Spirit Guide (Myth-Series Book 2) Read online

  Angela K. Crandall

  Copyright © 2016

  Angela K. Crandall

  All rights reserved. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any

  resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

  or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Arcadia Publishing

  Kindle Edition

  Arcadia Publishing

  First Edition

  Cover design by Angela K. Crandall and Toni Kerr.

  Special thanks to:

  Toni Kerr for helping me design my book cover. My mother for pressing me never to give up on my writing. Friends and family for their encouragement and support.

  Chapter 1

  (Saturday, March 27th)

  (Starla)

  My palms were sweaty. I felt like I was on fire. The dance was tonight. Jensen, Molly and I had just finished up a big test for Myth class weeks ago. It seemed like, eons really. I stopped jogging and leaned up against a tree surveying the park. I’d like to say this is where it all started, but it began the night I came home from Denny’s, so I’ll save you the details. My name is Starla; I am a half Kitsune fox and half human. My best friend Molly exposed what she feels is her deepest, darkest secret. Then I found out I’m in love with my best friend.

  I started to giggle. Your life is not a movie, I told myself twisting around to see Ranger Mike. He’d run up behind me.

  “Hey, are you and Jensen, going to the dance tonight,” he asked.

  I pushed myself into a standing position. “I wouldn’t miss this dance for the world. I need some semblance of order after all the chaos that went down,” I replied.

  He crossed his arms, taking a quick look around the park. “I understand, too much. Nayla has been asking about you. I know she said she’d let you off the hook for a while. Nerves are dancing all over the place with the bandits in our seclusions chambers. Jones has been in and out on occasions. Rascal is pretty upset that he’ll need to testify in the trial. You can see why she is anxious to get started on your training.”

  I kicked the sand beneath my feet with my shoes, “I have a month and a half before I’m let out for the summer. How’s Cal? Has she asked about me?”

  “Eva won’t let her out of her sight. Nayla mentioned, you and Cal will be training together. She can’t quite figure out how to stay in one form. You know she keeps transcending back and forth. We aren’t sure why at this point,” he muttered.

  “Oh, that’s extreme! While I’m here, can you do me a favor?” I asked.

  “Um, maybe what is it?”

  “Mom and I would like to have Cal over for breakfast soon. Could you ask Eva? She loved mom’s pancakes. I’m kind of busy, and I don’t have her digits. Eva can join us. If it makes her more comfortable, in human form, of course,” I chuckled.

  “Sure. Where are you off to, after this?”

  “Molly and I are going to get our hair done. She wants it to be a surprise for Maine,” I said, then smiled. My heart belonged to Jensen, yet I couldn’t stop being ecstatic about Maine and Molly. She’d waited so long to be happy.

  “Oh, you already have your dresses?”

  “Yes. I’m going to wear this fantastic flowing iridescent rainbow-dress. Molly’s actually, jealous. She said she saw it first! I won the debate, however. She’s found one similar to it. I had a notion it fit her personality better.”

  He grinned, “Her folks are letting her go, with Maine then?”

  I let out a long sigh and placed my hands on my hips, “Molly’s mom is a strong lady. After our encounter at Thunderhead Bay, they had a lengthy discussion concerning unconditional love. Either Mr. Fretner accepted his daughter with the ground rules her mother laid out or...”

  “She’d kick him out?”

  I nodded.

  “Wow, a Christen woman doing that? Something you don’t hear about every day.”

  “Tabitha is one of a kind. Anyway, I’ve got to rush,” I said.

  “Tell Molly I said hello, and Jensen?”

  “I won’t be seeing him until the dance. Kind of like pre-dance jitters! Maybe that’s why I’m so energetic today! Bye!” I waved running off the trail towards town.

  I pushed my way into the beauty parlor in full swing. Almost, all the chairs were occupied by customers. In the back, only one sink remained opened for use shampooing. Rita stood at the register ringing up a customer. I swung my long tresses behind me up into a ponytail. I should have done it earlier to avoid all the hair flying in my face as I ran. Tapping my jean pocket, I made sure my wallet still resided there before greeting Rita.

