by C. D. Gorri
“This is just the silliest thing, Grazi. I tell you the more advanced the technology, the more dependent society becomes, and of course, the less reliable they make these things!” He waved the box of films towards me then dumped it into his assistant’s hands.
“Jenny, send these back along with the entire case and make sure our supplier knows that these films are all corrupt. Unbelievable. Hmph.” Dr. Goldwyn performed my cleaning himself. Unsurprisingly, I had no cavities. I left the office with an appointment for a check-up in six months. I had absolutely no intention of keeping it.
“Finito?”
“Yes, Nonna.” We left together and I did not tell her about the difficulties I had. I did intend to discuss it with my uncle though. After the dentist, I went to school. I had missed homeroom, but was just in time for a pop quiz in Algebra II. Yay.
For the first time in my life, I think I may have gotten lower than an A in a math class. I was disappointed in myself, but I hadn’t had a lot of time lately for homework and extra assignments. I’d have to learn to manage my time better or I was going to be stuck in junior classes and have nowhere to go next year. Ugh.
I was irritated and really hungry by the time lunch came around. Not eating in the morning had been a mistake, but I couldn’t before my appointment. I stacked two turkey BLTs on my plate along with a honey mango yogurt, a Powerbar, a protein water and a milk. Whole not 2%. Grazi, you are such a rebel.
I shook my head at my inner sarcastic voice and ate half of one of the sandwiches while I waited to pay. I slid my student ID through the machine after inputting my choices on the display. I loved the whole self-serve thing. The school installed a camera right by the register so you couldn’t lie about what you took. Not that I would anyway, but some people aren’t so trustworthy I guess.
The student ID cards had a magnetic strip on the back where our meal credits were stored. They were like debit cards that were only any good at school. Each food item cost a set dollar amount and you could put up to a hundred dollars on your card at a time. Most students wore their IDs on a SHPS lanyard around their necks or had them on their key chains. I usually stuffed mine in my backpack.
I sat at our usual table. Angela was there and smiled when she saw me. Her lovely eyes bulged when she saw my tray.
“Whoa, Grazi! When was the last time you ate?”
“I’m starving.” Was all I said before finishing the second half of sandwich number one in two bites. I just glared at Angela as she continued to stare.
“Okay, okay. Sheesh. How come skinny girls always eat so much and never gain a pound!” I shrugged and kept eating. I sympathized with her as she ate her small bowl of maple flavored oatmeal and an apple.
I probably shouldn’t eat that much in front of her, but I did anyway. I mean what was the alternative? I was only liable to get grumpier if I didn’t get some more food in my belly.
Sebastian walked in with Tyler and Mike. They sat at the adjoining table, giving me and Sebby some space. I noticed the cheerleaders hadn’t come in yet. For some reason Tyler was glaring at me.
He seemed to catch himself and looked down at his cold piece of pizza. He pushed it away and left the cafeteria. Sebastian followed him with his eyes and a curious frown before he noticed where he was.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” I felt shy and a little embarrassed. I ate both sandwiches already, but there was still the Powerbar and yogurt and drinks on my tray. I opened my milk and took a sip. Sebby looked down at his tuna wrap and smiled.
“So, how was the dentist?”
“Okay. No cavities.” I smiled. Great.
This was so not how I wanted this to go. Angela cleared her throat and I looked up at Julianna and her clones coming into the cafeteria. Each one of them wearing their crocheted scarves perfectly draped around their necks and their hair swept away from their freshly scrubbed faces.
No one should look that good on a Monday. I think my lip curled because Sebastian raised both his perfect brown eyebrows. He quickly looked down at his tray when I focused on him. Oops, easy there girl.
“Um. Look, I think we should talk-” I began. Ooh. Awkward.
“Grazi, I know things have been weird since the other night. I haven’t been feeling well and we haven’t spent any time together, but why don’t we wait for the weekend before we make any decisions. You know, let’s hang out or something. Okay?”
