by BTKT
He looked at her and smiled. “You’re still human, Sasha. Unique and on the edge of becoming something different, but still human.” He glanced at Amanda. “But be very careful. So much of what you know, she wouldn’t believe, and if for some reason she did, she might share it with someone who could screw it all up for the Mephisto. Surprise is crucial, so we can’t let Bruno have any clue that we’re onto him. Even if you don’t tell her anything, if you start lecturing or preaching at her, she’ll run straight to them.”
“So what you’re saying is that it’s hopeless?”
“Not hopeless, just difficult. It would be worth a try, because every human who says no means one less for Eryx.”
She wanted Eryx to fail, but it wasn’t that so much as wanting to keep Amanda from becoming lost. There was something about losing her, in particular, that bothered Sasha. She was now glancing at Brett every so often, to see if he was looking her way. He wasn’t, and she eventually slumped back in her chair to stare at the lab table, her previous excitement fading.
Sasha spent the rest of class thinking of a way to approach Amanda.
She got the opportunity during the next period, a study hall for anyone not involved in various senior activities, like yearbook or prom committee. The first five minutes, Coach Hightower joked around with everyone and talked a lot about basketball, mostly to Jax. “We’ve only got two more games before the break, but we’ll have a full schedule in January.” He looked around the room. “You’ll all be at tonight’s game, right?”
Everyone nodded or said, “Yes,” and he looked satisfied.
Sasha sat on the far side of the room, next to Jax, glancing out the window every so often, looking for Boo. Brett and East sat at the back of the room, not talking, not joining in, not studying. They just sat and stared, mostly at her, which might have creeped her out yesterday. Today, she didn’t care.
Amanda sat on the opposite side of the room, along with a couple of other girls who were quiet and probably really smart. They were actually studying. Amanda was reading The Metamorphosis, but Sasha noticed she never turned a page.
Then Coach Hightower said, “What we need is some cookies. Who wants to go get some?”
Immediately, Amanda raised her hand. “I’ll go.”
“Okay, great,” Coach said, then glanced around the room until he saw Sasha. “You wanna go along and bring the cocoa?” She nodded, so glad he’d picked her. This was her chance to get to know Amanda. After he handed them twenty dollars, they left the room and headed toward the front of the school. Sasha waited for Amanda to say something first, but after they’d walked outside and across half the school grounds, Boo tagging along behind, she realized Amanda wasn’t going to say a word.
Okay, then she’d start. “How long have you lived in Telluride?”
“I live in Placerville.”
They walked on in silence for a while before Amanda asked, “Why would Brett make up that story? He’s your cousin. Maybe not the same as a brother, but still, he’s family.”
“He wanted me to join the Ravens, and he thought if he made me miserable enough, I’d do it so he’d take it back and tell everyone it was all a joke.”
“Why don’t you want to join? I think it sounds awesome, and it’s not like they ask just anybody.”
Sasha chose her words carefully, and finally asked, “Do you know what you have to do to join?”
“Sure. You have to give up God and promise to follow Eryx.”
Curious to find out how much Amanda knew, she asked, “Who’s Eryx?”
“He’s kind of like an angel. Whatever you want, he can get it for you.”
“How come I’ve never heard of him? I mean, if he’s all that special and amazing, why don’t more people know about him?” Amanda shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because some people would harass his followers; that’s why they just have these secret meetings.”
“Whatever. It’s not for me.” “Why? Are you über-religious or something?” “I believe in God, and I hope when I die I’ll go to Heaven.
If that makes me über-religious, then yeah, I guess so. I’m just not down with turning my back on God and following some guy
I’ve never heard of.” “Even if he could get you what you really wanted?” “He couldn’t get me what I want.” “What do you want?” “For my dad to still be alive.” “Oh.” Amanda looked ahead when they reached Colorado.
“My mom didn’t die, but she left, and I wouldn’t want her to come back. She was crazy, and mean. She went out with other guys, drank all the time, and spent the grocery money on stuff she thought would make people think we were rich. Pretty dumb, since Dad is a butcher. He’s a lot happier since she left.”
