by D. S. Murphy
“Not anymore. I’m taking you somewhere safe. Where people like us are protected.”
“People like us—?”
“Neither the time nor the place,” he said. “I asked nicely to be polite, but I’m not leaving without you. So here are your options. Soon someone is going to find Dennis here. We’re in a locked section of the building. You’re the only one who is supposed to be here, and you attacked this man earlier today. They won’t even look for another suspect. You might get a sympathetic jury and avoid the death penalty, but with your history, they’d keep you locked up in a room like this for the rest of your life.”
He paused to let that sink in.
“Option two, you come with me right now and find out who you really are, and what you’re truly capable of.”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off. I wanted to say I’d rather be locked up than run away with a murderer. But he’d basically named my worst fear. If I spent any more time locked up like this, I would lose my mind—if I hadn’t already. Plus, he seemed to believe me about my brother.
“I can’t abandon Sarah,” I said.
“They can’t come with us. Not where we’re going. But they’ll be fine here. Jessie will take care of her.”
“I have to say goodbye,” I said.
Sitri grabbed my shoulders.
“Listen, after you’re safe, when things have calmed down, you can come back for them if you want to. But right now, we have to leave.”
I nodded, and followed him out of the room. I was dizzy, and stumbled into the wall. Sitri grabbed my hand and led me upstairs and out the front door. I was grateful I still had my gloves on—I usually take them off to sleep but hadn’t bothered after they’d locked me up downstairs. I clutched the chunk of legos around my neck, just to make sure I had it. Apart from that, there wasn’t anything at JDRI I’d miss. We hurried through the main entrance and down the stairs. A red sports car was waiting for us.
“Not exactly inconspicuous,” I said.
“We’re not hiding,” he said, opening the door for me. “We’re running. And it’s fast.” He reached across me to fasten my seatbelt, then gunned the engine and peeled out of the parking lot.
“Can’t we slow down?” I asked, after he ran through the third stoplight. “They probably won’t find his body until the morning.”
“Haven’t you ever seen a car chase?” he asked, shifting gears. “You don’t slow down.”
“Who’s chasing us?” I gripped the edge of my seat with my gloved fingers. I still felt nauseous and the speeding wasn’t helping.
Sitri nodded to his rearview mirror. I turned around in my seat and saw a single headlight behind us. It was getting closer. Soon I could make out a pale face, with ash blond hair flying in the wind. Puriel.
“Wait, you can see him?” I asked.
“Um, yeah. He’s right there. I hope all those years locked up didn’t actually drive you mad,” he said.
“They might have.” I took a deep breath, so relieved I almost smiled. Whatever was going on, it was real, and I wasn’t alone.
“Why is he chasing us?” I asked.
“He’s not. He’s chasing you. But don’t worry,” he said, pulling out a revolver the size of a small cannon. “We’ll get him first.” With one hand on the wheel, Sitri fired two shots behind us, shattering the back windshield. Then he fired two more. The sound of the gun made my ears ring, and the smell of burnt gunpowder filled the car.
I saw Puriel swerve on his bike, and he fell behind. When he caught up to us again, my eyes widened in disbelief. He was steering the motorcycle with his knees this time, and had both hands on a massive sword. A sword that was glowing like a blue lightsaber. What the fuck is happening?
When he got close enough, he swung at the car. I saw sparks and heard screeching metal as the sword carved through the car door. Another foot and it would have cut me in half. Sitri spun the wheel sharply just in time, and I saw the motorcycle swerve to avoid us. We pulled off the highway and up a dirt road. The wheels kicked up pebbles and dust behind us. Up ahead, across a field of wheat, and surrounded by a grove of giant oak trees, I saw the frame of a large house—a mansion.
When I looked back again, I saw that the motorcycle had stopped at the entrance of the dirt road. I could almost feel Puriel watching us.
“Why’d he stop?” I asked.
“Because,” Sitri said, “We’re home.”
