The Xoe Meyers Trilogy (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Fantasy/Horror Series)

by Sara C. Roethle

  Once we were alone, I fell into Jason’s arms. I hadn’t even checked to see if my mom was awake. I still had no idea what I was going to say to her. Sorry, but dad had to drug you? I somehow didn’t think that would go over too well. Maybe I’d be able to convince her that she’d hit her head, and was now suffering from a minor case of harmless amnesia.

  Jason sat down on the bed, and I curled awkwardly into his lap. My legs were a little too long for it, but at the moment I needed to be as close to him as I could. His dark brown sweater was slightly scratchy and I found myself briefly wondering why scratchy sweaters even existed. Who buys scratchy sweaters when there are soft ones out there? Jason apparently. Okay, I was obviously still a bit delirious. What had I come upstairs for again?

  As if reading my mind, Jason asked softly, “Are you going to shower?”

  “Oh, um, yeah,” I mumbled in reply.

  When I didn’t move, he lifted me easily so he could stand, then set me gently back on the bed. He leaned down by my head and kissed the side of my forehead. “I will get Lucy to help you,” he whispered.

  “No,” I mumbled, “get Allison.” Lucy would fuss over me nervously. Allison would take things in stride, and wouldn’t make me feel pathetic about needing help to be bathed. I wanted to do it myself, but now that I was safe, my body simply wouldn’t move anymore.

  Jason left while I was still sorting through my muddled thoughts, and before I knew it, Allison was doing her best to make me stand up so she could help me into the bathroom. I didn’t really help much. In fact, I think I might have blacked out a little, because the next thing I knew, I was slumping down into a nice, hot bath. Ah, heaven.

  Allison sat on the closed toilet. I was glad to have her there. It would really suck to have survived all of the danger, only to pass out and drown in the tub.

  Allison leaned her head in her hands tiredly. She was dressed in a pale pink cardigan and faded jeans that made her look delicate and out of place next to my dark purple décor. “I shouldn’t have left you Xoe,” she said, tears choking her voice. “I’m so sorry.”

  I sunk a little deeper into the hot water. Allison had rolled up a towel for me to lean my head against and I got it wet with my movement. Not caring, I sunk down until the water was at my chin.

  “I told you to leave, Al,” I mumbled.

  “But it was so we could get help,” she argued. “By the time we got back to the crypt, you were gone. We left you all alone and it didn’t help at all.”

  “You did the right thing,” I breathed tiredly. “Just let it go.”

  Allison nodded to herself, then changed the subject. “Jason didn’t get back to Shelby until just after Lela, Brian, and I escaped. He went crazy when he found out you’d been taken. It took Max, Chase, and your dad to hold him down and keep him from running off on his own to look for you.”

  When I didn’t answer, she continued to fill me in. “And that was after it apparently took Max, Lucy, and your dad to get Chase to go back to the truck after they lost you at the coffee shop.”

  At that I raised a questioning eyebrow, but kept my eyes closed. “You know he’s not going anywhere, now that the danger’s over I mean?”

  “Who?” I asked, not able to follow her train of thought.

  “Chase,” she answered. “He views your dad as family. Now he’s got this weird protective thing with you.”

  “Surely you jest,” I mumbled, and smiled to myself. Yeah, I was definitely delirious.

  Allison took me seriously. “I just had to spend an entire 24 hours with him and your dad when we were looking for you. Trust me when I say that neither of them is going anywhere.”

  I opened my eyes a crack to regard her. Come to think of it, she did look more than a little tired. “You guys haven’t slept?” I asked.

  “Of course not!” she squealed, looking offended.

  Okay, I hadn’t realized I was making everyone wait when they hadn’t slept at all the previous night. “Towel please,” I asked.

  I was feeling a little better, and managed to stand on my own while Allison held a towel open for me. I swaddled myself in its wonderful fluffy softness and stepped onto my purple rug, not caring that I was still dripping water from my legs. Allison pushed the little switch to drain my bathtub, then followed me into my bedroom. I sat on my bed while she pawed through my drawers. She threw me my dark green sweats and a long-sleeved black Bauhaus tee.

