by A. S. Oren
He hands me the roller. "Should I be deceptive and not tell you the truth?"
I crouch down and put it at the base of the wall before rolling it up as I stand. I'm only tall enough to reach to just under the halfway mark on the wall.
Edgar laughs. “How about I take the top half and you take the bottom?”
I nod. “That seems like the best choice of action.”
“You are your mother’s child,” he mumbles with a shake of his head.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I use the roller to create even paint lines, making sure each one lines up and not a single spot goes unpainted. Mom would be proud.
Edgar and I sit in the middle of the floor, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, staring at our handy work. I couldn’t be happier with myself. It took us half the day. All the walls in my room have two coats of paint on them, with the light and dark of the purple and blue parallel to each other.
“I like it,” I say.
“Good, that’s the most important thing.” He takes a sip of his glass of milk. I have apple juice.
“Edgar, do you know anything about the brothers coming tomorrow?”
“Not much. I know their parents travel and that’s why they’re coming to stay here and that they are the same age as you.”
“Are they twins?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s a complicated situation. If they want, they will tell you how they are so close in age.”
I frown. I don’t understand how they can be the same age but not twins. “Okay.”
We both finish eating and Edgar stands with a crack of his knees. “I’ll use the air to dry this quickly and dissipate the smell. I don’t want you sleeping in these fumes all night.”
The next day
I bounce my legs against the couch. The clock’s tick echoes throughout the room from its place over the swinging door, which leads into the kitchen.
“Do you have a TV?” I ask. Wall to wall bookshelves dominate the room.
Edgar shakes his head. “During the season I don’t have time to watch TV, and I just never cared about it during the off season. These books are my entertainment. I can look into getting a TV for the basement if you want one? You won’t be training all the time until you’re older, and movies would be nice to have every once in a while.”
He’s really put in an effort to make me feel like I belong here, make it feel like a home. “That would be nice. I normally watch Saturday morning cartoons . . .” I trail off. “With Amr.”
Edgar nods. “Maybe the brothers watch them, too; you guys could watch them together. Become friends.”
We won’t have much of an option not to become friends. It would suck to live with people I don’t get along with. I’ll just have to put my best foot forward, as Mom would say, and make an effort to be their friend. Hopefully they aren’t mean.
The clock strikes the hour, five in the afternoon. Edgar stands from the couch and places one of his hands against a bookshelf. The darkness spreads over it. “I’ll be back in a bit. Need to go pick them up now. Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone. I’m putting my trust into the fact that you’re so mature.” He walks into the darkness and it closes up behind him.
I hop off the couch. I want to prove to him that I can be responsible, and that he doesn’t have to worry about leaving me alone. I go to the massive bookshelf that he used to open the Void. My head doesn’t even make it halfway up it. The titles of the books I can reach are in languages I don’t know. That’ll have to change.
My fingers stop when I come to a book lying on its side with a white cover and the Sun blazing on the front. ‘Sun god’. I’ve heard Mom and Dad talk about a Sun god before, but I never paid that much attention to the subject.
It appears to be a children’s novel. Did Edgar leave this here for me to find?
Taking it off the shelf, I carry the thick book with two hands over to the couch. I place it on the cushion next to where I want to sit, and curl up in the corner seat before picking it up.
“The creation of the Sun god.” I read aloud. With just the clock to keep the silence at bay, my nervousness heightens.
“Long ago, brother gods, Sun and Moon, sat high in the sky over looking Earth. A planet they created together. Moon filled it with water, Sun carved out the land and plants. It had taken years, but they felt their job was done.”
A picture of two men, one of fire and one of ice, stand in a black sky overlooking Earth with water and land.
“‘Brother,’ Moon said. ‘I believe we did a fine job creating Earth together, but I can’t help but feel something is missing.’
Sun nodded. ‘It needs more life.’
So with a flourish of his hand, Moon created the fish and other sea dwellers. Including the mermaids.”
I stop. Mermaids are real? I shake my head and keep reading.
“Sun nodded again. ‘Yes, that does well for this world, but I think the land needs living things as well.’
He raised his hand to face Earth and large reptiles came to be. ‘That will do, for now.’”
The next page showed the dinosaurs roaming the land and mermaids watching from the sea. Their faces covered in different coloured scales and large black eyes.
“For a long time, Sun and Moon watched their world. To their surprise, it began to change. The reptiles and some of the fish began to evolve. The sea dwellers learned of magic.
To challenge them all, Moon sent down an asteroid, devastating Earth and causing the reptiles to die off. The brothers continued to watch.”
The next page showed some apes in trees and other mammals roaming the land.
“The brothers were surprised to see that life continued, even after the devastation and loss of the large reptiles. Some fish moved onto Earth, and the reptiles that didn’t die off, grew feathers. Soon, mammals came to be. From that came apes, and thousands of years later, man. Sun was pleased.
Moon was jealous. His sea dwellers had evolved as well, but they hadn’t even tried to venture onto the land. So he cast down knowledge onto a young sea witch named Agnita. Telling her how to use magic to walk on the land and blend with man, but she would have to return to the sea each night, or she would die.”
