Colin laughed. “No. I just have to be careful not to break anything.”
A moment later, they were gone again, tucked back into their pocket.
“Why do you have wings?” I asked.
He sat back down beside me, closer this time, and took my hand in both of his. Slowly and carefully, he said, “Think of it this way. If you imagine our reality is a house, then most people only ever know one room in that house. Some rooms are locked, and you’ll never get inside them without the right key. Others are open wells you can fall into, maybe even drown in. Trap doors, secret passages, and cubby holes.”
Bella returned with a tray of mugs. “That’s a very basic analogy of what Reality is, my dear, but not a bad one for a beginner’s introduction.”
“Thank you.” Colin bowed.
Ajani appeared in the kitchen doorway also, leaning loosely and crossing both his arms and ankles.
I asked Colin, “So you're from a different room in the house?”
Both Colin and Bella said, “Yes.”
“Gehenna?” I asked.
Bella set the tray on the coffee table. “Where did you hear about Gehenna?”
“Nathan mentioned it.”
Ajani grunted. “Figures.”
I said, “The things I see…”
“Are real,” Colin finished for me when I stumbled onto the truth.
“Faux schizophrenics,” I said, thinking aloud.
“Yes.” Bella put a spoon in each of the mugs and gave them a stir. “Your symptoms are not signs of illness, but signs of a gift—a gift that runs in families.”
“You mean my mom?”
Bella nodded. “And your grandmother.”
“I never knew. Is that why Mom is so lost?”
“No,” replied Bella. “Your mother is in a unique situation. Her mind is trapped. There’s nothing anyone can do about it, for now, but I have every confidence that she’ll be well again one day.”
I smiled at her, despite myself. That was news I wanted to hear. This was all news I wanted to hear. It explained everything and made it all seem romantic and wonderful. I was Dorothy in the Emerald City, dancing through the streets in my ruby slippers and running from flying monkeys. The happy ending was surely just around the corner.
I took the mug when Bella held it out to me and asked, “Why are you hiding from your family?” The comforting aroma of chocolate drifted up to my nose.
“That’s a long story,” Colin replied, “but the short of it is that I don't agree with my father's methods. The amnesia was supposed to hide me from them.”
"You don't really believe they'd kill you if they caught you. Do you?"
Colin sighed. "They would if I refused to help my father. "
I looked down at the mug in my hand. I remembered the lake. “We nearly died in that accident,” I said. “Someone did die.” I put the mug down without taking a sip. "How could you?"
Bella raised a hand to forestall Colin from responding. “Let me explain.”
She sat down in an armchair. Her eyes were dark, their usual gleam lost to gravity. “I never meant for you to be in any danger. I had people all over the area, ready to pull you out. It just didn’t work out that way. I would never hurt either of you on purpose.” She addressed Colin. “You know that, right?”
Colin said, “I know.”
Back to me, Bella said, “It turned out to be more harrowing than I’d intended, and for that, I apologize.”
“What about Jaxon?”
Colin and Bella exchanged glances again. Colin said, “He gave his life for something he believed in.”
“You knew about it?” I was horrified.
“Jaxon was a warrior,” Bella said. “He volunteered to sacrifice himself. He felt the cause merited it. When a soldier dies in war, it isn’t murder.”
I said, "That doesn't seem right."
“If it’s any consolation,” Bella continued, “he didn’t suffer for even a second.”
Colin said, “What you have to understand, Viv, is that I was starting to remember, and that changed my signature—made me findable. If Nathan had gotten to me before I fully remembered who I was, I’d have been vulnerable. He’d have taken me back to Gehenna, where I’d have been executed for treason.”
"Treason? For not agreeing with your father?"
Colin and Bella looked at one another. Bella nodded as if giving him permission, and Colin said, "My people were exiled to Gehenna long ago, and they want to take back their homeland. My father will stoop to anything to make that happen, including going to war. I refuse to be a party to that. If Bella hadn’t faked my death, I’d be dead for real.”
“War with who?” I asked.
Colin and Bella exchanged looks, but it was Colin who replied. “The inhabitants of another pocket realm known as Apfallon.”
The world where Mom's stories took place.
Bella continued, “Apfallon is hidden. Colin's father is trying to find it.”
Tick. Tock. The clock on the wall filled the empty space left in the wake of our conversation. Tick. Tock.
Colin was the first to speak again. “There’s something I want to ask you, Viv.” He reached out and touched the wound on my back, the hot pink claw marks of the hag, and said, “I saw your wound when I undressed you. Did Nathan do that?”
I shook my head. My stomach was upset, as was I.
Colin turned my face toward him. “Viv? What happened?”
“It wasn’t Nathan,” I said. “It was the hag. I fought it and killed it.”
Three pairs of eyes blinked at me, then Colin and Bella both turned to Ajani.
Ajani raised his hands in surrender. “Simon told me he’d killed it.”
Bella said, “So he lied about that too, did he? I’m not surprised. He probably guessed Colin and I would be unhappy if we knew you were fighting a hag.”
“It was a group thing. I had help.” I yawned, unable to suppress it.
