Catalyst (A Tethered Novel)

by Jennifer Snyder

  “Okay, so how about I dust down here while you head upstairs and remove all the dust-catching cloths from the furniture, because I just can’t do that again. I’ve seen too many scary movies with scenes like that in them,” Vera said as she bounded around the corner.

  I held the bowl in my hand out to her. “Did you see this in there yesterday?”

  “No, what is it?”

  “A cat dish with the name Binks painted on it.”

  She crossed the room, her sandals slapping against the linoleum floor, and took it from my hands. “Seriously?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Creepy,” she said as a visible shiver ran along her spine, like the whole scenario gave her the heebie-jeebies. I could relate.

  “I know.” I took the bowl back from her hands and sat it on the floor beside the pantry door. “Are you sure you aren’t just messing with me?”

  Vera had been known to pull a prank or two in the past. One time, after watching the first Paranormal Activity movie, she had me honestly believing my house was haunted, because she kept moving stuff when I wasn’t looking and then freaking out just like me about it. She even went so far as to tie dental floss to the doorknob of my bedroom door and slam it closed when we were both sitting on my bed talking. Turns out, she’s a really good actress too, because I had no idea it had been her until later.

  “I’m not, I swear,” she said. “When would I have had time to do anything like that?”

  I glared at her suspiciously. She had a point. “Fine, you’re right. It’s just weird, don’t you think? I mean, you heard what Kace said, old lady Avery died when he was little. How is this cat not ancient? There was food still in the pantry, so I know she had a cat.”

  “Stop it. You’re freaking me out,” she said, her eyes dropping to Binks. He still sat in the threshold, giving himself a bath. “Maybe it isn’t the same cat. Maybe hers had kittens and this is one that, for whatever reason, decided to hang around.”

  I put my hand on my hips and stared at him. “Yeah, you could be right. He doesn’t look all that old, maybe two or three years.”

  “Tops,” Vera said, but it sounded strangled. She really was freaked out.

  “All right, I’ll do the unveiling of the furniture, if you start a load of laundry. We need some towels washed because I am in desperate need of a shower,” I said, stepping over Binks on my way out of the kitchen.

  I heard Vera sigh before she replied, “Fine…”

  I smiled, knowing laundry was her archenemy.

  Upstairs, I went to my room first and tossed all the drop cloths that had been crumpled up against the wall since I’d first come with my parents into the hall. I did the same with every room after. Once I was finished, there was a dusty mountain resting in the hall at the top of the stairs, and I was sneezing like crazy. Crumpling some of them up in my arms to carry downstairs and wash, I caught sight of the door that led to the attic stairs. Curiosity piqued my interest. I wanted to see what was up there when I came with my parents, but it seemed like any digging around I did was disrespectful to my mother. Or at least she made it feel that way by her unease at being here.

  Leaving all the dusty sheets behind, I headed to the door. The handle was cool to the touch and turned in my hand with ease. For whatever reason, I’d expected it to be locked. I flicked on the light switch and looked at the intimidatingly steep steps in front of me with unease. Another door, this one painted a fire engine red, stood at the top.

  I’d never been one to be afraid of confined spaces, but the narrow stairway made me understand the panic those who suffered from that fear went through. It was so narrow, in fact, that I only had to extend my arms at my sides the tiniest bit to be able to touch the walls on either side of me as I went. Once I reached the top, I gripped the metal doorknob of the red door and turned. There was a clicking noise, but the door didn’t open. I tried again, but had the same result—the doorknob turned, but the door wouldn’t open.

  “Maybe it needs a key,” I muttered under my breath as I eyeballed it.

  It was then that I realized this doorknob was different than all the others in the house. It was an oval shape and made of a dark metal. The keyhole was like nothing I’d ever seen in real life and only on TV—it was a skeleton key.

  I remembered there had been one dark skeleton key on my chain that came with the house. Carefully descending the stairs again, I thought of where I’d left my keys. Bypassing the mountain of laundry at the top of the stairs, I headed to the first floor to scoop my keys off the kitchen counter.

