“Ah, I knew it! May I have it back?” I hand it over willingly and she puts it in her pocket and pats her pocket, apparently happy with herself. “You, as my child, as everything else living, know all,” she says. She walks back and slumps in her chair, smiling, looking at me as if that was it—the one answer for everything.
This time, I laugh. “What?”
“It talks to you, but your technology is too damn loud! Use that brain of yours! I mean it—use it. Use that whole area sitting there, being ignored, being brushed off like you’re crazy.” She points to my head. “How many times must you creatures be shown your own intelligence? Your own potential?” A sense of frustration seems to cover her face and I sneak in my feeler, but she swats at it and I actually feel it—like a slap to the face.
“Think of animals,” she says, “and how they seem to know before humans that an earthquake or tsunami is coming. They flee. They listen to this!” She points to that same area of her head. “Tell me how many dead animals you see lying around that have not been killed by your technology, like your cars and trucks.” Her stare is intense. “They die on their own, hidden from sight, because they know when they are dying. Oh, and don’t even get me started on your ‘psychics’ and how they seem to know everything. They’re revealed images by their own minds, and they decipher them. They may come up with something ridiculous or far-fetched, but they’re revealed truth by their own brains, and they pay attention. And how about food cravings? Once again, your body is telling you what it needs. Stories of sudden strength? The ability to lift cars in times of need? Hon, I could go on and on, but I don’t think I need to. It’s making me tired. We have a guest anyway.”
She points behind me, and I see it coming before I feel anything. A deathman approaches, carrying a ball of light in its hands.
“Bring it here, peaches,” she advises. Before she makes it halfway to one of the cedar chests, another deathman appears. “Ugh. Kailey you’ve got to do something about this. Since my old friend disappeared, I’m getting them all! It’s making me just too damn tired. And hiding my energy is exhausting.”
“Your old friend? Disappeared?”
“Without darkness, how would we know light?” She stares at me. “Well, anyways, I truly don’t know what has happened, and I am fearful, for I don’t know how long anything will survive with the imbalance. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. It’s not fair.” The balls are handed to her, and she stands holding them with her eyes closed and slowly places both of them in one of the cedar chests. “How will we judge who wins?” The deathmen wave to her and head off from where they came.
I am totally perplexed. My anxiety starts bubbling slowly inside me. “This is some sort of game?” I grunt. “You’re jeopardizing lives for a stupid game? If you are who you say you are, why don’t you know the answers? How am I supposed to help? You created all this, so why the hell don’t you do something about it?!” I immediately cover my mouth with my hand, mortified.
Neda’s eyebrows rise slowly, and as she stares at me, her face contorts to one of the most gruesome things I have ever experienced. Combine every single horror film I have seen and every single nightmarish fireside story my ears have ever heard, and it is all unicorns and teddy bears compared to this. I slump to the ground and cover my head. I want to bury myself as far into the ground as possible. The image of her face is burned into my brain, becoming more horrific with every breath I take.
“So sorry, sweetie. Come on, get up, get up. You are karmelean. It’ll come. I only pick the best of ‘em.” She helps me up with surprisingly strong hands. “Just please, take what I’ve told you, and also know that bloodshed is not the answer. The force is always returned. I know the temptation is strong—hell, I enjoy it once in awhile myself. But it’s not the answer.” She exhales. “You must go now. I must admit I am becoming tired of this form, and of this whole situation. I am so tired of you all thinking we are both beginning and end, good and evil. It’s not that simple, Kailey.”
I have no idea what the hell she’s talking about, and it shows on my face. Her glorious face beams back at me, and before I am sent home, the last words I hear are, “We two were not the first, Kailey.”
Chapter 52
Shining
“Kailey, wake up!” Little hands tug on my arm. “Kailey!” Cold water splashes onto my face and Kioto jumps off my bed.
“Ahhhhh! What the hell?!” I wipe my eyes and look down at my white cotton pajamas that are now see-through, revealing my green, polka-dot underwear.
