by Bette Maybee
Twenty seconds later, the door opened.
“Yes? May I help you?”
Lucy stared at the woman in front of her. She didn’t need a blood test to know that this was her grandmother. The old woman had her mother’s eyes. Deep, brown eyes. Eyes haunted by a secret, just as her mother’s eyes had been haunted. Ebony hair streaked with silver and deep lines fanning out from those unmistakable eyes were the only things that revealed her age. This was what her mother would have looked like in twenty years. What she would look like in another fifty.
The woman observed her in silence. Her eyes finally widened in recognition and her hand flew to her chest.
“Adrienne? Is it you?” She reached out. Lucy stepped back, avoiding her touch.
“Adrienne’s dead. I’m Lucy Temeluch. Her daughter.”
The woman grabbed the doorjamb to steady herself as her knees buckled. Lucy’s initial reaction was to stifle a laugh. She was getting a morose kick out of watching this woman’s reaction, but surprised herself as she reached out to keep the poor, old thing from falling to the porch. Maybe she had a smidgen of humanity left in her after all. She walked the shell-shocked woman into her living room, and sat her on a chair.
“I’m sorry for blurting it out like that. The lady at the Reservation headquarters thought you might be family.” Lucy grabbed a tissue and handed it to the weeping woman, not letting on that she already knew the answer. For some reason, it was important for her to hear the declaration directly from her grandmother’s mouth. “Are you?”
The woman nodded her head in affirmation as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Yes.” She smiled as she cupped Lucy’s face in her small hand. For some reason, Lucy didn’t pull away. Her touch seemed ... comforting. “I’m your grandmother. Liana Temeluch Sullivan.”
****
Lucy returned from the kitchen with two mugs of steaming coffee. “Here. Maybe this will help.”
She watched, mesmerized as this woman, this stranger, dumped in a packet of sweetener, stirred, and then tapped her spoon twice on the rim. Exactly as her mother used to do. The woman took a sip, using both hands to steady the cup. Lucy didn’t know if it was the news that her daughter was dead, or the realization that she had just been discovered by her granddaughter that had the old woman so flustered.
“So, the lady at the headquarters said my mother was raised by her aunt, not by you.” Lucy stared into her coffee. She felt like she was looking into a black hole that contained all of her history, the complete explanation of why her mother chose to be alone all those years. She was tempted to throw the coffee into the woman’s face, yet at the same time, she felt a pang of pity for her. Why was she vacillating so much in her feelings towards this stranger?
The woman wiped her eyes once again and smiled as she looked at Lucy. “You look just like her. Like my Adrienne.”
Lucy gripped the mug tighter. “I want to know why you did it. Why did you give up my mother?”
The woman lowered her eyes, her delicate, trembling hands caressing a small leather pouch hanging from a long drawstring she wore around her neck. “We were young and on the move all the time. She needed stability. She needed a home and my sister could give her that back here in Bishop. So I gave her up.”
Lucy took a sip of her coffee. Why did it suddenly taste so bitter? “What about your husband? Didn’t he want to keep her?”
The woman stood and walked over to the window. “We chose what was best for our daughter.” She nodded, as if justifying her actions to herself. “After Adrienne, I was unable to have any more children. I thought of that as my punishment. Simon, my husband, accepted our life as it was. Years later, we heard that Adrienne had run away. Since then, we hadn’t heard a word about her, until now.” She turned to face Lucy. “She’s dead? My daughter is dead?”
Lucy stood. Images of her mother’s body plummeting to the garage floor, the snapping of her neck, the creaking of the rope on the rafters as her body swung and twirled, a marionette dancing at the end of the puppeteer’s string, filled her mind. “Yes, my mother is dead. She hung herself. In front of me. Four days ago. Of course... ” Lucy stopped herself before she said it. Before she let on that Adrienne Temeluch killed herself just after trying to smother her only daughter. Must be a pattern with the Temeluch women—trying to get rid of their children. “Now you’re the only family I have.” She inhaled through her nose, calming herself so she could focus on her plan. “I need a place to stay.”
