Paranormalcy

by Кирстен Уайт

  She looked like she was going to take me up on it, but David interrupted. “That’s enough. We’re all on the same side here, Arianna. Lend told me everything that happened and I think Evie’s right—if they could track her, they’d already be here.” He picked up the communicator. “It’s been beeping off and on all night. We found it with your clothes in the bathroom.”

  My heart leaped. Raquel! She had to be worried sick about me. If I could call her, let her know I was okay…then they’d know exactly where I was and I’d be locked up for the rest of my life.

  “They’re probably trying to figure out whether or not I’m dead,” I said sadly, then paused. How many times had I told them not to work with the faeries, urged them to trust Lend and figure this out together? Of course, my classification was proof enough of how IPCA really saw me. And no matter how I felt about Raquel, she was IPCA. I shook my head. “Let them think I’m dead.”

  The woman werewolf spoke, her voice gentle, fear in her eyes. “Did you really see it?”

  It took me a moment to realize she was talking about Fire Girl. Vivian. I closed my eyes and nodded. It was just a stupid dream; I didn’t actually know her name. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore; I didn’t want to think about it anymore.

  “How’s your leg?” Lend’s dad asked.

  “Oh, it’s fine. Hurts a little, but nothing major.”

  “Good. We’re going for a little walk.”

  “Okay.” Confused, I looked over at Arianna. Vamps stayed away from sunlight. Not because they’d burst into flames or anything, but because in direct light their true selves showed through. Only a little, but they avoided it just the same.

  “You’ll probably want long pants,” Lend said. “It’s kind of cold today.”

  I followed him upstairs. He rifled through his clothes, frowning. “You’re skinnier than I am.”

  I laughed. “Umm, yeah, kind of happy about that.”

  He looked up at me and grinned. After a minute he pulled out an old, worn pair of flannel pajama pants. “These are a couple of years old; they probably won’t fall off.” He handed them to me and stood there. I raised my eyebrows and he blushed. “Oh, yeah, I’ll let you change.”

  After the door closed I slipped out of his shorts and pulled on the red and blue flannels. They were a couple inches too long, but they’d stay on. Those combined with the oversized green hoodie meant I wasn’t exactly looking hot. I sighed. I could have used a shower, too, not to mention some makeup.

  My eyelashes were as blond as my hair; without mascara I felt like a five-year-old.

  I opened the door and Lend smiled. “They look better on you.”

  “Wow, they must look just awful on you then.” I smiled back.

  He handed me my boots, which completed my ensemble of ridiculousness. To make matters worse, he looked downright adorable in a thermal shirt that fit him just right (trust me, I noticed) and a pair of jeans. I looked at his face. I loved his eyes—his real eyes. They were always the easiest of his features to pick out.

  “Are you doing okay?” he asked, and his soft, sad look made everything rush in again.

  “No, not really, but I’m trying not to lose it in front of everyone.” I willed myself not to cry. I might bawl like a baby during The Notebook, and, sure, I cried myself to sleep sometimes…okay, a lot… but that was by myself. I didn’t like doing it in front of other people.

  “Let me know if you need anything.”

  I smiled, wanting to get a move on so I could stop thinking about things that made me sad. It was weird being on Lend’s turf; I was a lot more confident when we were both in the Center. Like right now, I really wanted to hold his hand, but I wasn’t brave enough to try with his dad and that stupid vamp downstairs.

  Lend and I met David and Arianna outside and I got a better look around. A narrow paved road led away from the house through the trees, but we turned to the right and walked down a barely-there path into the woods for about twenty minutes. The trees were budding, the air crisp and clear with a hint of warmth. Spring was on its way. I tried to focus on the sun streaming down through the branches.

  “Where are we?” I whispered to Lend.

  “Virginia.”

  Through the trees ahead, I saw a pond fed by a wide stream to our right. We came through the last of the trees and stood on the banks. The pond was oval, fairly large, and pale blue, reflecting the cloudless sky. The edges were crystallized with frost.

