Every time I exhaust his energy, it buys me more time, but I’m almost certain that he’s getting passively stronger because of my soul serving as his lifeline. I’m pretty sure that being exposed to Sphinx messed up the balance as well. I’m still me, but just having him around is messing with me. All of the research I’ve managed to slip in hasn’t done much. I can’t find anything on the seal, or him. I’m pretty much boned.
“Don’t sweat it,” Valerie says, cutting me off from my thoughts. “Seriously, Sailor, it’s all good. Friends do these kinds of things for one another. It’s like, the very essence of friendship.” If worse comes to worst, suicide may be an option, in my case, if it wasn’t obvious before. I’d rather pull the trigger as opposed to being a liability, no…a monster senselessly killing as a slave in my own body. Valerie powers down the TV and leaves the remote on the couch.
“This trip is going to be the bee’s knees, yo. I’m telling you; road-tripping with me. What’s better than that?” Other than Valerie and a couple others, I don’t really have that much to live for. Revenge is really beginning to feel overrated. It’s brought a lot more bad than good. It bothers me.
If suicide is my only way out, I at least want this trip to be something that Valerie enjoys. After all, she is my oldest friend.
“What’s better than road-tripping with you? Nothing comes to mind. Actually, I don’t know anything that would even come close, your majesty—for you are both my sunrise and my sunset,” I tease.
“Wise answer, peasant.” Valerie snickers and vaults from the couch while I roll my eyes. “By the way, I prefer queen over your majesty,” she announces as she walks towards the door.
“So, I take it that we’re leaving…” My voice drags behind me as walk towards the couch, keeping her in my sights.
“Why, yes, yes we are.” Valerie nods her head dutifully and presses her shoulder blades against my apartment wall. Without skipping a beat, she digs into her jeans and pulls out her phone. She plays with it for a second or two before casually glancing my way with her expectant, light-brown eyes. I grab my umbrella that’s resting against the wall closest to the couch.
“Let’s get this show on the road.”
“Yes, right after you fetch my luggage.”
“…What?”
“Load it into the car then come back upstairs and carry me over to the passenger’s side,” she states before returning her attention back to her phone.
“Seriously?” How long are you planning to hold on to that?”
“I need not answer to my servant. You are my driver, are you not?” she responds without looking up.
Good ole’ Valerie.
****
Not long after that, we managed to get everything situated before the rain got to be too much of a problem. The furthest that Valerie’s charade went was until I opened the door on our way out. Just seeing her again was a breath of fresh air. Antics and all. Not much has changed from when I last saw her, well at least on the surface. She’s still relatively the same: petite, stylish, and weird…but not in a creepy way, it’s more like in the cool, mystical way. She’s not a gypsy by any means, but she does have the air of a wandering spirit about her. She’s free. Liberated.
Happy.
The same characteristics that make her extremely popular with the boys. It’s attractive. Not just like for a partner, but in a friend too, you know? She’s the rare breed of people that you’d actually think enjoy life on their own terms. It’s good to see that she’s doing a lot better than she was a while back.
Not too long ago, she flunked out of college, back before I had to move. When I finally decided to get back in contact with her, I found out that she’d been able to boost up her grades through taking a few courses at the local community college and changed her major into something that sat better with her. Turns out she did a little soul searching and decided to do what was best for her instead of what her parents kept trying to ram down her throat. Being forced to major in economics? Yeah, it’s not that hard to see how she wasn’t all that motivated to study and would rather party instead. She’s way too creative for something so…I don’t know…logical, I guess. Common sense says doing something so bland like that would make her go crazy. She knew it, but her parents didn’t really care. Jobs are so hard to come by, or so I hear, so they made an executive decision to strong arm a major on her since her game plan was to test the waters and file as undecided until an answer fell from the sky. It wasn’t the best choice on her part, but having your future cherry-picked by a baby boomer isn’t either.
“So what did you say your major is again?” I glance at her sitting in the passenger’s side, her elbow resting against the door while her hand supports her head. “Fashion, right?”
