so bright she practically glowed—the way she did when dad touched her. “I’m so proud of you.” She hugged me tight then looked over at Baker and perched a hand on her hip. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

  He
blinked angelically at her. “Who me? I was just waiting for you to come home.”

  She laughed. “Out with it, kid.”

  “Well, since you mentioned it. There is something. It’s actually for Charlie.” Mom glanced at me and I rolled my eyes. “She needs to have more fun.”

  Mom looked at me, clearly amused. “Are you lacking in fun?”

  “Let me translate. He wants to go on a road trip. Well, what he actually wanted was to leave you and Dad a note and for us to ‘split’. He said it’d be fun to ‘go on the lamb’. Have you been letting him watch old movies again?”

  She pressed the back of her hand over her mouth, definitely covering a smile. “Under no circumstances are either of you allowed to go on a road trip without at least asking or telling us in person. A note is insufficient, Baker. Do you understand?”

  “Well, we didn’t actually do it. What’s the big deal?” He shrugged. “Look, this isn’t about me. It’s about her. She’s the most boring teenager in the history of teenagers ever to have lived. That’s a long time and a lot of boring. She needs some life experiences or how will she ever relate to real people. Besides, it’s summer and we’re not kids anymore. Shouldn’t we be allowed to spread our wings?”

  She gave him her best stern look, which wasn’t all that stern. “Summer doesn’t start until school lets out.” She took a deep breath, running her hand through her hair. “Where do you want to go?”

  “Just Chicago.” He slung an am over her shoulders. “How much trouble could we get into? There’s like a million people you know in that city. I’ll be good, I swear.” He crossed his heart with this finger.

  She looked at me and I shook my head then she looked back at Baker. She took a deep breath and put her arm around his waist. “I can probably talk your dad into a weekend, no longer.”

  “What?” I said. “But—no. We can’t.”

  She caught my hand and pulled me out of my seat. “Charlie, go. Cut loose a little, I promise you won’t regret it.”

  Yeah, fun really wasn’t what I was worried about. Demons capturing me, now that was concerning.

  Seeming to read my thoughts, as she always did, she shook her head. “I promise you’ll be safe. We’re only a thought away. You can stay with Aunt Maggie, too.”

  Baker wrinkled his nose. “Aunt Femi is cooler.”

  Mom gave him a look. “You’ll stay with Maggie or you won’t go.”

  He kissed her cheek. “You’re the bee’s knees, Mom.”

  She blinked and squeezed us tighter against her. “You’re growing up so fast.”

  ****

  “They’re not going,” Holden said.

  He tried to stare me down, but I took his hand and his face softened considerably. “The tighter you hold on, the more likely they are to do it on their own,” I said. “This way we know where they are and can make sure someone is there to keep an eye on them. They’re kids, Holden, no matter who they were.”

  His cheek twitched. “I don’t like it.”

  I sighed resting my head against his shoulder. “They’re growing up too fast.” I hadn’t even wanted kids—I know that sounds awful—but Charlie and Baker had changed our lives in the best way.

  Holden’s hand mindlessly rubbed the back of my neck. “If they go, there has to be rules.”

  I smiled, trying very hard not to laugh. “Rules? We can try.”

  “You’re too easy on Baker. He’s a menace.”

  This time I did laugh as I pulled away. “He is not and you know it. Baker’s sweet. Baker has always been sweet, but he also does what he wants. The key is to make him want to do things your way.” As far as I could tell, Baker didn’t really remember anything from the past, but each year more of the old Baker slipped through. The first time the 20’s slang appeared back in his vocabulary almost made me cry. “He called me the bee’s knees today.”

  The corner of Holden’s mouth lifted. “That doesn’t mean he’s ready to fall back into that life. And did it even occur to you that Maggie might not want them to stay with her.”

  I nodded. “I spoke with her this afternoon and she’s excited see them. She’s perfectly capable of protecting Charlie and she’ll keep them as far away from the Abyss as she can…but sooner than later we’re going to have to reintroduce them to that world.”

  Holden shook his head. “I don’t see why.”

  I sighed. I wasn’t going to fight with him about this. I understood where he was coming from. The best way to hide them in plain sight was to make them as normal as possible. Just two regular human kids, but the problem with that logic was neither of them were regular human kids. Baker we wouldn’t have choice on. Once he remembered, he would do whatever he wanted. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressionable. Right now she seemed perfectly willing to follow Holden’s lead, but I wanted her to choose her own path and not follow ours. A weekend in Chicago might be just what she needed.

  “Look at it this way. We have Baker for four more years. When he turns eighteen and remembers who he is, you won’t have a say in his life anymore.”

