Sweet Evangeline Comment Contest

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Excerpt

     “Living with, wow, you work fast McAllister.”  Buck was impressed.  “She is definitely a looker and she obviously has a lot of, uh, talent.“  Buck was only kidding, but it took everything in Eric to keep from lunging over the table and taking Buck’s head off.
     “Look Wilson, Evangeline is a lady.  I would appreciate you remembering that.”  Eric’s ice-cold words effectively shut everyone up.  He had the good grace, to feel a little ashamed.  He wasn’t really mad at them.  Their conversations hadn’t really changed in years, only the identities of the couples had varied.  What was really bothering Eric, was the revelation that he had immersed himself in Evangeline’s life and was bringing nothing to the table.  She had made room for him in her world, and he did not even have the good grace to buy her dinner or even bring her flowers.  But what did you give a girl who could pull lightning bolts from the sky or make balls of light dance on the end of her fingers?  After that, a box of chocolates seemed ordinary.  But, Eric knew that the gift wouldn’t be important; it was the fact that he had thought enough of her to give her something – – – that would be what was important.  And he hadn’t.  Not yet, anyway.  Eric was determined to remedy that. 

     The fire started in the abandoned house about four o’clock in the morning.  What made this call so urgent was that in this particular neighborhood, the houses were close together and the dwelling on either side of the burning building was occupied – – -  by families, with children.  Eric’s adrenaline rose as the fire truck headed out to the blaze.  Hopefully, this one would be easy to deal with, because if he could just get through the night – – -  tomorrow he could go home to Evangeline and start making plans for their future.  The last night that they were together, they had confessed their love for one another, and now all Eric wanted to do was tell her that he loved her at least a million more times.  He smiled just thinking about it.

     Evangeline lay alone in her bed and listened to the sound of the fire engine.  Everytime she heard it, her blood ran cold.  Odd, how many thousands of times had she heard the whine of the siren and never thought about the men who risked their lives every time they were called out.  Just knowing that in all probability, Eric was on that truck, made her want to sit up and scream.  She lay back and concentrated, trying to relax.  Hopefully, he was wearing his mojo bag for protection and the amulet that she had placed around his neck.  Twice already, just since they had been together, he had come home with some type of injury.  She lay there and tried to connect with him.  Nanette had told her that the more they were together, sexually and otherwise, the stronger their connection would be.  And since they had openly declared their feelings for one another, Evangeline thought that the ties that bound them should be strong and clear.
     Seeking to enter the astral realm was something that Evangeline had been practicing.  She lay perfectly still and evened out her breathing.  In her mind’s eye, she surrounded herself with white light and began focusing her mind on the area above her body.  Mentally, she willed herself to imagine a rope that hung just over her still form.  She visualized herself climbing that rope and soon she could feel herself separating, her conciousness rising above her body, connected by a silver umbilical cord. 
     As soon as she had control of her extended self, Evangeline began to seek Eric.  For some reason, she had an uneasy feeling about him. 

     The fire was obviously arson.  There were way too many origination points.  Eric fought his way through the dense smoke on the third floor.  These older homes were sometimes a maze, with narrow halls and rooms that opened off at various angles.  Glancing into one room after another, he assured himself that there were no homeless people or vagrants that had sought shelter under this roof.  Most of the important part of this operation would take place outside, insuring that the fire did not spread to adjacent homes.  Then, they would douse what they could and let the rest burn in a controlled environment.  He was just about to make his way out of the inferno when a movement to the left caught his eye.  What the hell?  Then a blow to his head brought him to his knees and he knew no more.

