For Blood & Glory

by Cassandra Hendricks

  “I am sure your dance card is full, but if it isn’t too much to ask, I would like to request but one dance.”

  The woman smiled bashfully, batted her eyelashes and replied:

  “Well, my dance card is quite full…but I could probably pencil you in for the next 10 minutes.”

  They both laughed, clasped hands, and waltzed their way to the dance floor.

  “Nothing in particular,” answered Celeste. “Just flipping channels. You’d think they’d have scarier movies on around Halloween.” Celeste dropped the remote on the bed grabbed a couple crackers from off her nightstand and offered Sefira some, which she declined. Exhaling, she leaned back on her pile of pillows. “So how was the mall?” she asked, biting a cracker.

  “Crowded.”

  “I’ll bet. During holidays I avoid the place like the plague. Too many people—too many germs….”

  Celeste went on about the mall and then switched to talking about work. Honestly, Sefira had tuned out. Again, she weighed the pros and cons of telling the truth, but in the end chickened out. Instead, she chatted about new friends as well as some things she hadn’t quite planned to talk about.

  “If I tell you something, you promise not to get mad?” Sefira asked, studying her mom’s eyes.

  “Of course not. What’s going on?”

  The bed quivered as Sefira relaxed a bit, crossing a leg beneath her lap. “It may sound weird, but sometimes I find myself thinking about Delilah.”

  Celeste’s lips pursed. “There’s nothing weird about missing your mom, sweetheart—“

  “I didn’t say I miss her,” said Sefira under her breath. She checked Celeste’s reaction. Whenever Sefira talked about her feelings, her mother’s face became a blank canvas. Kind of like Dr. Leonard. She was trying to be supportive—that much she knew.

  “Well, I just want you to know it’s okay. You know—to miss her.”

  “Yeah—I know. But I don’t. I just kind of wonder about her.”

  Celeste reached forward and placed her hand on Sefira’s. “Is there anything you want to talk about?”

  Why did I bring this up? “No, not really.”

  “Well, I notice you check the mail. I want you to know that even if you don’t hear from her, I’m sure she still thinks about you.”

  Sefira pulled away, threading her fingers through her hair. “You thought I was checking for her?”

  Celeste didn’t answer.

  Sefira chuckled. “No, I check for college letters.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Yeah. I’ve started collecting them. Got a stack on my desk actually. Somehow, I think they get access to your credentials and I just want to keep my options open.” Time to change the subject. “Speaking of college, there’s a costume party at SCU and I kind of want to go.”

  “Oh, so that’s why you popped in. A party at SCU. Don’t you think you’re a bit young for that?”

  “Well, it’s a school party, so there’s security and everything and ‘we’, meaning Zada, Sky, and I, would be going with Nora.”

  “Zada and Nora are going?”

  Sefira nodded. “Yep.”

  “No guys involved?”

  “Nope. C’mon, mom.”

  “And of course, I can trust that there would be no drinking as well? We’re talking about a college party here—somebody’s bound to bring booze.”

  “You know me. And you do remember Nora, right? Coke-bottle glasses, cable-knit sweaters? I haven’t seen her in a while, but I hardly think you have anything to worry about.”

  “I know I can trust you to make good decisions, and I do remember Nora. Where exactly is the party and what time?”

  “It starts at 7:00 and goes till 1:00 a.m., and it’s on campus at some hall.”

  “Well, leave me all the information, I’ll do a little homework, and I’ll let you know. It isn’t you that I don’t trust, it’s—.”

  “‘The crazies’—I know. I get it. Could you just let me know either way soon, so I can tell Zada?”

  “Okay.”

  “Thanks.” Sefira started to kiss Celeste on the forehead, then backed up. They both laughed.

  “Guess it’s time for me to take this stuff off my face.” The bed buckled as Celeste carefully placed her bare feet on the rug. “A dance…” Celeste shook her head. “You of all people need to keep both feet on the ground.”

  “Nah, look—my leg is as good as new.” Sefira lifted her pant leg to show off a bruise-free leg.

  “Oh, I see it healed up nicely.” Celeste went pale.