  “Oh, good,” Lend said. “She can come out today.”

  I frowned at the horrible idea that maybe they were friends with a hag. But the look on Lend’s face —excited and happy—reassured me that I wasn’t going to meet a violent end. “Who?” I asked.

  He smiled at me. “My mom.”

  RUNS IN THE FAMILY

  Y our mom?” I asked. I turned back to the pond, looking for a house of some sort, but there was nothing. Lend picked up a rock and, giving it an expert flick with his wrist, skipped it across the top of the water. Another thing he could do that I always wanted to. The others were watching the water expectantly, so I did the same.

  The middle of the pond moved, shifting as though there was a sudden change of current. It turned toward us, the water building up and moving of its own accord, creating a small wake. I’ll admit I was nervous. Most of my experience with paranormals involved things that could kill me. It was all

  I could do not to take a step back as the wave came closer, flowing faster and rising above the level of the pond.

  When it got within feet of the shore, the water shot up, spraying high into the air. Little droplets, freezing cold, showered down on my head. The water settled to reveal a woman standing there.

  Well, standing being relative, considering she was still on the water and made of it, too. The light reflected off her rippling form; she was absolutely amazing. Her top half was well-formed, right down to a hauntingly beautiful face and cascading hair. She held out slender arms toward us. After her waist the water dropped down, forming a sort of dress shape where it connected back to the pond.

  “Hi, Mom.” Lend waved cheerfully.

  She laughed. It blew my mind. I had always thought Reth had the most beautiful voice and laughter, but she put him to shame. It made you feel like you were lying next to a stream on a warm day, letting it run over your fingers as you lost every care in the world except the cool, cleansing sensation.

  It bubbled with clear music notes.

  “Hello, my darling,” she said. Her features rippled into a smile as she looked at Lend. I could see right through her to the other side, but the way her face manipulated the water and reflected light you could see her expressions. It was like Lend in his normal form, only much less stable. I noticed something else, too. Her heart, or where her heart would have been, seemed to generate light—like she glowed from inside. This must be a normal thing for paranormals. Why had I not noticed before?

  “Cresseda,” Lend’s dad said. He looked happy and sad at the same time, watching her. It made me wonder what the family history was.

  “David.”

  “He got home safely.”

  She laughed again. “I told you he would. And he found the answer.” She fixed her eyes on me. I didn’t know what to do, so I raised one hand in an awkward wave.

  Lend looked down, shaking his head. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t find anything. I saw what was doing this, but I don’t have any answers.”

  Cresseda shook her head, water droplets raining down in front of her. “You have the answer with you.” She smiled, and her eyes, insubstantial as they were, seemed to bore straight through me.

  “What a lovely balance. Lend shows whatever he wants the world to see and you see through whatever the world wants to show you.”

  “What do you mean?” Arianna interrupted.

  Cresseda shimmered like she was about to lose her form. “Lend found what he was meant to find.”

  David frowned. “You mean—Did you send him?” He turned
to Lend. “Is that why you went? Did she ask you to?”

  Lend shook his head. “No, I went because I heard you guys talking. Didn’t you get that info from a banshee?”

  “Yeah, but I—”

  “Things are not as they should be. Now they may return. Or they may be lost entirely,” Cresseda said thoughtfully. And really unhelpfully, too. She wasn’t much good in the whole making-sense department. Of course, Lend had been talented at the whole vague, random-answer thing while he was in the Center. It was obvious now where he’d learned it. “Change is coming. ‘Eyes like streams of melting snow.’” She smiled at me again.

  I shrugged, uncomfortable. “That’s not about me.”

  She shook her head. I didn’t know whether she was agreeing with me or telling me I was wrong.

  “The waters are emptier now.” Her voice was tinged with sorrow. “I am sorry about Alisha. You will set it right?”

  “How did you know about Lish?” I asked, my voice catching.

  “She was part of the waters. Return her to us?”

  I shook my head, tearing up again. “I can’t; she’s dead.”

