The Valley

by Annie Graefnitz

  I leaned against the wall and scanned the room. In my eyes, it was perfection and Irelynn was to thank for most of it. She led the way nicely while I was busy being a total drone. Many of the dining tables had been taken from the room and in their place was a large dance floor. Three long buffet tables, including the special one Will had carved (and someone else finished in his absence) lined the walls, all tastefully covered in dark green vines and small sparkling pumpkins. The remaining dining tables had bronze skeleton centerpieces that were made by a local welder. They were each posed differently and not in the usual dead man pose. Instead, they were in celebration. I wondered what they were celebrating for – they were dead after all. We had decided to replace the battery-powered candles with real ones. Four-foot-tall candelabras were placed in between the buffet tables topped with candles that matched the cream colored fabric covering the ceiling and draping down the corners of the room. Fire extinguishers were placed under the tables just in case the partygoers got out of control and knocked them over.

  I reached over and dimmed the overhead lights and flicked a different switch, revealing thousands of twinkling clear lights hidden all around the room. I smiled to myself; it was perfect and not at all cheesy. It felt like a fairytale setting; we certainly had enough pumpkins around. I just needed my Prince Charming.

  Scuffling shoes across the floor ended the fairytale.

  “You kids did a terrific job, Camille. Your grandmother is going to be very proud.” Tom had another small white fire extinguisher in his hands.

  He always made me smile. “Thanks.” I pointed to the extinguisher. “Another one?”

  He placed it near the door just behind a candelabrum. “You never know what will happen at these things. One never can be too prepared.” He turned back toward me and smiled. “You have a good night, Miss.”

  “Aren’t you going to stay?”

  He waved his old hand and laughed. “Oh no, I have never been much for large gatherings. Good night.”

  “See you later, Tom”

  Dorothy, Hazel, and Rhoda arrived a short time later and began final preparations for the ball. The string quartet was directed to set up in the far corner, followed by the event game plan for the wait staff. They were lined up, taking orders from Dorothy, who was being trailed by Hazel, trying to soften my grandmother’s harshness.

  I was ready to get home and start passing out (or eating) the candy, when Irelynn and Shawn caught me outside as the sun began to set and convinced me to come back in for just a while.

  “We worked our butts off trying to recreate a Renaissance Halloween; we should at least go see what the magic looks like.” Irelynn grabbed my arm and pulled me back up the stairs.

  “They will kick us out,” I said.

  Shawn was already holding the door open for us, bowing as we walked by.

  We decided the safest place to remain unnoticed was the kitchen. Only a small dinner was being served; there would not be a lot of traffic in and out of the kitchen, so it was the opportune spot for spying on the ball.

  The quartet played as guests dressed in the most elaborate costumes started filling in the empty spaces of the dining hall. From the small kitchen window, we played Guess who is under that mask? Kelsey and her entourage entered the room, making it a point to be seen by everyone although it would have been impossible to miss her. She was dressed in the largest light pink ball gown I’d ever seen, her hair pulled up in a cradling tiara. I had to admit she was stunning, but against the goblins, Frankenstein, and witches she was completely out of place.

  Irelynn snorted. “Wow. Cinderella at a ball, how original.”

  I laughed, bumping my forehead against the glass. The noise caught the attention of some guests who turned to look; we ducked down before they could see us peeking at them.

  “How is she going to sit in that thing?” Shawn asked.

  Irelynn stood back up. “Never mind sitting, how’s she not going to light herself on fire? She’s hitting everything and everyone with that dress. Oh crap.” She slid down the door and looked from Shawn to me, a strange look on her face.

  “What? Did you get us caught?”

  She began fidgeting with her purse. “Um no, it’s um. Well, I think I just saw Will.”

