Masquerade in Chaos: Kable VonSable

by M J Hutto

  “Absolutely,” not happening I thought as I looked around at my family. The nosy bunch was watching us way to closely for my taste.

  Dorian was trying to give me serious eye contact but avoided it. He sighed and met Detective Hottie to walk up together. They looked dashing and reluctant as they walked up to the staged area. Ready to be auctioned off for the good of community projects. WooHoo!!

  ***

  I wouldn’t be bidding. I’d had my discussion with Ms. Davies. I decided to walk around, look at some of the artwork left on display for patrons. Maybe that would get my head back on straight.

  Thibbs followed me and perched on my shoulder while I walked. He was quiet and allowed me to think while not being alone. It was really very nice of him and just what I’d needed. He only had a few more hours before he would be leaving me.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “What’s that, girl?”

  “Does it hurt when you die?”

  “Oh,” he said looking down. “Every single time. That demon got their’s in the end I guess.”

  “I’m sorry Thibbs. That must be hard.”

  “Not for you to be sorry, mon amie. It ain’t so bad, a few seconds of pain and many lifetimes of helping others. The centuries with no end in sight, that is kinda wearing. C’est la vie!”

  I was about to ask about Melisande when I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I turned to find Mr. Boltin standing behind me. He had his hands in his suit pockets. Nothing fancy or ostentatious, just a nice dark suit. His mask was simple with no ornamentation.

  His lack of energy gave him away. I hadn’t opened my shields, but from most people I got a sort of constant hum, a reminder of their innate chaos. From him there was nothing, like he wasn’t even there. I looked him over for signs of an amulet or charm; I didn’t see anything, but it could be hidden. Even the few magical folk I’d met had an energy signature, not quite like vanilla humans but similar.

  “The Post-Impressionist artists have always interested me. I wonder at the sort of drugs they were on when they painted. Also, the jump from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism is very interesting.”

  We were looking at the children’s exhibit, so the discussion wasn’t really on topic. The picture in front of me was done in crayon and was of a house. The name Callie, 5 was written underneath. It was adorable. The next painting was of some sort of animal and could, I suppose, be a segue into post-Impressionist art. This one was by Jamison, 6.

  “You don’t say. I’ve often thought they might simply be more honest than the others. I mean they painted the way they saw it. On the other hand, their world seemed a little scary at times. I hope they saw the beauty and not just something to fear. Differences make us more beautiful, not less.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again without any sound escaping. He shuffled his feet. I noticed his dark shoes were unscuffed and unremarkable. He seemed on the verge of talking or asking something, so I moved to the next display.

  “You really are this person, aren’t you?”

  I smiled and nodded. “What you see is what you get. What about you? Who are you? Certainly not Troy Boltin, I’d like to call you something else.”

  “No one of consequence.”

  “I must know,” I replied grinning.

  “Get used to disappointment,” he replied in a terrible British accent.

  I laughed out loud and felt marginally better about him. Anyone who could quote The Princess Bride couldn’t be all bad. I saw the same notion light his eyes.

  “Call me Stan Lee.”

  I raised my brow at him and waited. He was not a famous dead comic book writer.

  “Jax Teller,” he said, and I frowned harder. “Bud Bundy? Dread Pirate Roberts? Inigo Montoya? Dorian Grey? Tyrion Lannister? Will Graham?”

  I sighed loudly and at length, lifting my nails up for inspection. My hip was cocked to the side and the other hand was propped on my hip.

  “How about Jon?”

  “Snow?”

  “Even I know my limits. No, no more, but it is my real name. It’s all I can give and stay true to my agreement but it’s real.”

  I nodded. “Nice to meet you Jon. Why did you seek me out on this lovely evening? Surely there are more interesting people to pay attention to out there.”

  “Doubtful, you are quite radiant tonight. I need a little information.”

