by L K Walker
“So, Nate's going to drive us to the airport tomorrow.” It spurted out as if she had turned the tap on too fast. The outburst got her parents’ attention, and they both turned to look at her.
“What? Slow down. Say that again,” her dad said.
This time, the words came out in a more civilized manner.
As expected, her dad was a little disappointed. Her mum’s eyes narrowed.
“You hardly know this boy. He seems nice enough, but don't you find it a little strange? You seem so full-on, so quickly. We’ve hardly seen you over the last few days. I think you should take it easy, slow things down a bit.” Ari could see the cogs engaging in her mother’s head. “He's not going on holiday with you, is he?”
“No way,” Ari said, as if it had never been an option. “Me and Nevaeh have been looking forward to this for ages.”
Her mum seemed mollified.
Ari spent the rest of the evening making small talk and watching television. Finally, she rose, arching her back and stretching her arms to the ceiling.
“I guess I should get an early night. It's going to be a big day tomorrow.”
Ari lay in bed puzzling over her new life and how quickly it had changed. Worry for her parents plagued her, and so did the fear of the seether trapping her. She reached out with her mind and felt Nate's presence nearby. Like a blanket, she wrapped herself in it. At least, something good had come out of the nightmare. The comfort was enough to send her off to sleep.
She awoke to the shrill message of the alarm clock. She felt as if she’d just closed her eyes but restrained herself from hitting snooze. Butterflies tickled her insides, but she couldn’t tell whether it was from excitement or trepidation. She had never flown international before. And, her first flight would take her to god-only-knew where. After one big, deep breath she corrected that thought. Nate knew where. He wouldn't send her somewhere that wasn't safe. In the cold light of day, it seemed incredible she had known this man for only a few days but was willing to put her safety, and her sanity, in his hands. Not only that, but thanks to her, he held Nevaeh's safety in his hands too. Her nerves vibrated. Was it such a good idea to be leaving her family and friends here alone? Then again, maybe they would be safer without her.
Showered and dressed, Ari stood in the kitchen eating some breakfast. Absentmindedly, she wiped the crumbs into the sink.
“What time is Nate picking you up?” The sound of her mum’s voice startled her.
“He should be here soon.” Ari looked at her watch and smiled. In reality, she had no idea when Nate would be turning up, nor what time the flight was for that matter.
Originally, they’d had to leave for the airport by 8:30 am, but she was unsure whether that had changed along with her new destination. She took two deep breaths, in an attempt to ease the tension building in her chest.
Nevaeh would be showing up at any minute.
“I’d better get my case,” Ari said, walking out the door, leaving her mother alone in the kitchen. She desperately needed space to have a freak-out. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell Nevaeh they weren't going to Thailand. Not at the last minute. Telling her beforehand might have smoothed things over, but Nate had argued that would defeat the whole purpose.
Too late now for regrets, she decided she’d tell Nevaeh in the car, and put up with the backlash. She couldn’t blame Nevaeh. They had booked Phuket together and spent hours working out what they would do there; beaches, snorkelling and temples. Hell, Nevaeh still thought that was their destination only hours before the wheels were due to lift off the tarmac. She already knew about the stranger at the church and about her 'ability.' Ari hoped it wouldn't seem completely irrational when she filled her in on the rest. Well, the bits she needed to know anyway. Perhaps an info dump of these proportions should be on a staggered basis. Nevaeh didn't need her world turned upside down too. Ignorance fed a tranquil paradise, one that Ari wished she still lived in.
A knock at the door drove the thoughts away. A quick watch check told it was 8:10 am. She rushed to open it. Nate stood on the threshold, still tall, still gorgeous, but Ari’s heart sank when she remembered the lack of faith he had in her feelings for him. Maybe because she was trying to prove to herself that lust didn’t control their relationship as much as to show him, her greeting was restrained. After pecking him on the cheek and enclosing him in her arms, she wished him good morning.
In response, the arms that came around her were strong, lifting her up on tip-toes, while his mouth found hers and kissed her deeply.
