That sounded like such a great idea, but I had some questions for Dad first.
Over the hardwood floor and various throw rugs, I padded bare feet through the living room. The fireplace flames winked through shadows, saturating the room with warm sounds of crackling wood. Lined up on the mantel were silver-framed photos of Angie and me as children. In one of them, I stood in the grass of the backyard in my dress, my tiny wings resting on my back as I held a lilac bud to my nose. Another frame held an image of Angie on her ninth birthday, sitting at the breakfast nook table in her dress, all prim and proper with her hands on her lap, smiling at the camera while she waited for Mom to cut her birthday cake. I could see the twinkle of mischief in her eyes, and the unmistakable, devious crooked grin of my sister. Maybe it was because of the cake. Yeah, that was around the time her obsession with cake began.
In lamplight, Mom was lounged back on her wings on the chaise, blond hair tucked behind her ears and falling around her shoulders. A blue silk nightgown covered her legs down to her crossed ankles. An open novel on her lap held her attention. When she looked up at me, the light touched her eyes and hair with such magic, stopping my breath for a moment. She placed the bookmark in her book, set it on the backrest, and released a tranquil sigh. The look of relaxation was so inviting I couldn’t resist. I lowered to the chaise, curled my legs up, nestled up into her and laid my head on her chest. She feathered her arms around me. Even with murmurs of the boys behind us, the room’s ambiance seemed to demand a soft volume as we spoke.
“Mom, do you have any jeans I can borrow?”
“What, Ellie in jeans. What’s gotten into you?”
“It’s just, Ginelle was wearing these jeans, and they were so—”
“Who’s Ginelle?”
“The cheerleader, you know, the one who gave me the uniform.”
“Oh, I see. Have you found yourself an idol?”
“No, it’s not like that”—it was exactly like that—“I just think it’s time for a little change, and they were so cute.”
“Hmm,” Mom hummed. With my ear to her chest, I felt the vibrations of her voice as she added, “Well, I think I might have a few pair you’d like.”
With a gentle squeeze to my eyelids, I snuggled a smile closer into my mother, my heart purring like a comfortable cat. Her flower perfume was so lovely. The fireplace drew my gaze once more. There were times in my life when happiness overwhelmed me, and at this moment, I felt as if I would weep.
“I’ll go see if I can find them,” Mom said even as she started to move.
My arms held. “No, not yet, Mom. In a little while, please.”
She settled back, rubbed my arm, touched her lips to the top of my head.
Mesmerized by the swaying flames, my eyes slid shut.
Time slowed as I soaked in the warmth of my mother.
CHAPTER 13
Maybe a half hour later, Mom whispered, “I have to use the restroom, Ellie. I’m so sorry, honey. I’ll get those jeans for you.”
“Mm,” the vibration hummed in my throat, drifting off again.
Mom nudged a soft reminder. As she lifted from the chair and walked away, I sat up to the edge of the chaise, hunched over.
With my clouded waking gaze into the fireplace, I began to realize the nightmare didn’t come. In the dimness of dream, I was strolling down a dirt path, surrounded by lush forest and bushes. I remembered seeing something in the distance that I couldn’t catch up to, but didn’t care. Moving down the dream path, picking a leaf now and then and lifting it to my nose, I seemed to be following a child angel. It had no wings, though, and was clothed in a little dress, strapped shoes, hair bouncing as she went skipping down the path. As I drew closer, she would giggle and disappear around some bushes, as if playing a game.
Hunched on the edge of the chaise, I shook my head, ran my fingers through my hair, fluffed myself awake and out of dreamland.
Weary legs carried me across the living room. The porch lights were on outside the windowed front wall, lighting up half the yard. There had to be deer out there at the feeder, I assumed, so I wandered over to see. Mom’s flower baskets, vines and petals spilling out, hung in a line over the railingless porch deck as I held my thinking gaze out the windows. I imagined the sound of bamboo wind chimes, though I couldn’t hear them, I knew they were clicking outside.
Dad said behind me, “Jay, how’d you like to be the bar manager for the Angelic Inn? I could use some muscle to help keep the order.”
“Yeah, I could do that for ya. You sure you want me, though.”
