Dark Nebula (The Chronicles of Kerrigan)

by W. J. May

  “Suit yourself, but mark my words. You have wants, and those wants will need to be met eventually.” Rae had to take a moment to untangle Molly’s meaning from her jumbled words. Sometimes Molly was hard to keep up with, physically and mentally. Molly shrugged, grabbing a quick breath. “Did you hear about the new girl? I know there are more, but there’s this one girl. She’s our age. Turned sixteen last year. I guess her brother got sent home from Guilder – he’s fifteen. The dad assumed the boy would get the tatù, but it looks like the girl got it instead. I think her name’s Desiree. Anyways, this Des-girl, she can make people want to do it! That’s her tatù. She makes people horny.” She laughed. “I bet her dad’s not happy at all about that gift on his daughter.”

  “You’re joking!”

  “Nope. I’m not exactly sure how her tatù works, but I definitely want to see what she can do. You need to learn to mimic it and catch yourself a real cutie. Oh! Wait! Mimic it and when Reece comes, throw it on him!”

  “I won’t, and you know it!”

  Molly nodded and grinned. “Yeah, I know.” She shrugged. “It was worth a shot me asking. I’ll get the other girl to do it for me.”

  “Molls!”

  They reached the Refectory and got in line for breakfast. Happy chatter and laughter bounced off the walls, creating a loud, but welcome cacophony. Ah—the sounds of Guilder. Rae grabbed a tray and filled it up with juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and beans. She had dreamt all summer holiday about a proper, full English breakfast. One cannot live on Pop-Tarts and donuts alone. She giggled. I could handle a full breakfast every morning for the rest of my life.

  Molly raced over to Julian and Devon’s table with a loud screech. She slid her plate of eggs and toast down so fast she lost half of it on the floor. Rae followed slightly behind, watching Molly hug the boys, but too nervous to show Devon attention in front of everyone. Nicholas, another student and Rae’s buddy, sat beside Julian and pointed to the empty space beside him.

  Rae shared a lingering gaze with Devon before sitting down beside Nicholas.

  “Ms. Kerrigan! How was your summer?” Nicholas leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug.

  Her in-class buddy hadn’t changed at all. She grinned, happy to see him. “Hello, Mr. MacGyver. Summer sucked. I should’ve stayed here. You were tall and lean when I left. I think you grew another couple of inches. Your mom been feeding you sprouts?”

  Nicholas ran a hand through his light brown hair. “Maybe a couple.” He pointed at her. “Because of you, I spent the first two weeks watching the old American television series you told me about. Turns out, the writer of MacGyver is some sort of second or third cousin. I learned a few handy tricks as well.” He glanced at Rae’s tray of food. “Holy smokes. You gonna eat all that?”

  “Uh yeah. I’m starving!” She sat down and started digging in. “I haven’t had a meal like this since the last day of school.”

  He chuckled. “Never heard anyone say they miss cafeteria food before.”

  She elbowed him in the ribs. “A girl’s gotta eat. Ain’t no shame in it. And an English breakfast…it’s a little bit of heaven.”

  The group sat at their table and chatted about summer, being back at school and when Maria arrived, she told them what had happened to her yesterday and how she couldn’t even remember how she got inside the Oratory. Rae tried to avoid talking to or looking at Devon too much. Before they realized, everyone else had finished breakfast and the kitchen staff had begun to clear the tables for lunch.

  “I think that’s our cue to head out,” Julian suggested.

  Devon walked beside Rae and purposely brushed his hand against hers. He glanced at her sideways and winked.

  Do you think we’re ever going to get a chance to hang out, just the two of us? Rae sent the thought to Devon, mimicking Maria’s tatù.

  Devon shrugged uncertainly. Molly squeezed in between the two of them and continued her endless chatter.

  “Rae, we should head back to Aumbry House. Madame Elpis wants us to meet the new arrivals. I think she said they’ll be getting in before lunch.” She turned to Devon. “Do you guys want to watch a movie tonight? I can drive.” She clapped her hands, little sparks flying out. “Did you hear? Now that’s Carter’s headmaster, he’s relented and is letting the senior girls have vehicles here. He’s probably trying to make up for being such a miserable git last year.”

