by Fletcher, MJ
Val looked at the clock and winced. “I better head home.”
“You can crash on the couch if you want,” I offered.
“You don’t mind?”
“No, with my dad gone I wouldn’t mind the company.”
“Cool, I’ll just call my mom and let her know.”
Val walked out of the room and for the first time I had a chance to think about my day. I thought about the incidents with the doorknob and in the library, plus the time I spent with DI Emory and how my dreams were getting increasingly weird and scary. I even considered that maybe they weren’t just dreams but something else entirely. I wanted to talk with Dad about them and see what he had to say, but he was off doing god knows what.
I dropped my head back on the couch cushion and my eyes wandered falling on the books I had gotten from the library. In all the commotion I had completely forgotten about them, but now... my eyes locked on the book with my father’s name in the title.
Did I have time to take a quick look before Val returned? I snuck a peek and saw Val still on the phone so I grabbed the book and flipped open to the first page.
I read the page quickly and stopped myself from shaking my head. No, that can’t be I thought and I read the page again more slowly to be sure I hadn’t misread it. But there it was in black and white right before my eyes. I tried to keep calm but a million thoughts went racing through my head. How could this be possible and why hadn’t anyone told me? This was all wrong and I had no one I could talk to about it. I could hear Val finishing her conversation and I tried to fight back tears. But it was too much, after everything that happened today. How could this be true and how after everything that had been kept from me no one told me this?
Val walked into the room took one look at me, glanced around as if she must have missed something and then rushed over to me and threw her arms around me. She didn’t talk. She held me and rocked me back and forth kind of like my dad would do to make me feel better. And I actually found myself glad it was Val with me and not someone else. Not someone with abilities who would know just what that page had meant... and what it could mean for me.
Chapter 17
Status: The cold hard annoying truth and some coffee.
The next morning Val didn’t ask me why I’d been upset the night before she just chattered on about school and boys and I half listened. My mind kept drifting back to what I had read last night. I didn’t want to think about it but I couldn’t stop myself. Val finally had to head home and she smiled and gave me a quick hug and told me to call her if I needed her. I was thankful for that and found myself amused by the fact that Val had become such a big part of my life while I had spent the last few years trying to avoid her when on family vacations here in Cape May.
I took a quick shower, put my hair up and decided to go for a walk to clear my head. I shoved the book in my bag and grabbed my jacket and a scarf and headed out. The weather had turned cold in the last few days and it seemed like winter was trying to get an early start this year. I didn’t mind, I had always loved Cape May in the winter. Dad would bring me to beach and we’d have it all to ourselves. We’d walk along collecting shells and we’d enjoy watching the waves crash on the beach.
I found myself wandering around town recalling all those happy times I had spent with my dad. I was angry with him and I had a right to be. He should have told me. He shouldn’t have left me to discover it on my own.
I found myself at the Cape Beanery and went in for a drink. The place was nearly empty and I got a large cup of coffee and a seat by the window. The building was so old that you needed the coffee to keep you warm against the drafts, the reason I decided to keep my jacket on. I loosened my scarf and sipped at my steaming cup of French Vanilla as I glanced out on the quiet street.
It wasn’t long before I slid my hand down on my bag and felt the outline of the book. I didn’t hesitate; I reached in, grabbed it and pulled it out placing it on the table in front of me. The gold lettering of the title mocked me as I read it over and over. I traced it with my fingers and pulled at the edge of the cover with my fingertip. I opened it slowly and turned the pages until I found the one I had read last night. And, of course, I had to read it again.
Elijah Masters was one of the brightest and most promising graduates of the Paladin Academy in the last century. With his respected family name and already vaunted abilities great things were expected of him. Nothing was thought to be out of his reach and perhaps this is where he went wrong. While some still defend him and his actions that lead to his expulsion from the Doorknob Society, I have decided to delve deeper into the man himself.
Though his skill and acumen as a DS member are still highly regarded, I found a man whose questionable decisions dated back many years before the events that led to his disgraceful dismissal. I will detail how his biggest mistake and one which lead directly to his downfall, and was not a surprise to most, was his marriage to Talia Grimm, of the Skeleton Key Guild.
I slammed the cover closed and took a much needed sip of my coffee. Why would anyone write such a thing? As far as I knew students from the societies weren’t forbidden to fraternize. Of course it was obvious that some groups thought themselves better than others, but that was just about the same in any school.
My annoyance grew with my frustrated thoughts. What right did the author have to judge my dad? Or blame my mom? I desperately wanted to read more and yet I was afraid of what I would learn. In the end would I wind up hating my dad or my mom, who I was pretty much disliking since she left us?
The bell over the door of the Beanery rang and I wished people would stay away this morning, especially anyone I knew. I wasn’t in the mood to play nice, which is why my annoyance went up ten degrees when I felt someone standing beside me.
