by W. J. May
“We home?” Molly croaked, popping her head up. “Thank goodness. I’m so tired.”
“Yar, yer mum set up the spare room fer Rae.” He hopped out of the car and opened the back passenger door, saying to Rae, “It’s right by Molly’s and you ‘ave yer own bathroom.” He slung Molly’s bag over his shoulder and put his arm around Molly. “Nice t’ave you back fer a bit.”
Rae leaned over and grabbed her bag and followed them in. She smiled when she heard Molly’s dad whisper to his daughter. “Everything good wit yer ink?” He snapped his fingers and a few sparks flew out of them. “Able to do this yit?”
“No, but that’s totally awesome.” Molly perked up. “Can you teach me?”
“Sure, if yer mum gives us a bit of time on our own.” He laughed, as if at some private joke. “She wan’s ta take you two to the shops ‘ommorrow.”
Rae followed them inside, a small pang of jealousy filling her. Molly’s dad seemed so sweet. Quiet and reserved, he had a kind and sincere quality about him. He obviously adored his daughter. Rae thought back to Molly’s words when they’d first met. She’d said something about her dad telling her to be careful around Rae. He didn’t seem the kind of person to be like that…maybe Molly had taken his words out of context.
Based on what she knew of her roomie, it seemed likely. Rae grinned involuntarily, thinking back on multiple instances where Molly had blown things out of proportion.
Rae took a moment to wonder how someone so loud and outgoing could come from someone so quiet and introverted. Maybe Molls’ mom would be the pushier kind. Her dad wore very nice, labeled clothes, but maybe it was Molly and her mom who did the shopping.
They carried their stuff up the large staircase, giving Rae a glimpse of the house. Everything in the house was designer and classy, looking like it had jumped straight out of a high-priced magazine. It reminded Rae of Molly’s wardrobe.
Her room, across from Molly’s, looked like it’d been a photo-shoot backdrop in Vanity Fair: Polo sheets on a high poster bed, the walls and trim painted a brilliant white. The ensuite bathroom had a shower, separate bath and sink done in silvers and lilac. Rae brushed her teeth and crawled into bed, too tired to let her brain take in anything more beyond the luxurious softness of the sheets. She fell asleep immediately.
“Rae… Rae… You awake?” Molly whispered loudly, her weight dipping the mattress beside Rae on the large bed.
Rae felt Molly’s finger touch her eyebrow a split second before her eyelid jerked open of its own accord. Her eye rolled left to right, catching Molly dressed in pajamas covered in Chanel logos, before pulling her head back. “I am now.” She considered tossing one of the five hundred thread count pillows at her friend, but it would be a shame to throw something so wonderfully soft. “What time is it?”
“‘Bout eleven.” Molly’s fingers reached beside Rae’s head and pulled at one of her curls. “You know, you would look fantastic if we lightened your hair. Hmm… maybe blonde?” She shook her head. “No, too much. Maybe some chunky highlights. Oh! You’d be like a modern day Tinkerbelle.” She tilted her head, obviously visualizing it in her mind. “I can color your hair sometime if you want. I took a class a few summers ago.”
“You took a hair class?” Rae couldn’t picture it. Her flashy, designer-labeled roomie, a beauty school girl? Maybe a dropout. Rae grinned at the cheesy Grease-Lightening comparison.
“Aced it. Even the teacher was asking me to do her hair. She said I had some natural talent for finding the right colors for people. Whatever.” She shrugged. “I thought I might be a stylist, and wanted to make sure I knew how to do people up from head to toe.” She looked around the room. “Sorry this room’s so boring. The antique bookcase, over there by the window, has a section which drops down and turns into a desk. You can set your computer up there and we’ve got wireless. Password is “tricity” with no caps or anything. Like electricity” She began snapping her fingers, staring intently at them.
Rae sat up, fluffing a pillow behind her back and leaning against the headboard as she drew her knees up. “What’re you doing?”
“My dad showed me this cool sparkly-trick, but I can’t figure out how he did it.”