  As soon as I was dressed, Allison helped me out of my room and back downstairs. We entered the living room to find Lucy, Lela, and Max all passed out. Lela and Lucy had taken the couches, so Max had simply taken a throw pillow and passed out on the floor. A wonderful smell was wafting out of the kitchen.

  Allison walked over to lie on the floor by Max as I made my way to the kitchen. I found Jason and Chase leaning against the kitchen counter, each sipping on a mug of coffee. Seeing me, Jason went into the dining room and came back with a chair for me. I slumped into it gratefully then extended my hands for the mug of coffee Chase had poured for me.

  “We threw in a couple of frozen pizzas,” Jason informed me, “though I guess we’re the only three eating now.”

  I nodded. “Is my mom still asleep?” I asked without looking up from my mug.

  “Yes,” Chase answered. “She should be out until morning.”

  I pouted, still not liking the idea of my mom being drugged, though I had to admit, it was rather convenient.

  When the pizzas were done, the three of us sat in the dining room and ate in silence. As soon as we finished, Chase stood. “I can take Max home if you want,” he offered.

  I nodded, still not saying anything. I watched as Jason went to wake the wolf in question, but he was out cold, so Jason simply lifted him and carried him outside.

  Chase looked down at me once we were alone. “I guess, to sound horribly cliché, this is goodbye.”

  I thought of what Allison had said about him, and I thought about the fact that Chase didn’t have a family. “My mom and I always make a big dinner on Christmas eve. It’s one of the few days out of the year that we actually cook. You should come.”

  ason came back into the room before Chase could answer, so Chase simply smiled, then turned and walked out of the dining room. As soon as the door was shut, Jason sat down beside me again.

  “You invited him to Christmas Eve dinner?” he asked.

  I crossed my arms and lowered my head to the table. “We needed another demon to round out the group,” I mumbled.

  “Am I supposed to know what that means?” Jason asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

  I shook my head, keeping my face buried in my arms and laughed despite my exhaustion. “It means it’s bedtime,” I answered.

  A moment later, Jason hoisted me up in his arms and proceeded to carry me upstairs. I left Lucy, Allison, and Lela where they were. If they got cold, Lucy and Allison knew where the spare blankets were. Jason carried me into my room and placed me on bed.

  I waited while he shut my bedroom door, then I felt him snuggle up beside me. We had a brief struggle of trying to put the comforter over us without actually getting off the bed. Then we settled in for me to sleep.

  Ah, heaven.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I woke up at 6:00am, uncharacteristically early for me, especially given how exhausted I had been. I looked groggily around my room for Jason, only to realize that he wasn’t there. I slipped out of bed and padded barefoot into my bathroom. There was an unpleasant looking ring around my tub from my bath the night before. I grabbed the foaming bathroom cleaner that I kept under my pedestal sink on the floor and gave the bathtub a good spray down and left it at that.

  I gathered my hair into a ponytail, washed my face and brushed my teeth, then went in search of my mom. I found her milling around in her room, looking dazed and disoriented. She didn’t even notice me watching her from the doorway.

  “Just wake up?” I asked her.

  She practically jumped out of her
skin at my voice. She whipped around and saw that it was only me, and put her hand to her heart in relief. “You scared me to death honey,” she breathed, then scrunched up her face in confusion.

  “Are you feeling . . . okay?” I asked hesitantly.

  She nodded and slumped down to sit on her bed. “It’s the weirdest thing,” she explained. “I can’t remember yesterday at all, or the night before really. The last thing I remember was having cookies and cinnamon rolls with you and your friends.”

  Thanks a lot, dad. “Um, did you hit your head or something?” I asked.

  She cocked her head while she tried to come up with an answer. “I don’t remember hitting it, but then again, if that’s what made me lose my memory, I probably wouldn’t remember it. I do have a killer headache.”

  “Do you want to go to the hospital?” I asked, keeping my fingers crossed that the answer would be no. There was no telling what they might find.

