“How about none of the above?” She arched her eyebrows at James as if daring him to tell her what to do. “What are your plans for today, Cassandra?”
Both of them were boring holes into me with their eyes. The combined force of their gaze made me want to throw up my hands and leave the laundry room.
I didn’t wish to get between Kara and James in a family squabble. “I already have plans to attend a class at six a.m., and I’m not sure what Maggie wants us to do for breakfast yet.”
James cocked his head to the side in curiosity. “What class? I thought you tested out of everything like me?”
Kara raised her eyebrows at me, this time, looking impressed.
My voice stayed even, but it took some effort. “It’s physical training with Malcolm, and then I’m at his disposal the rest of the day.”
James whistled through his teeth, his eyes looking enormous and concerned. “What did you do wrong?”
Kara appeared confused. “Who is Malcolm?”
He answered the question without taking his eyes off of me. “Malcolm is in charge of training the young group here, mainly because no one else wants to do it, but also because he’s scary enough to keep all the troublemakers in line. He served in the military when he and his sister lived outside the compound and then got into professional martial arts competitions. At least, that’s what I’ve heard around.”
Kara cocked a hip and crossed her arms. “Are you being punished?”
I heard someone else coming down the hall to the laundry room, and I rolled my eyes in response. “Not to my knowledge. Malcolm is going to train me in self-defense per my uncle’s request.”
I didn’t think it wise to share our troubles regarding the Council or that Malcolm was also doubling as a bodyguard.
David’s voice came from behind James in a tight prissy tone. “Excuse me, I need to get by.”
None of us had anywhere else to go but further into the laundry room, so we shuffled in far enough for David to squeeze by and head toward the washing machine with a load of clothing in one arm and a bucket filled with muddy water in the other.
I recognized the shirt Maggie had thrown in the bathroom hamper yesterday after I cried all over it dangling from the mass of dirty clothes. We watched David set the bucket on the floor then put the clothes in the washer and add detergent.
He turned to consider me. “What happened to Maggie’s nose? If I ask her, she’ll only snap at me.”
I brushed my hair away from my face, stuffed my hands in my front pockets then shrugged before I answered, “Accident.”
David grimaced at my brief answer and made a shooing motion with his hands at us. “Get back on out into the patient area, this room is for staff.”
James and I piped up at the same time, “I’m not a patient.”
We grinned widely at one another, and David gave us his back in response. James slid his fingers into mine tentatively and pulled me toward the hallway. It felt nice to have him touch me. Like they had the first time, my fingers burned with the sensation.
As we were going down the short hall, Kara following, James asked me, “Where’s your coat? You don’t normally take it off, even indoors.”
It hit me that I hadn’t been cold most of the morning. I guess Silver had tampered with something else besides my menstrual cycle. “I suppose I'm finally adapting to the weather.”
Maggie was waiting by Kara’s bed with a rolling metal cart. The cart had a tray set up with various items I assumed would be used to collect blood samples; tubes, gauze, and alcohol pads. Unless Maggie was going to risk sending Kara’s blood work out to some Outsider genetics lab off-site, which I doubted, these tests were probably only going to reflect levels and indicate any organ malfunction. Maybe there were other compounds with more advanced facilities?
Nothing should show up to give away Silver’s meddling, but it still made me a little nervous. We all drew even with the cart and Kara came around to peer at the instruments Maggie had laid out. I was feeling a little exhilarated because James hadn’t let go of my hand in front of everyone, which seemed strange since I wasn’t comfortable with touch, especially with an audience.
Kara got petulant. “So I’m just supposed to sit still while you poke and prod me?” She was eyeing the instruments on the table, especially the sealed package containing the needle.
Maggie smiled widely and waved a hand in James’ direction when he acted as if he was going to chide his sister for being snappish. “I expect I’ll just poke you. No prodding. I promise to be quick about it and then we can grab something to eat if you’re in the mood. Would you like to have a seat, please?”