Ladimer stands over me. “I’ll turn if you want,” he says, but he doesn’t, instead grinning widely. I feel blood rushing to places I don’t want to admit as I look into his eyes. I pick up the nearest pillow and throw it at him.
“Whoa. You’re quick, but not that quick.” He grabs the pillow and tosses it back at me. Jenna gets hit in the crossfire and falls off my bed. Kioto wags her tail and jumps on Ladimer, evidently much more cheery, and wanting to get in on the fun. He pets her head and allows her to lick his face.
Jenna’s head pops up from down on the floor. “I save your life, and that’s how I’m treated?”
“Karma,” I simply say as I help her up onto my bed. “Saved my life?”
“You weren’t responding to me, so I called him. He answered. What did you do? Where did you go?”
“What do you mean?”
“You met one, didn’t you?” she drones, her mouth open wide as she stares at me. “Don’t you even try and lie. I know these things. How did you do it?”
I sit, not saying one word, instead looking straight ahead.
“She did,” Ladimer replies. “You are karma indeed. I’ll fix you something to eat, but promise to tell me the story.” He leaves, and I soon hear my pots and pans banging and my refrigerator door opening and closing. I appreciate not hearing the microwave open and close.
Jenna waits for a response.
“I have to say I might have,” I play. “How do you know?”
“You have an extra white light in your aura that was not there when you fell asleep. That comes from one touched by a Higher One.”
“Uh-hmm.”
“That’s it? Come on!”
“Let me get up and get dressed, first,” Jenna stands and I have to shoo her out of my room. I get dressed as I ponder what information to actually share.
I leave my room and then notice Cheeto and her pups are missing. “Where’s Cheeto?”
“She was missing this morning. Probably went home.”
This makes me sad, until I look at the bloodstain under the table. “How the hell am I going to get that out?”
Ladimer flips my over hard egg onto my English muffin and says, “OxiClean works wonders,” as he hands me the plate.
I sit at the table with them, avoiding the blood as I spill my story—all of it. Both sit motionless, staring at the clock on the wall. “Well?” I say. I hope for some kind of answer or maybe even some questions, but nothing happens—just blank stares and shrugs.
“At least we know Neda is somewhere safe. But why is the urn cracking, then?” Ladimer says. “It’s just too bad that Neda depends on creatures like us to do something about the imbalance. We need to talk to Gunthreon. Unfortunately, I have no idea where he and Lupa are. I sent out some spies looking for them and got absolutely nothing.” He sighs. “Let’s just go on with our day and our plans, because right now, it’s the only thing we can do. I need to pick your mom up, so I need to pretty myself up. I’ll see you at the wedding.” His hug is tight, and the kiss on my head is soft. “Oh, and don’t worry about that mutt. I’m sure she’s fine.” The door shuts quietly behind him.
Kioto whines and sniffs under the table. I call her to me, and she looks up at me, pleadingly. “You heard Ladimer,” I say to her. “She’s fine. Everything’s fine.” But it’s my attempt at reassuring Kioto that makes me realize things are so very wrong.
After sitting, staring out the window for an eternity, running my
visit with Neda over and over in my head, I decide the only thing I can do is carry on with my normal day and get ready for the wedding. Gunthreon will be there, and then I can unload my information on him.
I walk to my bedroom and admire the dress and amethyst jewelry hanging on my closet door. “I love this jewelry you picked out, Jenna. It matches perfectly!” I turn to her, and she smiles, but not genuinely as she twiddles her thumbs, sitting on the bed while I put together my outfit, perfume, and makeup.
“Kailey, you’d better hurry up. Conner will be here shortly.” She marches off to my front room and watches television.
I get dressed and curl my hair, then spritz on some of my special expensive perfume, making sure to get all the hot spots, especially behind the knees—a trick I learned from my mom. A twirl in the mirror reveals no panty lines and, more importantly, no dog—or ceetchan—hair.
