“My surprise,” he said with a sly look as he took Shayla and Megan by the arms, “We’re all going out to celebrate.” He wagged his index finger at me, “It’s high time you got out of the house, young lady. It’s like you’re turning into Norma Desmond or something.”
“Who?” asked Shayla.
I smirked at him, but I had to admit I’d become reclusive lately, lying low, hoping that the terrible feelings of helplessness would blow over. The horror of being kidnapped had affected me more than I cared to admit, and I’d let myself slip into a small quiet paranoia that made me loathe to even leave the house. I concentrated on my schoolwork and buried myself in reading and painting to avoid even thinking about what had happened. I looked over my shoulder everywhere I went, and even stopped going surfing.
Having Ethan with me helped, and despite the mountain of landscaping jobs that he’d been taking on, he came by Aunt Abby’s more often, doing his homework by my side, sneaking in kisses whenever she turned her back. Bit by bit I relaxed, the tension within me started to ease, and I realized that the people behind my capture were actually going to leave me alone.
It would be pointless for them to harass me, for I could never really want their success and therefore I was useless to them. They must have given up on the idea of trying to force me to work in their favor. I was starting to breathe freely again, as though a tight corset was being loosened from my ribcage one lacing at a time.
The band started in on another slow dance as Ethan and I followed Cruz and his two dates out the door. The longest stretch limousine I’d ever laid eyes on was pulled up right in front, attracting a crowd of kids on the nearby sidewalk. They were sneaking curious glances at the tinted windows, whispering their speculations as to who it could be for. The driver’s door opened and out stepped a man whose giant body matched the scale of the car.
I should have known.
“Allo Marina,” nodded Boris as he came around to open the door. He towered over everyone, gesturing for us to climb in.
“Surprise!” cried Cruz, “Evie’s taking us all out to dinner!”
“Really?” muttered Ethan, “Tonight?”
I squeezed his hand and shrugged. “For Cruz,” I said.
We peeked into the plush interior to find Evie sitting in the far seat, looking as beautiful as she ever did in a chic wrap dress that Cruz had recently designed and tailored just for her. She was dripping with diamonds and grinning like the Cheshire cat.
“My Darlings!” she greeted us imperially, “We’re running late for our reservations, so come come, hurry in, and I’ll take a look at these magnificent gowns after we arrive…”
We did as told, and piled into the limo. Ethan took a seat on the opposite end from Evie, and I settled in next to him. I could tell he was a little annoyed, and it dawned on me that he had some plans of his own for after the prom. I took his hand, twining my fingers through his reassuringly. We were driven across town, listening to Cruz give Evie a blow by blow account of the dance, with Megan interjecting a few times to keep him honest. Shayla looked at Evie worshipfully.
“Here we are!” Evie exclaimed when the car came to a stop. Boris opened the door, and as I stood to straighten my skirt I looked up to see a familiar neon sign. She’d taken us to the restaurant where I’d stumbled across Ethan sitting down to lunch with his ex-girlfriend. The last time I’d set foot here Ethan and I had broken apart because of it. We were standing in front of Le Mer.
Evie swept out of the limo and greeted me with a hug and kisses on both cheeks, “Your dress is fabulous!” she smiled at my stunned face, “You look simply divine!”
“What are we doing here?” I asked, irritated. I felt like I was being provoked.
“Why, I’ve made reservations for dinner… Megan tells me this is the best place in town,” she turned to greet Megan with a society hug and air kisses. “You look fabulous! I do expect a song from you tonight, my dear.”
“Uhm… I took the night off, but I guess I could see…”
Megan looked stricken, and met my eyes apologetically. Ethan just stood rigidly with his arms crossed and an angry scowl on his handsome face. The limo pulled away, leaving us all standing there awkwardly.
Evie greeted Cruz and Shayla warmly, ushering them inside, while Megan trailed behind, turning to look at us anxiously.
Evie paused at the entrance, “Aren’t you coming?” she asked innocently.
“We’ll just be a minute,” I said, looking over at Ethan. I went to him and took his hands as the giant wooden doors swung shut with a sigh.
