by Kim Cormack
Jenna sighed, “Oh please… Put a cork in it Romeo. I'd rather commit suicide by eating something off this menu.”
They all casually sipped their coffees while talking about what was to come and other life-altering events.
Lily addressed Jenna directly, “Do you feel like the three of them are ready? Are there any obvious mortal fears that still linger? Anything we’ve missed?”
“Aren’t there always?” Jenna responded.
Lily said, “I’m asking you if you believe there is a chance this group will survive the Testing?”
Jenna replied, “It has been a long time since our sacrifices have had a chance at surviving the Testing. This group is going to survive. I can feel it. If we think it, then the third tiers are already preparing for it. The Testing is psychologically unbeatable if too much of your humanity remains. If there is anything that still needs to be covered. Grey and Lexy must cover it during this next trip to the in-between.” Jenna paused for a second before continuing, “The faster they become Enlightened during the Testing, the better their chances are. Their souls need to be broken down to be built. The farther they fall, the stronger they’ll become. I’ve had some visions about one of them. I have an idea.”
After swallowing a gulp of coffee, Frost questioned, “What’s the idea?”
Jenna replied, “We could arrange to have Kevin kill Kayn?”
For a second there was nothing but deafening silence.
“That’s seriously messed-up, but it’s a good idea. We might even be able to get Tiberius to help us,” Orin replied.
Markus nodded and said, “If we’re up front about wanting to trigger Kayn with Kevin, he might appreciate the irony.”
Lily shook her head. She placed her cup on the table and began tracing the rim with her fingers.
Jenna added, “The Summit starts in a few days. Orin, you’ll need to stay behind to run the tombs. I’ll be helping you run the re-enactments of their Sweet Sleep. I don’t have to ask you to keep quiet about what we’ve said here today... Do I?”
“No, I got it, no bonding talks with Melody,” Orin answered.
Jenna looked at Lily and ordered, “You will be the one that talks to Tiberius about what needs to happen.”
Lily mumbled, “Of course.”
Unpacking the Baggage
They spent the day doing random things. They took turns telling each other about the uncomplicated times in life that they cherished. There were certain moments that it was always best to avoid. They passed the elementary school together and paused briefly as the bell rang. School was out for the summer. The bell was still obviously running on a timer. Kayn saw a vision of her brother Matt as he walked in front of his little sisters. Chloe was running behind him, repeating his name. He was ignoring her. It was a strange thing to feel sentimental about. Her family was in the back of her mind... Always. It killed her to know that in the grand scheme of things her family’s lives had been inconsequential to everyone but her.
Melody paused as two little boys ran by her, followed by their mother. They were clearly done playing at the school's playground. In this moment, they were all the same regardless of what their social status had been when they were alive. They had all lost everything that had mattered most to them in becoming Ankh. Grey unlocked the doors with the keypad. The loud beeping sound snapped her out of her stupor. Lexy hopped in the front and everyone else squished into the back. They pulled away from the elementary school and drove away in silence. Trees whirled by the window of the truck until they turned down the road to the campground. They parked the truck and walked back down the road towards the campsite. Kayn saw something through the trees; it was a grassy meadow full of buttercups. She said, “I’ll just be a minute.” She scaled the barbed wire fence that surrounded the field and stood there in the sea of yellow buttercups, she bent down to pick one of the flowers and she could feel Chloe’s spirit inside of her. She wanted to stay here and watch the furry bodies of the bumble bees but her heart just couldn’t take it. This was one of their favorite things. Her sister was gone and Kevin was as good as gone. She touched the buttercup to her chin and smiled a secret smile. She closed her eyes to listen to the humming of the bees. She had to get back to reality. Where were the Triad staying? When would she run into Kevin again? Could they still be friends even if they could never be anything else? Maybe he did remember her? Maybe he was only pretending that he didn’t? She opened her eyes and willed the glowing sun to fill her with the peace of mind she so desperately needed. She climbed the barbed wire fence and managed to catch up with the others. They walked down the side gravel trail in silence. In the distance through the trees, they could see the water. Zach hooted and raced down the trail to the water’s edge like their extra hyper younger brother. He waited for them at the end. There was a dock and from a tree hung a rope swing. Grey glanced at Zach and they sprinted towards the swing, peeling off their clothing as they ran, that is everything except for their underwear.
