The Girl and The Raven

by Pauline Gruber

  I worry that Marcus is mad at me, which stinks since it isn’t my fault. Besides, isn’t there some kind of rule that people aren’t allowed to be mad at the birthday girl? He doesn’t leave, fortunately, but he makes a point of staying far away from me for the rest of the night.

  Once the pizzas are devoured, Sheldon pushes me into a chair and brings the cake in with sixteen candles blazing. It’s decorated with big purple and pink flowers all made out of whipped cream frosting. The message reads: Happy Birthday Lucy and Welcome Home!

  “Happy Birthday Lucy!” Momma tickles me and I laugh. Gram lights all six candles on my homemade cake, a smile on her face. Yellow cake with vanilla frosting. Strawberries in the middle. Sheldon takes photos as Bernard leads them in the birthday song. I squeeze my eyes shut and wish that Momma and I could stay with Gram forever. Then I blow out the candles.

  I’m embarrassed by the tear that slides down my cheek. I wipe it away as Sheldon arranges everyone around me for a photo. After several shots, he passes the camera to Katie, who’s whispering to her mom.

  As Katie fusses with the camera, Ms. Stevens walks by and hip bumps me onto Marcus’ lap. The room falls silent, with the exception of my loud gasp. I’m sure my cheeks are as red as Ms. Stevens’ lipstick as everyone stares at us. Marcus and I look at each other at the exact moment that Katie snaps a photo. Maybe later I’ll be happy to have the photo, but at the moment I grit my teeth and slide off of Marcus’ lap. I shoot a dirty look at Katie before disappearing into the kitchen to get a glass of water and hide from my guests.

  By ten o’clock Katie and her mom head for the door.

  “So much for your brother coming by, huh,” Ms. Stevens says to Marcus, her voice too loud, as she teeters past him.

  I grudgingly return Katie’s hug.

  She presses her lips close to my ear. “I know you’re mad at me, but you should know…he wasn’t upset at all.”

  “You’re a trouble maker,” I accuse. Is it true? Did Marcus like having me on his lap?

  I return to the kitchen and find Marcus cleaning off countertops while my uncles load the dishwasher.

  “Why don’t you two go watch TV. We’ll finish this up,” Bernard offers, drying his hands on a dishtowel.

  Marcus raises an eyebrow. “Do you want to go up on the roof?” He glances at my uncles. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” Bernard responds before Sheldon has a chance to.

  I follow Marcus upstairs to his apartment. It looks pretty much the same as last time, except that the guitar is missing. Once on the balcony, Marcus grabs the rungs on the ladder and climbs upward. I’m right behind him. He takes hold of my hand and helps me over the ledge. A tingly sensation races up my arm as his thumb strokes mine. Marcus releases my hand and rests his elbows on the railing, studying the quiet street below.

  “I’m sorry about earlier…Katie and the photo.” My cheeks flush. Could he tell how much I liked the feeling of his hands on my waist as he caught me? Oh God. What if he thinks I planned it?

  “Don’t worry about it.” He glances over his shoulder at me and my mouth goes dry as our gaze meets. My stomach sinks to my toes and my heart is hammering in my chest. Does he have any idea the effect he has on me? He returns his attention to the street. I try to relax. This isn’t a big deal, right? So why are my nerves snap crackling like it’s the fourth of July?

  Tension settles at the base of my neck and spreads to my shoulders as silence stretches between us. I roll my shoulders slightly.

  Marcus scoots over, making room for me. I lean on the railing next to him. A cool breeze kicks up, bringing the scent of rhododendrons from Gram’s garden. My favorite, after the lilacs. The air is filled with the rustling chatter of leaves.

  “Is it true? What Katie said about you and your friends?” Marcus asks, his gaze fixed on the scene below.

  I shrug. “Pretty much. When the six of us go out together, Ella and Caroline basically decide where we’re going, which usually involves them scouting for guys. Whenever I try to speak up and suggest we do something different…something the rest of us want to do...Ella rips me a new one. I love Katie—Cloe and Suzy, too—but Ella’s evil. She’s always on me for something. Caroline isn’t as bad, but I’m sick of her, too.”

  He whips around to face me, his tone fierce. “So stop hanging out with them!”

