Long Live Dead Reckless

by Safari Spell

  A fleet of servants filed out of the kitchen carrying trays of food, which they placed all along the length of the table. Sage and I were caught in a gaze again, our hands stretching fingers to touch. When he finally took my hand against my thigh, I had to look away. Azalea leaned over to whisper something to Mannix and he didn’t react. He just stared at us with this judgmental disgust like we were a brother and sister. It chilled me to the core. I immediately released Sage’s hand and sat up straight against the high backing of the chair, hoping the dinner would go fast so I could get away from Mannix. The servants laid out salads and soups for us.

  I tried to pick up my fork, but I still hadn’t recovered from the weird juju. The fork kept turning sideways, so I was fumbling it all over the table. I finally wrestled it into a caveman hold in my hand. I could feel people staring at me, but I didn’t look up.

  “Yeah, my fork is possessed, Azalea,” I groaned, wheezing from stress like I was having an asthma attack.

  “Maybe your date can help with that. He’s a wizard with words,” Mannix said, cocking a brow.

  “Really?” I asked Sage.

  “Give us a poem about the princess and her wicked fork,” Mannix replied.

  Sage shrugged and touched the fork in my hand.

  “It starts at your touch, not of a rebellious nature; such a common misconception. But no; its consuming will to serve you writhes the inanimate to life. Your slightest touch tames the tenders of its restless little soul. It starts because you possess it – mind, body, whole.”

  Azalea and I stared at him. We barely remembered to close our mouths. Mannix gave a slow, taunting clap. I just wanted to kiss Sage right then and there. A silly little poem about a fork had me all hot and bothered. I didn’t know how that was even possible.

  “A poet,” I told him, “that’s what you are.”

  Mannix rested an elbow on the table and leaned forward.

  “There’s a lot of power in that tongue of his, isn’t there, princess?”

  Azalea elbowed Mannix, shushing him.

  “Quit making them uncomfortable, baby.”

  Sage tossed the water back, drinking it like it was some hard liquor he really needed before slamming the empty glass down. It was like we were in a saloon. Maybe Azalea had a point about the cowboy thing. Mannix leaned my way.

  “Talor, did I tell you my fangs retract?”

  “No.”

  He opened his mouth and the fangs retracted back into normal teeth. Azalea gasped.

  “What is it? A built-in spring or something?”

  “It’s magic, that’s all.”

  “Outside now,” Sage said, taking his napkin and thrusting it on the plate. He stood up and glared at Mannix, who just sat back in his chair and raised his glass.

  “I doubt we duel the same way.”

  Sage excused himself and disappeared out the side door of the mansion towards the pecan groves in the back. I stood up and looked after him. I wasn’t sure if I should follow.

  “I’d leave him, princess. He’s in a fragile state,” Mannix warned.

  “Stop calling me princess!”

  “It’s what you are,” he replied.

  “You suck, you know that?” I growled, throwing my napkin at him.

  “Yes, I do,” he said, catching it and bowed his head. “And God, I love it.”

  I had a hard time catching up to Sage. It was darker back there than it was in the front, with only jack-o-lanterns atop hay bales lighting the way. He was standing underneath a tree with one hand grasping onto a low hanging branch. He apologized before I even got to him.

  “I was rude in there, wasn’t I?”

  He stayed turned away from me, but I held up my hand anyway.

  “Don’t apologize. I don’t like Mannix, either. He’s weird and rude and a total loser. I can’t figure out why Azalea even likes him. He’s basically made of jerk. Not beef jerky, you know. But jerk. Like a jerk?”

  “Yeah…I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  “Oh, no. I just came out here to come ask where you hid his pot of gold. Has to be why he hates you. Why’d you go and do that, Sage? Steal the tiny man’s treasure?”

  He chuckled lightly as he shifted his weight, bringing both hands up to the branch. I saw him look at me from between his raised arm and shoulder. I wrapped my arms around myself as a brisk wind rushed past. I definitely wore the wrong costume for the weather.