  I approached the desk, “I’m here for our ten O’clock appointment.”

  “Oh, hello Starla,” she said, then smiled at me. “Molly called and is running late. She said not to worry. Her mom had a last minute errand.”

  “Sure,” I shrugged. “How’s business been?”

  “Rather, steady,” she said, picking up the pen next to her. She then wrote something down in her notebook on the counter. “I’m just confirming your appointment here. I’ve had some dye jobs here and there, pedicures, and brow waxing. Hmm, no one’s asked for any wild hair colors lately.” She looked up from her book, “you and Molly are set up with Iris today.”

  “Thanks,” I said, turning away to take a seat.

  “Wait, you’re appointment was made for the works package right?”

  I motioned with my hands to the top of my head, “Yes, Shampoo me, deep condition me, and a whip it on top.”

  “Starla, you are a hoot, go sit. Molly should be here soon,” she chuckled.

  I gave her my best grin and sauntered over to the sitting area. Ah, magazines galore! I picked one up to leaf through as I waited. I checked out the pictures. I’d started to make collages with them recently and hung some on my bedroom wall. Mom said it was rather creative. Maybe Rita would let me have a few, or at least give them to me instead of throwing them out.

  “You’re looking at magazines again? Ever since Thunderhead Bay you’ve been doing those.”

  I set it aside. “Molly, I didn’t even hear the bell ding. I had hoped that Rita might let me have one or two of these. Mom’s not letting me near her stack til she finishes reading the ones the library was going to discard. These are new!”

  Molly flopped down in the chair beside me.

  “Why the long face?” I asked, setting aside Glamour. I nudged her with my shoulder.

  “Dad wants to meet Maine,” she grumbled adjusting her purse on her lap.

  “Well, it’s a little late for that now. Maine and Jensen’s plans were to pick us up at the apartment. Then we would meet Owl at the dance. I’m pretty sure he’s coming alone.”

  Molly managed a forced grin. “Owl is going stag? I thought he had his eye on someone.”

  “Did you see him checking anyone out recently? We haven’t hung out together since the test. I’ve yet to attend any clan meetings either,” I added.

  “No, he doesn’t seem like the sort of guy who’d go to the dance alone,” she commented.

  “No, he’s with us as a group. So do we need to stop by the house so your dad can meet Maine? How should we handle this?” I rummaged t
hrough my purse to find my chap stick, got it! Grape glam and slid some on my lips. I offered some to Molly.

  “No, thanks,” she said, waving her hand. “Do you especially feel the need to experience my dad flipping out?”

  “He’ll be fine. As long as you don’t do anything drastic. You don’t plan on making out in front of him, do you?” I drawled out.

  Molly rolled her eyes, “Only you’d consider that,” she laughed. It definitely would upset him. I’d better stick to hand holding.” She winked at me.

  “So you’re saying...”

  “I’m not saying anything. Besides, this is our first official date. Is Jensen excited about your up do?”

  “He isn’t aware that beautifying myself is on the list of to do’s.” I adjusted myself in the seat. My butt was starting to hurt. I’d be glad to sit down in the comfortable beautician chair.

  “My butt hurts,” I muttered.

  Molly muffled a laugh into her shirt, and Iris strutted our way. Today, she wore a long flowing hippie dress and had her bright red hair pulled back in a bun. Red huh? I liked it. The last time I saw her, it had been black with purple streaks. If I did that, mom might freak!

  “Ladies, I can only prep one of you now. Who wants to be shampooed and conditioned first? Or if you prefer Rita will be available soon.

  “I’ll hang around. You go first. I need to contemplate adding a bit of color to my hair, say a few streaks of pink, no maybe purple!”

