“No.” She stood and pushed her disheveled hair off her face with the back of her hand. Cal stood with her and her eyes widened in shock. “Cal! What… what happened to you?”
“I grew.”
“Grew? You’re at least five inches taller! And… muscular.”
“I know. I’ve been working out.”
She swallowed heavily and inched back from him. “Are you taking drugs?”
He snorted at the irony of the question. “No, I’m not.” Wanting to get her off the subject of his size, he asked, “Where’s Lan?”
“He’s spending the night at Grandma’s house.”
“Damn it. I really wanted to see him.”
Evie nodded and cautiously collected her purse from the floor, her eyes never leaving his. “You staying?”
He almost wanted to say yes just to see her jump out of her skin. “I told you, Ross kicked me out. I just came back for some clothes.”
“Don’t leave,” she said, surprising him.
“I’ll stay if he goes.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You want me to kick him out?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Stop being stupid, Cal. I can’t do that.”
“Even when he abuses me?” There, the elephant in the room. Let’s see you get around that one, Mom.
His mother looked away. “What are you talking about, Cal? Sure, he disciplines you when you need it, but—”
“Oh, he does a lot more than that and you know it.”
An awkward silence followed his mother around the room as she straightened items that hadn’t been straightened in months. “I’ll admit he’s… a little harsher than I like.”
“That’s what you call it? Harsh?”
She whirled on him. “I can’t just throw away Landon’s father! And he doesn’t do to him what he does—” She stopped short of saying it, as expected.
A burning lump lodged in his throat. He had always known that’s how she felt, but never expected her to say it so bluntly. “I get it. You’re willing to throw me away as long as you get to keep an abuser and Landon.”
At least she had the decency to blush. “Cal, no. Jesus, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Sure as hell sounded like it.” He stormed toward the door and yanked it open. “See you, Mom. This time I won’t be back!”
“Wait! Cal, please!” She ran at him and grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry, honey. That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to. I’m not good with words, you know that, but I want you to stay.”
He yanked his arm out of her grip. “Let me go.”
“Please stay. I need you here.”
What about what I need, Mom? “I can’t. I’ve got to do something.”
“Then please come back when you’re done and we’ll discuss this as a family. Please, Cal! I’ll talk to Ross and I’ll be stronger this time, I swear. You’ve got to finish school and you’re staying here and that’s all there is to it.”
Cal gave her a skeptical look.
“Please.”
Finally, he nodded. “I’ll be back later.”
She let him go this time. He pulled the door open and ran down the porch stairs, scrubbing harshly at his senseless tears. Why do I still let it get to me? Why do I still beg for her love when she is so incapable of giving it?
But he knew he would be back. For Landon’s sake, he would go back one last time to say goodbye.
He ran along the gravel road toward town and by the time he arrived, he was feeling more in control of his emotions. The streets were busy with last-minute Christmas shoppers, and Cal walked among them with his hands shoved deep in his front pockets. Colorful lights beckoned from every shop. Carolers strolled arm in arm singing Joy to the World. He couldn’t help but wonder how joyful they would feel knowing that a dangerous realm existed just beyond their sight.
At the local drugstore, he went in, made his purchase and left. The crisp cold air burned his lungs and misted before his mouth with every breath, making him wish he had grabbed a coat on his way out.
He turned onto the side road that would take him back home and saw something that stopped him in his frozen tracks.
Bo Pervall.
Coming straight at him.
Instead of running, something inside Cal rooted his feet to the ground, and he watched his tormenter come. Maybe it was the Faedin’s influence. Maybe it was the new changes in his body. Whatever it was, he’d had enough. The time for running was over.
Bo Pervall’s eyebrow shot up. “Whoa, what do we have here? Been working out, Taylor?”
“Something like that.”
Bo leaned in close. “I’ll take a couple of those steroids off you if you have some extras.”
“Sorry,” Cal spat. “You’ll have to get those on your own.”
Bo grabbed the drugstore package out of Cal’s hand.
“Give it back,” Cal growled, but Bo yanked it out of reach, spun around and pawed through the contents. “Blush. Mascara. Eye makeup.” He turned back to Cal. “Are you kidding me?”
“It’s not for me, asshole. Now, get out of my face.”
“Or what?”
“Step. Away.”
“I said, or what?” Bo yelled, slamming both hands into Cal’s chest.
Cal didn’t move, surprising him as much as it did Bo.
“Wow, those drugs you’re using are pretty good, Taylor.”
“You would know, Pervall.”
Bo growled and threw a right hook at Cal’s face. Cal caught the fist mid-thrust, twisted it behind Bo’s back and pushed him away. Bo stumbled, turned back around and charged, going for Cal’s middle. Cal was ready and slipped to the side, hammering the thug down into the snow-packed road on his way past.
“Had enough?” Cal asked with arms spread wide.
To his surprise, Bo laughed. “Where’ve you been, Taylor? We could have used you on the football team.” Bo stuck out his hand and Cal pulled him to his feet.
“Nah, not for me.”
