by Kim Cormack
“That is it, Winnie. You spilled my wine,” Kevin’s dad hopped up. He said, “I have been dying to do this for years. “He grabbed a handful of the contents of his dinner plate and launched them at his mother-in-law.
Granny howled laughing as she picked up a whole bowl of peas and launched them at Kayn who was almost peeing herself laughing. She ducked, and they landed all over Kevin’s mom. The whole table erupted into a huge laughter-filled food fight.
After the giant cleanup from the impromptu food fight, Kevin and Kayn went up to Kevin’s room. Kayn couldn’t see Chloe, but she could hear her. She had seen her sister before more than once—touched her, and absorbed her energy. They shut the bedroom door.
“That was ridiculous,” Kevin scolded the space beside Kayn on the bed.
Chloe answered, “How much fun was that? Now that is what you need to be asking yourselves.”
“Why can’t I see you, Chloe?” Kayn asked in the direction of her sister’s voice. She longed for just a glimpse of her sister.
“I don’t know, but if I knew these family dinners were this much fun, I would have come to one years ago,” Chloe said.
Kayn stared longingly at the empty space on the bed that her twin sister’s voice had come from.
Kevin said, “I’m not sure how you are supposed to do it, but I was told earlier that you two have to join completely.”
Chloe’s voice replied, “I know that and I have tried to already. It doesn't stick."
She took my body out for a spin, and I felt like I was along for the ride,” Kayn said.
“I have tried to jump into her a whole bunch of times, but it never lasts longer than a few minutes,” Chloe said.
Matt stuck his head in the doorway and surprised them. He said, “We’re leaving Kayn. I want to wash my car.”
“Just give me a minute,” Kayn said to her brother.
Matt teased, “One minute, you have no time for any funny business. I will be waiting in the car.”
As soon as Matt closed the door Kayn said, “I'll see you tomorrow.” She hugged him and felt a little weird knowing that her sister was right there with them watching her do it.
“You couldn’t keep me away if you tried,” Kevin whispered into her ear.
“Are you absolutely sure about that, because apparently I’m going to be Batman powerful one day,” Kayn teased, grinning.
“I did not ever say that you would be Batman powerful, more like SpongeBob Square Pants powerful,” Kevin teased.
“That is pretty powerful,” Kayn gasped, beaming.
Chloe’s voice said, “Sometimes I think you two may very well be the geekiest people alive on the planet.”
Kayn laughed and answered her invisible twin, “It's always been my long term goal.”
Kevin was shaking his head and staring at his bed.
Kayn asked, “What’s she doing?”
Kevin smiled and said, “She is lounged out on my bed staring at the poster.”
“She’s still hot, even with a mustache. Does Kayn know that you are secretly into dudes?” Chloe chimed in from the bed.
Kevin spun around and said, “Your sister did that. It was a joke, you turkey.”
“Well, I do prefer being called a turkey to being called a bitch,” Chloe teased.
“You heard that, huh,” Kevin laughed.
Kayn was listening to the conversation. It was like a tennis match of voices with one invisible player.
“That’s okay,” Her twin’s voice replied, “I am sort of a bitch. I can give you that one.” Her voice moved across the room to the doorway where Kayn was standing, “Let’s go drive Grandma home. I think that she wants a sleep over tonight.”
“You can’t get in her house, Chloe, remember?” Kevin replied as he opened the bedroom door for Kayn and her unseen cocky sister.
“Darling, there is no need to go inside her house. I’m just going to ring her phone and set car alarms off all night in her neighborhood. You should try it—so much fun,” She teased.
Kevin said, “At least you own it proudly.”
It was Kayn’s turn to shake her head. She hugged Kevin once more, and they all went downstairs together. She grinned and said, “Good luck Mr. Smith. I will see you tomorrow.” Her brother had started honking the horn. She waved and ran down to his car.