He looked so hopeful and so adorable that I didn’t know how to refuse him. It’s not like I had gorgeous guys striving for my attention on a daily basis. I’m only human. Sort of.
“Sebby, I don’t think so.”
“Come on, please?”
I knew I had made a mistake by not being harsher the second Ronan walked into the cafeteria and saw us sitting together. I mean we had been sitting together for months so why this bothered him I don’t know. His green eyes met mine and I saw his upset before he averted them out of respect.
I saw his Wolf. He was angry and territorial. I didn’t blame him for that. I did blame him for the way he cozied up to Julianna and sniffed her neck playfully before snagging a lock of her perfect blonde hair and whispering something to her.
She giggled and bit her lower lip. The perfect image of flirty teenager. I felt like a giant idiot next to her and he knew it. Why make it so obvious he wanted to hurt me? That would have to wait for later. Now I’d get even.
“Okay, Sebby. Meet me after school.”
Ronan looked at me. I knew what he was thinking. I didn’t care. Two could play at this game.
CHAPTER 9
“Grazi! Please pay attention, girl. I am trying to teach you something here.” Uncle Sean’s lesson was a bit more boring than I would have usually found it. Maybe it’s because I ditched practice yesterday to hang out with Sebby. At least that’s what I let Ronan think. He wouldn’t even look at me today.
True, I did meet Sebby after school. And I calmly told him we could now and always only be friends. He seemed relieved. In fact I was sure of it. I smelled it on him. My heart was sad only for a minute. I mean one minute the cutest boy in school was my, even if in rumor only, boyfriend and the next he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I thought about our meeting as Uncle Sean droned on about pilgrimages and saints.
“So Grazi, I wanted to tell you, this rumor, about us. Tyler started it. I don’t know why, but-” Not exactly the truth. But whatever. Sebby had his reasons I was sure.
“I can’t be your girlfriend Sebby, I’m just too focused on my work.”
“Yeah, I, um, figured that. As long as you don’t hate me after the other night?”
“No, I don’t hate you. Friends?”
“Yeah, friends.” He hugged me and kissed my cheek before we had parted ways.
“Grazi?”
“Huh?”
“Listen, just read the book okay? Maybe you’d do better at sparring today.”
“Fine.”
I got up and went to change in the hall bathroom. I came out in my newly acquired sparring gear. I was learning to be less self-conscious. Besides the guys all wore pants and nothing else. I could certainly wear a tank top and leggings without feeling embarrassed.
“Santa Lucia’s day is coming soon.”
“Da.”
Sascha and Dimitri were talking as they sparred. They moved quickly for such big guys. The rest of what they said was lost on me. They spoke Russian. A few English words here and there. Battle of Light and Dark. Tree of Saints. Prophecy.
I tried to focus on the targets set up on the other side of the room. I couldn’t lose focus thinking about a bunch of words that meant nothing to me. Prophecy indeed. I felt the blade on my hip and took it out of its sheath. It vibrated in my hand. I threw it. Bullseye. I was ridiculously pleased with myself.
“You were looking. And standing still. Try running, blindfolded, make it a little more fair.” I turned back to see Ronan with a practice blade.
His chest was bare and his gym pants tight. Oh boy.
He put a blindfold on and took a knife from a back holster he had strapped around one arm. He ran did a tumble and loosed the knife. Bullseye. Well, my small feeling of victory went right in the garbage.
I took the blindfold from him and walked to retrieve my knife. I went back to my starting position and tied the fabric around my head. Good and tight. I backed up, jogged two steps and loosed the knife. When I took my blindfold off I could see my aim was more than off. I had failed to visualize my target.
I looked back at Ronan expecting to see a snide smirk or nasty comment on his lips. He only went to get the knife and handed it back to me.