  “I loved your poem. Do you know any more just –” I paused, watching as he dropped his hands down from the branch and turned his head towards me, “off the top of your head?”

  His mouth opened lightly as he faced me.

  “You know, poetry is fragile. A gentle breeze can blow it over, really. But one perfect line of poetry can linger for centuries. Just one single breath out of the billions ever breathed. It’s amazing, the power of finding the right words.”

  “So there’s that tongue I was warned about.”

  His lip twitched into a smile that disappeared too quickly. He unhitched his coat from the side of his chest and shook it off the other shoulder. He brought it over and wrapped it around me. It was too big, but it was still warm from his body heat. Perfect. Another brisk breeze blew through, stirring up leaves at our feet. He brought the coat tighter around me.

  “I write lyrics mostly.”

  “So you’re a writer?”

  “I’m a lot of things.”

  He stayed close, blocking the wind. Neither of us made a move. It was like we were consistently caught in this stupid ‘almost’ dance. It was driving me crazy, so it was good that he finally retreated to the tree and leaned against it. I followed, keeping a respectable distance. It isn’t what I wanted to do.

  “Oh, I wanted to tell you something. Do you remember my friend, Rose? The one I talked to you about that day at Elements?” I asked, rubbing my fingers on the insides of the coat sleeves.

  He nodded and propped a foot back, resting his hand on the raised knee.

  “I do. How is she?”

  “Well, she’s her old self again. I talked to her yesterday. The doctors said it was probably just a weird new street drug that someone slipped her. She’s doing really well,” I said, smiling.

  “I’m glad she’s ok. I know you were worried. I told you that you were a good friend.”

  “Thank you for being so nice to me that day.”

  I shivered, clutching the sleeves up into my palm so no wind could get through. Sage leaned his head back against the tree, but his gaze was direct.

  “Hey, come here.”

  I looked up. He shrugged.

  “The tree helps block the wind.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. His hands reached out and took the outside of my covered arms, slowly rubbing up and down them to keep me warm. His brow was tense even though the rest of him seemed relaxed. There were conflicting signals all over the place, but that was Sage.

  “I want to know you,” I said, exhaling.

  “I know,” he said with a twinge of sadness in his voice.

  “So let me.”

  He curved his warm hand against my cheek. In response, my hands attached to his chest like magnets were drawing me into his heart. We were both unyielding, both aching. There was something strange between us, and I don’t think either of us knew how to push it away to get close. My nerves were tearing me at the seams as his lips separated. He bent his head slightly as though testing the waters. When I puckered my lips, he eased back and brought my hands off his chest. He walked a few steps away before tangling his hands in his hair and shaking his head. I wanted to dissolve. Die. But not cry. No. Not that! Rather than risk crying in front of him, I tried to bolt. He cut me off.

  “Wait.”

  “It’s ok. We can – just be – just friends if that’s how you feel,” I stuttered.

  He took in a deep breath and one of his hands clutched his shirt close to his heart. I dared look
at him from the top of my eyes, keeping my head down. There was turmoil in his face, but I couldn’t understand why. He was the one who rejected me. Whatever kept him standoffish and distant, it was a prison to him as well as a fence to me. I hurried off, his coat the only thing keeping me together underneath.

  17

  I ended up in a coat closet. I’m not sure why I chose to hide there over the eight bathrooms in the mansion; maybe because the large coat closet was just inside the door, and I was too embarrassed to face anyone yet. I had to beat myself up first. I basically undid two months’ worth of work in a few seconds of sheer impatient stupidity.

  I clung to the empty jackets around me like security blankets. Their thickness helped muffle the hectic sounds of the outside world. People are loud by nature. I never disliked people so much as I did when I was in that coat closet. They’re much more annoying when drunk and performing for their friends. Wiping my tears, I listened to the chaos. It didn’t take long to hear something interesting. Something I would regret.

  “Now,” said a male voice. Deep. Desperate.

  “Ok,” replied a female voice. Quiet. Submissive.

