“Chel,” I said, her fingers stopping on the handle. “Were you on a date?”
Her gaze darted from me to the door. “It’s no big deal, Tay. Zack will understand.”
Guilt washed through me. “Chel, don’t do that. I’ll be fine by myself. I’m not ruining your date tonight. Well, anymore than I already have.”
She pursed her lips to one side in her don’t-insult-my-intelligence look. “I’m not leaving you alone. Not after what happened. Besides if Zack doesn’t understand then he isn’t worth my time.”
“But—”
“No.” She pushed the door open and climbed out. “I’ll be right back,” she said and flung the door shut.
Chel was in the middle of the front yard when I made a choice. She really liked Zack, not like her usual pass-the-time dates. And this was Grandma’s house. Surely, I’d be safe here.
I grabbed an extra pair of sandals from the backseat and shoved the car door open. “Chel.”
She turned. “What?”
“Wait up.” I limped to join her. “Maybe a party will get my mind off that jerk.” I had to sound convincing or she’d drag me back to the car herself.
She eyed me suspiciously. “Tay, you look pretty beat up. You don’t have to do this.”
I shrugged. She knew me too well. “Hey, if Grandma’s hosting the party, it’s bound to be interesting.” I pasted on a fake grin.
“Tay,” she said in that don’t-mess-with-me tone.
“Chel.” I put my hand on her shoulder and looked into her blue eyes. “I’m going.”
“Fine, but if you need to leave, tell me.”
I nodded, feeling a little nervousness return. But Chel had saved me from Kyle and the grungy gas station bathroom. I at least owed her this much.
She linked arms with me. “Maria broke out the s’mores before I left and started telling her awesome werewolf legends. Have to say I’m a bit jealous. They were so enthralled I doubt they even realized I left.”
“Not even Zack?”
She scuffed. “He barely nodded when I told him I’d be right back. Seriously, a girl questions her ability to entice when they pull crap like that.”
I chuckled. Chel was irritated. Poor, unsuspecting Zack. If he didn’t redeem himself soon, he was in for heartache. Chel teased and flirted with guys, until they wanted her. And if they didn’t treat her just right, she’d drop them cold. It was a dangerous game she played, but Chel never listened to my warnings. Then again, I obviously didn’t have any better taste in guys.
“There is nothing funny about it.” Chel flicked a curl out of her face.
I wasn’t going to get into it with her. “Walk faster, I need some chocolate,” and the heat from the fire was sounding really good about now.
We walked around back. I could hear Grandma’s voice carrying through the night from the backyard, and the collective gasps of her audience. I stopped cold in my tracks, catching a glimpse of myself in one of Grandma’s windows lit by a corner light.
“What’s wrong?” Chel faced me.
“I can’t go out there looking like this.” I pointed to the red, puffy eyes and tear-streaked face in the reflection.
Chel looked stunned for a moment before an understanding smile spread over her face. She rummaged in her purse. “Not to worry. I always carry emergency supplies.”
She whipped the concealer stick under my eyes and powdered my face in the moonlight. I ran a comb through my tangled hair. She stepped back and grinned, admiring her thirty second job.
She nodded. “You can hardly tell you’ve been crying. And, in the dark, no one will notice your knees.”
“Good. Thanks.” I hooked her arm in mine and we walked into the backyard before Chel could see my lip quiver.
This will be fun. I lied to myself.
Flames danced against the house in the black night. The portable fire pit was in the middle of the backyard, with a circle of my peers staring at Grandma. I plopped onto the soda cooler while Chel took her place next to Zack. She handed me a much needed chocolate bar. I didn’t hesitate to rip off the wrapper and bite into the dark morsel. Sweet chocolate coated my tongue, and for a moment, the world was right again.