  I frowned and chewed my lower lip. Something wasn’t right. I believed what he’d said about his name, and I marginally trusted him, but I was waaaaay too popular tonight. I might get a few compliments generally but there were legit beautiful people here. No one I’d talked to save Ms. Davies, had failed to mention my looks tonight.

  I looked down at my dress and held out the skirts. I tried to remember the last time I’d worn it. It had been the wedding of a friend and I’d been a bridesmaid. I vaguely remembered the groomsmen being very attentive and a couple of other bridesmaids for that matter. I’d been drinking a lot of champagne and had been up the night before with Karmine eating vodka-soaked fruit.

  Maybe the dress was spelled or maybe there was a charm hidden in it somewhere. I hadn’t made it; I’d bought it at a specialty shop. If it was then it wasn’t fair to interpret Detective Hottie’s actions as anything but bespelled. I wasn’t about that life. Karma is not a forgiving mistress.

  “Thank you. What sort of information are you looking for? I’m not one to tell family secrets or spread gossip.”

  He was shaking his head before I finished. “No, nothing like that. It’s about your friend Jaylin Jereau. Did you know she was taking an experimental drug?”

  I could feel my face work into an odd scrunched-up expression, definitely not radiant. “What kind of experimental drug? Like a trial? For what?”

  “I guess not. Yes, a trial for an RNA drug that was able to target the receptors used in the brain to control Chaos.”

  “What!?!?!”

  He nodded. “They target and destroy those receptors, so they are no longer functional.”

  I was pacing. Oh, Jaylin, what were you thinking? Why would you do that to yourself?

  “It’s supposed to take that away and there was another pill they claimed would reverse the outward mutations. I honestly don’t know how those work. Kable, you can’t tell anyone about this,” he said glancing around the room.

  “The company has the backing of the US government and a couple of others too. I left my phone in my car tonight, but you never know where they might be listening.”

  The tears in my eyes evaporated. Was this guy really just spouting conspiracy theories at me? Maybe it wasn’t true at all. I could ask Jaylin tomorrow, but I couldn’t look it up without drawing attention. If he wasn’t just paranoid, I might get us both in some trouble.

  “I know you think I’m probably a paranoid, conspiracy theorist now but it’s only crazy if they aren’t out to get you. If you find out anything, from her mom or yours or your mutual friends it might help me.”

  “And how am I supposed to get in contact with you?”

  He had started walking away. “I’ll be in touch.” He lifted the corners of his lips in a small smile. “You really do look amazing. Have a great night.”

  I looked at Thibbs. “What the hell?”

  He whistled and glanced behind me. “Heads up, cher. Incoming bastard.”

  I looked around and upon seeing Jim, began walking towards the other door. He managed to cut me off before I made it out. I dodged his hands and stepped back out of his reach. He stopped walking.

  “Wait, just wait. Kable, I want you to understand. I had to show you how much I love you. There couldn’t ever be anyone else. Don’t you see that?”

  He reached for me again and Thibbs was quick enough to get away without being crushed. He seemed okay and then I had to focus my attention back on Jim, who was gripping my shoulder tightly.

  I didn’t want to hurt him, and I was a little worried he was on something. His eyes were glossy, pupils
tiny and he was almost vibrating.

  “Can’t you see the connection between us. I see it. It’s like a string connecting you to me. Don’t you see it?”

  He was shaking me by the end. I didn’t see anything and if he kept shaking me, I was going to have to try to hurt him again.

  “Jim, just let me go and we can talk.”

  “No, you’ll try to get away.”

  He pushed me up against the wall and blocked my knees with one of his own. He shook me again and my head banged solidly into the wall. I was loathe to use magic, the Chaotian Society was less than tolerant of use of harmful magic on others, even if it was defensive sometimes. I’d seen a few people cleared of charges but not until after they’d been put to death: nothing but swift and definitive punishment for murder using chaos.

  I didn’t plan to kill him, but you never know what could trigger something like that. One wrong punch and someone’s heart could skip into a nonsurvivable rhythm. Same for electrical jolts with chaos.

