The Strange Life of Jonas Marks - 13. Chapter 13

The ride back from lunch was pretty quiet. Food at the Deli Slice is always filling, and I found myself nearly falling asleep on the quick ride back. What was funny was, both Dan and Chris were almost silent until we were pulling back up in front of Krogers.

“So, Jonas, what sort of weird stuff did you end up with in that pile?” Dan asked quietly, while watching me from the front seat.

“Yeah, I mean I’ve seen some of the stuff people buy at the store. What more could people really want?” Chris piped in, as he parked his car in front of the building.

I sat there, silently trying to figure out what to say. I mean, I’d talked about this sort of thing with Jenny and her family, but I knew they wouldn’t be telling anyone. Krogers, being the exclusive place it was, had its employees sign confidentiality contracts so they couldn’t discuss what someone might buy, but discussing the sort of things that Opie had to find, if I didn’t go into too much detail, I figured would be okay.

“Well, like today we had to get a bowl that fills with pudding.”

“You had to get a bowl?” Chris looked at me like I had horns or something.

“Doesn’t sound all that special for a Fantasy Department.” Dan just shook his head as we walked toward the front door.

Looking at them I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Remember that bowl you saw me with earlier, Dan?”

“Yeah. You were talking about something needing to be cleaned.”

“Well, that was what I cleaned. The little white bowl is one of the orders. It fills with pudding.”

“You mean you put pudding in it, don’t you?” Chris unlocked the front door and waited for me to deliver some sort of joke.

“No. I mean, you say what sort of pudding you want, and it fills with it. Unfortunately, whoever had the bowl earlier never learned to wash it. It was,” I flinched as I remembered the god awful smell that came from the bowl while it had originally sat in my office, “gross, to say the least.”

“Really? Sounds sort of odd.” Chris shook his head as he locked the door behind us.

“You are kidding, aren’t you?” Dan stood before me with his arms crossed.

“You both get nervous around Opie, yet you don’t believe the stuff I get? You two kill me.”

Chris just laughed, but Dan blushed.

“Alright, I got to go back to work. Enjoy your afternoon, guys.”

“Well, I can swing by later. There is just one project left on the list my boss gave me. I only have to patch a hole in Miss White’s office. Guess someone was in a hurry when they opened her door and slammed it so hard the doorknob put a hole in the wall. If it isn’t fixed soon, she is going to go ballistic.” Dan laughed as he headed toward the back.

“Yeah, for a little woman, White can be damn scary,” Chris called after Dan.

“She just seems really bound by the rules. I think she likes Opie, though.”

“Jonas, why on earth do you keep calling Openseter Opie?” Chris looked at me sort of surprised.

“Honestly, I picked it up from Ms. White. She called him Opie, and I find it easier to think of him that way than constantly calling him Openseter.” I shrugged and headed toward the door that would lead back to the Fantasy Office and my office. “Back to the grind. See you later, Chris.”

I was nearly to Opie’s door, when it opened and my boss stepped out.

“Jonas, glad I caught you. I want you to meet Mrs. Clinch. She was the one who ordered the bowl.”

I looked into his office to catch a glance of the same woman who was in there earlier. Mrs. Clinch stood in the office, and I could see she really was an attractive woman. She had long dark black hair, dark green eyes, and pale clear skin. She was a few inches shorter than I was, but I couldn’t miss the spike heels she wore. I remember my mother saying, “A woman who doesn’t need to work on her feet – like a nurse or waitress – is the only one you will see in heels cause her work requires a different type of pace.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Clinch.”

She strode over and shook my hand. “Thank you so much for helping to find the bowl. I’m a disaster in the kitchen, but the one thing my husband absolutely loves is pudding. I can’t tell you how many puddings I’ve burned.” Her cheeks burned like they were on fire as she spoke. “I could have cared less on the cost, because now I can make sure he gets whatever he wants and for me, that is worth it.”

I didn’t have a clue as to what to say. I mean, all I did was open the bag and wash the bowl.

“Jonas is a great help here.” Opie smiled and stood behind Mrs. Clinch.

“Glad to … um … be of help. It was nothing.” Now I could feel my own cheeks burning.

“Well, if you ever need help with a house or anything let me know. I’d love to return the favor.”

She handed me a card before turning back to the desk and picking up the bowl I had placed in my cabinet a little while ago.

“Mr. Openseter, it was a pleasure doing business with you. Let me know if you do find that other item I was interested in.”

Opie smiled and bowed slightly. “But of course. Enjoy your bowl.”

“Oh, I will.” Mrs. Clinch smiled and headed down the hallway back toward the front of the store.

I watched her for a moment and then turned to see Opie studying me.

“Did I spill something on my shirt?” I looked down, but didn’t see anything.

“No. Just glad to see you. You should get back to your office. You still have a few packages to get through, yet.” Suddenly, Opie smiled and laughed. “Besides, Fire is waiting for you.”

That stopped me cold. While I was at lunch I put Fire out of my mind. Now I was going back to my office and she was waiting for me. What on earth was I supposed to do with a sword?

“Right. Of course. I’ll … um … get right to it.”

Opie’s laughter followed me as I left his office to head for my own.

I paused outside the door to my office. My name still stood on the door and I had no idea what I was going to say to Fire. I mean it was odd. What do you say to a sword that has taken a liking to you?