  “A movie sounds like a great idea.” His eyes flitted over to Rae and back to Molly. “I’ll drive also. I’ve got a new car.”

  “The Lotus? That’s your car?” Molly nodded in approval. “Looks like Dean Wardell wants his son to look the part.”

  Devon laughed. “I highly doubt my father thought that. He’s more inclined to think the other way around. I bought it, myself.”

  “Trust me, I know cars and that one’s fast, and a babe magnet. You could wear a paper bag on your head, and you’d still pick up chicks, no probs.” Molly patted Devon’s cheek teasingly. “Don’t worry. You’re handsome, but the car won’t hurt the hunt.”

  Rae stumbled, and Julian caught her, his hair falling forward to hide the smirk on his face. “Molls is right, Dev,” he said chuckling. “Maybe I can borrow the Lotus sometime.”

  “Julian!” Molly tsked. “You drive a Porsche, and you’re hot. You don’t need any help!” She pulled Rae’s hand to drag her towards Aumbry House. “We were supposed to meet the newbies, like, half an hour ago.” Glancing over her shoulder, she hollered, “We’ll see you guys later. Find out what movies are playing.”

  Rae and Molly race-walked back to Aumbry and straight to the Games Room. Both struggled to get through the door at the same time and then laughed when they fell through and landed on the floor. Lying on their stomachs, Molly grabbed Rae’s arm and whispered, “Is Madame Elpis here?”

  “Not at the moment. She’s looking for you,” a sultry voice spoke from the couch.

  Rae sat up. Two girls sat on the leather couch; one rigid with tension, the other with a graceful arm stretched out comfortably along the back of the couch. One was thin with chocolate brown hair and matching eyes. Clearly nervous. The other could easily have been a model in a glamour magazine. Her slender, but curvy body, jet-black hair, sultry lips and bright blue eyes made her stand out. Even dressed in simple clothes, she looked extremely feminine. To trust, or not to trust…that is the question. Rae had learned the previous year that not all tatù people were nice. However, she had also learned the importance of keeping her friends close and her enemies at least within eyesight. “Enemy” might be overkill, just a bit…maybe…we’ll see.

  Molly stepped forward and held her hand out. “Hi, I’m Molly.”

  Model girl nodded. “I’m Desiree.” Her arm twitched, and she jerked her hand back from Molly’s.

  “Oops.” Molly gasped. “My fault.I did that.” She flicked her fingers. “I sometimes forget when I’m excited.”

  That’s puttin’ it mildly. Rae smiled. Leave it to Molly to break the ice. “Sorry, we’re a bit late.”

  “Got distracted chatting with the guys over lunch.” She shrugged in typical Molly fashion. “This is Rae Kerrigan,” Molly’s gaze never left Desiree’s face. “You sixteen or seventeen?”

  With raised eyebrows, Desiree shot a quick look at Rae, and then back to Molly. “I turned sixteen last year. My brother attended Guilder. But I got the tatù, not him.”

  “Cool for you. Bummer for your brother.”

  Molly! “Did he have to change schools?” Rae thought of her uncle and how he had left the school when her mom had turned sixteen and gotten the tatù instead of him.

  “Yeah, but he’s actually pretty okay with it. He’s at Oxford now.”

  Desiree’s voice made Rae wish she would talk more. That’s weird.

  Molly turned to the silent girl still sitting in the same painfully still position on the couch, and held her hand out. “I won’t shock you. I promise.”

  The girl gave a small smile. “I’m Al
ecia. Oh, and seventeen.” Her gazed dropped down to the floor.

  “Wow. They got you in here late. Sorry you had to get your tatù on your own. We’re always around if you have any questions.” Molly turned and lifted her shirt to show her lightning bolt tatù. “I work with electricity. What’s your tatù?”

  Desiree stood and held the sides of her shirt in her fists, as if worried Molly might lift it. Don’t blame you one bit. “Mine’s kind of…unique.”

  Rae heard the “Oh!” escape from her mouth before she could stop herself. Desiree—Desire. Molly said one of girls had a special ability.

  “—I can create a type of–how do I say this properly–yearning.”

  “You make people horny?”

  Rae’s face heated at Molly’s bluntness.

  Desiree’s laugh bounced with lightness and seduction. “You could say that. However, I’m trying not to think of it that way. I like to think I add music to the dance of life.”

