by Dakota Lake
“Shhh!” I said playfully smacking him.
“I think it's safe. I don't think Cam can hear us from this far away.” he said trying to turn his pancake.
“You know I’m not the only one that's noticed you've been spending a lot of time on the third floor.” “I like it up there. I don't know I feel more at home up there.”
“I've seen you with Senka outside a few times. The way you two say goodbye,”
“And I say goodbye to Cam and you exactly the same. A kiss on the cheek or maybe the quick peck on the lips, everyone is like that round here.”
“I didn't mean the kissing thing. I’m just saying I’ve never seen you walking Cam out to work.” “What are you getting at? You're saying I’ve been a bit over the top? Senka and I are close but we're just friends.” I said. But I knew I was lying. I didn't think Senka was just my friend and I didn't think he wanted to be just friends but at the moment that's all it was.
“Do you like Senka?”
“I know I miss him when he's not here. I don't miss Cam in the same way though.” “I think you've just answered my question.”
“You think I’m wrong? Do you think I should be returning Cam's affection because of what he does for me and the way he looks after me? He treats me like a princess.”
“Because to him that’s what you are. But no I don’t think you should return anything if you don’t want to. If you like Senka, then you like Senka there’s not much Cam can do about it. Not unless he wants to lock you up in your room forever and throw away the key. Anyway Senka is one of his best workers. I’m sure Cam knows all about it, you know how Emmett likes to gossip. If Cam wanted you all to himself he would have made sure of it but he's letting you get on with whatever you want to do behind closed doors.”
“But why? If he has feelings for me wouldn't he ban me from seeing Senka?” I asked. “Well he could, but I don't know how long that would work for and it wouldn't exactly put Cam in your good books which is why I think he's letting you do your own thing. Which is a huge deal for Cam. I've seen the way you are with him, there aren’t many that speak back to Cam or question him like you do and you're the only one he lets talk to him like that.”
“That’s because he just expects everyone to do as they're told because he thinks he's some kind of king in this place.”
Kenzie grunted a laugh. He didn't say anything else or ask any other questions. He washed the dishes and I dried.
“Kenzie, what does 'the mark of Under' mean?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I overheard one of the servants saying something about it.”
“Which servant?” he asked searching my face.
“I don't know there’s so many. I can't remember who it was. Does it have something to do with this tattoo?” I asked rubbing at my tattoo.
Kenzie moved over to me and took my hand and rubbed his thumb over my tattoo. “Why do we have the same tattoo? You, me, Cam, everyone that lives on the third floor has one. I'm not blind even Emmett has one. Why do I have one?”
I pulled his wrist over to me and moved his bracelets along to get a better view of his tattoo, it blended in with the other symbols and patterns on his arm. “Look they're identical.” I said holding the back of my hand next to his wrist. He pulled his arm away and readjusted his cap. “Ruby I want to tell you but it's complicated.” he said fidgeting.
“What's complicated?”
“I hate this,” he said quietly to himself opening the fridge. “there are so many things I want to tell you but I can't.”
“Why? Is it because of Cam?” I asked.
He took out a bottled water and unscrewed the cap.
“Ruby you have to understand. I've known Cam for a really long time he's like family and this,” he said looking around. “this is my home. But yes there are certain things I'm not allowed to talk about with you.”
“So there are things Cam's not telling me?”
“You're very special to Cam, you mean everything to him. Everything he does or has done is because of the way he feels about you. He only wants to keep you safe. But yes there are things he's not telling you. Things I can't tell you, as much as I want to. I have to think of my sister this is her home as well. I know Cam, I know what he's like. There would be punishment for anyone who talked to you about stuff we have been specifically told not to.”
“Like your work and the way you always ignore my questions. It's because Cam's told you not to talk to me about it, isn't it? Is it just you or did he send out an email to everyone?” I joked I knew there wasn't even a computer or laptop in sight inside the manor.
“Something like that, yes.”
“Is that why the servants don't talk to me because they don't want me asking questions that might get them into trouble?”
He didn't say anything but by the way he avoided me and looked at the floor answered my question for me.
“It's okay Kenzie, I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble because of me.” I said calming down a notch.
“Ruby I want to tell you but I can't...”
“Kenzie it's fine. I'll just have to figure it out on my own. Maybe I'll ask Emmett I bet he knows everything.” I smiled, it was a joke we both knew Emmett would tell Cam everything. “That would be a safe bet.” Kenzie said returning my smile.
“Would Cam really punish someone for telling me something they had been told not to?” “Like I said I know Cam and I know what he's capable of and I would prefer to keep my tongue in my mouth.”
“What? You're joking right? Cam wouldn't cut off your tongue. Would he?”
“You don't know Cam as well as I do. I've seen what he does to people that betray him.” He put his water bottle down and moved along the counter next to me. “Ruby you can't tell Cam we had this...”
“Conversation,” I said finishing the sentence for him. “What conversation?” I added. So Kenzie had confirmed my doubts about Cam. He was keeping things from me. It made me wonder if any of the stories he'd told me were true. I was more convinced than ever that I'd definitely not grown up here. I think I had been bought here for some reason, but why was I so important to Cam?
