by Margs Murray
Rudolf placed his hand on my back to lead me ahead. “We have to keep moving; we don’t want anyone to see you.”
“Am I losing it or is there a koala in that tree?”
“Yeah, sure.” Rudolf didn’t even bother to look, like it was no big deal that a koala was hanging around Boston. “One of the local koalas.”
Hincho piped up. “She doesn’t have koalas in her town.”
I turned to him. “Because that would be a terrible idea. We don’t have the right plants for them to eat.”
“Genetically modified for America and readily available food sources. See his claws?” They were neon green. Naugle said, “Scientist all mark their creations. They glow in the dark. Very cool.”
No. It wasn’t cool. Genetically altered koalas weren’t right.
There was a crowd of people gathered outside the restaurant. The guards surrounded me and drove me through the cluster. I was afraid these people were here for me. It wasn’t all that long ago that hundreds of people had joined us for dinner. So, the fear wasn’t exactly out of place. The crowd wasn’t for me though. In the crowd's center was Claudette in a white suit, all smiles, signing autographs.
A young girl pulled on Claudette’s sleeve. Claudette turned, and the little girl bowed into the sweetest curtesy ever. “Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you.”
After last night, I was afraid to watch what Claudette would do, and I wanted to pull the girl away from my cousin and to safety. Claudette surprised me though; she went to her knees, so she was level with the girl.
“No, it is an honor to meet you. Can I have a hug?”
Watching the two of them together, the strangest thing happened—my emotions shifted. All the fear I’d had of Claudette from the night before disappeared, replaced with awe and a longing to be near her, like she was the nicest, friendliest person in the world.
Wide-eyed, the girl nodded. They hugged gently. Claudette’s eyes were damp when she stood up. “You be a good girl and keep your parents good too.”
The mother waved her hand as if to say, "I’d never be bad." Claudette’s face was dead serious, but the seriousness flitted away as quickly as it came, and she was once again all smiles and pleasant.
Claudette said to the mother, “Take your daughter home for a nap. Royal orders.” When the woman smiled and nodded in feigned agreement, Claudette added, “Now.” The woman took her daughter’s hand and headed straight off.
“I have a busy day ahead. Thank you,” Claudette said to the crowd, and her guards helped her navigate to the entrance, where she stopped once more and waved to her adoring fans.
By the time I made it inside, Claudette was already sitting at a table in the secluded section of the restaurant. My whole attitude towards Claudette had changed from last night. I sat right across from her, but honestly, I wanted to be right beside her. It seemed so impossible that I had ever wanted to be far away from her. I’d ignored her little get-together last night. I shouldn’t have. I liked Claudette; how could you not? I mean, she was terrific. Enchanting. I didn’t know her, but I could tell we would be best friends. I’d never met anyone like her before, and I doubted I would meet anyone like her again.
“You should take off your hat and sunglasses,” she said, and as I did, the pull I felt to her moments before was stronger. Claudette oozed appeal. No, she was the definition of charm and poise. “Good. It is nice to see you properly, cousin.”
I smiled. That’s right. I was her cousin. Cousin. We’d have to be best friends. I was feeling happy and a little dizzy.
“Waverly, I must apologize for last night; I was out of sorts. I have a long history with Enzo and Manon, and my emotions got the best of me.”
“It’s okay.” I meant it. How could it not be okay? Claudette was here, and everything was right with the world.
Claudette laughed, and it reminded me of the tinkling of bells. “You haven’t met many Merrics yet, have you?”
“No, just you and our uncle.”
Claudette picked up her menu. “I can tell. Your mother must not have had the natural ability. It makes sense; otherwise, Uncle would have brought her here years ago. Helena was trained; she knew what she was doing, but you have been around her your whole life. You grew immune.”
She put the menu down and took hold of my chin, turning my face from side to side. Her fingers were warm, her touch, intoxicating. “You have it. In some form, anyway.”
“Have what?” I asked, not moving, happy to be near her.
“Tell me, have you ever noticed people being completely enticed by your presence? Compelled to follow your movements?” Her voice was slow, melodic.
“Like a dog following me around?” I said, nearly panting.
“Yes, like a dog, only a human.”
I swallowed. “No, not that I can think of.”
“So, Uncle brought you here unproven. Interesting.” She let go of my face. “We shall see then.”
“Can I ask you a few questions?” I said.
Claudette unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap. “You may ask anything you would like, but I bet you haven’t even thought of the right questions yet.”
She was right. A good deal of the questions I had come up with since I first arrived there had all left my head except one.
“I was looking at the paintings and I noticed numbers. What are those?”
“Quantities and sums. It’s a symbol of our birthright. Now, I have a suggestion.” Claudette’s face moved closer to mine. “The minnow, I wouldn’t even bother. Bollard will be done with her soon enough.”
“Minnow? You mean Manon? I like Manon.” As the words came out, it all sounded feeble, and I was tempted to take Claudette’s word for it. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps, I shouldn’t like Manon. But as I thought those words, there was a little part of my brain, tiny but there, that said no. Manon was at the palace to be with Rudolf, and I liked her despite her ulterior motives. No. I liked Manon. “She’s nice.”