“It’s okay,” I said gently.
“She did this on purpose,” he complained bitterly, his voice tight with irritation. “She’s still trying to come between us.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” I said reproachfully, “You heard what she said… and besides, I’m long overdue to come out here and see Megan sing…”
His jaw clenched and I could see that he didn’t believe it. I stepped into him and wrapped my arms around his back. “Please don’t be mad,” I whispered into his ear. He sighed and pulled me close, nudging my face up for a kiss. At least there were no chaperones out here on the street, I thought.
Cruz poked his head out the door, “Oh for God’s sake!” he scolded us, “Can you two come in and hear Megan sing already?”
We followed him into the restaurant, joining Shayla and Evie at a table in the lounge. Megan stood at the piano comfortably, holding the microphone casually, and addressing the room like she’d been singing there for years instead of weeks.
“I’d like to dedicate this to my good friend Marina,” she smiled wryly at me and launched into a song, “Somewhere, beyond the sea…” Knowing Megan’s sense of humor, I had to crack a smile. Ethan sat stony faced.
Megan sang beautifully, and with a whisper in the ear of the young man playing piano she launched into a jazzy version of “The Look Of Love.” I couldn’t help but notice the way the piano player was looking at her.
When Megan finished singing, the handsome gentleman that owned the restaurant came to personally lead us to our table. His eyes widened when he saw Evie.
“Mr. Samadi, this is Marina’s Aunt Evie,” said Megan.
“Charmed,” he said, as she reached out her hand to shake. Her eyes sparkled as he bent to press his lips to the back of her hand, “Please…” he stared at her intensely, “call me Omar.”
Cruz and I rolled our eyes at each other as he offered his arm to Evie with a flourish.
We followed them to our table and once again Ethan took the furthest seat from Evie possible. I doubt she noticed anything, for she had locked eyes with Omar and they seemed oblivious to everyone else around them.
“Come on, let’s go to the bathroom,” said Megan, taking my arm and pulling me up out of my seat.
“I’ll be right back,” I squeezed Ethan’s shoulder. He still didn’t look very happy.
When we got to the restroom Megan turned serious, “I’m sooo sorry! When she asked me about places to eat in town I just wasn’t thinking! I had no idea she’d take us here tonight! I mean, I knew she was coming to see us, but Cruz wanted it to be a surprise,” she paused, biting her lip, “Forgive me?”
“It’s okay,” I said, “I’m over it.”
She hugged me in relief, and pulled back adding, “Ethan doesn’t seem to be.”
I sighed, “He’s mad at Evie… He thinks she chose this place on purpose.”
Megan looked thoughtful, “Well, she probably should have known better.”
I shook my head, “I don’t even want to think about it,” I changed the subject, “So, what’s going on with you and the piano player?”
She looked shocked, “How did you know?”
I laughed, “I’m not blind,” I said with a knowing grin, “What happened to Brian?”
“That didn’t work out,” she replied with a twinge of regret, recovering rapidly, “But I did get inspired to write some really great songs out of the br
eakup!”
We laughed together, fixing our hair and makeup and joking around about some of the couples at the prom. I started feeling more like my old self.
Returning to the table, I sat down, scooting close to Ethan and taking his hand again. We endured an uncomfortable dinner, listening to Cruz chatter on and on about the dresses at the prom, design school, and his relocation to the city. He was set to move into my empty apartment in San Francisco after the upcoming finals week, and Evie was almost as excited as he was about having him as a neighbor.
“That reminds me,” said Evie, turning towards Shayla, “An agent friend of mine saw your pictures and would like some more test shots and an interview… How about we schedule a meeting for directly after we get Cruz settled in?”
“OK,” said Shayla, looking a little nervous, “An interview?”
“He’s booking runway girls for the Paris shows and he’ll need to see your walk,” said Evie.
Shayla swallowed hard, “My walk?”
“Yes silly,” Cruz interjected, “Like I showed you!” Cruz had been trying to teach Shayla the classic runway strut but she was still having trouble with the heels. If she could only wear flip-flops on the catwalk she’d be fine.
