Charade (Heven & Hell)

by Cambria Hebert

  Not long after eating, my mother announced that they needed to be going. I had to make an effort to seem disappointed. It made me feel guilty, and I insisted on applying more burn cream to her nasty-looking burn and wrapping it lightly in some gauze. That burn was going to turn into one nasty blister. After I had her all bandaged up, Sam and I walked Mom and Henry to his car while I tried one last time to convince her to get her arm looked at. She still insisted she was fine. I tucked the burn cream into her purse and kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you later,” I promised before Henry ushered her into a very black sedan with very dark tinted windows.

  “Heven, promise me that we will see each other again before you go off to Italy,” Mom said before Henry could close the door.

  I was still a little shocked that she was so willing to let me go after months and months of her insisting that I go to a Bible camp to exorcise the evil out of me.

  “Sure, Mom. I’ll come by next week and we can have lunch together.”

  “Great. I had a great time today. I love you.”

  I swallowed past the lump suddenly in my throat. “I love you too, Mom.”

  She said a short, but nice, goodbye to Sam, and then Henry shut the door. The tint was so dark that she disappeared from view. On his way around to the driver’s side he touched my hand and said, “Thanks for the wonderful day.”

  Red beady eyes swam before me. My lungs squeezed. I swayed a little on my feet. Sam was there, his body coming up against mine. Henry looked at me with concern in his eyes. “Are you all right?”

  I forced a smile. “I’m great. Just a little headache is all.”

  “Well, get some sleep tonight. I’m sure you’ll feel better in the morning.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  We watched until they were out of sight, and then I turned to lay my head on Sam’s chest. The sound of his heartbeat made me feel stronger.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

  “It’s nothing,” I insisted. “I just got a little dizzy.”

  “Yeah, and your mind is just playing tricks on you,” he muttered.

  Gran stuck her head out the back door. “Heven, could you come in here please?” Her aura was flaring nervous energy.

  Something is going on with Gran. I told Sam.

  She does seem a little preoccupied.

  Inside, Cole was sitting at the table in the kitchen with a plate of cookies in front of him. Gran was standing at the sink washing dishes.

  “Let me help you,” I said, going over to the sink.

  She waved me away and picked up a towel to dry her hands. “Sit down. There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “What?” I plopped into a chair next to Sam and across from Cole.

  Gran patted her pocket before saying, “I debated on whether or not to say anything, but I think you both have a right to know.”

  I didn’t understand who or what she was talking about. “Me and Sam?”

  “No, you and Cole.”

  Cole and I looked at one another. He shrugged.

  “I don’t understand,” I said.

  Gran nodded. “When you first came here, Cole, I am sure that you thought I acted a little strange.”

  He shook his head. “I wasn’t really myself the other night.” His cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

  “Don’t think anything of it,” Gran replied and patted her pocket before continuing. “It’s because you remind me of someone. Two people actually.”

  “Who?” Cole asked.

  “My late husband and son.”

  My heart stuttered. I groped for Sam’s hand beneath the table.

  “About seventeen years ago, my son Jason met and married your mother, Heven. But what you don’t know, what no one knows, is that before he met her, he was involved with someone else.” Gran looked at Cole.

  “Your mother’s name is Christine? Christine Matthews?”

  “Christine Springer, used to be Matthews until she married my Dad when I was two,” Cole said as the color leeched from his skin.

  Gran nodded. “My son Jason is your biological father, Cole.”

  I gasped and I felt the blood drain from my face.

  Cole stood, the chair clattering to the floor behind him. “No.”

  “Yes.” She pulled a photograph from her pocket and laid it on the table in front of Cole. It was a photograph I knew well. It was my dad and grandpa smiling into the camera with their arms thrown around each other. It was an old photograph from when Dad was about my age and my grandpa was what age my dad would be now. I never realized it before because the memories of my grandpa were from when he was older, but Cole looked a lot like him when he was younger.

  Cole stared down at the photograph on the table. “So I look like him.” He pointed at my grandfather. “But not that much. And not like him.” He pointed to my Dad. His aura was all over the place. Disbelief, hurt, curiosity…

  “I had a DNA test done,” Gran said quietly then she pulled another sheet of paper from her pocket and laid it next to the photo.

  We all stared at her. “That night you stayed here, I—I snipped a piece of your hair off and took it to the hospital for a DNA test. The lab ran it against my blood since Jason isn’t here. It matched. You’re my grandson.”

  We all sat there stunned.

  “Please understand. I wanted to be sure before I said anything.”

  Cole picked up his chair and dropped back in it. “Then that means…” He looked up and our eyes met. Joy flowed through me. Joy and relief.

  “Heven is your sister.” Gran said.

  Sam started laughing. I brought my eyes away from Cole and I looked at him. He was happy. This news thrilled him. I focused on the feeling swirling through me, pushing past my own to find his. He was relieved. He didn’t have to feel threatened by me and Cole’s relationship anymore. I was shocked he had felt that threatened before. I must not be the only one who could push down my feelings.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, noticing everyone staring. “It’s just really great news.”