  “Laundry is in, living room is dusted, and now I’m off to dust the hideous dining room. I’m all for the vintage look, but that room needs some major work,” Vera said to me as I brushed past her. “Where are you going? You’ve got the ‘I’m on a mission’ gleam in your eyes.”

  “I need my keys. The only place I haven’t been yet in this house is the attic and it’s locked. But I think the key is on my chain,” I said, already climbing the stairs again with my keys in hand.

  “Oooh, a locked door. Interesting,” she said as she followed me up the steps.

  I was a little less cautious this go-around with the steep steps. Vera wasn’t.

  “Dang, these are some break-your-ankle stairs.”

  “I know,” I said. “And look at this door. It’s the only one painted in the entire house. Even the front door is a dingy white.”

  There was something in there, I knew there was. I could feel it. I didn’t know how to explain it, but it was the same sensation that spread through my blood when Kace had touched me—that was the feeling I got when I thought about what could be behind the red door.

  “I wonder what’s inside. Hopefully it’s something a little more interesting than what we found in the basement…well, that and not another animal.”

  “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out…here’s the key,” I said, holding up the skeleton key between us.

  “Classic,” Vera said wide-eyed.

  I put the key in the door and turned it. The same clicking from before filled the narrow stairway.

  “Crap, it made that noise when I turned the knob before,” I said as I attempted to turn it now that the key was inserted.

  Nothing happened.

  “Push a little, maybe it’s just stuck,” Vera suggested.

  I pushed with my shoulder while still holding the knob, but again got no result. The damn door was jammed.

  “Let me try,” Vera insisted.

  “It’s stuck,” I said as I shifted out of the way so she could try, even though I knew it would be pointless. She slammed herself into the door like cops do on TV and nearly fell down the steps backward, I caught her and laughed. “Don’t get yourself killed, please.”

  She shook me off and smoothed her hands along her shorts, raising her chin in the air. “Yeah. It’s stuck. Either that or the doorknob is broken.”

  We turned and started back down the stairs.

  “Guess I’ll have to see if Dad or someone can get it open next time they come,” I said.

  “Look who heard the commotion and decided to come check it out,” Vera said, pointing at the bottom of the stairs.

  Binks sat perched at the bottom, his head cocked to the side as he glared at us with his all-knowing greenish-yellow eyes. I couldn’t explain how I knew, but I was certain Binks knew what was behind the door and he was waiting for me to see it.

  I sat at the edge of a large piece of driftwood, watching Vera dance with some guy she’d met upon arriving to the party. His name was Darren and he had beer, which was all she’d needed to know. I took a sip of my beer and nearly spit it all over the place as I stifled a laugh while watching her begin to bob her head visibly out of sync with the song playing. She was good at many things, but dancing was not one of them.

  “So your friend seems to be having a good time, what about you?” a seductively familiar voice asked from behind me, startling me slightly.

  I turned to me
et the stunning blue eyes of Kace. “Hey, yeah, I’m having fun. We actually just got here a little bit ago, but from the looks of my friend you’d never guess.” I smiled, gesturing to Vera.

  “Ha, so she’s a lightweight, huh?” He grinned as his eyes flickered to Vera and then back to me in an instant.

  “Guess so.”

  “And you’re not?” A cocky grin splayed on his face, and I noticed he had just one dimple—on the right side. It was perfect, just like everything else about him.

  “Probably, but I don’t drink enough to really find out. One and done, as they say.” God, I sounded like an idiot.

  Kace’s head tipped back as he chuckled at my statement, and the rest of the world completely faded away. I was captivated by him once again. “Right? I’m not much of a drinker either. It dulls the senses.”

  “My thoughts exactly—uh, as I take another sip of my beer.” I grinned and took another sip.