“Let me try.” The words were out before Rae realized. Her eyes grew wide as she waited for Molly’s response.
“You can’t, silly.” Molly patted Rae’s hand. “My dad and I almost have the same ink.” She snapped her finger again. “I almost forgot the whole reason I came in here. My mom wants to go shopping. She’s dying to buy me some new outfits for school.” She hopped off the bed. “First we eat, then we shop.”
Rae had a bit of money her aunt and uncle sent as her Christmas present. Maybe she’d buy a new outfit as well. She also wondered if the dean’s words had sunk in for Molly. Did she get that I can copy her ability? Or was she purposely ignoring it? “I just need a shower.”
“No probs. I’ll meet you downstairs.” Molly disappeared around the door, still snapping her fingers.
Rae sat a moment longer staring at her hands. Then she got up and peered into the hallway before she quickly, and as quietly as possible, closed the door. Leaning her back against it, she tried snapping her fingers. Nothing happened. Focusing on Molly’s tatù hum, she intently watched her fingers and palm, rotating her wrist. Eyebrows pushed together, she tried to imagine the electricity flowing through her veins from her forearm and up her wrist to the tips of her fingers.
Instead of snapping her fingers, she felt the urge to flick them, and jumped when tiny little sparks flew out. She stepped away from the door and headed toward the bathroom, still practicing her finger sparklers. Cool trick! I gotta show Molls….oh wait…shoot. She didn’t know if Molly knew and the only way to find out would be to ask her. Hmmm… or maybe show her! Molly had been so nice to invite her here, and what if Molly didn’t get what the loser-dean had said and she heard it from someone when she got back from school? Rae though it might break her heart if Molly turned her back on her.
They shopped all afternoon. Molly’s mom turned out to be an older, more mature version of Molly. It made Rae giggle. The two of them headed to every shop where nothing seemed priced below a hundred pounds. It was way above Rae’s comfort zone.
The next day they shopped again, even with all the crazy holiday rush of shoppers. Molly and her mom didn’t mind. They still came home with presents for others and themselves. Rae thought it’d be nice to have that kind of money, but she didn’t think she’d bother with the crazy priced clothes. She did buy a scarf and matching gloves from Burberry and it kept Molly quiet for about half an hour.
Molly and her Mom couldn’t wait to go shopping for the Boxing Day sales. After a quiet, but fancy Christmas dinner with presents, including presents for her, Rae had no desire to shop more. The next morning, she sat at the little antique bookcase, her laptop loading. Molly stood, flipping through some fashion magazine.
“Would you mind if I just stayed in?” Rae asked.
“You’re kidding! You don’t want to go?” Molly looked confused.
“I, uh, I’d like to give my Uncle Argyle and Aunt Linda a call and just take it easy. Is that okay?”
Molly, still looking like she couldn’t figure out why in the world staying in would be more exciting than buying clothes, finally nodded. “My mom and I can get a bit of one on one time.” She turned to go, at the door, she paused. “Hey, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Do you mind hanging out with my Dad for a bit. I meant to do something all week and haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe just have lunch with him or something?”
Rae liked Molly’s dad. He didn’t seem to care about who her parents were. Plus, she wanted to do this for Molly, for having been so nice to her. “I can do that.”
“Hey Molls?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you… um… did you get what the dean said about my tatù at the dinner?”
“What part? That the guy’s a complete dufu
s?”
“Well, that’s a given.” She grinned, her stomach fluttering with nervousness. “That he figured out my ability’s kind of like my dad’s?” She waited for a reaction, dreading what she might hear.
“I kinda figured your ink was something bigger, but who cares if you can’t figure it all out now. It’ll come.” She headed toward the door and turned back just before exiting. “Look at what’s changed since I got inked in September. Watch this.” She flicked her fingers and sparks flew and fizzled out. “Maybe I can teach you sometime.” She waved her hand, sparks still flying and leaving small brown burn holes in the white carpet.
Rae sat stunned, staring at the carpet. Wow, she didn’t even need me. At least she isn’t mad at me. But I wonder if she really understands? Rae didn’t know what to think. She only knew that she felt unbelievably grateful that Molly hadn’t turned on her.
