by Shawn Reilly
“Oh the irony,” Ari rose to his feet. “Life never ceases to amaze me.”
“The car’s here. I saw it from the roof.” Nixon moved alongside them and regarded Ari as he spoke. Other than a quick glance her way he disregarded her presence. Nixon was healed but his short cropped hair stuck up in odd ways with matted blood. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt, red shirt under that and jeans, and he reminded Elle of a high school jock. The kind of boy all the girl’s wanted to date. “You will be lucky if you don’t have to walk to the Plaza now,” he said.
“Come on, you have to admit that was funny.”
“Ari,” Nixon rolled his eyes, gesturing with his finger upward in an exaggerated manner, “I found Asher listening up there to you guys down here. Kennedy called Asher and she wanted to talk to me so I stayed behind long enough to catch her up on things. I’m not sure what you two were talking about but he wasn’t in the best of moods when I showed up.”
“How do you know?”
“Oh I know the signs, the breathing, the clenched jaw and that ever so pensive peel the paint off the walls frown. He was mad dude and when he heard you talking about the book, that’s when he took off.”
“All right, I’ll back off.” Ari applied a hand to Nixon’s head. He roughed up his messy hair even more. “You look horrible.” They started down the stairs and by the bottom Ari had his arm around Nixon’s shoulders. Once they were outside he gave him a hug. Elle felt like an intruder so she stayed back. She couldn’t take her eyes off the two. She had always wanted a sibling to care about as they obviously cared about one another.
“You scared me when I couldn’t find you. You know I can’t pick up your scent,” Ari told him. “That’s why you shifted back wasn’t it?”
“I thought I could give you a holler but I blacked out.”
“Nixon that’s dangerous.” Ari sounded truly worried. “What happened?”
“I saw Steve go after her,” Nixon glanced back and then put his back to her again, “so I took off and that big hawk happened. He bomb-dived me and sent me head first into the billboard. I hit my head on a lamp thing and smacked the rooftop. Asher fixed me up though. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“I’m just glad we found you. The Gothi were in the neighborhood.”
Nixon’s footsteps faltered. “It seems they share a lot in common with Steve and his Blackbirds lately.”
“Yeah, we’ll talk about that later,” Ari said.
Up until the point Ari turned back to regard Elle, she had been moving slowly in the opposite direction up the street. Without his coat he wore nothing but a thin blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and jeans. Suddenly remembering she was wearing his coat she stopped just as the lights of a vehicle parked along the curb shone in her eyes. Ari hurriedly came back to where she stood and snatched her hand away from the zipper.
Firmly holding her hand in his he started urging her alongside him towards the curb. “Don’t be silly. The car’s warm inside. Besides, I’m a dog. I have a higher tolerance for cold.”
Any other time she would have jumped on a chance to volley back some clever retort as she had proven to Asher, especially when it was delivered with such a devious invitation but she suddenly felt very miserable. She didn’t want to say goodbye to any of them. She didn’t want to be alone again.
“Then how will I give it back to you. I may never see you again.”
She noticed a white headed man, in a chauffeur’s uniform getting out of the parked vehicle, and hesitated. Up until then, she hadn’t noticed the car was a limousine and that the limo was for them, the Lakes with their huge skyscraper and hotel.
“Hello George,” Ari greeted him, “good to see you again.”
Nixon stood back as the chauffeur opened the door on the limo. Elle didn’t understand why he just couldn’t have opened it himself. She pulled her hand free of Ari’s and started working on the zipper again. When Ari realized what she was doing, he positioned his body behind her, placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, and gently pushed her in the direction of the opened door of the limo.
“He’ll just find you Elle,” he whispered in her ear. “Make the right choice and get inside.”
She could see Asher sitting on the seat, head lowered and looking just as agitated as before. She didn’t want to get inside. She didn’t want to go into their expensive hotel where she didn’t belong. Asher didn’t appear to care if she got in or not which only accentuated the vibe she had previously picked up. On the stairs Ari seemed to be reasoning with her but now that the time had come, he acted far more forceful in the matter of her coming with them.