  “Everything OK, Celeste?” Celeste didn’t respond. “Everything all right?” Sefira asked again.

  “Sure, darling, everything’s fine…Think I’m going to turn in a little early tonight.”

  “Yeah, me too. Goodnight.” She reached over and hugged her. Celeste gave her a tighter hug than she’d expected.

  “Love you, sweetheart,” Celeste whispered.

  Chase

  Rain pelted Sefira’s skin and soaked her thin, white nightgown as she stood outside in the middle of a deserted city full of empty shops and high-rises. A thunderous boom moaned from the bruised, reddened sky above, rattling the gritty ground beneath her wet, bare feet. She shivered. Where am I?

  Lights flashed above, skirting her peripheral vision. Rain stung her eyes as she glanced just in time to glimpse three dark, hooded figures descend from above. Their boots hit the streets with a thwack, pulverizing gravel and whole concrete slabs beneath them. Like owls—their heads jerked to and fro, looking for something—someone. Sefira’s heart seized when a pair of glowing crimson eyes locked with hers.

  Puddles splashed her ankles and gravel scraped her feet as she zig-zagged through the city trying to create distance between them and her. Her heart slammed so hard against her ribcage she thought it might explode. Breathless, she turned a corner and her blood iced. A hulking skyscraper blocked her path, meanwhile the sound of clomping boots drew near. Out of options, she leapt into the air, arms and legs cycling—sailing through the night sky like a bird in flight, until her hands and feet gripped glass and steel.

  From ledges to rooftops she leapt, running at an impossible pace, pushing leadened legs that threatened to buckle to keep moving. Wind whipped her hair as she made one death-defying vault after another, but a presence always remained a hair’s breadth behind her. Chest pumping, she attempted to clear yet another impossible jump when her foot slipped off the edge of a rooftop. Her heart lurched. Air filled her lungs and sent ripples across her skin as she plummeted, screaming, toward the ground. Eyes squinched and muscles tensed as she prepared for her body to hit concrete and shatter into a million little pieces. Minutes passed. She should have been dead, but she wasn’t. Instead, she landed lightly on all fours, her palms flat against a cold, polished surface.

  “Clean up on aisle four.” A voice boomed through a loudspeaker.

  Slowly she raised her head and opened the slits of her eyes, allowing them time to adjust to the brightness of the light. Candy. Chips. Carts. A grocery store? Leery, she took to her feet and a tall man with pepper-grey hair and glasses appeared in front of her. Next to him, a young olive-skinned boy kept busy rummaging through candy on a display case.

  “Damn, I knew I forgot something,” said the grey-haired man. “Hey.”

  The young boy’s body was instantly at attention; he placed the candy back on the shelf.

  “Yes?” The boy answered. His eyes were big and brown.

  “Go down Aisle 8 and grab the sugar. Hurry up, we’re next.”

  “But Dad, I don’t know where it is.” The boy’s brows furrowed. Sefira found herself feeling sorry for him.

  “I’ll help him,” she offered. The father didn’t acknowledge her, but the boy did. They stared at one another. Somehow, he looked familiar.

  “You can read.” The man sounded exasperated. “Just go down Aisle 8 and look towards the bottom row for a pink and white bag.”

  “Okay,” he answered.
The boy’s sneakers squeaked, he was off so fast. Sefira followed. Moments later, he was bear-hugging a bag of sugar. He turned to retreat and was met with a face full of purse.

  “Whoa.” A pretty freckled lady laughed. “In a hurry I see. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” The boy looked like a deer in headlights. “Sorry.”

  “You’re fine, hon.” She smiled gently.

  “I’ve seen you before.” A young strapping boy about the same age emerged from behind his mother. “Don’t you live in the old Langly house off Bucknee?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “What’s your name?”

  The boy hesitated. “Chase,” he mumbled.

  “Oh.” The lady sounded as if a light bulb went off. “I’ve been meaning to come by and introduce myself. We live half a mile down the road. Your mother here?” She was already craning.

  “No, my dad,” Chase answered.

  The line was at a standstill when Chase returned. Most people had left the line out of frustration. Sefira stood beside him.

  “What took you so long?” The grey-haired man barked.

  The boy nodded behind him.

  “Hi, I’m April and this is my boy, Eric.” She extended a hand and a smile as they squeezed through the line. “Sorry, this will only take a minute,” she whispered to one of the patrons, totally ignoring sighs and eye rolls. She continued her introduction, “We’re your neighbors. I’m sorry I haven’t been by. I’ve just been so busy lately with my boy’s birthday party and all.”

  “Not a problem,” answered the man, shaking her hand then placing the sugar on the conveyor belt.

  “Your name?” she asked.

  “Uh, Michael. Michael Duffy. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Likewise. How old’s your boy?” she asked.

  “He’s 7,” Michael answered.

  “Really? Are you going to enroll him into Eckard?”

  “That will be $75.63,” the cashier interrupted.

  Michael took a card out of his wallet, slid it into the POS machine, and keyed in a few numbers. “No, he’s home-schooled.”

  “Oh.” Her face screwed just a little. “Well my boy’s turnin’ eight this Saturday. Why don’t you all come down? You, your wife, your whole family.”

  This time the man’s eyes widened, “I don’t know—my boy’s not all that social—”

  “I want to go,” the boy said. His dad shot him a look. Sefira noticed; the lady didn’t.

  “See, he wants to go,” she said, smiling.

  “I guess—” Michael stammered.

  “Here,” she pulled an invitation out of her purse. “All the info’s on there. See you there. If not, I’ll just have to do the neighborly thing and pay you a home visit.” Her lips curled into a smile.

  Seconds later, Sefira was standing on the greenest grass she’d ever seen, surrounded by people. There were balloons, clowns, people young and old.

  A couple of children ran past her, squealing with laughter. “Slow down,” she heard someone call out, but the kids paid them no mind. The music was too loud, and the sunshine felt too good. The older folk looked energized; talking and eating with mouths full of cake and hot dogs. The young kids had better things to do. They were wild—playing freeze-tag, throwing water balloons, and jumping rope.

  A soccer ball whizzed past her and landed right next to a little boy in the distance. He was dressed in dark jeans and a perfectly pressed shirt, and he stood next to a tall man dressed nearly the same. Together they stood out like pink feathers, and neither one of them looked particularly comfortable. Sefira started towards them as a woman approached. Then it clicked. Sefira recognized all of them from the grocery store.

  “Eric, honey.” The woman called out. “Show Chase here the jumper.”

  “Aw, mom,” a voice whined. Sefira noticed a blue and red bounce house in the distance. A boy emerged shoeless from the bouncer, a sour look on his face. He ran over, grabbed Chase by the arm and was back in the jumper ten seconds flat.

  “What’s his name?” asked a boy with bangs brushing against his eyes.

  “I don’t know, my mom made me bring him. What’s your name again?” Eric looked at Chase like they’d never met.

  “Chase,” the boy answered.

  “Well Chase,” another boy butt in, “we’re in a jumper. You’re supposed to jump, not stand around looking stupid.”

  All the boys laughed except Chase, who wore more of a crooked smile.

  “C’mon,” said Eric. “Let’s show him how to jump.” The boys gave one another knowing smiles. “Count of three.” The count began, and on three the five boys jumped together. Chase yelped as he went sailing through the air, into the side of the bounce house, then fell flat on his face.

  The boys fell out laughing. “Did you see the look on his face?” One of the boys asked. “Hey, dumb-ass. Get up.” Chase tried to get on his feet, but somebody jumped and he went down again.

  The kids couldn’t stop laughing now.

  “Stop it,” Sefira yelled through the netted window. No one paid her any attention.

  “Get up, stupid,” Eric yelled to Chase. Chase just sat there with his legs sprawled, looking angry and teary-eyed.

  “He said get up,” exclaimed Bang Boy. When Chase didn’t move, the boy shoved him and he fell yet again.

  “Stop it—don’t touch him,” Sefira hollered, but her protests were ignored.

  Chase was down, but not out. Bang Boy approached and cocked his arm back as if to sock him, when the winds shifted and the sky grew dark. The laughter within the bounce house ceased. One of the boys pointed and shouted, “Look!” All eyes went to the ceiling. Sefira cupped her mouth in dismay.

