by W. J. May
A moment later, Maria’s quiet voice came through. I’m good. Have to spend the night in the infirmary. Doctor’s running some tests but won’t get the results for about a week. I’m feeling loads better.
Rae smiled; glad Maria was alright. That’s good news. Shame about spending the night there but better safe than sorry. G’night. She fell into a dreamless sleep.
“Rae! Rae! Get up. I know you’re in there.” Loud pounding followed the shout. “Come on! It’s after nine! Let’s go for breakfast. I haven’t seen you all summer!”
The hollering from the other side of her door could not possibly be a dream. Rae rubbed her eyes. It took a moment to remember where she lay. She popped up when she realized she was back at Guilder. Running straight to the door, she swung it open to greet the yelling voice.
“Molls. How are you?” She gave her friend a big hug. Molly’s gorgeous dark, mahogany red hair brushed against Rae. It smelled of expensive shampoo, like Molly’s designer clothes. Beautiful, but better since Rae knew how awesome she was on the inside now too.
“Awesome! I missed you, Rae.” Molly hugged her back. “How was your summer? The flight back alright? Did you see anyone else yet? I saw Madame Elpis. What’s up with her? Most important, where are all those new clothes you mentioned in your e-mails?”
Rae laughed at her crazy friend’s endless chatter. “I missed you, too.”
“Me, too,” Molly chirped. “I told my dad I’m going home with you this Christmas, and then we can go shopping in N-Y-C together. Did I tell you my dad bought me a car?” She continued to chatter away as Rae headed towards the bathroom.
Returning minutes later, Rae walked back into her room to see Molly arranging clothes on the chaise lounge.
“I went through your wardrobe. You’ve done some shopping this summer! Well done!” She handed Rae a short jean skirt and turquoise blue tank top. “Wear this today, and let’s see if we can get some of those seniors looking our way. Oh, did I tell you I went on a few dates back home?” Molly flipped her burgundy-red hair off her shoulders. “Seems everyone is interested in what goes on at Guilder. At least I got a few movies and dinners out of it. There’s this one guy.” She sighed, in a weird, content way Rae had never heard from her before. “Reece. We went out a couple of times. He’s two years older.”
Rae blinked, trying to keep up with the topic hopping and figure out what the important points were. “Slow down! Sometimes I wonder if your tatù gives you the ability to talk without needing oxygen. Maybe your power has nothing to do with your ability to create and control electricity. Maybe it’s all about the babble.” Rae grinned, ducking out of the way as a pillow flew in her direction. She gave a belly laugh when Molly wiggled her fingers, flipping her lights on and off a dozen times.
“Lucky you kept the blond highlights against your dark hair. Or I’d have frazzled the ends instead of the lights.” Molly continued to waggle her fingers.
While Rae got dressed, she went over everything Molly had told her. They had emailed back and forth and talked on Facebook over the summer, but Molly hadn’t mentioned Reece. It wasn’t like her not to share everything. “Is this Reece-guy a Guilder graduate?”
“Tatùed? Goodness, no! He’s just a normal, regular guy.” She fanned herself. “And he’s freakin’ hot. Didn’t I e-mail you how we met? I can’t remember. Anyways, Dad and I were car shopping and admiring a vintage Porsche. When I realized it wasn’t for sale, I tripped the wires so the car wouldn’t start. Reece came walking out of the building nearby and couldn’t start the car. He popped the bonnet and stared at the engine. I walked over and started chatting with him. I told him my dad’s a mechanic, then touched a wire to reconnect the current.” She giggled. “I pretended to fidget with the battery. It started, easy-peasy. He offered dinner as a thank you.”
“Is he your boyfriend?” Rae thought about Devon’s kisses as she followed Molly out of her room and down the stairs.
“I don’t know if we’re dating exclusively, we’ve never talked about it. He comes from a family with a lot of money, and class. He’s going to come up one weekend.” She stayed quiet for a split second then fluttered her eyelashes. “He’s very talented…in the bedroom.”
Rae stopped walking. “Excuse me? What’d you just say?”
“You heard me.” Molly giggled.