“Come on, shake it or break it!” Nixon called out.
“I can pick you up?” Ari taunted in a singsong voice, mouth close enough to her ear she could feel the warmth of his breath. “I can make the choice for you.”
Ari was relentless and she believed he would actually carry through with his threat, and Elle wanted to go. She wanted to feel safe, at least for one night. Lowering down, she climbed in. Seeing that Nixon was sitting directly in the center of the seat opposite Asher, making the already awkward moment even more awkward, Elle hurried up and sat down next to Asher.
“Good choice,” Ari said behind her. His phone vibrated three quick chirps and he lingered outside to take the call. Elle glanced his way helplessly wishing he would hurry. Ari could be forward at times but she felt better when he was around. In just the short time she had been with him, in the things he said to her, and the way he treated both his brother and Nixon she knew he was a compassionate soul. Nixon cleared his throat drawing Elle’s attention to him.
“So I take it you’ve never been in a limo before.” He grinned. “It’s not that bad. Asher doesn’t bite…much.” Then turning to Ari, he yelled, “Dude, come on. I’m hungry and I need a shower.”
“Brother get inside or we’re leaving without you,” Asher warned.
Ari gave a rushed goodbye and climbed in. He sent a smile her way and then without regard or tact he intentionally fell on Nixon’s lap. Nixon grunted loudly, hit him and then a fight quickly ensued as they fought over seat rights. Nervously, Elle chuckled and swung her head.
“Get off me you smelly dog.” Nixon pushed Ari away when he acted as though he would kiss him.
“I’m sorry,” Asher sighed. “There just aren’t any words to describe my brothers.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” she said.
“No, I see that it doesn’t.” Asher’s tone made Elle turn to him, only to find him looking back at her. Her grin faded as he turned away toward the window. She wasn’t sure of his meaning, but whatever the implication was, it was enough to break up the love-grudge match between Ari and Nixon. As they settled down on opposite sides, Ari with his feet resting on Nixon’s lap they fell into momentary painful silence.
George shut the door and they were soon moving. The limo pulled to a stop at the light and Elle’s eyes mechanically traveled toward the rundown, flat front of the homeless shelter. Two men in shabby coats stood before the door smoking. Elle remembered the place well. Even though there was a separate section for women, she had gotten little sleep for fear of being attacked or robbed. That night while she lay crying quietly, Julio had been the only one that she should have been worried about. She involuntarily gasped. She couldn’t help it. Clear as day she could see the car, the pea green mustang parked along the curb. Her eyes darted to Ari’s and in the flash of an oncoming car, he gave her a nod.
“I told you,” he softly said. “It will be all right. We’ll be your guardians.”
“Yeah,” Nixon said, “whatever impression we might have given you with the whole dog fight and all—no pun intended Ari—you’re totally safe with us.” And then turning his head in Asher’s direction, he shrugged, “Well with me and the dog anyway.”
“Who was on the phone?” Asher snapped plainly finding the need to change the subject.
“Kennedy,” Ari said. “She was worried about us a
nd she said the kid’s driving her nuts. She keeps asking for her.” Ari gestured with his chin at her Elle. “Not her mom.”
“Well Mary’s very angry with her mom,” Elle said. “She’s not a bad girl. She’s actually very smart.” She turned to Asher. “She really likes your books.” He gave her a somewhat staggered nod. That was all. He didn’t seem to know what else to do, so he focused his gaze out the widow once more.
Ari closely watched his brother as he spoke, even though his words were directed toward her. “Why don’t you take this time to explain how you came to play a part in the life of Grant’s child, neighbor lady? I know I’ve heard some but they haven’t.”
Nervousness played a part in her talking. At times her teeth actually chattered. Elle told them about the first time she spotted Mary on the alphabet rug at the library, to Steve trying to take her, and how she stopped him. She explained how later when she was walking home, he surprised her on the street corner as she was reading the new book, and chased her into a building. Then how Mea’s eyes got when Mary recanted the story to her mom, and said that Steve told her Grant was still alive. She told every last detail up until the point they appeared. No one asked questions.
