by Davis Ashura
“What?” Lien demanded.
“It would have told them that you can’t pick on William without having your teeth knocked down your throat,” Daniel said.
“That’s stupid,” Lien replied.
Which was true, as far as Serena was concerned, but she also understood Daniel’s point of view. Nevertheless, to her fighting was simply too primitive, too inelegant for what she hoped to accomplish in life.
“Why’s it stupid?” William asked.
“I can’t explain it,” Lien said. “If men were half as civilized as women, you’d understand what I mean.”
“Women aren’t any better than men,” Jason said. “You’re just as bad as we are. You’re just sneakier about it.”
“We aren’t like guys at all,” Lien protested.
“Yes, you are. You’re exactly like us,” Daniel said. “You’re telling me girls can’t be mean? Catty and cruel?” He laughed. “That’s almost a stereotype when it comes to teenage girls. You never hear about catty teenage boys.”
Lien wore a stubborn expression, as if she didn’t want to admit the validity of Daniel’s words. “That’s different. What we do doesn’t leave someone bruised and beaten.”
“But it can still leave someone badly hurt,” Serena said.
“I thought you were on my side!” Lien exclaimed.
“I am, but I also think they have a point,” Serena said.
The boys straightened, standing taller, and Serena gave them a withering stare. “It’ll probably be the one and only time that they do.”
Lien grinned. “Kind of like a stopped clock is right once a day.”
“It’s right twice a day,” William reminded her.
“What?”
“A stopped clock is right twice a day. At least in the U.S. it is.”
Lien’s grin departed. “Shut up!”
Jason, Daniel, and William chuckled, and while Serena smiled with them, maintaining the carefree persona she’d carefully built, she felt little amusement. She was concerned, and she unconsciously chewed the inside of her lip.
Jake Ridley would likely say or do something else to antagonize William. It would happen today or tomorrow or the next day, and Serena worried how William would react.
While she figured William could handle himself in a fight, she couldn’t allow him to be damaged. And just as important to his future, if he wanted to thrive among her people, he had to develop better control of his emotions. Those to whom she answered would chew him up if he couldn’t.
Serena’s fears about what Jake might do to William were realized in English class.
Jake strutted into the room proud as a rooster, and surrounded by his friends. They clucked about as if they were the lords and ladies of St. Francis, speaking in brash tones and preening too hard, especially the boys in their football jerseys. Today was Friday, a game day.
“I heard Mr. Meron almost suspended someone yesterday,” Jake said in a tone meant to carry.
“Who?” someone asked.
Jake shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, but maybe you can ask Wilted.”
His sycophants laughed.
“I heard he was making out with a rosebush.”
“I heard it was Serena.”
They laughed again.
Meanwhile, William stiffened, and his jaw clenched.
“Don’t pay attention to them,” Serena whispered. “Their power is only what you give to them. Don’t let their words touch you and there will be no anger.”
William nodded, but he remained tense. Serena could see it in the tightness of his shoulders and neck.
Another pointed finger from Jake along with something else he uttered produced another round of braying laughter.
William reddened. “I’m fine,” he said before Serena could warn him to remain calm. “Those guys just need their asses kicked.”
“They do, and one day they will. Life has a way of doing that. They’ll grow up and face a hard world where their immature cliques won’t help them. They’ll be cattle among hard men and women who will use them for their own purposes.”
William turned to her with his brow furrowed in confusion.
Now it was Serena who reddened, and she mentally chided herself. She’d spoken too bluntly, expressed herself too clearly. William, with his open-heartedness and naiveté, made it too easy to forget who she really was. “Sorry. I get carried away sometimes.”
“I guess,” William said, still wearing a bemused expression.
Serena was saved from further explanation when Mrs. Clancy, their English teacher, arrived and stilled any further conversation.
“Quiet down, everyone,” Mrs. Clancy said. “We have a lot to cover today.”