  She shook her head, then answered, “I think I’m okay. I mean, besides the headache, my head isn’t actually sore anywhere. If I had hit it hard enough to do any real damage, I’m sure there’d be a lump.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed, “I’m sure you’re fine.” If she had actually hit her head, I would have insisted she go to the hospital, but, well, you know. Before my mom could think too much about things, I changed the subject. “Happy Christmas Eve?” I said as if it was a question.

  My mom smacked her palm to her forehead. “I completely forgot! Happy Christmas Eve, Xoe. We better get cooking.”

  I sighed sarcastically. “If we must.”

  We always cooked Christmas Eve dinner in our pajamas, then showered and changed clothes before whoever we invited arrived. I raised my eyebrows at my mom’s purple polo and jeans. “You’re not in your pj’s,” I remarked.

  She looked down as if just realizing her attire. “Oh!” she gasped. “I must have really been out of it last night.”

  I raised my eyebrow even farther and tapped my foot in mock impatience.

  My mom rolled her eyes at me. “You start the coffee. I’ll get changed.”

  I nodded and left my mom’s room. I heard someone knocking as I began to descend the stairs, so I hurried the rest of the way, and even leapt over the last three stairs. I was feeling good-as-new. Let’s hear it for being a demon!

  I reached the door and looked out the peephole (I knew better than to just answer it anymore). Jason was waiting outside with a little cardboard carrying thing containing three coffees and a bag that I sincerely hoped contained Danishes.

  I opened the door and took in our breakfast delivery man. He was dressed in a horrible Christmas sweater complete with snowmen and little laughing elves and a crisp new pair of jeans.

  “I’ll take the coffee,” I began, “but I don’t think I can allow that sweater in my house.”

  “Have a little Christmas spirit,” he jested. “I come bearing Danishes.”

  “Well in that case,” I swung the door open dramatically, “welcome to my humble abode.”

  He gave me a good-natured smirk. “You are too kind.”

  We both turned to see my mom coming down the stairs in full-blown footie pajamas done in blue and covered in snowflakes. It was a very sad day when I was the best dressed in green sweats and my old, ratty Bauhaus t-shirt.

  “You better turn around now Jason,” my mom called after she spotted us. “The day when Xoe and I cook is a very, scary, day.”

  “Don’t scare him mom!” I shouted back. “He comes bearing sustenance!”

  My mom came to stand before Jason. “In that case welcome, how are you at prepping turkeys?”

  Jason sighed in resignation and handed me the coffee and Danishes. He slid one of the coffees out of the holder and disappeared into the kitchen. I smiled to myself, glad that he was there.

  “Is Allison coming?” my mom asked as soon as we were alone.

  Lucy’s family required her to be home on Christmas Eve, but Allison always came to our dinners. “Yep,” I answered. “Oh, and Chase.”

  My mom nodded. “What about Brian? I know you two aren’t too close anymore.”

  Speaking of Brian, I still had that Christmas gift for him. He’d gone home after our reunion at Jason’s apartment. I had to assume that he was even less inclined to talk to me now than ever.

  “I’ll tell you in a minute,” I answered, then turned to run back upstairs.

  I went into my room to dig Brian’s jersey out of my closet. I hadn’t had a chance to wrap anything, but since he probably didn’t want a gift from me to begin with, I doubted he’d care whether or not it was wrapped.

  I trotted back downstairs with the jersey in hand, stopping to slip on some winter boots before heading out the front door. I looked down at the jersey as I trotted toward Brian’s house, then skidded to a halt, almost running into Brian as he jogged toward me.

  We stared at each other a moment, then I held out the jersey. He took the jersey with one hand and stuck the other one into his pocket. When his hand came back out something shiny came with it. He held out a dainty silver bracelet with a heart charm attached to the clasp. Upon closer examination I noticed that the charm had my name engraved on it.

  I hesitantly took the bracelet from his outstretched hand. “Since when do you get me jewelry?” I asked with a smile.

  Brian looked down at the ground as he answered. “Since everything changed.”

  My smile wilted around the edges. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. I waited in silence for him to elaborate.

  “I’m going to try harder to be your friend, Xoe,” he said finally meeting my eyes. “I abandoned you because I couldn’t handle the . . . changes in your life, when I should have been there to help you handle them.”