I turned in my seat and rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here, Nightshade?”
He grinned and shook the cup of coffee in his hand.
“Cute, coffee, now leave me alone.” A member of Skeleton Key Guild was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now.
He sipped his drink and didn’t move.
Of course I had to notice that he looked good in the long, black leather overcoat and gloves that fit his hands like a second skin. And his cheeks glowed red from the cold.
“I thought I might warm up a bit.”
“Well, you’ve got your choice of tables.” I gestured to the multitude of empty tables.
“I know and this one has the best view.” He slid into the chair opposite me.
“Didn’t you notice that it’s taken?”
“It does have more than one chair.”
“Does everyone from SKG like to mess with me —is that the thing— everyone messes with the Masters girl?”
“I heard about your issue with Jessica.”
“Issue? She attacked me for no good reason.”
He didn’t respond, instead he just sipped his drink and looked out the window. I wanted him to yell or say something nasty anything to provoke a fight. I was angry and he was the perfect target to take it out on.
“Taken on some light reading have we?” he asked motioning to the book.
“It’s nothing,” I said grabbing it and slipping it back into my bag, “just some stupid book.”
“Quite a heavy read. I would think you wouldn’t want to read that trash about your own family. Probably packed with lies.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
A strand of his dark hair fell alongside his face as he cocked his head to the side and regarded me with a bemused expression. He didn’t say a word he just let my words hang out there... and it drove me nuts.
“It’s not like I would know, okay,” I said needing to break the silence.
“I take it your family didn’t tell you what happened?”
“Nothing. Nada. Zilch.”
“I see.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, I’m merely listening.”
“Great, I’m sur
rounded by people who listen. No one bothers to tell me in detail about DS or the Paladin Academy or anything. My family has this whole other life I never knew about and when I finally learn the big secret, it turns out that there are even more secrets.” I didn’t know why I was telling him this or even talking to him. I guess I needed to unload and he was there and for whatever reason he seemed willing to listen.
“They didn’t tell you about your mother did they?”
Now it was my turn to listen. I met his intense glance and it wasn’t his two different colored eyes that held my attention. It was that I realized he had known all along about my mom. And I knew that if he knew about my mom then others did as well while... I had no clue.
“What about her?” I dared to ask.
“That she was a member of the Skeleton Key Guild.”
“You know who my mother is?”
“Talia Grimm.”
“Grimm,” I said the name, not sure if what I was thinking could be true or if I even wanted to consider it.
“It’s a SKG family name. You already met an extended member... Jessica.”
“You mean?”
“I believe she’s your cousin. Your mom and her dad were brother and sister.”
“‘Wonderful, so I’m related to that psycho!”
“Jessica can be a bit annoying, even a little melodramatic I will admit, but she’s not a psycho.”
“Could have fooled me, that group of yours isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.”
“For someone who admits to not knowing much about our world, you seem to have made up your mind about the Skeleton Key Guild.” He leaned back taking a sip of his coffee.
He was right. I’d made up my mind about the Guild from the moment I learned about them. Dad said all Masters’ were DS members he never mentioned Mom’s side of the family. We had barely seen them since she left us. I had vague memories of my grandmother and even some cousins. I did remember one little blonde girl I played with called Jess but how could that be the same person? I shook my head so unsure of everything. Is that why she attacked me? Did she remember me while I had no clue as to who she was?
“You’ve got to admit that your bunch hasn’t been my biggest fans... you included,” I said.
“Agreed, but it doesn’t mean the Guild is bad. It’s that we’re not as warm and fuzzy, as you like to put it, as the Doorknob Society. DS and the Guild are more connected then you might realize.” His fingers played with the necklace that I noticed he always wore.
“So what, I should be happy my mom was in SKG?”
“I’m not saying that, I’m just saying it’s not the end of the world.”
“Maybe not for you.”
“The Guild is a lot of things that you might be surprised at?”
“Is this where you tell me how great it is?”
“I’m not here to recruit you, Masters, but there are two sides to every story and that trash you were reading won’t give you anything other than lies and innuendo about what really happened.”
“And I suppose you could?”
“I’ve only ever heard rumors.”
“What rumors?”
“It was back when the truce between SKG and DS was strong. Members would work together on projects and your parents were a team. They were investigating something big for both the groups. Supposedly, they found whatever it was they were looking for.” He stopped and looked down at his cup, his finger circling the rim.
“And?”
“That’s where the rumors started. No one knows for sure if they found it or if they were very close to finding it and that’s when everything changed. Most think that your parents turned against one another or were ordered to by their Societies. All that anyone really knows is that your dad was kicked out of the DS after a closed trial and your mom went missing around the same time.”
