Meanwhile Mag’s was casting a heinous grin. “I let him up thinking it was all over and just when he thought it was . . .” she trailed off. Then slamming her fist into her hand like she was wearing a baseball glove she began relishing the memory even more. “Then I punched him right in his two Cajuns,” she said with an evil shuttering laugh.
Wincing in sympathy Nathan lowered his hands to cover his own privates. “Ouch.”
“Like those car commercials,” she said but Nathan just shrugged. “The ones where their driving through the swamp and the fucking Cajun guy is yelling, I-eeee,” she said in her best Bayou impression. Still getting nothing she waved it off. “Well that’s what Louis screamed, I-eeee . . . it was fucking hysterical.”
“I can tell you he was wishing his special power was healing,” Serenity said deciding to join the conversation.
Being a bit petty Nathan went on hoping his other brother did not fare any better. “Well even though he set the record straight I hope Bo got some too.”
“Ha,” Maggie said with a snort. “I told that big fucker his was coming. He’s been on egg shells around me ever since.”
Serenity just shook her head as she continued her hair duties. “If that boy could have gotten an ulcer he would have died days ago,” she said looking her little brother over finally satisfied with his hair. “Or the stress would have given him a heart attack I’m sure.”
“Good,” Nathan said feeling a bit of vindication while he checked his hair. “So, I hope giving me a whopping wasn’t the only reason you came by?”
“Of course not,” Serenity said smacking his hand away from his hair.
“The killings fucker,” Maggie said producing a paper from her back pocket. “Now a kid gets his heart ripped out and eaten,” she said with disappointment throwing the paper down front page up.
“I know,” he assured them picking up the paper and looking at the most recent victim.
“It’s sloppy and it’s close to home,” Serenity said.
“You came all the way for that?”
Standing in front of him she lightly rubs his cheeks. “Daddy has us on an errand. Mommy had a message,” she said squeezing his cheeks and bending in to his ear. “Get your ass home.”
“I really have been meaning to,” he said pulling away with effort from her clutches.
“You’re a couple hours away you selfish shit,” Maggie said still kicking pieces of wood off books.
“Mother sent your favorite,” Serenity interjected.
Looking around then at Serenity wondering where they were he decided to inquire. “So where are they?”
“I ate them,” Maggie said immediately without any remorse.
“Of course you did,” Nathan sighed.
Maggie just laughed.
Grabbing him by the cheeks and this time holding tightly so he would stay still Serenity reminded him. “So you’ve been told. The killings, and then come home, okay honey?”
Nathan nodded the best he could to signify he understood and that he would. Letting him go she planted a very sister like kiss that made him squirm, but he let her finish.
Walking past him Maggie slapped him hard on the back of his head causing him to trip forward. “You’ve been told bitch,” she said. Going to the door and unlocking it she turned back. “And I’m not giving you a kiss . . . ugly mother fucker.”
Getting a little upset he started to pout. “You’re not leaving already?”
“Got places to go and people to fuck. Or fuck up,” Maggie said standing outside.
“At least let me take you out for breakfast or tea. Theirs this great place just down the street.” He already regretted saying it. If they saw how much he liked her, and they would, it would start an avalanche of horror. Starting with the two of them, then when it got back to Louis and Bo, and then finally the most horrible of all, his mother.
“Can’t honey, were on an errand. And we really have to keep this schedule,” Serenity said putting her oversized sunglasses on. “I’m not kidding Nathaniel,” she said as her eyes started to glow their bright red and dirty yellow through the lenses. “It better be soon.”
Serenity and his Dad were the only ones that called him Nathanial. She was the only one he did not mind. “I will,” he said looking her in the eyes (or lenses) and showing her he was genuine. The glow faded away from behind the tinted eye pieces.
“Don’t make me come back here pussy,” Maggie said poking her head back in and producing a cocked fist.
“You and what army?” he antagonized playfully.
Stepping back inside and leaning towards him Maggie held up her left hand with her palm facing away from him. Her index and middle finger spread apart making a V. “You know what this is?” she asked him.
“The British version of-”
“No,” Maggie answered before he could finish. Putting her right elbow between the two extended fingers she flexed her right arm. “It’s the gun rack – fuck face,” she said as serious and smugly as she could.
“Ah, cause your arm is your gun,” Nathan agonized putting the puzzle together.
“That’s right bitch,” she said stretching her arm out with a full fist and shotgun loading sound effect.
Starring at her still cocking and loading her gun he tried not to laugh. “I will remember that.”
“Fucking right you will,” she said.
Turning to his saner sister he petitioned one more time. “I really wish you could stay.”
“You got a lot of cleaning up to do,” Serenity said looking at the mess. Then she reminded him one last time. “Visit, soon.” Walking out of the store she did not look back.
Maggie did look back. “Remember,” she said holding up her fist and making the shotgun loading sound effect again.
“I love you too.”
“Okay princess,” Maggie said then began catching up to her sister down the street.
Nathan watched as they walked down the street not even noticing how odd they looked together. Serenity turned down the next street but Maggie turned back and grabbed her crotch and gave him the finger. Returning her the finger in return he waved with the opposite hand. Maggie gave him a quick wave and disappeared. All of a sudden he missed them immensely. He was home sick and told himself he would go home for a visit soon. But first he had a store to fix and a dinner party to prepare for.
CHAPTER 11
ONE: Party Crasher
The night seemed to chase the day away quicker than usual Nathan thought. Or maybe it was because it was how nervous he was that caused it to come sooner. The clock told him that eight o’clock was almost upon him and he suddenly found himself wishing it was any other time than the time that it was now. Actually for the next little while he was going to wish each minute that came was any other time than the actual. But thinking about that would probably give him an anxiety attack. He usually was not one to sweat but he could feel the heat starting to transpire in his body that had suddenly become a furnace.
He glanced at his favorite grandfather clock then quickly turned away cursing himself. With an eidetic memory and a ridiculous IQ it only tortured him further since if he thought about it, he could calculate the time in seconds, to the second. Usually it was just something that was as natural as seeing or hearing. But tonight he tried to ignore it which just made him more aware. Something Nathan believed had taken on a life of its own and now taunted him.
He took a sip of his subpar tea and stared out the window. He often wondered why this was harder than almost anything else. Why falling for someone was so frightening that he could put it in the same category as marching into battle or coming face to face with death. Even when he did something dangerous that even he thought was looking grim, could not compare to this feeling of anxiety, brought on by the sinking feeling of apprehensiveness. Nathan did not fear death like humans did, he did not fear pain like they did. Mostly because he healed much quicker and definite. But when it came to this, he had no super power to help him
. Maybe it was because all men in this predicament were equals that actually made him feel a little better.
Looking in the mirror he thought he at least looked presentable in his shirt and jacket. Earlier he had a tie on but thought that was a little too formal. This way he at least thought he looked business casual, in a respectable store owner way. Then he started to worry that he would come across pompous and all of a sudden the furnace kicked in again. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Your fine,” he said.
Repeating it in his head seemed to give him a bit more validation and he headed towards the window. He didn’t have to look at the clock because he knew what time it was, unfortunately. He decided not to look back at the mirror and just leapt out onto the ledge of the window and propelled himself from the apartment and into the evening. He landed on the building adjacent his across the street. He swung around so his back was against the brick wall and then again, wrapping himself around to the other side of the building. Now hanging above the next street he gripped the ledge tightly and then pulled up with incredible strength, propelling himself upwards with unbelievable speed. He flew straight up the side of the building and onto the roof.
As he landed he wondered if anyone would be waiting to see him, since he and most of his kind used building tops to travel. He always worried a bit about the first roof top. Once up top he could sense and see all around him but for that first one he always feared someone would be up there enjoying the view or fixing something or God forbid readying to jump. But with all his kind and how often they use the height of the buildings as launch pads to travel the cities it always struck him as odd there were not more sightings. Then he thought it was a shame with the roof tops just above them why more people did not take to them for the view and peacefulness they bring. But then he supposed that’s why he and his kind used them, because humans tended not to. If they did he guessed he would have to find another way of travelling in the city, like sewers or he would have to get a car. Neither of which he would enjoy.
He had only run into two people on top of a roof. Once was a maintenance man that had his back turned to him and just thought Nathan had wondered up from the stairs. He remembered having a pleasant conversation about baseball since it was in New York and you could actually see into the old Polo Grounds where the Yankees were playing and Ray Caldwell was pitching on a beautiful day in June 1914.
The second time was in Lyon France august1964. Nathan was running from his brothers over an argument during a soccer game, when he landed on a roof where a young lady was lost in wonderment at the sight of him appearing out of the sky. He remembered at first how frightened he was because he didn’t know what to say but in less than a second he could smell and then see that the pretty girl was thirty minutes stoned. He was able to walk past her nonchalantly offering her a smile, a “Bonjour” and a wave. In which the attractive young and very stoned girl replied “Bonjour” and waved back. He often wondered if she ever told anyone that story or decided to keep it a secret.
He had a hundred excuses to say if he ever ran into someone sober and a few of them actually kind of made sense if you suspended science briefly. But he decided he would go with the smile, the wave and a “Bonjour” if or when it happened again. He supposed it would bother them for the rest of their lives wondering if what they saw was real or if anyone would believe the story if they told them. But it was a lot better than trying to offer an explanation that would probably end in panic or shock.
He leapt again and was on another roof top. Wondering about being spotted or caught he forgot to look around when he first landed atop. Giving a quick glance he saw and heard no one. Now he could see Todd and Martin’s building in the short distance. Seeing the apartment with lights he closed his eyes and concentrated, finally he could hear the music coming from it. Opening his eyes he could make out everyone at the window and saw a lot more than a few people for dinner. It was a large apartment and it was packed. He was not surprised Todd and Martin had a large amount of friends and he should of realized that a dinner party to Todd meant more of a, Gala.
He supposed it was too late to call and cancel but then thought with that many people he wouldn’t be missed. Then he saw her in the far right window standing in the kitchen. Lily was preparing some plates of appetizers. She was speaking to someone and laughing and all of a sudden he didn’t want to be anywhere but there. Her hair was newly cut and flowed down past her cheeks. She leaned forward and sipped from her glass. Her eyes pierced through the window locking on to his without even knowing it.
He walked off the roof and plummeted to the dark shadows below. Without a sound Nathan landed on his feet. Walking out of the alley way he easily blended into the traffic of the sidewalk. It was busy with people filling into the night with positive energy and expectations of good times. There were single people and couples and groups of all ages going in all directions. He melded seamlessly behind a crowd of forty something women on their way to a dinner party, so far as he could hear. He liked these women, they reminded him of his mother, not in a physical way of course but the way they carried themselves. They were all dressed with style and money and dripped confidence with a heavy dose of self-respect that did not fear an unsuccessful hunt. They knew they would live to hunt another night and that was always something he felt younger women lacked, but he supposed it came from experience. He also knew it was something men lacked almost always even among his kind, all of which seemed to never learn.
Enjoying their conversation he suddenly realized their party was farther up the street and he should be turning right at the lights. He then followed in behind a couple of young men who were positively sure tonight was going to be “Epic” as one put it. As the two young men slowed down and finally detoured into a convenience store Nathan picked up the pace to a small group of twenty year olds obviously dressed to go clubbing. Since they were walking he assumed they were heading toward West Illinois Street, or they were a little more adventurous and heading farther north to West Ontario Street. He walked and listened for a bit as they teased who was dressed the sluttiest, which didn’t mean they took the title of the biggest slut. As they voted for that title they laughed, seemingly voting unanimously, including the only nominee.
Nathan suddenly realized he didn’t have anything with him to offer at the party. Stopping at a grocer that was still open he let the young women continue on to their night. He ducked into the store and found the most expensive wine they had, a $9 bottle or a vintage that was regularly priced at $11 but was on sale this weekend for $7 a bottle. He did not feel overly confident in his choices. Walking over to the baked goods he supposed the wine was better than the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake that seemed to have actual raspberries that were turning white. Or the Too Much Chocolates Cake that one third seemed to have buckled and collapsed under the pressure of Too Much Chocolate. Nathan noticed a little Asian lady standing beside him observing his conundrum.
“Waited till last minute huh,” she said in an all knowing tone.
“I did,” Nathan confessed.
“That’s why better to think ahead,” she suggested.
Nathan turned and looked at her for a moment then smiled. “You are wise,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
She smiled back at him, sarcastically. “I’m not one going to party with shitty dessert,” she said and continued on with her shopping.
Nathan laughed to himself and decided the little old lady was right and grabbed the wine. Paying for it he continued towards Todd and Martins apartment. He got to the building and pressed the button beside the name, Jacobson. When the intercom answered it was a loud voice of someone he did not recognize trying to talk over the very busy background. After several attempts to say who he was and three possible people that could vouch for him the voice got tired of battling the noise and just buzzed him in.
Walking to the elevator and pushing the button he waited patiently for it to arrive. He kept going over the conversation he would have with
Lily and hoped it would go as smooth in reality as it was in his head. Disregarding his most recent attempt, it would also depend on the perfect smile, a seductive wink and her throwing herself at him. It was possible, he thought, but then decided it might be wise to prepare for some actual conversation just in case. The front entrance buzzed and three gentlemen dressed like they were about to go to a rave strewed through the lobby awkwardly. The elevator dinged and the door opened.
“Hold that please,” one of the men yelled out.
Nathan stepped into the elevator and held his arm past the door so it would not close. The three men piled in, standing in front of him.
“What floor?” another man asked Nathan.
“Top floor please,” Nathan said.
“Are you friends with Todd and Martin?” the same man asked.
“Yes, Nathan,” he said and offered his hand.
The gentlemen took it and shook. “I’m Paul, this is Lenny and John,” he said as each of them waved to signify which one they were.
“Pleased to meet you,” Nathan offered and smiled.
“You to tiger,” the one called John said quickly looking him over then biting down on his teeth making a loud click sound.
“Don’t be a whore, he’s obviously not your type,” Lenny said then mouthed the word sorry to Nathan.
“What type is that?” John asked.
“The straight type,” Paul laughed then turned to Nathan. “You are straight right?”
“Yes, I am,” Nathan said with a smile of apology then turned to John. “Sorry.”
“Ha, me too,” John said as the elevator rang, signifying they reached the top.
The three men poured out of the elevator with Nathan and led him to the proper door. The one called John who thought Nathan to be a tiger pounded on the door and yelling. “Open up bitches,” as they all laughed. Nathan stood behind them quietly.
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