“Hey! That water is still going to be frigging freezing you guys!” Kayn yelled.
Zach hooted as he swung off the swing into the icy water below, with a giant splash. He shrieked, “Oh crap! Oh crap!” He swam to the dock and climbed out, as they all gutted themselves laughing at his reaction to the cold. Grey went next, then Kayn, always one to do just what the boys were doing. She stripped down to her sports bra and underwear, catching the swing as Grey hit the water with a high-pitched squeal.
Melody seemed spooked. She hollered at the others, “I need to use the bathroom!”
“Sure you do!” Grey teased from the water.
Melody called out, “I saw a big public one where we parked, I’ll be right back!” She walked away from them.
Kayn suspected something was going on with her friend. She declared, “I have to go too.” She followed Melody quietly towards the bathroom. Kayn paused outside of the doorway because she heard Melody speaking to someone.
The unfamiliar female voice said, “Thorne will want to see you. I thought he was going to lose his mind when I came back without you.”
Kayn recognized the name Thorne. He was the leader of Trinity.
As the girl’s voice said, “I’d better go. It’s so good to see you.” Kayn decided to make her presence known. She pushed open the bathroom door and strolled in. A dark-haired girl smiled at Kayn as she walked past her out of the bathroom.
Melody, startled by Kayn’s sudden appearance, questioned, “How much did you hear?”
“Enough to make me curious. There’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.” Kayn responded as she leaned against the counter.
“The Thorne situation is complicated. It only really started the day before I left Trinity. I guess I didn’t think it was worth mentioning,” Melody confessed.
“We all have baggage.” Kayn assured, “If you ever need some help unpacking it, I’m here and I’m always willing to listen.”
As Melody went through the motions of washing her hands even though Kayn knew she’d never actually gone to the bathroom she replied, “I just need to get through seeing him again and I’ll be fine. Being together isn’t even an option now.”
Kayn flashed back in her mind to the moment in time when she’d begged Melody to help her say goodbye to Kevin. Melody had been Trinity. Melody had said the words; you have no idea what I am giving up to do this. Kayn now understood the gravity of her selfless act. Kayn promised, “I won’t tell anyone.” She added, “I can’t believe you had a fling with rival clan royalty… That’s amazing.”
“You almost had one with his brother,” Melody teased as she dried her hands on her shorts.
“Almost,” Kayn replied as she looked at the door sensing their time alone was coming to an end. “You know hiding in here all afternoon won’t stop Grey and Zach from throwing us in the lake,” she teased.
“I know. I needed to talk to her. We used to be close. She was my friend. I haven’t bumped into him anywhere since I’ve been with Ankh. I
needed to know if he was here. I just wanted to be prepared.” Melody answered back while attempting a weak smile.
“You could have told me all of this. I would have understood.” Kayn said as the girls embraced. They heard the boys coming. There was no time to run.
Grey marched in, flung a screeching Melody over his shoulder and comically proclaimed, “Don’t fight it sweetheart. I am going to get you so wet.”
Melody laughed while pleading, “Let me take my clothes off first. Come on you guys!”
“That’s what she said,” Zach chuckled as he grabbed her bottom half.
The two boys carried a wildly squirming Melody down to the end of the dock and threw her off the edge. They’d had no mercy; she was still wearing her shoes. They all jumped in after her, howling, shrieking and squealing. The water was frigging freezing! Kayn surfaced to realize they were no longer alone. On the dock stood Kevin, who some of them already knew, a boy and a tiny built, very pretty brunette stood between both boys with her hand possessively on Kevin’s shoulder.
