by Avery Kloss
“Hi.”
A polite smile appeared. “Hello, my dear. I did a little baking. I can’t eat all of these, so I brought a few over to share.”
“Who’s there?” asked mom, coming up behind me.
“Ruth.”
“Hello.” Mom grasped the door, holding it wider. “Good morning.”
“How are you settling in? I noticed the workmen this week. What all are you doing, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Come on in.” Mom nudged me out of the way. “Shouldn’t you think about getting dressed?”
“It’s Saturday,” I muttered. I planned to be in the nightgown most of the day. After all, I was still “recovering” from my evening in a vampire den. I came awfully close to being … the meal.
In the kitchen, I turned the kettle on, and moved a few dishes into the sink, while staring into the backyard. Despite the emergence of the sun from behind a thick bank of clouds, it looked stark and cold. Spindly branches blew in the breeze. Movement caught my notice, a woman in the distance, who walked around with a pouch, a whitish type of substance falling from it.
“What the heck?” I blinked, and wondered if I had seen that correctly. “Mom! There’s someone in the backyard pouring … stuff all over the grass!” She spoke with Ruth in another room, and hadn’t heard that.
Before she could disappear, I burst onto the small deck and ran down the steps. “Hey! What are you doing?” In a thin cotton nightgown and no shoes, the chill hit me instantly, as wind whipped hair into my face. “What are you doing?”
Wearing a bulky jacket and a knitted hat, the woman smiled serenely at my approach. Disheveled strawberry blonde hair fell down her back.
“It’s freezing out here,” she murmured, her eyes a vibrant green.
Stunned for a moment by her beauty, I struggled to remember why I had run into the backyard in the first place. “What’s in the bag? What are you doing? I saw you from the window.”
“I took a shortcut.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “My sack must have a leak. It’s … gravel for my fish tank.”
All of that sounded perfectly reasonable, but I had an inkling she had just lied through her pretty, white teeth. “Gravel?” I shivered, and wrapped arms around my chest, trying to keep warm, yet I failed to do so.
She zipped up the backpack. “My bad. I’ll have to buy more.” A smile emerged. “I’m so stupid. I lost half of it.”
“You were deliberately pouring it over my yard. That wasn’t an accident. I saw you.”
“A little dirt never hurt anyone.”
I reached for the bag. “Let me see.”
She swung the pack over a shoulder. “I’m Anna. I’m a neighbor.” A hand appeared with elegantly tapered fingernails. “Nice to meet you. I’ve been meaning to come by.”
Not buying her innocent act for one second, I decided to play along, grasping the outstretched hand and squeezing. She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening. Pulling free of my fingers, she eyed me warily, and took a step back.
Finding her reaction odd, I boldly stepped forward, now face to face with her, our height equal. “You want to tell me what you’re really doing?”
“What are you?” she gasped, a glimmer of fear shone in her eyes.
“What are you? What’s in the bag, lady?”
“Salt.”
“I thought you said it was gravel.”
“It’s … a … I was making a protective barrier. I always use salt.”
“Is that some sort of landscaping technique?” I hadn’t believed in vampires, and yet they were real. The aura around her screamed witch-vibe, so I had to assume that’s what she was.
“Some places attract bad energy. This is to help ward it off.”
“I don’t remember hiring you for that. We don’t need a supernatural extermination service or whatever it is you’re doing.”
“My family’s always done it.”
“Who did you say you were again?”
“Anna.” She offered a tenuous smile.
“Anna what?”
“Flake.”
That name sounded familiar. “We’re good, Anna.” I shivered, trembling all the way down to my frozen toes. “It was good meeting you, but we don’t need you to spread salt all over the place, okay?”
She bristled at that. “It’s a free country. You might own the land, but it belongs to the people of Clatskanie. Many of our founding members are in that cemetery. We’ve every right to visit our ancestors.”
“Fantastic,” I muttered, shivering. “I’m going in.”
As I turned to leave, I heard her say, “It’s a protective barrier. It’s for good. You don’t know anything about the history of the property you just bought. It comes with … significant baggage.”
I stopped walking. “Noticed that already.”
“There’s bad energy. You should be careful.”
And then I remembered where I had heard the name Flake before. “Are you related to Crystal Flake?” Gabe said she had placed a spell on the house to ward off vampires.
Her shoulders went back. “She was my grandmother.”
“I see.”
“They’re not your friends.” She took a step towards me, her expression suddenly angry. “He’ll do anything to get in that house. I’ll do anything to make sure he never gets in. He’s just using you, you stupid girl. I’ve been in Europe this month. I should’ve come back the moment I heard somebody bought the place. I wish I’d gotten to you first.”
Stunned, I stared at her, and shivered.
“Something weird’s happening here. Your vibe is so … so not something I’ve ever felt before. There’s enough funky energy in this town as it is. We really don’t need this.”
My skin had turned blue from the cold, and my teeth clattered. “Why don’t you come in? I’m so confused by everything. Let’s have some tea, okay? If we’re neighbors, we should be able to sit down and talk.”