Grandma swayed her arms, bracelets clinking, as she painted a verbal picture of a forest and a wolf lurking in its depths. “The man returned to his village to find it engulfed in flames. The murderers herded off the women and children to sell as slaves.” The firelight licked across Grandma’s tie-dyed orange and red t-shirt as she sat on the edge of her plastic lawn chair. “He gazed at his home littered with the lifeless bodies of his brethren. The cries of the children curdled his blood and he called upon the wolf spirit to give him strength to slaughter his enemy. He felt the power rip through his body and fell to the earth, howling as he transformed into a powerful beast.”
I recognized many of the fire-lit faces around me from several parties Chel had drug me to, but my eyes stopped cold on one—Todd. He was there with a petite girl that looked like a China doll in his dark arms. His chin rested on the top of her perfect blonde locks.
When had that happened? Doesn’t matter, does it? At least he looked happy. A zing of loss pricked my chest. Would that have been me with Todd if Kyle hadn’t asked me to sit with him that first day in the lunch room?
I snorted lightly. As if Todd would want me. I was trouble. Cursed. Only I could move to a new town, date the richest, hottest guy in school and have him turn out to be a possessive, scary jerk. Chel’s gaze flicked toward me, but I waved off her concern.
I focused on Grandma as she delivered the end of her tale.
“With the blood of his people avenged, he gave one last howl. It ripped the air with his grief and conquest, sending the spirits of the dead to the land beyond. Exhausted, he fell to the ground and transformed back from wolf to man.”
A hush fell over the group. It was so quiet that I could hear the crackle of the fire.
“Come on, Mrs. J, tell us another one,” someone begged.
“Yeah,” a few more people chimed in.
Grandma smiled, loving the attention. “I suppose I could tell one more.”
Her gaze swept across the group and suddenly fell on me. She blinked in surprise. I was afraid she would say something, put me on the spot, but instead she gave me a wink and launched into another legend.
“The heavens have a secret. A secret as old as time itself.”
Hearing Grandma start my favorite legend sent fuzzy warmth around me, like a well-worn blanket from my childhood. It was then that I understood her wink. She was telling it for me. Could she sense something was wrong? I ignored the thought as Grandma continued to weave her spell over her audience.
“Watching from their celestial perch, beings of light, called Stars, dwelled in its depth, recording the doings of the planets. Strictly observers, they were forbidden to interfere with the inhabitants of the planets, for doing so required a great sacrifice. But one star chose to tamper with fate, ignoring the warnings from her brothers and sisters. She felt drawn to a particular human—a boy that gazed up at her with such longing. It intrigued her to watch him. Could he really see her, out of all the other celestial stars? For years, she watched the boy grow to a man. He was a mighty protector of his village, who preferred the solitude of the forest over the companionship of the village people.
“She was content watching his life unfold and knowing he had many years before he would die—many nights to gaze up at her with that crooked smile on his otherwise stern face. But then, one night something threatened to take it all away. And in that moment, fate changed.”
There was an audible intake of breath from the group. Pride swelled inside me. Maria was the coolest grandma ever, and she was mine. The firelight cast a glow on Grandma’s face, transforming it to an evil sneer.
“That fateful night, wolves surrounded the human she’d grown to love, lunging and ripping at his flesh.” Grandma snapped her teeth for emphasis. “His agony carved at her soul, un
til she could no longer stand to watch his life slowly bleed from him. She hurled herself from the heavens. Down she flew through the atmosphere: burning, transforming, and growing smaller until she smashed into the ground, driving the wolves away. Crawling out of a smoldering crater not far from the man, she curled his bloody body into her now human arms, and with a kiss, she breathed into him the healing power of the universe.
“They married and lived for many years with love and joy, but eventually the star lost her beauty to mortality while her beloved husband stayed youthful—never aging because of her kiss of immortality. Then, one day he looked on her wrinkled face with disgust and cast her out of his home, replacing her with a young beauty from the village. So great was her pain that she wept in agony for many moons. Time passed and her brothers and sisters took pity on their fallen sister. On the next full moon, a heavenly rock plummeted from the sky. Glowing bright with the power of the galaxies. Calling her home.
“But, in her sorrow and rage, she used the power to curse her beloved. Cursing him to the form of an eternal wolf. Never to hurt another human. With his howls still ringing in her ears, the fallen star left him to his fate.” Grandma paused, and scanned her riveted audience.