The class began and there was peace, but afterward the harassment from Jake and his hangers-on picked up right where it had left off. They followed Serena and William down the hall, taunting them and whistling in ridicule.
Other students watched the unfolding drama.
“Let’s go this way,” William said, leading Serena on a different route than she expected.
“Where are we going?” she asked. “This isn’t the way to Biology.”
“Trust me,” William replied.
But Jake and the others persisted in trailing after them and calling out their childish taunts. The situation had quickly passed from annoying to infuriating, and Serena started giving serious thought to doing something she might later regret.
William unexpectedly wheeled about. “Shut up. You’ve made your point. You think I’m weak and Serena’s ugly. Just leave us alone.”
“She’s not ugly,” one of Jake’s friends muttered.
“She’s hot,” said another.
“Yeah, she’s hot,” Jake agreed, “but she’s glitched. Why else would she be with that loser?”
“She probably likes slumming,” Sonya said with an ugly laugh.
“Or maybe, unlike you,” Serena said to Sonya, “I appreciate those who have qualities that go beyond chasing a ball around like some simple-minded dog.” She gave a derisive snort. “But then again, you look pretty simple-minded yourself.”
“Go fu—” Sonya began.
“You don’t get to talk about my girl like that,” Jake snarled.
“I’ll talk to her anyway I want,” Serena replied in an even tone. She kept her anger leashed and controlled even as she took a challenging step forward. Better to have Jake’s energy and attention focused on her rather than William.
Sonya retreated behind her boyfriend, and Serena gave her a chill smile. “I thought so.”
“Whatever,” Jake said. “This isn’t about you anyway. This about me and your loser boyfriend.” He turned to William. “What? You’re going to let your girlfriend do all your talking?”
“I can talk,” William replied. “And I’m telling you to leave me alone.”
“That’ll happen when you face me one-on-one. Meet me tomorrow at noon, the football fields out back. They’ll be empty. If you’re any kind of a man, you’ll show up.”
“And if I don’t show up?” William asked.
“Then your life will be hell. I’ll make sure of it.” Jake sneered. “You’re getting lit up one way or another, boy. Either by me or by the rest of the football team. Any chance we get, you’re going to get touched, and I don’t mean a light tap, either. We’ll beat you down every day. There won’t be a place in this school where you’ll be safe.”
William didn’t reply.
“What? You scared?” Jake snorted. He lunged at William, feigning a punch.
William never blinked or backed down. Instead, he smiled.
“That’s enough!” Mr. Meron stepped up next to Serena and William, his face even redder than normal. “Jake Ridley! Explain yourself!”
Serena felt like cheering at Mr. Meron’s fortuitous arrival. If she’d had to intervene, it would have sent Jake and his friends to the hospital.
It was then that she took in William’s expression. He seemed very plea
sed with himself.
Jake, on the other hand, stood white-faced. “Mr. Meron. I don’t know what you thought you heard, but we were just playing around. Nothing serious. Right, Wilde?” Jake turned to William with a murderous gleam in his eye. “Say we were playing around or you’re dead,” he mouthed.
“And you’re an idiot, Mr. Ridley. You think I didn’t see what you just said to Mr. Wilde?” Mr. Meron said. “Get to my office, right now. If you’re lucky, you’ll only be in detention for a week. No football for any of you tonight.”
Mutters of outrage and disbelief met his words.
“Another word and it becomes a month,” Mr. Meron added. “And if I hear of any kind of bullying of Mr. Wilde or Ms. Paradiso, you’ll be suspended from school. Now move it!”
Many of the passing students heard his words, and most of them grinned.
Jake shot one last glare at William. “This isn’t over,” he muttered as he shuffled past.
“It’s over unless you want a suspension,” William said. He still appeared insufferably smug.
Serena eyed William in speculation. He’d done something here.
Mr. Meron leveled his gargoyle glare at Serena and William. “You two better get to your next class.”
“Yes, sir,” William agreed.
“What just happened?’ Serena asked as soon as the vice principal moved on.