For a moment, Lucy feared that her plan was about to fall through, that dear old Grandmother was going to send her packing. Finally, the old woman nodded once. “Of course. Of course you do. And you’re welcome to stay with us. We have a third bedroom.”
Lucy grabbed her bag and followed as she was led up the stairs. “A third bedroom? Who sleeps in the second one?” The woman continued through the hallway, stopping outside the furthest door on the left.
“Simon’s great-nephew has been staying with us for ... several years now.” She opened the door to Lucy’s bedroom.
Lucy walked in and threw her bag on the bed. “Hmmm. Sort of your penance for giving up my mom, huh?”
Lucy saw a bittersweet smile flit across the old woman’s face, but her eyes were still filled with tears. “I guess you’re right.”
Lucy sat on the bed and bounced twice. “And, now you have me.”
“Yes,” Liana nodded, “we do. All things happen for a reason, Lucy. You were destined to come here.”
Lucy studied her grandmother’s face. It was odd how she said that. “I guess I was.” She ran her hand over the patchwork of her quilt. “What’s his name? Your husband’s great-nephew?”
Liana grabbed the doorknob and looked at Lucy. “His name is Eli.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eli Sullivan was immensely grateful that he still possessed powers of healing, strength, and immortality, but it was at times like this when he wished he could still access his wings. If he could, then he would have been able to follow the Nephilim, and possibly have saved Charsey. They would also come in handy with Julie barely hanging on to life in a hospital bed on the other side of the Sierra Nevadas. Getting to her was a logistical nightmare. Going by motorcycle, the round-trip was almost ten hours. Flying commercially, while possible, was also limited, with the latest flight back to Bishop from Fresno during the weekday being eight p.m. Considering that Eli could only visit Julie under the cover of darkness, commercial flights were not a viable option.
Tonight, Eli settled for a short conversation, although he tried to convince her to let him visit. Julie’s voice was barely a whisper on the other end of the cell.
“No, Eli, you can’t come. If they catch you in here again, it could mean that they’ll put off the infusion. They think you’ll contaminate me. I’m basically living in a plastic bubble right now. Besides, I look like crap.”
Eli thought of Julie’s pale green eyes and milky skin. “There is no possible way you could look like crap, Julie.”
“Picture Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice,” Julie countered.
The image that popped into his brain was not a good one. Patches of platinum blonde hair standing on end. Deathly white skin. Dark rings surrounding pale, lifeless eyes. Eli pushed the thought to the back of his brain and focused on the beautiful girl he knew was on the other end of the conversation.
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”
“Yeah, right. I’m the new poster child for the term Bad Hair Day.”
Time to change the subject. “So, sounds like they’re planning the infusion soon?”
“Monday, as long as I don’t catch anything from any unauthorized guests, hint-hint.”
Eli felt as if he’d been hit in the gut. Not being able to see Julie was physically disconcerting. He felt as if a part of him were missing. He longed to sit with her, let her breathe in his euphoric scent, give her the little bit of comfort that he could. But, he knew that was impossible. For now.
�
�Then, I guess I’ll have to wait.”
Julie sighed into the phone. Was it possible she was feeling the same way?
“There’s just one more thing.” Her voice cracked as she continued. “Charsey’s funeral is Monday. Would you place a flower on her casket for me?”
Eli’s voice became thick with emotion. “Of course. I’ll be there. Anything for you.” He couldn’t stand the thought of Julie suffering physically or emotionally, and now she was getting it with both barrels.
“Thanks, Eli. I’ll let you know when my count starts going up. I know it would freak my father out if you didn’t start visiting as soon as they give the thumbs up. I mean ... it would seem strange if you didn’t.”
“Right.” Eli smiled to himself. “And we don’t want anything to appear out of the ordinary, do we?”
Julie yawned. “No, we don’t.”