I was always glad that the heartless pig got what he deserved. She had given him everything, and in the end he spat in her face.
Grandma lowered her eyes to the fire. “It wasn’t until years later that she discovered her mistake. In stripping her beloved of his human form, she also stripped him of all his humanity. He ravaged villages, killing without remorse. More than a beast, he was a monster.
“The star wept as she viewed the chaos she’d created. She clutched the heavenly rock, dimly lighting her palm, scared of what it meant. There wasn’t enough magic to reverse the wrong she had done, but she could do something. Gripping her hunting knife, she spilled her blood on the heavenly rock, creating the first werewolf. Every night his human spirit strengthened enough to overcome the wolf, to walk the Earth as a man. The moon his forever sun—a reminder of what he had lost.”
Even though the guy was completely rotten, I still loved the idea of a fallen star. There was something mystical about it—giving a little magic to an otherwise dark day.
Weariness settled down on me like a moonlit cloud.
“Chel.” I whispered, leaning over to her. “I’m going to ask Grandma for a ride home.”
“But I can take you home.” Chel frowned.
“You should enjoy the rest of the night with Zack. Grandma won’t mind.”
Chel looked torn. “Are you sure? We still have s’mores. Why don’t you stay?”
“Eat one for me. And don’t worry, I just need sleep.” With that, I walked through the darkened silhouettes to Grandma.
CHAPTER 10—Tardy
Monday, April 2
I dug the heels of my hands into my sleepy eyes, trying to dislodge the crusties from my lashes. Yawning, I grabbed a box of cereal and poured a heaping bowl. It was way more than normal, but my stomach would be too knotted to eat lunch. Every time I stepped inside Cody High, it curdled with anxiety.
It was a miracle I hadn’t run into Kyle since our date. That first week, Chel was late to all but one of her classes while she helped scout out Kyle-free pathways. We practiced perfect timing and good hiding spots in case I spotted him. It was a major undertaking, making me feel like 007. But it worked. There were times I’d glimpsed Kyle’s jersey peeking from around a corner almost a moment too late. My breath would catch as I’d dash into a shadowed doorframe and watch him pass.
He left flowers, jewelry, and chocolates in my locker or van. They always had an apology note attached, but I stopped reading them when I realized the penmanship wasn’t even his. When was he ever going to give up? I just had to make it until he graduated next month.
I sagged in the kitchen chair. Could I keep under the radar until then? The task felt daunting. I crunched a spoonful of cornflakes just as the front door squeaked open. I jumped from my wooden seat. I always walked them across the street. What were they doing?
Sarah was on the small porch by the time I reached Cammie by the door. “Hey, wait, girls. I’m coming.” I struggled to slip on my shoes.
“Don’t worry, Tay, Sarah can hold my hand,” Cammie said, her sky-blue eyes staring up at me.
Were they really old enough to go on their own? I swallowed the emotion clogging my throat. “If that’s what you want.”
Cammie gave me a big hug and dashed out the door. I bit my lip to distract from my tearing eyes as I watched Sarah take Cammie’s hand to cross the street to their friend Jill’s house where they would wait for the bus. They were adapting to the new town, no longer needing me like they used to, especially Sarah who turned eleven in January. Even little Cammie, at six, was starting to adopt her sister’s independent attitudes, and the feeling of being displaced tore at my insides like a weed whacker. Honestly, I should feel relieved to have more alone time, but the sweet taste of freedom didn’t come. Instead, my tongue burned with the sour taste of abandonment.
Sarah looked so much like her father with her red hair and tall frame. She even had Uncle Stan’s cleft chin. Envy swam through the cornflakes in my stomach. No one even knew who my biological father was, but they thought my bright emerald eyes came from him since no one else in the family had them. He was probably some one-night stand my biological mom, Rosalyn, was too drunk to remember.
Cammie turned, waving back at me. “Bye, Tayla.”