  A glimmer of hope surfaced in my mind. Too bad I had to squash it. “Being my friend puts you in danger, Brian. You have to think carefully about this choice. I’ll understand if you say we can’t be friends. I just need closure one way or the other.”

  Brian’s brow furrowed into angry lines. “We’re friends, Xoe. End of story. I may not be able to handle everything all at once, but we’re both going to work on this friendship if it kills us.”

  “It very well may,” I mumbled.

  Brian sighed. “Shut up and invite me inside.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you sure? You risk great peril.”

  Brian grinned. “I’ve eaten your cooking before Xoe.”

  I playfully punched Brian in the arm, then turned to walk back up my driveway. As we reached my door, I noticed a small burgundy box with an understated gold bow tied around it. Brian stooped to pick it up. He turned it over in his palm, then handed it to me with a shrug. “No name on it.”

  I took the offered box and walked to sit down on my front porch swing. “Go on inside,” I told Brian. “Make sure my mom doesn’t burn down the house.

  Brian gave me a final considering look, then let himself into my house. I stared at the box for several minutes before finally untying the delicate gold bow. I removed the lid to reveal a somewhat gaudy ring and a folded piece of stationary. I slipped the ring onto my index finger then unfolded the note. It read simply:

  This ring is a family heirloom. Its origins are unknown, as are its magical properties. Have a merry Christmas, and give Libby my best.

  -A

  Well, the A had to stand for Alexondre. I placed the note back inside the box and examined the ring more closely. It was composed of a brownish red gemstone the size of my thumbnail set in delicate, spiraling silver vines that twisted to form the band of the ring. As I watched, a flare of light emanated from the center of the stone. I blinked my eyes in astonishment then looked at the stone again. As far as I could tell it was an ordinary stone once more. I’d have to ask my dad about it at our first official lesson. I gathered up the box and ribbon and headed into the warmth of my house.

  Over the next few hours I helped my mom bake and mash and baste while Jason and Brian tried to b
e cordial over a game of chess. By the time Max and Allison showed up, my mom and I had both showered, and the boys had managed to set the table with mismatched plates and silverware.

  I was beginning to think that Chase would be a no-show when the doorbell rang. I answered to find him standing in a deep red button up shirt and what looked like new, charcoal gray slacks.

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “You know this is a casual event, right?”

  Chase shrugged. “I’ve never been to a Christmas Eve dinner before.”

  My jaw dropped. “Never?”

  Chase shrugged again, seeming embarrassed. I tried to usher him inside as a change of subject, but instead he grabbed my hand and led me out onto the porch, closing the door behind us.

  “I wasn’t sure if I should get you anything . . . ” he began as he fished around in his pocket to pull out a small gray box. He handed me the box, then watch expectantly for me to open it.

  I cracked the lid to find a charm in the shape of a curling serpent, with tiny green gems for eyes. “Gee,” I began, “I go my whole life without anyone buying me jewelry, then I get it all in one day.”

  “If you don’t like it . . . ” Chase began.

  “Oh no,” I cut him off. “It’s perfect.” I held up my wrist with Brian’s bracelet, and twisted the loop of the charm onto the clasp with the heart on it.

  Chase smiled and met my eyes and the moment suddenly became way too intimate. I blushed and grabbed his arm to usher him inside. As we came through the front door we ran into Jason, apparently coming to check on me. Chase relinquished my arm and the three of us walked awkwardly to join everyone else at the table.

  The dinner was interesting, to say the least. The mashed potatoes closely resembled soup, and the candied yams probably weren’t supposed to be tinged with gray, but at least the turkey came out perfectly. That was probably because Jason cooked it, but no one needed to know that little fact.

  We all served ourselves, and much to my chagrin everyone avoided the yams. Out of spite I stood and grabbed the bowl, then proceeded to pile a heaping spoonful onto everyone’s plates. Lucy was the first trooper to place a dainty bite into her mouth. We all waited while she started to chew, then laughed as she ran into the kitchen to spit the bite back out.