“Again.” His demeanor was professional to the point of being impersonal. It drove me nuts. We worked out with the knives for two hours. I was sweating and ridiculously pleased with myself at the end. I had learned to throw the knife blindfolded from all areas of the room after being spun around and the target being moved repeatedly. The exercise required I take in my surroundings in the blink of an eye and retain the memory in my mind. Apparently another perk of being a Werewolf. Cool.
Ronan went to walk away from me. I followed him.
“Hey! That’s it? You’re going to leave just like that.”
“What do you want me to say? Thanks for taking a day off from your boyfriend and making time for your lessons so you don’t wind up dead?”
“No, Ronan, Sebby and I-”
“I don’t want to hear about you and Mr. Wonderful! Bad enough I’m stuck with you drooling over him at school. I won’t let you bring him in here too!” His raised voice startled me into complete stillness. He was angry, but there was something more beneath that. I let him walk away and cringed when he slammed his door. I felt Cara’s presence behind me.
“You had to do a job on him, didn’t ya? Must run in the blood.” Before I could ask what she meant she stormed off.
What was with all this ‘I’m storming off now’ crap? This was getting to be a habit with people in my life. I didn’t much care for it.
I logged onto Wolf Moon after finishing a huge roast beef sandwich and glass of milk. Nonna had the cooking of a roast beef down to an art. It was tender, perfectly pink, and seasoned with just the right amount of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. The rye bread was fresh and the mustard whole grain. I was in food heaven.
I did feel guilty over missing dinner again. I missed talking to Nonna about my day and hers. Crap. That was getting to be a habit.
I sent my avatar WolfGirl2014 into a bar where, I was told by peddlers on the cyber streets, I would find some info. There were a few people logged in and hanging inside the bar. A huge movie type, biped Werewolf guy in torn jeans and plaid shirt approached me. Ew. His avatar drooled.
“You want in here? Pay homage to me!”
“What?”
“Pay homage or die WolfGirl2014!”
“I don’t know what you are talking about I am just looking for some info.”
“No info without my due now get lost!”
Just like that I was out of the game. Homage? What the heck did that mean? I tried Angela but she wasn’t answering. Oh well, back to mom’s diary I guess.
I went to my futon and fluffed the pillows all around me. Just the way I liked when I was settling in for a good, long read. I was nervous at first. Last time I did this I had the worst nightmare. I took a deep breath and dove into my mother’s memories with more than a little trepidation. Her neat handwriting struck me as it always did. I read on.
Research and more research. I simply can’t find enough information. The Hounds are secretive. Rolf has basically outlawed my being involved and Patrick has done his best to protect me. Only I don’t need protection! I need information!
My darling Grazi grows by the second. What I thought was a premature birth was actually the norm for Werewolves. I can only imagine the horror that awaits her if this is her fate. Is her life not to be her own? Must she serve the Hounds and their tyrannical masters? I heard them speaking about a contract that must be honored. I need to find out what it all means.
Oh no. Everything I never wanted to learn I have finally found out! It’s true. Grazi will pay for our sins. Patrick finally broke down and told me. He was betrothed. A pact made by his parents on the day he was born. There have been wars fought for less within the Pack.
Patrick is considered a prince, next in line, his word was his vow. It was supposed to mean more coming from a prince. He broke a contract and the only way to make it up is to offer his daughter’s hand! My daughter’s hand! The girl he was to marry, Margaret Madden, was only 16 years old. They were to be married on her 18th birthday. She committed suicide when she learned of our marriage. She believed herself inferior somehow. As if she were to blame for not being good enough. The poor girl. I can’t believe it. How could so much grief come from our love?
Her older brother, Martin Madden has a son a little older than Grazi and in order to fix this Rolf has promised my child to him. Without my consent, without my knowledge. A contract made under the full moon in blood. Patrick says it is binding. There is nothing we can do. I will never forgive him for this! Never.
I closed the diary with a loud thud. My heart pounded in my chest. Contract. Betrothed. Madden! It’s Ronan! He knew. I ran to the window and threw it open.