  Molly gave her a blank look. “Sure, whatever. Call it what you want. I want you to try it out on the guy I’m dating!”

  “Molls!” Rae hissed, horrified. The “adding the music to the dance” sounded romantic. A guy with this kinda tatù would just use it to his advantage all the time. Maybe it’s good that Desiree got it instead of her brother. Rae swallowed guiltily. She had never even met him and yet she had just judged him. Of all people, I should know better.

  “I heard about you,” Alecia said quietly, shifting her eyes from the floor to Rae. She stared at Rae with piercing eyes.

  “Yeah, I get that a lot.” Rae smiled, hoping the girl would stop wanting to disappear. It made her feel oddly self-conscious.

  “Your tatù’s unique, one-of-a-kind. Is it true?”

  “—Go on, show them,” Molly butt in. “It’s amazing. We had a dance last spring, and I picked out this perfect dress for Rae to show her tatù off. All set to unintentionally reveal it. All the girls from Roe Hampton Boarding School saw it, and thought she’d gotten this tramp stamp tattoo and couldn’t stop talking about it during the entire dance. They said it looked disgusting, but they were all totally jealous. Rae’s tatù is gorgeous!”

  Rae frowned at the mention of the dance, for different reasons than Molly’s explanation, but said nothing. She remembered what it had felt like the previous year, to be the new girl and constantly singled out. Except, for her, it had been because of her father. But still, it sucked being new. The dance had turned into an ugly nightmare, and she had nearly gotten killed. The tide of emotion she had been hiding threatened to overwhelm her. She needed to calm herself back down quickly. Drop the drama, girl. New year, which is going to be a quiet one. She glanced at poor Alecia, whose eyes could not get any bigger. She’s safe. “It’s not really a big deal.” Rae swallowed and turned to lift her shirt to show the Celtic Fairy.

  She closed her eyes and pictured the tatù in her head. Larger than other girls’ tatùs, hers spread across most of her lower back. Against her pale skin, the beautiful, unique fairy watched with secret eyes. Dressed in hues of pink, purple, and green, with glittery sparkles on its dress and wings, the fairy posed coyly. Below the fairy, an ornate design with Celtic detail spread across the back of her hips. Rae opened her eyes and pressed her lips tight, half expecting the newbies to run out of the room screaming. At least it’s not some horrific warlock like my father’s.

  Desiree sucked in a loud breath. “It’s totally cool! I wish mine looked like that. It seems more like a porn star now compared to yours.” Desiree raised her shirt to show a voluptuous girl, with large breasts and hips, dressed in a short, tight red dress. The tatù girl leaned forward, blowing a kiss. It reminded Rae of a biker’s tattoo she had seen in a movie once. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

  Alecia got off the couch and pulled her button shirt out of her skirt. “You’re not seriously complaining about the design of yours, are you, Desiree?”

  Desiree let out a low, throaty giggle. “It’d look cool on some guys arm. If my brother had it, he would never have worn a long sleeve top again.

  “What’s your tat?” Molly asked.

  Alecia turned, holding up her shirt. Etched on her creamy white skin lay a skeleton.

  “It’s so cute. I think my nephew’s got some Lego skeleton that looks just like it.” Desiree said, her breathy voice more distracting than her words.

  “It looks like some Goth ink,” Molly quipped.

  Alecia dropped her shirt and turned, rolling her eyes. “That’s exactly what my mother said, when she saw it. She thought I was going to dye my hair black and turn Emo. She was just over the bloody moon after my father told her I got a letter from Guilder Boarding School. She thinks Guilder’s going to correct my bad habits.”

  “What’s Emo?” Molly asked, scratching her head.

  Alecia laughed. “My mom’s totally lame. Instead of saying Goth, she says Emo. She’s so old-fashioned.”

  “What can you do?” Desiree asked. “Not about your mom but your ability, I mean.”

  “It’s kinda complicated.” Alecia began cracking her knuckles. “In basic terms, I can scan a body for weaknesses – like a disease or a break or something that’s off. I’m still trying to figure it all out. I hope when I graduate I can get a job working for the military or at the triage in a hospital.”

  “That’s a pretty impressive talent.” Rae was dying to reach out and touch Alecia’s shoulder to get a better understanding of the tatù but shoved her hands in her pocket instead. I’m not my father. I can wait and ask.

