by Jen L. Grey
He opens the refrigerator door and pulls out the meat. “I’m helping of course. I’ll brown the meat.”
Of course, he is because he’s like that. He wants to pull his weight. I set my phone down on the coffee table and go get a pot to boil some water in and get some sauce warming. Within the next twenty minutes, we have our easy but delicious meal cooked and ready to eat.
We sit down and eat our meal, enjoying each other’s company. For once, we aren’t rushing to find something, reap someone, or hide from the council. When we’re done, Charlie gets up and grins. “All right, I’ll do the dishes. You go sit down and enjoy that new couch for a minute.”
“No, I can help.” I don’t want him cleaning up like that. He’s done so much for me.
“Not another word.” He points in there. “I need you to rest for a minute anyways. I have big plans for us in a minute and you’ll need your energy.” A mischievous grin crosses his face.
Now that halts any fight I have left in me. He does plan on paying me back somehow, so I’ll let him have his little clean up duty. I walk into the living room and grab the phone off the table. Once I get settled into the couch, I turn the tv on.
Holy shit. I’ve missed five calls from the same number I just marked as spam. Something has to be wrong, but why the hell didn’t they leave a message? I dial the number and press send. The line rings five times, but then cuts off to dead air. What the hell? It doesn’t even go to voicemail.
Now this is annoying. Why would someone call me that many times and then not pick up when I call back? I go back to the number screen and click the send a message option. I type out, You keep calling me. What do you want?
Maybe they will answer that. I turn the ringer on loud and throw the phone back on the table. I swear people just need to learn how to use technology the right way. Maybe Tayvon could teach them.
“Who peed in your Cheerios?” Charlie chuckles as he makes his way toward me.
“That stupid number from earlier called me back five times and didn’t leave a message or anything.” I cross my arms and lean back. “Just annoys me.”
“You know a good way to take out some frustration?” He raises a finger and leans my direction.
I already can see where this is going. “You’re wanting to spar.” I need to. That couch kicked my ass today and that’s not good.
He snaps his fingers and points my direction. “You’re the winner.”
That would help get some frustration out. “You know what. Let’s do it.”
“I knew you’d be down.” He heads over and scoots the coffee table over to the side of the room. Once the main area of the living room is open, he walks into the center. “Now, we’re ready.”
My heart begins racing in my chest. I’ve never sparred with him before and don’t know what to expect. He was always the top of his class and tends to do well by any reaper standards.
“Are you going to attack me?” His eyes scan me, taking in everything.
Does he expect me to answer that question? I’m not going to tell him if I plan on initiating first contact. However, since he’s bigger than me, that would not benefit me. I need him to, so I attempt to find a weakness.
We dance around in a circle for a minute, waiting on the other to start. All of a sudden, he swings with his left hand.
I dodge to the right. So that tells me he’s going to use his strength to fight me and his non-dominant hand to try to throw me off kilter. So, he wants to try to surprise me and do the unexpected which means he will try to incorporate the expected as well.
“Good job,” His hazel eyes shine and once again we begin circling one another.
He strikes faster this time, but with his left foot. I fall to the ground, his foot flying over my head, then swing my leg out and swipe his right calf so he falls hard to the ground.
His body falls with a loud thud to the floor.
“How the hell did you do that?” He looks up from the ground at me, something unreadable in his eyes.
“It’s your tell.” I shrug. Shit, did I upset him?
Something pounds on the floor underneath us and a voice yells, “Keep it down up there. I’m trying to watch a movie.”
We look at each other and then burst out laughing. Thank God. For a second, I thought I messed something up between us.
My phone’s shrill ring fills the room. I stop laughing and rush over to the table to pick it up. It’s that same number. I hit the green accept button. “Hello?”
“May I speak with Christina Malone?” a woman’s voice answers.
“Yes, this is her.” Who the hell is this?
“Hi Christina.” The voice is flat, unemotional. “This is Kim from the local Hospital. We just wanted to make you aware that your dad has been admitted.”
“What?” This has got to be a joke. I just saw him a few hours ago.
“I know this may come as a shock, but he was in an accident and your mother asked us to call you.” Her tone is getting stern. “This is all I can tell you. If you want more specifics, you’ll have to check in with family. Thanks.”
There is no feeling whatsoever in my body when I hang up the phone. I’m completely numb.
“What’s going on?” Charlie walks overs to me, his forehead wrinkled.
“My dad was in an accident and is in the hospital.” I still can’t believe it.
The phone rings again in my hand. I hold it up with shaky hands and read the number. “It’s Mom.” I hit the green button. “Hello.”
“Christina?” Mom’s voice is soft and broken.
“Yeah, are you okay?” I’ve never heard her like this before and it scares me.
“I.... I don’t know.” She lets out a shaky breath. “Can you please come here and be with me? I don’t want to be alone and your father needs us.”
Wow, I can’t believe she wants me there. “Of course. I’m on my way.”