My aunt’s smile was normally a treat to see, but since her eyes were so discolored and her nose so swollen still, it came across as a grimace. For all I knew, it did hurt her to smile. I didn’t think the remorse of hurting my aunt would fade away very fast. As a result of this incident, she would have years of guilting me into things if she so desired.
Kara looked back at me for reassurance, which I supplied with a brief nod toward the bed. She sighed in a put upon way and flopped bonelessly into a sitting position, defeated. James gave me an inquisitive sideways look, perfectly arched brows crept upward.
I responded with a defensive, “What?” under my breath.
James chuckled. “I forgot how difficult Kara can be if she wants to be. I got used to the quiet. She never does anything without complaining about it first.”
Kara stared daggers at her brother and made sure to hold very still as Maggie bent to swab her arm and insert the needle.
Silver chose that moment to chime in. “How is Kara going to go anywhere in her sock feet? I didn’t notice any muddy shoes for her up front. Don’t worry about the tests Maggie is running. She won’t find much out of order. Our girl is healthy as a horse…thanks to me.”
I found it hard not to jump when she spoke so unexpectedly, and I had the urge to drop James hand as if I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t be. In rebellion against that feeling of shame, I squeezed his hand even tighter which earned me a curious look from him I ignored.
I thought a narrow scathing beam of emotion at Silver and responded in my mind only, “If you don’t back off and quit being so bitchy I’m going to sing ‘Row, Row, Row your Boat’ until you can’t stand it anymore.”
I remembered now how much that song had gotten on her nerves when we were little. These childhood memories coming back at odd moments were getting less disorienting and more useful. Whatever Silver had done to block my memories of us was wearing off. Little chunks of our life popped like bubbles with every new thought that connected however haphazardly to a past event.
Silver snorted, “Grow up, Sister. We’ll talk later when you’re not lusting after your stud muffin.”
I didn’t get the feeling she was mad at me for threatening to torment her with a nursery rhyme. Quite the opposite, amusement would be a closer description. I listened and felt nothing, heard nothing. When I was alone again, whenever that might be, Silver and I were going to have to come to a truce. What I remembered of our childhood relationship had been more giving and taking, instead of this constant push for dominance.
Silver had made a good point about Kara not having any shoes, so I turned to James. “Where can you get some more clothes and shoes for Kara? Did you bring much with you when you came to the compound?”
Before James could answer my question, the bell chimed at the front of the clinic. David was still in the laundry room as far as I knew. Maggie had her hands busy with Kara's phlebotomy. It turned out no one needed to bother since Malcolm strode in without assistance.
I was impressed anew by his sheer size every time he entered a room, even in this cavernous space Malcolm looked like a giant. The distance between us was eaten up by his smooth stride. Malcolm's coat was rain-speckled. His feet were also leaving muddy boot prints straight down the middle of the beds. My aunt would not be pleased. Nor would David.
&nb
sp; Maggie pulled the needle smoothly out of Kara, pressed some gauze down on the tiny red dot of blood oozing from her skin, then wrapped a tan colored stretchy bandage around her arm.
David came out from the laundry room, saw the muddy boot prints, and snapped his mouth closed.
Malcolm didn’t just walk up and politely make space in our little gathering. He wedged himself between James and me, forcing us apart.
I had forgotten we were still holding hands. I tilted my head as far as my neck would allow grumbling at Malcolm, “Subtle.”
James' thin self was lost to view behind Malcolm's bulk.
Malcolm looked down at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re only thirteen; I’m doing you a favor.” Then he reached up one of his massive hands and patted me on the head.
Silver’s voice rang in my mind. “No one pats us on the head.”
For once my twin and I were in total agreement. Now was not the time, but we would be making our stance clear to Malcolm, Gerome, and anyone else who decided to treat us like a child.
I looked at Maggie for guidance, but she was too busy trying not to laugh until she saw Malcolm’s muddy boot prints on the floor.
“Malcolm, do you seriously have a complex about taking off your boots? Look what David has to clean up now!”
