PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

“This Saturday,” Henry says with a wide smile.

  “We should have a party!” Barry suggests.

  “No,” I shout and nearly fly out of the seat. “No party!”

  Mom looks at me and pouts. “Come on, Honey. What better way for your dear Mama to meet all of your friends, than to have a party at the house?”

  “Mom, you’ve met my friends,” I point out.

  “Surely you, my little social butterfly, have everyone jumping to be your friend.”

  I let out a tired sigh. “I’m not the same person,” I shrug. “I’m not really looking to add any more people to my list of friends. I have good friends, and I love and enjoy them and their company.” I glance to Barry, who smiles and winks in return.

  “Fine,” she mumbles. “What about a small party then? We can invite y’ins’ friends and some of your friends from your old school? I’m sure Susie, Jess, and Beck would come in a heartbeat.” She starts searching for something. “Have you talked to them since we moved?” she asks distractedly, so she doesn’t see me roll my eyes.

  I haven’t, but with good reason. “I don’t know, Mom. It’s only a few days away. It’s almost last minute.” I shrug off her idea.

  “Come on Jazzy, it could be fun,” Henry says.

  I stare at him with wide eyes. He just made it to my “shit-list.”

  “I think it would be fun,” Barry interjects, and stops me from blasting my attitude towards Henry. “Maybe rent some place down town, get a DJ or at least play some music. We could dress up all fancy or something, and just dance the night away,” he suggests.

  I glare at him and mentally place him above Henry, and below Logan from Gilmore Girls re-runs.

  Mom claps. “That’s perfect Barry! I’ll call Leland when y’ins leave, and we’ll figure it out.”

  I could understand if she wanted to start planning this last month, or even last week. “You do realize that it’s only four days away, right?” I remind them.

  “Don’t underestimate me,” Mom deadpans. “I can do much more in a shorter amount of time.”

  The remainder of our visit was spent with me reading Mom’s book that she abandoned, and the guys helping her come up with ideas for location, food, drinks, and decorations. If I didn’t know any better, you’d think those two were the teenage girls, not me.

  ***

  The rest of the school week is pretty boring. Derik hasn’t been in at all, thankfully.

  Skeeter’s all kinds of excited about my party tomorrow night, at Kingston Hall. Mom informed us that a friend of hers has a son in a band, and they will be performing at my party. I’m starting to get a little excited myself. If anything, at least I get to see a mini concert on my birthday. Seth’s voice punches through my thoughts. “Hey, you ready for tomorrow?”

  I shrug. “I guess. Skeeter is coming over in the morning so we can get ready.” A slow smile creeps across my face. “I think you’re going to like my dress,” I say saucily.

  “I like the sound of that, but I don’t really care what you wear. You’d be gorgeous in overalls,” he winks.

  “Right,” I drawl. “Anywho, I really hope you listened and didn’t get me anything,” I lean up and kiss his cheek.

  He rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you excited?”

  “Sorta kinda. My birthday parties and I don’t really agree all the time,” I shudder, and he laughs at me. “They’re embarrassing,” I insist. I won’t tell him about the Strawberry Shortcake undies incident or the puke party at the roller rink.

  He swallows the rest of his laughter. “You’ll have so much fun at your party this year.”

  Jabin Daniels, one of our classmates that I never really tried to talk to, jumps over the desk beside me and sits on it. “You’re having a party this weekend,” he says.

  I take in his strange attire. He’s wearing baggy jeans, and fitted blue tee that shows off his sort-of-there muscles. He wears silver-framed thick glasses and a pin on his chest, every day. It’s silver, and in the shape of a triangle with a ring around it. Someone said it’s from Star Trek, but I still find it weird. I’m not entirely sure how he’s so popular, but he is.

  I roll my eyes, “Yes, Jabin, a birthday party.” Of course, he heard “party,” and that’s his favorite thing. He loves having them, going to them, and crashing them.

  His eyes travel from my face, to Seth’s, and back again. “It’s at Kingston Hall right? That’s all Skeeter’s been talking about. A bunch of us were thinking about crashin’,” he winks.