“Mr. Meron always checks the grounds for smokers at the end of second period,” William said, “and he always comes back into the building at that entrance. I knew he’d show up. I just had to keep Jake and his friends talking long enough for Mr. Meron to hear them.”
Serena stared at William in unfeigned admiration. Impressive. William had just defeated an enemy without lifting a finger. She’d never expected him to have such resolve or cunning, and she made a mental note to be more careful around him.
Maybe he would be able to handle some real monsters after all.
I heard you and William had an interesting talk with Jake Ridley today,” Mr. Zeus said to Serena. His eyes twinkled in amusement.
“You could say that,” Serena replied in a wry tone.
“What’s this?” asked Daniel’s mother, Trace Karllson, a tall, willowy woman from east Africa with a brilliant smile.
She and Magnus, her husband, had invited Serena, William, Jason, and Mr. Zeus over for dinner.
Isha had also been asked but, as usual, he’d declined. Personally, Serena thought it was a mistake that he kept himself so isolated from others, a recluse. As a result, he’d become the topic of much speculation, which could be dangerous to someone in his position. A mystery invited too many questions. Jason had even joked as to whether he existed, since he’d yet to meet Serena’s supposed father.
“William crushed his enemies, saw them driven before him, and heard the lamentations of their women,” Jason said in response to Mrs. Karllson’s question. He wore a wide grin and again spoke in that vaguely Germanic accent.
Daniel laughed. “Yes. That is best in life!”
Serena raised her eyebrows in a silent question to Lien.
“Nerd stuff,” Lien explained with a pitying eyeroll.
Oh. One of those things.
“What really happened?” asked Mr. Karllson, a Norwegian giant whose deep, resonant voice matched his build. Serena reckoned that a thousand years ago, if someone like Mr. Karllson had been witnessed disembarking a Viking longship, everyone would have run for the hills.
“Nothing much,” William said, clearly trying to sound dismissive though his pride in what he’d accomplished shone through.
“The way Jason told it, it didn’t sound like nothing,” Mr. Zeus said, eyes still twinkling. “I heard you defeated the Dark Lord and rescued the princess without having to lift a finger.”
William blushed, and Serena took his hand and stared into his eyes. “My hero,” she said breathlessly.
William’s blush deepened, and everyone laughed.
Serena laughed along with them, but inside she felt abject horror. Once again her actions had been driven by instinct rather than rational thought. They were unacceptable occurrences that were taking on the frequency of habit, and she had to put an end to it. While her natural inclinations hadn’t yet led to any mistakes, they eventually would. It was inevitable, and Serena recognized that she courted the cliff’s edge if she couldn’t find a way to rein in her thoughts and emotions.
Thank God Isha hadn’t been here to witness her lapse in judgment.
Serena counted backwards from one hundred by sevens, seeking to settle her thoughts and regain her composure. It was a far harder task than it had been only a month ago when she’d first met William Wilde and his friends. In fact, a large part of Serena wished she had never met them. If so, there wouldn’t be these traitorous feelings to cloud her judgment.
More importantly, there was her sister, Selene, to consider. If Serena proved unsuccessful in her pilgrimage, she alone wouldn’t bear the price of her failure. Her sister would pay as well.
“. . . then Mr. Meron showed up just like I knew he would,” she heard William say.
“Well, I think you handled the situation splendidly,” Mrs. Karllson said.
Mr. Karllson murmured his approval as well. “Such clarity of thought should be rewarded,” he said in a rumbling basso as he passed William another piece of lasagna. “Eat. I know how much food you teenage boys need to fill your growing frames.”
“Is there enough lasagna left for me?” Mr. Zeus asked, wearing a hopeful expression.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Karllson rumbled. He glanced Mr. Zeus up and down, pausing at the older man’s protruding belly. “But you look like you’ve already had an extra piece.” His mouth curled upward. “Or three.”
“How droll,” Mr. Zeus replied.
“Besides, I was thinking of saving the last piece for myself,” Mrs. Karllson said.