  Spiders of all kinds crawled along the ceiling, and they were multiplying. Their numbers became so great they’d created a ceiling of their own that could no longer sustain them. One by one they dropped, landing on feet, shoulders and heads. The boys screamed. Meanwhile, tangled black vines grew from the walls and snaked onto the floor. One of them slithered up Bang Boy’s pant leg and wrapped itself around his middle. It jerked his entire body backward and turned him upside down. His hair brushed against the inflated floor as he dangled in the air, hysterical. The rest of the boys were of no help; they stumbled over one another as they too were plucked like weeds and hurled against one another. Before Sefira could collect her thoughts, she was inside the jumper behind Chase.

  “Chase,” she pleaded, trying to keep her balance, “don’t do this, don’t hurt them.” She placed a hand on his shoulder in an effort to calm him down, and his head whipped backwards. What she saw wasn’t Chase. This thing looked as if it had been dragged from the depths of hell. Blue speckled eyes ogled her from beneath long strands of undulating hair. Its “mouth,” for lack of a better word, was fixed into a scowl amid cracked, grey-green skin and ashen white lips. “Party’s over,” it hissed.

  A breathless and sweat-soaked Sefira sat up in her bed. Rattled, she scanned her dark bedroom searching for anything abnormal. Her windows were shut, shadows proved mere shadows, and the room was absolutely still. The nightmare was over, but the uneasiness she felt that night in the pit of her stomach had just begun.

  Dance Card

  Eisenhower’s halls were thick with the sound of chatter, laughter and squeaky shoes and Sky was poised to outtalk it all. Recently, she’d met a boy at a coffee shop, and ever since she’d been going on and on about him. At a point, what more is there to say about someone you’ve known for all of 30 minutes?

  As usual, Sky was dressed to the nines—at least by high school standards. Her tank top, shorts, and sneaker combination probably cost more than Sefira’s entire wardrobe put together. The clothes flattered her though, as did her bronzed make-up. The hint of lip-gloss she wore paired well with the soft autumn tones on her eyelids. One of these days, Sefira figured she’d ask for make-up lessons.

  Sky pulled the melon sucker from her mouth just long enough to talk. She was good at that. “Any word from your
mom about the party yet?”

  “I think if she were going to say ‘no,’ she would’ve said it already. She’ll probably tell me tonight.”

  “Okay. Who’s goin’ because my parents have inquiring minds.”

  “It’s just you and I, Zada—my friend I told you about, and her cousin Nora. She’s the one that actually goes to SCU and invited us in the first place.”

  “Cool.” She popped the sucker back in.

  “Hey Sefira,” Someone called from behind. The girls turned around to see Kaetano, with his backpack slung over his shoulder, heading in their direction.

  A sly smile stretched across Sky’s face. “I think I’ll exit stage left.”

  “You don’t have to go anywhere, you know.”

  “Sure,” Sky teased, walking backwards with the sucker in hand. “I’ll meet you in the parking lot after school. You can fill me in on all the juicy details on the way to your place.” Sky winked and walked off as Kaetano approached.

  One thing about this guy, he is persistent.

  “Hey, what’s up lady?” he said. “Haven’t seen you in a few.”

  Sefira didn’t know why she was so surprised by how handsome Kaetano was every time she saw him. Simple jeans and a t-shirt never looked better.

  “It’s been a little while, hasn’t it? What are you up to?” Sefira tried to look unaffected.

  “Actually, I just got back from checking the try-out list.”

  “Oh, it’s up? I better head on over there and see if I made it.” She started to step forward when Kaetano placed a hand gently on her arm.

  “You made it.” He smiled, retrieving his hand.

  “I see.” Eyes averted, she tried to restrain her absolute glee. “And I guess, judging by your demeanor, you did too?”

  “Oh, no doubt.” Stroking his chin, he leaned in. “I enjoyed hanging out with you the other day,” he said, biting his lip.

  “Yes.” A warm flush crept up her cheeks and she hoped Kaetano couldn’t tell. “It was really nice of you to take me home.”