“I’m not so sure it’s a thing at all,” Hector mused as he nibbled the end of his fingernail in thought, his hazel eyes fixed on something faraway. “I never saw her using any sort of tool. She wore no rings, no jewelry except that pair of earrings. She may be doing it of her own accord.”
“But doesn’t that contradict everything we’ve learned about magic in Elydria? It doesn’t make sense that she would just develop a random ability. That’s impossible.” Penny crossed her arms.
“Impossible? You can weave dreams, and I can travel between worlds. How does any of that make sense?” Hector raised his brows, and Penny frowned, feeling patronized. “Oh, don’t get all huffy―I’m just reminding you that anomalies do occur―”
Hector was interrupted by a small cry accompanied by a loud crashing sound as Simon leaned too far back in his chair and tumbled to the ground. Penny and Hector watched as he untangled his limbs from one another and scrambled to his feet.
“Maybe we’d all better get some sleep,” Penny suggested. “Simon’s liable to hurt himself if he stays awake much longer.” Though Simon was miffed by this remark, Hector agreed and shooed them from his room with a curt goodnight.
Penny prepared for bed, enjoying the wonderful sense of aloneness that she had quite missed. Mere minutes after she sunk into the heavenly softness of the covers, she fell into a quiet and untroubled sleep. Though she slept through the night without disturbing visions in her dreams, threatening voices echoed in the corners of her mind. She awoke the next morning, a phrase in her mind repeating like a song.
Death is easy, death is easy... Life is but a dream.
PENNY JOINED HECTOR, Wendy, Gavin and Simon in the dining room to find another wonderful breakfast tea spread waiting. After Millie had cleared the dishes away, Gavin asked for Penny’s help in tending to the plants in the Sun Garden since Annette still wasn’t feeling well. As Gavin and Penny strolled among the plants, Gavin told her more about himself.
“Before, I was a pianist for one of the fancier restaurants in the Royal District, but I came here to take care of my cousin after her first big play several years ago. She…she needs us. I help her practice for her shows, keep her in a routine, arrange business affairs, manage finances―that sort of thing. She’s twenty-three years old now, but she would be completely helpless without me and Mother. Her parents never taught her many life skills; they’re always off gallivanting wherever they please without regard for others. She’s still so innocent and sheltered, the dear thing,” Gavin sighed and once again Penny took a moment to admire his dedication. “Though I wouldn’t call living in this house a burden, by any means.” He gave her a small wink and her heart did a somersault.
Annette awoke an hour before her performance that night and left in a flurry of lace and perfume, her carriage pulled by a white anteloo named Serafee. Early the next morning, Penny heard her singing in the Sun Garden.
“Is this what you usually do on your days off?” Penny asked as she joined the actress, observing the clusters of tiny pink blooms Annette was tending to.
“Yes, in the mornings. I sometimes go shopping later on in the day, but it gets a little tiresome giving out autographs and such, so I generally stay at home. I’m usually alone except for Gavin. To be honest, I haven’t got many close friends…” Annette trailed off, a look of impishness in her eyes. A broad smile crossed her face. “Penny, how would you like to spend the day with me? I’m certain between the two of us we can think of something simply wondrous to do!”
The two of them spent a good part of the day wasting time with Annette’s various oddments. Annette was very curious to learn everything about Earth and Penny’s life there. She was transfixed with Penny’s descriptions of cars that ran on gasoline, computers, and smart phones. Annette was astounded that people on Earth got on without magic, but more perplexed when she learned that humans were the only highly intelligent species which inhabited Earth. Penny interrupted the endless questions and explanations when her eyes fell on Annette’s bookshelf.
“Wow, are these all novels? I’ve been dying to read something good for so long now―all Hector brought back was boring stuff about science and magic theory,” Penny said, plucking a dusty volume from the shelf and flipping through the pages.
To her delight Annette granted her full access to all of the books, even recommending some of her favorites. Penny was surprised to find herself bonding with the actress with an ease and openness that she had never felt, even with Maddie.