  “You should go for it. It’s our night to let loose besides it washes out right?” questioned Molly. She got up from her seat.

  Iris beamed, “It’s your choice semi-permanent, or Permanent, follow me,” she said. Molly placed her purse over her shoulder, proceeding to the shampooing area. She sat down and let Iris wash her hair. I picked up a magazine and leafed through it.

  Would Jensen be prepping for the dance? He’d told me days ago, he’d planned something special. He wouldn’t even give me a hint! I’d begun the guessing game in my head. Limo, private party, a dinner at Olive Garden? He wouldn’t dare take us to Denny’s, would he? I’d be going back to work Monday.

  Rita tugged at my hair, “Starla, daydreaming as usual?”

  I set down Cosmo, and stood up, “Besides my up-do, I’d like to get some purple streaks.”

  “I can manage that, and semi-permanent is all I have in stock. Follow me. We’ll get started.”

  An hour or two later, Molly and I were staring at our new selves.

  Iris smiled, “There you go, do you girls love it or what?” She swiveled Molly towards me in her chair. A smile spread a crossed my face. She had gone with a few streaks of red throughout her blondish-brown hair. It had been styled with a few ringlets to accent her pretty face. “You look breathtaking! Maine will be impressed. She’ll fawn over you,” I exclaimed.

  “Me, look at you!’

  I’d decided on two long braids which Rita had pinned to the side of my head. One streak of purple dressed up each braid, and several highlighted streaks ran through my long curly tresses that fell framing my face.

  “I did go a bit overboard, but mom will get over it,” I replied.

  “I take it you girls are ecstatic about your new hair styles?” asked Iris.

  Rita had returned to the desk to ring up our orders.

  “Ecstatic doesn’t even describe my emotional state,” exclaimed Molly, standing up from the chair. She removed her frock handing it to Iris.

  “No words could describe what you just did for us. Thank you,” I said and unfastened my smock. After, handing it to Iris, I casually crept up to the counter. Molly was busy explaining that Maine and Jensen would be picking us up for the dance in a few hours.

  “How much do I owe you?”

  Rita leaned on the counter observing Molly, “Your mom came in yesterday. She didn’t want you, or Molly to worry about the bill. It’s taken care of.”

  “Then tips,” I said, pulling two tens out of my wallet.

  Rita put up her hand and shook her head.

  “You have to take tips, or you’ll be insulting us girls. We’re extremely grateful. If you’d only seen us a few weeks ago, you’d understand why,” I explained.

  “Alright then, if you insist. I’ll make sure Iris gets her half,” she answered.

  I turned away from the counter, then remembered the magazines.

  “Oh, Rita, before I leave, can you save me some magazines instead of tossing them? I’ve been working on some art projects.”

  “Sure, I’ll give them to your mom the next time she stops in,” she answered.

  Molly skipped up to me, “Ready to go?”

  “Yeah, lets,” I said linking my arm in hers.

  We exited the parlor, and my face fell into a frown. Cal, she should be experiencing this too. How far had she fallen behind in life due to her captors? What had she felt, gone through, experienced?

  It wasn’t that I didn’t adore the friend walking beside me, but I worried about another.

  She too had a lot going on. I didn’t know a lot about what had happened while she was being held hostage. We hadn’t spoken since the rescue.

  “Starla, you OK?”

  I stopped and gulped back a few tears. I still had to do my makeup back at the house. “It’s Cal. Eva’s been keeping her from leaving the park. I realize they want to protect her and slowly integrate her back into the community and clan. It’s her choice if she chooses to come back to this part of her life. I can’t help but think she should be having these experiences with us,” I stammered.

  “You’re a good friend,” Molly said, pulling out a tissue, and handed it to me.

  “Thanks,” I said, wiping my eyes before my tears hit the ground.