A young woman covered with seaweed walks out of the sea, looking human.
“Agnita began to terrorize the new man, who had no knowledge of the magic she used or how to fight it. She used her magic to cast out the Sun. Bringing darkness to the world.
Moon realized his mistake, at giving his creatures too much power. Sun had become weak from the magic the sea witch used on him.
Man began to beg Sun and Moon to help them. Sun, using the little power he had left, cast down onto some of them the power to shift into animals and dragon s. Giving them the knowledge of magic and how to control the elements.
This is how man came to be blessed with supernatural powers.”
I look up as the darkness spreads over the bookcase. My heart picks up. What if it isn’t Edgar and it’s one of the Watchers? What if he was wrong and this land isn’t protected from their all-seeing eyes?
Edgar comes through carrying four suitcases. “I’ll be right back with the boys. I couldn’t carry all that and make sure they made it through safe as well.” He smiles at me. “I see you found the book I left you. Good.” He goes back into the Void.
I close and set the book down. I’ll have to wait to find out what happened next. I scoot off the couch and stand, pulling at my shirt with a kitten on it. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. They’re just a couple of boys.
CHAPTER FOUR
Edgar comes through the Void holding hands with the boys. They glance around the room, before their eyes land on me. We stare at each other for a long quiet moment as the Void behind them closes. Now they can’t go home either.
The only thing that might tie them to being related as brothers is their eyes, both have shades of blue. Other than that, they are opposites. The one with blond hair pushes a str
and behind his ear and lets go of Edgar’s hand. He steps forward. “I’m Paden Hansen and that’s my brother Maverick.” He motions to the other boy who has now taken a step forward. A streak of white in his bangs stands stark against the deep black of his hair.
“Avalon Radcliffe, welcome.” I hold a hand out for one of them to take. Maverick takes it first. A jolt runs up my arm, causing me to jump. I let go of his hand.
“You okay?” He asks with a frown.
“Yeah, I think you shocked me is all.”
I hold out my hand to Paden. He takes it, and the same thing happens again.
“Must be left over static from being in the Void,” Edgar remarks. “Since you’ve got introductions out of the way, I’ll show you two to the cabin you’ll be stayin’ in. Then I’ll scrounge up somethin’ for dinner. I’ve never had to cook for so many people in the off season.”
Edgar picks up the suitcases and goes into the darkness of the outside. Paden and Maverick follow, I trail behind them, the woods do spook me a bit in the dark. I soon realize I don’t have to be scared. Lanterns light most of the darkness. They hang over the cabin doors. When did Edgar light them?
He takes the boys to cabin one and sets their suitcases down on the wood floor. “I made up your beds this once, but it will be up to you to make them from now on. I wash the bedding once a week here. I expect all of you to have it ready for me on Friday mornings.”
Thick quilts cover the two beds on the left bunk. Maverick climbs to the top and sits on the edge. “This one is mine.”
Paden shrugs. “K.”
“Well that was easy. You each get a dresser. I don’t know about you three, but I’m starvin’. So I’m goin’ to go make us some food now. Let me know if you need anythin’.”
He turns to me. “Are you stayin’ to help them? Or comin’ to help me?”
I peer around the side of him at the two brothers; they stare back at me. I don’t know. I stare up into Edgar’s watery blue eyes. He hints with his thumb that he wants me to stay, but is giving me the option of what I want to do. “I’ll stay.”
Edgar nods. “Good. Come back to the house when you’re done.”
He leaves through the squeaky door.
I stand and stare at them now. “How can I help?”
Maverick jumps down from the bed and smiles at me. “You can help with my bags first.” He goes over to the two dark green suitcases opening one.
He holds out a stack of clothes to me. “Here. That one can be my dresser.” He points to the dresser near the pillow side of the beds.
I go to it. He handed me shirts, so I guess they can go in the middle drawer like mine? He didn’t tell me to do something different. I keep the drawer open as he hands me more shirts. I frown. These ones have more weight to them. Something else is in here besides shirts.
I want to look, but they’re his. “I think something else is in here.” I hope commenting on it will make him say something.
He stands and pushes his bangs out of his face. “Oh yeah! Go ahead and take it out.”
I set the shirts on the dresser and move them until I find the small, metal picture frame. Two women sit on a park bench with what looks like a younger Paden and Maverick sitting between them. One woman has blonde hair and the other royal blue.
“Is that you? I point to the boy with the darker hair. He’s missing the streak of white.
Maverick smiles. “Yeah. Me and Paden with our moms.”
I frown. “You have two moms?”
Paden opens his suitcase with force, causing it to bang on the floor.
Maverick continues to grin. “Yup. They fell in love when they were teenagers, and got married as soon as they could. They both wanted to have a child, so they had Paden and me.” He points to the woman with the blue hair. “Mom J carried me, and Mom S carried Paden.”
I place the frame on the dresser as carefully as I can. “That’s cool. Do you have a dad, too?”
“No,” grumbles Paden, as he opens the dresser on the other side of the beds.
Maverick frowns at Paden. “We don’t need a dad.”
