by Sarah Erber
“Because,” Herald says. “It’s the one thing in this world that gives me pleasure. It’s almost better than sex.” He is eyeing my loose towel. “Almost.”
Securing the towel more tightly around my bodice, I say, “I’d rather sing for you than give you that kind of pleasure.”
The devilish smile on Herald’s lips does not match my own frown.
“Look, it’s been a long night and I’d really like to go to bed.”
He runs a hand over the towel along my hips.
“Alone.”
“How about a goodnight kiss? I believe you still owe me one for winning the race.” Herald snatches my wet hair and jerks me into a crushing embrace.
The kiss is bruising. I have never kissed a person who I disliked and I hope by no means to do so again. His hand slips under the towel and caresses my lower back. I bite his lip and knee him below the belt. He growls like an animal and tosses me on the bed. I try not to scream, but fail. His chrome teeth drip antifreeze green liquid over the metal necklace. He cannot bite me unless he removes it.
The wardrobe next to the window begins to shake violently.
Herald blanches and releases my wrists. He straddles my waist, but his full attention narrows in on the wardrobe.
I stop screaming.
The wardrobe goes still.
Herald regards me like a puzzle in need of solving. He frees me and backs up to the window, panting a little. “Don’t tell Jerald about what happened tonight between us. As far as he knows, I never checked up on you. I would hate to have to kill my own brother.”
“You’re insane! You’d kill your own brother over me? Why?”
Herald’s chrome teeth grind together. “Jerald’s ability to show regret, sympathy, and love,” he motions at me, “really pisses me off.”
“But why? Can’t you feel those emotions?”
“No.” Herald climbs to the window ledge. “I feel only the dark sins of human emotions. I don’t love you, Temptation, but I lust for you.” He tilts his face around so I can see his crimson eyes glowing. The night sky intensifies the vivid color. “One day, I’ll have you.” He steps off the ledge and disappears from my sight.
My world becomes silent. No bones crack from Herald’s drop from my windowsill. Careful not make a sound, I tiptoe over to the ledge. Wind and beads of raindrops attack my hair and skin. Next to the moonlit window frame, I look down into the yard that is sparkling like diamonds from the recent rainfall. Herald is gone. Everything becomes blurry and a moment later, hot tears blind my view of the world.
****
I awake to a cool breeze invading my bedroom through the window. Hair stuck to my face and eyes crusted with dry tears, I pull back my black hair and shiver. The towel fell off sometime during the night. I rewrap the towel, but screech when something sharp pokes my ribs. A blue rose drops to the floor. I bend forward and pick it up.
“Temptation! Are you all right?” Uncle Jack bursts in through the door. “What happened? Oh...sorry.” He backs out of the room. His usual pasty cheeks turn a shade of pink. Uncle Jack’s thumps from his boots retreat down the staircase.
The giggle coming from my own mouth surprises me after the previous day’s adventures. Laughter is not something I expect to have this particular morning. I step over to the disengaged wardrobe. Careful not to make a sound, I open both of the wardrobe doors. Nothing but clothes. Thank the Gods I did not find some new monster awaiting discovery. Tossing the rose on my bed, I pick out a graphic shirt, and faded jeans.
My cell phone battery died, so I hook it up to the charger. Karma is probably suffering an anxiety attack by now. If she can pick up on my depression for the first day of school, she definitely will have felt my fear.
After I finish dressing, I do my make-up in a more natural tone, and then hurry out of the room. Rose forgotten, I skip down the stairs, through the kitchen, and into the dining room where the family is eating eggs and bacon.
“Are you all right, Temptation?”
“Yeah, Uncle Jack. I thought I saw one of those wolf spiders. I didn’t mean to scare you after everything that happened last night with the Blares.”
“Yes, it was a tragic accident, but I received a call this morning. Apparently, they found the dog responsible for killing the Blares.”
Aunt Sally ushers me to the table. We pass the china doll masks mounted to the wall. The feathery mask I found the first day at the house outshines the rest. “Eat before the boys make it all disappear.”
“How do they know if the dog is the one that attacked them?” I ask.