She blinked, slightly staggered by that offer. “All right. Let’s do it.”
I hurried up the steps, followed by Anna, who cast a furtive look around. We stood in the warmth of the kitchen a moment later. I heard my mother in the living room still in conversation with Ruth.
“What kind of tea do you like?”
“Anything without caffeine.”
“We have some chamomile.”
“That’s fine.” She eyed the table.
“You can sit, if you want.” The water in kettle from earlier still felt hot. I filled two cups and added a teabag to each. “Do you like honey or sugar?”
“Nothing, just the tea. Thanks.”
I gave her the cup, and sat across from her. Still cold, I grasped the mug with both hands, the heat warming my fingers.
“So, where did you move from?”
“The Denver area.”
“Just you and your mom?”
“Yeah. My dad passed away a year ago.”
“I’m sorry.” That statement appeared genuine, her look sympathetic. “Were you expecting it?”
“No. He had cancer. It wasn’t symptomatic until it spread everywhere. By the time he found out, it was too late.” I had a sip, the beverage warming my belly.
“What’s your name? I should’ve asked. Sorry.”
“Brie. Brie Thompson.”
“That’s short for Brieanna?”
“Yes.”
“It’s pretty.”
“Thanks.” Taking a shortcut through the small talk, I leaned in slightly. “So, you’ve lived here all your life?”
“Yes.”
“And so has your family?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard your name before. Just last night, actually.”
“We’re known here.”
“For being a family of witches, maybe?” I eyed her hopefully.
“Yes.”
“Is it hereditary?”
“Stupid question, yes.”
“I don’t know anything about supernatural stuff.
I didn’t believe in vampires either or ghosts. You’re right about this house. It’s Creep Central.”
“I won’t argue that.” She sat forward, her arms on the table. “I don’t sense evil in you, Brie. What I do see is a girl who’s in way over her head. Ignorance isn’t going to save your life. I don’t know … what you are exactly, and I suspect you don’t know either. You’ve got something going on. If it’s powerful, they’ll try to use you. You don’t know me. You don’t know if you can trust me. I don’t know you either.” Her gaze narrowed. “You should tell me everything. Let me help you figure it out.”
In that moment, I realized I did not know who to trust, feeling decidedly confused. I mulled that over, and said, “Let me think about it. I have to … figure some stuff out on my own first.”
“I can give you my number.” She withdrew a phone. “Ready?”
“My phone’s ancient,” I grumbled, reaching for a pad of paper and a pencil. “I have to do this the old-fashioned way.”
She chuckled, her laugh pleasing. “That’s fine.”
After writing down the number, I tapped the end of the pencil to my lips. “Is there anything else I should be worried about?”
“We haven’t even scratched the surface, Brieanna. You don’t have a clue.”
“I’m … figuring some stuff out. I’m not totally stupid.”
“No, but just naive enough to be a problem—a big problem.”
24
I did not see Maven in school on Monday. By Wednesday I worried she might have dropped out, but then I caught sight of her at the end of the hallway after the seventh hour bell. Grasping a laden backpack, I hurried to catch up with her. As I rushed by, groups of students glanced my way.
“Maven!” Bursting through the double doors at the end of the hall, I emerged onto the steps. A noisy bus drove in front of me, blocking my view for a moment. “Maven!” She heard me then, and turned to look at me, her skin alarmingly pale. As I approached, I eyed my friend. “Where have you been?” She wore a gray hoodie and a pair of skinny jeans, her feet encased in rain boots. “What’s going on? I haven’t seen you all week. You don’t pick up the phone either.”
“I can’t really talk right now.” She noted the traffic and the man on a noisy bike that drew near. “I gotta go.”
I grabbed her arm before she walked away. “I know about your sister. I know she’s a vampire.”
She gasped. “Don’t say that so loud!”
“She’s at the Bad Bone.”
“Of course she is. Where else would she be?” Bitterness laced her tone. “Just keep that to yourself.”
“I want to help you.”
“There’s nothing you can do, Brie.” A hint of despair flickered in her eyes. “She’s gone now. Gabe Murray’s to blame, and she’s gone.”
The motorcycle came up alongside us, operated by Flint Kirby, who frowned, his features as uninviting as the weather. “Let’s go, Maven,” he said. A dangerous sort of energy oozed from him. Being far older than the girl, he really had no business picking up students at a high school.
I glared at him, and wished he would shut that loud engine off, because I could hardly hear myself think. I leaned in, whispering for Maven’s ears only. “I can help you. Come over later, okay?”
She pushed me away, nodding briskly. “Yeah. Later.” Tossing a leg over the seat, she settled in behind Flint. Before departing, she smiled slightly, a glimmer of hope softening her features.
I waved to her, worried about where she was going with him. What are you doing with that loser, Maven?
After they left, I headed home through the forest in the center of town, where I passed several large houses along the way, all of them as old as mine. I lingered in the cemetery, taking time to read the inscriptions on each stone, searching for one in particular, finding it a moment later.