  Cole jumped up and stormed out the door.

  “Cole!” I yelled and went after him. Sam got up to follow, but I stopped him. “Give me a minute with him, okay?”

  Sam sat back down.

  Cole was at the far end of the porch, staring out toward the orchard. I approached him and leaned my back against the railing next to him, facing the opposite direction. We stood like that for a long time, not saying anything.

  Finally, Cole cleared his throat. “I could never figure it out.”

  I looked up. “What?”

  “What it was that I felt for you. At first I thought I was attracted to you… but it was different somehow. I always wanted to protect you, to watch over you and be close to you, but the other night, when I kissed you, it didn’t feel right.”

  “I felt the same way.”

  “Really?” His aura flared magenta, mixing with the blue and green.

  “I think that might be why Sam doesn’t like you. He could feel how much I cared about you and knew I was confused.” He thought I was torn between the two of them, but really I couldn’t figure out my connection to Cole.

  “The guy sure is relieved,” Cole muttered, the side of his mouth picking up.

  “So do you believe her?” I asked timid.

  He was quiet a moment. “I’m not sure. Why would she lie? I should talk to my mom.”

  “Yeah.” I wondered how that would go.

  “I should go.” He pushed away from the railing and went toward the stairs then turned back. “You think she would let me take the DNA results with me?”

  I nodded and he disappeared inside. When he came back he was clutching the paper and the photo of my dad and grandpa. When he saw me staring at the photo, he cleared his throat and shoved them into his pocket walking quickly toward the steps.

  “Wait!” I stumbled after him.

  He turned back.

  “You’ll come ba
ck, won’t you?” Now that I knew who he was to me, I wanted time with him. I wanted to know him better than I did.

  He smiled. “Yeah.”

  I took a hesitant step forward and watched him mentally debate something until he opened his arms. I hugged him hard, my arms wrapping around his torso as I buried my face in his shirt. All the feelings that confused me clicked into place and settled with certainty inside me. Cole closed his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.

  Kimber chose that moment to drive up.

  Cole swore beneath his breath and pulled away. I spent a moment hoping that maybe she hadn’t seen. Then I looked up and quit fooling myself and braced for the fireworks. Her aura was on fire with red. Jealousy and anger. There was hurt mixed in there too and I regretted that.

  “I guess I know why neither one of you are answering your cells,” she said stepping out of her red Bug and slamming the door.

  “Kimber,” I began, but she cut me off.

  “Save it, Heven. I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

  Sam came out the back door followed by Logan.

  “Do you know that she’s cheating on you right under your nose?” Kimber asked Sam.

  “Kimber,” Cole said. “No one’s cheating on anyone.”

  Kimber snorted. “You are such a liar.”

  “Kimber, we can explain what you just saw,” I hurried to say, but Cole put a hand on my arm and squeezed. I glanced over at him and his aura. He didn’t want her to know about his father-my father-our father.

  “Go ahead. Explain.” Kimber spat.

  “I can’t,” I whispered.

  Kimber gave a humorless laugh. “Of course you can’t. There’s no excuse for you.”

  “Please believe that I wouldn’t hurt you like that.” I went down the steps to stand in front of her. “Cole and I are just friends.”

  “I wanted to believe that too, but the evidence is too hard to ignore,” she muttered.

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  “Don’t see him anymore,” she said, lifting her chin to stare into my eyes.

  “What?”

  “I mean it, Heven. If you really are my best friend, then I don’t want you to hang out with Cole anymore.”

  Was she really asking me to choose?

  “Kimmie, quit being dramatic. Heven told you we’re just friends,” Cole said, coming to stand at my side.

  “Don’t Kimmie me,” she snapped. Then she turned back to me. “Well?”

  I fished around for some kind of excuse. “We can’t all just avoid each other. We’re going to Italy together next week.”

  “Don’t go.” She shrugged.

  I didn’t have a choice. The Treasure Map had to be returned and this was our only opportunity to do it. “I finally got my mom to agree. She already paid. Sam and I have plans.”

  “How you have managed to get two guys to trip all over themselves for you I will never understand,” she muttered.

  Her words hurt.

  “That’s enough.” Cole growled.

  I shook my head. Defending me wouldn’t buy him any points with her.

  “Tell your mom you changed your mind about Italy. Stay away from Cole,” Kimber repeated.

  “I can’t do that,” I said, standing my ground.

  Kimber’s eyes widened in disbelief for a fraction of a second before narrowing, her hands fisted at her sides. She was used to getting her way, used to me caving. I wouldn’t this time. There was too much at stake.

  “You’re making a mistake,” she hissed, turning back to her car.

  “Kimber, wait. Can’t we talk?”

  “I knew this would happen eventually. I’ve always known what kind of person you are. It’s why I befriended you in the first place. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer and all. I thought maybe your accident had changed you, but it was an illusion. You used those scars on your face to your advantage, and when you got what you wanted, you got rid of them.”