“Well yeah, that’s one of them, although I’m not too sure if that’s the route I want to go with yet. The second one is marketing. I’m doing a double major.”
“Double major, huh? Yeah, that rings a bell.” I nod slowly and refocus on the road. For the past few hours or so, we’d been driving through pockets of rain. It hasn't been particularly bad, but then again, I have no clue where we’re going. She honestly won’t even let me glance at the GPS on her phone. I didn’t think she’d be this tough on the arrangement.
“Yup. Fashion and marketing…that’s the game plan. Oh, and a minor in music. I figured that I don’t need to have a college education to sing, but some professional guidance couldn’t hurt. I’d like to have some kind of understanding of the fashion world so I can make some awesome clothes and be an epic designer. The marketing major brings it all together, plus the world virtually runs off of marketing so I can fall back on it if things don’t pan out. The music stuff will be on the side until things become more concrete. Yup.” Valerie sighs. “That’s my life now. No boyfriend, no parties, and no excuses. I’m in a good spot right now, and I’m trying to make it work. My parents bailed me out last time, but I can’t rely on them for everything. I mean, sure they’re well-off and all, but having them come to my rescue makes me feel like shit. It’s aggravating—sorry I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay.” I did myself a favor and got my dad’s death out of the way. I told her not long after she reached out to me. “Just because my parents are gone doesn’t mean you can’t talk about your own. That’s just cruel.” Oh, and did I mention she’s very compassionate?
“I am sorry about what happened though. Mr. Ray was a good guy.”
“He was one of the best. Mom, too…but what’s done is done, you know? I mean, it sucks but he wouldn’t want me to stop living and cry all day. I miss them both, Valerie, but I can’t be sad all the time. Life goes on.”
“…If you need help with lawyers or anything, I can give my dad a ring. One of his friends was dealing with an issue, and he found a good one.”
“No, it’s fine. I handled it. They really didn’t have a defense. It was clearly malpractice.” When I first moved away to hunt, I told Valerie that my dad had to relocate for a work promotion.
When I told her he died, I explained that it was a company accident…that he took a nasty fall, rather than mauled by a dimension-crossing demon. Damn, my life is depressing. “But, if you want the honest truth, no amount of money can make up for the loss of a life, but that’s a given.” I chuckle nervously, playing on her emotions. I hate lying to her, she’s a good friend, but it’s for the best.
The less she knows, the better.
“Yeah, of course.”
“All right, new subject. This trip was supposed to get my mind off of things. I don’t want to be depressed. The last thing we need is me to start crying in the middle of a rainstorm in uncharted territory. That would be tragic.”
“Okay, umm, so…how has school been?”
“This past semester didn’t go too well. I mean, like, it was fine, but then once everything happened, I shut down. Decided to just start up again slow and enroll online when I’m ready. I was thinking that maybe I’d live on campus and
just take online classes or whatever, but I don’t know…I have mixed feelings. I mean, I can afford it. I’d just have to drop my apartment and see how the rates will go after they take out my scholarship money…it would be nice to be around other people and stuff. It’s not like I have a home or anything to go to.” Noticing what I said, I quickly shoot my hand out in front of Valerie. “No, not like that. Dad had his own apartment, and I had mine. We decided to do things a bit differently after I got pissed when he forced me to move just because he did. Like, I get it now. He didn’t want me toughing it out at a university, but since I was a bit older, I opted for an apartment until we found a house on the market because his job and my school were so far away.
“Sounds complicated.” For the record, the last time I seriously considered even entertaining college was back when I was actually attending school. “How’s Blaze doing?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, but I think he’s doing fine, I guess. Things happen. People move on, you know? Long distance relationships aren’t worth shit these days.”
“Damn, well if you wanted to know, I didn’t think he was all that amazing to begin with.”
“Ha. Don’t go there, Valerie. He’s a good guy. You don’t have to rag on him just to make me feel better. When we first hit it off, you were gushing about how lucky I was.”