Shayla looked across the table at me, fear in her eyes.
“Will you go with me?” she pleaded.
“Sure,” I nodded.
Ethan sat quietly, and when we finally got up to leave he couldn’t get out the door fast enough. Evie kept us waiting a few minutes while she spoke with Omar, giggling coquettishly and touching her hair. He pressed his card into her hand and kissed it again, clearly enraptured with her. When she met our group out by the limousine I was surprised to see Evie looking a little flushed.
As we drove away she regained her composure, finalizing plans with Cruz and pumping Megan for details about Mr. Samadi. We pulled up to the high school parking lot and stopped.
Evie turned to address Ethan, “It was lovely seeing you again, and if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to take Marina home myself. We have some important business to discuss.”
She cast me a meaningful look. I’d known this day was coming, and it was what I’d been dreading– it was the thing that kept waking me up at night. It was time for my first meeting with the hybrid council.
“I’m sure it can wait,” Ethan said, his dark blue eyes blazing at her.
“No, I’m afraid it’s very urgent,” Evie returned his gaze, a challenge in her icy blue ones.
I looked at the two of them locked in combat and wanted to scream. I knew that they both had my best interests at heart, but I couldn’t help and wonder if each of them simply wanted to control me for their own reasons. Cruz and Megan exchanged a nervous glance and said their goodbyes, taking Shayla and beating a hasty retreat.
Evie turned to me, “I’m leaving town for a week tomorrow morning… I’m afraid we can’t do this over the phone.”
I nodded, taking Ethan’s hand and climbing out of the limo, “Come on, let’s talk.” I walked him over to his truck and took him in my arms, “I think I should hear what she has to say. I need to find out what’s going on.”
He looked glumly across the lot at Boris standing by the giant limo, watching us.
“Yeah,” he sighed, “I know.”
“I’ll come see you first thing tomorrow at the farmer’s market… okay?”
He nodded and looked down at me. I stretched up to kiss him.
“It’ll all be over soon,” I said, even though I didn’t really believe it.
I walked slowly back towards Evie, feeling the laces of my mental corset cinching back in, constricting more tightly with each exhale, once again, making it almost impossible to breathe.
CHAPTER TWO
SUMMONED
“I suppose I should have been ready for this,” I said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the shake out of my voice.
Evie outlined the plans that had already been made for me, and the reality of the situation came crashing down upon me all at once. I was scheduled to be in Paris in two weeks, and it wouldn’t be a pleasure trip. A council meeting had been arranged, and I’d been summoned to meet with the association of half-mermaid hybrids. I was always going to have to join this exclusive little group once I came of age, but because of my exposure and the kidnapping that followed, my indoctrination had been scheduled a little early.
“I’m sorry sweetheart,” Evie said, scooting closer and putting her arm around my shoulders. “They wouldn’t agree to wait any longer. We’ll tell Abby and your father that we’ll be attending the Paris shows together.”
“Good cover story,” I said numbly, for everyone knew that Evie was a fixture at Paris fashion week.
“Yes, well… Thank heavens I was able to choose the location, so at least I know we’ll have some decent accommodations. I’ve booked a suite at the Ritz. ”
I sighed, “What do you think they’ll want to know?”
Evie pursed her lips, “I’ve denied everything Peter said before his… accident, but I don’t think they’re buying it. I’m afraid the rumors are flying.” She heaved a sigh, “They are all women, after all… and we girls do love our gossip.”
“What exactly did Peter say?” I asked, alarmed.
“I don’t know everything,” Evie said grimly, “He was allowed to place some calls to plead his case before…uh, as we were waiting for the association to arrive. I do know what he told one member, and we can start by refuting that.” Her eyes met mine as she added, “I don’t know who else he might have contacted.”
My heart sank, for there was a possibility that he had verified some shocking tabloid rumors. Evie’s security team had taken Peter into custody in order to bring him before the council, for as the son of a recently deceased hybrid, Peter was one of theirs. The association policed itself, but before they could pass judgment and punish him, the people that he was working for beat them to it. A false suicide had been staged to eliminate him, along with all of the incriminating evidence.
