Flash Fiction Friday (9)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image this week:

By Melissa

John pauses in the dingy alleyway listening, feeling the air around him.  The haze of magic lingered all around like a dense fog in the darkness.  Once he stepped over the threshold into this dank dark world he knew he'd have to be at his most keen awareness.  This is why he left this world, to live with the mortals and it's just gotten worse with time.  John just shook his head with disgust, this damned case just didn't stop with the magic shyt, getting deeper and deeper in the dark magics as he went.  John's been using more of his magic sense now with this case than he had in high school looking to graduate with honors to get in with the big Mages, years ago now.  Oh yes, he's used small spells and senses to help with cases in the mortal realm that's what made him the top PI.  But now he thought he might be over his head...just a little.

He could feel them at the end of the road, quickly reducing the distance to him.  Looking at the magically inclined glowing sign of Leo's Lair & Bar across the dark street John sighed, wondering how he was going to get there unharmed and knew he had to move now as time was not with him.  Leveling his old comfortable fedora on his head, taking a deep breath willing the first spell to his finger tips, and he started across the street.

Three clicks of his heels was all he got before there was a snap of energy and a flash of green light ten feet from him.  John jumped to the left, crouching, bringing his hands up to release the energy building in his tingling fingers.  The... creature... bared its sharp needle-point teeth and had its cat-like ears pinned back hissing at him.  The mages here take on features of creatures they try to mimic in their ways and attacks, this one had an evil straggly alley cat look to it.

John was just ready to release the magic boiling at his figure tips when he heard something familiar, a yell in his ears, "No! Don't!  You'll feel it full force back."

John trusted the feeling of a friend near and dropped his hands turning to run to the bar.  There stood the tall lean half goblin, half mage he came to see, Sheen.  Sheen waved him over and into the bar they went.

Shaking his head Sheen spoke as if he was telling an old joke, "You sure know how to make an appearance." And chuckled a "ha" out.  "I knew you'd be here, eventually.  Just thought sooner.  Come on, the field I threw up will keep them out for a while.  You're safe here and we'll get you out to a safe zone too.  Go grab a Barking Vampire from the bar and come upstairs to my apartment with your drink.  We'll talk there."