Without warning, a shock of electricity zipped like lightning from my toes to fingertips. My scalp tingled, and I ran a hand over my head, half expecting my hair to be standing on end. “What was that?”
Adrian grinned. “You felt that?”
I opened and closed my hands repeatedly and shook them to make the tingling sensation stop. “Yeah. You felt it, too?”
“It’s the protective enchantment Katori placed around the boundaries of the reservation,” Shyla said casually from the front seat. “Didn’t Meg tell you about it? None who mean harm to the tribe can breach its barrier . . . or some nonsense like that.”
I rolled up the window. “Meg told me. I guess I didn’t believe her.” And why not, I thought? Every other unbelievable thing my aunt had said turned out to be true.
What I didn’t add was that I’d been wondering all along how my father, in wolf form, had been able to breach the boundary line more than seventeen years ago.
“How do you feel now?” Adrian asked.
I wiggled my toes and shook my hands again. “Fine, I guess. It was just, you know, shocking. My fingers are still tingly.”
“It’s annoying, but it goes away after a few minutes,” Adrian said with confidence. I nodded, taking his word for it.
Peering ahead, I kept my attention fixed on the taillights of David’s car in front of us. They flashed red as the car slowed to a crawl, and I got that roller-coaster feeling in the pit of my stomach, when you feel like you’re going to throw up just before taking that first big plunge. Gripping the door handle with my right hand and clutching Adrian’s arm with my left, I knew this was it. The moment of truth.
David turned into the driveway of a gray-shingled house, and Shyla pulled in behind him and killed the engine. “Ready?” she asked, turning around in her seat to peer at me.
Adrian patted my knee and gave me a reassuring look, but I saw the excitement in his eyes. He wasn’t nervous at all. I opened my own door but didn’t move, even after he’d already gotten out.
“Adrian! What took you so long, man?” I heard someone yell as the front door of the house swung open.
Adrian loped up the front walkway and did some complicated hand greeting with the guy. “Long time no see, Caleb. What’s up?”
“You know, same old stuff,” I heard him say. “Working on cars. Getting in trouble with the chicks.”
Chicks? Ugh. I didn’t like him already.
Caleb wore faded jeans and a black muscle-shirt with the words “BABE MAGNET” emblazoned on front in half-peeling gold metallic paint. His hair stood up in a faux-hawk, the tips dyed a bright blue. I thought I saw the glint of a small gold hoop in his left eyebrow. His mother must be so proud.
Caleb tore his attention away from Adrian and fixed it on Shyla next. They didn’t say anything at first; only stood staring at each other with a sort of detached interest. Or maybe not so detached after all, I thought, craning my head to get a better look.
“You’ve changed,” Caleb said appreciatively, looking her up and down. He wore a slight smirk on his face.
Shyla took a step closer and crossed her slender arms over her chest, thrusting up her chin to make up for the difference in height. “And you haven’t,” she stated. I thought I saw her lips tremble as she tried not to smile.
A slow grin broke out on Caleb’s face and he whooped with laughter, making everyone jump in surprise. He grabbed Shyla in a fierce hug and spun her around so that she screamed through her laughter and pounded his back to be put down.
“Man, I’ve missed you.” He set her on her feet and held her at arm’s length. “I can’t believe you’re actually here. It’s so good to see you again.”
“Dude, that’s my sister you’re talking about,” Adrian said, not even bothering to hide his disgust. “What the heck?”
I wasn’t the only one wondering what the heck? Adrian and Caleb might be best friends, but apparently Shyla and Caleb had something going on, too. Still, it had been six years since they’d last seen each other. What had their relationship been like all those years ago, and why hadn’t she ever said anything about it to me?
“The last time I saw you,” Imogene said as she swayed from side to side up the walk, “you were still sucking your thumb and wetting your pants.”
Shyla put a hand to her face. “Oh, God. Seriously, Gran?”
But Caleb was laughing, too. “I’m happy to report I’m fully toilet trained and finally gave up on the thumb.”