Bella slapped her hands down on her thighs and stood. “Let’s talk about this more tomorrow. I, for one, am pooped. I think we could all use some rest.”
Colin put his hand on my arm. “Why don’t we go to bed? You’re exhausted.”
I didn’t want to lie down, but my body did. “I should call Lettie and let her know I’m okay, and check on Corona. They hurt her when they grabbed me.”
“Leave it to me,” Bella said. “We have to be careful.”
Colin followed me down the hall to the guest bedroom. Once we were inside, he closed the door, and its click shut us off from the rest of the world. At last, we were together again, and alone.
In those first few seconds, I became vitally, physically aware of his presence. My breath quickened, and—with my back to him—I listened for his movement. It took him three, slow steps to reach me, and a full other second before his hands moved cautiously around my waist to rest on my belly. I knew then that he wasn’t sure how I would react.
And before I could wonder myself, I turned toward him, into his arms. Our mouths came together with all the warmth and blinding sparkle of summer sunshine. I was home after an excruciating day at work. I settled into his body as I would my favorite pajamas, fingers exploring my favorite paths. It was all so familiar.
What little barrier they raised, our clothing was no match for us. We half-stumbled in increasing nakedness to the bed. I hit it first and fell backwards onto the down-padded nest.
Colin rushed forward to drape himself upon me, his mouth and hands hot wherever they touched.
I spread my legs and welcomed him to me.
Our passion was a flash fire that burned white hot, flared with explosive power, and left us trembling in each others’ arms. We gave no thought to tomorrow. There was no passage of time. There was only now.
When our hearts had slowed to a more normal pace, Colin slid to one side of me and propped himself up on his elbow. He rubbed his other hand in circles over my sweaty stomach.
I watched him, thinking I could anc
hor him in place with my eyes. His curly red hair had the craziness that only my hands could inflict upon it. It made him a wild man, a Scot from the deepest moors.
My fingers played in the matching mini-curls on his chest, making swirls of auburn against his pale skin.
He said, “I want to bathe you.”
Those words and the heather softness of his eyes re-awoke my desire.
I didn’t know how to reply.
He got up, and I watched him walk naked into the bathroom. I had already forgiven him.
♦
Colin and I spent the rest of the evening alone together. We made love again until we both passed out from exhaustion.
When I awoke the next morning, Colin was gone from the bed. My first thought, my first fear, was that I had imagined everything or dreamt it.
Colin’s clothing lay on the floor where he’d left it.
I was in the bedroom at Bella’s place, nestled under the down comforter and shielded by half-drawn bed curtains. I could still feel the physical signs that Colin and I had made love.
I heard the shower running in the attached bathroom, and then, Colin’s hum.
Tears brimmed of their own accord, and I cried with relief.
Colin was alive. It hadn’t been a dream.
The shower shut off, and he came out with a towel wrapped around his hips. He took one look and came straight to me. “Are you all right?”
His skin was warm and moist from the shower.
“I am now.”
He kissed me with all the care of a surgeon stitching up a gaping wound. But, when I tried to pull him back into bed with me, he retreated.
“Bella’s fixing breakfast,” he said. “The shower’s free.”
Under the guise of thinking about it, I stretched luxuriantly. It felt good, even though I was still stiff and sore. The light coming in the windows had a magical quality—it was a lovely shade of brand-new-day.
I realized I was starving and said so.
“Well, hurry up then. I’m pretty sure Bella’s frying bacon for you.”
That got me moving. I swung out of bed and turned on the shower, then stood naked in the doorway watching Colin dress. “So what now?”
Colin pulled his jeans up and buttoned them. “Now, we go into hiding. Nathan won’t stop.”
“Why don’t you just call your dad? Explain to him what’s been going on, and tell him to call off his spooky henchman.”
Colin shook his head. “It’s not that simple, honey. Besides, neither phone lines nor cell coverage extends between realms.”
With my arms crossed on my chest, I frowned at him. It didn’t have quite the effect I’d hoped.
He laughed, came to me, put his hands on my arms, and said, “I’ve missed you.”
I melted and lifted my face for a kiss.
He gave me a peck on the lips, then said, “Go on,” and turned me toward the bathroom. With a pat on my behind, he shooed me in and shut the door between us.
♦
I kept my shower short. I still wasn’t entirely comfortable alone in a bathroom. My thoughts inevitably drifted to the hag, and every sound gave me the creeps.
Feeling much more awake and less sore, I dressed in the same jeans I'd arrived in and the man's t-shirt from the night before. As I emerged from the bedroom, I meandered, checking out the artwork and furniture. It was all from a different time, turn of the last century, just like Bella’s office. The décor had an old-world charm that made me a little afraid to touch anything.
I heard their voices before I got to the kitchen.
Bella scolded someone. “Don’t forage. I’m making a nice breakfast.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Colin replied, sounding chipper.
I stopped in place, riveted by the sound of his voice, so sane and clear.
“Where’s Viviane?” Bella asked.
“In the shower.”
“Good. I need to talk to you. I’m furious with you.”
“Why?” asked Colin.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the conversation took such a sudden turn for the serious that I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing.