“Thank you,” she sniffs. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Of course,” I begin looking for my keys, “you’re my parents. See you soon.” I hang up the phone. I look in the kitchen.
“What are you looking for?” Charlie calls from the couch.
“My keys.” I’ve got to get to the hospital. My mom needs me. For once, she wants me there. Damnit, where are my keys? I hurry and look on the coffee table. I don’t have that much furniture now. There aren’t that many places to hide.
“Hey, Christina.” He grabs my hand and pulls me to him. “You need to calm down.”
I’m shaking all over and don’t even realize it. “Your keys are in your pocket, but that doesn’t matter. I’m going to take you there, okay?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” I hate to bother him with more of my family drama. “I can get there.”
“No, I want to.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “That’s what friends are for and you can’t drive like this anyways. So, let me help you.”
I hate that he’s right, but he is. What’s so scary is I want to rely on him. “All right, thank you.”
“Come on.” He opens the door for me. “Let’s go check on your dad.”
Within the next few minutes, we are in his car heading to the hospital. As soon as we pull out of the apartment complex and onto the main road, my cell phone rings again.
This thing never rings, not until the past hour. I’m not sure what is going on. I pull it out and the display says Council on it. My heart drops into my stomach. There is no avoiding this call. I hit accept and put it up to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, Christina.” An older woman’s voice answers me. “This is one of your elders.”
Holy shit. An actual elder is calling me. I thought it would be one of the butlers relaying a message. “What can I do for you?”
She snickers. “Funny you should ask that. I know where you are headed, but you need to tell Charlie you need to make a detour first. I need to see you right away at the mansion. Don’t make me wait.” Dead air fills the other
end from where she’s hung up.
3
Just when my life is beginning to seem almost normal, it all comes crashing down around me. This is what happens when I let my guard down. I should have known better. Now it feels like I’ve been kicked in the stomach when my true norm comes crashing back in.
“Who was that?” Charlie’s tone is full of concern. “Is your Dad okay?”
And when did he become so in tune to my emotions? “It was one of the lady elders.”
His mouth drops open and he glances at me. “What?”
“Apparently, I’m to head over there right now.” I hate how much control they have over us. It can’t be healthy.
“But your dad….” His brows furrow and he shakes his head.
“Her words were that we are to take a detour first.” Who cares if my dad is in the hospital, their needs come first. The whole world revolves around them.
He hits the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. “Are they serious?”
How I wish I wasn’t. “Yeah, unfortunately they are.” I hit my head on the back of the headrest. “They even knew you were driving me.”
“Well obviously we aren’t going.” He wraps his hands are the steering wheel until his knuckles are white.
“Do you think that’s wise?” We both know I can’t rock the boat. They could put a warrant out for me again in the blink of an eye.
“Shit,” He blows out his lips. “We both know you have to go. We can’t risk them targeting you again, and it looks like you’re back on their radar. Let’s see what they want.” He turns at the next intersection, heading away from the hospital and toward the mansion.
The closer we get to the mansion the faster my heart beats. I’m not sure I’m ready to face them again. The last time I did, they locked me in a dark dungeon for days on end with no food. I’m hoping that’s not how it ends today.
When we turn on the street that leads to the house, my stomach begins to gurgle. I’m going to have to calm down or I’m going to get sick before I even go inside that blasted place.
He reaches out and touches my arm. “I’m not going to leave here without you. I promise.”
That’s very optimistic of him. Who’s to say they aren’t going to throw him in there with me? “Let’s hope we don’t have to do another escape routine like last time.”
After he pulls into the circular driveway and stops in front of the steps leading up to the massive front door, he turns to me. “It won’t. I have a feeling they need something.”
Me, too. That’s the problem. I don’t like it when they want me for something. It makes my whole life more complicated and it’s already confusing enough. I glance outside the passenger side window and take in the brown stones and the dark, chestnut door. Even though there is still light out, it feels dark and gloomy here and my skin crawls. It always has. “Yeah, let’s get this over with.” I open the door and get out of the car.
“Totally agree with that sentiment.” He shuts his door and we both make our way to the front door.
As usual, it opens as soon as we step on the porch. A butler appears in the opening. “Ms. Malone, we’re so glad you got here quickly.” She takes a step back and motions for us to enter. “Please, follow me.”
We enter the mansion and a cold shiver runs down my back. I can’t stand this place. We walk down a long hallway, and stop at a door.
The butler turns to Charlie. “You are to wait here. The elder only wants to speak to Ms. Malone.”
His body tenses, but I reach out and touch his arm.
If they want to talk to me alone, then I just want to get this over with. If we fight it, it’ll just prolong the inevitable and they’ll still wind up getting their way. “It’s fine. I’m sure it won’t take long. I’ll be right back.”
Hazel eyes stare into mine and after a moment he sighs. “Okay, but call me if you need me.”
I bite my tongue to prevent from laughing. “I promise.”
He stares into my eyes a moment then nods. “So, you’ll bring her here when she’s done?”
“Yes, sir.” The butler bows.
Charlie turns and walks into the room and shuts the door behind him.