In Loving Memory
Crystal Elizabeth Flake
January 4, 1956 — October 10, 1978
Gabe admitted to killing this woman several decades ago, blaming her for Suzie’s death, along with his enemy, Thorn Rezner. I thought about all I had learned and meeting Anna over the weekend. Ever since the incident on the balcony, I had met the most unusual people.
I stood there among the long-buried dead, as leaves drifted over and around my feet. The backpack felt like a lead weight on my shoulders. Lost in thought, I spied something dark, the fluttering of tiny wings. A green finch landed on my shoulder. Stunned, I held still, afraid to move, while the bird chirped by my ear, the sound sweet and welcoming.
“Hey, there,” I murmured, never having experienced anything like this before. “I’m not a tree, you know.” It flew away a moment later, quickly out of sight.
Forgetting the incident, I continued home, and entered the house through the back door. Mom greeted me a moment later, with what looked like paint samples in her hands.
“How was school?”
I left the backpack on the table. “Wonderful,” I said dryly.
“I need your help finding the right color for the formal parlor and the music room. All the rooms, actually.”
I pressed the button for the kettle, and searched for a teabag. “Didn’t they have wallpaper back in the day?”
“That’s so fussy. I wanted something lighter.”
“If you’re gonna keep the style of the house, I’d do wallpaper. You don’t have to get it super dark or super busy. You can go more modern.”
She made a face. “Ugh. Do you know what a pain in the ass that’s gonna be?”
“Not really.” I poured water, the steam rising from the cup. “Do a light floral motif. I’d find something with a white background and maybe green and black floral patterns. Go watch some HGTV.”
A sigh escaped her. “Okay, smartypants. You seem to have some ideas. You have to help me. We’re going to Portland. I’ll look online and see what I can find, but it’s probably better to pick it out in person. I like your idea about keeping it more traditional.”
I heard workmen and the sounds of scraping. “When are they gonna be done?”
“They’re taking layers of paint off the windows. It’s crazy that I can’t open any of them.”
“Maven might come over.”
A hint of disapproval appeared. “She’s weird.”
“Yep.”
“I don’t know if I want you hanging out with her. She’s … on something, or she’s terminal. I can’t decide which.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say about someone.” I shook my head. “She’s not on drugs.” Although I wasn’t 100% sure about that.
Mom smiled. “You look so much better, honey.”
“I do?”
“So much happier. I hoped moving here would do the trick. I’m really glad I made that decision. I want you to help me with the house. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the choices. I don’t want it to look bad when it’s all done.”
“We’ll work on it together. Let’s go to Portland on Saturday.”
“I’d really like that.”
Seeing the love and approval that shone in my mother’s eyes warmed my heart. Thank God I had not succeeded in my own self-destruction. Why had I even thought of suicide? Everything in my life had changed since that night, and, as the days passed, I felt even stronger in my newfound resolve. I was here for a reason. I had a purpose, although the details remained unclear.
“I’ve a ton of homework.”
“You go. I'm sorry about the noise. They’ll quit soon enough.”
“Okay, Mom.” I headed for the back staircase, and hurried for my room.
I sat at the desk before the window, and solved one equation after another. It did not take long to finish the worksheet. The wind brought in bad weather, with partially frozen rain that splashed against the glass panes. Tossing a few logs into the fireplace, I struck a match to ward off the chill in the room. Workmen discovered the heater needed repairs, and they had yet to fix it.
“Your friend’s here
,” called my mother.
“Send her up!” The door swung open a moment later, revealing Maven, who was dressed in the same hoodie as before and appeared soaked through. “Hey.” I closed the math book for later. “You look cold.”
“Didn’t wear a great jacket,” she muttered, and approached the fire. She sat before it and stared blankly at the flames, her posture slightly rounded. “So, you know about Reese.”
“You could’ve just told me.”
“It’s not exactly a fun topic. Everybody thinks she ran away. My mom thinks that; the police think that. I’m the only one who knows the truth. Your new buddy, Gabe Murray, did this to her.”
“Yeah, he admitted something to that effect.” I sat next to her, sharing in the warmth of the fire.
“You’re determined to hang out with him now? Even when I tell you to stay away and he’s dangerous, you’re gonna hang out with him?”
“I believe you about the vampires.”
She appeared incredulous. “They bit you, didn’t they? They take every opportunity to do that.”
“No. I … didn’t let them.”
“Nobody can stop a vampire. Nobody.”
“I have a … nifty little trick. I can make myself disappear.”
Her mouth fell open. “What?”
“Like go invisible.”
Laughter filled the room. “Right.”
Her reaction concerned me, as did the fact that I had not been able to perform the disappearing act again, no matter how hard I tried. “Let me see if I can do it. You’re not gonna believe me if you don’t see it.” Getting to my feet, I turned the ring around my finger. With my eyes shut, I wished to be invisible. I honed in on the desire to vanish, praying fervently that it worked. When I opened my eyes, Maven stared at me, her look startled.
“Oh, my God!” She jumped to her feet. “Brie? Brie?”
Glancing at my hand, I could see nothing but the wood floor beneath my feet. Relief washed over me. “I did it! I told you I could do it.”