  Chapter 2

  (Dan)

  Sitting on the couch in the living room, I allowed my hands to rest on each side of her neck. I gently massaged the knots. Moving closer, I continued down her back. She leaned against me, allowing me to apply more pressure. It wasn’t easy to restrain myself. Every part of me wanted to place my arms around her. A few times we’d hugged goodbye since Starla’s return from the mission. I’d held on a little too long, but she never mentioned it. Each day that passed, I’d wanted to be back in our home together. Now the bandits were captured, and the trial would take place in a week, I needed my wife by my side.

  “Ah, Thank you, honey,” said Tri turning towards me. I took her hands in mine, but couldn’t meet her eyes. She moved in closer, leaning her forehead against mine. Then looked up into my eyes. I couldn’t turn away.

  “I need to be with you, but I don’t know,” she choked.

  “How much longer, I mean, how much more time do you need?” I whispered.

  “Megan keeps asking when you’ll be home. That part truly gets to me, but it’s not that simple.”

  “What’s the problem?” I mumbled.

  “I need to know how I’ll be received by the clan,” she admitted.

  Softly I stroked her cheek, “I don’t think they’ll reject you. Nayla has taken to Starla. They refer to her as Starla Ariana. Did she tell you that?”

  “Hmmm,” she nuzzled closer to me, letting her chin rest on my shoulder. “I’m not going to jump into this all at once.”

  “It has to be gradual,” she insisted. “What’s going on with Eva (Kristin) and Cal? If I could meet with them outside of Hunters Park, perhaps I’d feel more comfortable.”

  I put my arms around her and pulled her close giving in to myself. Sighing, I ran my hands along her back. “I’ll discuss contact with the clan. Mike said Starla had asked about Cal this morning. It might be good to invite her and Eva, over for pancakes. Cal mentioned wanting them following her rescue.”

  Tri pulled away from me. There was a puzzled look on her face. “Will Cavin allow it?”

  “If he believes it will bring you back to us he’ll agree to almost anything,” I answered. Tri pushed me aside. I moved back and gave her breathing room.

  “The trial. When it start
s, how will it affect Starla and Jensen’s relationship? Will it?” she asked.

  “She’ll be training with Nayla while most of it is going on. That’s the plan unless anything changes. They'll both be busy. It's not like we'll keep them apart on purpose. Now, discussing the trial could be an issue. Nayla needs Starla to concentrate on who she is going to become.”

  Tri reached for a pillow and pulled it close to her. “I cannot have my daughter taken from me. She told me she would be allowed both lives. Make it clear to them that she must be able to function in this world. I won’t allow her to disconnect from everything she knows for the clan’s protection.”

  I took Tri’s arm tenderly and softly caressed it with my fingers. “They won’t. You have to learn to trust them again. The bandits screwed it up for us, everyone. The instant we captured them and contained them, we got our lives back. Now we have to seek justice for Rascal’s son and those they killed in the massacres. The only way we can do that is, with a trial. Starla’s training plays a part in this. I don’t know how.Nayla has the answers to that.”

  Tri nodded at me. Then set the pillow down beside her on the sofa. “Starla and Molly should be back soon. You can stay if you want. I’ll make us coffee.”

  “Sounds good, I’d rather not discuss any of the plans for her training til after tonight. Let her have one evening stress-free from the pressure she’ll soon be under.”

  “This is happening too rapidly. Nayla promised her down time. This isn’t, what we initially signed-up for. I’d hoped it could wait til the semester was over,” responded Tri standing up from the couch.

  “I know. It’s not what I wanted either. I’ll do everything, I can in order to make sure she finishes her classes. If we’re fortunate, we’ll have this wrapped up in a week or less. We’ll have to call Starla Ariana in for some of the trial. Right now Cavin is trying to coordinate with Nayla on this,” I said as we stepped into the kitchen. Before she could protest, I walked up to the cupboard and pulled out the coffee can. I began measuring it out into the coffee maker observing my wife situate herself at the dinner table. She smoothed out the wrinkled tablecloth several times before I set two steaming hot mugs down.