Still trying to process what had just happened, I grabbed my bread-drenched soup and headed for the entranceway with Gunnar hot on my heels.
“I was serious, Trinity.” Gunnar Horváth was the older brother to the tacky triplets and, like his sisters, never hesitated to throw in my face just how Roma I wasn’t. He’d called me a Gaje so many times I’d lost count.
“Why?” I asked him.
“Huh?”
“You heard me, why all of a sudden do you want to take me to dances?”
“You didn’t hear, fată?” Just entering the tent, Xan paused next to us. “After that crazy display of Gerik’s hormones, Jericho has forbidden him contact with you.”
He shrugged. “He’s probably worried he’ll destroy the camp trying to get in your pants. Looks like you’re fair game now.”
Xan slapped Gunnar on the back and the idiot actually grinned back at him. He was such a meat head.
But wait…forbidden?
Questions were popping up left and right. Was I free now? Would Gerik be okay? What would happen to him? Did I even care?
I was way out of my element with all this hocus pocus that everyone else around here seemed so blasé about.
“So you’re free to do what you want, Trin. Maybe you’ll have better luck with Gunnar here…” Xan slapped Gunnar on the back. Then, leaning in so close that I could smell the cigarette smoke mingled with the scent of freshly cut wood that clung to his clothing, he whispered, “Maybe he won’t repulse you as much.”
“Bastard!” I cried out, backing away from him. “That wasn’t my fault!”
“Maybe…” Xan looked mockingly thoughtful. “You just didn’t want it bad enough.”
I didn’t think, just reacted. And my reaction landed Xan with a bowl of soggy bread and soup on his chest. Clumps of vegetables and meat slid down his pants before hitting the ground.
I recognized Shandor’s laughter as I tore out of the back of the tent. Anything that amused Shandor pissed Xan off twice as much. I needed to be invisible. Like yesterday.
“Watch it, Xan Daniel!” Kizzy, Shandor’s mother, yelled. Horrified, I glanced over my shoulder at the Asenov trailer. Kizzy stood outside hanging her laundry and Xan had just trampled her basket of freshly washed clothes. He was bounding towards me, his face a mask of fury.
I amped up my speed, pumping my legs as fast as they could go. I had only two more rows of trailers before I got to my own row and was hoping upon all hopes Becki hadn’t locked herself in after what had happened with Tobar.
I raced past a shocked Maisera and Jericho. I knew Xan was right behind me, his heavy footfalls growing closer. I could only imagine what this must look like. Any day now I was sure they were going to kick me out of camp, citing that I was causing more trouble than I was worth.
A flash of white had me nearly tripping over my own two feet. Gerik was standing near a small fire at the edge of the back lot, his eyes aglow. A chill peppered my arms with goose bumps as the scents of cinnamon and pine trees deliciously filled the air.
“You pussy! You magic-using pussy!” Xan yelled, sounding very far away.
I paused at my door to look back. Xan was picking himself up off the ground halfway across the living lot and Gerik was…gone.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
An unplanned fire meeting had begun about an hour ago. Tonight was special; several of the school-aged children were participating in an impromptu spelling bee and would be singing songs they had been practicing for weeks.
Spelling was the last thing on my mind.
Between watching Xan chug a bottle of gin, only pausing long enough to make-out with the most terrible of the triplets, Fifi, and having to watch Gerik and Onyx do the same, I was having trouble simply remaining calm.
“Becki!” I exclaimed. “I need a mental detour over here.”
“You and me both,” she said sullenly.
Nadya moved from her place beside me and wriggled in between the two of us. “Hmmm…” She tapped her chin while she scoured the fire pit. “Aha! Whose boobs are bigger? Alana or Jaelle’s?”
Becki laughed. “My mami’s definitely. They are the size of my head.”
“Okay…too boring.” She looked around. “Who would you rather kiss, Pitti or Pesha?”
I pushed Nadya playfully into Becki. “Ew!”
“Okay, okay…” She grinned mischievously. “Who would you rather hook up with, Harman Siwak or Djordji Čonka?”
“Eeeee!” Becki shrieked. “They are sooo old!”