“Good morning, Ari.” He lowered her back onto her feet and walked into the kitchen.
A second knock came at the door. This time, it was Nevaeh, and she wore a grin from ear to ear. As soon as she laid eyes on Ari, she let go of her trolley bag and pulled Ari into something that was half hug, half bouncy castle practice. For Nevaeh, this was a fantasy coming to fruition. Ari stood outside the bubble, pin in hand.
“It’s finally here—sun, sand and cocktails. This time tomorrow we'll be scoping out the best places to drink, best places to meet gorgeous guys, and they’ll be all stripped down and ready, best places to buy sarongs. Do they call them sarongs in Thailand or is that only in Indonesia and round there? I'd better get my language sorted. I've spent hours with a Thai Lonely Planet, and I don't remember it mentioning sarongs. What time will it be there this time tomorrow? Don't we go backwards? It’s only about four o'clock in the morning there now, isn't it?”
If she wasn't so anxious about ruining Nevaeh's holiday, Ari may well have found it surprising Nevaeh hadn't passed out through lack of oxygen. As it was, she stood quietly, waiting for a break in the jabber to answer any of the questions flung at her.
“Yes, I think it’s four or maybe three o'clock, with our daylight saving time.”
Nevaeh picked up on Ari’s mood as soon as she opened her mouth.
“What’s the matter? Why aren't you excited, or are you just nervous?” Her brow wrinkled.
“I think I was too excited last night. I couldn’t sleep”.
Nevaeh bought it. “Well, you can sleep on the plane.”
Ari coerced a smile. “Yeah.” She gave a watered down fist pump, the most enthusiasm she could muster.
Nevaeh pulled her bags inside the door and walked off into the house. “I'm just gonna grab some water. They say you've got to drink plenty before you fly. I hope they have decent toilets on those big planes. Sarah Williamson says they work on suction so, whatever you do, don't flush while seated.” Her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the next room.
Ari stared at her friend as she disappeared from view. There was no deviating from the plan now. Another big breath. Her first step was to introduce Nevaeh to Nate. That would be the easy part. He was likeable. It suddenly dawned on her—Nate was in the kitchen, and now, so was Nevaeh. She blew out the breath disgusted by her cognitive impairment.
“Hello.” She heard Nevaeh's excited voice morph into something more velvety from a room over.
Better get in there.
Nevaeh sat, perched on a bar stool, next to Nate and, as Ari walked in, she turned on her seat and gave her friend the ‘he looks fit to me’ look, which came complete with humping eyebrows and a cheeky grin. Nevaeh turned back to Nate and started dropping questions as fast as he could answer them. Obviously, Ari wasn’t needed. It would be easier if he lied to her best friend rather than if she did it. She could rectify a few details later, but for now, the cover version was all Nevaeh needed to know. She went to her room to double check she had all she needed in her hand luggage and then dragged her suitcase out to the front door and sat it next to Nevaeh's.
Ari heard her mother’s hairdryer turn off. She’d be getting ready for work. It was nearly time to leave for the airport and Ari wanted to say goodbye to her parents in private. She gave both of them a ferocious hug. Who knew when she’d be able to contact them next. She promised to send emails whenever she could. They gave her the 'be careful and stay
together speech' and, for a change, she listened without complaint. After another, even tighter hug, and her reassurance she'd be the carefullest traveller on the Asian continent, she heading back to Nevaeh and Nate.
“Ready?” Ari asked as she walked back into the kitchen.
“Let’s go,” Nevaeh chirped. “I hear Nate is playing chauffeur.” She sidled up to Ari. “He seems nice,” she said, with a lot more emphasis on the word nice than was necessary. Ari rolled her eyes.
By the time the girls got to the door, all the bags had gone, the chauffeur already into his role. He had the passenger doors of Ari’s car open, and he gave a small bow as he gestured them towards their seats. Ari wasn't ready to give away that much control, so she ducked around him and into the driver's seat.
