Firewalker

by Josephine Angelini

  Everyone visibly relaxed at the mention of responsible Juliet, but the grilling didn’t end.

  “I’d really like to meet your life coach,” the guidance counselor said. “You should have him come in so we can discuss what the school can do to help you get well.”

  You know what, Rowan? I think the pyre was more enjoyable than this.

  Light yourself on fire, then. That should end the meeting in a hurry.

  Lily tried not to laugh out loud and endured the rest of the questions about her treatment. She managed to put most of the lingering questions about her disappearance to rest, but she still didn’t get out of the principal’s office until lunch.

  “Lily. Over here,” Tristan called, waving her over. He was sitting at a table with Breakfast and a girl named Una Stone. Lily made her way over to them, ignoring the stares and whispers that shadowed her every move.

  “This is nice,” Lily said. “Strange. But nice. When did the three of you start hanging out together?”

  Tristan was probably the most popular person at Salem High, and he usually spent lunch surrounded by fawning girls and jealous jock guys. Breakfast was well liked by everyone, but he was a giant geek. Lily barely knew Una, although she’d always admired her cool intelligence and had wanted to make friends with her. Una was the kind of girl who tended to wear a lot of black clothes and bloodred lipstick, and she had at least a dozen tattoos and even more piercings. Add skinny, redheaded, sheer-dress-in-January-wearing Lily and they made just about the weirdest group anyone had ever seen sitting at a lunch table.

  “Right about the time you disappeared,” Breakfast said, sliding out a chair for Lily.

  “Breakfast and me were the last two to see you, besides your sister,” Tristan said. He huffed in frustration. “And we went through a lot of crap with the police over that, you know.”

  “Sorry,” Lily said for what felt like the thousandth time. She looked at Una. “How’d you get dragged into this?”

  “I was his alibi,” Una replied, tipping her chin at Breakfast. “I saw him after you took the ice bath.”

  “I was really upset by the whole near-death thing,” Breakfast said, blushing and reaching for Una’s hand under the table. “I needed consoling.”

  “Then I guess we got used to each other,” Una finished, indulging the handholding for a moment, before reverting to her usual self-contained posture.

  “Actually, they were the only ones who were willing to hang out with me anymore,” Tristan said quietly.

  “Why?” Lily asked.

  “I was the last person with you, Lily. Everyone saw me carry you out of that party half dead and then Juliet heard us get into that fight,” Tristan replied, frustrated, like Lily should have considered that. “I think even she was starting to wonder if I’d killed you.”

  “Oh my God,” Lily gasped.

  “Now she gets it.” Tristan sat back, shaking his head at Lily. “The FBI started hassling me, you know.”

  “Simms,” Lily said under her breath.

  She looked around the cafeteria and noticed that the stares and whispers weren’t entirely directed at her. She glared at a few fellow senior girls, who were casting suspicious eyes at Tristan, and made a mental note to ask Rowan if he had a brew that would give them a raging case of acne. When she looked back at Tristan to apologize again, she realized that he was staring intently at her throat.

  “What’s that?” he said, reaching out for the willstones hidden beneath her collar.

  “Just a necklace,” Lily replied, hastily covering her willstones with a hand.

  “May I see?” Una said, leaning forward with keen interest. Breakfast leaned forward, too, trying to peer through Lily’s palm.

  “Maybe some other time,” Lily said lightly. “I’m a little superstitious about it.”

  They all forced themselves to look away. Lily knew what it meant, and why she had always been interested in Tristan, Breakfast, and Una. They all had some kind of magical talent that was drawing them to her—and maybe to each other, too.

  “You promised me gossip, Breakfast,” Lily said, changing the subject. “I want to hear all the nastiest tidbits first.”

  After lunch, the new group of friends didn’t go their separate ways. Una and Breakfast walked Tristan and Lily to their next class, and then they all met up again a period later at Lily’s locker. When school was over, the four of them loitered around Tristan’s car in the parking lot. It was as if they didn’t want to be separated from her, and it took Lily a moment to realize that they were expecting her to ask them all back to her house to hang out after school.