  Shock vibrated through me. She believed what she was saying. Her aura vibrated with truth and anger. How had I thought we had been best friends all these years? How had I never realized that she never really liked me, only liked the popularity I brought her?

  “Leave. Now.” Sam growled from behind me.

  “Whatever.” She tossed out her window before speeding away.

  My shoulders slumped when she was gone from sight. I expected fireworks from Kimber, but not casualties. I wasn’t sure that our friendship would survive this.

  I wasn’t sure I wanted it to.

  Chapter Nine

  Heven

  That night as the stars twinkled in the sky and the cool Maine air drifted through the window, I drifted off to sleep all too easily. Unfortunately, peaceful sleep was elusive.

  I dreamt of dark, choking water and red beady eyes. My lungs burned as I struggled to breathe while I panicked as I searched the darkness for Sam. The only thing I could find was the demon, slowly dragging me into the depths of the lake.

  Where is it…

  I knew I was dreaming; I tried to wake myself up. But, like the demon, the dream dragged me further under.

  Show me where you keep it…

  The demon beckoned me to reveal where I kept the Treasure Map. I forced my mind to stay in the present with the burning pain in my lungs and the knowledge I was drowning, the pain and fear was preferable to telling the demon anything. Even if it was only a dream, I refused to give him the upper hand.

  I swear I felt myself die in the dream. The life drained right out of me.

  Suddenly, the lake was gone and so were the greedy hands of the demon. The icy water was replaced by a golden sun and a sprawling meadow of wild flowers in shades of amethyst and yellow. I spun in a circle, the flower petals tickling my ankles and the sun’s rays kissing my skin. But then I noticed that no birds sang and the breeze did not blow. It was as if everything was still, not really real, but a façade.

  A man appeared at the other side of the meadow. He was wide and tall and he was dressed impeccably. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew that he was the biggest façade of all. He held out his hand to me and I knew exactly what he wanted.

  “You can’t have it!” I screamed.

  Around me the flowers wilted and died; their brilliant colors turning a putrid brown. The sky, once a clear blue turned stormy and dark. Wind whipped around me and threatened to lift me off the ground.

  You cannot resist me forever, little one.

  Pain splintered my head and I sagged to the ground. My eyes sprang open and I wanted to weep with relief. I was awake and everything was fine. I rolled toward Sam, reaching for him, craving his comfort.

  He wasn’t in bed.

  Alarm filled me and I pushed myself into a sitting position, fighting the pressure in the back of my skull. “Sam?”

  I heard a sound across the room and peered through the darkness. Sam was there, wedged in a small space between the wall and the dresser. I tripped, trying to get free of the covers and stumbled across the room, falling to my knees on the floor beside him.

  “Get back,” he said roughly, pushing himself even farther into the corner.

  “What’s wrong?” The sight of him trying to get away from me was worse than the choking depths of the lake.

  His head snapped up and he stared at me with pure glittering gold eyes.

  I gasped and fell backward onto my bottom. I scrambled back up scooting as close as possible and reached out a hand.

  “No,” he protested weakly as I closed my fingers around his wrist.

  His skin was burning up as I tugged him away from the wall. I used my other hand to push the hair off his forehead. He took a deep breath and his body shook with effort.

  “Please get back, Hev.” His voice was strained.

  I released his wrist and scooted back so that there was a little more than an arm’s distance between us. I sat there, watching him as his breathing evened out and the tremors shaking his
body slowed.

  Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes no longer gold, but the warm honey color they usually were.

  “Come back to bed,” I whispered, holding out my hand. Suddenly, his hand shot out and grabbed mine, yanking me so that I practically fell into him. My face was mere inches from him as his eyes bore into mine. My heart beat rapidly, threatening to come right out of my chest. His eyes were intense, like he’d never seen me before. Something inside me whispered that maybe I should be afraid.

  But I could never be afraid of Sam.

  “What happened?” he whispered. His voice was raspier than usual.

  “I should ask you the same thing,” I said, twisting my hand from his grip.

  He frowned and let go. “I didn’t mean to be so rough,”

  I nodded.

  “I tried to wake you.”

  “I was having a nightmare.”

  He stood, reaching out a hand to help me and I slid my fingers back into his. Once I was on my feet, he released me, moving across the room.

  “Why were you in the corner like that?”

  He stopped by the window to glance out into the dark. “You were sleeping, but I was restless. I was afraid of waking you, so I got up to surf the net.”

  Next to me the laptop was still open on my desk.

  “You began tossing and turning. You cried out and I tried to wake you, but it was useless. I couldn’t get you to wake up. I just… snapped.”

  “Your eyes were gold.”

  His face drew into a frown like he was trying to work out a puzzle. “It’s like someone flipped a switch inside me and all of the sudden I was fighting the urge to shift. Right there in the bed with you.” Clearly, the idea horrified him.

  “Sam, you wouldn’t have hurt me.”

  He didn’t say anything, like he wasn’t convinced.

  “I was dreaming of what happened at the lake this morning, drowning. I was afraid,” I said and his back stiffened. “Maybe my fear was so strong it bled to you and triggered your protective instincts.”