“Was it your…first time?” Rae could feel the burn of a blush creep up her neck and all the way to her forehead. This wasn’t a subject she had ever discussed with anyone, and even though they were referring to Molly’s sex life rather than her own, it still made her a bit uncomfortable, even as curiosity burned in her veins.
Molly shook her head. “I’m not going to pull a Sleeping Beauty; sit and wait ‘til my beloved comes along. I plan on having some fun while I can. Plus, I’m curious, and he’s an excellent teacher.” She snapped her fingers, a small spark escaping. “You know, he has a couple of really cute friends I can introduce you to.”
“No thanks.” Heat rose to her face again as she thought of Devon. Will we ever—? Screw it! I don’t even want to think about it.
“Suit yourself, but mark my words. You have wants, and those wants will need to be met eventually.” Rae had to take a moment to untangle Molly’s meaning from her jumbled words. Sometimes Molly was hard to keep up with, physically and mentally. Molly shrugged, grabbing a quick breath. “Did you hear about the new girl? I know there are more, but there’s this one girl. She’s our age. Turned sixteen last year. I guess her brother got sent home from Guilder – he’s fifteen. The dad assumed the boy would get the tatù, but it looks like the girl got it instead. I think her name’s Desiree. Anyways, this Des-girl, she can make people want to do it! That’s her tatù. She makes people horny.” She laughed. “I bet her dad’s not happy at all about that gift on his daughter.”
“You’re joking!”
“Nope. I’m not exactly sure how her tatù works, but I definitely want to see what she can do. You need to learn to mimic it and catch yourself a real cutie. Oh! Wait! Mimic it and when Reece comes, throw it on him!”
“I won’t, and you know it!”
Molly nodded and grinned. “Yeah, I know.” She shrugged. “It was worth a shot me asking. I’ll get the other girl to do it for me.”
“Molls!”
They reached the Refectory and got in line for breakfast. Happy chatter and laughter bounced off the walls, creating a loud, but welcome cacophony. Ah—the sounds of Guilder. Rae grabbed a tray and filled it up with juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and beans. She had dreamt all summer holiday about a proper, full English breakfast. One cannot live on Pop-Tarts and donuts alone. She giggled. I could handle a full breakfast every morning for the rest of my life.
Molly raced over to Julian and Devon’s table with a loud screech. She slid her plate of eggs and toast down so fast she lost half of it on the floor. Rae followed slightly behind, watching Molly hug the boys, but too nervous to show Devon attention in front of everyone. Nicholas, another student and Rae’s buddy, sat beside Julian and pointed to the empty space beside him.
Rae shared a lingering gaze with Devon before sitting down beside Nicholas.
“Ms. Kerrigan! How was your summer?” Nicholas leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug.
Her in-class buddy hadn’t changed at all. She grinned, happy to see him. “Hello, Mr. MacGyver. Summer sucked. I should’ve stayed here. You were tall and lean when I left. I think you grew another couple of inches. Your mom been feeding you sprouts?”
Nicholas ran a hand through his light brown hair. “Maybe a couple.” He pointed at her. “Because of you, I spent the first two weeks watching the old American television series you told me about. Turns out, the writer of MacGyver is some sort of second or third cousin. I learned a few handy tricks as well.” He glanced at Rae’s tray of food. “Holy smokes. You gonna eat all that?”
“Uh yeah. I’m starving!” She sat down and started digging in. “I haven’t had a meal like this sin
ce the last day of school.”
He chuckled. “Never heard anyone say they miss cafeteria food before.”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “A girl’s gotta eat. Ain’t no shame in it. And an English breakfast…it’s a little bit of heaven.”
The group sat at their table and chatted about summer, being back at school and when Maria arrived, she told them what had happened to her yesterday and how she couldn’t even remember how she got inside the Oratory. Rae tried to avoid talking to or looking at Devon too much. Before they realized, everyone else had finished breakfast and the kitchen staff had begun to clear the tables for lunch.
“I think that’s our cue to head out,” Julian suggested.
Devon walked beside Rae and purposely brushed his hand against hers. He glanced at her sideways and winked.
Do you think we’re ever going to get a chance to hang out, just the two of us? Rae sent the thought to Devon, mimicking Maria’s tatù.