7
“I’m sorry I have to do this,” Sitri said, just before he turned on a blast of icy cold water and sprayed me down. “But you stink. Plus you don’t want to meet the others looking like that.”
“What others?” I asked, my teeth chattering. He dried me off with a towel, rubbing my shoulders to warm me up.
“Put this on,” he said, handing me a sweat suit. He turned his back and gave me some space to strip off my soiled clothes. I tossed them in a pile. The sweat suit was warm and dry. We’d driven into an underground garage filled with dozens of vehicles. Now that I had some clean clothes on, we took an elevator up to the main floor, entering into a large greeting area by the main door. The ceiling was high, and a variety of antiques fought for attention among the ornately carved furniture. The polished surfaces shone in the light of a single chandelier. A set of twin staircases ran up both sides of the room, and a hallway ran beneath them, lined with life-sized marble statues.
So this is how the other half lives.
“Is this all yours?” I asked.
“The master of the house is Able. He might still be awake, I know he was anxious to greet you himself. He’ll be able to answer all your questions. But first, you must be hungry.” Sitri pushed through a swinging door and we came into a large kitchen, which was a mix of traditional architecture and modern appliances. There was an island counter in the center of the room, with shelves on either side. A round wooden table against the wall was covered with cold-cuts, nuts and fruit.
“Tea?” Sitri asked. I nodded and he put on a kettle. “Help yourself,” he said, nodding towards the table.
It was nothing fancy—meat, bread, butter, honey—but everything was so fresh and full of flavor. Maybe it was the shock of the night’s adventure, but it was the most delicious food I remember eating. Sitri joined me at the table and we ate in silence. I knew it was wrong, to be eating so casually with a guy I’d just seen commit murder. But every time I tried to think clearly about what I’d experienced, my brain shut down.
After we finished eating, Sitri led me down another long hallway. Most of the house was dark, but I could see a light under a grand door at the end.
“Come in,” said a deep voice just as Sitri was about to knock.
It looked like a library, the kind bookworms dreamed about, with hundreds of books on shelves that went up to the ceiling and could only be reached by a sliding ladder. In the middle of the room was a wide mahogany desk lit by two glowing desk lamps. The chair behind it was empty. It took me a second to find the man, sitting in a corner next to a small fireplace that had burned down to red embers.
“Kaidance,” he said, standing up. “Welcome. I’m so glad you both made it back safely. I heard there was some trouble on the road.”
All at once, the floodgates of my memory opened, churning up images that seemed more and more impossible. Dennis with a knife in his neck. Puriel with a flaming sword. Questions started pouring out of me.
“Where am I? Who are you and what do you want from me? Who was that guy chasing us? Why—”
The man held up one hand with an authority that shut me up. I looked him over in the dim light. He had dark hair, streaked with gray, and a well-trimmed beard. The gold cufflinks of his black suit sparkled when he moved. When he stood up he towered over me. Something about this man told me he was powerful; I could almost sense his muscles shifting, as if he were restraining himself.
“My name is Able,” he said, “and this is my house. The man chasing you, I imagine, was trying to kill you.”
“But wh
y? I’m nobody.”
“We’ll talk about that tomorrow.” He wrinkled up his nose slightly, and I could tell I still smelled like vomit. He looked at Sitri disapprovingly. “For now, take a long, warm bath, and go to bed.” He nodded at Sitri and turned his back. This audience was over. I blinked my eyes slowly. I wasn’t finished with him yet, but I was exhausted. My legs trembled as Sitri led me back to the hallway. We took a different staircase up to the second floor. The house was built around a central courtyard, with large windows on the inner walls looking out, and heavy gold-framed portraits on the outer walls.
The house was eerie and silent at night, and the open space hung around me like a shroud. I was relieved when Sitri opened one of the doors and gestured inside. The room was small and cozy, but as richly decorated as the rest of the house. It had a princess sized canopy bed, with four curling pillars, a reading chair with a small table near the window, and an antique desk—the kind that folds out and opens. On the other side of the room was a vanity set, with a bench and a mirror. I imagined this is what a nice European five-star hotel would look like. Or a castle. What was I doing here?