  He slammed my head into the wall, and I saw stars. There was a ringing in my ears as he grabbed my jaw to pry my face around to look him in the eye. Apparently, he wanted me paying attention.

  He smashed his lips into mine and I fought vomit. I managed to get my hands free enough to grab a handful of his testicles and wrench them to the left. He jerked away from me, but I didn’t let go.

  “I’m pretty sure we told you not to come around me again. I’m pretty sure I told you never to do anything like this again. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  I twisted a little more and he stopped breathing. I let go but backed away to the other doorway.

  “I just wanted you to see,” he said. Tears were leaking from his eyes. “You look so beautiful, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. Why won’t you just love me back?”

  I wiped my mouth and came away with a red smear. My lip stain hadn’t withstood all that, I’d have to repair it. I brushed my dress off with irritation. I was going to burn this damn dress.

  “There is nothing between us, Jim. There has never been anything. I read tarot for you. Nothing more. I don’t want you and for heaven’s sake you don’t want me. I’m not sure what’s going on today, but this is wrong. Find yourself another practitioner, make it a guy you won’t be tempted to manhandle,” I told him, voice hot with frustration and anger.

  “You need to be gone before I come out of the bathroom. If you’re still here, I’ll have you thrown out. Do you understand Jim, you hearing me?”

  He looked up at me with an angry flush burning his face. His eyes shone with frustration and fury. I didn’t think this would be the last time I saw him. I was going to have to be very careful.

  I turned to leave, began walking away, and called back, “Leave, Jim, now.”

  I hadn’t made it four steps before running into Victor Raymonds, literally. He caught me before I fell, and I felt like an idiot. What was going on today? I was falling into the arms of men all over the place like some sort of regency romance novel.

  “Are you all right? You look a bit…uneasy?”

  I backed up a step and touched my mouth with my fingers. I probably looked unsightly like I’d been smearing blood on my mouth and face. Add to that the shaking hands and nausea and you had uneasy, I guessed.

  “Ahem. Yes, I just had an unfortunate encounter with a former customer, and I need to freshen up a little. Any chance you might be a darling and grab my handbag off the table there beside Dorian. I’d rather he not see me at the moment.”

  “Sure, won’t be a minute.”

  He returned with my bag and walked me to the restrooms. I thanked him and pushed at the door.

  “What were you doing out here? Aren’t you being auctioned tonight too?”

  “Oh yes. I’m up soon but Karmine was worried, she hadn’t seen you in a while, so I offered to look around the exhibits for you. I was about to head back when we ran into each other. I’ll be sure to tell her I found you.”

  I nodded. “Thanks again. And for walking me. Good luck, I’m sure Karmine will win your bid, so no worries about that.”

  “Most likely. I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you how lovely you look tonight.” His lips tilted up as he turned to go and waved. He walked unhurriedly back towards the stage, and I went inside the restroom.

  I looked over my face and attempted to repair the smeared mess. It would be difficult without a makeup remover. I used warm water and hand soap that smelled like oats and lavender. I was able to get most of it off my skin and reapply the lip stain. After I fought my dress while using the bathroom and then making sure it was back in place, I washed my hands again and dried them on the last of the paper towels.

  The door pushed open, and I ran into one of the wait staff. I was having a great day for running into people. At least I didn’t have to be caught this time. I looked up to see the young man grinning broadly.

  “Ciao Bella!” He winked at me and strode away.

  Definitely burning the damn dress. I’d looked while I was in the bathroom and couldn’t find anything. My ass was covered, my nipples were not showing, and you couldn’t see through the material. I didn’t understand. It HAD to be a charm.

  I walked back to the table calmly but felt someone watching me the entire time. I felt eyes on me for the rest of the night and the number of odd encounters I’d had was getting close to double digits.

  It was almost midnight, time for Thibbs to turn into a pumpkin. I looked around for him and found him sitting with Dorian. He flitted over to me when I sat down.