  I bite back my growl. That’s the last thing I need. A bunch of kids I’m not really friends with, showing up at my party and seeing my uncle. Especially kids of the “popular” variety, they all gossip and then I’ll deal with everything I left behind at Penn Wood. The pity, the whispers, some thinking I’m a charity case, and they can all stuff it.

  Seth feels my distaste of the idea and jumps in. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Sorry man, you might scare some people, but not me. I’ll see y’ins tomorrow,” he says, and walks backwards between the desks while doing some weird thing with his hand, making a V between his ring and middle finger. It’s kind of weird hearing someone my age talking like my mom, but for some it’s just natural.

  “We can put Kiron at the door with a guest list and make sure they don’t come in,” Seth offers.

  I blow out a breath. “Don’t worry about it. Just more people to see me do something really stupid.” And see my famous uncle, and probably figure out who I really am, and what I’ve lost. It was bound to happen at some point. I’ll just have to deal with it.

  Seth nods. “Okay.”

  When the bell rings, we walk out of the classroom. “I don’t want any devuxen there though,” I say, just loud enough for him to hear me.

  Seth grunts his agreement and walks me out to the student lot.

  Leland’s been keeping Mom fairly busy, and so far, she hasn’t interrogated us, I can only hope he’s kept her busy enough today, too.

  When Henry, Barry, and I get home. we find Mom arguing with Leland.

  “Are you kidding me?” She yells. “You’ve “entertained” me for days! I am their mother! I deserve to know what the hell is going on!”

  “Come on, Lil. Just calm down,” Leland says, sounding annoyed.

  “I’ll calm down when you tell me what the hell you know!”

  Henry tugs me closer to the kitchen. “We’re home!” He yells, alerting our arrival. I’d rather just turn around right now. She’s going to go all Mama Bear on me, and I’ll spill everything.

  “There, they’re home. Now you can’t take me shopping for the tenth time in two days!” she huffs at Leland. “Afternoon kids!” she smiles widely as we enter the kitchen.

  “Does everything always need to happen in the kitchen?” I mutter, thinking of every time we’ve had family talks, get-togethers, my meeting with Fane, and when we told Leland everything.

  Barry snorts behind me.

  “How was school?” Mom asks us.

  “Fine,” I say with a smile as I take a seat, knowing this isn’t going to end anytime soon.

  “It was great! Thanks for asking, Mrs. Williams,” Barry says and smiles in a way that makes me want to roll my eyes. He’s such a kiss ass.

  “It was fine, Mom. What about you? How was your day?” Henry asks, and takes a seat next to me.

  “Oh, it was fabulous. I got a lot of things done for Jazzy’s party. Leland took me to pick up the dresses and suits, and he was lovely enough to take me to see an old friend.” She might be smiling, but that twitch above her left eye and the dimple on the right side of her cheek that’s showing, proves to me exactly how annoyed she is at the moment.

  “Oh! That’s great, Mom,” Henry says.

  “Oh, it is,” she says and smiles evilly at Leland, who leans back against the counter.

  “Lily-bean, be nice. Scarlet Jones has been bugging the shit outta me for ages to bring you by,” he says and adds his own annoyed lo
ok that almost imitates hers, minus the dimple on her cheek. His is on his chin.

  “Oh no,” Henry says and slowly drops his head to the table.

  “Who’s that?” Barry asks and looks between the four of us.

  Scarlet Jones was our neighbor at one point. The most annoying person on the planet, and Mom literally threw a block party the day she was totally moved out of the house across the street.

  “She’s sweet,” Leland starts, his long-time defense. He thinks she’s sweet because she’s one of his biggest fans and always made him homemade granola bars and diet friendly treats for him to travel with.

  “She might be sweet, but lord have mercy, her mouth never stops and she laughs out her nose.” Mom sniffs.

  I work to keep my laughter under control. “So, Mom, what were you two arguing about when we got home?” I ask, hoping to end this sometime soon.

  She looks at each of us for a minute and rests her eyes on Barry, who straightens his posture and folds his hands in front of him. “I would like to know what my son’s letter was about. I’m guessing he showed you it?”

  Barry nods. “Yes, Ma’am. It explained that he isn’t human. He’s a Halfling, part human, part shifter.”