Throat clearing had us looking up into the smiling face of Madeleana Čonka. “Some things get better with age girls,” she said with a wink.
As she walked away we fell over top of each other laughing.
“What’s so funny, fetiță?” Pitti asked, plopping down next to me. Still laughing, no one answered him. He shrugged and handed me his flask. “Half full, babe. Just for you. And may I add, Trinity, that you’re especially sexy tonight.”
Seriously? Maybe I would prefer to be off the market if this was how it was going to be from now on.
“Damn, I can’t even spell some of these words,” Stevo mumbled, taking a seat next to Becki. “How old is Adi anyway? Five? Six? Shit.”
“I can’t spell at all,” Pitti said.
I had just taken my first swig of the gods-awful concoction when Becki suddenly jumped to her feet. “Oh shit.” She covered her mouth with her hand, muffling the string of curses that followed.
“What?” Everyone asked.
“Oh…damn...oh, why is he doing this?” she continued. Pitti stood up and followed her line of sight. Eyes wide, he plopped right back down.
What the hell was going on? I tugged on Pitti’s pants and shot him a questioning glance. I followed his finger, pointing to the opposite end of the fire pit where Hockey was striding determinedly toward our small group. His Chicago Blackhawks hat was pulled down so low you couldn’t see his eyes and he was holding something in his hands.
Maisera stopped the spelling bee when she caught sight of him. The whole camp became instantly, eerily quiet.
“Don’t do it, frate!” I easily distinguished Gunnar’s voice. “It’s not worth it!”
“What does he have in his hand?” I whispered.
“Rope,” Becki seethed. “The idiot has rope.”
“Why?” I asked, confused. “What’s going on?”
“That’s it,” Becki hissed. “I’m out of here!” She turned to leave just as Stevo jumped in her way. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, he grabbed her arms and swung her around to face Hockey.
I set the flask down, about to stand when Pitti grabbed my arm. “You can’t interfere, Trinity, just sit tight.”
Hockey had stopped a few feet from us and raised the brim of his hat, his gaze fixed on Becki.
“Don’t you dare touch me!” she screamed. Then, in typical Becki fashion, she spat in his face.
Unconcerned, he wiped the spittle from his cheek and reached for her hands. Her legs, still free, shot outwards and she managed to knock him in the shins a few times. With Stevo’s help, the brothers wrestled her into a kneeling position, making it easier for Hockey to bind her wrists. Her ankles were a whole other story. She screamed, kicked, twisted and spat, reminding me of a frightened cat.
“What is wrong with you?” I demanded of Pitti. “Why isn’t anyone doing anything?”
“Shhh. It will all be explained.”
I didn’t see how any of this could be explained. No one, not even Indiana, Becki’s twin brother, was doing a damn thing. And Maisera had a smile on her face, for Gods’ sake! As Hockey hoisted Becki up and over his shoulder, his face contorted in pain. Becki had sunk her teeth into him.
Stevo grinned at his big brother. “You sure about this, frate? I’m just guessing here, but I’m not sure she’s willing.”
Hockey couldn’t answer as his teeth were clenched tightly together. Blood was seeping through the shoulder of his white t-shirt where Becki’s jaws of
steel had clamped onto him. With an exasperated sigh and a nod at his brother, Hockey left with his unwilling prize and headed for the living lot. I could still hear Becki yelling even after his trailer door slammed.
It was Stefan who broke the silence that followed. He grabbed both Jaelle and Indiana in a giant bear hug. Aishe, too, joined the embrace with tears streaking down the sides of her face.
Jericho clapped his hands together, his grin wide. “Time for celebration, family of mine! To Becki Bălan and Stefan Sava Jr., may their union flourish in love, their families unite in happiness, and this clan prosper with their many, many children!”
Hearty laughter and whoops of joy followed.
“Music, music gentlemen!” Jericho motioned to anyone holding an instrument. The instant the crisp sweet sounds struck the evening air he grabbed hold of Maisera and swung her around.
I pulled away from Pitti and stood up, glaring down at him. “Tell me what in all the gods’ names just happened?”