David opened his mouth to protest but changed his mind when he saw Maggie was about to blow. As he turned back to the laundry room, I heard him humming something vague under his breath. It sounded like one of the seven dwarves’ songs from ‘Snow White’.
Malcolm looked behind himself at the path of mud and then faced Maggie with artificial puppy dog eyes. “I did forget, Maggs. Can’t you cut a poor guy a break?”
Kara was sitting on the bed staring at Malcolm as if she was in awe of him. I still couldn’t see James past my future trainer’s bulk.
My aunt didn’t respond to the playful reply. Her mouth was in a tight line as she scooped the vials of Kara’s blood together and headed for her office.
Malcolm started to follow. She spun around; furious. “Idiot! You stop right there. Don’t you dare take one more step my direction. Go to the lobby and wait or take off your damn boots.”
Every word out of her mouth was crisp with real anger. Malcolm was taking my aunt seriously because he’d frozen in mid-motion. Posture ramrod straight Maggie continued to her office.
“Are you intentionally irritating my aunt or did you forget?” It didn’t seem like someone who was supposed to be so disciplined by profession should be making these kinds of literal missteps. My tone reflected my disapproval.
Malcolm set the foot that had been in mid-step down on the floor with a solid thunk and glowered. To my credit, I didn’t flinch as he drew nearer; invading my space.
His voice came low and angry. “My relationship with Maggie is my business. We’ve known each other longer than you’ve been alive. Stay out of it, Little Girl.”
As he drew up to his full height, a bottomless pit of anger bloomed in my chest. Nearly overwhelming, it felt like it would burst out and strangle him.
“I won’t stay out of it. She’s my aunt and some of the only family I have left. If you continue to make stupid mistakes that upset her, I’ll never fail to point them out, ever. I’m also not going to take direction from a bully. I do not accept you as my trainer. I find you unworthy. I lived through eight years of hell you couldn’t even imagine, and I’ll be damned if I take any shit off of you!”
Silver’s presence was in absolute accord with mine, as I smacked Malcolm’s sternum with the heel of my palm for emphasis. The force of the blow made him stumble, and his hands clutched his chest as he gasped in surprised pain. The quiet after my outburst was almost anticlimactic. The only sounds were of the infirmary resisting the wind and Malcolm’s labored breathing.
Kara’s voice came in an awed whisper. “That was awesome.”
Maggie rushed out of her office. “What is going on?”
She looked at me standing squared off and angry, and then to Malcolm, who was still catching his breath with his hands on his chest in confusion. James stared as if I had suddenly sprouted two heads.
Malcolm recovered enough to straighten. “My fault. Give…me…a…minute.”
I faced Maggie with a determined feeling inside. Even my aunt, who I loved already in such a short span of time, wasn’t going to get away with treating me like a child from this day forward. Regardless of how I appeared to everyone else, it had been me looking after me for too many years to cede leadership to others due to age. I would follow Gerome when I decided he had made sound choices, not simply because of our familial connection. Maggie had yet to push me when I didn’t need pushing, and she had my respect. Malcolm had earned nothing. James…would have to adapt, or not.
Malcolm’s voice came out rough and thick, “I was angry at myself for making you mad, Maggie, and I snapped at Cassandra when I shouldn’t have. She was only defending herself. It’s my fault.” He squared his shoulders and took one step closer to me with a hand extended as if to placate me. “I was wrong to get in your face like that. Maggie is your business, just as she should be. I’d like you to reconsider me as your trainer. If you feel uncomfortable, I understand.”
His sincerity seemed genuine, but I wasn’t quite ready to back down. “I’ll think about it.”
David came out of the hallway steering a rolling, water-filled bucket with the handle of a mop. He had a wary look to him like he was afraid to enter the room. I felt sorry for the night nurse. His shift was typically uneventful and then here we all were making a mess of things.
Malcolm motioned toward the front of the clinic. “I’ll head out, so I don’t make more of a mess, but I need to talk to you and Cassandra about running into town, Maggie.”