  Alecia stepped back toward the couch, but Molly had slipped in behind her to see the tatù closer. Alecia stumbled over Molly’s foot and fell sideways, crashing into Rae’s hip as she threw her hands out to avoid falling face first into the ground.

  Rae shivered as the new tatù absorbed into her veins and core. I didn’t do that. A pang of guilt swept through her even as she tried to reason that wishing for the tatù hadn’t made Alecia stumble.

  “I’m so sorry,” Alecia said, her eyes huge with fear. “I-I didn’t mean to bump into you. I’m really sorry.”

  She’s scared I’m like my father. Rae gave her a sympathetic smile. Guess I’m not the only one who worries about that still. “I’m fine. But I think I just picked up your tatù. Are you okay?”

  “Sorry about that,” Molly said to Alecia then scurried over to Rae. “Try it on me.” Molly grabbed Rae’s hand and pressed it against her forearm. “I broke my left arm when I was seven. Can you tell?”

  “Ask Alecia to try it on you. It’s not my tatù.” Even as she said the words Rae pressed her brows together and, totally absorbed with the new ability, focused on Molly’s bones. She quickly let go of Molly’s arm and tried to hide a shudder. That’s gross. She watched silently as Alecia explained how her ability worked. Rae knew already. Like a probed camera pushing through Molly’s arm, Rae had watched three layers of skin peel aside without actually moving. A thick red hose had passed through her tunnel of vision along with some kind of thin layer of shiny, creamy white stretchy stuff. A bit of pinkish red that reminded Rae of roast beef and then something hard and white with a thin zigzag line on it. Bone.

  “There’s still a faint line where it’s healed but the bone at that part is actually stronger now than the rest.” Alecia smiled. Her ability obviously got her excited. “Rae, you’re not squeamish, are you?” Alecia rubbed her hands together. “It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s really not that bad. It took me like six or seven months to figure out how it worked. My aunt thought I was psycho when I asked her how she hurt her leg. She had this bad bump.” Alecia laughed, her whole face lighting up. “It happened like a month before, but the bruise had done something to her bone, and she didn’t even know it. Freaked her out when she went for a checkup and her doctor found it. A piece of the bone had chipped, and her muscle was starting to grow around the little piece. She said she’d been complaining about it being sore but she just figured it was arthritis or something.” She
shook her head. “I can’t believe you just copied my ability when I stumbled. Can you work it now, like, could you tell on Molly?”

  Rae nodded. “How’d you cover up – when your aunt asked?” Totally fascinating.

  Alecia shrugged. “I just made up some lame excuse like I’d remembered the bruise and wondered how she was doing. Then I pretended to be surprised when she came over, and told me that she needed surgery to fix it.”

  “I bet she thinks you’re a Saint,” Desiree said.

  “Or, she’s totally freaked out by you,” Molly added. “And won’t come near you, your parents or your house again.”

  Alecia said nothing, just chewed her lip.

  Rae punched Molly in the arm. “Molls – again?”

  Alecia sighed. “I don’t know all the medical stuff yet, but it’s totally fascinating to see how the body functions. I’m putting pieces together to figure out how stuff works. As long as I can keep my grades up, I want to get into pre-med. Then no one will freak out on me.”

  “Ignore Molly, Alecia. She’s got a habit of saying stuff that most people don’t even think of. She’s –”

  Madame Elpis barged into the Games Room, saving Molly from the verbal lashing Rae had been about to give her.

  “Ladies!” Madame Elpis cawed. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Can I assume you’ve all introduced yourselves?” She held her clipboard tight under her arm.

  The newbies fell silent and nodded their heads. Rae smiled inwardly, recalling the feeling of meeting Madame Elpis for the first time.

  “Yes, Madame Elpis,” Molly said, using her I’m-talking-to-a-teacher voice. “I was about to ask if they wanted to go for lunch.”

  “Good! You girls are hard to catch up with. I was looking everywhere. Devon suggested I check back here.” She pulled the clipboard out and made a few marks. “Desiree and Alecia are on your floor. Help them carry up their cases.” She turned and headed out of the room.

  Guess happy-in-love-Elpis left with the summer holidays.