  Holden crossed his arms over his chest. “All the more reason to keep them with us now.”

  Who would have thought he’d be the one who had trouble letting go. “Charlie should be able to live the life she chooses—not the one you choose for her. No more scaring away boys. She needs to figure out who she wants to be in this life and we need to support her.”

  He scratched his handsome as ever jaw. “One weekend?”

  I pressed my lips to his. “Yep, just one. Consider it a trial run for when she goes away to school.”

  He frowned. “I thought she was staying here.”

  She hadn’t made up her mind yet. I didn’t know exactly what she was thinking, but there was something she had been dwelling on for weeks. “I guess we’ll see.”

  “What do you know?”

  “That it’s been a long time since we’ve had a weekend where it was just the two of us.”

  He finally smiled back, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Have I mentioned I love you?”

  “Have a great time.” My mom kissed my forehead and hugged me then Baker. “Don’t give your sister a hard time or you won’t leave this house again until you graduate high school.”

  Dad’s hands were tucked in his pockets. “Drive carefully, don’t stop at rest stops, and stay with Maggie.”

  I swallowed back my fear and nodded.

  He squeezed me tight against him and kissed the top of my head. “You’re going to be fine, kid.” He held on a moment longer then went over to Baker who was making Mom laugh and slapped the back of his head. “Don’t get into trouble.”

  “Hey,” Baker said rubbing the back of his head. “You’re supposed to at least pretend not to have a favorite.”

  Dad smiled and hugged him too. “If you step out of line, I’ll know.”

  Baker grinned. “I think you mean have fun.”

  He shook his head. “Pretty sure I don’t.” When Baker was about to climb in the car dad said, “Don’t take any wooden nickels.”

  I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

  Baker grinned. “Applesauce!” He dropped into the passenger side of the car. “Let’s go,” he shouted at me, hand hovering over the horn.

  I would never understand the two of them. I looked at Mom and she looked a bit misty-eyed over the exchange. “Are you sure this is a good idea,” I asked.

  Dad’s face was serious again and didn’t look sure at all, which made me more nervous, but Mom nodded calmly. “Try new things, Charlie. Discover who you are. We’ll always be there if you need us.” She threaded her fingers through Dad’s.

  I took a deep breath and opened the driver’s side door. “Last chance to stop me. By this time tomorrow I could be scantily dressed in a biker bar with burly men ready to show me pleasure like I have never known.”

  Dad slowly turned his head toward mom.

  Mom nodded laughter twinkling in her eyes. “Biker bars are
more Aunt Femi than Aunt Maggie.”

  I closed the door, buckled my seat belt, and started the engine then rolled down the window. “Exactly which drugs are legal in Illinois?”

  Dad’s eyes shot back to me. “None of them. Absolutely none.”

  I paused a moment giving them one more chance to change their minds, but when it was clear they weren’t going to I clenched the wheel and backed down the driveway. This trip was happening whether or not I wanted it apparently.

  Baker gave me all of 2.3 seconds before he turned up the music to a screeching level and drummed his hands on the dashboard as he bounced around in his seat. His hand darted over and he fluffed up my hair.

  “Don’t distract the driver.”

  He thumped on the dashboard again. “Are you going to lighten up this weekend or what?”

  “Or what,” I said under my breath as I flipped on the signal to turn onto the highway. My hands trembled and my jaw clenched against the fear raging inside of me. It had been fourteen years since I had been without Olivia or Holden or one of their friends watching over me. I wasn’t ready for this. I blew out a shaky breath.

  Baker turned down the stereo. “You know I won’t let anything happen to you, sis. I got your back.”

  I shot him a look out of the corner of my eye. That was a very sweet thought, but Baker wasn’t anymore magical than I was. If a demon came after us right now our only hope would be that our parents could get to us fast enough. “Let’s just avoid trouble and we won’t have to worry about it.”

  “You can’t live your whole life by the rules, Charlie. The rules don’t apply to people like us.”

  “Sure they do.”

  He shook his head adamantly. “We belong to a world of magic, with vampires and fae and demons and angels. Do think Mom and Dad got to where they are by playing by the rules?” He leaned forward. “If you’re the only one playing by the rules, you’ll be an easy target.”

  I sighed. “Can we not talk about this?”

  The truth was I didn’t know that I wanted to go back to living the Abyss. I was a void which meant there was hope I could live the rest of my life in the human world. I aged like a regular human, I had no special abilities that would single me out, and so long as I avoided the Abyss, demons especially, I could be fine. I could go to college, become a social worker so I could give back, and not have to spend this life in constant pain. There was one problem with this plan though.