“A truck hit the dog, so it’s kind of a mess. The ‘strangest dog they had ever seen’ is what the sheriff told me. Anyway, they found some skin tissue stuck in the dog’s teeth and had it tested. It ended up as a positive match to both of the Blares.”
I shake some salt on my scrambled eggs and beef sausage. “Wasn’t it a little fast for them to do DNA testing? Who works in the middle of the night?”
“They keep improving things nowadays and this is a very family oriented town, so the staff was willing to work overnight. Besides, it would be a shame if they didn’t find the dog. You kids wouldn’t be able to do anything. With Halloween right around the corner, it would’ve meant no candy or carnival.”
“I think Temptation’s pissed off it wasn’t a monster–”
Aunt Sally slams the saltshaker on the table. “Daniel, let’s not start again!”
“Wait, Sally, that’s something I wanted to ask. Temptation, have you been experiencing hallucinations again? The doctors said this might happen after moving.”
I drop my fork and it clatters onto my plate. “What? You’re going to have me drugged up. Why doesn’t anyone believe me?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” says Daniel. “Maybe it’s because you believe magical creatures are terrorizing the town and only you can see them. What’s next? A vampire sneaking into your bedroom at night?”
My cheeks are burning. Pushing back my chair, I storm out of the dining room, ditching my breakfast on the kitchen counter.
“Calm down, Temptation. Daniel’s only teasing. You need to stop taking everything so seriously.” Uncle Jack follows me into the living room. “You have a doctor’s appointment at one this afternoon, so make sure you’re home in time.”
I exit the house. The door closes with a bang. I cannot believe it. He is crazy if he thinks I am going to let those doctors stick me with needles. The morning breeze caresses my skin. I reach up to scratch my neck. Metal meets my fingers. Stupid necklace. I tug at it, trying to pull it off. After ten minutes, I give up. “Why me?”
“Temptation!” The shaggy figure of Whelan waves to me from the end of the road.
I wave back and jog toward Whelan. “What in the name of the living dead, are you doing up this early in the morning?”
Whelan crushes me with a hug. “Those murders last night. I heard you were missing. What’s the deal?”
“Uh…you’re not going sweet on me are you?”
“Heck no! I mean you’d be hot if you dyed your hair a different color–”
I laugh and punch him playfully on the arm. “Screw you. You disappointed I’m not still missing?”
“Heck, yeah! How am I supposed to get those twins away from Victoria long enough so I can get my groove on?”
A giggle bursts out of me. “Get your groove on? Whelan, I’m sorry to tell you this, but I don’t think she knows any other guy exists except for Jerald and Herald.”
“Totally not cool. This is why you’re supposed to seduce those twins–”
“Whelan!”
“–and get jiggy with them, so I can get jiggy with Victoria.”
“Whelan!”
“What? It’s a great plan! I get some, you get some, and the twins get some–”
Holding up my henna-tattooed hand to stop his disturbing logic, I say, “I get the picture.” I twist my hair in my fingers.
“Everyone goes home happy.” Whelan pulls o
ut a piece of gum. Tossing it in the air, he catches the gums in his mouth.
“Herald’s a jerk on a power-trip. He thinks the sun shines out of his ass. Jerald,” I kick a pinecone out of the street, “I can’t decide what I think about him.” The trees sway in the morning breeze. I inhale the scent of fresh dewdrops.
“Everyone else thinks the sun shines out of their asses too.” Whelan shrugs a shoulder. “But I’ve seen the way they watch us. They’re jealous. They like you, Temptation. You’re probably the only girl in school who’s told them to stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
“I know, but Herald deserved it.” Releasing my hair, I cross my arms and settle my dark star on the beclouded sky. A flock of birds are flying south for the winter.
“Totally, but they might not know how to react to someone acting so indifferent to their…charms.”
My eyebrows arch. “Deep talk coming from you, Whelan. Taking up philosophy?”
Whelan aims a playful punch. I duck. “Come on Temptation. Give them a chance on Monday, please.”