“Sounds like you need some sleep. I’m heading home myself. Been staking out your house, just in case one of them decided to make an appearance.”
Eli waited for a response, but all he heard was a light snore. He slid his phone shut and looked up at the darkened window of Julie’s hospital room.
“Goodnight, Jules.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was three a.m. by the time Eli pulled into his driveway. He didn’t have to worry about being quiet as he made his way up to his bedroom, since Simon and Liana had both become a bit hard of hearing through the years. Still, Eli’s natural gait was one of stealth. He could sneak up on anyone without being heard.
Eli pulled his t-shirt over his head, grabbed a towel from the linen closet, and opened the bathroom door. His jaw dropped. Standing in front of the sink wearing only a towel was a young, dark-skinned woman, her chestnut hair hanging in long, wet curls halfway down her back. She glanced at him, toothbrush in hand.
“Shut the door, will you? I’m freezing!”
Speechless, Eli backed out and shut the door as he was told. For about two seconds. It took that long for the shock to wear off and his protective instinct to kick in. He flung the door open.
“Who in the hell are you, and what are you doing in my bathroom?”
****
Lucy turned to see the young man staring at her. His cheeks flamed with color as his sapphire eyes darkened. She smiled in amusement. “You must be Eli, and me? Well, I guess I’m some type of cousin to you. At least that’s what I’ve been told.” Any other boy would not have been able to keep his eyes trained on hers. They would have automatically made a circuit over her body. But this one’s eyes didn’t waiver. Interesting.
“Cousin?” Eli Sullivan looked most definitely confused, and wary. She decided to tread lightly and play the sympathy card. Eli could be of great use to her. Besides, he was drop-dead gorgeous.
Lucy grabbed the robe Liana had loaned her earlier in the evening and put it on over the towel. She tugged and let the towel drop to the floor. All the while, Eli’s eyes never left hers. Sapphire. His father must have married outside the Nation. He was definitely not full-blooded Paiute. Then again, neither was she. Yes, she inherited her mother’s eyes and dark skin, but her hair and her stature were definitely ... her father’s.
“We were all going to sit down and talk to you in the morning, but it looks like neither of us can sleep, so here goes.” She pulled two tissues out of a box on the counter, just in case the human side of her could work up a few tears, then sat on the edge of the tub. Eli leaned against the frame of the doorway and crossed his arms, his biceps bulging under the pressure. The sight made her weak in the knees. Good thing she was sitting. She inhaled to clear her thoughts, then checked out his arms. Nice. Chiseled, just like the rest of his body. But no tattoo.
“I’m Lucy Temeluch. Liana and Simon are my grandparents.”
Eli shot upright and took two steps closer. He looked like he’d just seen a ghost. “You’re Adrienne’s daughter? How is she? Where is she?”
Lucy crumpled the tissue into her fist. Tears ... real tears threatened the moment he uttered her mother’s name. She took a deep breath. Not another tear. She’s not worth it. Lucy reminded herself of her earlier oath. It seemed to help. She looked up at Eli. “So, you’ve heard of her? I’m surprised. I would think they would have tried to keep the whole scandalous thing secret. She sure as hell kept them a secret from me.” Before she knew it, a tear escaped. She whisked it away with a brush of the tissue she now had balled up in her hand and stood. “At any rate, I came here because my mother killed herself on Saturday. I have nowhere else to go. So, you’re stuck sharing a bathroom with me.”
Eli shut his eyes and took a breath. “I’m so sorry. Liana and Simon must be devastated. They loved Adrienne very much.”
Lucy had heard enough. How can you love someone and then give them up? She brushed past him and headed down the hall to her room, turning just as she got to her door.
“I’m tired. Liana’s enrolling me in school tomorrow, so I better try and get some sleep.”
Eli reached around her and opened the door. “Sure. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Lucy stepped into the room. “At least at the end of the day. Looks like you’ll be giving me a ride home, unless I can make some friends of my own.”