When Molly left, Rae called her aunt and uncle. She spoke with them for a bit, glad to hear that they had a white Christmas, something her Aunt adored, but didn’t always get to see. Her uncle never mentioned anything about her tatù. The way Aunt Linda kept chatting over him in the background gave him a good excuse, so she couldn’t blame him…much.
After hanging up, Rae glanced at the clock and realized it was half past twelve. She headed downstairs and into the kitchen. She could hear Molly’s dad tinkering around in the garage connected to the kitchen. Rae went to the fridge and made the two of them some sandwiches and grabbed a couple of bags of crisps and some drinks.
She carried them into the garage. Molly’s dad stood bent over the hood of a perfect looking Porsche.
“Hi, Mr. Skye. I made you some lunch.”
Mr. Skye popped his head up and smiled. “Well, arn’t you a dear!” He walked over to the small sink beside the table Rae had set the sandwiches on. He turned the taps on and washed his hands, which already looked clean. He pulled two stools out from under table and indicated she should sit on one.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, munching on their lunch. Eventually, feeling the need to fill the quiet void, Mr. Skye cleared his throat and said, “Har you enjoyin’ yer year wit Molly?”
Rae smiled, catching the teasing glimmer in his eye. The man obviously knew his daughter’s effect on people. “She keeps things interesting.”
“Oi! That she does. She’s always been interested on the outside stuff, but she’s got a big heart.” He patted the left side of his chest. “An’ if you haven’t seen it yet, give er time and it’ll come through.” He fiddled with a loose thread on his shirt. “Now fer you.”
“Fer…fer me?” Rae’s head started pounding. Now it comes.
He’s going to bring up my folks and tell me to stay clear of trouble.
Tell me to not tempt his daughter with evil.
“Don’t you be frettin’ about the past. It’ll catch up with yer soon enough – when yer ready. You’ve got yer hands full wit yer future. That’s what’s important.” He smiled and winked at her.
All the panic drained out of her with a rush. She had the oddest sense of calm acceptance.
“Uh, thank-you.” Rae didn’t know what else to say. That had probably been the nicest thing an adult, besides the headmaster, had said to her regarding her ability.
“How’re the boys? Are they causing you an’ me Molly trouble?”
Rae giggled. He wanted to have that talk with her. Of course he does! Molly probably had strategically told her dad just enough to not be lying and as a good father, he was hoping for more info from another source. Like my father…like a father should. She stopped giggling; she kind of needed the talk.
“There’re a few boys. None of them cause trouble.” She sighed, not sure how to say anything the right way. She had questions, and she needed guidance, a father’s guidance. She knew she wouldn’t get it from Uncle Argyle or the headmaster. She couldn’t even picture asking anyone else. The pressure and uncertainty built up inside her. Finally, when she realized she couldn’t keep it inside anymore, she blurted, “Mr. Skye what do you think of tatù people dating?” Her faced burned and she wished she could take the words back.
He stood and walked over the Porches and dropped the hood with a resounding bang, making Rae jump and regret that she had said anything. I don’t know this man, he doesn’t know me. Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut? But his words, once he spoke, gave her hope.
“You girls ‘ave it ‘arder than we did. They don’t want you ta be together, an’ yet they stick adolescents in the ‘ame room.” He tsked.
He went around to the driver’s side and sat in the seat, turning the key. Nothing happened. He stood and leaned over the door, flicking his finger at the engine. A thin white and blue line escaped his fingers.
“Jus’ be careful. As I sorta said before, you don’ want yer past to predict yer future. Stay clear of gray areas fer a wee while.”
He wrinkled his nose and sat back down in the driver’s seat to try the key again. This time it purred like a kitten. He shut it off and closed the door.
“Yer young. Have fun an’ just make sure a boy’s interested fer the right reason. Tatù or not.”
Rae decided to take his advice and leave before this happy interlude went south. She picked up the dirty dishes to take back into the house, but paused on the bottom step. “Thanks, Mr. Skye. Molly’s lucky to have a dad like you.”
