by S D Wasley
Léon studied my face as though looking for signs of duplicity. I kept a steady gaze on him, heart thumping. “I need to pull the threads apart and work out which bits belong to which event,” I finished.
He spoke slowly. “Yes. You do need to do this. But wait.” He took my hand and tugged me back towards the sofa. I followed, if reluctantly. “Owen and Nadine have affirmed their loyalty to me. They want to work with me now, not Cain. Liz and Jude want to stay with Cain for now, and Helen is infatuated of course. But Francesca, you understand, don’t you, that you belong with me?”
Every part of me screaming in protest, I forced a mute nod. Léon gave me a searching look. He wasn’t convinced.
“Of course I do,” I attempted. “You saw my face.”
As I said these words, that tug went through me again. A sense of connectedness, belonging and truth. I longed to truly feel what he wanted me to feel. Léon sat beside me and focused his green eyes on mine.
“There’s something else,” he said. “Something I should, perhaps, have told you before.”
I was still mainly interested in getting myself the hell out of there but I nodded, feigning a look of intrigue. Léon rose, paced again, paused. He looked at me.
“Young Patrick. The boy Helen brought to Gaunt House ruins.”
“Yes?” A protective surge rose within me. “Her brother.”
“Yes, her brother. You have a special bond with him.”
“Not really. Do you mean that night you guys were all talking about the visions and I tried to distract him?”
“Yes. You wished to protect him.”
“Well, yes. Of course.”
“From what?”
“From the horror. The speculation.” I had my phone in my jeans pocket but I wouldn’t be able to pull it out without Léon noticing.
“Yes, I thought as much.” He looked into my eyes again but his expression was difficult to decipher. Hopeful, maybe? Uncertain but hopeful. But then a doubtful shadow crossed his face and he resumed that restless, scary pacing. Every so often he glanced at me. My fear hiked back up a notch. What was with this guy? Who was this guy? I hadn’t known Léon before tonight.
At last he spoke, more to himself than to me. “Not yet.”
“Léon,” I tried, “Albion’s expecting me. He’s going to send out a search party if I don’t get home soon.”
He frowned as though the colloquialism confused him but after a moment caught my meaning. “Yes. But before you go, tell me once more that you know you belong with me.”
Bizarre, I thought somewhere through my unease. Would my saying it really convince him? His face was full of yearning, desperate for that confirmation. I couldn’t say what he wanted but I looked him square in the eye and spoke the truth. “You saw my face.”
He relaxed and held his arms out. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was step into them but the first thing I wanted to do was get out of there so I forced myself to move into his embrace. He looked down at my face, his eyes tender, so I dropped my gaze hastily and pressed my cheek against his solid chest. He stroked my hair while I tried to maintain something resembling a relaxed stance in his hold.
“Thank you, Francesca,” he whispered, his voice catching on the last syllable of my name. “I just wish we could hurry your transformation.”
He let me leave.
Chapter 12: Metuare
I went directly home and locked everything, setting the perimeter alarm while Albion asked me what in God’s name I was doing.
“Do not take calls from Léon or let him in again,” I told my cousin. “There’s something weird about him.”
“What the ...?” Albion stared. “There’s something weird about all your friends, Caravaggio. Why is this one special?”
“Because when I tried to leave the house where I visited him tonight he wouldn’t let me go. I had to trick him to get away.”
“Holy shit.” Albion took hold of my arms and looked me over as though for signs of injury. “For real? Did he hurt you? Oh, my God. Should we call the ...?” He trailed off, seeing my resigned face. “No, we never call the police for Frankie’s bizarre problems, do we?” he finished bitterly. “Even though they’re nothing illegal, nothing to do with organised crime or drugs. Or attempted abduction.”
I ignored him, punching keys on my phone to speak to Cain. I got the tone I always got when his phone was out of range. I contemplated going to Gaunt House but was frightened to leave the safety of home after the episode with Léon. I stayed put, leaving a text message with Cain. When I’d almost given up and was preparing for bed, his motorbike rumbled into the front yard. I checked the Main House to see if Uncle Max’s lights were on but all was dark and quiet so I unlocked our door and dashed outside to meet Cain, landing against the solid strength of his chest. I hung on tight.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. Just rattled.”
“I’m so sorry about not getting your messages earlier. I had to turn off my phone in the hospital. As soon as I saw your text I came straight here.”
“Why were you at the hospital?”
“Helen’s mother, she passed away tonight.”
“Oh, no! What happened?”
He gave a shake of his head. “Not too sure. Helen contacted me around six.” He fished out his phone and showed me.
Cain, I won’t be able to come tonight. When I got home I found Mum unconscious. She’s gone into acute organ failure and the doctors don’t think she will survive the night. I need to be there with her. I’m sorry. xx
Above it I caught sight of the message she’d sent a couple of days before:
Hey I can pick up pizza on my way in if you like. I love Matteo’s capriccioso. Let me know! See you soon. xx
I was ashamed of my jealousy. Helen simply had a habit of putting a kisses at the end of all her messages. I was pretty sure she’d done the same when messaging me.