  “Cresseda,” David said, his voice gentle and leading, like he was trying to get her to focus. “We know a little more about the thing that’s doing this. We were hoping you could help us.”

  She waved one hand dismissively. “This is not a matter of the waters—it is a matter of fire and spirit. The path is not mine and I cannot see it.” Lend’s shoulders slumped. Everyone in the group looked disappointed. “And, Lend? Stand up straight, stop slouching. My beautiful boy.”

  I almost laughed. I guess she really was a mom, after all. She beamed and the light reflecting from her grew brighter, then the water that formed her let go, dropping back to the pond with a loud splash.

  “Bye, Mom,” Lend said softly.

  Arianna folded her arms petulantly. “Well, that was a bloody waste of time.”

  “I don’t know,” an all-too familiar voice mused behind us. “I found it rather entertaining.” I turned around, terror bleeding from my stomach outward until even my fingers trembled.

  Everyone else seemed equally shocked, although only Lend looked scared. Reth stood in the middle of the path like some sort of beautiful Victorian dandy. He even had a walking stick—clearly freedom agreed with him and he’d stepped up his fashion. If he weren’t so breathtaking, he would have looked ridiculous. On him it worked, and somehow made him creepier.

  “What do you want?” David asked, his voice even and cautious.

  “I’ve come to collect what’s mine.” He smiled at me. It was over. Without his new name, I was powerless. I didn’t even have any weapons. He would take me and there was nothing anyone could do.

  “Don’t touch her!” Lend jumped in front of me, planting his feet and holding out his arms. If I weren’t so scared it would have been adorable—Lend thinking he could fight off a faerie. I wanted to cry. I’d never see him again and it broke my heart.

  Reth frowned. “You are getting very tiresome.”

  I put my hand on Lend’s back. “Lend, no!” He had to get out of here. He knew what Reth could do, what Reth would do.

  David, hands in his pockets, stepped closer to the faerie. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m

  David. What’s your interest in Evie?”

  Reth didn’t even glance at him. “Time we were off.” He held out his hand. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out that didn’t end up with anyone dead.

  Arianna stood her ground, spitting on the path in front of him. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

  Reth raised an eyebrow. “What charming company you keep, my love.” He flicked a hand lazily and Arianna went flying into a tree.

  The sun glinted off something on David’s knuckles as he swung at Reth’s face. What good did he think that would do? His fist connected, and Reth fell backward, clutching at his face with an inhuman shriek. My jaw dropped as David turned toward us. “Let’s go, now.”

  He turned his back too soon. From the ground Reth raised his hand and whispered something.

  I shrieked as my wrist burned and I was dragged forward. I dug my heels into the dirt, but the pull was too strong and I fell forward, knocking Lend out of the way. There was nothing to hold on to. I clutched at my wrist like I could somehow tear away the fire.

  Lend jumped on top of me, grabbing me around the waist and bracing us both with his feet. We slowed. Reth raised his other hand and the fire flared, pulling from my heart now, too. I screamed in agony. It hurt so bad I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think. A door melted into place behind Reth. A few more feet and I’d be his forever.

  “No!” Lend squeezed me even tighter. David spun to hit Reth again, forcing the faerie to move one of his hands; I gasped with relief as my heart was released. He froze David on the spot.

  Reth dusted himself off, maintaining his pull on my wrist. “Barbaric race, really. Now then.” He glared at Lend and raised a hand.

  “No, don’t hurt him, I’ll come, I’ll come!” I sobbed. At least then the pain would be over and Lend would be safe.

  “No!” Lend yanked me backward, gaining a few feet on Reth.

  Smiling, Reth opened his mouth. He was going to kill Lend.

  Water, foaming and flecked with bits of ice, shot past us, whipping my hair forward with the force of its motion. Before hitting Reth, the water curved, turning back on itself and swirling around us.

  The fire in my wrist died, the invisible threads cut. Lend and I sat safe in the middle of the vortex, watching Reth’s image ripple through the water.