  “What?” Shawn and I said in unison. I jumped to my feet to see if she was right. They were instantly at my side. I didn’t see him at first, probably because I was looking for the usual messy ringlet curls, t-shirt, and jeans. I wasn’t prepared for a totally different sight. He was standing next to Kelsey and her father. His hair was swept behind his ears and the all black tuxedo minus the silly tie he was wearing was missing its first few buttons exposing more of his olive skin. I heard Irelynn suck in a small breath, but I couldn’t move. There was my prince, smiling and enjoying a glass of fake wine next to the only girl in the world I’ve ever wanted to brutalize. Her painted red smile stretched from dangling earring to dangling earring.

  My entire body tensed and I gave the door a push, but Shawn’s hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Don’t do it, Camo.”

  What did he think I was going to do? Attack her in the middle of the most important event of the year, making fool out of myself. No. I had to get out.

  I forced the kitchen door open and vacantly rushed past the elaborate decor, tables of food and desserts, and expensively costumed guests. No one looked to see who was shoving past and why would they? They were blissfully partying the night away; some of them were already fully lit with alcohol.

  In a flash, I was outside, walking to the edge of the porch and grabbing the rail. I closed my eyes and breathed in a deep breath through my nose. The shockingly crisp air filled my lungs. My heart slowed and I opened my eyes to see the first light flakes of snowfall, explaining the dramatic temperature drop. I lifted myself slightly over the rail and close my eyes again, letting the snow land on my face. I wished I could melt into oblivion just like the snowflakes did.

  It was too soon for me to see Will, although I was relieved to see that he was physically okay. It hurt to look at him in there. My heart had sunk to the pit of my stomach.

  I'd give anything to get away. The vacation with my parents seemed so far away. The air began to warm as I envisioned the Mexican Riviera. Lying on the beach ... frying in the sun. I smiled to myself.

  "You need a coat," his buttery voice said.

  My arms gave out, dropping me to my elbows on the wooden railing. "Ow!" I whipped around to see a tall figure leaning in the shadowed corner. "No. It's not cold."

  He stepped out. "It's snowing."

  "Doesn't mean it's time for a coat, Mr. California.” I snapped my head back around. I couldn't look at him. I was torn between punching him in the teeth and jumping into his arms.

  "You're going to get sick. Do vampires get sick?"

  I tried to answer as coolly as possible. I didn't want him to feel my pain. "And you care because?"

  He stepped toward me. "Cami, don't be like this."

  "Do not come any closer," I barked. The coolness was now lost. "I can't even believe you are even here. You have some nerve coming here with her. You force me to tell you everything, everything that I am insecure about. Things that aren't easy for me to talk about and then you disappear! What is wrong with you?"

  He pulled my shoulder around so that I faced him, but refused to look into his eyes. The moment I did, I would be lost. And I wasn't about to get sucked back in.

  "You don't understand," he said. "I didn’t come here with anyone. I was looking for you."

  “Whatever Will, you could have just told me I was under the wrong impression about us. I knew I was being stupid.”

  He grabbed my arms. “No. Why would you say that? You know how I feel about you.”

  "No, I don't. I thought I did, but you left. Without a word! And now here you are, expecting me to talk to you. Where were you Will?” He opened his mouth to answer but I cut him off again. "You know, it doesn't even matter."

  "It does ma
tter, I just... Something came up."

  His response only fueled my fire. What an excuse. "Oh, I see, that makes it all okay then. Meanwhile I've been here feeling like a complete fool. So stupid for thinking-."

  His lips crushed onto mine before I could finish spilling all of my pent up anger on him. It didn’t matter anymore anyway; the pain was already lost in the feel of his lips on mine, and the beat of his heart against my chest.

  He pulled back, leaving me breathless. My eyes fluttered open.

  "Still questioning how I feel?"

  What was he thinking, letting me go? It was my turn to surprise him with my arms flying around his neck, knocking him off balance. He let out a short laugh before I smothered him with my face. All of the emotion from the last week, no, the last month was unleashed from wherever it had been hiding. His strong arms wrapped around my back, pulling me to my tiptoes. My fingers curled in his hair as the rest of the world slipped away.

  When I was fully satisfied, I dropped back to my heels and immediately punched him in the gut.

  "What was that for?"