Chapter 18
There’s Something About Lily
Lily stood at the foot of Kayn’s driveway where it met the sidewalk. Kayn’s brother was washing his car. She didn’t want to get sprayed, so she stopped walking and waited for him to notice that he had company. His shirtless toned chest glistened in the sunshine. His brazen, cocky sexuality made her cheeks crimson colored as he continued his facade of not noticing her there. He had soaked himself in water. She knew he had seen her. Lily was mesmerized by his every movement but not for the reasons that he believed. The last time she had laid eyes on Sam was in 1986. Every twenty to thirty or so years, Sam would appear to torment her with his existence. The last time his name had been Paul.
She could hear the song in her head right now. “The Glory of Love” had been playing. She’d worn a brilliant blue satin dress with puffy shoulders. They had danced for a moment in time. It had been magic. It always ended one of two ways, he would try to kill her or he would be killed because of her. Her heart had spent every day secretly waiting for him, for one more second of the feeling she had when she looked at him.
“Hey,” he hollered to a still in shock Lily, “Are you looking for Kayn?”
“Yes … I am,” she choked out, barely able to breathe; her heart throbbed with anticipation and excitement. It was Sam once again, the karmic joke that had followed her across time in and out of lifetimes. He stood there once again in front of her, teasing her with his very existence. The same toned, built, incredibly sexy human being that he had always been.
He looked shocked to lay eyes on her. She could tell his mind was searching for her. His brain was reeling through memories, trying to figure out where they had met before. Lily wanted to answer him and say, your last life, and the one before that, and the one before that. This is going to hurt like hell she thought, wondering if she should turn and walk away, and save herself the pain. She couldn’t.
Fate was sick and twisted. He was Kayn’s brother. That meant his days were numbered. Her heart warmed as she grew closer to him. His smile was so familiar, so genuine that it made her feel complete once again. It’s really him, her soul whispered to her. He’s right here, right now after all these years.
“Her bedroom is upstairs, and the front door is unlocked,” Matt said.
Lily smiled as she brushed by him and said, “Thanks.” She opened the front door and took off her shoes. She left them by the front door and made her way upstairs to find Kayn. It’s a good thing she wasn’t coming to kill her.
~
Matt dropped the sponge in the bucket and tipped it over with one foot, and followed Lily. He shut the front door behind him and walked toward the kitchen where Jenkins was sitting at the island on a stool reading today’s paper.
“Have you met that new friend of Kayn’s? Wow, she is smoking hot,” Matt said.
“Gross,” was all Matt heard Jenkins say from behind the newspaper.
Matt laughed nervously, “Oh, I know. I’m just saying she’s really pretty.”
Jenkins chuckled, “Once again, Romeo … so gross.”
“I’m not saying that I would try to date her or anything,” Matt stammered.
Jenkins laid his newspaper down and said, “I’ll bite. Now I have to see, what this girl looks like that’s making you act like a pervert.”
“I’m not a pervert,” Matt retorted.
Jenkins started to chuckle adding, “You are a giant pervert. You practically have a sign flashing on your forehead that says: I’m a pervert. It’s part of your charm. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to hear you talking like this. I’ve been waiting to meet the old Matt, the famous ladies’ man from
before all of the stress and the playing daddy to your little sister.” Jenkins hopped up. “I’ll go offer them some coffee or something—check out the girl that’s pretty enough to confuse your sense of right and wrong,” Jenkins teased.
“Hey, I’m only four years older than Kayn, and her friend, you know,” Matt said.
“Four years at this age can be like a lifetime, my friend.” Jenkins strode out of the room to go check on the girls.
~
Kayn lay sprawled out on her bed. She was attempting to do her homework. Attempting would definitely be the word that she would use for this situation. She was not Math’s biggest fan. She hopped up to grab some liquid paper off of her desk. She had to clean up the mess. Kayn plopped back down on her bed and crossed her legs in front of her, and began to attempt to erase the mess she had made. Her door opened, and she looked up. She’d expected to see Jenkins or Matt, and there stood Lily from school.
“Hi,” Lily said as she stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind her. “I’m sure you have already figured out why I’m here,” Lily said cautiously.