Memories of my mom floated in and out my head; her laugh, her smile. I could envision my parents in our old kitchen dancing while they cooked dinner. I remembered running to them and being enveloped in a huge family hug. How could those memories be so wrong? My parents would have never betrayed one another. Would they? I didn’t want to believe it. But then my mom had left us and I would have never believed she would have done that.
“No.” I shook my head and looked out the window. Snow was falling and started to cover the street.
“No?” Nightshade parroted me as if questioning.
“I don’t believe my parents would do that to each other.”
“Like I said, it’s just rumor.”
“Right.” I sipped my coffee and turned my attention to the accumulating snow. The roofs of the old Victorian houses across the street were covered in white and the street had nearly vanished from the blanket of snow. People bundled up against the cold pulling their scarves and collars tighter around them. The chilly scene made me grip my warm cup a little tighter.
“What happened with your parents changed a lot of things.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well the truces become strained again for one. It also elevated the man who accused your father of wrong doing to the council.”
My stomach turned. “Who?”
“The head of the Doorknob Society, Mr. Jordan.” The man had made my skin crawl the moment I met him and now I had even more reason to dislike him.
“He was the one who put my dad on trial?”
“Yes, rumors swirled what he knew but he was the one who led the prosecution of your dad.” I already didn’t trust Jordan and now I had even more reason, he’d gotten dad kicked out of DS. No wonder he didn’t want me to declare for the Society.
“Do you need a refill?”
I turned to Nightshade who was standing beside me his hand out offering to take my cup. I gave it to him. “Hot chocolate instead of coffee if you don’t mind.”
“Whipped cream?”
“What’s hot chocolate without whipped cream?”
“You got that right.”
I watched as he walked to the counter. I couldn’t figure him out, he’d always been such a jerk and now he was being almost... normal. Why did guys always have to be so annoying?
“Here you go.” He handed me the hot chocolate with whipped cream.
I snatched it eagerly and took a sip. “Thanks, how much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said taking his seat.
“No, I pay my own way, how much?”
“I’m not allowed a nice gesture?”
“I don’t like nice gestures that make people think you owe them.”
“Yes. I intend to hold the price of a cup of hot chocolate over your head for eternity.” He grinned and there he was again the frustrating and annoying Nightshade I was used too.
“Here.” I grabbed five dollars from my wallet and shoved it across the table at him. He looked down at it and didn’t move to take it.
“So are you enjoying the HVO lessons?” He continued like we weren’t arguing.
“They’re fine, how much was the hot chocolate?” I clenched my teeth and sat my cup down.
He continued to ignore my question, “I heard you’re working with DI Emory.”
“Yes, now are you going to tell me how much it was or not?”
“That’s interesting.”
“Really, why’s that?” I rolled my eyes getting more and more frustrated with him.
“Mainly, because he isn’t a teacher.”
“What?”
“Emory isn’t an instructor at Paladin Academy; he’s a fulltime Detective Inspector.”
“Then why have I been assigned to him?”
“Don’t know, but the interesting thing is who the DI was that worked your parents’ case for Jordan.”
“Emory?”
“You got it.”
I sat in silence completely shocked by what he had just told me, First Jordan and now Emory, we’re they still working together? What was going on? I wished I could talk with Dad and just ask him about all of th
is once and for all. He hadn’t answered my calls or texted me for over a day and I was starting to worry about him. At that moment I felt completely alone.
Why would I be assigned to Emory? Could it have to do with the gremlin incident or what had happened with my parents, maybe it had to do with the man in black. Were they trying to get to my dad through me? Was all this more serious then Dad ever led me to believe? Dad and I definitely needed to talk but how when I couldn’t reach him?
A thought suddenly hit me and I asked, “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
He shot an angry look at me.
“It’s in the book. Check and see for yourself. You can also ask around; it’s common knowledge. Besides what would I have to gain from lying?”
“I don’t know, but why would you help me?”
“Maybe I don’t like to see people fooled by someone pretending to be something they’re not. Or maybe I think you’re more Skeleton Key Guild material then you realize and I want to help.” He sipped his coffee and looked out at the snow for a moment, then turned back to me and grinned. “Then again maybe I am a liar.”
“The last option wouldn’t surprise me.”
“Or me.” He laughed. “The snow is getting heavy I think it’s time to go.”
I looked outside. He was right. There already was a heavy accumulation and snow was still falling. I didn’t want to be slogging home in a blizzard so I started to gather my things.
Nightshade was already standing and pulling on his gloves. He tucked his scarf into his jacket and buttoned it up all the time watching me. I felt like a mouse must feel when being stalked by a cat. He stood with a grin as if patiently waiting to pounce... and then what? I didn’t want to think about it.
“Coming with me?”
Damn, I hadn’t even realized that he had issued an order. I had gotten up when he had mentioned it and now of course it looked like I was obeying his command.
“I just want to beat the snow.”
“Of course you do.” He snatched his cup. “I’ll be outside if you need company walking home.”