Thoughts of Maddie made Penny think of her mother, and her chest ached with homesickness. It was too much to imagine Paulina wandering around their house alone, haunted by vestiges of the life Penny had left behind. She pictured her mother sitting alone at dinner, chewing her food lifelessly as she stared at the chair which Penny had almost always filled. She wondered if Maddie even bothered going to school any longer. Thoughts of the remains of Hector’s makeshift life occurred to her, and she remembered she’d told Maddie that Hector―back then he was called Professor Arlington―had been doing something questionable.
Has he been blamed for my disappearance? Are Maddie, the police, and my mom under the impression that Hector stole me away in the night and did something unspeakable to me? Does Maddie blame herself for not believing what I said that day?
Penny sighed, feeling the paralyzing effects of these questions. It came as something of a surprise that thoughts of home had been absent from her mind for this long. Her old life seemed so distant and miniscule as compared to now. She almost let the feelings of guilt and grief swallow her up, but when she looked over and recognized true contentment on Annette’s face, they were swept away. Penny could see why it was so easy for Gavin to forgive Annette of her flaws. She overflowed with an uncommon affection for others and a joy for life that was unstained by the vices and cruelties of the world.
There’ll be time enough for worry and sorrow, but not now. Not today.
These first two days set the stage for a wonderful week. The next day Penny dove straight into the books Annette had lent her, finding the stories a refreshing return to her most beloved of hobbies. The next day Annette was home, and she and Penny discussed the novel with enthusiasm.
Simon was eager to try and get to know Annette as well, though Penny was sure it was for a very different reason. Annette was civil toward him, but his suave pick-up lines and dashing smiles were not as effective as he’d hoped, which frustrated and disheartened Simon. When he wasn’t hounding the beautiful young actress, he spent time in the kitchen pilfering food under the pretense of helping Wendy prepare meals.
Hector’s urge to learn new things didn’t stay suppressed for long. After a few days, he asked Gavin about the collection of instruments he kept, scoring music lessons from the flattered man. Gavin taught him how to read Elydrian music and the basics of each instrument. One afternoon, Penny was somewhat shocked to hear him singing a soft lullaby to himself in Nelvirnee while trying to accompany himself on a small stringed instrument. His voice was unsure and quiet, but he sang in a pure tone that made Penny’s heart ache with a painful sweetness.
Each night Penny read until the dawn broke through her window with a misty, indigo light. She had done this back on Earth, too, but for a very different reason. Whereas before Penny had been drawn in by the plots of the books she loved, now it was a way to keep from sleeping.
Every night, without fail, she dreamed of the masked entity in its various apparitions. It waited for her, haunting sepulchral halls as its empty, soundless voice echoed over and over. The chant would ring in Penny’s ears, becoming a terrifying mantra. The dreams seemed to last for hours at a time, and on occasion Penny found herself trapped inside them for an excruciating long time, all the while aware she was dreaming and wondering if she would ever wake up again. Every time she awoke from the nightmare, her limbs felt heavier and her body weaker. Penny attempted to chalk this up to the possibility she had a cold, but she knew this was not true. She was beginning to fear
the dreamtime horrors, but could think of no way to bring them up to others. Each time she considered opening up to Hector, Simon, or even Annette about her nightmares, she shut down, telling herself they could do nothing to help. She thought it likely Hector and Annette wouldn’t be able to comprehend the idea of a nightmare.
By the end of the first week of their stay, Penny observed a noticeable change in the young actress. She had lost some of the painful loneliness that had troubled her gaze when Penny had first come to stay in her house, though she retained her guarded look. One evening as one of Penny and Annette’s frequent talks were dwindling down and they both lounged in the comfortable drawing room, Penny considered asking a few of the questions she wanted answers to, wondering if it might lead to a precarious situation. She had shared quite a bit about herself with Annette, and though Annette was keen on chatting about books and humorous anecdotes, she never seemed to want to share anything about her past.