  She nods but her brows furrow in confusion. “And what does this mean for him? Was his biological mother an addict of some kind? Henry seems well enough, but should I make an appointment with a psychiatrist for him?”

  I bite the inside of my lips together to keep from laughing.

  “Lil, don’t make Barry show you. Dear god, stop,” Leland pleads with her.

  She looks between him and Barry for a second. “I need to know.”

  Henry sighs. “It’s real, Mom. This isn’t a prank, I’m supernatural.”

  She snorts and opens her mouth to respond when Barry takes off his shirt.

  “Oh, no,” Leland mutters. I look away, not knowing how much clothes he’s taking off.

  “This is not a strip club! Put your clothes back on! Especially in front of my daugh . . . ” she stops in mid-scold. I look over to see Barry transforming. Mom stumbles backwards, and Leland jumps to her side to steady her. I look away so I don’t have to watch again.

  “Mom, relax,” Henry yells, trying to keep her calm, “he’s fine.”

  I glance over again and see Barry’s wolf standing in our kitchen, swallowing up the empty floor space.

  “Wha . . . bu . . . he . . . I . . . ” Mom stutters. I smile and try to think of the many things she could be thinking. She looks from the wolf to Henry and back again. “Barry?” She asks and the wolf nods its head. She looks back over to Henry. “You do this?”

  He purses his lips. “Not yet, but I might not ever be able to.”

  Mom pushes Leland away and comes over to sit at the table. “Barry, can you uh, come back?” she asks cautiously, and the wolf trots out of the kitchen. Mom stares at Henry silently, for a long time. The anticipation of her thoughts is getting to the both of us. Henry’s finger is tapping against the table, and my knee is bouncing. She finally cocks her head to the side. “It actually makes sense now,” she says, and surprises not only me, but Leland and Henry, too.

  “How does this make sense?” Leland asks.

  “Well, think about it,” she says and points to Henry. “He’s protective, but still kind. He’d rather be outside running or hiking than playing video games. He likes hunting and fishing but hates the grocery store. When the moon is full, he’s got more energy than you on game day when you make the series.”

  I laugh so loud and hard, I begin to snort. “I’m sorry,” I say around my laughter. Henry laughs, too, and Barry finally comes in the room.

  “Mrs. Williams,” he starts.

  “Lil,” she corrects him.

  He nods. “Lil, we’re not linked to the moon.”

  She smiles. “Maybe not for shifting, but animals are in fact linked to the moon. It’s the way of nature.”

  “I never actually noticed my energy being at a higher level,” Henry shakes his head.

  Mom smiles and reaches across the table to pat his arm. “I noticed because I’m Mom. I raised you, and I see everything.”

  Barry slowly backs away from the table. When I look at his face, I see what I interpret as pain.

  “Why can’t you shift?” Mom asks and looks between Henry, Barry, and Leland.

  “Hey, I remember this one! He’s part human, so it takes longer for his wolf to come around,” Leland explains.

  “What the hell does that mean? Barry has a wolf . . . ” she pauses and stares at him, “inside of him?”

  Barry smirks. “That’s one way of putting it.”

  “If the wolf isn’t inside of you, then how do you shift?” she asks in disbelief.

  “The wolf isn’t so much inside me, but more like my wolf is part of me.” Mom looks at him like he’s crazy. “It’s like some people can dance as though they are part of the music, and others can’t for lack of rhythm. For shifters, our spirit animal is part of us.”

  “Why can’t Henry shift? Where’s his wolf? I’m assuming he has one because of his biological father,” Mom asks.

  “I haven’t felt any different yet.” Henry shrugs. “I might not shift, but when I need my wolf, he’ll make his presence known somehow.”

  “Okay, what about the Deva-thingy-majigger mentioned in that note? What’s that? What do they do? Who are they? Will the thingers . . . ”

  “Slow down, Mom!” I interrupt her. “Don’t have an aneurism.” I roll my eyes. “Devux, they’re Devux.”

  Mom looks at me, wide eyed. “How do you know what they are?”

  I swallow my initial reaction, because they’re hunting me! “Because I ask questions.” I shrug.

  Leland glares at me, and I duck my head. “From what I understand, they’re demons,” Leland growls and takes a deep breath. He doesn’t want to tell Mom about this entire situation either.