Without knocking I opened the Kelly house door, straight to where I knew he was. My mom’s diary felt heavy in my hand. I opened his door. He didn’t notice. He had his Beatz on and his head was moving in time as he played the piano for only him to hear. I picked up a soccer ball that was on the floor and threw it at him.
“Ow! What the-” Ronan jumped up from the keyboard and took his headphones off.
“Jeez Maria! I could’ve attacked you! What the heck are you doing?”
“You knew! And you didn’t tell me!”
“I knew what?”
“You knew this! This was why you came here. To look me over I guess, as if I’m a freaking piece of furniture you can decide whether you want in your room or not!” I thrust the diary at him. It was opened to the last entry I read. I was so angry, so hurt I couldn’t make a coherent thought.
I wanted to scream. He scanned the page quickly and turned abruptly running his hand through his hair. It had gotten longer since he came here. I usually liked looking at the red and gold wavy locks, but right now I wanted to yank them off his head! The worm!
“Alright look. Yes, I did know-”
“You jerk! How could you lie to me?” I shoved him. Hard.
“I didn’t lie. Betrothals are common amongst Werewolves. There aren’t many of us and there is a good chance when mating to a human that it won’t get passed on. So pacts are made to ensure our survival.”
“That’s disgusting!”
“It is not. What would you have us do? Leave the world to darkness and evil then? Who would fight if we died out? Think about it Grazi. This is bigger than some silly girl’s hurt feelings!”
“Oh, now I’m a silly girl!”
“Yes. No. Oh heck, I don’t know. Look I am sorry I didn’t tell you, but how would you have reacted. ‘Gee, Ronan sounds great let’s get married in June!’ Come on. Besides it would have been moot if you hadn’t turned.”
“So because I am a Werewolf, we’re betrothed? That’s just great.”
“Look, I’ve found reference in an old journal of my great uncle’s to a ceremony to unbind a pair of Wolves who were betrothed without their consent. We were just babies, so we didn’t consent, right? Anyways, I’m looking into it. I know how you feel, Maria. You know, about Sebby and all. I’ll do everything I can to get you out of this.”
“Ronan that has nothing to do with it. It’ not you either. I mean I’ll be 16 years old in a few days. I’m not thinking about marriage right now. I’m not sure if I ever will.”
“Yeah, well, neither am I. Trust me.”
“Okay. It’s not your fault. Sorry, I yelled at you.”
“It’s fine. I don’t blame you.”
&nb
sp; “Will you let me help look into the unbinding ceremony?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Okay, good.” Now that I had run out of steam I realized I was in Ronan’s room, at night. He was standing there in a pair of boxers and nothing else. Gulp. Maybe I shouldn’t be too hasty to throw away this betrothal. Ew. Great, Grazi, why not just drool all over the boy in his underwear after you pretty much told him you wanted nothing to do with him? I’m such a freak.
“Um, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I turned around and left as quickly as I had come in.
“Yeah, okay.” I heard his whispered reply.
Alessio looked back at Ronan and me another four or five times before trudging on through the back alleys of Newark. I admit this was not a cool place. Creepy and dirty was a much more apt description.
A passing car blasted rap music. The bass was so loud the entire street vibrated. I liked some rap, but not enough to recognize who these guys were playing. The driver slowed his ride and the passenger rolled his window down. Great. Cold blue eyes and a buzz cut greeted us from inside the dark car.
“You lost, little girl?”
Ronan tensed and growled. I touched his arm. He stilled and waited for my move. I kinda liked that. He never tried any macho crap with me.
I closed my eyes a second and called to her. Her answer was swift and immediate. She was more perfectly attuned to any danger around me than I could ever be. I was careful to let just a little of my Wolf show when I approached the car.
At first, the guy in the passenger seat didn’t notice. He was laughing and talking to the driver. Something about how he was going to help me find myself. Yeah, right.
“Hey, you looking to be my side bae? Yeah, you lost, right? I can help you get where you need to go. You know what I’m saying, lil girl.”