“Annette,” Penny started. The wind was howling outside, thick clouds had rolled in, and the days had all but lost their warmth. Winter was threatening to do away with autumn for good, but had not quite won the war. Annette made a small noise to show that she was listening, but didn’t open her eyes, seeming very relaxed.
“I…wanted to ask. What is it between you and Valentine? Why does she hate you so much?”
Despite her gentle tone, Annette stiffened and her eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you want to know something like that? She’s just a pathetic old drunkard who takes out her bitterness out on the world, that’s all,” Annette said with forced casualness.
“Well, it’s a bit strange to me—why she would want to go to such lengths to hurt you? And for that manner, why is Deimos looking for you?” Penny asked, hoping that she could breach some of the taboo topics that had been nagging at her. Annette sighed and pulled herself into a sitting position, looking serious.
“There is a reason―I’m sure you’ve figured that out. But…” Annette looked over to the corner of the room and blinked several times. “It’s too painful. I don’t want to talk about―I don’t want to think about it. Can we just forget about it? Is that okay?”
Penny nodded, disappointed.
OVER THE NEXT week the cold began to sink in deeper and deeper. The clouds remained as an impregnable layer above Iverton, erasing all memory of the carefree blue skies. Two days before the ball, the rainstorms started, beginning as heavy mists of thick perspiration and evolving into icy bullets that crashed down on Annette’s manor. Penny watched Humphrey and Serafee try to keep dry in their stable and was pleased when Gavin brought them a magical lantern to keep the beasts warm throughout the stormy night.
Annette decided it was time to select their formal attire for the ball and loaded everyone into her carriage, and they rode into the Shopping District. It was much less a shopping trip than an occasion for Annette to force them into clothing she approved of. She decided on a white-gold dress for herself and a snowy blue gown with a gem-frosted bodice and a sheer, fluffy skirt for Penny. Hector agreed to a smart-fitting outfit that was modest enough for his tastes, but Annette could not persuade him not to wear his glasses for the event. Simon was beyond elated to have Annette fussing over him and undressing him. Once their attire was decided upon, Annette purchased all of the clothing for them, arguing that it was because of her that they had to buy it in the first place.
After lunch at an upper-class restaurant where Annette was approached by no less than thirteen devoted fans, all to which she graciously gave autographs, they returned to the manor, everyone sopping wet from the torrents of rain that crashed down relentlessly on the city. Wendy was prepared with a toasty fire and a cup of sweet, steaming milk for each of them. They dried off in front of the roaring flames, wrapped in blankets and sweaters, talking and listening to the rain coming down outside.
In the midst of a comfortable lull came a blinding flash of light from outside, followed by a sound so loud and deep it seemed to shake the house. Penny felt her shoulders tighten and stifled a scream as the thunder crashed and died away. Annette hopped off the couch and ran to the window.
“Oooh, did you see the lightning?” she marveled, standing on her tiptoes to get a better look out of the window.
Penny tried to catch her breath, hoping that no one had noticed her reaction. Her head spun and she found herself busy bargaining with higher powers not to let the lightning strike again. But it did strike again, and Annette shrieked with delight. Simon joined her at the window. Penny started to feel sick, wondering if she could contain her fear any longer. Hector glanced at her from the corner of his eye and she gritted her teeth.
When the third deafening crash rumbled through the house, Penny sprang to her feet and made for the door, her legs shaking. She rushed down the hall past flickering lamps and dove under the covers on her bed, covering her ears as she tried to calm her thumping heart. Another thunderclap snarled at her and Penny whimpered, filled with as much self-hatred as fright; she was ashamed of her irrational cowardice. For what seemed like eons she shuddered in the dark sanctum, begging the thunder to stop as she willed away images of the beautiful, nightmarish face from her childhood. Then came a sound closer than the thunder―the door was opening.
Penny tensed, her heart resonating like a bass drum in her chest. She heard the handle click and the door creak. Someone was in the room with her.