  "You know exactly what that was for, you horse's ass. For leaving me. Don't do that again!"

  He laughed and hugged me again. "I guess I deserved that.” He kissed my forehead. “But I told you. I had to. I would never leave you if I had a choice. You should know that."

  "Why did you ignore me? I thought maybe," I couldn't finish my thought because to my surprise, I felt my eyes begin to burn. My voice shook when I spoke.

  "I know what you thought. You were wrong. I'm sorry, it was just very sudden. You can trust me, believe in me, Cami, I -."

  Tires squealed to a stop in front of the Inn. Will and I turned to see several men and then Juanita pile out of two midnight black SUVs and hurry inside. Juanita was back? Will let go of me and shrunk back into the shadow.

  "Where are you going?"

  Loud voices preceded the large group of people that poured out onto the porch a short moment after the others had gone in. Dorothy in the center, saw me but apparently not Will. "Camille, we must go. Now.” She turned back to the group who where in a frenzy about something.

  "Do you know what's going on?"

  He held out his hand, his blue eyes focused on mine. "Come away with me," he whispered.

  "Cami." Dorothy shouted again. "Come now!"

  My eyes didn’t leave Will’s, searching them for an answer that he was unable to speak. His eyebrows arched, silently pleading with me while he slowly moved backward.

  My heart pounded in my chest. "Will? Don’t leave."

  “Please trust me,” he whispered. His fingertips grazed my own.

  "Cami," someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me toward the group, away from Will. It was Irelynn’s grandmother, Tilly, her face full of worry. "We must go now, dear."

  I nodded and looked back to the corner of the porch, but my vision was clouded by the frenzy of movement around me. The hands remained on my shoulders until I found myself being shoved in the back of the SUV. Irelynn followed me in and shut the door. With one last look back, I finally saw him shrink around the corner and disappear. The weight of the mistake I had just made pulled me down into the seat. I shouldn’t have left him.

  The chatter in the car was overwhelming, but none was directed at me.

  "Someone tell me what’s going on!"

  Dorothy sat on the other side of me, staring out the window. The noise of the road and faint sound of sirens made it impossible to hear the conversation between the two strangers in the front.

  "Grandma!"

  She pivoted in her seat and took my hand. "Well dear, it's your mother and Mark. It appears that no one can get in touch with them."

  I should have listened to my gut when I first thought something was wrong. I instead told myself, big deal, this happens all the time. So what was different this time? She patted my hand and looked out the window again. She was nervous.

  "I'm sure they’re okay, Grandma. This isn't the first time they’ve lost touch,” I tried to console her, a definite switch in our roles. I wasn’t sure what else I could do to comfort her when I was having strong feelings that something was wrong earlier this week. She simply smiled, not removing her gaze from the window and still patting my hand absentmindedly. Yes. There was more to it than a simple unreturned phone call.

  We parked behind the other car in our driveway. The strangers and ladies hurried up the stairs and into the house, leaving Irelynn and me to wonder. By the time we collected ourselves and went inside, they were already in the den behind closed doors. We moved as silently as we could to the door and listened. The muffled voices strained to keep control until a male voice bellowed.

  Before we could understand what the voice was shouting, the door abruptly opened, pulling Irelynn and me along with it. The familiar faces as well as several male strangers all looked at the two of us, unimpressed.

  “Girls, come sit,” Rhoda said, patting the open bench seat beside her.

  I followed Irelynn with a bowed head. I didn't want to look any one of them in the eye, especially Dorothy. I knew she was disappointed in me for eavesdropping. But she surprised me by coming over to stand by my side as I took my seat.

  “I apologize if we have scared you girls. I’m afraid that the unexpected visit has caused a commotion and we were caught in it.”

  I accepted her apology, but was nonetheless, confused. “What happened?”

  “What you need to know, is that we have not heard from your parents and while it is not unusual considering where they are, some of us,” her eyes flickered to the large man brooding by the fireplace, “feel that they should be checked on. So Juanita, Petre, Sorin, and I along with a few others are going to go see them. We will be leaving in the morning. You will stay with Tilly until we return.”