As they drove slowly through the morning traffic, Nate turned in his seat to face Nevaeh, who hadn’t stopped fidgeting since her arse hit the vinyl.
“There is something you need to know,” he said.
“That doesn't sound good.” Nevaeh’s voice matched the apprehension in Nate’s.
Nate started his tale with the attack in the forest. His words were well chosen, better than Ari could have mustered. He downplayed the severity of the events, and omitted Ari’s lust-filled stupors altogether. Even so, shock, then incredulity, returning to shock played out on Nevaeh's face as she listened. During his monologue, Ari could feel Nevaeh’s eyes boring into the back of her head. She managed to muster a small smile, and aimed it at Nevaeh’s reflection in the rear-view mirror. Although, it felt more like a grimace, it was the best she could scrounge up.
“You don't reckon this was something you could have told me earlier?” Nevaeh sounded more than a little pissed off. Her uninhibited excitement turned to fury.
Ari spent the next ten minutes talking her down, finally, calming her with a heartfelt apology. “Please trust me,” she added.
“So where are we going?” Nevaeh’s arms were crossed tightly against her chest. Their position popped her cleavage up and out of her low cut singlet, edging it perilously close to showing more than she would want. Ari judged it wasn’t the right time to tell her.
“Good question. I think it's time we knew, Nate,” Ari said.
“Singapore. You’re going to Singapore. There’s plenty there to keep you occupied for at least a few weeks.”
“You were lucky, buddy.” Nevaeh pushed on the back of Nate’s seat. “As far as second options go, that’s not a bad choice.” Briefly, Nevaeh’s eyes lit up as if her spark had reignited, then, just as quickly, her face turned sour again.
The international terminal buzzed with activity. The constant bing-bong before announcements drowned out the noise of people scuffling and suitcases bumping. Even so, Ari felt exposed. She constantly scanned the area with her mind, sensitive to the slightest hint of the seether. She banished Nate to stand on the other side of Nevaeh so as not to distract her. Still, there was nothing. As soon as they could, they headed towards the international departure lounge, knowing once they’d passed through customs they would be safe.
As they neared the checkpoint, Nate slung an arm around Ari's shoulders and leaned in towards her, his lips next to her ear.
“I will have to leave you here, but I'll stay in the airport until your plane has gone. If you feel his presence, get off the plane. If anything happens, I will come and get you, I promise.” His warm breath, tickling her neck, excited her.
“How?” She knew that New Zealand didn't have the toughest security, but it was slightly more robust than the kid with a flashlight who takes your tickets at the movie theatre.
“I have my ways.” He brushed his lips against her temple, sealing the promise he’d made.
Ari stopped walking, letting Nevaeh head to the gate on her own. Nevaeh looked back at her then nodded slightly, showing her understanding of her friend’s desire for a little privacy. Pulling him off to the side, behind an ATM, Ari entangled her arms around Nate's neck, rose up on her tiptoes and locked him into a desperate kiss. When she finally released him from her grip, Nate stood there with a big grin on his face, one eyebrow raised.
“I'm not sure I want to let you go now.” Nate teased.
“Then don't.”
“It’ll only be for a few days, trust me. After that kiss, you will be all I’ll be thinking about.”
“Hurry,” Ari replied, giving him one last kiss.
Nate passed her some papers. “Hotel details.” Nate looked past Ari to Nevaeh, milling around the checkpoint, making the security staff look at her in suspicion.
“Take good care of her.” Nate called out to Nevaeh.
“Define good,” Nevaeh replied, giving him a final wave.
Nate frowned and then turned his attention back to Ari. “I will see you soon,” Nate released his hold on her and she followed after Nevaeh.
Before they turned the corner, Ari gave him one final wave. He waved back, but his smile was gone.
“Be safe,” she mouthed.
seventeen
While waiting for their boarding call, they’d hunted down a travel guide for Singapore and now sat, drinking coffee, flipping through the guide book. Ari had paid, of course, a little something towards appeasing any hurt feelings. Nevaeh bounced back quickly from her earlier disappointment. Her big grin had returned. Ari found it hard not to catch the excitement bug that Nevaeh had going.