Everything, that is, except for me.
So, I grappled with the looming possibility of Peter’s murderers coming back for me, combined with the grilling I was scheduled to receive from a council of fellow hybrid muses. It was almost too much to take all at once. I dropped my head into my hands as Evie rubbed my back soothingly.
“Everything will be alright,” she said, “We simply need to come up with a story and stick to it. I have many dear friends on the council, and I’m certain they’ll side with us.”
The council suspected that I was different from the rest of them, and they were right. Peter had watched me, finding out about my ability to communicate with mermaids in the hopes of using it to capture more of them. I wondered how much he’d said; for as far as I knew, I was the only one capable of speaking the mermaid’s strange language.
Evie straightened her spine and smoothed her skirt, “Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary in the past few weeks? Anything suspicious at all?” I shook my head no.
She went on, a model of efficiency as usual, “I had Boris sweep your house and car for bugs while we were at dinner. He found nothing.” I sighed, feeling a strange mixture of annoyance and relief.
“Evie?” I raised my head, casting a suspicious eye at her “Why did you choose that restaurant?”
She smiled placidly, “Oh honey, I really did want to see Megan sing again… And isn’t everything else all water under the bridge by now?”
I sighed, “For me it is… So, what was all that with Omar?” I asked, cocking a brow at her.
“Marina,” She tossed her head and smoothed her platinum blonde hair, “I may not be immortal… but I’m not dead yet!”
Evie and I talked for a while, going over some of the possible questions and coming up with a story. When the car finally dropped me off at Abby’s cozy little house I was surprised to see the lights still on and Megan’s car in the driveway next to my Range Rover. I kissed Evie goodbye, waved to Boris, and headed
for the door, feeling like Cinderella staggering home after the ball.
“What was that all about?” Cruz asked anxiously, jumping up to greet me at the door. Megan sat up with a worried look.
“Nothing,” I flopped down on the couch, unstrapping my shoes, “My feet are killing me.”
“What did Evie want?” Cruz persisted.
I paused for a moment, “She’s taking me to Paris for the collections.”
“Paris!” Cruz cried, stricken, “But that’s in two weeks!”
“Yeah, “I said, “And?”
“I can’t go!” he whined, plunking down next to Megan, “That’s the week I present my portfolio to design school. And you’ll miss my birthday too.”
“Sorry,” I replied, too wrung out to bother trying to soothe him.
“I thought you couldn’t leave Ethan,” Cruz said petulantly.
“She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” I replied. Unfortunately, it was the truth.
“We’re sorry about springing the restaurant on you guys,” Megan added, elbowing Cruz in the ribs, “He feels bad too.”
“Yeah,” Cruz said grudgingly, “But it’s really kind of Megan’s place now that she works there… I don’t see why Ethan should be all upset.”
“Just drop it,” I said wearily. I couldn’t take any more conflict.
Cruz couldn’t stop defending her, “I’m sure Evie didn’t mean anything by it,”
Megan started to mediate, “Surely, she must have known that it would be uncomfortable for them,” she said, tilting her head at Cruz.
“I don’t believe it for a minute,” he sniffed, “And stop calling me Shirley!”
I smiled tiredly and stood up to stretch, “I need to get some sleep, I’ll see you guys later.”
“Me too,” said Megan, rising to leave. “Oh, and Bill wanted me to tell you he wants some more paintings for the coffee shop.”
“OK,” I said, walking her to the door. “I’ll take care of it.”
I slumped down the hall to my room and changed, falling boneless and weak onto my bed. I looked around at all the paintings strewn about the tiny space, thinking about which ones I should take to Bill. They reminded me of the sea, and how wild and powerful I felt when I was immersed in it. Whatever happened to that side of me? I was feeling defeated, and realized that by giving into my fear I was letting Peter and his shadowy masters win.
03 The Fate Of The Muse - Marina's Tales Page 2