“Really?” She perks her brow. “That’s funny…I don’t recall.”
“That is funny because I do. Something about wanting your own piece of caramel delight.”
“Nope, doesn’t ring a bell. Not at all. Not in the least.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s screenshotted on my laptop somewhere, but for real, Blaze is awesome. He wasn’t mean to me or anything like that…it’s just with the move and what happened, it was hard to balance things out. He was supportive and everything, but like I said before, I shut down.” I sigh and lightly thump the steering wheel. “So, I decided to call things off with him.”
“So, is it like a break or something or is it really over?” she asks. “You can always text him. You still have his number, right?”
“Okay, so I mean this in the nicest way possible. You are a great friend, but I really rather not talk about guys or morbid topics. This is supposed to be our private getaway, remember?”
“Yeah, I’ve been sucking lately. My bad. I’m like, zero for two right now.”
“It’s cool. Things happen. We haven’t talked in a while. I’m fine with certain questions, just respect my boundaries. You may manage to get a secret or two out of me if you liquor me up, though.” I laugh. “So, is this place we’re going to gonna have a nice night scene or something?"
“You, clubbing? Did you get bit on the arm by a club rat or something? You go out like once every full moon, Ray. I actually wouldn’t be comfortable with you being my wing girl. In fact, you asking me is like, a huge Red Flag.”
She speaks the truth. Running the night for leisure is indeed a rare experience for yours truly.
“Ugh. I’m not that bad, am I? I know how to have a good time. I’m not completely square.”
“For sure. You’re awesome, but you’re not the type to go out bar hopping. Like, maybe with a group of friends for a birthday. But not because it’s the weekend.”
“Astute observation. You know me well.” I smirk, my eyes still plastered to the road.
“Yup,” Valerie responds proudly. “Well enough to know that you were just baiting me to figure out where we’re going.” She snickers.
“Can’t blame me for trying. You have a freaking multi-day itinerary and I know nothing. Being a slave to a GPS is extremely awkward. You know, this is how people get killed.”
“I told you I was going to drive,” she sings. “All you had to do was rest your pretty little head while I jam out and drive us to paradise.”
“But then I wouldn’t get to see you rock out,” I say and pout my lips. “If I get tired, we’ll switch. How about that?”
“Doubt it.” I catch her leering at me through the corner of my eye. “Do you really trust me with your car?”
“Depends on the situation. But on any given day, no, I don’t.” I smile.
“Exactly.”
“Hey, at least I’m honest.”
Chapter 4: Of All Places
As per Valerie’s request, we end up at a diner smack dab in the middle of nowhere, and by nowhere, I mean the outskirts of some town in Indiana. Vernsdale. Apparently, according to the staggering amount of online reviewers (five that are most likely fake), you haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of the burgers over here.
Driving aimlessly in the rain isn’t exactly what I think of when I think of fun. To be honest, it’s actually quite stressful considering that it hasn’t begun to let up and I have no idea where we’re heading in the bigger scheme of things.
We enter the dining hall, passing two men on the way to our seats. Bikers, if I had to judge from their getups. “So these burgers…are they really worth it?” I mumble. “This place looks hella sketch and we’re a long way from home. Did you see the way those bikers were looking at us?”
“Hush. It’s because we’re hot. Embrace it.” She laughs. “No one is going to cause any trouble. Look around you. It’s a diner. Relax.”
“Valerie, maybe we should—”
“Hello, my name is Helen, and I’ll be your waitress for today. What can I get for you to drink?” Even on vacation, I have to work. Ridiculous.
“Um…I’ll have a water,” I respond.
“And you?”
“Water please, with no lemon. Thanks.”
“Oh, mine too. No lemon…sorry about that.”
“All right, I have two waters coming right up with no lemon.”
“Thanks.” I fake a cordial smile and softly sigh once she turns away.