Kayn cracked a grin and said, “Sorry I’m flattered, but I sort of have a boyfriend.”
“Wait one second; hold that thought,” Lily said as she took stones out of her backpack and made a circle around them in the bedroom. Lily then spoke some words in another language, “Ας μην υπάρχει σιωπή εκτός του κύκλου.”
“What does that mean?” Kayn asked not recognizing the language.
“It’s Greek for let there be silence outside of this circle,” Lily answered. She sat on Chloe’s bed, and patted the spot beside her to signal Kayn to move a little closer to her. “My ability is extremely similar to your sister, Chloe’s. Trust me, if I wanted you to switch teams it wouldn't be a choice.” She grinned and pulled a fingerless glove off of her hand. She turned her hand over to show Kayn the symbol of Ankh on her palm.
“So if we are on the same side why have you been such a horrific bitch?” Kayn asked.
Lily looked momentarily startled at the absence of restraint in her blunt question. “That’s what I like to hear,” Lily chuckled and then continued to speak, “I’m going to give you a quick education in all things immortal. There are three clans. These clans are the Ankh, the Trinity, and last but not least the Triad. In each clan, there are various breeds of warriors, healers, and psychics—whatever varieties of second tier talent we can find.
We split into these groups a thousand years ago when tier two souls lost their status. You only have status and protection if you belong to a clan. Our job as clan is to police the spirit world. We do the third tier’s dirty work, and in turn they don’t attack our clans. On an unpleasant note, it is now open season on your soul until your eighteenth birthday. The other Clans, soul-eating demons, and the Legion of Abaddon are all going to want you.”
Kayn flung herself back on her bed and said, “You do realize how crazy all of this sounds?” Did she just say Demons?
Lily could read Kayn’s thoughts and almost laughed aloud, “Seriously, this is your stumbling block. Super hero powers, immortality, mass murder, and ghosts were not a problem but demons … way too far.”
Kayn said, “Soul-eating demons … seriously?”
Lily repeated, “Seriously.”
Kayn grabbed a stuffed animal off of her bed and said, “I avoid groups of people at school. I’m not big on confrontation, and sometimes I eat my lunch in a bathroom stall. I don’t like to eat in front of anyone. I’m not exactly the spirit world, policing, kind of girl.”
Lily said, “No, you used to avoid confrontation. You used to hide in the bathroom stall to eat your lunch. That’s not you anymore. We all have the ability to be strong when there is no other choice.”
Kayn was going to object when Lily launched a stapler at her head. Kayn swung her hand up and blocked it on instinct. She not only blocked it, but it didn’t even come close to touching her.
Lily smiled and said, “We are always so much stronger than we believe ourselves to be.”
Kayn’s door opened, and Jenkins brought them both in a coffee. He said, “Just so you know, it’s decaffeinated because it’s almost eight o’clock at night. I assumed neither of you wanted to be up all night. They each took big a sip of their coffee. Jenkins excused himself and closed the bedroom door.
After a dramatic pause, Lily casually continued speaking, “You will meet some of us at school on Monday. We will need a few hours after school to get started. You will be home before dinner.”
“Uh huh,” Kayn mumbled, having lost her glib attitude somewhere around soul-eating demons.
“We are going to live in that house that is through the bushes. It’s discrete yet close enough to get to you quickly,” Lily stated.
“There’s a man that lives there … where is he?” Kayn questioned. She could still remember how close he was to her that night.
Lily smiled. “Oh … he's still there. Long story, but he’s a tad brainwashed at this time.”
“Let me get this straight, you are stealing my neighbor’s house with him still inside of it so you can teach me how to defend myself there? Can’t we just do it in my room?” Kayn inquired.
“He has space for the tombs in his basement. I’m guessing your brother might notice a half dozen glowing rose quartz chambers in your bedroom?” Lily teased.
Kayn hesitated to ask, “What are the tombs for again?”