“God, poor Helen. Is she okay? Can we do anything?”
“Her grandmother’s taken Helen and Patrick home now. Obviously they’re devastated but at least they’ve got each other. I’ll get in touch tomorrow to see if we can help.” Cain’s forehead creased as he examined my face. “Did something happen? Another vision?” He lowered his voice as he asked, checking behind me for Albion.
“No, that’s not it. It was Léon. He went really weird on me tonight.”
“You saw him again?” He sounded dismayed and his eyes fell on the necklace hanging around my neck. “What’s that?”
“Ugh, get it off me.” I wrenched the catch around to the front so I could remove it. “He got it for me, wanted me to wear it.”
Cain’s eyes went dark, jaw tightening. “Tell me what happened.”
“I went to see Owen and Léon, only Owen wasn’t home. Léon was showing me a new premonition from Sara and I then realised something―I think the visions are getting all crossed and mixed up. His group’s and your group’s visions. I was trying to explain it to him but suddenly he seemed more concerned that I was identifying as part of your group, not his. He even got angry at me. It scared the hell out of me.” Cain’s expression grew blacker every second. “He tried to stop me from leaving and made me tell him I belonged with him ... it was really ... strange. Creepy.” I stopped now because the anger flashing in his eyes had hit alarming levels.
“How did you get away?”
“I convinced him I needed time to think more about the crossed visions and told him what he wanted to hear.” I caught Cain’s look of momentary desolation and gave him a push. As usual it didn’t move him a millimetre. “Hey, I had to say whatever I could to get out of there!”
“Yes, absolutely. You did exactly the right thing and I’m really glad you’re so smart.” He hesitated, then gave me a crooked smile. “Still makes me want to smash his face in.”
“With my blessing,” I said with a shaky laugh. “I’m never going anywhere near that jerk again.” Odd, but a ghostly wind blew in my heart as I said
the words. If I never saw Léon again I’d never again experience that warm tug of connectedness, the sense of belonging to Léon’s group. Damn him. Why did he have to be so unhinged? Why couldn’t he simply be my protector and still be okay with me and Cain being together?
“I have to tell Owen and Nadine what he did. They need to know what he’s really like. I could phone Owen, maybe?”
“I doubt it will do much good. They’ve chosen.”
“It’s still worth telling them.” I rested my head against Cain’s chest again and let his warmth soothe me. “Where are Jude and Liz tonight?”
“They went out to Gaunt House but left when no one else turned up. Jude got through to Helen and she told him what was going on with her mum. They came to see her at the hospital for a while and then went home, I guess.”
I tried not to feel left out that no one had bothered to let me know what was happening with Helen. I mean, Cain hadn’t been permitted to have his phone switched on while he was with Helen in the intensive care unit, but presumably Jude and Liz still had theirs on them after they left the hospital. Didn’t they think someone should let me in on the sad news, too?
Cain interrupted this train of thought. “Francesca. I don’t want to leave you tonight. Léon’s a danger.”
Suited me. “Just put your bike into the shed so Uncle Max doesn’t see it.”
He and Albion gave one another the customary terse nods as we passed my cousin in the lounge.
“Oh, hey, Frankie,” he called when we were nearly through the room, “Dad phoned. Be careful and don’t drink anything but bottled water. There’s been another outbreak of poisoning.”
“Oh, no.” I stopped short, thinking of Helen’s mum and her acute organ failure. “Do they know where it came from?”
“They’re testing the local water supply,” he said. “Marie-Celeste is trucking in a shipment of bottled spring water for the grand opening.” He raised a glass of red wine at me. “Best we stick to this stuff.”
I closed the door behind Cain and me in my bedroom and went straight to my computer.
“I feel like we’re on the verge of working it out.”
“Working what out?”
“The meaning of all these visions. Fire, walls, water, trucks, children, workers, carols, churches ... it’s all connected somehow. And I think this crossed vision stuff is important. I mean, how does it even happen? Could Léon be some kind of channel between our group and his?” I opened my email inbox as I spoke. “If I can look at everything together, maybe transcribe the premonitions from Léon’s group into our ledger, I might be able to work out what’s going to happen.” There was a new email from my mother which made me pause. I scanned it and swore softly.
“What is it?”
“Mum’s coming to visit,” I moaned. “Talk about appalling timing. I mean, it’ll be good to see her again but I really don’t need to be caught up doing family stuff right now.” Cain gave me a sympathetic nod. “Perhaps I could put her off.”
“No, don’t. It will be good to have an extra person around to ...” He hesitated.
“To watch over me?” I finished for him, unimpressed.
He smiled. “You’re so damn perceptive, Francesca. But come on, I’m not trying to make out you’re some kind of fragile damsel. You’re genuinely at risk. Léon’s dangerous.”
I read the email again. “She’s coming next week. Maybe he’ll be gone by then.”
“I don’t think Léon’s planning to go anywhere soon.”
I was on the next email by now and gasped. “Look! Sara has emailed me. One of Léon’s group.” I read aloud.