Sasha wasn’t sure how to respond, so she asked, “What do you want from Eryx?”
Amanda shrugged. “To be happy, and maybe do better in school, and get a boyfriend, and not be so shy and awkward. I hate it.”
Boo ran in front of them, hopping around like he was on speed. Now that they were on the main street, Sasha decided he needed his leash. Pulling it from her coat pocket, she whistled at him, then bent to hook it to his collar.
“No offense, Sasha, but that is one butt-ugly dog.”
Boo whined and hung his head. “Now look, you’ve hurt his feelings.” She scratched behind his ears before she stood straight. “I’m sorry. I wish I had a dog, even an ugly one.” She bent to pet Boo, who licked her hand. They walked on, looking in shop windows as they went. “I don’t think you need to join the Ravens to get what you want, Amanda.”
“You wouldn’t understand. It’s easy for people like you.” “People like me?” “You’re hot, and you have cool clothes, and you’re related to the hottest guy at school. I know he’s kind of on everyone’s hate list right now, but that’ll change, I guarantee, and he’ll be what he’s always been. With all you’ve got going for you, you’re gold.”
Sasha gave that a lot of thought, all the way to the bakery, where they bought cookies and cocoa, and then as they walked back toward the school. She hadn’t been a loser at St. Michael’s, so why would she be a loser here? Sure, there was the handicap of being new, but if what Amanda said was true, she could be okay, have friends, be somebody again.
And if that happened, she’d have Amanda right there with her, so Amanda wouldn’t be tempted by the Ravens’ fake promises. She glanced at her I Love the Eighties glasses. If she’d get some new frames, maybe wear some makeup, and ditch the whole unmade bed look, she’d be pretty.
“So I was thinking, would you want to go with me to the basketball game tonight?”
“I can’t. My dad gets off work at five, and I have to go home with him because I don’t have a car. Placerville is twenty miles away. And he won’t let me drive back because he’s paranoid about the road between here and there. It’s winding and icy in places.”
“Maybe he’d bring you back, if you asked.”
“Maybe. He’s always after me to be more involved at school. He’s Mr. Friendly, so he just doesn’t get how hard it is.”
“My dad was like that. All my friends loved him.” They had turned off of Colorado and were close to the school when she said, “Why don’t you come home with me after school? We could work on calculus, and I’d loan you something to wear to the game tonight.”
“Really? You’d do that?”
“Sure, why not? I really want to go, but the idea of walking into that gym all by myself is freaky.”
“Okay, I’ll come, and I’ll ask if my dad will bring me back for the game tonight.”
Sasha was feeling a whole lot better about things when they walked back into study hall. Jax turned to look at her as she came in, but before she’d taken two steps toward him, Brett said in a loud voice, “Hey, East, did I tell you my cousin’s mom was deported because they found out she’s a Russian spy?”
Would he never stop? Sasha was frozen to the spot, not sure what to say, what to do.
With his dark gaze still on hers,
Jax said, “If Sasha’s mom was a spy, the United States wouldn’t send her to Russia. They’d arrest her for treason.” He turned then and gave Brett a hard look. “Back off, Shriver.”
“What the hell? You think you scare me?” “You should be scared. Lay off of Sasha.” Coach Hightower cleared his throat and waved at Sasha and Amanda to bring up the cookies and cocoa. “Come on, you guys, let’s have some sugar and get along, yeah?”
Sasha moved toward the teacher’s desk, swallowing the lump in her throat. Jax had stood up for her, even though he’d said he intended to lay low, to attract as little attention to himself as possible.
---
By the time sixth period, which was history, began, Brett’s reign as Top Dog at Telluride High appeared to be officially over. Now he was the one being shunned, by everyone except the other Ravens. Brody told Jax before class started, “I overheard some kids saying you threatened to beat up Brett if he doesn’t leave Sasha alone. They think it’s pretty pathetic that the new guy is having to defend her against her own family.”
Brett had really stepped in it, but he was a lost soul, and an arrogant, spoiled brat, so he didn’t get exactly how deep he was until he said before history began, “Hey, Sasha, why don’t you tell Mr. Bruno about your dad getting shot by the Russian Mafia?”