“Do you realize,” asked Bella, her tone too even, “how close you came to getting her killed?”
“Nathanatos wouldn’t have done that.”
“Don’t be a fool, Aubrey. Your brother is a killer. He kills people for fun. What made you think he wouldn’t kill her in front of you, just to remove any desire you have to stay away?”
Colin didn’t answer immediately.
I almost took a step, almost made a noise, but then Colin said, “He knew if he did anything to her, he’d have to kill me too.”
“And you, you arrogant idiot, assume that he wants you alive?”
“I didn’t know he’d snatch her.”
“Pfah! You left her clues so she wouldn’t give up trying to find you, and Nathan figured it out.”
“It all turned out okay,” Colin responded. “She’s here with us, safe and sound. Nathan lost this battle. We can disappear and live happily ever after. Viviane is my betrothed. I had to have her with me.”
Bella let out a puff of air through her nose. There was a long pause, then, “You realize…you know she can’t go with us. Right?”
“Of course, she can,” said Colin. “She has to go with us. She belongs to me.”
“That’s exactly why she can’t go with us.” Bella’s voice had taken on an edge of emotion that I couldn’t identify. “With her parentage, we can't risk your father ever getting his hands on her.”
“She'll be safer with me, and that’s that.”
I’d had enough of them talking about me behind my back. Without masking my steps, I headed straight for the kitchen.
“Your bacon's burning, Bella.” Colin said.
“Good morning,” I said from the doorway. “Something smells delicious.”
Bella uncrossed her arms—she had been squeezing them tightly across her chest—and put a smile on her face. “Good morning, dear. Come in. I’m making breakfast. Coffee?”
I moved to stand beside Colin. We exchanged a kiss, and he pulled me into the circle of his arm.
“Yes, that would be awesome,” I said. “I can get it.”
Bella waved dismissively. “No, you sit down. Do you take cream or sugar?”
“Neither,” I answered. “Black. Can I do anything to help?”
Bella crossed to the coffee maker and upturned a clean mug. “I’ve got it under control, but thanks.”
Ajani appeared in the doorway. “Mornin', sunshine.”
“Good morning,” I replied.
Colin squeezed me around the middle and I huffed out an unexpected breath. I covered it with a cough, poking a gentle elbow in his ribs. He hammed an injury.
“Ajani,” I asked, “are you from this room or a different room?”
“The better question is,” Colin corrected me, “are you a magick wielder.”
Ajani smiled, “I’m like you. A wielder. I can see and do things others can't.”
"Corona calls us faux schizos. False schizophrenics."
Bella said, “What you—charmingly—call a faux schizo is just someone attuned to magick, usually because they have a magickal ancestor. When you have magick in your blood, your mind ceases to obey Normalcy barriers.”
Ajani went to a drawer in the hutch and opened it. He began to withdraw silverware, but then abruptly stopped and turned his head to one side, listening.
His voice strained with urgency, he said, “They’re here.”
♦♦♦
CHAPTER 35
Everyone went skittish—everyone else first, then me. “Who’s here? Nathan?”
I got no answer, only a hand under my armpit urging me up out of my chair.
They had a plan, it was obvious. Each of them had a job to do, and they did it with precision, zipping from room to room, gathering books and papers quickly into large gym bags.
I stood in the middle of the l
iving room, watching them skirt around one another like square-dancers.
The first bang on the door didn’t break it in. Ajani, closest to the door, wheeled on it and took a deep breath. An insanely long knife appeared in his hand.
The second bang sent the door crashing inward. It swung and hit the wall, fell off the bottom hinge and dangled crookedly.
Nathan’s large driver filled the doorway, dressed in black pants and suspenders as when he’d driven us to the Monsieur. He had his arm extended at chest level, palm forward.
Colin shouted, “Viviane!”
Bella mumbled something in a language I didn’t understand.
It happened so fast.
Ajani struck, jumping forward, his blade slicing twice in an X across the driver's palm. The stricken flesh parted and blood flowed from the cut.
The driver stumbled back on his heels and faltered, but only briefly. His face twisted into an expression of focus, and he raised his other hand beside the first.
As Ajani moved in for his second attack, static electricity made my scalp tingle. A blast of energy coursed from the chauffeur’s hands and hit Ajani square in the chest. His chest caved in and his head was thrown back impossibly far. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ajani was dead before he hit the floor.
Blood welled in his mouth and overflowed.
My voice came free, and I cried, “Ajani!” I started to go to him, but someone had hold of my wrist and was dragging me in the opposite direction. Another wave of static lifted my hair, and I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a flash of silver shoot from Bella’s general direction, at the driver.
The big man roared.
I turned to run with Colin toward the back of the house. “What about Bella?”
“She’ll be all right. She’s going to buy us some time. If she gets in trouble, she’ll chute out. C’mon! We have to go!”
We rushed through the kitchen and out the back door onto the lawn.
Clouds loomed overhead, heavy and ominous. They released a few fat droplets of rain with the promise of more to come.
Colin opened his wings. They unfolded from his back as if they’d been there all along. The feathers gleamed, all the rainbow’s colors contained in the black.
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