He grinned, “All the gods, Trinity? That’s a tall order.”
“Pitti!” I yelled, stomping my foot.
“Okay, okay. Calm down. It’s an old Romani tradition. Back in the day, either to avoid paying the bride price or when the girl’s family wouldn’t let her marry who she wanted, if you kidnapped her and held her for a few days, that was enough. You were married.” Pitti laughed at my startled reaction. “Close your mouth, Trinity, you look like a dead fish.”
“I…I… That is so barbaric!”
An indifferent shrug was his only response.
“But what about love?” I cried. “She doesn’t sound very happy about this!” I gestured toward Hockey’s trailer where Becki’s shouting could still be heard, much to the amusement of the entire clan. Gods, what was wrong with everyone?
“Yeah, what about love?” Xan slurred as he ambled up to us, Fifi in tow. A cigarette dangled precariously from his lips.
“Oh please,” Shandor scoffed as he joined our group. “Who cares about love?”
Simionce laughed, sounding every inch Shandor’s little brother. “Who knows, maybe the frate does love her," he said, then waggled his eyebrows conspiratorially. “But we all know why he’s really marrying her.”
I recognized Onyx’s cackle behind me. I refused to turn around and look at either her or Gerik. “Boy needs to get laid is all,” Onyx giggled. “Aishe is strict with her kids, no nooky till marriage, right Stevo?”
She strode forward leering at the blushing teenager.
Wait…what? Becki and Hockey had never… “But…” I said, then trailed off, not entirely sure I wanted to join in the gossip fest centered on my friend.
Shandor winked at me. “Nope,” he said. “Never.”
I had no room to judge, but Becki’s recent behavior and Hockey’s response to it didn’t exactly equal this very sudden and obviously forced marriage.
“All of you can go to hell!” Stevo yelled. “Sex isn’t everything! And Hockey and Becki do love each other. She just was surprised is all!”
“You’re right,” I told him, realizing that we were the two lone virgins in this group. “Sex isn’t everything.”
“Even if they don’t love each other yet, it can come second, yeah?” Gerik said quietly. Walking forward, he placed his arm around Stevo, who looked grateful for the support. “Need almost always come first,” he continued. “Way of the world.” Gerik glanced at me and I froze as those pools of blue sucked me in.
He looked amazing in a loose fitting, white linen shirt, paired with baggy jeans so worn you could practically see right through them in places. He was barefoot as usual and his hair hung loose around his face and shoulders, freshly washed. I couldn’t pry my eyes away from the sight of him no matter how badly I wanted to.
“How would you know?” Xan spat out. “When you just magically force people to think they are in love with you?”
Gerik addressed Xan coldly, “My life and the people in it are none of your business or your concern.”
With his eyes narrowed and his jaw set, Xan looked ready to attack.
“But you’re in love, aren’t you, Xan?” Gerik smirked at him. “Good luck with that one, yeah?”
Everyone grew quiet, all eyes on Xan, waiting for his response to the taunt. Instead of responding he just glared at Gerik. Then, as he turned his hate filled gaze on me, his expression changed. The pure rage he’d shown Gerik was now a mixture of anger, helplessness and anguish.
As we stared at each other, him hating me and me wishing for nothing except to be able to be with him, a slow ache began building in my chest, growing deeper and more painful until I swear I felt my heart break.
“Fuck you both,” he said, his eyes still on me. Then stamping out his cigarette, he stumbled back to the fire pit. As Fifi took off after him, it took every ounce of my will power not to cry.
“Trinity?” Gerik took a step toward me and I instantly put my hands up.
“Don’t I have a magical restraining order against you?” I mimed the air in front of me as if there was an invisible wall between us.
He didn’t bother to hide his anger. Eyes white, veins bulging in his neck, he stood tall, looking every inch a mad man. Onyx began tugging on his arm, pleading with him to leave.
I walked away, uncaring. What was there to care about anymore anyway?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I was completely alone. Oh, I had people to talk with; mindless chatter to pass the time while I did my chores and ate my meals, but with Xan out of my life and Becki temporarily gone, it wasn’t the same.
