Realizing I’d slowed a little, I picked up the pace wanting to arrive early enough to talk to Nicole, the shy girl in my basic massage class. She’d agreed to partner with me last week. Today we would start doing more hands on practice trying the few techniques already described to us along with muscle identification.
The instructor had warned us we would work in pairs, switching partners over the next few weeks. Since the majority of my classmates were female, if I carefully arranged partners prior to each class, I should be fairly safe. He’d also stressed we wouldn’t need volunteers from outside the classroom this term. It relieved me knowing I wouldn’t need to fend off Scott as a volunteer.
An unusually quiet house greeted my chipper, “I’m home!” when I returned home later that evening. The brisk wind rattled the kitchen window as I set down my keys and searched the house for Clay.
I didn’t find him, but did see evidence of his busy day. The neatly folded items from the laundry I’d put in and the load I’d set aside before leaving, filled my dresser drawers. Clean shirts hung in my closet. He’d even remade the bed with the fresh sheets. The baby powder smell of the detergent permeated the room. I grinned, thinking of him wearing his clean clothes.
A knock sounded at the front door. Stilling smiling to myself, I turned around to answer it.
An older gentleman stood on the step. Dressed in a smart grey suit, which complimented his dark grey hair, he reminded me of Sam, and I felt a moment of guilt. Sam had called several times to check on me, but I hadn’t returned any of his calls.
A smile lined his face, reaching his warm hazel eyes as he said, “Gabby? I’m Joshua.”
My polite smile froze in place. This was Elder Joshua? I’d pictured a younger man. Doubt crept in and I did a quick scan. His bright blue-grey spark glowed before me. That color… My stomach dipped in fear. In the distance, a child squealed in laughter snapping me out of my other world. I held myself still, clutching the edge of the door and fought hard to push back the sudden burst of fear.
His nostrils flared slightly and I knew my efforts were too late.
“I apologize for startling you, Gabby. Sam was concerned when he didn’t hear back from you after the confrontation and asked me to stop by and check on you.”
Joshua had the same color light as the werewolf who had attacked Clay. Coincidence? I didn’t think so. So far, only Charlene and I had unique sparks.
A knot formed in my throat causing my voice to sound dry and strained. “Confrontation?” I wanted to slam the door and run, but knew running wouldn’t work.
“Yes, we heard there’d been a failed challenge. Is everything okay here?”
I swallowed hard, found my voice and answered, “Yes, thank you.”
Think Gabby! Why would the werewolf who’d launched itself at Clay from out of the darkness politely knock on my door? And why the front door? The neighbors could see him.
Staring at his puzzled face, his hazel eyes called my attention. The other wolf’s eyes had been blue. I had to call Sam and get a description of Elder Joshua. If this was really him, what did it mean that he had the same color light as the werewolf who’d challenged Clay?
“How are things going with Clay? Any other problems? Is he becoming too aggressive?”
“Everything is fine,” I continued to answer his questions. “He’s very polite,” but missing when I really needed him. Convenient that Elder Joshua just happened to show up when Clay wasn’t home.
“We were surprised to hear of a challenge. Usually, strong ties aren’t challenged,” he commented.
I didn’t know how to respond so I remained quiet.
“Well, if you need anything,” he reached into his pocket and withdrew a business card, “give me a call, or call Sam. We’re here if you need anything.”
The card simply had his name and number printed on it, no title or business name. I nodded hoping he would leave so I could give into the panic attack I barely held back. He smiled, nodded farewell, and then turned to leave.
I closed the door, tucking the card into the front pocket of my jeans. This time I watched through the peephole as he got into the car he’d parked in front of the house. The door muffled the sound of him starting it.
When it drove out of my line of site, I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead on the cool wood of the door. A wolf with a uniquely colored spark challenges Clay. Then Elder Joshua shows up with the same color. For more than two years, through every visit to the compound, not once did I ever see a variance in the color of a werewolf spark. Just like humans, they remained consistent.
If not for the challenge, I wouldn’t worry about it. But I knew without a doubt, whoever challenged Clay I’d never met before. And if I’d never met him, why would he challenge Clay for me? I wanted to know who the challenger was and why Elder Joshua had an identically colored spark.