  It sounded like Mannix, but it wasn’t Azalea he was talking to. I held my breath as they walked by at different paces: hers, slow and sluggish; his, fast with purpose. The door slammed shut behind them and the party sounds took over again. I peeked out the closet.

  Even though I was still reeling from what happened with Sage, I wanted to catch Mannix being a total tool so Azalea would be done with him. My first thought was to record whatever was going to happen. I felt for my phone at my hips, but there were no pockets in that dress. I groaned. I didn’t have it on me, and I couldn’t waste time running to get it from my purse. My word would have to do. I tiptoed out of the closet and cracked open the side door.

  Before I stepped out, Sage came to mind. Was catching Mannix cheating worth facing Sage? I started to close the door when a flash of something caught my eyes. It was luminous, bright, and coming from the grove. I clutched Sage’s coat around me and firmly set my feet towards it. I kept scanning the area, feeling watched for some reason. But there was no one else being nosy. I was alone in that.

  Crouching down, I hid among the bushes near the grove. The light was gone now, but I could hear voices. I tried peering through the bushes, but I couldn’t see much – just hands and movement. I felt an insect crawl on my skin and furiously brushed it away. I held my breath, hoping I hadn’t been found out, but they didn’t react to my spastic fit. They hadn’t heard me. I dared peek over the bush to see Sage, Mannix, and Valerie all standing together.

  I wasn’t close enough to make out every word they were saying, but I heard something like “you want it” and then the party noise got louder as the song changed. I could only assume Mannix was talking about Valerie. There was a faint smile on her face as she leaned against Mannix. She was giving them her full, wide-eyed attention, and I’d never seen her give more than a second’s glance at anything but a cell phone. I couldn’t understand it. Was Mannix dating her, too?

  My teeth clenched tight as I squat down and moved along the ground like a crab. I scurried closer to the nearest tree so I could stand up for a better view. The sound effects machine beside me let out a loud wolf howl, causing me to squawk. I scrambled to the tree, looking around all crazy-eyed for a werewolf. When I realized I wasn’t actually in danger, I turned my attention back to Sage. He was shaking his head.

  He had turned away from them and was heading towards me when something Mannix said made him stop. I couldn’t hear what it was. He was speaking at the right pitch of mumbling to frustrate me. I noticed then that Valerie was wearing normal clothes now, no lazy ghost costume. Something was on her skin around her neck. It was oddly shaped. I couldn’t tell if it was a choker or some chunky necklace. I thought maybe she had been wearing one underneath the ghost costume.

  Mannix tossed something white and flimsy at Sage and he caught it. He carefully looked it over, gripped it tight and shook his head again. Mannix gestured for Valerie to do something, so she brushed a hand against her neck and brought it up to Sage’s eye level.

  Whatever was on her neck was also on her hand. Maybe mud? Paint? Fake blood? Huh. I stared hard to figure out what she was showing Sage. He took a step back and dropped the white thing on the ground. Without warning, he grabbed Valerie harshly by her hair and turned her face up towards his. It was like a dirty romance novel, the way he held her and she went blissfully limp in his arms. His body language was angry, vicious and dark – not like the person he was with me at all.

  He seemed to take a deep breath and plunged into her, kissing passionately. When she wrapped her arms around him, something inside me shriveled up and died. I couldn’t watch any more. I closed my eyes as I dropped down in a ball at the base of the tree. I felt the empty darkness of the night all around me, but I remained still and more importantly, I didn’t cry. I just sat there with the knowledge that Spencer had told me the truth after all. Sage didn’t want me.

  Just then, a drunken couple stumbled loudly out of the side door. They were oblivious to everything except their own antics. I watched them fall around and cackle before hearing Mannix and Valerie rustle off from the thicket separately. Sage was slower to leave. I glanced back to see him standing there with his head low and shoulder blades slumping. He brought his arm up to his face and wiped across his mouth. He let his hand fall flimsily to the side and wiped it off half-heartedly on his shirttail.