He chuckled. “I didn’ choose to do something big with my ability. I chose a simple life, but wit a wife who likes to go big. Me girls, Molly and her mum, deserve their castle. I’m the one who’s lucky to ‘ave them. Jus’ do me a favor an’ keep me Molls outta trouble.” Then he added, as if having an afterthought, “An’ keep ‘er away from them boys.”
Rae giggled as she went back into the house, thinking to herself that Molly’s father knew his daughter to the bone.
Chapter 20
Personal Demons
The rest of the Winter break passed slowly with Molly and her mother taking every possible opportunity to drag Rae out shopping to stores which were so far outside of her price range, it felt ludicrous to even walk in the shop’s door. It took some time for Rae to give in, and just enjoy the company.
There were moments when Rae felt like she was looking at a Norman Rockwell painting, watching Molly with her parents. They were disparate parts of the same whole, like puzzle pieces that seemed so different, yet fit together perfectly to make a beautiful picture.
They were so perfect together, and sometimes Rae longed to have that so much it hurt. Molly always seemed to know when Rae fell into a dark mood. She would come and drag her back into the fray, until Rae felt she was no longer on the outside, that she kind of became part of their family. It was an idyllic time, a welcome respite from the stress and pressure of school. Part of her wished it would last forever; the other part couldn’t wait to go back to Guilder, to see Devon, the headmaster and to face the other students.
Eventually, Rae found herself and Molly on a train, heading back to Guilder, the golden times ended. But even with the grim and dreary environment of school, teachers, expectations and the ever-watchful eye of the dean, the one thing life at Guilder wasn’t, was slow.
The first week back at school seemed to pass faster than all three weeks of the Christmas break combined. While on vacation, she had enjoyed the privacy of not having to talk about her tatù. In fact, after having flashed through inks like a cartoon flip book at the Alumni Dinner, Rae realized having had only Molly’s ability for three weeks had been heaven.
In no time, everyone fell back in the swing of things and gossip was abundant. On campus, everywhere she went, Rae heard students talking about her tatù and the alumni dinner. She ignored the whispers, figuring she’d show them what she needed to in the Oratory.
Monday evening, Rae headed down the marble steps and into the library a few minutes ahead of eight. She passed a few seniors sitting at the front of the room. She settled at her usual table with Devon near the back.
She hadn’t chatted with him since before Christmas. Her knees bounced against the underside of the table making it shake noisily, and earning her dark looks from Madame Elpis. She got up and began pacing around the aisles at the back of the room. Rows of books lining the shelves looked like walls.
Rae dropped her head sideways to get a better view of the titles. Most of the books were old leather -bound tomes with gilt printing on the bindings. She touched one, pulling her hand back in surprise. She felt power from the book shift into her. Well that’s new. How could a book have ink power? Well, there was only one way to proceed.
Dropping her hands to her sides, and standing perfectly still, she waited for her gift to show her what power she’d just absorbed. Eyes closed, she focused on the inner hum of her body.
The library grew completely silent – aside from the steady noise of the old ceiling lights and the computers.
The urge to wrinkle and twitch her nose grew strong inside of her. Rae knew the ability she’d just absorbed belonged to a shape-shifter and immediately following the realization, came the knowledge of whose it was. She opened her eyes and sighed. “Gale, I know it’s you.” She tried to peek over top of the books. In her best sing-song voice impersonation of the Shining, she said, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Laughter erupted from the front of the room. A tiny mouse crawled between two books, one of which Rae had touched. It jumped to the floor.
Within seconds, Gale stood beside her, a sheepish look on her face. “Sorry,” she whispered. “The girls dared me to try it. I hope you’re not mad.” She looked frightened enough to turn back into a mouse.
Rae smiled and laughed, trying her best to show that she was nothing to be scared of. “Here I was thinking some book might actually be a human stuck in the library stacks. I was about to pull the book out to try to free it!”
A small, squeaky laugh erupted from Gale and she hurried back to her friends, giggling the whole way.