Academy Obscura

by J. J. Krzemien

  After a quick text exchange, I got dressed and walked the short distance to Elena’s house. I let myself in. Waving to her parents, I jogged up the stairs to her bedroom.

  She was an only child, so she had everything. Her room was the epitome of girly-girl decorated in white and pink. It was like living inside a barbie house. Too many frills for me.

  For the first time it occurred to me that leaving to live in the dorms was probably going to be harder for her than me. She’d lived here her entire life. What an experience that would be.

  “So what’s up? Tell me.” She sat on her bed, and I joined her.

  “This.” I handed over the letter.

  She read it. Her eyes growing wide. She smiled. “This is great news! I’m so happy for you. I just can’t believe it’s taken this long.”

  “I know. I’m still trying to get my head around it.” Taking the letter back, I read it again. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Is that even a question?” Elena looked at me like I was crazy.

  “I guess not. It’s just—” I sighed, bringing my legs up and crossing them. “I don’t want to be disappointed. What if she’s wrong and I’m not her granddaughter?”

  “I’m sure she’s done lots of research. She had to have gotten your records in order to find you. How many other Caprice Sorrentino’s can there be? With your date and place of birth, and who’re in the foster system? Like none.”

  “Right.”

  Elena threw a pillow at me. “Come on, this is so exciting!”

  I smiled. “You’re so my cheerleader.” Though the words were sarcastic, Elena always encouraged me when I needed it most.

  A frown crossed over her delicate Italian features. “What happened last night? At that party? I mean, you told me some, but…what happened?”

  I slid the letter into my back pocket. “That guy tried to rape me.”

  “Oh my God, are you all right?” Elena reached out to take my hand. “We should report him. Call the cops.”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t even get a good look at him. I’d only be able to give them a vague descriptions. And I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. Just freaked me out.” For some reason I couldn’t explain, I didn’t want to go into he details of the mind control and glowing eyes. Plus, he’d said I wasn’t human. How freaky was that? My chest clenched. I pushed the familiar feeling of panic back down. Why were his words bringing up this old anxiety?

  I shrugged off the feeling. “I think we should be more careful, though. Last night…I feel like I was lucky that it didn’t turn out worse.”

  “Yeah, I totally agree. From now on, we stick together at parties.”

  “Deal.”

  “Want to get out of here?” Elena asked.

  “Sure.” We spent another long day at the beach. The warmth and relaxation helped me to almost forget about last night. It was hard to imagine predators even existing on such a perfect day.

  I returned home late. Antonio was waiting up for me in the living room. He motioned for me to come sit on the couch. It was after ten o’clock and Vanessa had already turned in.

  I sat down. “What’s up?”

  “I have some good news for you.”

  My heart squeezed. I waited for him to continue.

  “I looked into your grandma. Her name is Isabella Sorrentino and she is the late Luca Sorrentino’s mother. She lives in Estacada, Oregon, which is right outside of Portland. Before she retired, she had a long career as a nurse.”

  Since it was my grandmother contacting me, I’d figured my birth father was either dead or in jail. Still, the shock of knowing he was gone made my stomach drop.

  “So she’s legit?” I asked.

  “You have the same last name. I know your father’s not listed on your birth certificate, so we can’t be one hundred percent positive. But, I did see Luca Sorrentino’s drivers license picture, and there’s no overlooking the family resemblance.”

  I swallowed the lump wedged in my throat. “Can I go see her?”

  Antonio nodded. “Of course you can. But I don’t want you to be in her debt, in case anything…happens. So I bought you a plane ticket. You’re leaving the first week in August.”

  I leaned into him and gave him a bearhug. “Thank you! That means so much to me.”

  He returned the hug, then pulled away. From his suit coat pocket, he pulled out the printed plane ticket information. “Don’t lose this.” He handed it to me.

  “Thank you. Although, I’ll pay you back for it some day.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Caprice. Consider it a graduation present. I know that’s hard for you, but just accept it. All right?”