I rolled my eyes, but Imogene returned the laughter. “Well, it’s nice to see you again. And you’re just so handsome.” She pinched his cheek, giving him an odd look. “It’s funny, but you remind me of someone.”
Shyla grabbed her grandmother’s arm and hissed at her, “You’re embarrassing him.”
Imogene glared at Shyla. “No, I’m not. I’m—”
“This is Meg and David Redbird,” Adrian said, quickly diverting attention away from Imogene lest she say something to further embarrass any of them.
“Nice to meet you.” Caleb’s manner became more subdued, as though he had just remembered the reason why we were there in the first place. He then looked in the direction of the car, where I was still hiding out. Our eyes met. He didn’t smile or wave or acknowledge my presence in any way—he just stared.
I knew I’d have to get out of the car sooner or later, but I couldn’t find the motivation to move. Instead, I pulled the door shut and locked it. Only with it being so hot, sweat began rolling down my temples within seconds. I wouldn’t be able to hide in there forever.
David walked over to the car and pointed to the lock. Don’t make a scene, he mouthed.
Gritting my teeth, I unlocked the door and kicked it open, forcing David to jump out of the way. He raised his brows in a silent warning and thumbed for me to get out.
“I guess you’re the one everyone’s been talking about,” Caleb said to me as I approached.
Adrian put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “This is Sarah. My girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend.” Caleb’s answering laugh rumbled deep in his chest, and the corner of his mouth pulled up as he stared at me. His eyes darted back to Adrian. “I think someone else might have an opinion about that.”
Adrian opened his mouth to say something but Imogene cut in. “Is your mother home? She’s expecting us.” She pulled at the front of her shirt and waved a hand in front of her face. “I’d love to get out of this heat. I’m cooked!”
Caleb, still smiling, tore his eyes away from Adrian and me. “She’ll be back in a few minutes. She’s just running an errand with my sister Jasmine.”
He motioned for us to follow him inside the house and then led us through a tiny kitchen and out to the back deck, thankfully shaded under the massive branches of an old maple tree. I sat quietly on the edge of my chair, in no way relaxed enough to manage even one sip of the lemonade he’d offered.
A slightly younger girl bounded around the corner of the house a few minutes later, appearing as though out of thin air and taking me completely by surprise. She was slender in the face and very pretty, with glossy black hair and heavily lashed brown eyes.
I knew who she was as soon as I saw her, and I realized then that I’d been waiting for her—just one more reason for the prickly anxiety I was feeling.
Jasmine.
THREE
Charley Moon appeared mere seconds after her daughter, looming in the open doorway larger than life. She regarded us with a sort of cool contempt, her mouth drawn tight as one thin black brow arched higher than the other. Jasmine sprang up the deck steps like a gazelle and edged her way over to Charley, linking her arm in the crook of her mother’s elbow.
Charley’s eyes found David and Meg, her laser-like gaze direct and cutting. The corner of her mouth lifted, but she didn’t actually smile. “Well, look at you two. All grown up now.”
Meg rose from her chair. Her hand shook as she placed her drink on the table, but she hid it by linking
her fingers behind her back. I wasn’t sure if she was truly scared of Charley or just nervous, but her voice was cool and even when she spoke.
“It’s been a long time, Charley. You look well, and you have a very lovely home and family. You must be so proud.”
Meg wasn’t scared or nervous at all, I realized. An underlying current of hostility passed between them and I knew thoughts of my mother, and all that she had lost and would never have or experience herself, were flitting through my aunt’s mind. Something flashed in Charley’s eyes, too, but I didn’t think it was remorse for my mother, despite the fact they’d once been best friends.
Meg and Charley studied each other only briefly, and yet an entire conversation seemed to pass between them—I half expected sparks of tension to ignite in the surrounding air and set the trees on fire. But Charley turned aside, and the moment passed almost as quickly as it came. She caught sight of Adrian next and her expression changed abruptly. She threw her willowy arms open wide, nearly knocking Jasmine over in the process.