“I’ve thought it over for a while now. It seems to me you’d be a perfect fit.”
“Well, I appreciate that, Phil. I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. The job’s yours.”
I spun around from the windows and strolled across the floor. Shaded lamps glowed on end tables. The oak coffee table held a bowl of chips, Vyn’s glass of tea, and a stack of magazines, the Angel’s Closet fashion catalog on top. I plopped down onto the firm cushions of the couch next to Vyn. Why is it that the more money you spend on furniture, the less comfortable it is? Ergonomics, Dad had once said. What about butt comfort? Though when I relaxed back, I understood a little better. The concave-designed back cushions provided perfect wing support. And somehow made the pain go away.
The boys were in the middle of some sort of discussion.
Bub lay on his side in the middle of the room on a paisley throw rug, his floppy ear twitching, legs kicking a bit as if he was dreaming. Dad was in his chair across the room and to the left, Jaydenn on the loveseat to the right. I leaned forward, took a quick sip from Vyn’s glass and snatched a chip from the bowl on the coffee table. Then rested back on my wings and crossed a leg, nibbled on the chip while I listened.
Dad was saying, “… from all the old retired professionals. We personally know just about all of them, spread across every continent, so an army of pros is what we’ll have. The boys are making the calls as we speak.”
Eyeing Dad, I rocked my crossed leg over the other, flipping my foot up and down. “Dad, I have a question.”
He gave me a smile, waited.
A voice in my head distracted me, Goodnight, Elle. I love you. I brushed it off with a headshake, took another chip nibble while I formulated my question.
Dad asked, “Yes, whattaya wanna know, Ellie?”
“Um, I was just wondering why the drekavacs are allowed in the stadiums.”
“It’s part of the treaty. They’re not supposed to confront us. They go to jail if they do. Though they don’t really seem to care about being locked up for a month, but it’s all we can do. You remember the deal with the hunters, right?”
“Yeah. The hunters agreed not to hunt in the cities if we don’t kill the drekavacs.”
Dad’s pursed his lips with a nod.
Another question popped into my mind, “Where do the hunters go in the daytime?” I thought about those blinking eyes from the cave in the Crag Mountains on Saturday.
“They follow the night around the earth, honey. You know that.”
Another chip nibble, before I said, “Yeah, I guess I just needed to hear it again.” I smirked, considered for a second. Dad was waiting to see if I had any other questions. He waited a little more. Just as he was about to say something to Jaydenn, I asked, “So. What you’re saying is, there are no hunters in the caves up in the mountains?”
Dad’s grin showed that he knew I did that on purpose, so he took a moment before he answered, “Not that anyone knows of. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no reason.” I angled a glancing leer at Vyn. “Just wondering.”
“Well, you’re just full of questions tonight, aren’t you?”
“I have to know, if I’m going to hunt with you, boys.” It was hard to hold back the sneer as I recalled what Angie had said she’d overheard. A phase, huh? Not my time, huh? I gave Dad a slit-eyed gaze, my foot flicking out a rhythm. Show them, Elle, was what Angie’d said. Wo
ndering if Vyn and Jaydenn knew, I gave each of them a look. They just drifted a dull grin back at me. They probably knew, I assumed. So that’s how it’s gonna be. A light headshake, then I filled my cheeks and blew out some exasperated air.
“What’s the matter, Ellie?” Vyn asked, placing a hand on my bare knee.
“Not a thing. Everything’s juust fluffy.”
They all just … sat there, with those stupid flappin grins. On a sigh, I got to my feet and snipped, “I’m gonna go change into my nightgown. I have more questions so don’t you guys go anywhere.”
Dad gave me a lost look. “We’ll be right here.”
“Good, okay then.” I pranced off and to the foyer.
While walking away, I heard Dad’s voice from the living room behind me, “Don’t worry about it, Vyn. We’ll never understand them.”
Understand this. I picked out a finger just for them, and threw it over my shoulder, then stepped up the stairs … Source, I hope Dad didn’t see that.