  “Okay.” I stood. “Thanks again. Goodnight.” I went upstairs. A mix of excitement and fear swirled in my gut. I really had a grandma. What if she didn’t like me?

  August was only a couple of weeks away, I needed to think about packing. And what to wear that would make a good impression. I’d ask Elena, she was always much better at that kind of stuff.

  I knew she was still awake, so I sent her a text with the good news. We texted back and forth until two in the morning.

  The morning of my trip finally arrived. I was filled with the jitters. Elena was on vacation with her family, and Max was still at summer camp, so only Vanessa and Antonio saw me off at the airport.

  With Elena’s help, I was all packed. She’d made me borrow a couple of her more conservative dresses, just in case grandma was old-fashioned. I was also required to pack a sweater. Apparently it could get cold in Oregon, even in August. I didn’t believe that. But whatever.

  “Remember,” Antonio said, “when you’re ready to come home, you call the airlines and set a return date. If you need to come home sooner than that, just call me.”

  I nodded.

  “And check in every Sunday. Just send me or Vanessa a text. Okay?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I am an adult, you know.”

  “I know. But humor me until you’re in college.”

  I hugged him and Vanessa goodbye.

  The flight was long. So long. I didn’t know it was possible to stay in the air that many hours. We had one short stopover in Denver. Then the plane continued onto Portland, Oregon.

  Between Denver and Portland I dozed. The dream snippet was a familiar one—recurring for at least the past several years. I was in a dark room with dirty brown carpet. It was nighttime. The shouting started from downstairs. “Clumsy bitch! Deserves the belt!” Panicked, I ran down the hall to the stairs. In the living room, tears streamed down the face of a little girl. Everything exploded in red.

  I jolted awake in the airplane seat. Always the same dream. But what did it mean?

  “We’ll be landing in Portland, Oregon in twenty minutes.” A voice came through the cabin speakers.

  When we landed, of course, my sense of time was all messed up. My internal clock said it was ten at night, but the local time was only seven. It was bright and sunny outside, with a temperature of seventy-nine degrees. At least that’s what the flight attendant said as we taxied in.

  I grabbed my carry-on once the plane had stopped rolling, then shuffled out with the rest of the people. My grandma had said someone would meet me at the gate and drive me to her house. Apparently, Estacada was about forty minutes from the airport.

  As I exited the secured section, I searched around for whoever Isabella had sent. She hadn’t told me anything about how I was supposed to recognize them.

  I scanned the crowd that waited for their loved ones. My gaze fell on the cardboard sign first. It read: Sorrentino. Then my eyes traveled upward to take in a well-built chest, broad shoulders, a square jaw, and piercing grey eyes under wavy blond hair.

  Maybe he was here for a different Sorrentino. Because grandma couldn’t possibly be associated with a hunk like that, could she?

  The man approached. He was a little older than me, my guess was early twenties.

  “Caprice Sorrentino?” he asked. My heart flutter
ed as he said my name.

  I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I’m Caprice.”

  He smiled, extending his hand. “Jaxon McIver.” His hand was warm, dry, and strong. I blushed as I shook it, hoping he wouldn’t notice my reaction to him. “Welcome to Oregon, Caprice.”

  3

  Caprice

  I sat in the passenger seat of the SUV as Jaxon drove us out of Portland and into the country. So far we’d chatted about the weather and the differences between the east and west coast, while shooting furtive glances at each other. Damn he was hot.

  To avoid staring at him, I gazed out the window. We traveled along a winding river with evergreens and big maples all around.

  He broke the silence that had been building between us for the past few minutes. “So, you’re Isabella’s granddaughter?”

  I allowed myself a glance at his perfectly masculine face. “Shouldn’t you have made sure of that before you picked me up at the airport?”

  He chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. “I know you’re her granddaughter. I was just hoping for some…more information.”