They just listened attentively and seriously. The only thing that eventually stopped her excessive rambling was the growing red glow in the dark vehicle generated from Asher’s eyes. Even though he tried to conceal them with his hands, Asher was fuming and she wasn’t even sure what she had said to set him off. As the lights of the city came into view, Asher let out a frustrated groan.
“Problem brother?” Ari asked.
Asher cast a look his way. “I don’t have my glasses. Tell me how I’m supposed to get inside without being gawked at. Thanks to you setting me off back at the pickup, the chauffeur almost saw me but I jumped in the limo before he could make a true visual.”
“I thought outsiders couldn’t see you. I just assumed he was an ani—”
“Don’t,” Asher put up a finger sending his fiery rays her way, “dare utter another word. You are not ignorant as your colorful vocabulary has testified to, so don’t ask me to believe you could possibly entertain the notion that the world consists only of our kind. No it does not. We coexist. It’s when we don’t want people to know we’re lurking about for reasons that are different to the nature of modern man, such as when we fight among ourselves, and play with blue lightening that we put up a magic barrier, but this,” he waved a hand over his face, “is a freak of nature even in my own world. But I forgot my brother has already enlightened you to the trivia’s of Asher Lake, so I need not explain any further. I can’t hide this to anyone!”
“And that is what we call an Assher tantrum,” Ari said putting a bigger emphasis on the first part of the name. “He’s prone to them.”
“Shut up Arimus!” Asher evenly said.
“Well you’re obviously not afraid of the chauffeur hearing you.” Elle retorted without regard. “I’m sorry that I made you mad but don’t go all ape-crap. Can’t you just turn them off like Cyclopes?”
Asher jerked his body around so that he was facing her on the seat. “I am not an ape like that thug back at the abandoned building or a Cyclopes. I have two eyes—two very angry eyes and I can’t just turn off anger!”
Elle thought for a moment. “That man was an ape, no wonder he moved funny. And I wasn’t referring to a Cyclopes but the character Cyclopes. You know the guy with the laser beam eyes in X Men? Ironically, that was the movie that Mary tripped over when Steve was trying to take her. I guess it just popped into my head.”
“Oh my God, it’s a lost cause. This is a lost cause.” The last of Asher’s words were directed at Ari.
“Cool it—both of you,” Nixon exclaimed before Ari could say a word. “Now I know how you guys feel about me and Kennedy.” Throwing an arm behind him, he knocked on the window. A second later the chauffeur shoved a dark tinted window aside. “Hey George, got those glasses you occasionally loan me. My brother’s got himself a little hangover and the lights are hurting his eyes.”
“Nixon Lake,” Ari kicked at him, “and pubs are not just for drinking, huh?”
“Here you go Master Nix,” George laughed and tossed a pair through. They landed on the floor and Asher bent over and picked them up. The leather seat and his coat creaked as he moved. The glasses were black and obscure and instantaneously when Asher put them on, darkness followed.
Nixon rested his head back. “Who needs a nightlight when we have Asher Lake, the multi-functioning tool.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mistaken Identity
Nixon thoughtfully ran the towel through his wet hair while Ari waited on him to answer. Asher had locked himself in the bathroom the second they arrived. An hour later while hanging out in Asher’s room, to give Elle privacy in his, Ari was still waiting his turn to get cleaned up. He poured an ample amount of whiskey into his coke, before he sat in the chair. Asher’s room wasn’t as luxurious as his, but it was warm and well stocked with booze which at the time Ari wanted.
Typically he wasn’t a drinker on any level, except for an occasional glass of wine with a lady, but this night was different. The only times Asher drank was when he felt out of control, and he often felt that way whenever he was away from the manor which was why his bar was fully stocked. In the outside world, apart from the magical protection of his barrier, Asher felt helpless.
“I don’t know man,” Nixon said. “I get it. She’s the woman in his drawings but I’m not so sure I know about anything else…yet.”