“For her purpose, I am sure she is.” Claudette ran her finger along the edge of her glass.
“I don’t understand. Do you mean dating Bollard?”
“Uncle Bollard. Call him Uncle.” She corrected me and continued. “There are things in this world you know nothing about. Our uncle is one of them. I can see from your face you still don’t understand. I can’t blame you. This world is new to you, and you are, what word am I looking for? Naive? No, inexperienced? No... innocent, yes, that’s the word I want. You are innocent, and I’m sure she appears sincere to you, but you will need to get used to this. As Royals, we will always have hangers-on. People who would use us for our positions and many talents. Manon is one of them, and she believes if she is one of your companions, it will save her from her… fate.”
“Fate? What fate?” I wondered if Claudette knew of Rudolf. I doubted her attitude was out of the honor of Bollard. It was something else.
“Oh, I’m not telling you, nor do you want to know at this moment anyway. It is your choice. I feel you should have some information before you make your decisions.” She said this in a sweet voice, but something about Claudette cracked. Her quality from before was weakened.
Several guards in weird uniforms came into the restaurant. And then I saw him. I had always pictured Lothaire DeLuce like the prince from Cinderella in regal apparel, young and handsome. I forgot to add time to the image. He was still handsome, in an old guy kind of way, like a much older George Clooney, and he wore a white button-down shirt, coat, and khakis.
The King of France didn’t bow to us. He took the seat next to me, but rather than greet me he peered ahead, not looking at either of us. “I requested that I meet with Waverly alone.”
“Uncle thought it was better if I joined you, seeing as you’re a stranger,” Claudette said. “I mean, we have not seen you. You haven’t been in America in decades. I will make you a deal.” Claudette’s face got close to mine again, and she had a smug grin. “If Waverly would like me to go, I w
ill leave the two of you together.”
It dawned on me. This change in emotion was coming from Claudette. Bollard had done the same thing to my family and me. No technology involved, it was her trying to charm me, to hypnotize me. Any appeal I had found in her before vanished. I saw clearly for the first time since I sat down.
“You can go,” I said to her.
“What?” she asked, her smile replaced with anger, and all her charm and ease evaporated. The dark current from last night returned.
“I have it. The king wanted to meet with me,” I said, and heat rose from Claudette’s direction. I stared at my plate, fearful of what would happen if our eyes were to meet. Claudette threw her napkin on the table and stormed over to the bar.
When I figured she was far enough away, I braved looking up.
“Well.” The king faced me with the warm smile of an old friend. “You look so much like Helena. Thank you for seeing me.”
“I can’t believe I am meeting Grandma’s prince. I have heard about you so often.”
“You have?” He sounded happy to know that.
“Oh yes, she spoke of you many times.”
“Did she? Helena was one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever met.”
“She’d love to be here now.”
He shook his head. “I have my doubts; the terms on which we left each other were not pleasant.” He looked at his hands. “She was the love of my life, Waverly. I never cared for any other person half as much as I loved her. She was intoxicating and sweet, like none of the other Merrics, and even if we didn’t part well, I would be negligent in my duties... I owe her this. If I…” The king faced the direction of the bar. I turned too and saw Claudette, legs crossed, stirring a drink. This conflicted him for a moment; he didn’t want to say what he was about to say. “I need to tell you something. The Merrics are dangerous. Your grandmother left for a reason. You must go back to your world. It’s too dangerous here.”
“Grandma sent me here though. She’s sick.”
“I can help you get home. I’ll try to protect you but—”
A boom shook the restaurant, sloshing the water in the glasses onto the table.
A man rushed by the front window at top speed, followed by a woman, and then another man. A sharp whistle blew three times, and then whole crowds were running by.
Claudette returned to the table with an odd smile on her face. Rudolf opened the door and put his arm out to stop one of the runners, but they were so alarmed, several passed before a man finally stopped. Sweat running down his face to his brown work suit, the man breathed one wheeze, followed by another. His words came out in gasps. “Galvantry! Fire at the docks.”
Rudolf turned, his eyes full of fear. “We have to get Waverly to L’Autre Bête.” Naugle and Wilbur had me to my feet before he finished the sentence.
“Go out the back!” Hincho called.
“No!” Claudette yelled, and to my surprise, she had my arm.
“No!” The king grabbed my hand.
Claudette took my other wrist, and she yanked me away from him. Naugle and Hincho grabbed for me too, but Claudette already had me out of reach and through the front door.
“Run, Waverly!” the king called. “Get away; I’ll find you.”
Claudette pulled me onto the street and into the crowds. Flanked by guards, we ran with the people in a pack until Claudette interweaved between the panicked runners. Hincho, Wilbur, and Naugle were left behind. At first, two people separated us, then there were five people between us, twenty. The guards yelled for us to slow down. Claudette only went faster. If I wasn’t mistaken, Claudette wanted to lose the guards, but that would be stupid. The crowds were screaming and scary, and as far as I could tell we needed the guards because something was wrong.
Then I lost sight of my guards, and it was just Claudette and me. Zooming and weaving. Zooming and weaving. Somehow, in the crowds of people, Claudette dropped my hand.