  “You mean you want the inside scoop?” I continued to look out the window to keep a clear head. Just sitting next to this guy was overwhelming. It was like his presence was too big for the inside of the SUV. It pressed against me, and I was in danger of being swallowed up in it.

  “You could say that,” he said.

  “Well, I’ve been in foster care since I was three. I really didn’t think I had any other family. Then a few weeks ago, I got a letter from Isabella saying she had been looking for me for years. Now I’m here. How do you know her?” I was most curious about that.

  “I’m a family friend. I’ve known Isabella all my life. She’s an amazing woman, I think you’ll like her.”

  The trees gave way to farmland before we entered a town. We drove through a small, dingy downtown area, then out into more trees.

  I turned to look behind us. “Was that Estacada?”

  “Part of it.”

  “So she doesn’t live in town?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Just outside. We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

  We drove on the narrow two lane road as it twisted and turned through the trees, until Jaxon made a right onto a long driveway. At the end was an adorable Victorian style house. Surrounded by an extensive vegetable and herb garden.

  Jaxon parked the SUV right in front. “I’ll grab your bags.” He turned to get out of the vehicle. With each movement his back muscles rippled under the fitted black T-shirt. I caught myself staring after him, snapping my mouth shut.

  Never in my life had I been so distracted by a guy—especially a hot one, who was probably secretly an asshole. Although he’d been nice enough on the ride here.

  Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I let myself out of the SUV.

  The screen door slammed shut, and out walked a short woman with long silver hair. Her curvy figure was clothed in a sundress. She had to be in her sixties, but there was a fun-loving youthfulness in her face and appearance.

  “Caprice!” Her husky voice called, as she stretched her arms wide.

  I smiled, letting her embrace me. She kissed both my cheeks, then stood at arms length, evaluating me.

  Her gaze was kind as it surveyed me from head to toe. Up close, her face showed permanent laugh lines around her mouth and eyes. This was a woman who enjoyed life. Who went with the flow and made the best of any situation. At least that’s what I saw in her.

  “You are a Sorrentino. Look at you!” Isabella said. “Come, we have much to talk about.”

  Jaxon followed us into the house. He went up the stairs, my gaze following his easy movements as he carried both my suitcases. Then I turned my attention to the inside of the house.

  The place was done up in an elegant style. Polished wood floors were covered with subtle floral-patterned area rugs. Striped wallpaper, gleaming baseboards, high ceilings. All the furniture was wood and upholstery. It was the most magnificent house I’d ever seen.

  Grandma Isabella led us into the kitchen where a wall of windows let in the evening light. The aroma of baked cheese and herbs hit my nose. My stomach growled. I’d snacked on the plane, but hadn’t had a full meal since breakfast.

  “I’m glad you’re hungry,” she said. “Sit, please.”

  I sat at the rustic farmhouse table in the middle of the enormous kitchen. Isabella pulled a casserole from the oven, setting it on the stovetop. My mouth watered just looking at it.

  Jaxon walked in, and my gaze shifted to him. He stood with his thumbs shoved into his jean pockets, exuding ease and confidence. Yet I sensed some deeper power in him—he was formidable.

  “Are you staying for dinner?” Isabella asked.

  My stomach erupted in butterflies. Part of me wanted to spend more time with this beautiful man. But another part knew that I’d be too nervous to eat. My food would end up all down my shirt, and it would be a disaster.

  Jaxon shook his head. “Not tonight. I need to head home.” He approached her, kissing her on the cheek. He turned to me. “It was nice to meet you, Caprice.” His grey eyes held mine for a long moment. Then he left.

  I mentally kicked myself for freezing up. I’d never been so pulled in by a guy before—actually that wasn’t true. The memory of the creep at the beach party sprang up. He’d lured me in with…compulsion? Whatever that was. It had freaked me out. I never wanted to be that easily taken in again. I’d have to keep my guard up around Jaxon, because something about him threatened to lure me in.