Lily gave Kayn’s knee a friendly squeeze. She said, “They are for healing and travelling purposes. We are not going to tell you to sleep in one at night or anything. None of us are Vampires.”
Kayn replied, “Right … Good to know. Mental note: No Vampires in Ankh. This whole conversation sounds completely and totally logical, and I’m sure after a couple of years it will actually make some kind of sense. I will see you all on Monday at school. I do think it’s time I call it a night though. I am overdue for a small albeit completely satisfying nervous breakdown.”
“Given some time this will all make perfect sense. Just give everything I have said some thought. I will see you Monday,” Lily chimed with a shockingly genuine toothy smile.
She waved as she left Kayn’s room and a moment later Kayn heard Lily say goodnight to her brother and Jenkins. She heard the front door close.
Kayn dialed Kevin’s number, and he didn’t answer so she wandered down the stairs and opened the fridge to search for a snack. In truth, she felt like eating everything in the house. Scratch that, she planned to eat everything in the house. She noticed a drink Jenkins had left on the little island in the kitchen. Kayn smelled it and hesitated before she took a swig of it. She gagged and spit the vile stuff in the sink. It was warm pop and some kind of alcohol. She grabbed a whole box of Triscuits and a container of flavored cream cheese and wandered back upstairs. She put on baggy pajamas and a giant fluffy robe.
She stretched out on her bed and turned on the television and began to flip through the channels. A show popped up with an exorcism, and she said, “Not a chance.” She switched the channel. One came on, and it was about aliens and she said, “Not likely.” She farted and laughed. Kayn changed the channel and one of her favorite shows was on. It was about Superheroes. She watched for a few minutes and then turned the channel to another station.
She suspected that the clan version of immortality would not be glamorous. She imagined there would be no jets or fancy cars involved. No bat mobile for her. She sat and watched reruns of friends and ate an entire tub of cream cheese and Triscuits. Kayn sprawled out on her bed. She was going to be sick. She rubbed her rounded overstuffed belly. She had a food baby in there. It was enormous. It was a cream cheese and Triscuit food baby.
Kayn chuckled and whispered, “I will name you heartburn.” Kayn heard her phone vibrate, and there was a text message. It was from Kevin.
He wrote, “I just tried astral projection. I just got the chance to see what you do when you are alone, and it was not nearly
as sexy as I imagined it to be.”
Kayn began to laugh. She laughed until tears formed in the corner of her eyes and texted him back, “You should come over and rub my food baby.” He texted back, “My favorite part of your evening was when you farted and then laughed at yourself … it was pretty damn hot.”
She remembered doing that and then laughed even harder.
Chapter 19
Training Kayn
Immortality: the ability to live forever
Kayn awoke that morning feeling as though her senses were on overload again. She could smell the coffee brewing from downstairs, mixed with Jenkins’ soap, and he must be making them bacon for breakfast. She heard the whispering sounds of voices and the ringing of a phone. Kayn could hear parts of the conversation that was going on downstairs. Her senses had been a little heightened before, but today it was overwhelming.
It really didn’t get any better once she pushed open the school doors and entered. Kayn, feeling extremely on edge, wanted to turn around and leave. She felt frayed and confused by the noises of the school. The hustle and bustle of the hallways as her peers pushed past her made Kayn’s nerve endings feel completely exposed today. She watched for unknown faces in the crowd as they whirled by her and began to wonder why nobody had thought to attack her in the hallway at school. The hallway was thick with scents of random passersby.
Kayn took a deep breath as she realized that nobody could attack her here. It was too public. This whole other life was a secret. Whether good or evil, no one could risk being exposed. She took another deep breath calming her racing pulse. The intercom screeched, and Kayn covered her ears and doubled over. The voice was calling someone to the office. She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Kevin’s voice whisper.
“You are obviously having the same morning I’m having. Just breathe. Stand up straight and breathe.” He slipped his fingers through hers and said, “I’ve got your back. I will always have your back. You are not alone anymore.”
She took another deep breath and calmed her breathing.