“Wait!” I screamed.
Claudette turned, her eyes narrow, her lip curled in disgust. She interweaved again and again, and then I was alone.
The crowds ran on and on. I dropped back. I needed to find one of my guards. Hincho, Naugle, Wilbur, Rudolf, anyone. I needed help, but all I saw were frightened people. There was no one to ask on the street, and what would I say to them even if they were there?
The crowds pushed past my slowing body. Somehow the guards and everyone had passed me. I was alone on the street. No shoppers and no stampeding crowds. I had no idea how to get back.
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky a mile high. Wisps of gray fell overhead. The column of smoke pouring over the city. I had to get to some place safe. If I found the restaurant, the owner would help me. We’d run straight down the road; I could return in the same direction and locate the restaurant.
The street was eerily silent. I saw no one for a few blocks until a random boy zipped past me on a bike. “Wrong way!” he yelled in a huff.
I knew that, but I didn’t know what else to do. Up ahead was the koala I had seen earlier. He clung desperately to the branches. I reached my arms up for him, but he only hissed and climbed higher. If I found help, I’d send them back. I just had to make it inside, and someone would help, or at least discover me there. Or I could use a phone to call. They had to know how to get in touch with them somehow.
The smoke in the air made my lungs burn. I’d have real damage if I didn’t get help soon.
I pounded on the door. “Let me in!” There was no answer. I couldn’t wait. I ran to the next door and pounded on that one. I was desperate. “Let me in!”
That’s when I saw him, a lost straggler, a huge man with white hair and a large barrel chest, walking down the street. Walking. Not running and not panicked. He slowed as he passed me, I assumed to tell me I was going the wrong direction. This guy said nothing though. He stopped completely. Stopped and stared me straight in the eyes. The stare, at first curious, changed into something else.
I ran to the next door and slammed my fists into it over and over. I yanked the handle. Locked. I yelled for help, but no one answered.
The acrid smell of burnt rubber and strangely enough, pork filled my nose. I knew I had to figure this out quickly or I’d suffocate. Pounding on the door was futile. I stepped from the stone stoop and straight into the man.
“You’re Merric.” His arms looped around my head, pulling me into his chest. “You’re Merric, and you can’t see my eyes.”
My head was so deep into his chest, all I could do was suck on his coat and sputter. He laughed and squeezed, his hands a vice on my head. “Where’s your power now? You’re nothing without your eyes, and you will die.”
I pushed my arms against his chest, but I didn’t match his strength. I couldn’t breathe. I fought to bite him, but my teeth couldn’t get through the coat, and my fingers couldn’t claw his arms. I kicked him, but it didn’t work. My lungs burned. There was nothing left in them. He was right. I was going to die.
Die.
Then, like magic, like some beautiful magic, my face was nowhere near his body, and my lungs filled with smoky air. I coughed and coughed.
Through the haze, I saw the man’s body frozen still, floating about six feet off the ground. Rudolf was holding him in place with something that looked like a gun but wasn’t. The Libratiers rushed towards us. Hincho lifted me from my feet, and they took me far away from the streets and smoke, down into the heart of the city.
Chapter 18
Giraffes and Bears
Doc waited right outside the elevator. Manon held my hand. Enzo cried and apologized over and over. Rudolf stood in the corner watching, his face covered in soot. Occasionally, he’d run his hands through his hair. With me still in Hincho’s arms, Doc did an exam right in the garden. He spent a long time checking out my neck and lungs. He gave me the all clear, physically. Emotionally, it was another story.
I’d never been so scared, and I kept replaying the day in my head. There was not
hing in the world I wanted more than my mom. The man had held me so close. If the Libratiers hadn’t found me, I would have been dead. My death had literally been right in front of my face.
Enzo said the man was Galvantry and the whole reason I needed guards. Manon said Rudolf was a hero. Rudolf said nothing.
Hincho, Wilbur, and Naugle kept apologizing and saying they’d failed my uncle and, worse, my dad.
When Doc was satisfied I was all right, he sent me to my room to shower.
Manon came with me and waited on my bed. I couldn’t get clean enough. Under the water, all I thought about was how close I had come to death. I wanted my mom to hold me. I wanted my dad to kill the man.
Even though it was still late afternoon, I put on one of my pairs of hot pink pajamas and my white housecoat. I wasn’t going anywhere.
When I finally went back into my room, Manon ‘s eyes were red, as was her nose. I asked her, “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She wiped her nose. “Look, don’t worry about me. It is you I am worried about. How are you?”
“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. “You look like you’ve been crying.”
“So what if I have?” She sniffed her nose. “This is all too much. You could have been...” She trailed off for a moment before she went over to my table. “You still haven’t opened your gifts.”
“I guess not.” I didn’t care about them. “What have you heard about the fire?”
She ignored me and took a present off the top of the pile. “You should open them before tonight. Here, I can get you started.”
“Why does it matter?” My voice cracked with tears, and I crawled onto the couch and crunched up into a ball, thinking about how the man suffocated me in his chest.
“Your doctor thinks you are in shock.”
“He’s probably right.” He was. My brain wasn’t doing so well with everything. “I was almost killed.”