  Isabella had made Eggplant Parmesan, which was amazingly delicious. I hadn’t been very good at contributing to the conversation while we ate. She seemed to recognize that I wasn’t being rude, I was just starving.

  After dinner there was strawberry ice cream for dessert. We took our bowls to the sunroom, watching the last rays of daylight disappear.

  Isabella sat next to me on a rattan daybed. “You must have a million questions for me,” she said. “But I’d like to start, if that’s okay?”

  I nodded, sucking on my spoon.

  She set her mostly full bowl of ice cream aside. “I didn’t want to tell you any of this over the phone given…the nature of it.” Her brow furrowed, her eyes filled with sadness. The happy, easy-going Isabella was gone. This woman looked many decades older, tired, and filled with sorrow.

  I let my spoon drop into my bowl. All of my attention on her, as my stomach filled with dread.

  “Do you know how your mother died?” she asked.

  I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. “Yeah. She was mugged and shot.” I didn’t remember any of it, just the details my case worker had shared with me when I was old enough.

  Isabella licked her lips. “Your father didn’t know about you until a few years after you were born. Your mother finally sent him a letter, it must have been only a few months before her tragic death. The problem was, she didn’t tell him where she was living. He searched, but without any solid information, he couldn’t find you. And he had no idea your mother had died, and you’d been gobbled up by the foster system. Since your mother was an immigrant, it was even harder to search for you.”

  A whole array of emotions warred inside me. For so long, I’d thought he’d left because of me. When in reality, he hadn’t even known I’d existed. My stomach twisted with a mix of sadness, relief, and anger at the unfairness of it all.

  Isabella continued, “He died when you were about five years old. In a fight with some locals.” Her brow creased, she blinked several times, then swallowed hard. “I didn’t know about you, or his search for you, until several years after his was gone. That’s when I went looking for you.”

  “How did you find me?” I asked.

  “With sheer luck.” Isabella snorted. “An old friend of your father’s works in the admissions office at University of Maryland Baltimore. When she saw you, she called me. That’s how strongly you resemble your father.”

  I slow
ly nodded, taking this all in. “Why…why did he leave my mother?”

  Isabella’s tan face turned a deep crimson. “I hope you will forgive me. Jaxon is a phone call away if you want to leave.” She drew in a shaky breath, not meeting my eyes. “It was my fault.” Her voice broke. “I didn’t think she was good enough for him. I tore them apart. I’m so sorry.”

  The silence grew heavy between us. I tried to wrap my brain around what she was saying. My father hadn’t abandoned us because he’d wanted to. My parents might even have loved each other, but not enough. My life would have been completely different if it weren’t for this woman sabotaging it.

  When I could finally speak again, I asked, “Why did you think she wasn’t good enough?”

  “It’s so stupid, looking back on it now. But I wanted him to marry an Italian-American. And one of us. When he fell in love with a woman from Cyprus, well…” Her mournful eyes found mine. “Do you wish to leave?”

  I shook my head. She may have ruined my life, but she was the only family I had. And, she seemed to feel horrible about what she’d done to me.

  “I’m glad you want to stay.” She took some bites of half-melted ice cream. “I’ve set some things in place… in an attempt to make up for what I’ve done. I know nothing will ever be enough to change the past, but perhaps your future can be happier.”

  Her lips lifted in a sad smile. “Your father was an only child, so I’ve made you my heir. I had a good feeling about you, after speaking with you on the phone. I will also be covering your college tuition. Maybe Europe for college?”

  I set the bowl down in my lap so I wouldn’t drop it. With a few sentences, my entire life had changed. I’d been planning on finding a job so that I could work full-time and attend college, to minimize the amount of debt I’d graduate with.

  “I-I can’t—you don’t even know me,” I said. People didn’t just give you everything, did they? My mind reeled with the implications of what she was offering. Paying for college? Traveling to Europe?