  Lily made an excuse about her mom still being a little sensitive since she’d come back, and promised that she’d have them over soon to meet Rowan.

  “So, who is he anyway?” Una asked, a feline smile pursing her cherry-red lips.

  “He’s my life coach,” Lily said awkwardly.

  “What does that mean?” asked Tristan, crossing his arms.

  Lily looked down and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Um, he, like, helps me with my diet and managing my reactions—”

  “I thought you didn’t have reactions anymore,” Tristan challenged.

  Lily looked up, annoyed. “And he’s helping my mom. Holistically. You know, using herbs and stuff.”

  “Cool,” Breakfast said, sensing a fight building between Lily and Tristan. He took Una by the elbow. “See you tomorrow?”

  They said their good-byes and Tristan drove Lily home, still fuming a bit over Rowan. When he dropped her off, Tristan stayed in the driveway after Lily had gone inside.

  Rowan came up behind Lily and looked over her shoulder through the curtains at Tristan, still sitting in his car. “He’s not going to stop,” Rowan said.

  “It’s just a few more months.” Lily turned in his arms and smiled up at him. “And then you and I can go anywhere we want. We can drive cross-country. Or fly to Europe!”

  Lily felt that huge, gray emotion well up inside Rowan again. She was about to ask him what was wrong, but he kissed her quickly and hugged her to his chest. “I would love to see the whole world with you,” he said, his voice catching.

  As Rowan held her, Lily felt his gaze drift back out the window. Tristan finally gave up and drove away.

  * * *

  For the next two days Lily managed to come up with an excuse every time Tristan, Breakfast, and Una hinted they wanted to come over to her house, but by Saturday, Lily’s little entourage had had enough of her evasive behavior. They showed up on her doorstep with bagels and coffee at eight o’clock in the morning, and Rowan let them in with a huge smile.

  You couldn’t have lied and said I wasn’t here, Rowan?

  No. Now explain bagels. Do you dip them in the coffee?

  You don’t know bagels? Oy vey.

  Rowan and Breakfast hit it off immediately, and strangely, over computers. Rowan had been fascinated by computers from the moment Juliet taught him how to use one, and he’d spent some of his study time teaching himself about telecommunications, computer processing, and coding. Breakfast couldn’t believe he’d finally met someone who was as into code as he was, and for a while they seemed to be speaking a totally foreign language. Lily looked at Una, her eyes wide with surprise that Rowan and Breakfast would have so much in common.

  “What can you do?” Una said. “He’s a geek. But he’s my geek.”

  Lily laughed. “Don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but you two make kind of an odd couple.”

  “You think?” Una replied, smirking. “Believe me, it was a shock to me, too, but he grew on me. Like a fungus.”

  “But he’s your fungus, right?”

  “Right.” Her smile suddenly fell. “It’s still hard sometimes, though. We’re such opposites.”

  “He’s very affectionate,” Lily said, following an instinct. “And I gather that you’re not the hand-holding type.”

  “No,” Una said emphatically. Her light expression suddenly dark
ened. “I usually don’t like to be touched.”

  “Maybe that’s why he’s so good for you,” Lily suggested quietly. She knew there had to be a story there, but she didn’t push. Una wasn’t a tea-and-sympathy kind of girl.

  While Lily and Una were relaxing into each other’s company, Lily could sense that Tristan was getting more annoyed as he watched Breakfast and Rowan’s conversation.

  “Wait a second,” Tristan said, rudely interrupting Rowan. “I thought you were some holistic herbalist life coach, or whatever.”

  “I know a lot about herbs and how to use them,” Rowan answered patiently.

  “So what’s all this about code?” Tristan continued. “Are you a computer programmer on the side?”

  “No,” Rowan said. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept his tone even. “I’m interested in computers, but I grew up learning how to handle special people like Lily.”

  “You grew up learning that, did you?” Tristan said sarcastically. He squared off in front of Rowan, obviously looking for a fight. “Where?”