Kevin turned to his friends and began to introduce the Ankh, “The blonde girl’s Kayn and we apparently know each other. I met Grey earlier. I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone else, but I can hazard a guess that the hot girl with the red hair is the infamous Lexy.”
While dog paddling in the icy water, Grey remarked, “You did pretty well but you also know Melody.”
Mel laughed while treading water, “I only brought you back to life once upon a time. It was no big deal.”
“I appear to have a few gaps in my memory.” Kevin admitted.
The sound of his voice made her heart ache. She was trying to convince herself to stay in the freezing water versus climbing out almost naked in front of him. Kayn replied with her lips quivering from the cold, “Yes... You seem to have a few of them.” He met her eyes, she looked away and trained hers on Melody who gave her an understanding smile.
The blonde boy standing beside them declared, “I just have to say it. Are you all frigging insane? That lake has to be freezing.”
Kayn found herself a tiny bit curious about this guy. He was a little chubby and not the usual Triad stereotype.
“Don’t knock it till you try it,” Grey chuckled as he playfully splashed the trio on the dock with glacial cold water.
Kayn’s lips were blue as she continued to tread water, remaining where she was as the rest of her group swam to the dock. They began to help each other up and out of the freezing lake. Ah, hell. She had to get out. Kayn swam to the dock and Grey helped her out. She saw his roguish grin just a second too late. “Don’t you dare!” She hissed as he shoved her back in.
They all howled as Kayn sputtered in the water. She swam back to the ladder and began to climb out again.
Patrick stretched his hand towards her to help her out. “I won’t push you back in again, I promise.” He vowed.
Oddly enough, she believed him and didn’t hesitate for a second. Kevin was only there because of his grandfather but this Patrick guy was immediately likable. The girl shifted closer to Kevin. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her in her barely clothed state even for the sake of being nice. He just stood there with a silly grin on his face. Kayn knew she was nicely ripped. She had never been a tiny build. She had a womanly curvy frame with round subtle hips. Kevin was staring at the belly button ring in her navel and Kayn wondered if he knew it hadn’t been there before. Kayn, as observant as she was, noticed the visual exchanges between the girl and Kevin. This Stephanie girl was obviously in a relationship with him. The look on her face was easily interpreted. This girl wanted to skin her alive. Kayn sensed that as tiny and helpless as this girl looked she had an enormous amount of evil in her.
Patrick gallantly took his shirt off and passed it to Lexy, “Your lips are blue.”
Lexy, who would have thrown it back at anyone, took it and replied, “Haven't you heard of me?”
Patrick gave her a genuine smile as he responded, “Of course I have. You’re Lexy of Ankh. The one our Tiberius is afraid of.”
“He is going to kick your ass for saying that!” Stephanie spat.
“It’s the truth though,” Patrick sparred. He added, “You’re cold. You can give it back to me later. Apparently, we are all going to be at this campsite for the next week together.”
Kayn was stumped as Lexy put on the chubby kid’s shirt and even smiled at him. It was a little bit adorable.
“Your dry clothes are at the top of the dock Lex. You just got that kid’s shirt wet for no reason,” Grey reminded her.
They were all intensely curious as to why Lexy was being so nice to this kid from Triad.
“I’m sorry... I forgot,” Lexy apologized as she took it off and handed it back to Patrick, slightly damp. She turned and walked towards her pile of clothes.
Kayn followed Lexy and Melody to the clothes at the top of the dock with her arms crossed over her chest as though she could conceal what she’d been blessed with.
Grey broke the awkward silence by addressing the kind blonde boy directly, “Nice to meet you buddy. My name’s Grey.” He shook Patrick’s hand and gave him a giant smile.
Patrick stammered, “Patrick... My name’s Patrick and I heard about you too.”
“All good stuff I hope,” Grey chuckled as they all walked down the dock together. Grey stopped in front of the girl, blocking her stride and questioned, “And your name is?”
“Stephanie,” she said with attitude.
Stephanie was very pretty but cold and extremely unlikable. The Kevin she’d grown up with would have never wanted anything to do with that girl.
