"Stop that," she told herself firmly. "You're too old for schoolgirl crushes, especially on immortal beings."
Bach chirped in agreement, headbutting her hand for attention. She scratched behind his ears, grateful for the distraction from her wandering thoughts.
The cursor blinked accusingly from her neglected manuscript. Her deadline wasn't going to meet itself, wishes or no wishes. But how was she supposed to focus on writing about fictional magic when real magic had literally appeared in her living room?
Mandy groaned and pushed back from her desk. Her thoughts refused to settle, spinning with possibilities and what-ifs. The blinking cursor seemed to mock her attempts at productivity. There was one thing that could help calm her mind.
"Sorry guys, but mama needs to try something else." She scratched Bach's ears as she stood, careful to maintain her balance. Mozart chirped from his cat tree, green eyes following her movement.
Swimming always helped clear her head. The weightlessness of the water eased her joints, and the complex's pool was usually empty this time of day. Perfect for sorting through cluttered thoughts.
Her favorite black swimsuit with its ruched middle made her feel almost elegant. She pulled it on, added the ivory cover-up she'd bought last summer, and checked her beach bag - towel, water bottle, sunscreen, key card, phone. The pendant's warmth against her chest gave her pause. Better keep it on - who knew what rules governed magical jewelry? Mandy grabbed her cane and locked up, giving both cats a final pat.
The complex's pool area stretched in the central courtyard, surrounded by BBQ pits and picnic benches in the desertlandscaping. Palm trees rustled in the afternoon breeze, their fronds casting shifting shadows across the turquoise water.
She found her favorite lounge chair, partially shaded by the palms, and set down her bag.
Slipping off her cover-up and draping it over the lounge chair, Mandy began methodically applying sunscreen to every exposed bit of skin. The strong coconut scent reminded her of beaches she'd visited in her younger days. She worked the lotion into her arms, legs, and sun block to her nose and cheeks. That painful sunburn last summer had taught her well - the results hadn't been pretty. The Arizona sun showed no mercy to the unprepared.
Finished with that, the afternoon sun warmed her exposed skin as Mandy made her way to the pool steps, her movements careful but purposeful. The water lapped at her ankles, cool and inviting. She gripped the metal handrail and eased herself down each step until she pushed off, gliding forward, letting the warm water encompass her.
The familiar sensation of weightlessness enveloped her as she moved away from the edge. Her joints, usually so stiff and painful, felt loose and free. Without the constant pull of gravity, her back relaxed for the first time in hours.
Taking a deep breath, Mandy ducked beneath the surface. The water closed over her head, muffling all sound. Bubbles tickled her face as she exhaled slowly, watching them rise toward the rippling surface above.
Peace settled over her like a familiar blanket. Here, suspended in the aqua depths, her racing thoughts finally stilled. The water had always been her sanctuary, her place of calm since childhood. Whether lake or pool, being submerged brought an immediate sense of coming home, of rightness that nothing else quite matched.
She surfaced, and turned onto her back to float, letting the water support her, feeling that deep connection she'd never been able to explain to others. In this moment, there were no wishes to contemplate, no decisions to make, no ancient beings with silvery-blue eyes to puzzle over. There was only the embrace of the water, welcoming her back to where she belonged.
Mandy floated peacefully, her body suspended in the warm water as she watched wispy clouds drift across the brilliant Arizona sky. The desert air carried that distinctive dry warmth, even as the pool's surface rippled around her. Palm fronds swayed overhead, their shadows dancing across the water's surface in an ever-changing pattern.
The scent of coconut sunscreen mingled with the chlorine, bringing back memories of childhood summers spent in public pools. Even back then, she'd pretended to be a mermaid, diving deep and imagining her legs fusing into a powerful tail.
A gentle breeze stirred the palm trees, their leaves rustling with a soft whisper. More clouds drifted into view, fluffy and white against the intense blue sky. They reminded her of cotton candy, the way they piled up on themselves, constantly shifting and reforming into new shapes.
Like the clouds above, her thoughts drifted aimlessly, no longer racing with possibilities and what-ifs. Here, suspended between sky and water, everything felt simpler.
The scent of sunscreen grew stronger as the Arizona sun heated her exposed skin. She'd have to reapply soon, but for now, she simply let herself float, at peace with the moment. The water lapped gently at her shoulders, creating tiny ripples that spread outward into the larger pool.
Mandy took one last deep breath of the warm desert air, then rolled smoothly onto her stomach. She let herself sink beneath the surface, letting the familiar weightlessness embrace her asshe glided forward, her arms pulling through the water in long, practiced strokes.
Her legs trailed behind her, but here that didn't matter. She'd adapted, letting her upper body strength guide her through the aqua silence. Filtered sunlight danced across the pool floor below, creating shifting patterns as she glided forward, tiny bubbles tracing along her skin.
Her lungs burned slightly, but she ignored it. After a year of practice, the full length of the pool and back was well within her capabilities. Each stroke brought a quiet triumph. Here, in this liquid realm, her disabilities meant little. The water supported her, allowing movement that would be impossible on land, until her outstretched fingers finally brushed the rough concrete of the far wall.
Mandy broke the surface and turned onto her back once more, letting the water cradle her body. She closed her eyes against the bright Arizona sun, consciously pushing away thoughts of Djinn, and wishes, and magic, to focus on her work-in-progress. Floating, she allowed her mind drift to her work-in-progress. The scene crystallized in her imagination, as vivid as if she were watching it unfold on a movie screen.
Brandi crept through the winding tunnels, her bare feet silent on the cold stone floor. The vampire's lair stretched deep into the mountain, a maze of natural caverns and carved passages that seemed to go on forever. Shadows danced on the rough-hewn walls, cast by guttering torches set in iron brackets.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she pressed herself against the damp rock, straining to hear any sound that might indicate pursuit. The ancient vampire would sleep until sunset - but his human servants could be anywhere in these tunnels.
A whisper of movement had her freezing in place, barely daring to breathe. The torch flames wavered, disturbed bysome unseen draft. That had to mean an opening to the outside somewhere nearby - but it could also mean human guards posted at that exit.
Brandi's fingers traced the rough stone as she moved forward, using the wall for guidance in the dim light. The passage curved to the left, descending slightly. Not good - she needed to go up to find a way out. But the only other option was to go back the way she'd come, closer to where the vampire lord slumbered in his stone chamber.
The dripping grew louder as she crept forward. The passage opened into a larger cavern, lit by dozens of torches. Multiple tunnels branched off from this central chamber. Brandi studied each opening, trying to determine which might lead to freedom. One seemed to angle upward, and she could feel a slight breeze coming from that direction.
Mandy opened her eyes, the scene fading as the bright Arizona sunlight intruded. The atmosphere had felt just right - the rough stone walls, the dancing shadows, the constant tension of possible discovery. Urgency thrummed in her blood, as her fingers itched to capture the words before they slipped away.