Thomas said, “Hey, Shriver, why don’t you shut up? Leave her alone and go back to your cave.”
Half the class followed up, telling Brett just what they thought about him.
Even Julianne’s handmaidens were looking at Brett like he was something they’d scrape off their shoe.
That he looked genuinely surprised told the whole story.
Mr. Bruno was frowning at him, although not for the same reason as everyone else. Brett was his golden ticket, the guy who was supposed to attract new followers for Eryx. Instead, the kid was making huge missteps that did just the opposite and turned people off.
Jax had taken the seat right next to Sasha, hoping his proximity would remind her not to let her hatred of Bruno be too obvious. When class began, she kept her head down, sketching in her spiral while Bruno talked about the War of 1812. Just as he’d done every day, Jax paid close attention, looking for any hint the guy might drop about where he was going, where the Skia meeting might take place.
Toward the end of his lecture, he said, “The final for this class is next Tuesday, so tomorrow and Friday, we’ll review the semester. I regret to say I won’t be here to give the final, but Miss Rose has agreed to be here instead.”
Jax glanced at Brody and caught the slight nod of his head. He’d heard, and noted it. Bruno was going to be gone next Tuesday. They had less than a week to figure out where he was going and who was going to be there, make a plan for takedown, and ask M to provide doppelgangers.
He looked at Sasha and felt a little dizzy. Once Bruno was gone, they’d take out the lost souls he’d collected in Telluride, and after that, Jax would go back to the mountain and Sasha’d forget all about him. He’d waited a thousand years for her, and she would know him for less than two weeks. He would never forget her, no matter how much longer he lived. Another thousand years, a million years—it didn’t matter. He’d never forget Sasha.
---
When the school day was finally over, Sasha and Amanda walked to the Shrivers’, Boo trotting along beside her. “This may sound a little weird, so don’t freak on it or anything, but my aunt is kind of a bitch. She and my dad didn’t get along, so she sees me as more of him, I guess, and she doesn’t like me. If she’s rude, I’m apologizing in advance.”
“It’s okay. My mom was mean, so I’m used to it.”
“Maybe she won’t even be home. She’s been out of town and may not be back yet.”
Unfortunately, Melanie was back. When they came in, she was in the family room, sewing a button on a shirt. Looking up, she smiled at Amanda. “Sasha, how nice. You’ve brought a friend home from school. How do you do? I’m Sasha’s aunt, Melanie.”
“Hi,” Amanda said, clearly confused. “I’m Amanda Rhodes.”
“Would you care for something to drink, Amanda? A soda, or maybe some hot tea?”
“No, thank you.”
Melanie never looked directly at Sasha, and the Carol Brady act was scaring the hell out of her. What was going on?
She went to the stairs, Amanda just behind her, and cringed when Melanie said, “You girls have fun up there and just give me a shout if I can bring you anything.”
When they were in her room, Amanda said dryly, “Yeah, Sasha, she was really horrible.”
“I don’t get it. She’s been awful ever since I got here on Friday.”
“Maybe she’s just being nice because I’m company.”
“I guess so.” She sat on one bed and Amanda sat on the other while they did their calculus homework. When they were done, they went to the closet and started looking for something Amanda could wear to the game.
Thirty minutes later, Amanda looked like a different person, wearing a pair of low-rise jeans and a soft white sweater that offset her dark hair and was perfect for her pale skin. She resisted makeup, but Sasha insisted, and when she was done, after she pulled part of her hair back into a loose braid, Amanda looked in the mirror and gasped. “You’re a miracle worker. I’ve tried makeup before, and different stuff with my hair, but I never looked like this.”
The glasses didn’t even look that bad.
With perfect timing, Chris knocked and came in, his eyes widening. “Amanda?”
“Hi, Chris.”
He gave her the standard guy once-over before he said, “I almost didn’t recognize you.” He looked at Sasha. “Are you going to the game?”
“Yes, are you?” “No, I don’t do sports if Brett’s involved. But I forgot my chemistry book, so I was wondering if you’d get it when you’re at the school.”
