TWINED

by A. L. Collins

  “You live here?” While I admit it was extravagant and gorgeous, it did look dark and lonely in the night.

  “Yeah. It’s not the best place, there’s no heat or running water. But it is home nonetheless.”

  “There’s no heat?”

  “There’s a wood fireplace.”

  “There’s no running water?”

  “I got us sodas.”

  “What about showering, dare I ask?”

  “I just use the locker rooms at school.”

  I gawked at him. “Al, why didn’t you tell me you were living like this?”

  He shrugged with an awesome smile. “Because I thought you hated me?” He said it as if it was a question rather than a response.

  “Oh… yeah that’s my fault.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get some firewood, eat some McDon’t Ask What’s In It, and try to enjoy ourselves for a night. Hell after a night like tonight I say that’s a fine idea.”

  I agreed with him one hundred percent. We went up to his huge patio and he unlocked the door with a key that must have been ancient. We walked in and all I saw was darkness. It was kind of hard to appreciate the majesty of the home with such a lack of light. But from what I saw the ceilings and the outlines of the furniture were all very impressive.

  “How are there outside lights if there’s no electricity?”

  “Solar lamps.”

  “Ah, gotcha. This is a nice place Al. Seems a little lonely though.”

  “You kind of get used to it. I mean if anyone should get that it’s you, right?”

  I turned to look at him as he walked over to the wood fireplace. “Why do you say that?”

  He glanced at me for a second. Taking a couple pieces of dry wood, he threw them into the fireplace and searched for the matches. “I don’t know. You just seem so… isolated. Even when you’re around people, it’s like there’s no one else around you.”

  I crossed my arms. “Wow. Talk about observation skills.”

  “Tracking kind of makes you sensitive to other people’s… let’s say auras.” He lit the fireplace and it flared to life, causing a warm glow to illuminate the living room.

  “Much better.” He grabbed the McDonald’s bag and passed it to me. “It’s your favorite.”

  “How did you-”

  “I read your mind while you were sleeping.” He laughed. “You were dreaming about a Big Mac, I swear to God it was hilarious.”

  I laughed and threw the bag gently down as I took a seat next to it. “That’s cheating.”

  “You’re welcome.” Albert paused for a second. “Although, if you want to waste some food and money… there is an alternative to eating.”

  I gave him a look. “What?”

  Albert went over into the kitchen, which joined seamlessly with the family room, and opened up the cupboards. I wondered if we were the only ones here. He certainly was banging around the kitchen like we were alone.

  “Here it is.” He walked back over and sat next to me on the floor, right in front of the fireplace.

  I grabbed the bottle he handed me. “Is this wine?”

  “Straight from France. Mom got it back when she and dad used to travel. It has apparently aged gorgeously, although someone ripped the label off of it.”

  “Are you sure we can drink this? No one will get upset we’re drinking their fancy booze?”

  “No.” His voice turned soft for a minute. “No one will get… mad. And hey, we deserve it after all this shit.”

  I was already popping the cork open. The smell of fragrant wine seduced me. “Already there. Glasses?”

  He raised two and I poured.

  We sat there for a while in silence, listening to the crickets chirp. The heat from the fire really did a lot to keep us warm and it did just as much keeping my mind off of everything that just happened. I could tell that Albert was thinking about it too. Up to this point I couldn’t get much from his mind, not enough to form words to literally read his thoughts. But I felt his emotions and could match them to things that have happened to him recently. Like seeing Harris die, that bothered Albert more than anything right now.

  I guess I wasn’t as good at reading Albert’s mind as he was at reading mine, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  “Are you alright? I mean after what happened tonight,” I asked him carefully. “I don’t think any of us was expecting Lovelock to kill Harris. I mean granted yeah he was an asshole… but there had to have been a better way to deal with them.”

  Albert shrugged. “I don’t know… that’s how things have always been for my people. There’s nothing really governing us other than human laws and our own families, neither of which take our powers into consideration. And when Twined die, they leave no trace. It’s a dog eat dog world out there for us. But I’ll be alright.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I will. It was just a very sobering experience that’s all.”

  “Yeah, I hear you. The first time I saw a Twined die, I didn’t even know what was going on. But it was just as horrifying.”

  He looked at me. “You’ve seen a Twined die before?”

  I nodded. “Once when I was eleven my… mother killed one.”

  He cringed.

  “Yeah. I think that’s why she’s so well known, because she murdered a Twined woman in the kitchen of my home.” I sighed in frustration. “I mean I really don’t want to even consider that Lovelock prick being right… but he is. I mean my mother is a crazy murderer. She’s not in Riverdale for fun. What if-”

  “Don’t you even think about that racist piece of shit,” Albert hissed, cutting me off. “You’re not like him. You’re not like your mother either. I know you haven’t had the best experience with Twined, but you’d never kill anyone in cold blood, human or otherwise. You’re not that kind of person.”