“Adrian! Come here and give me a hug. It’s been too long. How is it possible that you’ve grown even more gorgeous since the last time I saw you?”
Caleb snorted. “Ease up, Mom. I’m choking over here.”
A blush crept into Adrian’s cheeks, turning his normal brown-sugar complexion a deep russet. He bowed his head in a futile attempt to hide his smile, but otherwise did as Charley said. He wrapped his arms around her, and Shyla sniffed with contempt.
“It’s nice to see you again,” Adrian said politely.
Charley’s gaze narrowed as she spotted Shyla over his shoulder, like a hawk homing in on its prey, but no words passed between them. Shyla’s posture stiffened, however. She stood straight-backed, her round chin jutting up and out in defiance.
Charley finally released Adrian and turned to Imogene. “Thank you for reaching out to me and apprising me of—” She cast her eyes to me briefly and then back to Imogene. “The situation.”
I stared at her. The situation? Is that really what I was to her; a problem?
“I wasn’t sure what else to do,” Imogene answered. “The circumstances are extremely unusual, as I’m sure you will agree.”
“Unusual, indeed. And you haven’t seen Victor since the incident?” Charley’s eyes darted to me when she said “the incident,” and I cleared my throat uncomfortably.
“There’s been no word from him at all,” she said.
“Fine. We’ll speak about this later.” Charley turned her full attention to me then, and I felt the steely weight of her gaze. “I assume you’re Melody’s daughter.”
“That was a wild leap,” Shyla muttered beside me. David laughed, and then conveniently suffered a coughing fit when Meg nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. Charley’s lips tightened, but she otherwise ignored the comment.
I stood, fumbling my lemonade so that it sloshed down the side of the glass and onto my hand. I placed the drink on the table and inconspicuously wiped my wet fingers against the butt of my shorts.
“Yeah. I mean, yes. I’m Sarah.”
Charley came to stand directly before me, so close that I caught the scent of lavender shampoo wafting from her hair. Unlike Jasmine’s somewhat jointed thinness, Charley moved with grace, like a lily in suspended animation on the surface of a pond.
Meg once said that my mother and Charley had been two of the most beautiful girls on the reservation. At the time I thought she’d been exaggerating—a young girl’s envy of her older sister, maybe. But I could see now that she’d been right.
Charley’s beauty hadn’t diminished with age, despite her tight-mouthed expression. I felt an overwhelming desire to reach out and touch her supple skin and midnight hair, but then I realized it was only loneliness for my own mother. Of everyone here, Charley had known her probably best of all. Regardless of whatever Charley had become, of whatever had happened before I came along, she remained a tenuous connection to my mother’s past.
And mine.
Charley smiled and touched my arm, her cool hand lingering before dropping back to her side. “You look just like her. Has anyone ever told you that?”
I nodded, a knot in my throat preventing me from speaking. “All the time,” I whispered at last.
She studied me a moment longer, her eyes exploring every inch of my face, looking for . . . what? Then she turned and beckoned to her daughter. “This is my youngest, Jasmine.”
I attempted to smile, but it fell short. I’d seen the way Jasmine had looked at Adrian—like she owned him. Furthermore, I couldn’t ignore Caleb’s comment about someone, presumably Jasmine, and their opinion about Adrian having a girlfriend now. Had something happened between them?
The tips of my fingers tingled as my breathing became shallow, and I realized all too quickly what was happening. I took a deep breath and balled my hands into fists, willing myself to calm down. At last, I managed to squeak out a hello.
“Whatever.” Jasmine gave an impressive eye-roll and turned to her mother. “This is boring. I’m meeting some friends in a few.”
Charley glanced at us and then chuckled uneasily under her breath. “Right now? We have guests.”
“Yes, right now. Astrid’s picking me up. In her new car.”
“I’ve already told you I’m not discussing this.” Charley spoke with a forced smile, but her icy tone left no room for negotiation. With a requisite snort and flip of the hair, Jasmine turned and stormed off through the open door.