At first she could not restrain the terrified delusion that the man from her past had returned. She had imagined it happening so many times, reliving the moment of terror again and again, as if in an unstoppable loop.
“Penelope?”
Penny’s heart dropped. Her cheeks burned.
“Yes?” she replied through the blankets, trying to force as much normalcy as possible into her tone. She recognized Hector’s laugh and clenched her jaw tighter.
“Why are you under there? Come out.” She felt the weight on the bed shift and tremble as Hector sat down beside her. Penny cleared her throat.
“No thanks. I’m quite comfortable right where I am,” she said with feigned haughtiness. She tried not to think about how ridiculous she sounded.
“It’s the thunder, isn’t it? You don’t like it, do you?” he coaxed.
Penny was somewhat touched by his interest, as well as comforted by his presence. She drew the blanket fortress away from her head and pulled it around her shoulders with a sullen nod. Hector smiled but didn’t speak for a long time, which made Penny anxious all over again.
She broke the silence. “Go ahead and laugh. I’m pathetic. I’m a coward. I’m acting like a child. I already know how much of an idiot I am, but please―don’t be shy. Laugh it up―I don’t mind,” Penny spat, checking out of the corner of her eye to see his expression. It showed only patient kindness.
“You do know that thunder cannot harm you, correct? It’s merely a by-product of the lightning as it stri―”
“I know what thunder is, okay?” Penny snapped, feeling patronized even though she knew he had not intended it that way. A look of affront crossed his face as she regained her composure. She gave him an apologetic glance, feeling that she owed him at least a small explanation.
“It’s not really the thunder that bothers me―it’s just the memory―of―” her voice died in her throat as she found it too difficult to continue.
“Memory of what? What do you mean?” Hector urged. Penny fell silent as she stood at a crossroads in her heart. She wanted to tell him, though she couldn’t understand why. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked up, deciding to test him first.
“I haven’t ever really told anyone, you see. My mother begged me not to say anything to anyone else. You’ve never met her, but she’s, well, eccentric might be a good word to describe her. We own a shop filled with all sorts of junk to do with occult interests and witchcraft and whatnot, so that might give you a good idea about what she’s like. A long time ago, my grandmother tried to have her locked up in a psych ward for things she said and b
elieved in, so at that time she was trying to protect me, as well,” Penny explained.
“I will not so much as insinuate that you are of unsound mind, you have my word,” he assured her, watching Penny contemplate.
She cleared her throat, her gaze fixed on the sheets. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you,” Penny decided. Hector waited with an unassuming expression for her to continue. She sighed and struggled to think of a place to begin.
“It happened back when we lived in Montana. That’s where my grandmother lives, and where my mom grew up. I was only five years old, and I remember it was raining hard that night. I fell asleep, but when I woke up―when I woke up, someone was there with me in my room.” It made Penny shiver to hear the words uttered aloud and Hector’s brow pinched in a worried line.
Penny swallowed. “I had no idea who he was or how he got in, but I felt him standing there, just in front of my bed. When the lightning flashed, I saw his face.”
Hector looked very worried and uncomfortable now, as if he had been expecting anything but this. Penny realized she’d been gripping the blanket until her knuckles were white and quickly let go.
“He looked like a―like a beautiful nightmare. He was beyond perfect, but terrifying because of it…he had these waves and waves of long white hair. I didn’t even have time to scream, I just felt him grab me.”
“Wh-what happened after that?”
Penny frowned and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “I can’t remember―that’s the worst part. It could’ve been anything, but to this day I have no idea. I woke up in the rose garden in front of our house the next morning. I didn’t feel hurt, but I was scared so badly I could hardly function for months afterward. I made such a big deal about it my mom moved us to Oregon. I remember she tried to fool me into thinking it was just a bad nightmare, and sometimes I try to believe that…but…” Penny left off, looking off into the corner of the room as she pondered it again. “It doesn’t bother me most of the time, just when the thunder comes back. I’m afraid that―well, that―”
The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1) Page 21