The carpet of the upstairs hallway felt so good between my toes as I made my way to my bedroom. Photos of the family hung on both white walls of the hallway. They hadn’t changed a thing since I was little, I noted, though I’d made the necessary improvements to my room. Wallpaper replaced. Posters meant for teen skippers—those bubbly little angels that skip across campus and blush at every male—tossed away and switched out to European landscape art, my travel dreams.
I pulled my spaghetti-strapped cotton nightgown from a hanger in my walk-in closet. Holding it up in front of me, I tried to let the pastel prettiness calm my mood as I touched the lacy floral design around the bust line, smiled, and carried it out of the closet.
“Um, Ellie?” Vyn stood in my doorway, stepped in.
After tossing the gown to the down comforter on my bed, I walked and sat at my dressing table, pulled off my earrings and began to organize the jars of cream and bottles of perfume. Looking into the mirror, I saw my poster-decorated bedroom walls—Paris, Ireland, Switzerland.
Then Vyn blocked my view so I dropped my gaze, dipped my fingers into an open jar of cream and began rubbing it into my hands as I said, “Why do you always have to tease me?”
“I know, Ellie. I’m sorry. I was just having a little fun.”
“Well, it’s not nice. It scared me.” I finished with the hand cream, replaced the lid.
While picking up my brush, I felt Vyn’s hands on my shoulders, making my mood soften a bit. My hair pulled away from my neck. His lips touched my skin. Oh, my. That’s not fair. The back of my neck tingled, hyperaware of his touch.
Kiss on my neck. “Let me make it up to you.” My earlobe. “It won’t happen again.” Kiss. “Let’s go on a date.” Kiss. “Candlelight dinner and a movie.” Kiss.
My brush dropped to the table and I spun around in my chair, pulled his face down and crushed my mouth to his. The taste of his lips drenched my thoughts. Releasing the kiss, I rose, tried to give him a scowl as I pushed him back with a hand to his chest. “Well, it better not happen again,” I said. Another push sent him back a few more steps. He locked his blazing blue eyes on mine as I added, “I might have to hurt you.” His grin didn’t look too upset about that, so I stepped forward and pushed him once more, which sent him to bounce his butt down on the edge of my bed. His grin widened. Wings twitched.
Choo, he sneezed, rubbed his nose. “Sorry,” he said. I gave him a little smirk.
I was in control, sort of. I bent down, brushed teasing lips to his, felt the heat radiating off his skin … then stepped back, gave him my version of an intimate smile, sultry eyes, and poured the words out on a husky half-whisper, “Why don’t you come here, Vyn.”
He looked like he was about to pass out—cheeks aflame, wings shuddering, another sneeze, Choo. So I reached down, yanked him off the bed by the front of his sweaty shirt, and pushed my lips to his again. Should I punish him a little more? I could just walk away, and leave him to stand here all sweaty and confused. But, no, that wouldn’t help me at all.
Still locked in the luscious kiss, I unfurled my wings, moved them forward. He did the same. His hands came up and framed my face, pulling me closer. Closer. The rush almost melted me when our wings touched. Heat of such love nearly sent me to tears. Tingles washed over my body and wings like an electric current. My heart thumped in my chest. I could feel the blood pushing through my veins like a gushing river of lava.
Lost in rapture, my lips devoured his.
Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop … Minutes … My knees jellied.
Just when I was on the verge of crumbling to the floor, our wings unlocked. Mine folded to rest between my shoulders. His wrapped around me, enveloped me into a tight hug, holding me up. With my ear pressed to his heated chest, I could hear his panting breaths; feel the murmur of his heartbeat as it flub flubbed in my ear. I let out a shuddering sigh into his chest. He tightened his embrace. Oh Source, thank you. And the moment turned into a thousand years.…
****
Almost a half hour later, now wearing my knee-length nightgown, I walked bare feet across the upstairs carpet, on my way to go join Vyn downstairs. Mom’s bedroom door was open a crack as she called out, “Ellie, come in here. I’ll find those jeans you wanted.”
And the mood just kept getting better. I wheeled around, pushed the bedroom door open, strolled in and hopped to perch on the edge of their vaulted bed. Enjoying the softness of Mom’s down comforter, I drifted my gaze around the room. My feet dangled above the carpet, hair draped down my chest as I folded my hands on my lap.