  “You little monster, you left me to deal with Jim alone.”

  “That’s true but I sent help. Dorian was coming but that other one said he’d go. The one with who I’m guessing to be your sister. He said he’d make sure you were okay and here you are, right as rain.”

  I frowned. “He said Karmine sent him. Why would he lie?”

  “I don’t know but my time about up for this day. You gon’ be okay with your cousin?”

  I nodded, “I’ll be fine. How much trouble could I possibly get into in four hours?”

  He chuckled, “Famous last words, cher, famous last words.”

  15 It Wasn’t the Dress

  I woke up briefly at four a.m. to tell Thibbs I was fine and we both went to sleep. I, in my bed and he, in his. I’d found a small box and turned it into a bed for him.

  We got back up around seven and then again at nine. I wasn’t winning today with getting out of bed. I hadn’t drunk much but I felt like I had a terrible hangover.

  When my full bladder woke me up again at ten, I got out of the bed and stayed out. I checked my answering machine, yes, I am the last holdout I know. There were several messages waiting for me.

  The first was from my mother asking if I would be satisfied with pink decorations. I called her back to tell her green, deep green and nothing springy please. Or even just silver or black if she could please. She finally agreed to green and silver. She had also sent out invites for tomorrow night. She already had thirty RSVPs.

  The second was from Reva and Maxine checking on me and asking how the party went. Reva knew I usually went with Dorian. Maxine would be in the shop by herself for a while this morning since Reva was going to the doctor with her parents. They were supposed to get some of the results back today. She should be back by the lunch rush. I looked at the clock, that was about an hour away.

  The third was only heavy breathing. I thought I heard something in the background, but they never said anything. The number came up unlisted in my caller ID. Odd, I had an unlisted number. I shouldn’t really be getting prank calls.

  The fourth was from Dorian. He thanked me for going and for having a discussion with Ms. Davies who had, in fact, bid on him and won but assured him she would behave. I felt bad I hadn’t prevented that but hopefully we’d shown her the error of her ways. Before he hung up, he reminded me to call Achlys. He did not leave a number so I would not be doing that.

  The fifth message w
as also Dorian, leaving the damn phone number. I still probably wouldn’t call him. Better to let the charm wear off and talk in person so he could better see what he thought he wanted to get involved with. The reality of me was often less appealing than the thought. I tended to be honest, blunt, and weird.

  Thibbs floated into the room along with Jaylin. She was gesturing wildly. Her clothes had changed.

  “Your clothes changed, how’d you do it?”

  She sighed. “Short answer-really the only answer-is I don’t know. When I manifested today, I was wearing this. At least it’s closer to something I’d actually wear.”

  She was wearing a flowered maxi dress with sandals. A little chilly for December but I doubted she felt the cold anyway.

  I raised both eyebrows in question. I’d never seen her wear anything even remotely like that, but we had been long distance friends for much of our adult years.

  “A few times my mother convinced me to wear such an ensemble for some warm weather functions. The last function I can remember I wore this dress. Mama loved it.”

  “Okay, maybe that means eventually you’ll get to choose between all of your remembered special outfits. Like a special ghost outfit closet.”

  She frowned and lifted her arms above her head. “In the meantime, I’m stuck in this.”

  I snickered. “Remember that dress…”

  She threw her hands out to stop me. “Do NOT go there!”

  “…from that a dance when we were about twelve?”

  “Bitch, I will punch you in your left boob if you don’t stop. I do not want to live in that monstrosity for even a day.” A horrified look appeared on her features. Her hand floated to her mouth shakily and she patted her lips.

  “What?!?”

  “What if I regress as I go through these outfits? No, stay with me now,” she said as I shook my head. “If I’m going back through these outfit memories it seems a little ridiculous if its only outfits. Why wouldn’t I be revisiting past ‘mes’? What if I’m cycling?”

  Her face was horrified. “Like time is fluid, obviously, you’ve got a familiar that travels to different time periods. Right Thibbs?”