  “Okay, so these demon devux thingies are where? Will they harm my boy?” she questions and glares at all of us.

  “Not likely,” Barry interjects. “He’s like a dirty little secret right now.” He smirks and taps Henry in the back of the head. “He’ll stay a hidden Halfling until we know if he can shift. If he shifts, he’ll need to join a pack. If not, he’ll be protected by my father’s pack like . . . ” he trails off and clears his throat. “Like all humans and creatures in the area.”

  Mom shakes her head. “I think Jazzy’s right,” she sighs. “I don’t need a mental explosion, no more questions.” She’s quiet for a long time, just staring at Henry. Barry goes back over to hold up the wall again, and Leland and I just watch Mom. “I knew you were special.”

  Henry smiles. “Thanks for not thinking of me as a freak.” He gets up and walks around the table.

  I stand and head for the stairs to go to my room. I don’t think anyone should tell her about my issues yet. One mind-blowing experience a day is enough for now.

  “Are we free to leave?” Barry whispers, as I walk past him. I nod.

  ***

  Skeeter barges into my room carrying two duffel bags and a dress bag. “Jazzy, why are you not super stoked for tonight?” She drops the bags on my bed and spins around to face me. “Dancing with our guys, showing off awesome dresses, and killer dance moves,” she says and twirls in a circle. “A friggin’ band is gonna be there! Come on! Get up! Turn on some tunes and wiggle with me!” she laughs, and pulls me up.

  “Alright!” I laugh. “I’ll put on some awesome music to ‘wiggle’ to.” I laugh as I find my ‘dancin’ playlist and hit shuffle. Skeeter squeals when the music flows from the speakers. She grabs my hands, and we dance around like idiots while singing along to a Mutemath song.

  After our showers, we paint our nails, and Mom comes in to help with hair and make-up.

  Mom and I have a small argument while Skeeter laughs at us, because I think she’s salon quality. She thinks my opinion doesn’t count because I don’t get this kind of thing done regularly. We
agree to disagree.

  I look at myself in the mirror. My blonde hair is swept off my neck in a half up-do with the ends curled. Mom also hair-sprayed the crap out of it, I hope she doesn’t plan on lighting any candles or I might go up in flames.

  She did a smoky eye with grays and a hint of blue to compliment my ice blue eyes. Then she added pink shimmer gloss to my lips and a light dusting of blush. I won’t need it. I’ll be blushing like a fool once we get there.

  I grab my dress bag and head to the bathroom to allow Skeeter to change in my room. My chiffon cocktail-length dress is light blue with spaghetti straps. A layer of fabric crisscrosses over my chest and gives the illusion that my “girls” are fuller than they really are. The dress flows with the breeze, I’ll have to be careful outside and while dancing.

  Entering my room, I look at Skeeter, she has her short, black hair done in a spiky do. Purple and white shadow her electric blue eyes. She added a touch of shimmer powder to her chest and neck, and topped it off with a clear glittery gloss.

  Her A-line, strapless dress is violet and black, mid-thigh short, and hugs her body like a latex glove. It has a bubble-shaped ruffle at the bottom.

  She blabs excitedly as I tie up the corset back for her, and then we slide on our heels.

  I grab a small purse, and throw in my phone and a pair of ballet flats.

  Mom knocks and comes in. She has a camera in her hands. “I forgot to get pictures of us getting ready!” She shouts as she rushes towards us, her teal floor length dress licking at her heels.

  She starts taking pictures of me, then Skeeter, then both of us doing silly poses. She yells for Leland, and he takes a picture of the three of us and leaves red faced and silent. I raise a brow at Mom to see if she understands what just happened.

  “He’s okay,” she promises. “He’s choked up. You look gorgeous tonight.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “He’s proud, and remembering and missing Dad and Soph,” she rambles, and fans at her face before squeezing my arm and leaving the room.

  I just watch, frozen, as she leaves. I can’t believe I haven’t given myself time to think about my birthday being celebrated without Dad and Sophie.

  Skeeter takes one look at me and drags me out of my room. “Let’s go see if the boys are ready, shall we?” She giggles.