User blog:UltravioletDragon/Not a Keeper thing! Suldreen, look here!

Chapter Two

In which Aki does some magic, Appaloosa and Emi are annoying, and Four eavesdrops.

'''I take the bus home, listening to a Moth Radio podcast on my phone. The spirits, freed from middle school at last, discuss the Leanne situation in the back of my mind. They’re speaking in Spiritese, a language of pattern and intensity rather than sound (there is a verbal version, but mine don’t use it), and my vision keeps flashing with various spots and swirls of light, some almost blinding and some inky black. I can speak fluent Spiritese, ever since they healed my concussion in fifth grade with their own power, but I’m choosing to ignore them.'''

'''I get off and open up the house. Izumi had swim team and Atsuko is in chorus, so they’re both taking the activities bus today. Lois is so happy to see me back, she twirls in circles and barks her head off. I give her a bit of kibble to shut her up and lean on the counter between the kitchen and dining room as I take out my lunch. I was so busy talking with my spirits today, I didn’t eat most of it. I finish the leftovers cold. '''

'''As I’m eating the chicken soup, which has cooled to a mushy pudding sort of thing, Four draws my attention. We have had little progress on the Leanne front, she says seriously, but Three has remembered an important fact about this afternoon. '''

'''What is it? I think this loudly, addressing all of them. '''

'''Three, with a skillful little flick, directs my attention to the large dry-erase calendar on the wall. It has, written for today in Leanne’s slanting print, Playdate with Appa, 4:30. I groan.'''

'''“Appa?” I complain. I speak out loud, since there’s only Lois to hear. Appa--Appaloosa Nirthal--is Emi’s best preschool friend, which means half of the time they hate each other. Playdates are a toss up; either the girls will conspire together, or they’ll throw Barbies at each other and shriek a lot. '''

'''There’s a lot of shrieking either way, One says snarkily. That is a fact. '''

'''Since Dad won’t be home until after six today, after fourteen hours at work, and Leanne doesn’t get off until four, I have a half an hour in the house all by myself. (Lois doesn’t count. She can’t tattle on me.) “What should we do?” I ask. Lois looks up from licking her bowl extra-extra clean, ears pricked. '''

'''Magic! Two almost yells. Magic, let’s do that!'''

'''Make a mess? Three grumps, but it’s excited, too. '''

'''One stirs, gathering up her swirling power. They all love it when I let them do impossible things and use me as their conduit. I try to be careful about it, but when I’m all alone like this, with the run of the place and clean-up time, it’s hard to resist. '''

'''“I could do science homework,” I say. I’m jesting, and they know it. '''

'''Two, irritated, flares. Cinnamon tickles my nose, and I sneeze. '''

'''“My science homework is on static electricity,” I continue, letting them see where this is going. '''

'''Two’s good at that, One says. She churns a little and sends a tickle down my spine. I shoulder my backpack and climb over the doggy gate. I have a plan. '''

'''The stairs open up in the basement, into a large, tile-floored space. Off of this room, there are doors leading to the bed and bathrooms. This is the laundry room, decorated in the Japanese styles Leanne likes so much. One of the big features of Japanese decor is that it’s minimalist, and our house is way cleaner than three teenagers and an ankle-biter would have you believe. The high windows, at ground level, let in streams of bright light. I open my door and set my backpack and cardigan down on my bed. '''

'''“What should we start with?” I ask. I sit crosslegged on the gray tiles in front of the dryer and drum my fingers on the floor. Lois whines from the top of the stairs. One and Two both uncurl, spilling out into my chest, my spine, my fingers. The sensations of them (Three says these are manufactured inside my own head) flood my senses. The smell of frost and cinnamon, the taste of rose and chili pepper, and their contrasting feels, blended into a thrumming velvet heartbeat.'''

'''I raise my hands, Two in my left and One in my right. Fire and ice. Presence and absence. My breath comes in quick gasps, matching my heartbeat, and my eyes won’t focus. '''

'''Carefully, now, One warns. Careful, careful. Two, turn that down a bit; humans are flammable. I would think you would remember that. '''

'''That is so not encouraging. '''

'''Two’s fire subsides a little, from blinding to blazing, and he reaches out to touch One. The tendrils meet and jolt. I yelp and squeeze my eyes shut as tight as I can. I have no control here, none at all. I have to trust them. '''

'''You can trust us. Three sounds so sure. I’ll protect you if they get out of hand. '''

'''Something tickles my palms. I open my eyes and gasp even though I’m expecting what I see. Little threads of lighting leap in my hands, finger to finger, bright and sharp and ever so playful. I grin, and the grin spreads broader and broader until I’m laughing. '''

'''Good job! I think, taking a deep breath to calm down. Three slips in and forces my emotions down. '''

'''Want to control it? One asks. She pulls back, leaving only a tendril of magic in my hands. Two copies her. I suddenly have control over my fingers, and the lighting. I twiddle my fingers, and it copies my motion. The sparks, more spark than real lightning, gather in the space between my fingers. I twirl them together and then push the little ball tighter, tighter, tighter…'''

'''It explodes in a shower of sparks. I yelp and duck, forgetting the spirits. '''

'''It’s temperamental, One explains. Lighting and agreeable are not synonyms. '''

'''That was fun, Two says. Let’s do it again! Bigger! And not let Aki control this time; that goes bad. '''

'''“It’s my body, Two!” I snap. “I rather like having some control.” All four spirits give a mental shrug. They don’t really care if the host has that. '''

'''My shirt has ash spots on it now, and there’s a little scorch mark on my knee. One surveys the damage and grumbles. I lie down on the floor in case I fall over. The magic is starting to fade, so I can taste the blood in my mouth; I must have nipped my tongue. '''

'''Homework? Four suggests with a sigh. '''

'''“Yes,” I say sternly. I need to do it, and my worksheet should be much more exciting after a spot of lighting. Anything is much more exciting after playing with lightning on your laundry room floor. I’ve done magic dozens, maybe hundreds, of times. It never gets less interesting. '''

'''You don’t usually get to play by yourself, Three says. It sends a soothing wash, and I breathe in the smell of the sea. '''

'''“Right,” I say. “Homework next.” '''