Even as a clean night breeze touched the delicate lace drapes of the open balcony door, drifting a fresh smell into the room, scents of forest and flowers mixing, ideas for my home were beginning to stir. Wooden hangers clacked together as Mom dug around in her walk-in closet. An occasional comment, “Yes, those are nice.”
A shaded lamp on the nightstand brought a soft golden ambiance to the room, lighting up a book on her nightstand that appeared to be a novel from my favorite author, Christopher Quintell. Mom’s room was always so nice and tidy, with only a few wood-framed oil paintings on the walls. Above her headboard hung a romantic painting of an angel couple in an embracing kiss. Shoving my memory back to my bedroom, I lifted my hand and touched a fingertip to my lips, trying to conjure up the feeling of Vyn’s kiss again.
“These should fit you.”
Startled a bit, I dropped my hand and turned as Mom walked toward me with a pair of designer jeans held up.
“I have a few more pair if you like them.”
With a hop off the bed, I reached out and took them from her, lifted and spun them around to investigate. I couldn’t believe how nice they were. Now for the test, would they fit?
One leg at a time they wriggled on under my gown, like a second skin, perfect. Off you go, I said to myself as I tossed the gown to the bed and stood there in my flowered bra and new jeans. With a pirouette on my toes, I admired the fit.
“Oh, Ellie, those are perfect for you. I’ve never seen you in jeans before. You remind me of me. When I was your age, that is.” She did a little headshake. “Just look at those legs. I think I’m jealous now.”
Yeah, right, the goddess jealous of the girl. It was nice, though. I gave her a smile. “You really think so?”
She tapped her lips with a fingertip, looking at the jeans, and me, thinking.
“There’s just one thing missing.” She hiked back into the closet. Hangars clacked again. Until she stepped out with a white, girl-cut T-shirt, pulled it off the hangar and tossed it to me. I snatched it out of the air and slid it over my head, pulled my hair from the neck hole, buttoned the wing-flap buttons and adjusted for comfort. Then folded my wings back to rest.
Jeans and a T, I never would’ve guessed they could be so perfect. I have a collection of cropped pants, but this was different, I don’t know how, just, like … tougher, or something. Whatever. I felt like I could go out and kick some tail, like the jeans held some sort of karate pow
er. For as long as I could remember, my friend Jennifer from school had always tried to get me to wear jeans. When she would bring it up, I’d just shrug it off with a snort, saying something like, “I’m not wearing jeans, Jen. So you might as well give up.”
Of course, my other silky friends in my closet would have their time, but my closet was about to get a little bigger. Where have these been all my life? I stepped to the mirror, gave them my final approval with a light smack to my butt.
The reflection of Mom in the mirror grinned at me.
After a few minutes of studying this strange new world of denim, I lowered into the vanity chair. Her dressing table drew my attention. A cherry-wood jewelry box sat next to jars of cream and bottles of perfume. I rotated around, placed my hands on my new lap and looked up at her. “Mom, I’ve been thinking about something and I wanted to get your opinion?”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“Do you think Dad would mind if we built the house here, in Boden, I mean? I’d like to be closer to where everything is, and you, of course.”
Mom’s face lit up. That was her answer right there. “Oh, Ellie. That is. The best idea, ever.” She reached out and took my hand, drew me up out of the chair to stand. “Let’s go tell your father.”
She started to guide me to the door, but with a twitter of energy, I pulled away, hopped out the door and down the hall to the stairs. In all my excitement, I tripped over the last step, squealed and fell flat on my chest on the foyer floor. Then performed my best impression of a bunny bounding to its feet. “I’m okay,” I said to the bronze hawk with a chuckle. He didn’t reply. So I lifted my leg and gave him a karate kick. “Ya!”
Bub lay on the center-room rug in the living room, chin on paws. He lifted his head as I skipped over and sat next to Vyn on the couch. Dad was in his chair. Jaydenn on the loveseat with both arms spread across the back.
“What’re you wearin’ there, Ellie?” Vyn questioned with eyes down at my denim legs. He glided a hand over my thigh.
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