I laugh at Whelan’s impression of puppy eyes. “Gods, what am I about to commit to. Yes! Okay, but I’m only agreeing to do this with Jerald. Herald gives me the creeps.”
“Awesome!” Whelan passes me a couple pieces of gum. I take them and chew. It relaxes me a bit. Whelan drapes his arm around my shoulders.
“Whelan, what goes on at the Masked Ball? I mean, what’s so great about it?”
“Don’t know. I moved here after it was all over. I guess this will be a first time for both of us.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
I snort out another laugh, causing smoke to escape my nose. “So, where are we going?”
He shrugs his scrawny shoulders. “Nowhere. Chillax and walk your worries away.”
I smile. “Sounds awesome.”
****
I return home in time for Uncle Jack to rush us to my appointment. At the rundown gas station, we turn right, and travel a short way down the road, before swerving into a small shopping center. I thought there would be more than three cars, since Rosewood does not offer any other form of entertainment. The doctor’s office pops into view at the end of the building. I drag my feet when we enter the sanitized office. The receptionist with the horn-rimmed glasses and fuzzy hair takes our names. Before our body heat can warm the plastic chairs, the doctor calls us into a private room. I sit in a squishy chair with Uncle Jack at my side.
“Hello, Mr. Falls. I take it you are his niece, Temptation?” The doctor extends his calloused hand. I shake it and then withdraw quickly. Nothing good ever comes from doctors. Always bad news or some new drug they want me to try. “Well, your records tell me you were in an accident not too long ago.”
“Yeah.” I press my lips together. I can feel my throat tightening up.
“I’m very sorry for your loss. It’s difficult to deal with these kinds of things. But what concerns me is the fact you were dead for approximately...five minutes.” The doctor pulls his chair in front of me and sits down. “Your uncle tells me you’ve been experiencing hallucinations. I need you to be honest with me. Have you been seeing hallucinations?”
I close my eyes and keep my arms crossed.
“My sons both told me she’s experienced them regularly.” Uncle Jack places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I jerk his hand off. Uncle Jack just fed me to the wolves. Dad would be so pissed at him if he were here. I can feel my emotional barriers crumbling. The pressure of my life in Rosewood is not helping.
The goblins, the Jenkins twins, and even the deaths of the Blares, may have been tricks of my mind.
Five minutes.
Those five minutes of death caused me these problems. I stroke the necklace. No. The doctors are wrong. Everyone else is insane.
“Temptation, it’s very important you tell me when you started having these hallucinations.” The doctor pierces me with a strict gaze.
“WHY!” I launch out of my seat. “Why do you need to know? So you can call me crazy and pump me full of drugs?”
“Temptation!” Uncle Jack rises to his feet.
“Young lady,” the doctor stands in front of me, “People who’ve died for five minutes or more can suffer from brain damage. Some come out of it fine. We need to know how severe your symptoms are, so–”
“So, what?” I glare at Uncle Jack. “So you can stick me in another mental hospital and then Daniel and Aunt Sally won’t have to deal with me anymore.”
He snatches my shoulders and shakes me. “Temptation, that’s not fair–”
“No. What’s not fair is I know I’m not wanted. Aunt Sally might try to be fair to me, but I know she doesn’t want me around! And you’re deliberately slumming for a reason to get rid of me without looking bad.”
The doctor puts a hand on Uncle Jack’s shoulder. “I think we all need to calm down a–”
“Screw both of you!” I slap my Uncle’s hands off my shoulders. “You both stay here and decide how insane you think I am, because you obviously don’t need my input.” I dodge them and run out of the office, past the shouting receptionist, and into the parking lot. I hear everyone shouting for me to stop, but I keep running. Instead of going in the direction of home, I run straight into the woods. Twigs, leaves, and pinecones crunch underneath my shoes. “I’m not crazy. I’m not imagining these things. I’ll prove it to myself.”
I jog deeper into the forest until the stone wall comes into view. Curious fingertips brush the mossy stones. A thrill of adventure pumps through me like a shot of espresso. I follow the wall for a mile, until I spot an archway twenty feet away. My muscles ache. Leaves fall from the towering maple and oak trees.