The beaded clutch I inherited from my grandmother gets to join me, and as I pull it out and look at it, I admire the treasures I’ve recently hidden in it, like my father’s ring. I take everything out and lay it on my bed, alongside my makeup and all the things I will need in my purse, including gum. I scan the Silver Certificate dollar bill I will never use, smell the miniature doll that smells like roses, and smile at the squashed penny my mom and I put on the railroad tracks. My dad’s ring catches my eye, as always, and I pick it up, admiring the beauty of it.
Jenna walks in. “You look really pretty,” she remarks. She smiles a real smile this time. “Your date is here.” Her eyes lead to all my trinkets. “Fun!” She holds up the doll.
“Jenna, did you have any boyfriends back in Renhala?” I ask. A sneaky, mischievous rise of the corner of her mouth says it all as she sorts through my belongings. “You little wildcat! How many?”
“Well, if you have a few hours later, maybe I’ll have to let you in on my secrets,” she replies, smiling. “Don’t worry, though, I’m not going to steal Conner. He’s cute, but not really my type.” I grab her arm and pinch her. She slaps me back as the buzzer sounds. My heart pounds wildly with excitement.
“I do look good, right? You weren’t lying?” I throw all my necessities from my bed that I need into the clutch.
“You know you do. Go let him in!”
The thought of an actual date with Conner makes me tremble as I buzz him in. I open my door slightly so he can let himself into my apartment as I rush to the bathroom mirror one last time. A final coat of lip gloss is applied, and then I step out before him.
He whistles at me as he stands near the front door, large gift bag in tow. My eyes then focus on the wonder before me—definite GQ material. “Dolce & Gabbana?” I inquire.
“Why, of course.”
I walk around him, checking out everything. “Salvatore Ferragamo shoes? Oh, and Armani tie.”
“My goodness, you are quite the fashionista. You knew it all.”
Jenna laughs as I walk by her. “Is he plastic, too?” she teases.
“What does that mean?” Conner has no idea we were admiring the very mannequin from which he must have taken his whole outfit—but it only makes him more squeezable.
“Let’s go, we’re going to be late,” Conner snaps. “Here’s the card.” He throws it at me, and it lands on the blood-stained carpet. “What’s that?!”
“Cheeto had her babies. She left with them,” I say, sadly.
“They’re wild animals, Kailey. “You know that,” says Conner. “Her maternal instincts probably kicked in, and she brought her pups to what she knows as home.” He picks up the card and puts it in my hand while rubbing my shoulder. His hand lifts my chin up. “Don’t worry, they’re fine.”
“Will you two go already?!” Jenna fixes herself something to eat, giving Kioto tidbits here and there.
“No table food for her!”
“Lighten up, Kailey, and go have some fun,” spouts Jenna. “Stay out too late!” She shoos us out the door.
As we leave, Ladimer’s former foster mom steps out of her apartment, and I don’t even need to reach out my feeler to sense a renewed energy—one feeling carefree and ready to tackle the world. She apparently isn’t suffering from the loss of Philip. “Wow, what a couple,” she says. “Kailey, you look beautiful! Where you two off to?”
“My best friend’s wedding.”
“Hold on one second!” She runs into the apartment and comes back, holding a beautifully soft-scented, orange and green lily-type flower she must have taken off one of her many Ladimer-grown plants. “A beautiful girl needs a beautiful flower.” She sticks it in my hair, the stem resting over my ear. Conner gives me a nod to say that it does indeed make the outfit.
“Thank you very much,” I chirp, curtseying.
She closes the door behind her and she walks with us to the parking lot.
“Have a great time!” Karen says, walking to her new, hot, red convertible.
Chapter 53
Momentous
After much driving, and only asking for directions twice, we arrive at the wedding hall, located in a quaint unincorporated town which looks as though it stepped out of the Victorian era. Conner and I look upward as we stretch our legs out after the long drive. He slips my silky pashmina over my shoulders and tells me once more how beautiful I look, then kisses my hand as he grabs it for the walk to the main entrance. The sky is clear, and has begun darkening, allowing the night stars to make their grand entrance. The hall looks top-notch, for Amber would have nothing else. How she arranged such a beautiful event in so little time amazes me, but then again I feel as though I have been underestimating her all along. I feel saddened that I wasn’t there for her to help prepare.