  “Easy for you to say!” I push off the railing, feeling attacked. “I’m new here. I don’t have many friends.”

  “It doesn’t sound like Ella’s your friend,” he shoots back.

  He doesn’t understand. I have decent friends for the first time in my life. What if it’s a package deal? I don’t want to rock the boat and risk losing them all. Besides, why does he care who I hang out with?

  The breeze turns blustery and my hair whips my face.

  “So, what’s the deal with you and your brother?” It’s his turn to answer some questions. “And where are your parents?”

  My questions are swept away by a gust of wind.

  “We should go inside.” Marcus leaves the railing, a grimace on his face as he scans the street. “A storm is coming.”

  “Just a few more minutes,” I tell him, trying to ignore the goose bumps breaking out all over my body. Being with him is my ultimate birthday wish come true. I don’t want it to end, even if he’s sort of being a jerk.

  “Sure.” His posture is rigid. I can’t tell if he’s tense about the oncoming storm or because of my friends.

  I rest my lower back against the railing, folding my arms over my chest. Marcus mimics my stance, shoving his hands in his jean pockets. We stand side by side, our shoulders touching. I simultaneously shudder from the cold and melt from the warm pressure of his arm against mine.

  “Aiden?” I remind him.

  “What about him?” He avoids my gaze.

  “You probably know lots about me, since you’re friendly with Persephone. So, why all the secrecy?”

  “Maybe some skeletons need to be left in their closets.”

  I push away from the railing, my eyes narrowing. “Again, I’m going to assume you know a lot about me, so don’t you dare tell me about skeletons and closets.”

  Marcus continues to stare at the houses below. The wind picks up, starts to howl. I ignore the cold as anger simmers inside of me. I’m tempted to punch him in the shoulder to get his attention.

  “Aiden isn’t my brother.”

  I’m sure I heard him wrong. “What?”

  I study his profile. He’s clenching and unclenching his jaw.

  “Lucy…this is going to sound crazy. I know Persephone and Aiden don’t feel you’re ready…” His voice is rough as he pulls his hands from his pockets and crosses them over his chest.

  “Ready for what?” His grim expression unnerves me. “Why does everyone think you and Aiden are brothers?”

  “Because that’s what we tell them,” he says. He takes a few steps away and then spins around to face me. “Lucy, there’s so much I want to tell you, but…I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s all part of the plan. To protect you.”

  “Oh, here we go—” I snort.

  “It’s like Persephone told you. You’re in danger here.” His eyes plead with me as he takes a step toward me.

  I rub my arms absently against the chill as I think back to my meeting with Persephone. Did she say I was in danger? “The security measures you mentioned earlier…what are they? Or is that top secret, too?”

  “An alarm system.”

  “That’s it?” It’s silly, but I was kind of hoping Marcus was going to continue to watch over me.

  He grins. “Trust me. This isn’t any alarm system. This one is special. Persephone and Henry cast a spell on all the windows and doors of the three-flat. If he tries to enter—”

  “He? Who is he?” I ask harshly. No one gets it. I need to know so I can take care of myself.

  “If he tries to enter, he’ll be subjected to a noise tha
t’ll drive him insane. You and your uncles will hear it too, but not the same way.”

  “Tell me who it is!” For a moment, I forget the cold as my temper flares. “What about my uncles? Are they in danger, too?”

  Marcus shakes his head, his expression thoughtful. “We don’t think so. No.”

  “That’s reassuring!” I wait several seconds, but he doesn’t say anything else. “Can you at least tell me why he’s after me?”

  “We don’t know.” I can’t tell if he’s lying. I want to storm off, let him know how angry I am, but decide it’s better to keep him talking. “Okay, so back to Aiden. What’s the deal?”

  He stares off, his excitement fading. “He’s mostly a go-between—a liaison—between Persephone and Henry and… someone evil. Big time evil.”

  “The same person…demon…who’s after me?”

  His shoulders rise and fall. “Maybe.”

  I want to shake him. I’m so tired of the secrets! My stomach starts to churn as heat burns its way down my arms to my palms. My knees threaten to buckle from the intensity. I clench my fists, willing the heat to subside. I focus on the sound of the leaves, on the smell of rhododendrons. Anything to distract my power. Marcus studies the street again. Who—or what—is he looking for?