I faked a smile and waved back. When they were safely in front of the Macabee’s house, I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and closed the door. The clock over the mantle read 7:30. Crap! I was going to be late to school, again.
Grabbing my bowl of cornflakes, I slurped it down as I walked to the bathroom. Wiping a dribble of milk off my chin, I fished my toothbrush out of the drawer and haphazardly scrubbed my teeth before ripping the bathroom door open, banging it against the wall.
The noise echoed through the quiet house—too quiet. Where was the pinging of Aunt Lily’s morning shower or her clattering around in her bathroom?
“I don’t have time for this!” I massaged my forehead. I’d pounded on her door fifteen minutes ago. She should’ve been up by now. But sometimes even an earthquake couldn’t get her out of bed in the morning. After passing Cammie’s room and then mine, I wrenched open her door. The curtains were pinched shut, and only the dim hallway light revealed a lump under the lavender comforter, snoring.
Just what I thought. She’d sleep the whole day if I let her. Sometimes I really hated being the adult in this house. Swallowing my irritation, I flung the curtains back, blasting sunlight into the room.
“Mom, up, up,” I called in a cheerful voice, something I had down to a liar’s art. I was anything but cheerful this morning, and had to review for a calc test before school started. I needed to be early not late.
“Are you trying to blind me, Tayla?” Aunt Lily’s groggy voice grunted from under the blankets.
I ignored her morning grouchiness, intent on getting this over with. “Sarah and Cammie are off to school, and I have five minutes to get you in the shower before I’m late.”
I yanked back the covers. When I looked down, I froze. Aunt Lily was still in her hospital scrubs, shoes and all. Her shoulder length, dirty-blonde hair was a knotted mess. With one arm, she clung to the stuffed flamingo Uncle Stan had won her at a carnival while the other shielded her eyes from the blinding light. Suddenly, all my irritation washed away.
“Oh, Mom! What happened?” I sat on the bed next to her, stroking her arm in an all too familiar motion. Uncle Stan’s death anniversary always left Aunt Lily vulnerable to relapses of depression, even months afterward. One day she was fine and the next she couldn’t even get out of bed.
The room grew silent as I waited for her to speak.
“It was stupid. Just a burn patient. He didn’t even have third degree burns! And I lost it. Stacy had to drive me home.” She sniffled, a
nd her pale cheeks glistened with moisture.
Stan’s severely burned body flashed through my mind, and I blinked back tears. Little of his laugh-wrinkled face was recognizable after the accident.
Emotions swirled in my chest, making it hard to keep my voice light. “I’m so sorry. I’ll call Janice.”
I stood to grab my cell and call her boss, who knew my voice all too well. Only in a small town could a seventeen-year-old call in sick for her aunt. And it happened nearly once a month.
“No!” Lily lurched to her feet. I stood as still as an ice sculpture, my heart pounding.
“No, Tay,” she said softer. “I won’t let this beat me. St—” She cut herself off by biting her lower lip. “He wouldn’t want this for me, for his girls.”
My gaze fell to the ground, attempting to hide the tears that escaped my eyes.
“I didn’t mean to yell.” Aunt Lily’s trembling hand rested on my shoulder.
I sighed and squeezed her wafer-thin fingers, reassuring her that I understood. Her weakness worried me, but if she was determined to go, then I’d help her. Threading my arm around her skeletal waist, I lead her to the bathroom. After filling the tub, I helped her in. She hugged her knees, her ribs poking out like a washboard. She still wasn’t eating as much as I’d like. I washed her back with a lathered sponge. Skinny fingers touched my arm, and I glanced up at my aunt, taking in the dark circles under her misty-blue eyes. I was definitely calling her in sick. There was no way she was coherent enough to drive.
“You’re babying me too much.” Her gaze shifted down to the suds on her arm. “I can do this.” Her voice was hard with determination, reminding me of Cammie when she wanted to act big, even when she needed help. I didn’t argue. How could I?
“Okay.” I handed her the sponge and retreated to the toilet in the small alcove, close enough to help if needed.
Curse of the Beast Page 7