David edged his way into the room. Malcolm caught his attention. “Sorry, man.”
The male nurse acknowledged the apology with a shoulder shrug and began to mop.
“I’ve got something for you to mail after I get it packed. So are you having your class first and then running to town? I doubt anything is open. It’s only five a.m.”
“Class starts as usual, and then I’ll hit the road.” Malcolm narrowed his eyes. “We good?”
“Yeah, we’re good. Cassandra, are you still going to class?”
I shot Malcolm a hard glare. Maggie had her hands on her healthy hips as I said, “I’ll give it a whirl. Am I allowed to go into town with him?”
Silver was nudging me to check out the regular world. I was getting better at telling our feelings apart.
My aunt had a surprised expression on her face at my question when Kara piped in. “I’ll go with you!”
I wasn’t asking permission from my aunt because I needed it. I was referring to our situation with the Council, and I knew she’d pick up on it. I heard James shush Kara in the background.
Maggie made eye contact with Malcolm. “If you follow Malcolm’s orders when you’re out then you can go, otherwise, stay with me.”
I gave a short, tight nod at the big man. “If he behaves I will.”
Malcolm snorted. “Done. I was coming by to pick you up and head to the gym. Gerome got tied up. You ready?”
“Do I have to punch somebody in the chest to get taken seriously? Don’t shush me, James!” Kara’s voice was strident. “Am I clear to go to this class, Maggie? I feel fine.”
I wasn’t sure about Kara being a tag along, but I knew there would be other people there, so she had the right to go.
James spoke up. “You don’t even have any shoes. How are you going to get there?”
Maggie asked in a confused tone, “Cassandra, did you punch Malcolm in the chest?”
I raised my eyebrows. “More of a love tap. He’s fine.” Malcolm and I shrugged our shoulders at the same time, and he smiled at me.
“I may not need to teach you very much, Dynamite. You pack a heck of a punch for a short stack.” He rubbed his chest one handed.
Maggie gestured wildly to all
of us. “Fine, I give up. Y'all get out of here.”
Malcolm asked Kara. “Want a piggyback ride?” Her face lit up at the prospect.
Maggie put in dryly, “That won’t be necessary. I think our feet are close to the same size. Let me see what I have extra. You can return them when you get more settled, Kara.” It was comical how crestfallen Kara looked at missing a piggyback ride from Malcolm. “Cassandra, why don’t you come with me, that way you can add the extra clothes for Kara to your bag.”
As I passed James, he avoided eye contact. His evasion hurt, but I didn’t have a clue as to how to fix it.
I heard Malcolm talk in a low tone to Kara as I followed Maggie to her office.
“I’ll give you a ride anyway so you can keep your shoes clean.”
She bounced up and down on the bed like a child and clapped with glee.
Chapter Nine: The Big Oops
I found Maggie’s office peaceful. Maybe it was the pleasant scent of the dried plants hanging from the ceiling beams or her presence, but I felt safe. I could even sense Silver’s agitation fade from our confrontation with Malcolm.
Maggie went to her beat up desk and dug around in one of the bigger bottom drawers. When she stood up, she had a barely worn pair of slip on shoes and some socks in her hands which she deposited unceremoniously on top of my bag on the way out of her office. I could hear some cabinets open and close in the bathroom down the hall and then she was back with some knit yoga pants and a plain black t-shirt. I was willing to bet they belonged to Nicky. Maggie closed the door with a quiet click. Once she stuffed the extra items for Kara in my bag, she turned to me with a severe expression.
“I don’t know what happened with Malcolm out there because I didn’t see it. You need a warning.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Maggie raised a hand to stop me.
“I saw a look in your eye, Cassandra. Something there scared me for a moment. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Think before you act.”
I spoke up in my defense. “He got in my face, Maggie, and treated me like a child. Regardless of what I look like to you, I’m not a child and haven’t been for a very long time.”
Chimera (The Weaver Series Book 1) Page 12