Bo wiped his hands on his pants. “Hey, I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you around, okay?”
“Yeah, see you.”
Cal watched Bo walk away wondering what the hell just happened. If I can make peace with Bo Pervall, anything is possible. Maybe there’s a way to stay here in Mendon after all. That way, I can keep both Landon and Stassi in my life.
He walked the rest of the way home with lighter steps than the ones he left with. At the long driveway to his house, his spirit faltered a bit when he saw that his mother’s car had been replaced by his stepfather’s truck, but he put his hesitation aside and went into the house.
He found Ross in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. Cal had to admit to a perverse pleasure at the crooked appearance of his nose.
“Hey, Cal.”
Cal paused in the doorway. “Hey.”
“Your Mom went to the store. Said she wanted to make you a special meal for Christmas tomorrow.”
“She did? It’s kind of late for that, isn’t it?” Besides, his mother never made meals, even on holidays.
Ross just shrugged and took a swig of the beer on the counter.
Cal studied the man in front of him and for the first time in his life, he no longer felt afraid. He saw Ross Taylor for who he was. A coward. A bully. Someone who took advantage of those weaker than him.
Ross walked over and handed Cal an open beer. “Go on, have a drink.”
“You’re letting me drink?” he asked suspiciously.
“Sure. Why not? It’s Christmas Eve, ain’t it?”
Cal moved to the table and sat. He had no desire to sit here and talk to his stepfather, but it seemed like the guy was at least trying. Maybe his mother had stood up to him at last. Cal lifted the can to his mouth and the cold liquid burned a path down his throat.
“Your mother was right. You do look different.”
Cal took another long gulp a
nd sat back, a warm feeling spreading through his limbs.
“Tell me,” his stepfather said. “How did you do it?”
“Do wha’?” His tongue suddenly felt too big for his mouth.
“Get so big.”
“You wouldn’t… believe me…”
Cal took another drink and squinted to bring his stepfather into focus. Ross’s lips were moving, but Cal couldn’t make out what he was saying. Head swimming, he tried to get up from the chair, but found that his legs wouldn’t respond.
“What’s the matter, Cal?”
The words were shouted this time. Right above his head.
“I… I can’t move.” He slumped back into the chair.
“Wow, I didn’t expect it to work that fast.”
“Wha…?”
“Your mother is gone. Your brother is gone. There’s no one here, Cal. Just you and me, like old times.”
A spike of alarm cut through the fog. Alarm from remembered times. Remembered pain.
Then, real pain as he was knocked off his chair and his chin hit the floor.
He felt his feet lift into the air and Ross started to drag him across the floor, out into the living room and toward his stepfather’s bedroom.
No! His mind screamed it loud and clear, but what came out of his mouth was a garbled mess even to his hazy awareness. He tried to twist around and out of Ross’s grasp, but it was no use. His body was beyond taking orders.
Colors swirled in his vision. A heavy lethargy spread through his body, tingling the ends of his fingers and toes.
“Here we are.” Ross grunted as he lifted Cal under his arms and threw him up onto the bed.
What is wrong with me? Why can’t I move?
“In case you’re wondering,” Ross said in response to Cal’s unspoken thoughts, “I put a few pills in your drink. You see, I’m tired of you, kid. Tired of you trying to turn Lan against me. My son will barely talk to me now.”
You did that yourself, not me.
“We’ll all be better off without you.”
Cal heard the click of the hammer being pulled back on his stepfather’s pistol. The breath left his lungs, his mouth dried.
He’s got a gun! He’s really going to do this, isn’t he? I’m about to die.
“First, though, a little fun.”
A tear slipped from Cal’s eye as he railed inside his silent prison. What a cruel twist of fate that put him back into his abuser’s hands just when he had found a safe haven. He never should have come back. Never should have left Stassi’s side.
Through the lens of a distorted old movie, he watched his stepfather slide the belt from the loops on his pants, fold the leather in half and snap it together.
Cal squeezed his eyes shut and tensed his muscles, waiting for the stinging lash to land across his legs.
It never fell.
A strange gurgle followed by a thud sprang his eyes open again.
An angel from heaven stood over him, haloed in a silvery light, her small wings extended behind her back.
She looks just like Stassi. But it can’t be. Stassi is in Faedin behind the veil.
The angel suddenly disappeared below his line of sight and Cal reached for her. Come back! Don’t leave me here.
Terrible growling sounds filled the small bedroom. Tearing. Ripping. Violent.
He couldn’t help himself. He started to cry.
A few moments later, the angel was back. “I’m here, Cal. He won’t hurt you ever again.” Her amber eyes looked feral. Her mouth impossibly red. Blood dripped down her chin, the same way that Stassi’s had when she ate the raw rabbit.
The angel laid a comforting hand against his cheek and then everything faded to black.
CHAPTER 16
Cover Up
Cal woke when the aching throb in his head hammered him into consciousness. Disoriented and in agony, he sat up, but regretted it instantly when his stomach heaved in protest. He flopped back down and took shallow breaths, waiting for the sickness to pass.