As soon as the door is shut, the butler takes off. “All right, it’s this way. You are to go to the sitting area.”
When we get to the door I always enter, the butler passes it and continues down the hallway. Where the hell is she taking me? I’ve never been past this door before.
We turn right at the next hallway and then stop at the first door. The butler knocks once and then opens it.
Stepping into the room is like going back in time. There is a large chandelier in the middle of the room. The upper part appears like it’s made of candles and the bottom part has crystals hanging down. The room has light green wallpaper with an imprint of a flower all throughout it and at the top there is crown molding with an intricate leaf pattern drawn above it and the door. It reminds me of something out of a Victorian style magazine.
“Please, make yourself comfortable.” The butler steps out of the room and closes the door.
I spin around and scan the room. Holy shit. I’m alone. I didn’t expect that for some reason. I walk around a table and sit down on a couch that is a light peach color and has a design similar to the wallpaper. The material scratches against my skin and I place my hands in my lap.
A rosemary scent hangs in the air. It’s the strangest thing and not something I’d expect here. I’m about to stand and search for the source when one of the outer room’s doors open and I turn my head that direction.
The youngest lady elder enters the room. The stench of death overcomes me. Her brown and silver hair cascades down her back in waves, hitting right where her black sweater meets her dark blue jeans. She grins as she approaches me. “Christina, I’m so glad you could make it. Would you like a drink?”
Like I have much of a choice. “Uh… no, thanks. I got here as quickly as possible.” It’s not like I was going to the hospital to check on my dad or anything.
“Well, it will have to do,” she comes over and sits down in one of the chairs.
Is she for real right now? I bite my tongue. She could make my life a living hell. “Sorry if I inconvenienced you…”
“Margaret.” She crosses her legs.
Wait. She just called me by my name a second ago. Did she just get me confused?
She rolls her eyes. “My name is Margaret.” She lifts her head. “You may call me that.” She shifts forward. “Look, I know your father is in the hospital and you were on your way, but we have pressing matters on our hands.”
Of course, she knows. “I need to know one thing.” This isn’t a smart question to ask, but I have to know. “Did the council have any part of him getting injured?”
“Absolutely not.” She flips her hair over shoulders. “It was an unfortunate event and we are having it investigated.”
At least there is that. For some reason, I believe her.
“The reason I called you here is I would like to offer you a job.” She raises a hand and looks at her nails.
I have to choke back a laugh. Is she being serious? “Just a few weeks ago you had me in the dungeon and now you want to offer me a job? Aren’t I going to become a reaper in a few weeks anyways?”
“Oh, dear.” She places her hand on her chest and shakes her head with closed eyes. “Do you really think we will assign you to any actual targets after the disaster you left behind on your last assignment?”
Well, at least she’s straight forward on that, but what the hell does it mean? “So where does that leave me?” I bet my parents are going to flip out even more when they find out I’m not going to perform normal duties.
A slow smile spreads across her face and she drops her hands in her lap. “I’m so glad you asked.” She flips her hair behind her shoulder. “I have a unique opportunity to offer you because of your…” she glances away and bites her lip before meeting my gaze once more, “special
skill set. As you know, there are special items the council needs retrieved for various reasons that we don’t need to get into. So, your special attributes put you in a good position which is why I had the warrant for your arrest retracted.”
So that’s why. At least there is a plausible explanation. They need me. “So … that was a show of good faith?”
She laughs so hard it echoes against the walls. “Dear child. Do you think we really need to show you any sort of the thing?” She sniffs and wipes a tear away that has slipped from her eye. “Thank you. I needed a laugh like that. Anyways, no. I just wanted to make sure you were in good health for your assignments.” She motions toward the ground. “Living down there would be hard for you to keep your sanity and do what needs to be done.”
It still amazes me our community follows these people without question. Whenever I was younger and still didn’t realize how deep their blind loyalty ran, whenever I spoke even slightly ill of the council, other reapers would look at me like I had two heads. “I already have a job, but thanks for the offer.” Now that I don’t have to reap, I don’t want to be tied to them in any way. I stand and begin my trek to the door.
Despite being older, she jumps in front of me, blocking my path. “You do realize that a warrant can be issued again very easily.”
Shit, this is how it’s going to be. I don’t have a choice. The normal past few days are gone, and the chaotic mess of my life is coming back tenfold. “So, you’re saying I don’t have a choice?”
“Sweet, girl. The council cares for each and every one of our people. We want everyone to have choices so of course you do.” She forces a smile at me.
The stench of decay and mildew pour off her. I have to force myself not to stumble back, but shivers are coursing through my body. “So, it’s either work for you or rot in a dungeon.”
“You will get good pay working for us. We will start you out at four thousand a month and after you retrieve the four artifacts, we can renegotiate your contract.” She pats my shoulder and takes a step back. “I do hope you make the right decision.”
Four thousand a month. That’s more than I could make in two months doing things the way I am now. I bet she knows it, too. “So, how long do I have to think?”