  He moved to sit beside me. “No judging here.” He tipped his cup back and took a long swig of whatever was in it to prove his point, and I found my eyes zeroing in on his Adam’s apple, watching it bob up and down as he swallowed. “So how are you liking Soul Harbor so far?”

  I cocked my head to the side and glanced back at Vera again. “It’s not too bad… I’m not sure about the people at Fisherman’s Brew though.” I crinkled my nose and then wondered why I’d singled someone out. Why couldn’t I have just left it at it’s not too bad?

  “Fisherman’s Brew? Why not?” he asked with genuine concern lacing his words.

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. They just didn’t seem to like the idea of me being here for some reason. Then again, I could have just been tired from the drive and slightly paranoid.” I smiled and shook my head like I’d been being crazy.

  “Well, I like the idea of you being here, for what it’s worth,” he said in a low tone as he leaned into me a little.

  I turned to look at him. “Thanks.”

  “You have gorgeous eyes, has anyone ever told you that? It’s like they can’t decide if they want to be green or brown.”

  I grinned like a fool. “Actually no, no one’s ever told me that before.”

  “Well, I’m glad to be the first then.” He licked his lips, drawing my attention to them. I watched as they curved into a little smile.

  Was it bad to kiss a guy you’d just met yesterday? I was positive Vera would say no, but I wasn’t sure I agreed with her ease with guys. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this attracted to someone right off the get go, though. This was instant. As I sat there, staring at his lips, the only thing I could think about was what they would feel like pressed against mine. I literally wanted to throw myself at him and silently wondered if someone had slipped something in my drink when I hadn’t been looking because of it.

  It wasn’t just his physical appearance that made him attractive. No. It was his attitude, his confidence, and that pulsating sense of connection I’d had with him when we’d touched. It throbbed within me now, because of his sudden nearness, because of my thoughts, willing me to press my lips to his just to feel it more. I gazed into his eyes and was rendered speechless when I realized he was holding back too.

  “Hey guys, what’s up?” Vera asked in a slur of words way too loud for the distance she was from us. And just like that, the pull, the trance between Kace and I was broken. “Aren’t you gonna dance?” she asked me.

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m really not in a dancing sort of mood right now.”

  “Oh, come on, have a little fun. Just once…please!” Vera begged.

  “I am having fun.” I smiled wide to prove my point and tipped my cup back, taking another long sip. I hadn’t consumed nearly enough alcohol to be dancing yet. And with my insanely sexual thoughts about Kace—someone I’d just met—more alcohol was not a good idea.

  “No, you’re not. You’re just sitting here,” she insisted.

  Darren came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Did you get a refill? Come on, let’s dance some more.”

  Vera giggled and playfully swatted at his arm. “Of course I did. I was just trying to get my friend out there with us.”

  Darren glanced at me, giving me a crooked grin as his eyes seemed to undress me. “Come on, there’s plenty of room, baby.”

  “No, thank you,” I said. Wow, he seemed like a real charmer.

  “Suit yourself,” Darren said, spinning Vera back out toward the fire.

  “Geez, she’s lit,” Kace said.

  “Yeah, and she doesn’t know it yet, but after this drink, she’s cut off.”

  “I’ll agree. She’s reached her limit.” He grinned. “So, want to meet those people I told you I’d introduce you to?”

  “Sure.”

  “They’re over there,” he said, pointing to the same couple I’d seen him talking with on the beach yesterday.

  They stood off to the side, sipping from cups and gazing out over the party with this air of superiority about them. My palms began to sweat as I stood to follow Kace. We were halfway to where they stood when both of them turned and glanced in our direction with cool eyes.

  “Don’t be intimidated,” Kace said, as though he could feel my insecurities rising. “They’re really not that standoffish.”

  I licked my lips and took in a deep breath. It didn’t seem that way from where I stood. “I’m fine,” I lied.

  Kace grinned at me like he could see through the front I was attempting to put up and failing miserably at. “Sure.”