Dear Francesca,
I apologise for making contact in this way, without your permission, and I hope you don’t mind. Léon sent me a question from you and I replied to him but I also noticed your contact details were in the forwarded message. I thought I would send you an email to ask how the situation is there. I’m a little worried. Have you made any progress with Léon’s problem scenario? The little boy crying through the flames? I know he will not rest until he is able to intervene. Do reply and tell me what’s happening but please, if you don’t mind, don’t tell Léon I contacted you.
We exchanged glances. “She doesn’t trust him either,” Cain said.
I replied.
Dear Sara,
Thanks for emailing. I’m afraid I haven’t been able to help much with the ‘problem scenario.’ Léon’s behaviour has been erratic. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to have any more contact with him. He’s been a disruptive force in our circle of friends. I only hope he decides to go home soon. Perhaps being with you and the other people he’s sure to find will help anchor him. If I think of anything else to help I will let you know. And please let me know if you see anything else significant.
Sara and I had both avoided saying words like ‘visions’ and ‘premonitions.’ Neither of us could commit to an honest discussion yet. I sent the email and sat thinking about it all for a few minutes. Sara’s cagey questions, Helen’s mum, the poisoned water of Augur’s Well, Owen and Nadine’s disloyalty, and Léon with his possessive attitude toward me. God, my head was full of disturbing thoughts. I joined Cain on the bed, pushing his shirt up his chest.
“Uh, what are you doing?” he asked, genuinely shocked.
“Taking advantage of you. And my bed. And being alone. And needing some comfort.”
He didn’t question me again.
****
In the morning Cain insisted on taking me to my college class.
“You can’t,” I said. “Word will get back to Dad if people see me around with you, especially on the bike.”
“Really?” He sounded frustrated. “You’re an adult, Francesca. And if he’s worried about your safety, well, this is for your safety!”
“I know.” I fidgeted, irresolute. “Look, okay, but let me check Uncle Max has left for work ... and let me wear the darkest tinted helmet. And keep the engine as quiet as possible, and drop me off around the corner from the college entrance.”
Cain couldn’t help laughing. “Okay. I can do incognito.”
“How am I supposed to get home?”
“I’ll pick you up, of course. Around the corner. In disguise. With the bike concealed under a shrubbery. And I’ll pick up a memory ray we can use on anyone who accidentally sees us.”
“This is not funny,” I told him, grinning nevertheless.
I checked my email again before we left and there was a reply from Sara.
Dear Frankie,
My God, it’s as I thought. You’re right to be suspicious. Léon pursues this event so doggedly he’s destroyed his own group. His relentlessness and explosions of anger frightened everyone away. I alone remain in contact with Léon now, although he is my protector and I risk my very gift by staying distant from him. I still report my premonitions by email but do not reveal my whereabouts; he receives my information on the condition that he leaves me alone. Yousef and Tania would not even allow him that contact after his behaviour. Celine, the medium he brought in to help, also left town due to fear. I cannot blame them after what he did.
Has he told you about Henri?
Write soon.
Sara
I was intrigued but baffled. What exactly had Léon done? And this Henri ... he must be another group member but Léon had never once mentioned him. What had he done to Henri? I fired off a reply asking more questions and then we really had to leave or I would miss my first class. Cain dropped me off, kissing me goodbye in the privacy of little-used parking lot on campus.
“Please, please don’t go anywhere alone,” he said, his face lined with worry. “When you finish up, call me and I’ll be there within fifteen minutes, I promise. Wait somewhere public.”
“I will,” I said and then hesitated. “You won’t go looking for him, will you?” Cain’s eyes told me that was precisely what he’d been planning. “No, Cain!”
“I just want to talk to him.”
&nbs
p; “No. You can’t. He’ll try to hurt you.” Tears sprang to my eyes as I begged, and Cain wavered.
“Francesca ...”
“Please.”
He huffed a sigh which meant he’d given in. I kissed him again and gave him a teary smile as he brought a hand up to smooth my helmet-mussed hair.
“I won’t go looking for him,” he said. “But if he comes looking for me, I’m not running away.”
Chapter 13: Apertura
Evening arrived without any clashes between Cain and Léon. It seemed Léon was lying low. Helen stayed home again that night to be with her grandmother and little brother, so it was just me, Cain, Jude, and Liz. It was a quiet, solemn night and neither Jude nor Liz stayed long at the Gaunt House chamber. Cain came back and spent the night at the Old House with me again. Albion gave me a look that showed me he didn’t particularly like it but he didn’t object after what I’d told him about Léon.
On Thursday morning I convinced Cain I would be fine riding the bus to college. That evening was the grand opening of Marie-Celeste so I told him I’d meet him at Gaunt House afterwards. He was apprehensive.
“How are you getting there?” he asked as I rushed to finish the coffee Albion had made me.
“I’ll drive. Albion and Uncle Max are coming, too. I’ll stick with them.”
“What’s the big deal?” Albion asked, cracking eggs into a frying pan. “You worried Léon will come after her?” As usual, he didn’t address Cain directly even though the question was for him.
Cain didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
“Oh!” Albion stared. “Well, she’ll be with us. I’ll walk her to the car and stuff.”