Sitri showed me a side door, which led to a bathroom. The large bathtub had lion’s feet for legs. A mirror went across most of the wall between the cabinets. “I have my own bathroom?” I asked.
“Almost.” Sitri walked across the bathroom and opened another door on the other side. I caught a glimpse of purple and black satin sheets before he shut the door again. “My room. Right next door, in case you need any help.”
Help with what, taking a bath? I pictured Sitri gently stroking my shoulders with a foamy sponge, and then kissing my neck as I moaned in ecstasy. I shook my head to clear the image. I was seriously losing it.
“Help, like you helped Dennis?” I shot back at him. “No thanks.” I slammed the door and pressed my back against it. I couldn’t let myself forget that Sitri killed someone and kidnapped me. No matter how opulent and comfortable my new surroundings. I heard him sigh, then turn on the bath water.
“If you knew what he was thinking—what he planned to do to you…” I had a pretty good idea.
“Plus, this way you know that Sarah is safe. You don’t have to worry about her.” He was right about that. If I knew Dennis was still alive, I’d be frantic to get back to JDRI to protect Sarah and Jessie.
When I poked my head into the bathroom a few minutes later, Sitri was gone and steam covered the mirrors. I sank into the tub like a piece of butter on mashed potatoes. I hadn’t had a bath since I was a little girl, and I could feel knots in my back melting away. I scrubbed my hair with shampoo that smelled like lavender and thyme, washing away years of anxiety. The bed was a cloud that carried me off to sleep as soon as I tucked myself under the crisp white sheets. I didn’t know where I was, or why I was here, but I felt more at peace than I’d ever felt before.
***
I awoke to the smell of coffee. I reached for my lego necklace, suddenly frantic when my fingers scraped against my bare collarbone. I threw the blankets back and searched the room until I spotted it on the dresser—I’d taken it off last night before sleeping. Shit, my gloves! I’d left them in the pile of dirty laundry. I wrung my bare hands, feeling naked without them.
My brain scrambled to make sense of things. How much of yesterday actually happened? Where was I? I only had a few months until I was let out of JDRI, and now everything was ruined. I had to get back. I forced myself to take a deep breath, squeezing away yesterday’s ugly memories.
My stomach was rumbling, so I followed the smell of coffee downstairs. I thought it was coming from the kitchen, but the smell led me into a grand dining room with a long wooden table filled with food.
I filled up a plate with pastries, fried eggs, toast with strawberry jam, and washed it down with fresh espresso and orange juice. I scarfed down the food. Part of me felt like it could disappear at any moment, or I’d be caught and punished for eating so well.
“What are you wearing?” Sitri said, coming in the room. He filled a plate up with eggs and sausages. I looked down at the sweats he’d given me last night.
“Um, the only clothes I have?”
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Check your closet, you should find something more appropriate. Then meet me back here. Able’s been waiting for you to wake up.”
Back in my room, I found my closet and drawers full of clothes. Almost every garment came in three different sizes—it was like someone robbed a mall and took a selection from every store. There was even a drawer full of underwear, and another full of makeup and accessories. I moved quickly through the dresses and gowns, and turned my nose up at all the pink garments, to find a section of more practical things. I pulled out a pair of dark denim jeans, a black shirt and a soft, burgundy sweater. That’s when I noticed my all-stars had been replaced by a brand new pair. I felt a pang of longing at first, but the soles had been worn through. In another month I would have had to wrap duct-tape around them just to keep them on my feet. The new pair fit satisfyingly well.
The only thing missing were my gloves. I pulled the sleeves of the sweater down to cover my wrists.
Sitri was waiting for me downstairs. I did a little spin for him.
“Happy now?” I asked.
He shrugged. “It’ll do.”
He led me back to the library, which I was starting to suspect was really just Able’s private study. It was empty.
“Wait here,” Sitri said. “He’ll be back soon.”