She couldn’t figure out why Chris disliked his brother so much. Jax told her Brett had been a lost soul for only a few weeks, but she thought the animosity Chris felt toward him went back way longer than that. “Sure, Chris. What’s your locker number and combination?”
“I wrote them down.” He handed her a slip of paper. “Thanks.” After one more look at Amanda, he mumbled goodbye and left.
Sasha grinned at her new friend. “He gave you the guy once-over—twice.”
“He didn’t seem very enthusiastic.”
“You don’t know Chris. He’s the quiet type, and he pops in and out of here superfast. Trust me, he was impressed.” She couldn’t wait to go to the game and see everyone’s reaction to Amanda’s new look.
At ten till five, she and Boo walked Amanda over to Colorado, to the market where her dad worked. He was the butcher, übernice and friendly, and when Amanda asked if he’d bring her back for the game, he looked like the sun had just risen behind his daughter’s head. “I’d love to bring you back for the game.” He grinned at Sasha, and invited her to their home to eat supper before they returned to Telluride. She wanted to join them, but she needed to find Tim and ask him about her birth certificate. Rose had reminded her twice again before she had left school.
“Thanks, Mr. Rhodes, but I’ll have to take a rain check. I’ll see you guys at the game.”
Back at the Shrivers’, she was surprised, and relieved, to find that Melanie was nowhere around. Tim was in the kitchen making a ginormous sandwich.
He looked up when she came in and smiled. “Hey, kiddo, how was school?”
“Okay. Did you have a chance to go by and sign those papers and give Miss Rose my birth certificate?”
“I didn’t, Sasha. Sorry. I’ll do it tomorrow.” He slapped a couple of slices of tomato on the towering pile of roast beef and wheat bread.
“She’s kind of leaning on me for it, Tim, and finals are next week.”
He carefully stacked leaves of green lettuce on the sandwich. “I don’t get why they need a birth certificate. It’s not like you weren’t born, right?” Taking the sandwich, he went into the fam
ily room, to his recliner, and sat down.
Sasha followed, standing next to the bookcase that held no books, only video games and DVDs. “If it’s a problem, Tim, maybe I should just tell Rose that we have to wait for Mom to contact us.”
Tim looked really upset, his face turning red, his small eyes glancing between Sasha and the stairs. “I told you I’ll take care of it, and I will.”
Why did he look so freaked out? He’d forgotten his sandwich, mopping sweat from his flabby face with his napkin, mumbling something about consequences and being tired of it all.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with getting the certificate from Marin County?”
“Why don’t you tell her, Tim?” Melanie asked as she came down the stairs. “Go ahead. Tell Sasha why you can’t order a birth certificate from Marin County.”
Stiffening, preparing for battle, Sasha waited.
Melanie went to the sofa and sat, crossing her legs, checking out the toe of her one of her spike-heeled boots. “Go on, Tim. We’re all waiting.”
“Be quiet, Melanie.” He was still wiping his face with the napkin. “Please, Sasha, just let me get your birth certificate.”
“For God’s sake, you’re such a spineless worm!” She turned her hateful gaze to Sasha. “Marin County doesn’t have your birth certificate. No one does. Katya found you in a slum in Vladivostok when you were two years old, probably the kid of a crack whore who ditched you.”
“You’re lying.” Sasha looked at Tim, waiting for him to tell Melanie to back off.
He leaned his head back against the recliner and closed his eyes, the plate with his sandwich sliding from his lap to the floor, spilling tomatoes, lettuce, and roast beef across the carpet.
“You’re an illegal alien,” Melanie said in pretty much the same way she’d say Sasha was a crack whore. “You’re not a citizen of Russia, either. It’s as if you don’t exist. Tim didn’t know until he went to San Francisco that you’re not Mike and Katya’s natural child. You’re not even legally adopted, so you belong to nobody. If you’d gone with your mother, having no papers, they’d have taken you away from her, and because Tim’s living in some fantasy that he owes it to Mike to protect you, especially since your saintly mother—”