“You deny the facts.” Ari let his gaze go past Nixon to Asher standing in the door of the bathroom. He stood in a towel only, with dripping wet hair, brow raised.
“Enlighten us Ari just what are those facts,” Asher said.
The water had stopped running a long time ago. Ari had taken the chance that he would be listening and inwardly Ari hoped he would be. “Don’t you think this needs to be discussed Asher?”
Reaching back into the bathroom, Asher pulled a towel off a rack and rubbed it over his head. The white towel only made his jet black hair appear even darker. When he was finished he ran his fingers through the black layers to untangle them and then shook it. Tossing the towel on the floor behind him he pushed Nixon out of the way, and crossed the room.
“Fine, but give me a chance to get dressed. Two men in towels in the same room is a little disconcerting.” Nixon blew him a kiss which Asher ignored. He went to the closet and flung open the double doors and just stood there. “Why does nothing in here look like mine?”
“Oh about that,” Nixon went to him, “I didn’t think you would mind since you’re never here. My closet got a little full after my last shopping expo.”
“But…where are my clothes?” Asher demanded.
“Here,” Nixon pulled out a shirt, “wear this it will make your eyes standout.”
Asher snatched the shirt from his grasp. “As alarming as that statement made me feel coming from a half-naked man, you cannot possibly think I could fit into your clothes. For your sake there better be at least some pants in my size, since I am in fact taller.”
Nixon sent a pleading look over his shoulder in Ari’s direction. Laughing, Ari pulled his tired aching body out of the chair and started across the room, drink in hand. “Calm down you two. I hear the water running which means Elle’s taking a bath. I’ll sneak in and get you some pants. Besides, Kennedy’s being a brat. I wanna make sure she’s getting Elle some clothes.”
“Why?” Asher and both Nixon surprised Ari in unison.
He put his back to the door. “I just thought Elle could use some fresh clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that. The stores are closed or I would have sent Martaugh shopping.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “That is an obvious assumption Arimus but why is Kennedy being a brat?”
Ari shrugged, “I don’t know. Why is she a brat any other time?”
“I know,” Nixon answered rummaging through the closet fo
r clothes for himself. “She’s all uptight about Elle. Come on man she’s drop dead gorgeous even behind the grody clothes and bruises. She’s the reason I got hurt to begin with. I was scoping her out and that hawk took advantage of the situation. And when I woke up to see her crying on the rooftop I was ready to do it all over again, especially when she rushed right at me and played Nurse Betty. She took hold of my head like, oh my God you’re hurt like, and I was like, remember dude she’s Asher’s girl—”
“She is not my girl,” Asher objected.
Ari took the time to think about the situation. Asher could have put the emphasis on any word in that sentence but instead he had placed it on the word ‘my’ and then the way he behaved in the limo came to mind. Asher had noticed the way Elle watched him playing around with Nixon. And Nixon had already pointed out the fact that Asher’s behavior on the roof had surprised him. Asher went out of his way to avoid confrontations and eye contract with women but not with Elle.
“Why would Kennedy be uptight about Elle, she’s a girl just like she is.” Asher was trying at least to understand. Usually he didn’t care enough to even pay attention or call Kennedy by her name, let alone ask.
“Well that’s just it.” Nixon pulled out a white jacket and pushed it at Asher. Mechanically Asher took the garment. Ari wasn’t even sure he noticed. He seemed intent on watching Nixon for a response instead.
“Kennedy’s had to deal with her face for the last year when she’s use to being the only girl around us, especially around you Asher.” He glanced up to see them staring. Things were making sense to Ari but he wasn’t so sure about his less experienced brother. “I mean I could be wrong but I think she’s just jealous.”
“What do you mean especially around Asher?” Asher asked third person, again Ari wasn’t so sure he even noticed what he did.
This time Ari decided to interject because he knew something Nixon only thought he knew. “He means because Kennedy knows the possible significance of Elle to you, and ever since Kennedy was a child, she’s done nothing but crush on you.”