Eli’s brow furrowed with real concern. “Be careful of the friends you make. There are some real winners around here.”
Lucy laughed as she thought of the Penemue brothers. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be careful. I don’t want to end up fraternizing with the wrong crowd. I have the good Temeluch-Sullivan name to uphold.”
****
Eli stared at the closed door. Lucy Temeluch was something he didn’t expect. This would make things much more complicated. He turned and saw the door to Liana’s bedroom ajar. As he took a few steps towards it, the door opened and Liana stepped out.
“She’s the one, isn’t she?” Eli knew he didn’t have to explain his question.
“I always thought it would be Adrienne.” Liana’s voice cracked with emotion. “This one is so young for the responsibility.”
Eli cradled Liana’s face in his hands. “You were young, too. You gave up everything for me.”
“It was my destiny, Eli.” She smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek. “Just as it is hers. We just won’t say a word until we have to. Let her live a normal, carefree life until it’s time. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Eli had a feeling Lucy Temeluch’s normal, carefree life would be short-lived. He stared at the waning gibbous moon through the hall window and felt a slight tickle just inside both shoulder blades. Very short-lived. The swallows were already on their way to Capistrano.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lucy Temeluch wasn’t surprised when she saw Eli Sullivan sitting in the far corner of her first class. This was going to work out quite nicely! She headed towards the seat open next to him.
“No, Miss Temeluch. You need to sit up here.” The teacher pointed to a seat in front, located between two girls who were obviously the class misfits; one, a pale, skinny girl with stringy blonde hair and the other, a fat, Paiute girl who could barely fit into her desk. Reminded her of a female version of Laurel and Hardy.
“Mr. Fredricks?” The big girl made an attempt to clear her voice, but it still squeaked when she spoke. “Sir, I’m sorry, but that’s Julie Mason’s seat.”
Mr. Fredricks took a quick sip of his Pepsi, placed it on the closet shelf, and turned around. “Julie Mason will no longer be in this class. The seat is vacant, Tina.”
Lucy was as surprised by this announcement as the two girls on either side of her.
“What?” The emaciated-looking blonde sneered at Lucy. “Why?”
Mr. Fredricks leaned against his desk. “All I know is that she’s being home-schooled until further notice.”
Lucy’s heart took a nose-dive into her intestines. Shit. She enrolled for nothing.
“Mr. Sullivan might know a little more, since I do believe they attended Homecoming together. Isn�
��t that right, Mr. Sullivan?”
No way! The Penemues didn’t mention a word about Eli Sullivan’s relationship with the Fire-Child. Of course, she also didn’t mention her relationship to the Sullivans. Lucy turned to see Eli cross his arms and nod.
“She just told me she was going to live with her mother for a while. Wouldn’t even tell me where. After all, her best friend was murdered. Can you blame the girl for leaving?”
The skinny one shook her head. “I never did understand why she was friends with that tramp.”
A boy sitting behind her chimed in. “Now, now, Grace. It’s not nice to speak unkindly of the dead. You should know better than that.” The sarcastic tone in this kid’s voice was unmistakable. Lucy had to keep herself from smiling. Mr. Fredricks, who hadn’t moved from his spot, seemed to be enjoying this just as much as she was.
The girl placed both hands on a tattered white Bible sitting on her desk and closed her eyes, as if she were praying. “Charsey Winters is rotting in Hell right now for her sins. The Nephilim just delivered her there a little sooner.”
Lucy decided to seize this opportunity. “Whoa! Dead girl? What kind of a place did I move to? And what in the heck is a Nephilim?” She stood beside her seat. “Mr. Fredricks, I really don’t want to cause a problem here. Can’t I just sit in back?”
Before the teacher had a chance to answer, Tina added in her two cents. “Grace is right. They thought she was the Fire-Child. I heard that she’s been wearing blue contacts for the past two years to hide her green eyes. My uncle—he works in the coroner’s office—he told me her eyes were green.”