  But I had to say what was on my mind. “But what if he had a point, Albert?” I asked as he looked at me. “Lovelock, I mean. When we find Jessica… are we going to just kill her? Just like that? And if we don’t… what will we do to keep her from coming after us in the future?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve been thinking of ways to get her out of our life. I’ve asked Gray if she can find rituals to maybe subdue her or something… but no matter how many books I look through there don’t seem to be any permanent answers.” He stared into my eyes with a comforting stare. “But if it comes to it, I will kill her. I will take her down to protect you. I’m not Lovelock and I never want to be, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t eliminate anyone who tries to hurt you.”

  “I know. You have my back and that means so much to me. I just… I don’t know. Sometimes I just doubt if I can really do this…”

  He smiled. “We’ll figure things out. We just have to take things step by step and remain cautious. But Jessica isn’t a victim here, and neither are Harris and Hanabell. Don’t beat yourself up over the fate they chose for themselves. To quote you, no one’s holding a gun to their heads and making them come after you.”

  He had a point. And I felt a lot better. “Thanks Al.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He gave my leg a pat. “Honestly I’d be more worried if you’d just seen someone get murdered and didn’t feel a thing. It’s okay to feel things, Avalin. No one’s blaming you for what happened tonight.”

  All in all he was right about everything. And I had decided that I wasn’t going to worry about the past. What’s done is done. I didn’t kill anyone. What happened at the Freak Among Freaks was out of my control and I needed to focus on the things that are, to focus on the present and plan for the future. Albert and I were in this together. And I think he made it clear that he’s not going anywhere.

  And for that… I thanked him.

  I trac
ed the rim of my glass as I appreciated his comments. “So… why did you bring me here?” I asked as I took a sip of the most delicious wine in the entire world.

  Al shrugged as he also took a drink. “I don’t know. This house has been empty for so long I guess I… wanted to bring a little bit of life back into it, that’s all.”

  “Does anyone else ever live here?”

  “Not anymore. Jaspit and Vikki used to live here with me and Olivander. My parents left me the house when they died and Olivander bought it so I could stay. And we formed our own family.”

  “God Al I’m sorry.”

  “About what, my parents?” He shrugged. “I’ve mourned for years. I’m all for nostalgia but you can’t hold on forever.”

  “It can’t be easy living alone. I mean even I live with my dad and brother. You should get a dog at least.”

  He cocked his head a little. “How long has it been, actually? Let’s see… uh… parents died when I was seven, but that’s when Olivander moved in. Jaspit and Vikki came two years later… Olivander and I went to Trinidad when I was sixteen and I’m twenty now… so I’ve been living here for a couple months, I guess.”

  “Was Olivander your grandfather?”

  “Not by blood, but he was grandfatherly. And a good mentor. He taught me everything a young Twined needed to know. Took me to Trinidad to ‘prepare me’ he said. For what I don’t know, I think he just meant prepare me for the real world.” Albert shook his head. “It was brutal training. But hey, it’s come in handy so far and at least I got a nice body out of the deal,” he said with a laugh.

  “Hey, I am not complaining. You train all you want, stud.”

  He glanced at me. “A compliment, Ms. Marsh?”

  “A realization, Mr. Huntington.”

  He raised his chin at me. “What exactly are we realizing here?”

  I gave him a quick look as I raised my glass. “That you’re not quite as bad as I thought you were,” I said softly as I took another drink.

  He smiled at me. “You know you’re not so bad either when your walls aren’t up.”

  I shrugged. “I come across as a bitch a lot, I know. And I can’t always say I’m proud of that. It’s not on purpose, I don’t try to be hostile.” I looked at him. “But my past has made me strong, Albert. It almost destroyed me, but it has made me strong.”

  “Maybe you don’t have to be strong in front of everyone.”

  “What, show my vulnerable side?” I shook my head. “No way. All it takes is one knick in your armor for an arrow to break through.”

  He rested his head against the couch behind us. “Not everyone is shooting at you, Avalin.”

  “Not everyone is shooting from the front,” I replied.

  “I just want to get through to you. I mean we’re going to Join soon, well I hope. So that means that I’ll be there for you. But I want you to know you can trust me.”

  I took another sip and filled my glass back up. “I do. I think I do trust you. I’m just working on communication at this point.”

  He stuck his glass out and I filled his as well. “We’re going to find Jessica, I promise. She’s the priority here. Once she’s gone we can move onto other things.”

  I grinned. “What kind of other things?”

  “Uh, life maybe? Hell that would be wonderful.” He sighed. “I’m tired of always running. It’s getting really old.”

  “Seconded.” I sighed. “Alright, let’s leave work at work now, okay?”

  “Right, right. You’re right, no depressing topics anymore.”

  “Awesome.”

  After a quick silence, he suggested something. “So how about we get to know each other a little more.”

  “Sure. How do we do that?”

  “How about… we tell each other the most embarrassing moments of our lives.”

  I laughed. “God I have so many.”

  “Humor me, come on. Pick one.”

  “You go first, I have to sort through mine and they’re alphabetized.”

  “Honestly? Not being able to Join with you is pretty embarrassing.”

  “Oh come on, it’s not that big of a deal.”

  “You are not a Twined nor are you a man. You will never understand.”