I swallow hard, the tension in the room making my heart pick up again.
I set the other shirts in the middle drawer as well.
Maverick and I work together as he hands me his clothes and I figure out where to put them. He does his own underwear. I’m glad.
I go to Paden. “I can help you if you’d like?”
He shakes his head. “No, thank you. I want everything to go in a specific spot.”
I nod. I can understand that. I put my hands behind my back and rock on the balls of my bare feet. “Do you guys like Saturday morning cartoons? Edgar said he may get a TV for us. Amr and I watch cartoons every Saturday…” I can’t believe I slipped up like that. “I mean we used to watch cartoons every Saturday together.”
Paden sets a few pictures and books on top of his dresser. “Who’s Amr?”
I twirl the ring on my finger. “My twin brother. He couldn’t come here with me.” I push the tears that want to surface down. They don’t need to see me cry. I don’t want them to think I’m some kind of whiney girl.
“Why?” Maverick asks, as he places a small trophy next to the picture of his moms. It has a little man running on it.
“It was safer for my family if I just came alone. I’ll get to see him again one day. When we enter Spearwood together.”
Maverick pats me on the back. “Well, you won’t be alone anymore. I love cartoons. Especially Yu-Gi-Oh.”
I smile. “Amr loves that one. I like Pokémon.”
Paden moves both of his empty suitcases to the space between the dresser and wall. “Who’s your favourite Pokémon?” His sapphire eyes turn on me.
“Ponyta. A fire pony would be cool to have in real life. You guys?”
“Onyx,” Paden says, cutting off Maverick as he opens his mouth.
Maverick playfully shoves Paden in the arm. “Eevee. I’d have six, so I could evolve it into the other forms and have one of every kind.”
I nod. “I like Eevee too. It’s so cute.”
“Kids! Dinner! Come and get it!” Edgar yells.
I lead the way out of the cabin and back to the house. Edgar has set two bowls on the table. One filled with spaghetti and meatballs, and the other with a simple salad. It looks good. I just won’t have the meatballs with mine.
“Avalon, will you please set the table? The plates are there on the counter, along with the silverware. Maverick and Paden, please get the drinks, there’s a pitcher of water in the fridge and the glasses are beside the plates.
We look to each other. Mom and Dad always set the table, looks to be the same with their Moms as well.
“We all do our part around here. I made dinner, so you three should set the table and get everyone something to drink,” Edgar continues. “Eventually you will help cook the meals as well, and then I will set the table or get the drinks. But teaching three five year olds how to cook will take time.
Maverick moves first to get the glasses. Paden goes to the fridge for the pitcher.
Maverick puts the first glass down. “We’re six. Our birthdays were last week. Mine was the 15th and Paden’s the 17th”
I go to the counter for the plates first. I grunt as I carefully pull them down off the counter. “My birthday is next month.”
Paden gets onto a chair so he can pour the water into the glass. “When?”
“October 13th.” I place each plate down in front of a chair, and then grab the silverware.
Maverick clears his throat as he finds a seat, his job done. “Can we go trick or treating for Halloween?”
Edgar shrugs. “We’ll see, maybe. Not a lot of kids around this area, so the old folks don’t give out candy a lot. But I know how to make caramel apples and other sweets. I’m sure we can come up with some Halloween-esque things to do.”
I finish placing the silverware and climb onto my own chair, across from Edgar, with a boy on both sides of the
table. I guess I should get used to being the only girl in the house.
Edgar hands the spaghetti bowl to Paden and we each serve ourselves the food. Three meatballs sit at the bottom when all the pasta gets scooped up.
Maverick sucks up a noodle, getting sauce all over his face. “You don’t want any meatballs, Ava Lon?” He breaks up my name, saying each syllable.
I shake my head. “No. I don’t like meat. It tastes bad.”
His light blue eyes go wide. “You don’t like it?”
I take a bite of lettuce and chew it. “Nope.”
He blinks at me. “Can I have your meatballs then?”
I shrug. “They weren’t mine to begin with. Edgar knows I don’t like meat.”
Paden and Maverick look to Edgar. “Can we have them?” They ask in unison.
Edgar grins. “We can each have one.” He stabs one of the meatballs with his fork and puts it on the pasta he has left.
The boys follow his example. I smile. I’m glad they could get eaten up.
I look at them both. I think we will get along.
“When we’re done here, it’ll be time for your element tests.”
I eat quicker. I can’t wait to find out what element I am.
“Will it be hard?” Maverick asks, pushing away his now clean plate.
Edgar shakes his head. “No, it’s very simple, but could you please rinse your plate off over there and put it on the dish rack?”
Maverick nods and picks up his plate as he gets out of the chair. He reaches the water knob easier than I can. He doesn’t even need the stool. He rinses his plate and places it on the rack. I chomp on the last bite of salad and stand to go wash my plate as well.
I huff as I drag the stool over to the sink. I wish I could just reach it like Maverick. I clean the plate and redo Maverick’s. He’d left a smidge of sauce on the rim.
Paden walks over. I hold out my hand to take his plate, but he shakes his head. “I can do it.”