“You know…I actually don’t think I’m going to get a hamburger,” Valerie says as she begins to comb through one of the menus pre-laid at our spot.
“Oh, really?” Seconds after I ask, my glass hits the polished wooden counter top. “And what do you have in mind?” I nab one of the straws that our waitress slides our way, unwrap it, stick it in my drink, and take a sip.
“The cheese fries.”
I twist my head towards her as I finish my sip. “Okay, so we went to this random place in the middle of a thunderstorm for a burger, but you end up wanting cheese fries. We could have got that at a drive-through, you know?” I reply, my mouth still hovering over my straw. “Classic move.” I shake my head and go at my water again.
“Yeah, but would you rather be riding out the storm at some fast food joint or in here? Look, say what you want, but I made the right call. Cheese fries to me are what calzones are to you.”
“I do love my calzones. Wait…are we stopping by a calzone spot on our way to wherever we’re heading? Because that would be the shit. Actually, do they have calzones here?” I pick up my menu and begin to franticly scan the listings on the front side. Nope.
“So are you guys ready to order or do you need some more time? Perhaps an appetizer to start you off?” I glance up at the waitress—Helen—and then back at my menu.
“Um…can start you with her?” I ask, pointing to Valerie. “I just need a sec. I’m pretty sure she’s ready.”
“Okay. What can I get you, hun?”
“I’d like an order of the cheese fries, please, and if you can, go a little easy on the cheese.”
“Yup, that’s no problem. Anything else?”
“The chicken fingers from the appetizer menu.”
“Okay, got it. And you, darling?”
“I’d like to get the single patty hamburger. It comes with fries, right?”
“It sure does.” The waitress nods and flashes a tender smile.
“Cool. Well, I’d like to get that, but make it a cheese burger. I don’t want it dressed or anything.”
“Can do.”
“Great.” I push the menu off to the side and get back to my water.
> “I know, we’re picky, but you can’t blame us, we’re tourists,” Valerie comments. I simply scoff and shake my head. Here we go.
“You don’t say. I figured as much. We get a lot of the same faces around here. Small town,” Helen says as she picks up our menus. “Where you ladies from?”
“We—”
“Nowhere around here. More towards the south. We travel a lot… It’s kind of our thing,” I say flatly, cutting Valerie off.
From the corner of my eye, I catch her glancing at me, but I keep my sights set on the waitress.
“Oh. I see. Well, your food will be right out.” I watch her as she excuses herself and punches in our order at the bar’s kiosk before grabbing a towel and heading towards the kitchen.
“Not in the mood for chatting it up with the locals?”
I shrug. “Not really, no. Was I really that bad?”
“Just a tad,” Valerie says while inching her fingers together. “She was just trying to make a conversation. She’s probably lonely or something. Empty nest syndrome.”
“Sure, I guess,” I say as I poke at the ice cubes in my glass with my straw. “I don’t like it when people pry…I’m a private person. I’m just here for the food. Not trying to be besties with a waitress.”
“Well, we may be staying a little longer then you think with that storm outside.”
“And I’ll deal with whatever she throws our way.”
“Good luck with navigating through a spit-burger. Considering how dry your burger is, consider it a favor, I hear they’re super moist.”
“You’re over-thinking things, but fine, I’ll play nice next time she comes around. I’m going to the bathroom real quick,” I say as I push off from the bar table. “Yeah, and don’t ever use that word again; especially in the same sentence as food. Geez.”
I make my way to the bathroom, navigating between the booths lightly drizzled with the locals of Vernsdale, Indiana, all of which take their time giving a healthy dose of their xenophobic tendencies. It’s past traditional dining hours and I’m pretty sure I look unassuming right now. It could be my outfit...city girl meets small town is bound to turn some heads. I doubt it’s demons. It wouldn't make sense for them to set up shop in a mom and pop diner. Although, that would make for one hell of a pit stop. I’m sure their burgers would be to die for. Why am I here again?
Sailor Ray and the Beautiful Lie (The Pact Book 3) Page 3