The door opened and I sat up. Jax came in with a tray of cheese and crackers. He handed me the tray and I met his hazel eyes. "Thank you."
He nodded and then skittered from the room. His eyes reminded me of Hunter's.
I munched on the cheese and crackers, cleaning the tray. I sat on one side of the bed while Colden sat quietly on the other. I would have offered him some, but I still hated him.
I had just set the empty tray on the bed when Dunstan entered the room. "Leave us," he said to Colden. Colden bolted as if he couldn't wait to get out of there.
Dunstan moved the tray out of the way and sat next to me. I moved over in the opposite direction. "You'll go back tonight—"
"The minute I set foot over that wall, they're going to kill me."
"They won't touch you because they won't be able to see you."
I looked at him as he twisted a silver skull ring around one of his knuckles. "What?"
"You'll be invisible."
I stood and began to pace. "That doesn't work in Nowhere."
"No, not unless you're wearing the invisibility cloak, which I have."
I'd read about that in my studies. No one had ever actually seen it, so we assumed it to be a myth. "You have the cloak?"
Dunstan nodded. "My brother and I weren't meant to be twins. When we were born, our parents decided we'd share the powers and gifts that came with being a Death Lord. Technically, it should have been me, since I was the eldest by four minutes, but my parents didn't see it that way. They made us split the sacred gifts. Dunningham got the Scepter of Immortality and I got the Cloak of Invisibility."
"Dunningham never told us that."
Dunstan shrugged. "Why would he? Why would he want his people to know that such a prized possession was in the hands of his lowly rat brother? Before he banished me, he looked everywhere for that cloak. He wanted it back because I wasn't worthy of it anymore, but I'd hidden it. It's the only thing I have that's worth anything besides our father's ring." I assumed he meant the ring he was toying with. "Don't even get me started on how immortality is a far more exceptional gift than invisibility, but he didn't care. He didn't want me to have anything."
"Why do you want me to go back there? What do you care?"
"First, I want you to make sure your family is okay. I know that means a lot to you. Then we have other business to attend to, but we'll discuss that later on."
I rubbed my forehead, trying to understand. "So, you want me to put on this cloak. It'll make me invisible so I can go check on my family. Then you want me to come back here?"
"Yes."
"Why would I do that? Why wouldn't I just keep the cloak and stay with my family?"
"Because you're one of us. You'll do what's best for the cause."
"I'm not one of you! Stop saying that!" I shouted although I still couldn't explain why I'd bled like a human.
Dunstan laughed. His laugh annoyed me and I wanted to push him. "Sweetheart, you're more of a hybrid than anyone in this colony."
"What?"
"All these people, they're descendants of me and a human woman. They only have a percentage of human blood in them. The younger the generation, the less they have. But you, my dear, are half and half."
I walked briskly to him. He looked up sharply, as if he were afraid of what I might do. "Both my parents are full-blooded Grims."
Dunstan stood and I backed away. "If you say so. Why don’t you ask your mother all about it when you go home tonight?"
Chapter 29
I had to make another arduous trip to the wall, with Colden and Nigel escorting me. Even though it was nighttime, it was still humid. There was no breeze or relief from the sticky air. Also, I wore the invisibility cloak, which was thick and heavy.
"Okay, so the plan for tonight is for you to go in, see your family and come back," Nigel explained.
"Why do you guys need me to do this? What does my family have to do with you?" I wasn't satisfied with Dunstan's answer. I wanted to know the truth.
"We need to see how smoothly you can get in and out without being detected, that's all."
I stopped walking. "What, you're using me as some kind of guinea pig?"
"You could say that," Colden said. The words flew from his mouth way too easily, as if it were perfectly okay for them to use me.
"Then I'm not going."
Colden held his arms out, feeling for me. His hand landed on my forearm. He grabbed me and pushed me forward roughly.
I yanked away from him. "Keep your hands off of me!"
"Cut it out, Colden," Nigel said firmly.
Things just weren't making sense to me. "Why does it have to be me? Any one of you could put on this cloak and be invisible."
Nigel looked at his brother. "We can't, okay? It won't work for us."
"Why not?"
"Because we're not branded. We're not really considered Grims. Let's keep walking." Every Grim was branded with the sacred emblem on their thirteenth birthday.
I decided to stop asking questions. My main goal was to see my family and make sure they were okay. I had to know, at least, that they were still alive. If anything had happened to them . . .
We reached the wall. The ropes we had climbed the day before were still there. I wasn't looking forward to this climb. Thankfully Colden went first. I didn't want him underneath me. I especially didn't want him to be the one responsible for catching me if I were to slip.
I remembered what Nigel had told me the last time. Hand over hand, foot over foot. After Nigel began up the wall, I grabbed the rope, pulled it, and hoisted myself up. It was difficult, especially with an injured arm, but I thought I was doing a better job than the last time. Twice, I had to stop to catch my breath and let my arms rest. Colden shouted at me to keep going. My anger at him motivated me to keep moving.
At last I made it to the top. Now came the hard part. I froze momentarily. Nigel pushed me gently over. His hand on my backside felt wrong. I was happy to be wearing the cloak. The climb down was much quicker, seeing as though I slid half the way down and landed on my side.
Colden laughed hysterically before offering me his hand. I pushed it away. Even though it hurt, I pretended that it didn't as I tried to stand.
"I'm sorry," Colden said. "I think the fact that I couldn't see you, but I just heard this loud thud made it even funnier."
"Colden, you're an ass," Nigel said, dropping to the ground. "Where are you, Naomi?"
"Here," I answered.
Nigel turned to my voice. "Okay. Go home. Do not take that cloak off for any reason except for in your house. Check on your family and come back. We'll be at Odessa's waiting for you."
I nodded even though they couldn't see me. "All right. I'll be back soon," I said, not at all knowing if that were true.
I ran through Litropolis unseen. A few Grims turned their heads as a whirl of wind whipped by, brushing against tin cans. I couldn't walk. I couldn't wait to get home to my family.
I made it to the wall that separated Litropolis from Farrington. It was quite a task for me to push the loose stones from the wall. I was weak from having eaten little, but the thought of seeing my family gave me the extra strength I needed.
I crawled through and replaced the stones. I continued to run, across the stream, my invisible feet making loud splashes. The cloak caught on the twigs and thistles of the bushes as I traveled. I heard the cloak rip once, but I couldn't stop.
A burst of energy shot through me as I darted through the quiet streets of my city. The streets were empty and the windows were blackened. All Grims had turned in for the night.
Finally I made it to my street. My eyes welled with tears. It had been less than two days, but I had no idea what had become of my family.
I knew it would be safer to go through the back entrance. I stood on the porch, remembering that was the place where my father had thrown me out. I rapped on the door with my fist. There was nothing. The black curtain that covered the tiny window on the door didn'
t move.
I knocked again, louder this time. After I moment, I heard movement coming from inside. I breathed a sigh of relief. Someone was there. My family hadn't been carted away. The curtains parted, and Dorian's sleepy-looking face peered out. He looked confused. Of course he couldn't see me.
"Dorian, it's me!"
He frowned. "Naomi?"
"Dorian, just open the door. It's okay."
He paused for a moment, probably thinking this was some kind of trick. Then he opened the door slightly.
I pushed myself inside and closed it behind me.
"What the—" Dorian began.
I removed the cloak. "It's me, Dorian."
He exhaled and wrapped me into a hug. "Nay! You're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Are you guys?"
"Yeah, we've been fine."
The kitchen light came on, and Bram leaned against the doorway. "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."
I hadn't expected a warm welcome from him. "Bram."
"What are you doing here?" Bram demanded.
"I had to see if you guys were okay," I answered. "Where's Mother and Father?" I couldn't fully relax until I knew they were all okay.
"Father's on assignment, and Mother's sleeping. I'll wake her," Dorian offered, leaving the kitchen. The fact that Dunningham was still sending Father on assignments was a good sign. I wished to see him, but I didn't think I could bear the look of disappointment on his face.
Bram looked at me as if I were some foreign creature. "So you had to see if we were okay, huh?"
"Yes."
"You weren't worried about us when you did what you did. Why are you worried about us now?"
I'd already come to the conclusion that Bram would never forgive me for this, so I didn't bother giving him my explanation once again. "I'm sorry."
I heard feet pounding down the stairs. "Darkness!" Mother said. I ran to her and she wrapped me in her arms. We both cried. "Naomi, I'm glad to see you, but you can't be here. It's too dangerous."
I pointed to the black robe laying on the ground. "It's okay. I have the Cloak of Invisibility."
"Yeah, right," Bram said.
Dorian picked the cloak up from the ground. "It's true. I saw it or, I didn't see it, with my own eyes." Dorian placed the cloak around my shoulders and I pulled the hood over my head.
Bram's eyes widened, but he said nothing.
"Naomi, where'd you get that?" Mother asked.
"From Dunstan."
Bram took the cloak off me. "Dunstan?"
"Yeah. I was in the Forager's village."
Bram put the cloak on himself and disappeared. "Man, this is so awesome. You know the kind of stuff I could do if I were invisible. Can I keep it?"
"No, you can't keep it. It's not even mine. What did Dunningham do?" I asked.
Mother shrugged. "He came looking for you. We said we didn't know where you were. He sounded the alarm and sent the Watchers after you. That was it." I thought it was weird for Dunningham to give up so easily. Mother ushered me to the kitchen table. "Sit down and tell me everything." I sat in a chair next to her. She wrapped her hands around my face. "You haven't been eating properly. Bram, make your sister a sandwich."
"What? Are you serious?" Bram asked, throwing the cloak off.
"Just do it," Mother ordered. "What happened?"
"Well, I went through Litropolis. I couldn't get over the wall and the Watchers came looking for me, so I spent the night with Odessa. She was really nice to me. The next day Foragers climbed the wall to have a meeting."
"Why would they do that?" Bram asked, digging through the refrigerator.
"I don't know. They wouldn't tell me, but something's going on. Anyway, the Foragers helped me climb the wall and they took me to their village. I spent the night with Merna and her sons Colden and Nigel. Then this morning, Colden decided he just had to take me to see Dunstan, so we went."
Bram slammed things noisily on the counter to show how much he obviously didn't want to make me that sandwich.
"Dunstan is just like his brother, but he looks older. He took a knife and he sliced my arm," I told her, rolling up the sleeve of my hoodie. Mother frowned and touched my bandage. "Mother, I bled. Dunstan said it was because I was a hybrid like them, and not a full-blooded Grim, but that's ridiculous."
Everything in the kitchen became still at that moment. I wondered if they had all stopped breathing.
"But why would you bleed?" Bram asked, holding a butter knife.
Mother touched my face again. "Naomi, let's go to my bedroom to talk."
"Why can't you talk in front of us?" Dorian asked.
"Go back to bed, you two," Mother said.
"But what about Naomi's sandwich?" Bram asked.
Mother ignored him, leaving the table. I followed her, suddenly afraid. What was so bad that she couldn't talk about it in front of the boys?
We went into my parents’ bedroom, where she closed the door. Their room was huge. Maroon wallpaper with a leaf design decorated the walls. Mother crawled into their giant canopy bed. I followed her and snuggled underneath the covers. We had girl talk like this sometimes when Father was away on assignment.
I rested my head on my mother's chest and enjoyed her scent.
"Naomi, I have to tell you something. I was hoping this would never have to come out, but it has. You bled because you're half human."
I shot up. "That's impossible. You and Father are both Grims."