  I agreed with him on that. “My most embarrassing moment would have to have been in the eighth grade. I was kissing Randy Ewold in a movie theatre and he…” I messed with my hair. “Well he coughed up a tonsil stone in my mouth.”

  Well Albert just about lost it. He literally fell over on his side laughing hysterically as he spilled his wine on the carpet.

  I grinned, teeth clenched. “You’re a dick.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

  “You know I didn’t laugh at you and your freaking man Joining problems.” I tried to keep from laughing but I’ve never seen him bust out so hard to where he was actually crying. So before I knew it I was dipping my head in my lap laughing along with him. It was a good five minutes of rib crunching howling before either of us could form any words again.

  “Oh my God I needed that.” He wiped tears from his eyes. “That’s absolutely hysterical.”

  “I remember running out of that movie theatre crying. And when my dad told me I’d be laughing about it when I got older, I never believed him.”

  Albert looked at me while we still were having staccato bursts of giggling, like little children.

  “Your face is really red,” I told him.

  “From the laughing or the wine?” he asked.

  “Most likely both. Here Al, drink something else.” I handed him my McDonald’s drink which was still perfectly cold. He took a swig of it, nodding in approval.

  “I noticed you’ve been calling me that a lot lately.”

  “What?”

  “Al.” He set the drink down. “You always called me Albert, never Al.”

  “I don’t know. Sounds catchy once you get used to it.”

  “I could get used to you calling me that.”

  I smiled at him. “Thanks for bringing me here, Al.” I couldn’t help but realize how perfect yet cheesy that sounded.

  He nodded as the fireplace illuminated his face. The sturdy structure of his jaw was illuminated with dancing lights that just mesmerized me in a way I’d never felt before. “Thanks for staying.”

  I tried to brush my hair out of my face, but his hand came forward and stopped mine. I flinched as he took his fingers and softly pushed the loose strands back behind my ear. His hand traced down my cheek and right under my lips. My breathing almost ceased completely as I followed his fingers with my eyes. I looked at his face. Those ideally sized lips and those expressive eyebrows, everything about him was so intense and mysterious. Yet I had seen the normal side of him. It was something that I couldn’t describe even if I had the words to do it.

  And for the first time in history… I think I let my guard down. Briefly.

  Albert was right. No arrows in sight.

  But for once it wasn’t me who was stopping. Albert shook his head and pulled away; leaving me with that faint feeling I always got when he was near and his manly scent under my nose. He stood up and rubbed his shoulder, looking out of the large window that made up the wall next to us. “I… I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was doing,” he said with the slightest hint of regret. “Guess it was the wine.”

  I cleared my throat. “No, it’s alright. It was pretty… pretty strong.”

  I suffocated the underlying disappointment deep within my being. Maybe if I stuffed it down far enough I’d fool myself into believing that it wasn’t even there to begin with.

  CHAPTER 16: FORGIVE ME, MISERY

  Albert brought me home at about six in the morning because we weren’t sober enough to drive until then. Scratch that, I wa
s sober enough to drive at six. Albert was pretty much trashed. I mean we had a good time, but we got trashed. We should have stopped at one bottle of wine. I had to sneak into the house because I knew my brother was going to be getting ready for school. But thanks to the luck of Avalin Marsh, I had gotten about five steps in the door and ran straight into Josh.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, staring at me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked back.

  He lifted a book in his hand. “Packing. Why do you smell like booze and shame?”

  I sighed. “Okay listen, you can’t tell dad-”

  “That you’re bringing a guy home?”

  Yours truly scoffed. “A guy home? Seriously, don’t you know me? When have I ever-”

  “Avalin?” I heard Albert’s voice groggily address me. He walked into the door in his jeans and sleeveless shirt, sounding as off kilter as he did back at his house.

  “You left me outside,” he semi-moaned.

  I gritted my teeth as Josh just stared at me. Of course Albert picked now to come inside. He didn’t wait for me to scope the place out like I said, oh no, it seems walking in the door couldn’t wait five seconds.

  “Wow,” Josh said blankly. “Even your boyfriend has better comedic timing than you.”

  “Okay first off he’s a friend, let’s get that straight. Second he lives alone in a house with no heat or running water so I’m letting him sleep off his hangover here.”

  Albert waved his hand. “Sup?”

  Josh looked agitated. “Sup to you too,” he said blankly and walked into the kitchen.

  I breathed out in relief. “Okay, into my room. Go, go.”

  “He doesn’t seem to like me.”

  “He doesn’t like anyone who drinks. He finds being drunk repulsive.” I pushed Albert up the steps as quietly as possible.

  “I’m just a bit woozy, actually.”

  “Congratulations, Josh is only half annoyed by you then. Come on, keep going. Quietly.”

  I took him up to my room and made my bed for him. He flopped down with a drunken swagger as I pulled the covers over him. Taking the time to make sure he was comfortable, I brushed a few strands of his short hair away from his forehead. He fell asleep instantly and seemed just so peaceful. I checked the hallway to make sure no one was walking by and shut the door. I’m pretty sure dad’s car was gone, so that was a relief.