     Evangeline knew when it happened.  She felt the blow as clearly as if she had been struck.  His loss of conciousness left her feeling bereft.  Panic washed over her.  He needed her and he needed her now.  Desperately, she fought through the ether to find him.      The fire burned brightly, but Evangeline could feel the heat.  She fought through her entangled emotions and the panic that was rising inside of her, so she could pinpoint Eric’s location.  He was definitely in this building and he was in danger.  Not really understanding how she did it, Evangeline moved from room to room.  Eric was no where in sight.  Her vision followed the staircase, then she realized he must be upstairs.  How did she know?  It was as if there was another cord in addition to the silver one that tethered her to her own body.  There was an equally strong bond between herself and the man she loved.  Fear clutched her heart as she made her way up the stairs.  And then she found him.  He was on the floor and he was out cold.  She tried to lift him, but she had no substance.  Kneeling beside him, she begged the gods to let him feel her, let her reach him, let her wake him up before the flames and the smoke snuffed his life out.  “Eric!  Eric, sweetheart, wake up.”  Evangeline wrapped herself around him, willing him to open his eyes.  Could he feel her?  Would she be able to reach him in time?
     Eric heard her voice as if it were coming from a great distance away.  He fought to rise up out of the darkness that engulfed him, he clawed his way back to the light.  God, the light!  The heat was so intense!  What was she doing here?  What was his precious angel doing in a hell like this!  “Evangeline, sweetheart, what is going on?”
     Through the smoke he could see her, just barely.  She knelt by him and her face was a mask of fear.  “Get up, Eric.”  she urged him.  “You have got to get out of here.”  He could hear her voice, but it was if she were speaking deep within his mind, not in front of his face.  He tried to keep his eyes open, but it would be so easy to drop off to sleep. “Eric, please. Love, wake up.  For me.  Do it for me.  Get up, now.  Walk out into the fresh air and the morning light and come home to me.  Please.”
     At her sweet urging, Eric stood up.  She did not leave him.  He didn’t understand it.   She couldn’t possibly be here without a mask or a suit or any protection whatsoever.  But she was.  She led him through the thick smoke and the scorching heat until he could see the door that led to freedom and fresh air.  “Go on sweetheart.  I’ll be waiting for you.”  Eric staggered out the door and slumped to his knees in the humid night air.

     “Hell, man.  We didn’t know you were still in there.  Cammack said that everybody was out.  He said that he had seen you working the hose on the north side.”  Buck knelt by his buddy, handing him a fresh container of oxygen.       “Cammack is the one that hit me, if I’m not sadly mistaken.”  Eric kept watching the front door of the burning building.  He knew that Evangeline hadn’t actually been here, but he could help the uneasy feeling that she might still be in that inferno somewhere.  Dating a witch had it’s advantages, but it also had it’s mind-boggling, brain-stretching leaps of faith.  He processed the information that he had to give the chief.  He let the paramedics check him out.  But all he could think about was getting back to his baby.  Had she really been here or had he dreamed it?  Had she saved his life?  He wouldn’t put it past her.  Evangeline coud do anything.

     Evangeline came back into herself with a gasp as her body bucked off the bed.  Eric!  What if she had not gone to him?  He would be dead now.  Horror wrenched her heart from its bearings.  She wanted to race to his side, but she was far too weak.  Astral travel took all of her strength and then some.  She turned on her side and curled into a semi-fetal position.  Just a few minutes sleep and she would be right as rain.  At least she knew that Eric was safe. 

     Cammack had did himself in this time.  The evidence was just too great.  The chief had found some accelerants in his vehicle and now that he had been taken into custody, the entire department could breathe easier.  Relief washed over Eric.  This time he had waited to be checked out by a doctor.  Just a bump on the head.  Finally, he could concentrate solely on Evangeline.  He had even spoke to the chief about a transfer to the Arson Investigative unit.   Uncovering Cammack’s identity had gone along way in his argument with the Chief.  There might be a few classes he would have to take, but it would be worth it.  She had looked a little disappointed, but she said that she would see what she could do.  Now, all he wanted to do was get back to Evangeline.

     He found her curled up in the bed, at first he thought she was asleep.  As he knelt beside her, she rolled over to face him and then launched herself into his arms.  “Oh, God baby, you’re safe!”  Tears were streaming down her face.        “Why wouldn’t I be safe, with a guardian angel like you?  You came to me.  Didn‘t you?”   She nodded her head in agreement.  “You saved my life.”  He picked her up and sat down with  her in his lap.  “It’s just as well, I belong to you.”
       She rained kisses all over his face, her hands frantically checking his body for any injury or burns.  “Are you sure that you’re all right?”
     He cupped her chin and lifted her lips to his.  “I’m perfectly fine.  Just a little knot on my hard head.  And the arson is over, they’ve taken John Cammack into custody.  Things should begin to quiet down now.” 
     She clung to him and trembled.  “Thank the goddess for that.”  He smiled at her little  pagan prayer.  “I love you so much.  The thought of something happening to you is more than I can bear.” 
     “Oh, my love.  You’re all that I think about.  I didn’t live until you walked into my life, I didn’t breathe until you made the very air around me come alive.  You are the reason for my existence.”  He held her so tenderly, that she just let go and sobbed into his shoulder.  “Why are you crying, baby?  I’m right here, holding you.  You don’t have a thing in the world to cry about.” 
     Little did they know.

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