  “Well, I went to school for it, but more importantly I was born to do it.” Rowan didn’t blink. “So were you, Tristan.”

  Rowan, what the hell are you doing? Don’t you dare tell Tristan he’s a mechanic.

  “Rowan’s Native American,” Lily interjected. “His tribe is really into herbs and stuff.”

  “Oh, that’s so cool,” Una said. “I’ve always been interested in herbs, too.”

  Rowan looked at Una carefully, like he was studying the air around her. “You’ve got the same talent Tristan and I have—which is unique, actually. Where I’m from you’d usually be like Lily, rather than like Tristan and me.”

  Rowan. Knock it off.

  “What are you talking about?” Tristan said derisively. “You and I are nothing alike.”

  “Lily told me you wanted to be a doctor,” Rowan said.

  Tristan backed off completely, all the fight leaving him. He looked away. “Like that’s going to happen now.”

  “What are you talking about, Tristan?” Lily asked.

  “Forget it,” he replied. “Breakfast, didn’t you bring a movie?”

  “Hang on,” Lily said, standing and facing Tristan. “What are you talking about? You don’t want to be a doctor anymore? When did you decide that?”

  “It was decided for me,” Tristan said quietly. “Not too many Ivy League schools accept guys who are being questioned for their girlfriend’s mysterious disappearance, Lily.” He laughed bitterly. “Especially not guys who have a record.”

  “You don’t have a record.”

  “After I left you that morning I went to Scot’s.” Tristan sighed heavily. “I didn’t hit him that hard, but his face opened up and he needed stitches. The neighbors called an ambulance and the cops.”

  “But you guys fight all the time,” Lily said in a weak voice.

  Scot had tried to get Lily drunk and take advantage of her the night before she disappeared, and the alcohol he slipped into her drink had given Lily a seizure. The next morning Tristan had promised to beat up Scot, but Lily didn’t think Tristan would take it that far—at least not so far that Scot would end up in the hospital.

  “You and Scot got into a huge fight freshman year and no one got arrested,” she argued.

  “We’re not freshmen anymore, Lily,” Tristan snapped. “I’m eighteen. Scot’s parents pressed charges. An assault-and-battery conviction goes on your college transcripts.”

  “I don’t believe this,” Lily said blankly.

  “Your timing really sucked, you know that? Agent Simms wouldn’t let me leave the state to go to any of my interviews. Can’t leave the state when you’re involved in an investigation. I tried to reschedule, but they all told me very politely that I seemed to be going through a lot of personal problems and that I should take some time to get the help I needed.”

  “But I’m back. It was a misunderstanding,” Lily whispered. She felt like she’d been punched in the chest.

  “They don’t care.” Tristan put his hands on his hips and sighed. “It really doesn’t take much for an admissions board to say no to anybody. Having an arrest for a violent offense and an FBI agent breathing down your neck would be enough to spook any school, let alone the Ivy Leagues.”

  “Tristan, I’m so—”

  “Sorry. I know. You said that already.”

  He still has a future, Lily, if you tell him what he really is. Please, tell him. Tell all of them what they are.

  “What about that movie, Breakfast?” Tristan said, deliberately changing the subject.

  “Yeah,” Breakfast said, grabbing his bag. “Comedy or horror?”

  “Oh, for the love of Christmas, comedy,” Una said emphatically, pushing Breakfast in front of her and into the living room.

  Juliet showed up halfway through the film and eagerly jumped onto the couch next to Tristan.

  “I love this movie,” she said, grabbing herself a throw pillow and half a blanket.

  They spent the entire day together, and luckily, Rowan stopped dropping hints about the rest of the group’s hidden talents. Tristan even started to warm up to Rowan a bit, almost like he couldn’t help it. Rowan certainly knew how to be charming.

  You’re good at this, Rowan.

  Of course I am. I had years of practice as head mechanic to the witch, you know. The Salem Coven was expected to entertain often.

  That’s right—you were Lord Fall, weren’t you? So strange to think of you as a lord.

  Where did you hear that title?