Grey stepped in and extended his hand, “Nice to meet you Stephanie and for the record, if you even entertain a single one of those thoughts running through your mind I will take it very personally in the future when we meet without the cease fire.”
Stephanie ignorantly recanted, “I am Triad and you are Ankh. It doesn’t matter to me what you think. Your clan is insignificant. We win against you, every time.” She turned on a dime and strutted away.
Lexy marched up behind Stephanie mid-strut and tapped her on the shoulder. The bitchy Triad swung around to face her. The Dragon of Ankh hissed, “I’ve taken on your entire clan all by myself. That includes your fearless leader whom you so admire. He upset me and when people are rude to my friends it makes me feel upset.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?” Stephanie haughtily sparred.
“It should.” Grey asserted as he strolled up to stand beside Lexy.
This girl was a complete moron. Nobody messes with Lexy.
Kevin placed his hand on Stephanie’s shoulder. He squeezed it and bluntly stated, “That’s about enough Steph.”
Stephanie glared at Kevin and stammered, “You do not get to tell me what to do!”
Lexy directed her attention to Kevin and said, “She’s a bit of a handful.”
Kevin pressed his lips together as he always had when embarrassed, stared his ignorant fellow Triad down and in a hushed tone he stated, “I said, that’s enough. There are no sides this week. Either make an attempt to smile and act like a reasonably sane person or just do us all a favor and leave.”
Stephanie shot daggers with her eyes at him and under her breath she grumbled, “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Probably not,” Kevin replied.
Stephanie mumbled something none of them could make out and stormed away, tossing Kayn into the shrubbery as she passed.
Seriously? Kayn thought while brushing herself off.
Zach held out his hand and chuckled, “It looks like you made a new friend.” Zach helped Kayn to her feet and brushed the dirt and leaves off her.
“I’m sorry about that. She’s a little bit territorial.” Kevin apologized.
“Also, a little bit certifiably insane but she grows on you.” Patrick added with an apologetic smile.
She looked at Kevin and asked the question on the tip of her tongue, “Is she your girlfri
end?”
Kevin bluntly said, “Hell no… I’m not a girlfriend kind of guy.”
Not a girlfriend kind of guy. This cool act was hilarious. Kayn could tell that he really didn’t know her. He was curious about her, but he didn’t remember who she was at all. She couldn’t help herself as she questioned, “You really don’t remember me?”
Melody put her arm around Kayn and said, “Alright…We have a few things to do. See you boys later.” As she led Kayn away from the dock, she whispered, “You’re doing good hun. Just keep walking away.” As they strolled back to the motorhome Melody quietly said, “You can get on with your life. You now know for sure that his memory was erased. He’s fine. He seems happy.”
He wasn’t fine…He wasn’t himself. Kayn didn’t say anything; she just kept walking away. When they reached the motorhome Kayn followed Melody inside in silence. What was there to say? Frost, Markus and Orin were sitting at the table together having a drink. They abruptly stopped laughing when they walked in. Orin gave Melody an uncomfortable smile and they continued down the hall to the bunks. Her friend’s awkward, ‘who’s your daddy’ situation was a little bit comical. Kayn announced, “On the bright side, your dad is smoking hot.”
Melody laughed and said, “That’s gross Brighton. Almost as gross as the fact that I know he broke up with Jenna and then impregnated her mortal double.”
Kayn stretched out beside Melody on the bunk and pointed out, “I imagine a break up after a thousand years would be a bit of a gong show.”
“They can probably hear everything we’re saying.” Melody whispered.
Kayn stared at the bunk above her as she teased, “Awkward, I just called your dad hot in front of Frost.”
The bathroom door opened and Jenna appeared with a grin. On some occasions when you have embarrassed yourself to a certain degree you might as well just go for gold. “Apparently, I also called your dad hot in front of his ex-girlfriend.” Kayn added.
“Orin’s always been hot,” Jenna teased. “Yes, I knew all about Melody’s mother and our breakup definitely was a gong show.” Jenna sat down on the bunk across from them.