Devon shrugged uncertainly. Molly squeezed in between the two of them and continued her endless chatter.
“Rae, we should head back to Aumbry House. Madame Elpis wants us to meet the new arrivals. I think she said they’ll be getting in before lunch.” She turned to Devon. “Do you guys want to watch a movie tonight? I can drive.” She clapped her hands, little sparks flying out. “Did you hear? Now that’s Carter’s headmaster, he’s relented and is letting the senior girls have vehicles here. He’s probably trying to make up for being such a miserable git last year.”
“A movie sounds like a great idea.” His eyes flitted over to Rae and back to Molly. “I’ll drive also. I’ve got a new car.”
“The Lotus? That’s your car?” Molly nodded in approval. “Looks like Dean Wardell wants his son to look the part.”
Devon laughed. “I highly doubt my father thought that. He’s more inclined to think the other way around. I bought it, myself.”
“Trust me, I know cars and that one’s fast, and a babe magnet. You could wear a paper bag on your head, and you’d still pick up chicks, no probs.” Molly patted Devon’s cheek teasingly. “Don’t worry. You’re handsome, but the car won’t hurt the hunt.”
Rae stumbled, and Julian caught her, his hair falling forward to hide the smirk on his face. “Molls is right, Dev,” he said chuckling. “Maybe I can borrow the Lotus sometime.”
“Julian!” Molly tsked. “You drive a Porsche, and you’re hot. You don’t need any help!” She pulled Rae’s hand to drag her towards Aumbry House. “We were supposed to meet the newbies, like, half an hour ago.” Glancing over her shoulder, she hollered, “We’ll see you guys later. Find out what movies are playing.”
Rae and Molly race-walked back to Aumbry and straight to the Games Room. Both struggled to get through the door at the same time and then laughed when they fell through and landed on the floor. Lying on their stomachs, Molly grabbed Rae’s arm and whispered, “Is Madame Elpis here?”
“Not at the moment. She’s looking for you,” a sultry voice spoke from the couch.
Rae sat up. Two girls sat on the leather couch; one rigid with tension, the other with a graceful arm stretched out comfortably along the back of the couch. One was thin with chocolate brown hair and matching eyes. Clearly nervous. The other could easily have been a model in a glamour magazine. Her slender, but curvy body, jet-black hair, sultry lips and bright blue eyes made her stand out. Even dressed in simple clothes, she looked extremely feminine. To trust, or not to trust…that is the question. Rae had learned the previous year that not all tatù people were nice. However, she had also learned the importance of keeping her friends close and her enemies at least within eyesight. “Enemy” might be overkill, just a bit…maybe…we’ll see.
Molly stepped forward and held her hand out. “Hi, I’m Molly.”
Model girl nodded. “I’m Desiree.” Her arm twitched, and she jerked her hand back from Molly’s.
“Oops.” Molly gasped. “My fault.I did that.” She flicked her fingers. “I sometimes forget when I’m excited.”
That’s puttin’ it mildly. Rae smiled. Leave it to Molly to break the ice. “Sorry, we’re a bit late.”
“Got distracted chatting with the guys over lunch.” She shrugged in typical Molly fashion. “This is Rae Kerrigan,” Molly’s gaze never left Desiree’s face. “You sixteen or seventeen?”
With raised eyebrows, Desiree shot a quick look at Rae, and then back to Molly. “I turned sixteen last year. My brother attended Guilder. But I got the tatù, not him.”
“Cool for you. Bummer for your brother.”
Molly! “Did he have to change schools?” Rae thought of her uncle and how he had left the school when her mom had turned sixteen and gotten the tatù instead of him.
“Yeah, but he’s actually pretty okay with it. He’s at Oxford now.”
Desiree’s voice made Rae wish she would talk more. That’s weird.
Molly turned to the silent girl still sitting in the same painfully still position on the couch, and held her hand out. “I won’t shock you. I promise.”
The girl gave a small smile. “I’m Alecia. Oh, and seventeen.” Her gazed dropped down to the floor.
“Wow. They got you in here late. Sorry you had to get your tatù on your own. We’re always around if you have any questions.” Molly turned and lifted her shirt to show her lightning bolt tatù. “I work with electricity. What’s your tatù?”