  “Really now,” Reth snapped, looking past us. “I would hope that you, of all things, would understand. You know what she means to us. All of us.”

  “That is my son.”

  Reth’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “I see. Very well, he’s of no import to me. I’ll take Evelyn and be on my merry way.”

  “She is under my protection as well.”

  “She’s no thing of yours. The waters have no claim.”

  “Neither does the air.”

  “We made her!”

  My blood froze. What did he mean?

  “Creation is not claim,” Cresseda said.

  “And yet you claim the boy,” Reth sneered.

  “Leave.” Cresseda’s voice had gone from bubbling brook to roaring waterfall; it was power, eternal and unassailable.

  Reth straightened his waistcoat and picked up his walking stick. “Very well. I’m not the only one who will come looking, though. Until next time, my love.” He waved his cane at me and stepped back through the door.

  ONE OF A KIND

  A rianna wasn’t dead. Or deader, I guess. I never thought I’d be so relieved about a vamp, but the girl had guts. Back at the house, David patched up her ribs while Stacey and Luke holed themselves in upstairs, avoiding me after hearing what had happened. I didn’t blame them. I was like a plague: where I came, bad things followed.

  “How did you hurt Reth?” I asked as David finished checking Arianna’s ribs. I realized Reth had a new name, but had no idea what.

  David stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled something out. It looked like brass knuckles but the wrong color. Iron. Brilliant. “Designed them myself.”

  Was he cool or what? “Can I get a set?” Lend and I asked at the same time.

  David laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “What if Reth comes back?” Lend asked.

  “There’s a reason he didn’t come to the house. We’re not very faerie friendly here. But I wouldn’t underestimate your mom’s power. Now that he knows the water elementals are protecting Evie, I don’t think he’ll try anything. Soon he’ll forget he was ever interested in her.”

  I hoped that was true, but I seriously doubted it. It sounded too dismissive, too like Raquel. I wasn’t just some pretty thing Reth wanted to dance with—his interest in me ran far deeper. There was some sinister purpose behind it all. Still, Da
vid was obviously faerie savvy, and with Cresseda’s protection, maybe I really would be safe. Until I had to leave here, of course.

  “There are a few other tricks,” David said, walking to the counter. He grabbed a loaf of bread, took out two slices, and handed them to us. “Keep a bit of stale bread in your pockets all the time.”

  “Okay,” I said, frowning dubiously at the bread.

  He laughed. “It works. Faeries don’t like things that tie them to our earth. Bread is the staff of life for humans—they won’t touch it. Same thing with iron; it binds them here, rings too sharply of imprisonment. That’s why it hurts them.”

  “Cool!” Bread, at least, I could take with me everywhere. “Can I have my taser back, too?” Tasey wasn’t much good against faeries, but I felt kind of naked without her.

  Frowning thoughtfully, he finally nodded and gave it to me. I had to restrain myself from stroking the pink grip.

  Arianna fixed her clothes, glaring at me. “Why’s the faerie so obsessed with you anyway? You’re not that cute.”

  David cleared his throat loudly. “Lend, why don’t you take Evie into town, get her some clothes and things?”

  My heart leaped in my chest. That sounded promising. “I can stay?” I had been waiting for him to kick me out since we got here. I figured it was a sure thing now with the added Reth threat. I wouldn’t want me around, either.

  “Of course.” He smiled at me. “You brought my son back. You’re always welcome.” I wouldn’t cry, not again, but that one sentence meant the world to me. Maybe I wasn’t totally alone, after all.

  Lend frowned. “You’re trying to get rid of us so you can talk about all this, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine.” Lend held out his hand. “Keys? And a credit card?”

  David pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it over with the car keys. “Be back before dark.

  You’re still grounded.”

  “I promise not to have any fun,” Lend said solemnly.

  “Get out of here, you bum,” his dad said, shaking his head.

  We climbed into a plain silver sedan. Maybe I’m weird, but watching Lend drive was sexy.