  Lily couldn’t lie to him in mindspeak, so she shrugged her shoulders, playing dumb. Samantha saved Lily from a grilling by coming down the stairs. Rowan got up to check on her and offered to make everyone dinner.

  “Thank you, dear. That would be lovely,” Samantha said, smiling at Rowan like a son.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you for a walk or something, Ma?” Lily asked nervously.

  “Or I could take you,” Juliet suggested.

  Neither of them was comfortable having new people around their mother yet, especially since new people made it harder for Samantha to find herself in the blizzard of alternate universes that swirled in her head.

  “We can all take a walk together after dinner,” Breakfast said, his eyes narrowed knowingly at Lily. “Sit next to me, Mrs. Proctor.”

  Lily was surprised to find that Breakfast handled her mother well. He didn’t even blink when Samantha mentioned a recent war with Canada.

  “I think you meant to say Afghanistan, Mrs. Proctor,” Breakfast corrected gently.

  Samantha frowned deeply, resetting her worldview. “That’s right. We’re not at war with Canada here,” she said, and changed the subject.

  After dinner, while everyone was bundling up to take a walk, Lily sought out Breakfast and pulled him aside.

  “Thank you,” Lily said. “That was very thoughtful of you.”

  Breakfast smiled. “I have an uncle like your mom,” he said quietly. “Not as serious, but sometimes it feels like he’s in another world.”

  “Another world.” Lily laughed weakly. “That’s a pretty accurate way to put it.”

  “Anyway, you don’t have to be embarrassed. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  Lily swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Lily? It’s really cold out. I think even you are going to need to dress warmly tonight,” Rowan said, bringing her a jacket.

  Did you hear Breakfast and me talking, Rowan?

  The bit about his uncle. It means he has spirit walking in his blood. He could be a huge asset for your coven.

  Lily frowned as she put her coat on. She tried to tell Rowan in mindspeak that she didn’t want a coven, but she couldn’t. Because it was a lie.

  The well-fed group spilled out into the frigid night. Everyone shivered and laughed around their chattering teeth and frozen cheeks. It was so cold the snow crunched and squeaked underfoot. Lily went to Rowan
and pressed against his side. After a moment he put his arm over her shoulder. He hadn’t been affectionate with her all day, and Lily knew it had something to do with Tristan. She glanced over at him and saw him staring at them.

  He loves you, Lily.

  And I love you, Rowan. If he wants to stay friends with me, he’ll have to accept that.

  Don’t push him away.

  Lily looked at Rowan, confused. She knew Rowan wasn’t the jealous type, and she appreciated that about him, but asking her to stay close to an ex-boyfriend seemed a bit much, even for him.

  Rowan suddenly stopped dead, his body going rigid as he pushed Lily behind him.

  “Everyone get back to the house,” he yelled. Lily peered around Rowan’s arm and saw a man’s shape standing under a streetlight across the street.

  “He found me,” she whispered, panic buckling her knees. She didn’t need to see his face to know who he was. She could recognize the hunched shoulders and cocked head of Carrick’s crow-like silhouette anywhere—she’d seen it enough times looming over her in the dark oubliette.

  Lily could hear Tristan and Breakfast asking what was wrong, but she couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying over the ringing in her ears. Carrick took a step toward them.

  Give me strength, Lily.

  She felt the pull of Rowan’s willstone, asking hers for power. Lily had no flame from which to gather energy, but she did have a belly full of food. She took the calories inside her body, changed them into force in her willstone, and poured as much of it as she could into Rowan. She saw a bright flash from his willstone, and then she saw Rowan charging after Carrick. Both of them were moving so quickly it almost looked as if they had disappeared.

  “What the hell just happened?” Tristan shouted. Great trenches were dug in the snow, and deep tracks led into the darkness.

  “Lily, are you okay?” Una said. Lily realized she’d collapsed, and Una and Juliet were trying to lift her off the ground. Una looked up at Tristan, Breakfast, and Samantha, standing over them. “Holy shit, did you see that?” she asked, breathless.