I took a deep breath and opened the door. The office was spotless. All the garbage was gone and the packages were all sorted. On my desk sat two small packages, and Fire was leaning against the desk in her scabbard.

“Wow.” I looked around, expecting to see something out of place, but it was neat as can be.

“Glad you like it, kiddo. I can’t believe some of the things people ordered.” Fire’s voice was still a husky voice. I couldn’t help but think of Jessica Rabbit, one of my favorite cartoons when I was growing up.

“Yeah, well … um … thank you. That was really kind of you.” I wondered how a sword could organize the whole office, and make it so neat and clean. I mean, it wasn’t like Fire had hands or anything.

“Sit down, Jonas. I think we better have a little talk.” Fire’s voice let me know pretty much this wasn’t open for discussion. “There are a few things you need to understand.”

I shuffled over to the chair and sat down. I just sort of put my hands between my knees and looked at the floor. Don’t ask me why, but I felt like I had just been called into the coach’s office and been told I’d done something wrong and might be kicked off the team.

“Pick me up, Jonas.”

I reached out and picked up Fire, drawing her from the scabbard. For a moment there was nothing, then her stone began to shine, until everything took on a deep blue shade. Then there was a flash of light and a deep blue light seemed to cover everything. Before me stood a blue woman made of flame. I mean, there is no other way to describe her. The colors went from a deep sea blue to the darkest blue of the night sky.

“That’s better. I figured you would do better if we could talk face to face, so to speak.” Her deep laughter filled my office, but I couldn’t do more than stare at the beautiful woman before me.

“Wow.”

“We are so going to have to work on your vocabulary, kiddo.” Fire shook her head, her long blue locks flowing back and forth. “I guess your boss didn’t bother to fill you in about things like magic swords or such.”

I just mutely nodded.

“Alright then, pay attention to me, Jonas.” She paused and really looked me over. “Close your mouth, you‘re not a fish.”

I clamped my mouth shut and watched as Fire sat comfortably on the edge of the desk before she looked at me.

“Alright, I suppose I better explain so you can understand what is going on.”

My attention was slowly drawn away from the beautiful flame creature before me and back to the sword in my hand. A moment later I felt her fingers caress my cheek and slowly my attention returned to her.

“Part of the magic that was put into the sword allows me to be here and there. Swords like me, well we aren’t exactly common. We come about due to a need. So, when we are formed it is always by someone who has a lot of magic and can force the various pieces to come together. At that point each sword births its own power. The sapphire and the dragon flame that forged that sword created me. While it is true the sword and the stone were both etched with certain spells that make me unique, I still have my own mind. I decide if I will accept who wields me, not the other way around.”

I nodded, not understanding a word she had said.

Fire sighed. “Let me put it to you this way, Jo. Like any woman, I will determine who can or can’t touch me. When I find someone I like, I make a promise to them. In this case I like you, a lot.”

That got my attention. “Oh … uh … so you know, Fire, well … um … I’m gay.”

Her laugh this time was deep and throaty. “Oh honey, I knew that the moment you held me. Doesn’t mean I don’t like you. Besides, while I can do a lot of things, sex isn’t one of them.”

I sat there, blushing a deep shade of red. I hadn’t even thought of what she might say. It so wasn’t my day.

“You’re so cute, you know that?” Fire leaned forward and pinched my cheek. “Besides since you already have the blessing of my creator, I think we will get along just fine.”

“I have the blessing of your creator?” I just sort of whispered that, while I tried to puzzle it out in my mind.

“Don’t worry, honey. Openseter is fine with me working with you. Besides, he was the one that decided I should have free will.”

“Wait a minute,” I leaned forward in my chair really looking into Fire’s face now. “You mean Opie made you? My boss? The guy in the other office?”

Once more Fire giggled. “My name is Firebreath, and I was cast in his fiery breath.”

I shook my head. “Wait a minute. You said you were birthed in a dragon’s breath and Opie … I mean Openseter …”

Fire sat there watching me. I had an incredible headache.

“Relax, honey. I’m surprised you haven’t consciously put it all together yet. I mean I know you noticed his tail, his odd eyes, and how many people do you know with silver nails that can rip up a metal desk?” Fire sat there looking at me, shaking her head, and her arms crossed.

“Dragon? Really?” My voice squeaked as I questioned Fire.

She laughed again and leaned over to kiss my nose.

“Call him if you need to. Me, I’m going to get some rest and recharge.” Fire yawned and shook her long blue flaming hair. “Been a while since I’ve done this much, and it has worn me out. Try not to miss me too much.” Fire stood up and winked at me. A second later, the room returned to normal, and I found I was still holding Fire by the pommel.

“Oh, sleep well, Fire.” I carefully slid the sword back into the scabbard and sat down. I couldn’t help myself, and reached out and called Opie.

“Hmm. I guess you and Fire talked.” His deep voice rumbled down the line.

I sat there and shook my head yes till I realized he couldn’t see me. “Uh, yeah, well, she did and … you’re a dragon?”

I heard Opie laugh, and then there was a click on the phone. It seemed a second later he was there at my door.

“I knew when I hired you, you were the only one for the job. Don’t get up, Jonas. We really need to talk.” Opie came into my office and closed the door behind him.

“Okay.” Somehow, I didn’t realize how strange my job could get.