SYNCHRONICITY (The Lone Wolf)

18

Sebastian sat on the edge of his bed naked and cold. He thought about the fire pit of the ceremonial circle in the public area of the reservation, when his father mentioned that it was foretold to him by the Lakota seer that his woman would bear him a fire dancer but until then, he'd have to learn how to make fire the ordinary way. Sebastian asked about his magic, would he be able to make fire? His father shrugged his shoulders and told him to talk to his mother about it because in their family of three, she was the magic-user, he just walked the Umbra.

Sebastian laughed. "Yeah Dad, because that's no major feat in and of itself," he said aloud to himself.

He slipped his legs into a pair of clean blue jeans and then pulled a long-sleeve tee shirt over his torso. He found a flannel shirt and threw it over his shoulder while sliding his feet into the docksiders.

His keys jingled as he grabbed them off the bedside table startling him as he heard someone on the landing just outside his door. He reached for the door knob when she knocked on the door. He smiled, knowing it was Alison by the placement of the sound. Opening the door, he saw her standing in a light sweater and a pair of jeans. She'd placed her hair in a messy bun and he reached out and tussled it a bit.

"Long time no see," he joked.

"Just got a call from Lynn..."

"Oh boy...what did she have to say? Am I a dead man or what?"

Alison smiled. "No silly! She just wanted to warn us..."

"About?"

"Paula didn't show up for work."

"Ah fuck..." he sighed.

"That's what I said. She told me that it might get ugly tonight and to be prepared for a fight. That Paula isn't going to let ya go without one."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Does she know about you? You know, what you can do?"

"You're referring to the M-thing?"

Alison nodded,

Sebastian shook his head.

"How come? I mean, I know about it..."

He smiled and lowered his face to hers. "That's because you're one of us."

"No I'm not," she replied solemnly.

He playfully booped her nose with his finger. "Yeah Babe, you keep on telling yourself that." He ushered her through the door.

They made their way down the two flights of stairs to find Sonny shuffling toward the bottom of the staircase, tightening the fabric belt of his housecoat.

"Just saw Paula drive past here for the third time," he said quietly.

Sebastian eyed the door and reached into his pocket for his keys, separating his bike key and handed it to Alison. "Take my bike and go to Lynn's. I don't want you getting caught in the crossfire."

"Oh hell no," she replied as she stood her ground. "I'm not leaving! I can handle her!"

"Hang on...I'll be right back," Sonny said.

They wandered into his apartment behind him. Alison had never made it past the front of the living room before and Sebastian had never been there at night. Along the far wall was his wife's shrine, lit up with candles in small red glasses, it reminded her of church and she headed for it completely mesmerized. Sonny seemed to be speaking quietly to someone and Sebastian thought he heard Ali's nick name spoken. He turned around to see her standing beside him as she picked up a photograph and gazed at the happy couple. She smiled and replaced the framed photograph and moved on to another one. It was the same photograph that Sebastian had noticed and she felt all of her hair stand in end. She felt heat behind her and saw his arm reach around and also take hold of the photograph.