  “Have you noticed anything missing from your room?” He asks over his shoulder.

  “Nothing worth mentioning. No.”

  He pushes away from the railing and takes two steps toward me. “Lucy, I need to know if anything is missing. You don’t get to decide what’s important and what isn’t.”

  “It’s stupid—”

  “Tell me!” He orders, his eyes hard as his nostrils flare.

  I take a step back, shocked by his anger. “My brush…and a pair of socks.”

  “Anything else?”

  “No!” It was stupid of me to come up here with him. Some birthday this has turned out to be. “I want to go back inside. Now.”

  “Fine!”

  A powerful gust of wind swirls around me. I teeter as it shoves me backward, nearly lifting me off my feet. I cower as a creepy howl moves through the trees, the violent gusts bending branches with force.

  “Marcus!” I scream and fling my arms out to him as an angry force pitches me against the railing. The heat is back, like a thousand burning needles driving into my arms at once. I try to clench my fists, but the power is too strong. Without warning, a fireball launches from my hand. No!

  My already-bruised tailbone slams into wrought iron. Searing pain flares up my back and down my legs. Stars dance across my vision. Then something powerful and invisible gives me another fierce shove and I’m sailing backward over the railing. Oh sweet Jesus. I am falling.

  I try to scream. Fear sucks all the air from my lungs and what comes out is…nothing.

  My heart is in my throat and I squeeze my eyes shut. I’m going to break my neck. I am going to die. I wait for my body to slam into the ground, for the excruciating pain that will follow.

  I hear an odd sound, like the thawunk of an umbrella opening, and something grabs me. My eyes fly open. Marcus. I’m pressed against his naked chest. We’re suspended in mid-air. Two massive wings flank his torso.

  He saved me. And…he has…WINGS?

  I cling to him, heaving as I try to fill my lungs. Once we land on the ground, his wings close around me and all thoughts flee from my mind. My shaking ceases. My chattering teeth grow still. The terror falls away. I know with absolute certainty that nothing bad can touch me. Not here in his embrace.

  The feeling is short-lived. Marcus unwraps his wings and I stand on unsteady legs. The wind has died away, leaving the night unnaturally still. I am about to point this out when I notice a man dressed in black, with blond hair and an angry expression, standing behind him. Marcus spins around.

  “It’s too soon,” the man says harshly.

  Marcus returns his anger. “Easy for you to say, Aiden! Was I supposed to let her fall?”

  “I’ll meet you inside.” Aiden stalks off toward the back yard. “Come alone.”

  “Is he mad that you just saved my life?” I sputter.

  “No. He’s angry because now you’re going to ask a lot of questions. The situation just became…complicated.”

  “He’s right—I do have questions!” I move behind him and stare wide-eyed at his wings, which are tucked against his back. They’re covered with row after row of perfect white and gray feathers. When I touch them, Marcus flinches. I jerk my hand away. “Gram, Persephone and Henry are witches. Wh…what are you?”

  Marcus’ fists clench at his sides. I move around him and see that his eyes are closed. “We were careless. Setting the alarm only works if he enters the house. Nothing was done to protect you in the yard or on the roof.” He shakes his head in disgust and opens his eyes. “You need to get inside before your uncles start to worry about you. You’ll be safer there.”

  “But Marcus…” I stare at him in awe. “You have wings!”

  “Go Lucy,” he growls. “Now!”

  “Fine.” I spin around and march toward the front steps. Halfway there, I look back at him once more, meaning to thank him for saving me, but he’s gone. Probably following Aiden through the back.

  Once inside, I paste a smile on my face and help Sheldon and Bernard finish cleaning up from the party. I thank them again for an awesome birthday.

  After I wash up, change into my pink nightshirt and climb into bed, the reality of tonight washes over me. Something…someone…pushed me off the roof. It wasn’t Marcus. I watched him as I went over, saw the horror on his face as his outstretched hand missed mine by inches.

  And how did I react? By nearly taking him out with a fireball.

  Now Marcus knows my secret. I curl into a ball as the worst pain imaginable fills my belly.