Over the next few days my routine became monotonous. I walked the same way through the living lot to the food tent, and then from there I did my chores. Then I would practice some fight moves alone by the creek, then back to the food tent and finally home where I would stay alone and sleep until Frank would wake me in the morning with his earsplitting crowing.
It went on like this until I was walking home from an afternoon bath at the swimming hole and I heard screams coming from the living lot. I raced toward the noise to find the clan in chaos.
A wide circle of people had formed around Onyx and Becki, who were only inches apart, foaming from their mouths.
“Don’t you think everyone should hear your good news, Becki?” Onyx was speaking unnecessarily loud. “Doesn’t the clan deserve to celebrate with you?”
Becki lunged at her but Onyx sidestepped her and laughed. She clucked her tongue a few times. “Becki, Becki…” she taunted. “You shouldn’t be fighting in your delicate condition.”
“I’m going to kill you, you horrible bitch!” Becki lunged again and this time her fist made contact. Onyx went down screaming, clutching her face as blood poured from her nose. Indiana grabbed his sister just as she was about to kick Onyx in the stomach.
Pushing herself upright with one hand, holding her bleeding nose with the other, Onyx glared at Becki. “Tell them, Becki! Tell them all what a slut you are! Do you even know who the father—”
“SHUT UP!” Becki screamed shrilly. Everyone within hearing distance winced.
Maisera pushed her way through the crowd and yanked Onyx up by her elbow.
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked.
“She’s pregnant!” Onyx screamed, “Becki is pregnant!”
She shrugged out of Maisera’s grasp and grabbed Becki's shirt, pulling it up. An audible gasp rippled through the gathered crowd as Becki’s secret was revealed.
I covered my mouth with my hand. Sure enough, her stomach had outwardly rounded in such a way that you could tell it wasn’t from weight gain. Becki was pregnant. More than a few months it seemed.
Poor Hockey. He looked like a deer caught in headlights as he stared at his new wife’s stomach. My guess was they still had yet to consummate their marriage.
“I saw her bathing!” Onyx screeched. “And I’ve seen her puking several times—”
Her words cut off abruptly as Maisera slapped her across the face. Blo
od from her broken nose arced through the air as her head spun sideways, spraying everyone nearby.
“Child, it is times like this when I am happy Merikano and Christine have gone back to nature,” Maisera told her sadly, “and don’t have to see what you have become in their absence.”
Eyes wide with shock, Onyx’s bottom lip began to quiver. Becki, still held firmly in her twin’s grip was openly sobbing.
“Whore!” Aishe screamed, breaking the silence. “Blight on my family!”
“You’ve soiled this family by marrying her!” Aishe turned on Hockey and started swatting him with her hand. “You are no longer my son! I disown you Stefan Sava, I disown you!”
Hockey didn’t even bat an eyelash, he didn’t try to thwart his mother’s smacks, he just stood there, stoic as ever and continued to stare at Becki, his expression unreadable.
“What is going on here?” All eyes turned toward Jaelle as she warily walked into the volatile scene. At the sight of her mother, Becki’s sobs grew louder.
Aishe pointed at Becki, “You’re daughter is—”
“The copil is mine, mamă!” Hockey interrupted. “Why do you think we got married?”
Hearing that, Becki collapsed in her brother’s arms. Aishe was stunned into a few precious moments of silence that unfortunately didn’t last very long. “Whore!” she screamed at her son. “Sinner! Your child is a bastard because you couldn’t keep your ciocănitoare in your pants!”
The sound of Shandor’s incessant snickering had me turning around. Sitting with Xan and Tobar around the Vãdura family bonfire, he was as usual, highly amused by the scene in front of us.
Xan seemed oblivious to everything except his cigarette.
And Tobar… Tobar looked like he was going to throw up.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
As I neared the end of my chores, a booted foot came out of nowhere and kicked the entire barrel of clean dishes over. The barrel rolled about fifteen feet, dishes went flying, some landing outside the wards.
“What is your problem?” I asked Onyx, unsurprised to find her attached to the booted foot.
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