Unapologetic for Jasmine’s behavior, Charley grabbed Caleb’s hand and yanked him to her side. “And this is my son.” I half expected her to add my pride and joy with the way her eyes lit up.
“Yeah, Mom. We’ve already met. ” He may have left off the duh at the end of the sentence, but it was definitely implied.
“Of course.” Charley cleared her throat and dropped Caleb’s hand. She turned to me. “Sarah, do you know why you are here?”
Was she serious? “Because you told me I had to come,” I said.
Adrian started to laugh as Meg opened her mouth, probably to tell me to mind my manners, but Charley held up her hand to silence them. She leveled her gaze at me. “Besides that.”
I took a deep breath and shifted from one foot to the other. Wanting to be prepared, I had practiced my answer in case someone asked. “Because our Spirit Leader willed it to be so. And because this is my rightful place,” I added as an afterthought, with more boldness and confidence than I felt. “I’m a member of this tribe, too.”
Charley half-smiled, and I didn’t for one minute believe she thought I had any right to be there among the Katori people. “You are here,” she said, “because you have been appointed the tribe’s new Spirit Keeper. And as the physical embodiment of our Spirit Leader Katori, it is your privilege and responsibility to protect the people of this tribe from those who wish to harm them.”
Unable to think of an appropriate response, I only succeeded in laughing. I couldn’t help it. And the more I tried not to laugh, the harder I did. I waved my hand and mouthed sorry repeatedly, but I couldn’t seem to get myself under control, no matter how hard I tried.
“Do you mind sharing with us what’s so funny?” Charley spoke with the same forced, patronizing politeness she’d used with Jasmine just a few moments before.
I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut, breathing in deeply through my nose. I knew if I looked at anyone else except Charley I’d start laughing again. When I opened my eyes, I focused my attention only on her.
“That’s just the thing,” I said. “Exactly who am I supposed to protect the tribe from? You live in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. The scariest thing you have to face around here is the occasional wild moose or bear rifling through your garbage.”
“Sarah!” I didn’t have to look at Meg to know she was completely mortified. I recognized it clearly enough in her voice. “Have you lost your mind?”
I ignored Meg. “If you think I’m about to head off into the
woods like Annie Oakley with a rifle slung across my back to protect the tribe—a tribe that doesn’t even want me, I might add—think again.”
The only sound was the cawing of crows that had taken flight from a nearby tree. The sight made me recall that a group of crows is called a murder, and that’s exactly what Meg looked like she wanted to do to me at that exact moment.
“Sorry,” I said through gritted teeth.
Charley’s eyelids fluttered as though she couldn’t bring herself to believe I’d actually voiced an opinion that wasn’t her own. Finally, she said, “Has anyone ever told you that you act just like your mother, too?”
“You should take that as a compliment,” Imogene stage-whispered beside me.
Charley fluttered her eyelids again and pressed her fingers to her head, as though to ward off an impending headache. Her words came out clipped. “Do you really want to know who our people need protection from?”
I met her eyes, unwavering. “Yes. I would.”
“People like—”
Imogene stepped in front of me, shielding me with her body. “Choose your next words carefully, Charlene Moon.”
“People like who?” I said, nudging Imogene out of the way. “People like my father, you mean?”
Charley’s nostril’s flared. “You weren’t alive the day that monster breached the barrier and killed a woman, but I was. I remember that day well, how it tore apart the people of this tribe and stole our sense of security. Since then, we have lived in constant fear of another attack.”
Imogene’s anger crackled like a live wire next to me. “No one remembers that day better than I do. Aida was my daughter!”
She took a deep, deliberate breath and continued more calmly. “What you must remember, Charley, is that until just a few months ago, Sarah had no idea that any of this,” she said, sweeping her hand around us, “even existed. Her life has been completely uprooted. Everything has changed. She is no longer the girl she once was.”
The Prophecy Page 2