Conner says, “Gorgeous, isn’t it?” as we walk through the lobby.
The front foyer is full of flowers, mostly bright red, with an occasional white rose here and there and some trailing ivy. The enormous chandeliers even have some ivy hanging down, giving the hall an “alive” sort of feeling. The lights are dim, creating an atmosphere of softness. Moss-covered vases and bowls hold delicious-smelling potpourri.
“Wow, Russell and Amber must have paid some wedding planner handsomely,” I say. “Probably with some help from Gunthreon.”
Conner, enthralled, gazes at the long hallway to the main ballroom doors. “This place is huge,” he says. “Much bigger than it looks from the outside.”
“So cool!” We walk hand-in-hand down the hallway, filling our lungs with the scent of roses and something else—something musky and tantalizing.
We finally make it to the main doors, and as we enter, I am astounded at the number of people already seated, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of deja vu, which results in a mean case of vertigo. I wobble a bit as a strangely familiar feeling creeps over me, but I shake it off as Conner grabs me firmly around the waist.
“You okay?” asks Conner.
I’m about to reply when I see Amber, dressed beautifully, glowing like an angel, practically floating before the crowd. Russell stands next to her, holding her hand, not looking quite as angelic. His nervous energy shakes and rattles him.
I wave as I enter the room, and she waves back, rushing to me all giggly. “You look stunning, Kailey, as usual.” She kisses me and Conner on both cheeks, Amber-style. Russell makes it over and gives me a hug, then shakes Conner’s hand.
I turn to Amber. “I look like a sack of garbage compared to you,” I say. “Love the dress. Very flattering.” Her diamond-studded tiara flickers as she moves, along with the diamonds on her neck, arm, and ears. “I never saw that set before. They look real.”
“I’d hope they look real, considering they are. I inherited them,” says Amber. Never had a chance to wear them until now.” Her fingers run over the diamonds in her necklace. “Russell, there’s Sandy. Let’s go say hello. You guys make yourselves cozy at your table. Number three.” She runs off, dragging Russell.
Gunthreon and Lupa, along with my mom and Ladimer, are nowhere to be seen. “Wonder if G and Lupa are going to sh
ow up,” I say.
“I hope so. Russell would be crushed if his grandfather didn’t make it. Gunthreon will do his best to be here.” Conner looks around at the other guests. “Amber sure has a lot of girlfriends, doesn’t she?”
“Hmmm. I don’t recognize—,”
“Why, yes I do!” yaps Amber, bounding up suddenly. “Lots of college friends. And a bit of family, too. Not mom, though. Whatever.” She pauses, and I feel anger brewing inside her. “Well, you didn’t think you were my only friend, did you?” Her laugh is sweet and innocent, but her eyes hint otherwise. “Come meet some.” She grabs my hand and drags me to another table—typical social butterfly Amber.
“How’d you organize this and get all these people here so quick?” I inquire as we walk.
“I got help. From someone besides you,” she answers, smiling at her guests as she walks by, carefully dragging her train. “And Russell is loaded.” She stops at a table, almost suddenly, and says, “Zanthra, Zoe, meet my good friend Kailey.”
Zanthra and Zoe are identical twins, and both nod at me once, very dignified-like. Zanthra stands up and shakes my hand with both of hers. “Pleasure meeting you. Amber speaks of you frequently. Love that color!” she says, twirling me around. I like her.
“Nice to meet you, too,” I respond. Zoe stays seated, but smiles as Amber says she must talk to them privately for a moment. As I walk away, the doors open to the ballroom, and in step my mom and Ladimer. My smile spreads across my face as I lock eyes with my mom. She looks dashingly beautiful. She curtsies at me, and I cannot help but hold my breath as my eyes gorge on the sight of Ladimer in his perfectly tailored, black-as-night designer suit, accentuating his porcelain-white and flawless skin.
I walk toward them. “Who knew you looked so good in chartreuse and high heels, Mom,” I say.
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