  Next, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside. He bent over and took the white thing back in his hand. It could have weighed two hundred pounds by the agonizing way he straightened. I watched his naked muscles flex and roll under the skin as he toyed with whatever was in his hand. He moved to put it on and I knew then it was a shirt. I was so lost in thought that I barely had time to get on the other side of the tree before he walked by.

  I was trying to be stealthy, but my dress was not cooperating. I whipped the train of it around to my side of the tree just in time. I tensed every muscle to keep from moving. His footsteps stopped as he paused just on the other side of the tree. I held my breath as I listened to him sigh repeatedly and adjust his clothes before he continued on.

  When he went through the doors of the mansion, I collapsed against the tree and gasped. Letting out a pitiful scream I couldn’t contain any more, I ripped Sage’s coat off me and threw it on the ground. I snarled at it like it was the reason my heart was breaking. Out of nowhere, something hit me in the head. I jolted, looking up to see Mr. Beaty riding up as the Headless Horseman on his black horse, Butch Cassidy. He leaned forward in the saddle and bellowed a hearty laugh at me.

  “God bless Texas, Talor! What are you doing in the bushes, kid?”

  I picked myself up, feeling foolish in general, but especially as a mermaid slinking around bushes beating up a coat. I ripped the wig off, only then noticing how heavily my hands were shaking.

  “I was just getting some air. Hey, Butch Cassidy,” I said, petting Butch Cassidy’s velvety nose.

  “Hiding from boys? Are there too many of ‘em chasing you?” he asked, raising himself up in the saddle like he was looking around.

  I fixated longingly towards the door Sage went in.

  “None of them are chasing me.”

  He pulled back his black mask and winked at me.

  “That makes them all idiots. What about that fella you brought to the thing last month? What was his name? We were supposed to go hunting together. What happened to him? He seemed to really like you.”

  I stood there holding a red wig while dressed as a mermaid talking to the headless horseman about boys. I just let that sink in before I answered.

  “Yeah, that didn’t really work out.”

  He shook his plastic sword.

  “Huh. Ok. Plenty more fish for you, kid. You want to be the Headless Hessian for a little while? You get to chop off heads. It might make you feel better. Mayb
e you can chase down a fella. Butch Cassidy’ll catch you one.”

  I smiled, shaking my head. He handed me a piece of chocolate from the pumpkin head.

  “Well, go have some fun. Here’s some candy to bribe some friends, you little loner.”

  He rode off, chasing down the drunken couple that had meandered outside and interrupted Sage’s abusive make out. I opened the chocolate and mindlessly stuffed my face, the sugar high granting me a stupid kind of courage. I marched back inside to ruin my life. When I got there, Sage was scanning the crowd. I ducked so he couldn’t see me. Luckily, the sugar high didn’t last long enough for a confrontation. I pushed backwards through the crowd until I made it to the wraparound porch outside.

  It was much less crowded out there. I put my red wig beside me on the swing. It was chilly, but I enjoyed my solitude for a few minutes. It was nice, looking at the stars and pretending I wasn’t losing my mind in the most creative way possible. I did credit myself for being inventive. Spencer’s freak out and Sage’s betrayal were excellent hallucinations. By the time I was done with my ‘pros and cons of losing my mind’ list, I didn’t know whether to let myself cry like a baby or time a scream with the sound effects blaring out of the yard speakers. A minute later, I was glad I didn’t choose the screaming.

  My stomach turned when I saw Sage lope out of the mansion. He hustled down the steps and into the lawn, where he was so preoccupied with running his hands through his hair and pacing that it wasn’t hard to stay unnoticed. He was deep inside his own head. I didn’t want my motion to catch his attention, so I tried to still the swing by touching my foot on the porch. Unfortunately, the swing was heavy and old, so it creaked. I cursed myself as his head came up and turned.

  “I was looking for you,” he said.

  We stared at each other.

  “I can’t imagine why,” I said.

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m perfect.”

  He looked at my bare shoulders.