Gray light filtering in through the curtains at the window told him it was dawn. The previous evening flashed through his mind, but he was having a hard time separating fact from fiction.
One thing he did know. It had been Stassi who stood over his bed last night. Stassi who…
He shook the thought away. Please, God, it can’t be.
With a grunt of effort, he swung his legs to the floor and sat up. The bile threatened again, but he fought it.
He had to know.
Using the mattress for support, he stood and wobbled to the foot of the bed.
He wished he hadn’t.
Oh, Stassi. What did you do?
He gagged at the image of his stepfather lying face up, eyes and mouth open in a silent scream. Beneath that, the pulp of a throat that had been torn out.
Somehow, Stassi had escaped the realm and had come here to commit murder.
Cal ran a hand through his hair and sat back down. Where the hell was his mother? Hadn’t she come home last night? Stassi wouldn’t have harmed her, too, would she? He took a deep breath. One problem at a time.
He sat for a moment, collecting his nerve, and then finally stood. He ripped the comforter off the bed, and draped it over his stepfather, grateful that he no longer had to look at those open, accusing eyes. He tucked the sides in tight around the body and hauled the corpse up and over his shoulder with a strength that would have been impossible just days ago.
He would later recall what happened next in what felt like snippets from a horror movie. The lonely trek into the woods. The torturous knowledge that he carried a man that had lived and breathed just hours ago. The frantic search for a place to hide the body.
Although it would have been impossible to dig a grave in the middle of winter, he knew there were plenty of gullies and holes and rocks. In the end, he didn’t have the energy to do anything other than roll the body down a steep ravine. An inelegant tumble that ended with Ross Taylor lying like a broken doll at the bottom.
Cal didn’t say a prayer or a final goodbye. He simply turned and walked away. After burying the comforter under a pile of wood, he went home in a mindless fugue that left no room for analysis or feelings of guilt. Wanting nothing more than a hot shower, he entered the house and started down the hallway toward the bathroom.
A woman’s moan stopped him dead.
He stood perfectly still to listen and heard it again. A muffled cry coming from the basement.
He ran for the door, went down the stairs and turned on the light. He hissed at the sight of his mother lying in the corner of the room, bound and gagged.
“Mom!” He rushed over and untied her arms and legs.
She took a deep breath as soon as he removed the gag. “Cal! Thank God you’re here!”
“What happened?”
She grabbed him by the shirt, her eyes wild with terror. “We’ve got to get out of here, Cal! He’s crazy! He’s going to kill me this time, I know it.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, he won’t hurt you.”
“He’s got a gun!”
“I know.”
She let go of him and stood. “Is he still upstairs?”
“No.”
“Then where is he?” she asked in a frantic whisper.
“Haven’t seen him. That’s all you need to know.”
Her eyes flicked to the blood on his hands and he stuffed them into his front pockets. “If he’s gone for good,” she said quietly with a long, level look, “that’d be all right by me.”
Cal swallowed. “I thought you couldn’t live without him.”
“I thought about what you said when you left, Cal, and I… I just couldn’t turn a blind eye any more. I told Ross he had to leave.”
“You did?” he asked in shock. He had dreamed of this moment all his life and to have it happen now?
“I did. I know I haven’t been a good mother to you, Cal, and I haven’t been there for you like I should’ve been. I’ve got no excuse. I just
hope you can forgive me someday.”
He wished he could tell her that he forgave her, but he didn’t. Not yet. The emotional scars were too deep. Too recent. Maybe with time… or maybe not. “We better call 911,” he said instead.
She nodded. “Just tell them we got a missing person on our hands.”
“But—”
“Just tell them!”
Cal was momentarily taken aback by the authority in her voice. He had never seen Evie Taylor take charge before. Of anything.
He nodded, ran back up the stairs, and she followed right behind him.
It didn’t take long, after a brief phone conversation with the police, for blue and red whirling lights to appear through the windows. Two officers in black uniforms came into the house and two others started a search of the surrounding woods. Cal answered all the questions posed to him with the same answer.
“Do you know where your stepfather might have gone?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you know how long he has been missing?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you know of anyone that may have wanted to harm him?”
“No, sir.”
Two hours after the call had been made to authorities, a young deputy crashed through the front door. “We found him.”
Cal’s heart stopped beating and he slowly turned to face the door.
The older detective sitting at the kitchen table stood. “Where? What happened?”
“At the bottom of a ravine. My guess? He was mauled by a bear.”
Without thought, Cal let out a moan of relief, but it was covered up by his mother’s scream. The policemen conferred privately for a few more minutes and then asked if there was anyone they could call.
Cal shook his head.
“The coroner is on his way. We’ll take care of everything else from outside. My condolences to you, son.”
“Thank you.”
After the door closed behind them, Cal went to his mother and pushed the hair from her face. He looked into her eyes, surprised to find them bone dry. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you want me to go get Lan?”
She shook her head. “I’m going to Grandma’s for the night.” Her eyes glanced toward the back bedroom. “I can’t stay here.”
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