Desiree stood and held the sides of her shirt in her fists, as if worried Molly might lift it. Don’t blame you one bit. “Mine’s kind of…unique.”
Rae heard the “Oh!” escape from her mouth before she could stop herself. Desiree—Desire. Molly said one of girls had a special ability.
“—I can create a type of–how do I say this properly–yearning.”
“You make people horny?”
Rae’s face heated at Molly’s bluntness.
Desiree’s laugh bounced with lightness and seduction. “You could say that. However, I’m trying not to think of it that way. I like to think I add music to the dance of life.”
Molly gave her a blank look. “Sure, whatever. Call it what you want. I want you to try it out on the guy I’m dating!”
“Molls!” Rae hissed, horrified. The “adding the music to the dance” sounded romantic. A guy with this kinda tatù would just use it to his advantage all the time. Maybe it’s good that Desiree got it instead of her brother. Rae swallowed guiltily. She had never even met him and yet she had just judged him. Of all people, I should know better.
“I heard about you,” Alecia said quietly, shifting her eyes from the floor to Rae. She stared at Rae with piercing eyes.
“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Rae smiled, hoping the girl would stop wanting to disappear. It made her feel oddly self-conscious.
“Your tatù’s unique, one-of-a-kind. Is it true?”
“—Go on, show them,” Molly butt in. “It’s amazing. We had a dance last spring, and I picked out this perfect dress for Rae to show her tatù off. All set to unintentionally reveal it. All the girls from Roe Hampton Boarding School saw it, and thought she’d gotten this tramp stamp tattoo and couldn’t stop talking about it during the entire dance. They said it looked disgusting, but they were all totally jealous. Rae’s tatù is gorgeous!”
Rae frowned at the mention of the dance, for different reasons than Molly’s explanation, but said nothing. She remembered what it had felt like the previous year, to be the new girl and constantly singled out. Except, for her, it had been because of her father. But still, it sucked being new. The dance had turned into an ugly nightmare, and she had nearly gotten killed. The tide of emotion she had been hiding threatened to overwhelm her. She needed to calm herself back down quickly. Drop the drama, girl. New year, which is going to be a quiet one. She glanced at poor Alecia, whose eyes could not get any bigger. She’s safe. “It’s not really a big deal.” Rae swallowed and turned to lift her shirt to show the Celtic Fairy.
She closed her eyes and pictured the tatù i
n her head. Larger than other girls’ tatùs, hers spread across most of her lower back. Against her pale skin, the beautiful, unique fairy watched with secret eyes. Dressed in hues of pink, purple, and green, with glittery sparkles on its dress and wings, the fairy posed coyly. Below the fairy, an ornate design with Celtic detail spread across the back of her hips. Rae opened her eyes and pressed her lips tight, half expecting the newbies to run out of the room screaming. At least it’s not some horrific warlock like my father’s.
Desiree sucked in a loud breath. “It’s totally cool! I wish mine looked like that. It seems more like a porn star now compared to yours.” Desiree raised her shirt to show a voluptuous girl, with large breasts and hips, dressed in a short, tight red dress. The tatù girl leaned forward, blowing a kiss. It reminded Rae of a biker’s tattoo she had seen in a movie once. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Alecia got off the couch and pulled her button shirt out of her skirt. “You’re not seriously complaining about the design of yours, are you, Desiree?”
Desiree let out a low, throaty giggle. “It’d look cool on some guys arm. If my brother had it, he would never have worn a long sleeve top again.
“What’s your tat?” Molly asked.
Alecia turned, holding up her shirt. Etched on her creamy white skin lay a skeleton.
“It’s so cute. I think my nephew’s got some Lego skeleton that looks just like it.” Desiree said, her breathy voice more distracting than her words.
“It looks like some Goth ink,” Molly quipped.
Alecia dropped her shirt and turned, rolling her eyes. “That’s exactly what my mother said, when she saw it. She thought I was going to dye my hair black and turn Emo. She was just over the bloody moon after my father told her I got a letter from Guilder Boarding School. She thinks Guilder’s going to correct my bad habits.”