  Why did they need so many people to go if it was simply a welfare check? I didn’t believe her and judging by the tension in the room, I had a good reason to doubt her. “No. I want to go too.”

  “Out of the question,” the burly man snarled.

  My polite mask was off. “Who are you?” My pointed question caused him to stand taller, puffing out his chest. His nostrils flared and his bushy eyes furrowed, as if I should have known who this foreign giant was.

  “Petre Constantin. I co-”

  “Petre is a very good friend of your fathers,” Dorothy interrupted.

  “I've never seen him before.” Not that I would recognize any of his friends. But this man just didn't seem like he had anything in common with my father. He looked like he was straight out of a boardroom, unwillingly stuffed into a suit that if he flexed a muscle, would split all the way up his arm. And to top it off, I'd say he spent little too much time in the tanning bed. I contemplated telling him that, but I knew this would only further upset Dorothy. Also, because he looked as if he could rip my arms off with one swipe.

  Irelynn saved me from myself. “Peace Corps?”

  He sniffed again and again Dorothy answered for him. “Of course.” He continued to glower in our direction. I found it easy to return the look. I did not like this man, but other than his overcooked face and growly demeanor, I wasn't sure why. I could feel Irelynn’s unease too.

  Another man that had been patiently standing in the corner cleared his throat. Irelynn perked up. I guessed he was in his twenties...early twenties. He was tall and slender, with short wavy blonde hair. He had deep brown, almost black, eyes and his square jaw completed his pale face. He wore a black leather jacket that seemed to have been tailored just for him and dark denim jeans with frayed pockets and black shoes. Obviously not from the valley either, I thought. He strode forward with perfect posture and a gleaming smile, into the center of the room.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Ireylnn whispered.

  “Ladies,” his smooth voice calmed the nervous fidgeting of nearly everyone in the room. He turned to the other men in the room. “And gentlemen.”

  I thought for a moment my best friend was going to
pass out as he spoke with an Australian accent. She was a sucker for people with accents, especially when they had handsome faces attached to them.

  Everyone settled into their seats and watched, captivated by his very presence. This man was more restrained than his bulkier counterpart, and more refined. His elegance commanded the room, making any verbal communication unnecessary. He continued when he was satisfied he had the attention of the room, and he did. All except for mine. I had an image burned into my brain that I couldn’t blink away. Will’s eyes as he let go of my hand.

  “Certainly we know there is more this young lady needs to know. But I’m sure we can agree that this is neither the time nor the place for such a revelation.” Petre snorted by the fireplace where he stood with his back to the room. The Australian, Sorin, I assumed, merely smiled without missing a breath. “At this moment we have two missing members and they must be found.”

  What revelation was he talking about? And why wasn’t this the time, it seemed as good a time as any. I realized I should have paid more attention over the years to what exactly my parents did and who they were friends with because these people were hardcore strange. I was finding it very hard to believe they were philanthropists of any kind. I couldn’t picture them building schools or digging irrigation ditches. The Romanian looked far to mad for that and the Australian was too…well, trendy.

  “Grandma, what is he talking about? What revelation, and what does he mean by missing. You just said no one has been able to contact them. That’s a lot different than missing.”

  She smiled tightly at Sorin and turned to me pursing her lips. “Camille, I need you to trust that everything is going to be all right. We will go and find Mark and Jillian and bring them home. Beyond that, there is nothing more to discuss until we all return.”

  I felt it again, a gnawing fear ruminating within my grandmother. I couldn’t place exactly what the fear was focused on because it wasn’t anything that I had personally experienced before. Whatever it was, it was a completely foreign feeling, unnerving the more I tried to figure it out. It was enough, though, to make me keep my mouth shut. As hard as it would be, I would have to wait until they returned. I’ve never been known for my patience. It would be a good thing that I’d be staying with Tilly and more than likely Irelynn would camp out with me as well. Together they would entertain me enough to keep my mind off what was happening in Costa Rica.