After lunch we stayed in Kenzie's room. His room was on the second floor of the cottage and it was the smallest. But he'd somehow managed to cram a bed, a desk, a closet and a dresser into it. There was even a small TV set up on the floor with a retro games console that he loved playing on. The walls were lime green and the floor was wooden with a big blue bean bag positioned in front of the TV. Above his bed and desk were shelves full of old games for his console. His desk was cluttered with sci-fi novels and funny looking trolls with brightly coloured hair. There was also a large cuddly panda that always sat on his pillow.
Kenzie sat with his back against his bed playing on his console, chucking nuts into the air and catching them in his mouth. I sat on his bean bag flicking through a games magazine not really paying attention to any of it, I was too busy trying to figure out his Rubik cube.
“Grrr! This thing is so frustrating.” I said twisting the edges.
“Give it here,” he said holding his hands up. I chucked it to him.
“Watch carefully.”
I moved over and knelt on the floor next to him.
“See this, watch this part here.” he said twisting it. “You need to make a white cross like this,” he slowly moved the pieces so I could see. “then you move this like this,” he continued showing me the moves until he was done and the Rubik cube was complete. “And bingo.”
“Wow!” I was impressed.
He twisted it some more and messed all the colours up again.
“Here you try it.”
“Yeah right.” I said taking it from him.
I looked carefully trying to remember the patterns Kenzie had shown me step by step. Kenzie would tut at me if I was about to make a wrong twist. I was surprised at how close I came to completing it having only been shown once.
“You need to move this ro
und here and this bit needs twisting that way and twist this bit back.” he said pointing.
“I did it,” I squeaked. “I'm taking this with me when I leave. This thing will keep me busy for hours, just have to figure it out on my own now.”
“Just remember the patterns.” he said picking up his controller.
I helped myself to a handful of peanuts from the bowl and thought about the pretty girl I'd seen this morning.
“Kenzie do you know anyone called Hazel? Brownish red hair in a short little red dress.” I looked at Kenzie waiting for his response but he had stopped pressing buttons and was blankly staring at the TV screen.
“I saw her coming out of one of the boys rooms upstairs.” I continued still waiting for him to respond. “Kenzie,” I said trying to get his attention but he didn't move and his eyes looked vacant. I picked up a nut from the bowl and chucked it at his head, it bounced off the brim of his cap. He blinked and looked at me. “Sorry, what? Did you say something?”
“Err yeah but it's not that important. Are you okay?”
“What? Yes, no I'm all good. Shasta just called me. She needs my help with something.” “Really I didn't hear a phone ringing?” I said looking around not that I'd ever seen a phone anywhere here or in the manor. I looked at him waiting for him to explain what he meant but he switched the TV off and stood looking at me like he was in a rush.
“Okay well I'm going to take off.” I said.
He nodded watching as I backed into the door. “I'll let myself out, I'll see you at dinner all right.” He smiled and turned his cap around to the back watching me close the door. I stood outside his bedroom for a moment wondering why he was being so weird and I definitely hadn't heard Shasta calling him. I got halfway down the stairs when I remembered I wanted to take his Rubik cube back with me, I turned and jogged back up and opened his door.
“Hey Kenzie I forgot.....,” I said to an empty room.
I walked in and picked up the Rubik cube off the floor looking around with my mouth practically hanging open not quite sure what to make of it. I looked out the window, there was no way he jumped out there wasn't even anything to climb down on. It was as though he had vanished into thin air. I felt a bit lonely standing in his room without him not knowing what was going on so I quickly left and made my way back to the manor.
Chapter Four
I left the bath to fill up and sat on my bed, pulling the book out from under my pillow. I opened it to the first page and looked down at the description about dreams.
Images that we see during our awake periods are played back during our sleep involuntary. Dreams can last for any length of time and can be anything from memories to images or surroundings. Dreams can trigger your emotions during sleep from happy, upset to even frightened.
I skimmed down the page which was just more explanations about standard dreams not what I was looking for. I flicked through the pages, half of the book was dedicated to dreams and the different meanings behind them. There seemed to be an explanation for everything ranging from what the hidden meaning behind eating an apple was to what seeing a white rabbit meant. The last section immediately jumped out at me. Titled 'Dream Linking'.
Dream Telepathy is when two minds link during the sleeping state. A person may be able to access someone else's mind during sleep, pulling the other person into their own dream or accessing the other persons dream.
I looked further down and read a few more paragraphs.
Depending on the mind and ability of the one accessioning the dreams, it may be possible for that one to connect with the other person for dream linking. During the connection or linking the dream will take on a more realistic appearance and both people will experience and feel just like they would do in real life. If the connection between the two people is strong enough they may be able to link at any time during the day or night.
I shut the book and quickly dashed into the bathroom, I'd forgotten the bath was still filling up. As I soaked in the bath, Mack consumed my every thought. Who was he? Where was he? Was he real? Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?