Mother closed her eyes and paused for a long time before she spoke again. "Darkness, your father—your real father—is a human."
"You're lying. Stop lying."
"Naomi, Nox is not your biological father."
I tried to think of what possible reason my mother had to be lying to me. There had to be something. I lay back down and stared at the black material that hung above us.
"I was on assignment a long time ago. This one was unusually long, five months. Assignments that long happen sometimes, but not very often. Anyway, I was following a man named Jeremy. He was a photographer and a really nice man. One day I made the drastic mistake of letting him see me. I was in his home. He demanded that I tell him who I was. I told him why I was there."
I shook my head. If this was true, my mother had broken all kinds of rules. I guess it ran in the family.
"Jeremy seemed to kind of accept his fate. He wanted to live his last moments to the fullest. We began to talk and we bonded. I started to develop feelings for him that I shouldn't have for a human or anyone who's not your father. One thing led to another."
I closed my eyes, wishing she were done with this fairy tale.
"I still had to do what I had to do. When Jeremy's time came, I took his lifestone and left."
"I know you're lying. If you'd really done something like that, Dunningham would have executed the both of us a long time ago."
Mother looked me in the eye for a moment and then looked away. "Mr. Dunningham is a lot more . . . malleable than people think."
"What does that mean?"
"It means sometimes he'll compromise."
I sat up again. "Yeah, in return for something."
Mother closed her eyes.
"What did you give him, Mother?"
"I had to do what I had to do to save you. To save both of us."
I didn't want to know what she had done. "I have to get back. They're expecting me."
"Naomi, can't you stay the night?"
"No, Mother. I don't want to anyway."
I opened the bedroom door. Bram stood there, holding a messy turkey sandwich on a plate. "That's why you never had the heart of a Grim."
Chapter 30
Pushing past him, I ran to the kitchen. I grabbed the cloak, which hung on a chair and wrapped it around myself. Mother called after me, but I ignored her, opening and slamming the kitchen door shut behind me.
I stood behind our home, then began to run before Mother came out, screaming my name. I should have gone back to Litropol
is, but I had to see Keira. I needed to apologize to my best friend and make sure she didn't hate me.
I walked slowly this time, wiping tears away with the back of my hand, trying to contemplate why people were trying to make me believe I was a Forager.
When I made it to Keira's, I stopped underneath her window. Getting her attention would be tricky. Her room was on the second story. I picked up a rock and hoped I had good aim.
The rock missed her window by a few inches. I threw another. That rock hit its target but I didn't think it would be enough to wake her up. I hit the window three more times and waited.
Looking around nervously, I had to remind myself that I was invisible. A dim light came on in Keira's room. She had probably turned on a lamp. Her curtains parted, and I saw her look down, but I couldn't quite read the expression on her face. She opened the window. "Bram?"
Bram? Did Bram sneak out and come to her window at night? Probably not, with the Watchers all over.
It was going to be a risky move, but I had to do it. I removed the cloak. "Keira, it's me."
She froze and looked around. "Naomi, what are you doing here? They're looking for you!"
"Let me in."
She disappeared from the window, and I went to her back door. It took a moment, but the door cracked open. I went inside, closing the door behind me. By then, Keira was already tiptoeing up the stairs. I followed her to her bedroom. Once I was inside, Keira closed the door gently behind her. We sat on her bed.
She stared at me for a moment and then hugged me tight. "Are you okay?"
I inhaled the lavender scent of her long, ebony hair. It had only been a short time, but I missed the luxury of taking hot showers and washing my hair with shampoo.
"I'm fine," I said after she let me go. "I'm really, really sorry about all of this."
"Forget about that. I'm just glad you're okay. Naomi, you can't stay here. Dunningham will execute you."
I ran my hands over her satin sheets, wondering how uncomfortable my sleep would be that night. "I know. I'm going back tonight."
Naomi Grim (Part 3) (The Silver Scythe Chronicles) Page 5