Chapter 74: Conflict

I slammed my foot down on the accelerator. The hornet pulled away from the suburban house choking on its own engine. I prayed to whatever god that would listen that it would just keep going. It stalled out. I whispered a few words of the spell to see Karma's magic. The car itself filled with purple smoke.
I waved it out of my face. Mr. Kline stopped his waving. He started heading towards me with a big smile on his face. I turned the key, praying to Karma this time to please let it start. I zapped it with a bit of magic, but the damn thing still wouldn't turn over.
"Sandriel, Natalia, please, have mercy on me," I said to the empty car.
Mr. Kline closed the distance.
"Someone, anyone, anything? Please, get me out of here!"
A slew of motorcycle engines rumbled from behind me. I looked into the rearview mirror. Maybe that wasn't the kind of help I wanted. But, right now, I'd take it.
Mr. Kline slowed to a stop and watched the motorcycle close in on me. The leader orc pulled his helmet off as he slowed to a stop behind my car. He stared at Mr. Kline, who glared back. I had never seen him look so pissed off. The orc seemed almost scared. He jammed the helmet back his head then revved the bike's engine. The other motorcycles joined in until the air filled with their noise. They took off around my car, leaving me alone.
As their engines faded, the surroundings became very quiet. I jumped at a knock on my window. Mr. Kline was smiling and waving at me. Shit.
I rolled the window down a crack.
"Car trouble?" He asked.
"Oh, it's fine. I just need to let the engine rest for a minute."
"Why don't you come back in while you wait?"
"Oh, no, really. It will just take a minute. I really do need to get going home."
"To feed your friend's dog."
"Right."
There was an awkward pause. I knew he saw through my lie. Damn.
"I could drive you," he offered.
"Oh, no. I wouldn't want to take you from your gathering."
He got a faraway look for a moment then turned to look at his front door. "See, they are all leaving anyway. It wouldn't be an imposition."
I gritted my teeth. He was controlling them again. I concentrated on his aura. The black color came off him in strings that connected to the employees. My insides reeled. I was next if I didn't find a way out of this situation fast.
"Come on, hop out. I'll take you."
My fake smile started to fail. I could see his aura starting in towards me. The black of his magic circled me. My body locked up, bracing for his violation.
Motorcycles in the distance revved again. They came back around the corner with guns and flaming bottles.
Mr. Kline's eyes jerked up towards them as the motorcycles closed in.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Mr. Kline tapped the top of my car. "I'll have to put your ride on hold. Give me a few minutes."
He walked away from the car. The orcs and men hooted and hollered as they drove towards Mr. Kline's house. I twisted the key. My engine clicked. I sent as much power into it as I could.
"Start. Damn it, start. Please, I beg any god listening, please just get my car to start!" I pushed one more surge of power into it. The engine sputtered to life.
The motorcycles drove past me. One man threw a Molotov, which broke spattering fire across the lawn. I could see the fire in my review mirror as I revved the engine to keep it from stalling when I shifted into drive. Mr. Kline waved his hands forward. His black magic trickled out from him towards their bikes. The auras of the riders in multiple colors started to darken. One of them pushed out an orange shield, blocking the path.
I didn't wait around to see anymore. I shifted into drive, then slammed the accelerator. The hornet crept forward, slowly gaining speed. I didn't even slow as I took the corner away from them. I could hear the motorcycles and yells behind me, but I concentrated on driving as fast as I could away from the chaos. I didn't know what it was all about, but I certainly didn't want to stick around and find out.
As I left the craziness behind, my breathing relaxed. I didn't realize how tense I had been. I lifted my hands one at a time off the steering wheel, stretching them out.The blocks crawled by as I made my painfully slow escape.
After ten more blocks, I heard motorcycles again.
"Shit." I slammed the accelerator and blew a stop sign.
There was no way I was going to outrun them. Maybe I could just hide. The real question was: how did they keep finding me?
I tucked the hornet in a side street and parked it behind the other cars lining the road. This looked like a little market area. There would be lots of people and lots of places to hide. I grabbed my purse and opened the door. The seatbelt jammed. I ducked my head under the belt and wiggled my way out.
The motorcycles were getting closer. I could hear them down the next block. I took off down the street. A few heads turned my way as I darted past. Music from coffee shops, bars, and restaurants drifted out the open doors bidding patrons come in. I needed something with a back exit, something with a lot of people.
I ducked into a club. People outside were smoking. The upbeat music inside was loud enough to thump my insides. I smiled at the bouncer and dove through the door. The place was packed. Good thing it was a holiday because there was no other reason for this small city to have so much activity on a Monday night.
I slipped through to the dance floor and blended in with the crowd. I wasn't a dancer, but there were enough people that it didn't matter. No one could see me anyway. I kept my eye on the door. It didn't take long before men and orcs walked through the door in a pack wearing the familiar leather biker jacket.
I snuck through the crowd in the opposite direction towards the back door. I looked behind me to see the men spreading out. I smacked into something solid. I turned back around to find a manly chest in my path. I tried to duck to the side, but he moved to match my position. My eyes lifted higher. My jaw dropped.
"Angie?"