I needed to see him again, I needed to ask him more questions I needed to prove I wasn't going insane and talking to an imaginary person inside my head during my sleep.
Reading the book had made me more convinced that I wasn't just dreaming when I saw Mack, I was dream linking with him. This was crazy, why was this happening? Did it have something to do with my strange mind reading ability? Did that make me different to everyone else, is that why it was possible? Was I pulling Mack into my dreams?
I lifted my hand out of the water forgetting I still had a bandage on my cut. I unwrapped my hand, hoping it had healed a bit more to avoid a trip to Vivienne the Doctor. The bandage fell away and I sat bolt upright creating a tidal wave in the bath that splashed against the edge. I rubbed at my hand with the other. There was no cut, not even a scratch. I even held open my other hand thinking I was going crazy and it had been the other hand.
My cut was gone. I remembered Trip had even joked about it being as good as new in the morning. Maybe he wasn't joking? I needed to talk to someone about this. This was definitely not normal, like my mind reading. But I was frightened, what if I told someone and Cam found out? What if he kicked me out or something, I didn't even know where I would go. I needed to find some answers, there must be someone here willing to talk to me.
After my bath I laid on my sun lounger playing with the Rubik cube still trying to figure out where Kenzie had disappeared to so quick? The atmosphere outside felt humid today. I'd never seen the sun it was always blocked by clouds which made the day a little duller it was the same most days except for the odd shower of rain which never lasted long. I closed my eyes thinking of Senka hoping he would be back soon. All I wanted was to see him even if it meant sharing him with his friends upstairs or watching him play pool, as long as I was near him I would feel more contented. My life here seemed pretty pointless sometimes if it wasn't for Senka and Kenzie. I heard the clocks chime, letting everyone know it was three o'clock. Which meant I had three hours to kill before dinnertime and for once I had no homework to do. I closed my eyes feeling the warmth from the air on my skin. I concentrated as much as I could on Mack, hoping if I fell asleep I would end up with him. But he would have to be asleep or taking a nap for this to work. I concentrated so hard my head started to hurt, I was trying to hard. I couldn't make myself sleep I had to relax it would either happen or it wouldn't. A squawk sounded close by. I opened my eyes to see Rocky sitting on the railing looking at me.
“What do you want? Stop littering my balcony and room with stones. I don't like it and I don't like you staring at me like that. It's creepy it's like you know what I'm saying.”
The raven squawked and flew over to a large tree near by. It still looked like it was watching me just from a distance this time. I closed my eyes again.
I dreamed of a little girl wearing a yellow T-shirt with dungarees, playing in a garden near a large tree. There were teddies and dolls sat around on a blanket and she was helping herself to a plate of grapes. A black raven with a white splodge on its head landed on the blanket and hopped over to her and dropped a pile of small stones on the blanket beside her.
“Rocky, you're making a mess.” she said collecting the stones.
A tall hooded figure stepped out from behind the tree, he walked over and squatted down on the blanket near the girl.
“Good morning princess,” he said removing his hood. It was Cam dressed in his usual black clothing and hooded cape.
“Hi Cammy. Your bird keeps bringing me stones.”
“That's because he likes you.”
The girl looked sad as she sipped on her juice straw.
“Ruby what's wrong you look upset?” Cam asked.
She put the juice down and sniffed. “I heard my mom thinking about me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She think there's something wrong with me because I keep repeating things I hea
r her thinking.” “Ruby we talked about this. You can't do that around people.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are not like them and they won't understand. They will think there's something wrong with you. But there isn't.”
“Why can I hear what people are thinking about?”
Cam exhaled loudly. “Ruby, what am I going to do with you? You ask so many questions, you're to young to understand at the moment.”
“No I'm not. I'm six next week.”
“I know. Look Ruby, you have an ability to read minds because of your dad and who he is, you inherited some of his special gifts. But you can't go around telling people they won't like it, they won't understand how special you are.”
The little girl frowned and crossed her arms. Cam patterned her on the head.
“When you're older I promise I will explain everything to you.”
“Then will you take me to your castle? I want to see the coloured mice.”
“I promise one day I will take you there,” he said taking her wrist. “You remember this?” he asked pointing at the bracelet on her wrist with the black stones. She nodded. “What did we talk about last time I saw you?”
“I can't take it off. I need to keep it on so you can always find me.”
“That's right and don't let anyone take it away from you. Ruby, I want you to have the most normal life you can, which means I won't be able to keep coming back to see you for much longer. But I'll come back and check on you every now and then. And Rocky will always be around making sure you're all right.” The little girl looked close to tears. “Ruby please don't cry, we've talked about this.”
Another figure appeared on the grass out of nowhere. I knew straight away it was Kenzie, the tattoos were a dead giveaway. He looked different though with short hair and no snapback cap. He wore a plain red T-shirt, black cargo pants finished off with a pair of black Converse hi-tops and had a bag slung over his shoulder.
“Cam I'm sorry, we could really use your help.” he said.
“Okay,” Cam said turning back to the girl.
“Who's that?” she asked looking over at the stranger.