I let myself explore the room. While small, it opened up as I looked closer—it was filled with fascinating artifacts and antiques, and smelled like fresh tobacco and polished leather. I couldn’t believe that just yesterday I’d been at JDRI. My whole life had turned upside down. And I still had no idea who these people were, or what they wanted from me.
I let my fingers run over the spines of the old leather books. One of them felt lighter than the others. Hollow. I pushed on it, and there was a soft click as the bookshelf swung open. My pulse quickened at the discovery of the secret passage. Behind it was a workroom filled with skulls and knives. The skulls were remarkable; there were over a dozen, mounted on the walls. Most of them had horns—a bull, a deer, and others I didn’t recognize. Each was carved with intricate decorations and miniature scenes. A wide desk stood in a corner, with a lighted magnifying glass and a half finished piece of work. This one looked like a ram’s head, with wide, curving horns. It was surrounded by small razor blades, carving tools and brushes. Looking closely, I could see that built into the curves and decorations were tiny figures. It was some kind of visual story. I wished I knew what it meant.
“Good morning,” Able said behind me. I jumped at the sound of his voice, I hadn’t heard anyone come in the room. He was wearing black slacks and a blue tailored shirt. Sitri had returned to the room as well. He rolled his eyes, like he was saying I can’t leave you alone for a minute.
“Less than a day here and you’ve already uncovered my secrets.” He gave me a bemused expression and I blushed, realizing I’d been snooping.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, stepping out of the room and shutting the door. “I wasn’t snooping. I just—I like books.” I gestured lamely at the bookshelf.
“They’re amazing. Did you do them?” It was difficult to picture Able bent over the skulls, working on the meticulous detail.
“It’s a hobby. A kind of diary, if you will. I record important life events, things that matter to me. Stories I can’t forget. Each one takes several years to finish.”
I’d been prepared to barge in and force Able to tell me what was going on, but he was not at all what I imagined. I sat down on one of the leather couches unsure how to begin.
“I’ve been patient,” I said finally. “What am I doing here?”
“Of course,” Able said, taking a seat across from me. “Let’s start simply. What if I told you there was still magic in the world—just a little bit of it. But someone was trying to kill all the mag
ic, so they alone would have the power to rule? And that they built up an army to hunt innocents?”
“I’d say he sounds like an asshole,” I said.
Sitri grinned, and Able burst out laughing. I noticed again how perfectly white their teeth were. It was unnerving.
“I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Able said, his eyes full of warmth. Despite his wrinkles and gray hair, he radiated energy and strength.
“But, that was a hypothetical question, right?” I shifted uncomfortably, pulling on the sleeves of my sweater. “I mean… magic?”
“What do you think happens when you touch people, Kaidance?”
My face paled, and I leaned back slightly.
“What do you see?”
“Nothing,” I said. The lie I’d spent years practicing came to my lips quickly.
Able frowned, then leaned forward and spoke in low voice.
“I understand you’ve had to hide the truth for a long time, and that nobody has ever really believed you or understood you before. But you can trust me. You are safe here.”
I gave him my wide-eyed, innocent look. True, Sitri had rescued me from JDRI, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter. And the longer I stayed here, the more trouble I’d be in when I returned. And I had to go back. If not for my parents, then at least for Sarah and Jessie.
“You can’t go back,” Able said, as if he’d read my mind. “At least not right now. And you don’t need to lie to me.” He turned on a TV that had been hidden behind a panel. First, we watched a news report about a runaway mental patient, locked up for killing her little brother, who escaped after murdering a guard. Able was right. If I went back now they’d arrest me. I’d be locked up for the rest of my life. Then he turned on the second video. I gasped and clutched the edge of the couch with my fingers. The scene was dark, but I recognized my old room at JDRI. Two little girls were sitting on a bed, late at night. They were whispering, but I could hear every word clearly. This was impossible.
“Did you really do it?” younger Jessie said. “Push your brother? You can tell me.”