  The brunette turned her head and whispered something to her boyfriend just before we reached them. He glanced at me up and down before shifting his gaze to Kace and smiling. “What’s up, man?”

  “Not much.” Kace put a hand on my lower back, and I swore I could feel the warmth of it singe through my shirt. Maybe it was just me though—my temperature seemed to rise in his presence. “Guys, this is Addison. She’s staying in old lady Avery’s house.”

  The dark-haired guy nodded. “Hey, I’m Adam.”

  “Callie,” the brunette said softly.

  “Hey,” I said.

  Awkwardness swam in the air around me, suffocating me from all angles. I didn’t know what else to say. Obviously I hadn’t had enough to drink to be meeting new people. Maybe I should have rethought my one and done rule for tonight. After all, it wasn’t like I was driving, because we’d walked here.

  “So you’re the one who inherited the old Avery house, huh?” Adam said, his bright green eyes boring into me and giving me a once-over all at the same time. “You’re the missing Avery kid.”

  I shook my head, confused. “The missing Avery kid?”

  “Yeah, didn’t your mom like run away to have you or something?” Adam asked. A creepy grin twisted his lips as his eyes flashed as though he knew more than he was saying.

  “Adam, stop,” Callie demanded, obviously noticing my confusion. “It’s just a story people created, that’s all.”

  “I’m down for a good story,” I said, taking another swig of my beer. I was supposedly a missing kid? Why would my mom have run away from here? And why would she have done it and then given me up?

  “Ah, it’s just a town story. You know, one every small town has,” Kace said. “You and your family were somewhat of a mystery around here for a while. No one understood why your mom ran away to have you and never returned.”

  “Maybe you could clear it all up for us,” Adam insisted, taking a swig of his drink and peering at me from over the rim of the cup with his intense green eyes. “Where did your mom take you? People around here say she took you to some commune in the middle of Utah and became a hippie.”

  I literally laughed out loud at the idea of being raised in a commune, but only because my childhood was so far from that it was laughable. “Umm, no.”

  “So what happened, then? Did she become a stripper? Because that was another one.” Adam grinned, draping am arm across Callie’s shoulders. />
  I could see where this was going. I was some form of amusement to him at the moment and I didn’t much appreciate it. He reminded me too much of Ryan and that was not a good thing. Ryan was an ass…and I was betting Adam was too. “Actually, I have no clue why my mom ran off to have me. Are there any theories in town about why she gave me up for adoption too?”

  Adam spit a swig of beer all over the place. The shock on his face was priceless. This was a bigger foot-in-mouth situation than what Vera had caused last night with Theo. “What?”

  “Oh my God, we, umm…” Callie squirmed to come up with something to say other than she was sorry, because sorry didn’t cut it. Not with something as serious and sad as being given up for adoption by your parents. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a person’s eyes shift from one emotion to straight-up sympathy at the knowledge that I had been adopted at birth. “We didn’t know.”

  “I don’t… I had no idea, I wouldn’t have toyed with you like that if I had,” Adam insisted in a sincere tone. “Honestly.” He turned to Kace then, his eyes wide. “No one knew that. You know they didn’t. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known. Jesus, now I look like a freaking prick.” He muttered the last part to himself.

  “I’m sorry my friends are such assholes,” Kace said, shifting his hard stare from Adam and turning to flash me a sympathetic smile. “Come on. Let’s go check on your friend.”

  I glanced around for Vera. “Yeah, I probably should find her and drag her home before she does something stupid and hates me in the morning for letting her get away with it.”

  “Well, it was nice meeting you, Addison,” Callie said as I started to walk away, led by Kace.

  “Nice to meet you guys too,” I called over my shoulder.

  “See you around, Avery,” Adam said.

  Avery, there it was again, my middle name, which apparently should have been my last. I’d always assumed my adoptive parents had given me the name since I’d never been told any different. As horrible as it might seem, I found myself questioning if there was anything else they’d hidden from me.