  I press the heels of my hands against my throbbing temples. I don’t want to believe in witches and demons and security alarm spells. I don’t want to believe in a hot guy who suddenly sprouts wings. And yet, I know without a doubt that I have a horrible power. One that no normal person has. Just as I know that an invisible force or person or something pushed me off the roof tonight.

  Tears spill down my cheeks. All I’ve ever wanted is to be normal. In Lexington, I wanted to not live in a trailer with a drunk, addicted Momma. Here I thought I would have a chance. But I’m still abnormal, set apart from my friends by some crazy twist of fate and genetics.

  One thing is for sure. I don’t want to be afraid. Not anymore. A demon broke into my bedroom. Some invisible force threw me from the roof. I’m not going to sit around and wait for this thing to come after me. I have powers and they’re getting stronger. It’s time I use them.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mr. Douglas sends his driver to pick me up for work, since I don’t have a car or a driver’s license. Arnold opens the back door of the black Lincoln Town Car and I slide onto the ice-cold seat. I shiver. It’s the fanciest car I’ve ever been in, with wood trim, chrome accents and lots of leather.

  I am both excited and nervous about the new job. Excited because I can start saving to buy a car. Nervous…well, that’s an understatement. The Douglas’ are super rich according to Katie. Mr. Douglas acted nice enough when he met with my uncles, but I noticed him taking an inventory of the apartment. I suspect it wasn’t up to his standards. What would he do if he knew where I came from? Maybe he’d deem me unworthy to watch his kids and fire me.

  “Nervous?” Startled, I look up and meet the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

  “No,” I lie, my voice unsteady.

  He smiles. “It’s to be expected.”

  “How long have you worked with the Douglas family, Mr….”

  “Call me Arnold.” He smiles again. In fact, he’s been smiling since he picked me up. Way too cheerful, I decide. “I’ve been with the family for eleven years.”

  “So you know Ethan and Brandi pretty well?”

  “I do.” He chuckles. “Brandi is sev
en and totally adorable. You’ll fall in love with her immediately. Then there’s Ethan. He’s more charming than any ten year old ought to be.” Charming? I recall the scene at the beach with Dylan and cringe. “He had the last nanny wrapped around his finger. He’s known for getting his way, so watch out for him.”

  Arnold looks out the driver’s side window before making a left turn. “Then there’s Dylan.”

  Just his name sends me into a panic.

  “You’ll only be looking after Brandi and Ethan,” Arnold clarifies. “Dylan lives with his mother, the original Mrs. Douglas. He’s sixteen. But he comes by sometimes to visit with Ethan and Brandi.”

  “He does?” I ask weakly.

  “Dylan’s a good kid. But he and his stepmom don’t get along, so he makes himself scarce whenever she’s around.” Arnold clears his throat. “Listen to me going on and on.” He glances at me again in the rearview mirror. “You’ll like working with them.”

  I don’t want to think about Dylan. The Chicago skyline in the early morning light is the perfect distraction. I locate the Sears Tower, now called something else, and the Hancock Building.

  Half an hour later, we pull into a large parking garage. It took longer than I expected to get here. Surely the Douglas’ can find a nanny who lives closer. Why did Mr. Douglas insist on hiring me? Then again I want the three hundred dollars a week, so I push that pesky question away. I wonder if I’ll make more today, since I’m starting early. To be honest, I don’t even care.

  The elevator requires a special key card. After he swipes it, Arnold presses the button marked Penthouse. It seems to take forever to get to the Douglas’ floor. Once inside the penthouse, we take off our shoes—Mrs. Douglas’ rule. As he leads me to Mrs. Douglas’ study, it’s hard to keep my jaw from dropping.

  From the entryway, there’s a huge living room off to the right, and a dining room straight ahead. As we pass the kitchen, Arnold points to a door which leads to a utility room, another which leads to a butler’s pantry, and still another which leads to a walk-in wine cellar. I fold my arms across my chest as I take in the artwork hanging on the walls and the statues set just so on various cabinets and tables, afraid my hands or elbows will clumsily knock something over. The fancy lighting. The hardwood floors. The thick carpets. I try not to focus on the fact that just one of those statues probably cost more than Momma and I spent on groceries in a year.