At the crescent doorway, I peak through. No goblins are in sight. I cannot wait for them to come to the wall. If Herald finds out I came here it will be a darker nightmare. I suck in a breath and follow the stone pathway, which leads to the goblins’ cove. The further I travel, the more the sounds of the forest deafen. The trees bend inward, but make no swishing noises. Near the end of the path, I go over the steep hill, and enter the clearing where the little stream travels through the center of a cove. No bronze bodies wander through the clearing. The dark cave entrances blend in with the hills.
I would have never noticed the openings if I had not seen them the other night.
The shadowy holes beckon me forward. I spot the largest one where the king emerged from last night. I clench my sweating palms into a fist, and wobble into the cave. I draw my hands away from the moist walls.
Yuck.
Little balls of light illuminate the pathway. A small glow comes from the end of the cavern. I halt at the end of the hallway and stare at a large room. My mouth unhinges. The Goblin King’s room reminds me of bedrooms in the castles in Europe.
Wandering further into the room, I walk across a rug which reminds me of my mother’s Indian rugs. The canopy bed, draped in luscious reds and deep violet, remains empty. A large Victorian portrait hangs on the rock wall. My fingers press on the bumpy texture of the old canvas. Oil paint. The possibility that I actually just stroked the rock wall and not the canvas causes me to doubt my sanity.
I jerk back at the sound of heavy footsteps. They echo out from a different cave opening. Crap, I cannot move. Not because of a spell, but because of my own fear.
The Goblin King enters the dim bedroom. He is wearing his usual black cloak. Face unveiled, the exhaustion of his life shines in his weary eyes. With his back to me, he tosses a skeleton mask down on the vanity and glances into the cracked mirror. His eyes widen when he spots my motionless figure. Pivoting, his mouth parts in shock.
I do not move. I cannot. My joints are glued together.
The king steps forward; a small grin forms on his animalistic face. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon, Temptation.” He halts a foot from of me and stares down into my plum eyes. His grin changes into a frown when he spots the metal necklace. “Where did that come from?” The warmth in his eyes vanishes.
<
br /> “H-Herald put it on me last night. He said only a powerful demon could remove it.”
The king exposes his chrome canines at the necklace.
I withdrawal against the portrait; afraid he might try to bite the necklace off. “I-I need you to do something for me.”
The king retracts his teeth and retreats a few steps. “I take it from your expression this isn’t something pleasant you want of me?”
“I need you to cut me.”
The king raises an eyebrow. “Why?”
I blink back the tears trying to push their way out. I do not want to lose my contact lenses. It will feel like taking a mask off in front of the king. No one in the world has seen my true eye color since the accident. “There’s something about me you don’t know. I died almost a year ago. Somehow – I came back – but I started seeing things. Monsters or maybe they’re goblins. They – the doctors – think I have brain damage. I’m afraid they’re going to cage me at some mental hospital. It’ll be no different than a prison. You understand how that feels.” I stir up enough bravery to move away from the wall and amble up to the king. “But I need to know I’m right. Hallucinations can’t hurt me. If you cut me it means you’re real and I’m not going crazy.”
The king smiles and closes the gap between the two of us. His fingers part my black hair back so my white hair drapes over my shoulders. “Temptation, you’re not crazy. Far from it. You have a gift that scares people. They can never understand you like I can.”
My heart hammers against the king’s wide chest. I lay one hand on his torso. “Still, I want you to cut me.”
The king’s fingers enclose my hand that is resting on his chest. Placing his thumbnail in the palm of my hand, he pushes.
I open my mouth to gasp, but before I can utter a sound, the king bends down, and crushes his lips against mine. Surprised by the tenderness in his kiss, I lean into it. It is gentle, yet powerful enough to stir dormant emotions. It sends a bud of affection blossoming in the crater of my heart. It creates a pain I never thought I would feel again. The king pulls me closer to his misshapen body. His body repulses me, but I love his attentiveness to my emotions. The butterflies escape from my stomach and travel to every inch of my body.