They were reading up on Sentosa Island when the boarding call for Bangkok, Thailand came through. It was the flight they were originally supposed to take to catch their connecting flight to the south of the country.
They looked at each other and shrugged.
“Singapore will be awesome,” Nevaeh said, before delving back into the guide. “Nate must really be into you—have you seen the price of accommodation?”
The girls were soon buckled into their seats on the aircraft, nervously chatting as they waited for take-off. The engines roared as the aircraft lifted off the ground, and the pressure forced Ari back into the seat. She watched Christchurch as it shrank away into the distance. When the crashing white breakers on New Brighton Beach looked like a salted rim on a martini glass, she sighed with relief. With a slight bump, the plane flew into a bank of cloud and obscured the ground from view.
Not once had Ari sensed the menacing presence of the seether, not even a whisper of him, and she had checked often enough. Nate might have been right after all. Ari put on her headphones and scrolled through the movie channels. It had been a while since she felt this safe. Flying 30,000 feet above ground, trapped in a thermos with wings was oddly reassuring. She settled into the seat and pushed play.
They landed in Singapore and made their way through customs. According to their body clocks, it was after midnight. They would have to acclimatize to Singapore time, which had only just ticked over 7:00 pm. The hotel Nate had booked for them was luxurious by their standards. Not high end, but way better than what they had booked for themselves in Thailand. They raided all of the cupboards to see what freebies were on offer then threw themselves on a bed each.
“Well Ari, if you are going to be shipped off for safe keeping, this seems to be the perfect place.”
Nevaeh played up to it, slipping her hands behind her head and wiggling her way further into the snow-white linen. The only noise in their room was the low hum of the air conditioning unit. Both girls lay still and silent for a long time, lost in their thoughts. When they had arrived at Changi Airport, Ari had searched for the seether, sure he wasn’t there, but needing to check anyway. Now, she gave a deep sigh and wandered to the window where she could see Marina Bay all lit up. In the distance, Supertree Grove illuminated the night sky, a multitude of colours dancing on the black canvas. Across the harbour, the Merlion statue, the mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish spurted water out of its mouth. They were a long way from home, and the heat, the smells, the traffic, none of it was familiar.
“Hungry?” she asked Nevaeh. “I'm thinking room
service and a movie, to stay awake.”
“I love the way you think.” Ari heard the bed rustle behind her as Nevaeh rolled off it and headed to the small table that was home to a few glossy magazines, pamphlets and, more importantly, the leather-bound hotel menu.
She flipped through the pages. Without looking up, she said to Ari, “So how about telling me what's really going on. Your version.”
“Nate already has.”
“Come on Ari, I could see your face in the rear-view mirror when he was telling the story. You looked guilty. You’d be the worst poker player, ever. Obviously, he wasn’t saying it all.”
After they phoned through their meal orders, Ari used the waiting time to explain what had happened over the past few days. Nevaeh's curiosity turned to horror as she began to discover just what the seether was capable of and why he so badly wanted Ari.
eighteen
Every last muscle in Ari's abdomen clenched as if she had been punched in the stomach. The bed struck the wall behind her, as she sat bolt upright, a bead of sweat spilling down her face. Her breathing came in pants, and her eyes darted around the blank walls until they focussed on the nondescript landscape scene hanging on the wall across from her. I’m in the hotel, she told herself. It had been a nightmare. Her contracted muscles eased off.
Propping herself up against the wooden headboard, she looked around the room. Two comfortable armchairs were positioned near the floor to ceiling window. The wear patch in the middle of the seats suggested that many occupants had indulged in the spectacular view. Two double beds, one on which she was currently sprawled, took up most of the room. With the conditioner set to low, the room had slowly warmed overnight and both their duvet covers lay crumpled on the ground at the foot of the beds. The sheet on the bed next to Ari gently rose and fell at a steady cadence. Nevaeh still slept.