“Just let your tapeworm starve this one time,” Mr. Zeus urged.
“Oh, hush,” Mrs. Karllson said with a trill of laughter. “You’re just jealous.”
“Of course, I’m jealous,” Mr. Zeus said. “Look at me. I have to walk endless miles, literally starve myself, and I still look like an apple. You, on the other hand, eat twice as much as the rest of us, and . . .” He gestured to Mrs. Karllson’s slim form.
“If you’re going to starve yourself, can I have the rest of your lasagna?” Jason asked.
“No, you may not,” Mr. Zeus said, whacking at Jason’s reaching hand.
“Ouch!”
“Serves you right,” Mr. Zeus said. “I almost died today getting in my exercise, so I think I’ve earned this lasagna.”
“What happened?” Daniel asked.
“I was taking a walk when some lunatic on a bicycle almost ran me over. He had on one of those new-fangled contraptions, a portable cassette player.”
“A Walkman?” Lien asked.
“I don’t know what it’s called,” Mr. Zeus said, waving aside her words, “but it was emitting sound—”
“You mean music?” William asked.
“No. I mean sound,” Mr. Zeus said. “It was noise. There was no relationship between whatever was coming from his headphones and music.”
“Right,” Jason said. “There hasn’t been any good music since . . . How old are you again?”
“I’m old, boy, but I’m not cold,” Mr. Zeus said.
Serena chuckled, genuinely amused.
“At any rate, this fool on a bike, wearing his contraption, was so caught up in his noise that he almost rode me down. I had to hop lively to get out of his way.” Mr. Zeus shook his head in disgust. “Wicked devices.”
Mr. Karllson laughed. “Mr. Zeus is a man of a different era. He still hasn’t completely come to accept the internal combustion engine.”
“More like the infernal combustion engine,” Mr. Zeus said.
“Anyway, having someone almost run you down probably isn’t as bad as Magnus’s day,” Mrs. Karllson said. “You see all sorts
of things in the plumbing business.”
“I didn’t think it was a competition,” Mr. Zeus said.
“I don’t think you need to tell us what happened,” Daniel said in a pleading tone.
“I thought it would be another routine call,” Mr. Karllson began, ignoring Daniel’s entreaty. “The fellow said he was a doctor, but his bathroom was utterly filthy. Imagine all the dried-up stains of things unimaginable and you begin to understand my work environment. Worst of all, his toilet was plugged, and when I took it off, I found . . .”
“Yuck! I don’t want to know anymore,” Lien cried out.
“We’re eating!” William exclaimed.
Mr. Karllson chuckled at their reactions, but at least he didn’t finish his story.
Thank goodness for that, Serena thought. Any discussion about bowel and bladder habits always left her unsettled. It reminded her of childhood as a slave in her true father’s palace where she had to clean out the latrines every morning.
Later on after dinner, Daniel and Lien cleared the table while Mr. and Mrs. Karllson brought out coffee and peanut butter brownies.
“Dig in,” Mrs. Karllson said. “There’s enough for everyone.” She gave Mr. Zeus an assessing gaze. “Although you might want to do without, my apple-shaped friend.”
“Too late!” Mr. Zeus grinned around a mouthful of brownie.
“You are incorrigible!” Mrs. Karllson exclaimed.
“And quite pleasantly stuffed.”
“Like a Thanksgiving turkey,” Mrs. Karllson quipped.
Serena smiled at their interaction. She had never seen people speak mockingly to one another and yet with obvious love.
“We were thinking of going camping over Christmas break,” Jason announced. “There’s a park in West Virginia, out past the light pollution, where we can watch the stars and go hiking.”
“Daniel and Lien are more than welcome to come with us,” said Mr. Zeus. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Warning bells went off in Serena’s mind. The discussion involved more than camping and hiking. A strangeness filled the air, but she couldn’t pinpoint its meaning.
Her thoughts were interrupted when William closed his eyes and quoted a poem: